Proem o thou who first uplifted in such dark so clear a torch aloft, who first shed light upon the profitable ends of man, o thee i follow, glory of the greeks, and set my footsteps squarely planted now. Preface no one can set about tnnslating lucretius into english without finding his head full of the great work of h. Perseus was the demigod offspring of the unusual union between zeus and danae. 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. In it david sedley explores lucretius complex relationship with greek culture, in particular with empedocles,whose poetry was the model for his.
Gives a comprehensive account of epicurus theory of vision and sensation. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. In the first place, the study of lucretius has made considerable advances. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient. For comparison purposes the less literal william leonard 1916 edition in poem form is available at perseus here. Perseus was thought to exist several generations before. 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 adventures of perseus have been told, and retold, over the millennia, and even today his story regularly appears on the big screen. University of california press, 2008 the joan palevsky imprint in classical literature. A catalogue record for this book is available from the british library library of congress cataloguing in publication data sedley, d. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a.
Lucretius is our most direct source for epicurus ideas. Ian johnstons new poetic translation brings out the full emotional range of this great work and captures the restless and intense urgency of the original text. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic. Perseus, in greek mythology, the slayer of the gorgon medusa and the rescuer of andromeda from a sea monster. Demonstrates the atomic structure and mortality of the soul. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Still, lucretius lays out some of his principles in their strongest form. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. Afterward, locked in a wooden chest, both were thrown into the sea by danae s father acrisius, who had known. Lucretius was born in 99 bc, and on the nature of things is his only surviving work. For, it is amazing to learn that the secular, nonreligious intellectual opinions of people from around 500 bc were actually quite accurate and concurrent. Lucretius on the nature of things logos bible software.
A useful recent translation of lucretius on the nature of. An undeniable masterpiece of western civilization, the metamorphoses is a continuous narrative that covers all the olympian legends, seamlessly moving from one story to another in a splendid panorama of savage beauty, charm, and wit. Odyssey, the odyssey of homer rendered into english prose for the use of those who cannot read the original revised by timothy power and gregory nagy. What is the logical conclusion you might draw from this.
As an epic, it begins with an invocation to the muse, in this case, venus. Perseus perseus facts and information on the greek hero. I traverse the pathless haunts of the pierides never yet walked by feet of man. Perseus and his origins on argos perseus was thought to exist several generations. Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things. Jan 26, 2016 lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. The poem is divided into six books or sections and. I love to approach the untasted springs and to drink from them, and to cull fresh flowers and gather for my head a distinguished crown from spots where the muses have never yet veiled the brows of any man.
On the nature of the universe book 4 throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. Itmight indeed be thought that with so fine a model in existence it is unnecessary and unprofitable to undertake the task again. Lucretius and the transformation of greek wisdom this book is designed to appeal both to those interested in roman poetry and to specialists in ancient philosophy. Perseus is one of the greatest heroes spoken of in greek mythology, for perseus was the famed vanquisher of the gorgon medusa. Jerome, a prominent roman clergyman writing four centuries after his death, wrote that a love potion had driven him insane and that lucretius had eventually committed suicide. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Odyssey, the odyssey of homer rendered into english prose for the use of those who cannot read the original revised by timothy power and gregory nagy 1 of 5 translations. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. I am amazed that someone who lived more than 2000 years ago could possess such a deep and complete understanding of our universe. This wiki will contain the public domain translations of the daniel browne 1734 edition, the hugh munro 1886 edition, and the cyril bailey 1936 edition.
His aim was to free the roman world from its two great terrors. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by wade. Lucretius project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Perseus in greek mythology greek legends and myths. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. Until today i was unaware of a 2010 edition of on the nature of things produced by ian johnston and available at the website linked here that site states. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world.
On lucretius, epictetus, marcus aurelius and the nature of. Learn more about the traditional story of perseus in this article. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. Dionysius mus when in the fourth century bc the greek citystates become part of the empire of alexander the great and his successors, the greek ideal of autonomy and selfgovernment has ended, together with the typical feeling of greek men to be an actual link in the government of their city or community. May 11, 2020 lucretius, on the nature of things, book ii if thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this that disturbs thee, but thy own judgment about it. Founded by the greek thinker epicurus 341 271 bc this is an uncompromising materialist worldview, which holds that everything has a purely natural cause, and that all phenomena, including human life, evolved from the movements of atoms in the void. The english is an accurate rendition of lucretius in a fluent modern idiom. Lucretius argues that the gods are not actively involved in life, so need not be appe. 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. A useful recent translation of lucretius on the nature of things by cassius amicus published october, 2012 introductory material, lucretius, texts on epicurus until today i was unaware of a 2010 edition of on the nature of things produced by ian johnston and available at the website linked here. He is best known in greek mythology as the slayer of medusa, one of three female creatures, or gorgons, with hair said to be made of poisonous snakes. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Greek and latin grammars and commentaries are also included.
Perseus was the son of zeus and danae, the daughter of acrisius of argos. Lucretius is, on occasion, less than flattering about some aspects of religious ritual. Lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. This massive collection includes important greek and latin classics in their original languages. Lucretius, on the nature of things, book ii if thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this that disturbs thee, but thy own judgment about it. The poem begins with a famous invocation to venus and sets out the major principles of epicurean physics and cosmology.
In it david sedley explores lucretius complex relationship with greek culture, in particular with empedocles, whose poetry was the model for his. Perseus perseus facts and information on the greek hero perseus. Such familiar legends as hercules, perseus and medusa, daedelus and icarus, diana and actaeon, and many. Feb 25, 20 lucretius is, on occasion, less than flattering about some aspects of religious ritual. In it david sedley explores lucretius complex relationship with greek culture, in particular. Lucretius believes that all the things he says are true. 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. All of the gods and heroes familiar to us are represented. Lucretius says that superstition means believing too much in the importance of the gods and fearing their retribution.
On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. Perseus was one of the oldest out of all of the greek mythological heroes. Lucretius ends with a hymn on the theme that there is nothing to feel or fear in death. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. Marcus aurelius, meditations, book viii, 47 prologue. The conditions then for the good life reflect the fact that our welfare consists fundamentally of pleasure and absence of pain. This is a must have book for any humanist, freethinker, scientifically oriented person. As an infant he was cast into the sea in a chest with his mother by acrisius, to whom it had been prophesied that he would be killed by his grandson.
Lucretius and the transformation of greek wisdom david sedley. 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. To break the causal chain of determinism implicit in democritus cosmology of atoms in a void. A useful recent translation of lucretius on the nature. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. Another list of various english translations is here transcription of book 1 of the daniel browne edition is now complete, and we. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive.
Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942. On the nature of the universe is a didactic epic poem. Lucretius s love of the countryside invites speculation that he inhabited familyowned rural estates, as did many wealthy roman families, and he certainly was expensively educated with a mastery of latin, greek, literature, and philosophy. It is also for people who believe in myths, they, perhaps more than anyone should read lucretius too. Throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. This book represents the primary source of modern knowledge on epicurean thought and played an important role in the development of atomism. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgment now. 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. 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.
1664 1648 1305 1127 1656 403 891 1499 1236 723 49 916 166 1391 244 459 615 1347 1207 930 1250 1071 332 772 1429 674 365 884 683 450 492 76 437 86 548 1141