In the poem that ends the cycle, 1.9, Marathus is not named, but it is usually assumed that it is about the same boy. In this poem the narrator reveals that Marathus is in a relationship with a much older married man who buys the young man's affections through expensive gifts. Initially, the narrator asks the gods for compassion towards Marathus (1.9.5–6), who betrayed a promise he had made to the narrator, but soon love yields to bitterness, and he begins to express the desire that the gifts of the rival lover turn to ashes (1.9.11–12) and that the same happen to the poems that the narrator wrote to Marathus to win him over (1.9.48–49), of which he is now ashamed. He turns to the rival, taking revenge on him for having stolen his boyfriend by taunting him with the affair that the rival's wife is herself having with another young man (1.9.54–58 and 65–74). Finally, the poet addresses the boy himself, telling him that he will cry when he sees the poet fall in love with another capricious lad (1.9.79–80), but declaring himself, for the time being, finally released from unfaithful love.
In the poem that ends the cycle 19 Marathus is not named but it is usually assumed that it is about the same boy In this poem the narrator reveals that Marathus is in a relationship with a much older married man who buys the young man's affections through expensive gifts Initially the narrator asks the gods for compassion towards Marathus (195–6) who betrayed a promise he had made to the narrator but soon love yields to bitterness and he begins to express the desire that the gifts of the rival lover turn to ashes (1911–12) and that the same happen to the poems that the narrator wrote to Marathus to win him over (1948–49) of which he is now ashamed He turns to the rival taking revenge on him for having stolen his boyfriend by taunting him with the affair that the rival's wife is herself having with another young man (1954–58 and 65–74) Finally the poet addresses the boy himself telling him that he will cry when he sees the poet fall in love with another capricious lad (1979–80) but declaring himself for the time being finally released from unfaithful love