This book represents the primary source of modern knowledge on epicurean thought, and it played an important role in the development of atomism. Lucretius then moves into the nature of man and the mind. On the nature of things, 1951 prose translation by r. Epicurus affirmabat hominum tristitiam atque corruptionem penitus ex deorum potestatisque notione iraeque timore, quae credebatur in calamitatibus. But of course i admire lucretius and his predecessor, epicurus and his predecessor because he really buckled down and looked out at the world, and inside himself, and showed in his logic the possible fortitude of the human mind. Comprehensive commentary by cyril bailey, oxford university press 1947. Wanneer hij geboren werd en overleed is onduidelijk. And to whateer pursuit a man most clings absorbed, or what the affairs on which we theretofore have tarried much, and mind hath strained upon the more, we seem in sleep not rarely to go at the same. The lawyers seem to plead and cite decrees, commanders they to fight and go at frays, sailors to live in combat with the winds, and we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the. The poem explores lucretius belief about the gods, humanity, the senses, the world, and the universe, all through the philosophical framework of epicurus. In it, he set out to explicate the universe, embracing and refuting ideas of the great greek philosophers. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. Lucretius roman poet titus lucretius carus was a roman poet and philosopher. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic.
On the nature of things has been divided into the following sections. Now available in paperback, this annotated scholarly edition of the latin text ofde rerum naturahas long been hailed as one of the finest. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient. The importance of lucretius lucretius brings together the worlds of poetry and. Lucretius begins with an account of the atomic theory of democritus and the nature of the cosmos. Latham, introduction and notes by john godwin, penguin revised edition 1994, isbn 0140446109. Drawing upon this materialist philosophy, lucretius cites the fear of death as the cause of mans ills, and shows the way to freedom from that fear. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. The wheel of the sun and its heat cannot be the sun is about the same size as we see it. Humphries easy, varied lines are thoroughly readable. On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. The title of lucretius s work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature.
Humphries admirable and exciting translation makes it easy to grasp the shape and the magnitude of lucretius conception. It is a formidable task to put 7,500 latin hexameter lines into english verse, but mr. This class can be taken in fulfilment of the requirements of both the ma and the research ma program in classics and ancient civilizations track classics, with differential requirements. Proem mother of rome, delight of gods and men, dear venus that beneath the gliding stars makest to teem the manyvoyaged main and fruitful lands for all of living things through thee alone are evermore conceived, through thee are risen to visit the great sunbefore thee, goddess, and thy coming on, flee stormy wind and massy cloud away, for thee the daedal earth bears scented flowers, for. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Mar 29, 2016 learn latin with classics professor david noe as he analyzes and translates real examples from latin literature. I have translated from my own text published in the bibliotheca oxoniensi.
On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Lucretius var ingen originell tankare, hans lara har till fullo inspirerats av epikuros och hans skola. Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. The latin text of lucretius latin and english edition 9780299003647. Epicuro etiam laudato duo principia disciplinae epicureanae explicit. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. An exposition of epicurus atomic theory and the ethical tenets based upon it.
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