A common phrase in today’s society is “gold digger” when referencing a woman who seems to be after a man for his money, or expects lavish gifts in return for her love. In ancient greek and roman literature this is also a common theme when women except and want expensive gifts from their male lovers. Many poets warn of women who demand lavish gifts and would drain men of their money for expensive clothing and jewelry. The idea is that the man is so desperate for love from a woman that he would spend ridiculous amounts of money on her so he can keep her attention and therefore her as a lover. Tibullus warns male lovers of this phenomenon saying to watch out for the woman who only wants for material gifts. He hints that when other men see a lovesick man throw his money and accomplishments away for the sake of love he will be dishonored. It emphasizes the point that he is not responsible with his assets and should not be privileged to them if he is going to throw them away to please a women. “may wind and fire wipe out the wealth you’ve gained.” In lovelytheband’s song, make you feel pretty, the narrator sings about spending all his money to make his lover feel wanted and pretty. So despite Tibullus’s warning the author is depositing all his wealth on his lover to keep her affection and make her feel pretty and wanted, exactly what Tibullus warns against. Tibullus is careful to warn that throwing gifts at a woman is not equatable for love and a proper man would not be as desperate to spend all his money on a woman.
But its Venus above all who I should violate. She talks me into crime, gives me a money grabbing girl: she should feel my sacrilegious hands. Death to whoever gathers green emeralds and tinges snowy wool with tyrian purple and Coan cloth antoher source of greed in girls and sleek perals from the Red Sea.
But you, who keep out lovers beaten by the price tag, may wind and fire wipe out the wealth you’ve gained. and then may boys watch with glee as your house burns and no on bother to throw water on the blaze. And if death comes to you, there’ll be none to mourn or toss a gift onto your gloomy rites.
(Chapter Tibullus 2.4,line 24-44)