Consider the whole discussion of how the rooster emits certain particles which stab the pupils of the lion 4. For an introduction to lucretius, on the nature of things, use the following link. No one can set about translating lucretius into english without finding his head full of the great work of h. Here nail, in his own words, unfolds another dimension of lucretius text, offering through closereading and translation of the latin original a compelling. The poem explores lucretius belief about the gods, humanity, the senses, the world, and the universe, all through the philosophical framework of epicurus. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient. On the nature of things by lucretius, 2001 online research. Paul friedlander, american journal of philology 1945 titus lucretius carus ca.
Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek philosopher epicurus, with the aim of dispelling fear of. It is a formidable task to put 7,500 latin hexameter lines into english verse, but mr. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. On the nature of things, 1951 prose translation by r. As an epicurean, lucretius opposes war and values friendship and cooperation. Jan 26, 2016 lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. Latham, introduction and notes by john godwin, penguin revised edition 1994, isbn 0140446109. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. This elegant new translation at last restores the poetry to one of the greatest and most influential poems in the western tradition. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through richly poetic language and metaphors.
This translation is based primarily upon the latin text of h. On which we theretofore have tarried much, and mind hath strained upon the more, we. This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is the object of life, and. His greatest success is in persuading the reader to see the poem as a whole, as a single, strange work of art, in which the. The introduction itself is for the most part unchanged updates appear in three notes but the section. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue.
Latin text and english translations with commentary on books 1 brown, 3 brown, 4 godwin, 5 gale, and. I wander afield, thriving in sturdy thought, through unpathed haunts of the pierides, trodden by step of none before. Friendships he will form, for friendship based on the common study of philosophy is one of the highest blessings of life. This study guide consists of approximately 68 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of on the nature of things. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. Titus lucretius carus was probably born in the early first century b.
Nec me animi fallit graiorum obscura reperta difficile inlustrare latinis versibus esse, multa novis verbis praesertim cum sit agendum propter egestatem linguae et rerum novitatem. I care about clarity and ease of reading more than accuracy or aesthetics. Lucretius frequently uses war imagery to illustrate scientific points about atoms and nature. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world and set it down, when once discovered, here in these my countrys leaves. Both the translation and commentary aim to explain the scientific.
My main goal is to understand epicurean philosophy, though of course it would be nice if it sounded good too. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines life. In this work, lucretius theorized unhappiness in life comes from fear of the gods. If you are available to assist as simple as typing the text from the pdf into an email please email or check in here.
The requirements for ma and research ma students are differentiated. To begin with, the entirety of lucretius text is included, which is quite rare outside of an oxford classical text in fact, i do believe this is the only complete version. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Ancient understandings of the cosmos, evolution, atoms, mans place in the animal kingdom, that are spot on. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. In it, he set out to explicate the universe, embracing and refuting ideas of the great greek philosophers. Titus lucretius carus was a roman poet and philosopher over 2050 years ago. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is the object of life, and that humanity has free will, among other ideas. Still, lucretius lays out some of his principles in their strongest form.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world and set it down, when once. How the world became modern norton, a new book by cogan university professor and noted shakespeare scholar stephen greenblatt, to be published in september. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Mother of aeneas and his race, darling of men and venus, aid me in my work gods, nurturing venus, a who beneath the smoothmoving heavenly signs fill with yourself the sea fullladen with ships, the earth that bears the crops, since through you every kind of living thing is conceived and rising up looks on the light of the sun. In the present reprint the translation has been adapted. Lucretius and the transformation of greek wisdom david n.
Humphries admirable and exciting translation makes it easy to grasp the shape and the magnitude of lucretius conception. The improbable story of how it reemerged, and how the mindset it advocated informs our present, is the subject of the swerve. Lucretius begins by invoking the name of venus as a creative force, appealing to memmius to whom the. Mathematical and scientific and miscalculations in lucretius. In the present reprint the translation has been adapted to the second edition of the text in the bibliotheca oxoniensis 19zi. Mathematical and scientific and miscalculations in.
The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic. A word cloud of the leonard translation of lucretius the nature of things. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Humphries easy, varied lines are thoroughly readable. A volume which no student of lucretius, of the classics, of philosophic literature can afford to ignore. Here nail, in his own words, unfolds another dimension of lucretius text, offering through closereading and translation of the latin original a compelling, contemporary ethics and aesthetics of movement. By showing how he worked from the literary model set by the greek poet empedocles but under the philosophical inspiration of the greek philosopher epicurus, the book seeks to characterize lucretius unique poetic achivement. Quae quoniam rerum naturam sola gubernas, nec sine te quicquam dias in luminis oras exoritur neque fit laetum neque amabile quicquam, te. Thomas nail argues convincingly and systematically that lucretius was not an atomist, but a thinker of kinetic flux. Apart from lucretiuss poem almost nothing is known about him. Comprehensive commentary by cyril bailey, oxford university press 1947.
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