The excellent perseus edition is here in greek and here in english. Some have suggested that lucretius died before being able to edit, finalize, and publish his work. In his new book, author and harvard literature professor stephen greenblatt explores the 2,000 yearold writings of lucretius and his. Proem tis sweet, when, down the mighty main, the winds roll up its waste of waters, from the land. It was named publisher of the year in 2007 by publishers weekly magazine for its role in taking on publishers formerly distributed by publishers group west and acquiring avalon publishing group. Lucretius begins by invoking the name of venus as a creative force, appealing.
In the first place, the study of lucretius has made considerable advances. 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. By titus lucretius carus, hackett publishing company, 2001. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is not to say that we lose sight of the atomic underpinnings of the visible world, but we do spend more time at the macrophysical level. It would be like writing a poem of all of our cuurent understandings of the nature of things it was a monumental task to execute such a poem, as lucretius did in his time. Titus lucretius carus was a roman poet and philosopher. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. This is a new verse translation of lucretius s only known work, a didactic poem written in six books of hexameters. He makes the key argument that we should not fear death, since it only brings oblivion with no afterlife. The book summarizes and explains the principles of epicureanism, a philosophy founded by the greek philosopher epicurus around 300 bc. Elizabethan english elizabethan poetry elizabethan prose women writers publishing art. Lucretius most famous passage is his argument in book iii that one.
An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you. Lucretiuss scientific poem on the nature of things c. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Lucretiustranslation of drn 3, from the internet classics archive. Lucretius on human history this world is the product of nature. Perseus books group was an american publishing company founded in 1996 by investor frank pearl. After the death of frank pearl, perseus was sold to centre lane partners in 2015, a private equity firm. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. I was in the midst of reading yet another book that referenced lucretius on the nature of things and thought i should stop and read lucretius words for myself. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. Texts and essays from scientists, writers, theologians, and philosophers reflect the evolution of ideas on the creation of the cosmos and the humans place in the universe. Lucretius on human history this world is the product of nature, things colliding into.
Preface no one can set about tnnslating lucretius into english without finding his head full of the great work of h. In book 4 he sets out to prove once again that the universe is composed only of physical bits of matter called atoms and that gods did not create the cosmos nor do they intervene in human affairs. Melvilles particularly literal translation of the use of metaphor is especially helpful to those looking at the text from a scientific or philosophical point of view. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. This 45page guide for on the nature of things by lucretius includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 6 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Lucretius s most popular book is the way things are. The plebeian families are known by the surnames of gallus, ofella, trio and vespillo. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. We follow his enquiring, scientific mind as he investigates the workings of mirror images. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Lucretius observations of the particularities of the world remain alive across the centuries.
I am amazed that someone who lived more than 2000 years ago could possess such a deep and complete understanding of our universe. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. Hackett publishing an ad for martin ferguson smiths virtually unknown. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature.
Lucretius has recourse to atoms and void as explanatory mechanisms in book 5 less often than elsewhere in the poem. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning. 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 the gods and fear of death and so enabling man to attain peace of mind and happiness. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942 richard minadeo, the lyre of science. The perseus digital library has a translation that begins, mother of rome, delight of gods and men. It was one of the most ancient gentes, and the name occurs as early as the reign of numa pompilius the cognomen of the patrician lucretii was triciptinus. Carus also occurs as the cognomen of the poet lucretius. These set the stage for his explanation of the diversity of bodies. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. On the nature of things summary and study guide supersummary. Throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. The internet archive is one of the worlds largest public digital libraries, with an extensive collection of human culture.
Lucretius selections from the drn with a brief introduction. Stearns, epicurus and lucretius on love, cj 31 1936 34351 the violence of lucretius attack. Introduction to lucretius on the nature of things cyril baley o f the three great latin poets lucretius seems to make the most peculiar appeal to our own age. The title of lucretius s work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. The nature of things by titus lucretius carus and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Diogenes laertius book x this is the primary source for the great majority of. Oct 22, 2007 throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. A transcription and a link to the pdf original of volume iii of. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Commentary references to this page 3 john conington, commentary on vergils aeneid, volume 1, 1. In book iii, lucretius outlines the rules governing the mind and spirit, and their relation to the body. These books, again, make a reasonably wellordered whole, to which, in a sense, the other books. 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. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world.
Lucretius has 110 books on goodreads with 78091 ratings. The way things are by lucretius goodreads share book. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic. Lucretius refers to memmius by name four times in the first book, three times in.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Lucretius project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Perseus also has a publishing partnership with the type media center called bold type books. This is a must have book for any humanist, freethinker, scientifically oriented person. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. Lucretius expounds the nature of things, because epicureans. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by.
Lucretius has been credited with originating the concept of the threeage. For over 100 years oxford worlds classics has made available the broadest spectrum of. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Perseus books perseus books is a hachette book group company, comprised of the imprints avalon travel, basic books, da capo press, hachette books, publicaffairs, running press, seal press, and westview press. On the nature of the universe is a didactic epic poem. It is sweet, when winds trouble the waters on the great sea, to behold from land the distress of others, not because it is a pleasure that any should be afflicted, but because it is sweet to see from what evils you are yourself exempt. 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. Gens lucretia was originally patrician, but later also included plebeian families. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system.
86 555 178 525 1244 1546 35 150 1043 340 879 653 440 1552 1185 969 66 1120 346 1565 750 468 1354 1236 749 299 534 832 1324 383 213 1282 1191 863 1355 1292 685 729 915 397 139 458 112 683 614 371 1244 294