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THE ROMAN POETS OF

THE REPUBLIC

BY

W. Y. SELLAR, M.A., LL.D.

PROFESSOR OF HUMANITY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
AND FORMERLY FELLOW OF ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD

RE-ISSUE OF THE THIRD EDITION

OXFORD

AT THE CLARENDON PRESS

M DCCCC V

HENRY FROWDE, M.A.

PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

LONDON, EDINBURGH

NEW YORK AND TORONTO

[Dedication of the Edition of 1881.]

TO

J. C. SHAIRP, M.A., LL.D.,

PRINCIPAL OF THE UNITED COLLEGE, ST. ANDREWS,

PROFESSOR OF POETRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD,

IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT

OF MUCH ACTIVE AND GENEROUS KINDNESS,

AND OF

A LONG AND STEADY FRIENDSHIP,

THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

In preparing a second edition of this volume, which has been for some years out of print, I have, with the exception of a few pages added to Chapter IV, retained the first five chapters substantially unchanged. Chapters VI and VII, on Roman Comedy, are entirely new. I have enlarged the account formerly given of Lucilius in Chapter VIII, and modified the Review of the First Period, contained in Chapter IX. The short introductory chapter to the Second Period is new. The four chapters on Lucretius have been carefully revised, and, in part, re-written. The chapter on Catullus has been re-written and enlarged, and the views formerly expressed in it have been modified.

In the preface to the first edition I acknowledged the assistance I had derived from the editions of the Fragments of the early writers by Klussman, Vahlen, Ribbeck, and Gerlach; from the Histories of Roman Literature by Bernhardy, Bähr, and Munk, and from the chapters on Roman Literature in Mommsen's Roman History; from a treatise on the origin of Roman Poetry, by Corssen; from Sir G. C. Lewis's work on 'The Credibility of Early Roman History'; from the Articles on the Roman Poets by the late Professor Ramsay, contained in Smith's 'Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'; and from Articles by Mr. Munro in the 'Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology.' In addition to these I have, in the present edition, to acknowledge my indebtedness to the History of Roman Literature by W. S. Teuffel, to Ribbeck's 'Römische Tragödie,' to Ritschl's 'Opuscula,' to the editions of some of the Plays of Plautus by Brix and Lorenz, to that of the Fragments of Lucilius by L. Müller, to the Thesis of M. G. Boissier, entitled 'Quomodo Graecos Poetas Plautus Transtulerit,' to Articles on Lucilius by Mr. Munro in the 'Journal of Philology,' and to the edition of Lucretius, and the 'Criticisms and Elucidations of Catullus' by the same writer, to Schwabe's 'Quaestiones Catullianae,' to Mr. Ellis's 'Commentary on Catullus,' to R. Westphal's 'Catull's Gedichte,' and to M. A. Couat's 'Étude sur Catulle.' I have more especially to express my sense of obligation to Mr. Munro's writings on Lucretius and Catullus. In so far as the chapters on these poets in this edition may be improved, this will, in a great measure, be due to the new knowledge of the subject I have gained from the study of his works.

I have retained, with some corrections, the translations of the longer quotations, contained in the first edition, and have added a literal prose version of some passages quoted from Plautus and Terence. Instead of offering a prose version of the longer passages quoted from Catullus, I have again availed myself of the kind permission formerly given me by Sir Theodore Martin to make use of his translation.

Edinburgh, Dec. 1880.

PREFATORY NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

In revising this work for a new edition the most important change I have made is in the account of Terence, contained in Chapter VII. I have to acknowledge the kind permission of Messrs. A. & C. Black to make use of the article on Terence which I wrote for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, in which I first expressed the modification of my views on that author. I have added some notes to the Chapter on Catullus, suggested by the opinions expressed in the Prolegomena to the Edition of B. Schmidt. In the Chapter on Naevius I have availed myself of a suggestion contained in a paper by Prof. A. F. West, 'On a Patriotic Passage in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus,' which appeared in the American Journal of Philology, for my knowledge of which I am indebted to his courtesy in sending the article to me. I have introduced various verbal changes in different parts of the book, implying some slight modification of the opinions originally expressed. Several of these were suggested by critics who noticed the earlier editions of the book, to whom I beg to express my thanks.

W. Y. S.

January, 1889.

" " in matter 11 Original character, partly Roman, partly Italian 13 National spirit 14 Imaginative sentiment 15 Moral feeling 16 Italian element in Roman Poetry 17 Love of Nature 17 Passion of Love 19 Personal element in Roman Poetry 20 Four Periods of Roman Poetry 23 Character of each 24 Conclusion 26

CHAPTER II.

VESTIGES OF INDIGENOUS POETRY IN ROME AND ANCIENT ITALY.

Niebuhr's theory of a Ballad-Poetry 28 The Saturnian metre 29 Ritual Hymns 31 Prophetic verses 33 Fescennine verses 34 Saturae[page viii] 36 Gnomic verses 37 Commemorative verses 37 Inferences as to their character 38 " from early state of the language 39 No public recognition of Poetry 40 Roman story result of tradition and reflection 41 Inferences from the nature of Roman religion 43 " from the character and pursuits of the people 44 Roman Poetry of Italian rather than Roman origin 45

FIRST PERIOD.

FROM LIVIUS ANDRONICUS TO LUCILIUS.

CHAPTER III.

BEGINNING OF ROMAN LITERATURE. LIVIUS ANDRONICUS,
CN. NAEVIUS, 240-202 b.c.

Contact with Greece after capture of Tarentum 47 First period of Roman literature 49 Forms of Poetry during this period 50 Livius Andronicus 51 Cn. Naevius, his life 52 Dramas

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href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@38566@[email protected]#page55" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">55 Epic poem 57 Style 59 Conclusion 60

CHAPTER IV.

Q. ENNIUS, 239-170 b.c., LIFE, TIMES, AND PERSONAL TRAITS.
VARIOUS WORKS. GENIUS AND INTELLECT.

Importance of Ennius 62 Notices of his life 63 Influences affecting his career 64 Italian birth-place 64 Greek education 65 Service in Roman army 66 Historical importance of his age 68 Intellectual character of his age 69 Personal traits 71 Description of himself in the Annals 72 Intimacy with Scipio 74 His enthusiastic temperament 75 Religious spirit and convictions 77 Miscellaneous works 79 Saturae 81 Dramas 83 Annals 88 Outline of the Poem 89 Idea by which it is animated 92 Artistic defects 93 Roman character of the work 94 Contrast with the Greek Epic 96 Contrast in its personages 96 Contrast in supernatural element 97 Oratory in the Annals 98 Description and imagery 100 Rhythm and diction 102 Chief literary characteristics of Ennius 106 Energy of conception 107 Patriotic and imaginative sentiment 110 Moral emotion 112 Practical understanding

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tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">113 Estimate in ancient times 116 Disparaging criticism of Niebuhr 118

CHAPTER V

EARLY ROMAN TRAGEDY. M. PACUVIUS, 219-129 b.c.
L. ACCIUS, 170-ABOUT 90 b.c.

Popularity of early Roman Tragedy 120 Partial adaptation of Athenian drama 121 Inability to reproduce its pure Hellenic character 123 Nearer approach to the spirit of Euripides than of Sophocles 125 Grounds of popularity of Roman Tragedy 126 Moral tone and oratorical spirit 129 Causes of its decline 131 M. Pacuvius, notices of his life 133 Ancient testimonies 135 His dramas 136 Passages illustrative of his thought 137 " " of his moral and oratorical spirit 139 Descriptive passages 141 Drama on a Roman subject 142 Character 142 L. Accius, notices of his life 143 His various works 145 Fragments illustrative of his oratorical spirit 147 " " of his moral fervour 148 " " of his sense of natural beauty 149 Conclusion as to character of Roman Tragedy 150

CHAPTER VI.

ROMAN COMEDY. T. MACCIUS PLAUTUS, ABOUT 254 TO 184 b.c.

Flourishing era of Roman Comedy 153 How far any claim to originality? 154 Disparaging judgment of later Roman critics 155 Connection with earlier Saturae 156 Naevius and Plautus popular poets 157 Facts in the life of Plautus 158 Attempt to fill up the outline from his works 160 Familiarity with town-life 161 Traces of maritime adventure

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class="right">162 Life of the lower and middle classes represented in his plays 163 Love of good living 164 Love of money 166 Artistic indifference 166 Knowledge of Greek 167 Influence of the spirit of his age 167 Dramas adaptations of outward conditions of Athenian New Comedy 169 Manner and spirit, Roman and original 172 Indications of originality in his language 173 " " " in his Roman allusions and national characteristics 174 Favourite plots of his plays 178 Pseudolus, Bacchides, Miles Gloriosus, Mostellaria 179 Aulularia, Trinummus, Menaechmi, Rudens, Captivi, Amphitryo 182 Mode of dealing with his characters 191 Moral and political indifference of his plays 192 Value as a poetic artist 195 Power of expression by action, rhythm, diction 200

CHAPTER VII.

TERENCE AND THE COMIC POETS SUBSEQUENT TO PLAUTUS.

Comedy between the time of Plautus and Terence 204 Caecilius Statius 204 Scipionic Circle 206 Complete Hellenising of Roman Comedy 207 Conflicting accounts of life of Terence 207 Order in which his Plays were produced 209 His 'prologues' as indicative of his individuality 210 'Dimidiatus Menander' 212 Epicurean 'humanity' chief characteristic 213 Sentimental motive of his pieces 214 Minute delineations of character 215 Diction and rhythm 217 Influence on the style and sentiment of Horace 218 Modern estimates of Terence 220 Comoedia Togata, Atellanae, Mimus 220

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href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@38566@[email protected]#page222" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">CHAPTER VIII.

EARLY ROMAN SATIRE. C. LUCILIUS, DIED 102 b.c.

Independent origin of Roman satire 222 Essentially Roman in form and spirit 224 " " in its political and censorial function 225 Personal and miscellaneous character of early satire 227 Critical epoch at which Lucilius appeared 229 Question as to the date of his birth 229 Fragments chiefly preserved by grammarians 232 Miscellaneous character and desultory treatment of subjects 233 Traces of subjects treated in different books 234 Impression of the author's personality 236 Political character of Lucilian satire 238 Social vices satirised in it 239 Intellectual peculiarities 243 Literary criticism 245 His style 246 Grounds of his popularity 249

CHAPTER IX.

REVIEW OF THE FIRST PERIOD.

Common aspects in the lives of poets in the second century b.c. 253 Popular and national character of their works 256 Political condition of the time reflected in its literature 257 Defects of the poetic literature in form and style 259 Other forms of literature cultivated in that age 260 Oratory and history 260 Familiar letters 262 Critical and grammatical studies 263 Summary of character of the first period 264

SECOND PERIOD.

THE CLOSE OF THE REPUBLIC.

CHAPTER X.

TRANSITION FROM LUCILIUS TO LUCRETIUS.

Dearth of poetical works during the next half century 269 Literary taste confined to the upper classes 271 Great advance in Latin prose writing 272 Influence of this on the style of Lucretius and Catullus 273

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Closer contact with the mind and art of Greece 273 Effects of the political unsettlement on the contemplative life and thought 275 " on the life of pleasure, and the art founded on it 277 The two representatives of the thought and art of the time[page xiii] 278

CHAPTER XI.

LUCRETIUS. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Little known of him from external sources 280 Examination of Jerome's statement 284 Inferences as to his national and social position 287 Relation to Memmius 288 Impression of the author to be traced in his poem 290 Influence produced by the action of his age 290 Minute familiarity with Nature and country life 292 Spirit in which he wrote his work 294 His consciousness of power and delight in his task 295 His polemical spirit 298 Reverence for Epicurus 299 Affinity to Empedocles 300 Influence of other Greek writers 302 " of Ennius 303 His interests speculative, not national 304 His Roman temperament 305

CHAPTER XII.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF LUCRETIUS.

Three aspects of the poem 307 General scope of the argument 308 Analysis of the poem 308 Question as to its unfinished condition 321 What is the value of the argument? 324 Weakness of his science 329 Interest of the work as an exposition of ancient physical enquiry 331 " " " from its bearing on modern questions 332 Power of scientific reasoning, observation, and expression 335 Connecting links between his philosophy and poetry 340 Idea of law 341 " of change

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class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">344 " of the infinite 347 " of the individual 348 " of the subtlety of Nature 349 " of Nature as a living power 350

CHAPTER XIII.

THE RELIGIOUS ATTITUDE AND MORAL TEACHING OF LUCRETIUS.

General character of Greek epicureanism 356 Prevalence at Rome in the last age of the Republic 358 New type of epicureanism in Lucretius 360 Forms of evil against which his teaching was directed 363 Superstition 364 Fear of death 369 Ambition 374 Luxury 375 Passion of love 376 Limitation of his ethical views 378 His literary power as a moralist 381

CHAPTER XIV.

THE LITERARY ART AND GENIUS OF LUCRETIUS.

Artistic defects of the work 384 " " arising from the nature of the subject 385 " " from inequality in its execution 387 Intensity of feeling pervading the argument 388 Cumulative force in his rhythm 389 Qualities of his style 390 Freshness and sincerity of expression 392 Imaginative suggestiveness and creativeness 394 Use of analogies 395 Pictorial power 397 Poetical interpretation of Nature 398 Energy of movement in his descriptions 400 Poetic aspect of Nature influenced by his philosophy 402 Poetical interpretation of life 403 Modern interest of his poem 406

CHAPTER XV.

CATULLUS.

Contrast to the poetry of Lucretius

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tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">408 The poetry of youth 409 Accidental preservation of the poems 410 Principle of their arrangement 412 Vivid personal revelation afforded by them 413 Uncertainty as to the date of his birth 414 Birth-place and social standing 417 Influences of his native district 419 Identity of Lesbia and Clodia 422 Poems written between 61 and 57 b.c. 425 Poems connected with his Bithynian journey 429 Poems written between 56 and 54 b.c. 433 Character of his poems, founded on the passion of love 436 " " " " on friendship and affection 439 His short satirical pieces 444 Other poems expressive of personal feeling 450 Qualities of style in these poems 452 " of rhythm 453 " of form 454 The Hymn to Diana 455 His longer and more purely artistic pieces 456 His Epithalamia 457 His Attis 461 The Peleus and Thetis 462 The longer elegiac poems 469 Rank of Catullus among the poets of the world 472