The text of the browne translation needs to be typed into books two through six, and then line equivalent line numbers added to the munro and bailey versions which are already transcribed. On the nature of things by lucretius the internet classics archive. Very little is known of the poets life, though a sense of his character and personality emerges vividly from his poem. 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. 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. Consider the whole discussion of how the rooster emits certain particles which stab the pupils of the lion 4. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. If you really want to understand the text, id go for the one with the best and fullest notes, rather than focusing on the ease of the translation.
The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. On the nature of things watson translation by titus lucretius carus c. Titus lucretius quotes 15 science quotes dictionary of. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. Lucretius is a really difficult text and you need a translation that will point out his sources and what hes doing with them.
It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. The section in the middle of the first book,5 in which lucretius criticizes rival theories of the world, shows us how epicurus applied his principle. 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. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by. 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 format for his observations, many of them highly technical and uncannily modern, was a single elegant poem. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature.
Titus lucretius carus committed the philosophy of epicurus to poem form in approximately 55 bc, and by its survival through the dark ages this work transmitted to an awakening world the knowledge of the atom. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. Quis potis est dignum pollenti pectore carmen condere pro rerum maiestate hisque repertis. Still, lucretius lays out some of his principles in their strongest form.
Sharp darts radio amazing discoveries africa rediscover america audio podcast sports show 1204. Home dictionary of science quotations scientist names index l titus lucretius quotes. 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. Jan 26, 2016 lucretiuss optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. 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.
In the present reprint the translation has been adapted. Lucretiuss scientific poem on the nature of things c. And we ourselves indeed to make this book, and still to seek the nature of the world. No one can set about translating lucretius into english without finding his head full of. 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. Book i 94k book ii 106k book iii 95k book iv 117k book v 9k book vi 122k.
While acknowledging then my debt to munro for the main. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. I wander afield, thriving in sturdy thought, through unpathed haunts of the pierides, trodden by step of none before. 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. More than 2,000 years ago, a roman named titus lucretius carus set down his thoughts on topics ranging from creation to religion to death. Though often referred to as lucretius, his official name is titus lucretius carus. Done by a poet with access to the science of the 20th century and the skills to understand day to day life in classical greece and rome.
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. Greenblatt begins the swerve with an account of his youthful discovery of lucretius through martin ferguson smiths excellent prose translation. Lucretius s most popular book is the way things are. The poem is divided into six books or sections and.
Lucretius s optical theory and doctrines of how the senses work seem rather convoluted and bizarre. Highly educated, he belonged to the aristocratic sector of the tricipitini, which often emerged in. Throughout the first three books of on the nature of the universe lucretius walks a thin line between philosophy, science and poetry. At present 062718 transcription of book one is now complete, with books two through six remaining to be done. Lucretius on the nature of things the classic poem of. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. Venus, mother of aeneas nation, darling of men and gods, who.
Close section on the nature of the universe book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 verse. Drydens motives in translating lucretius appear to be twofold. 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. Lucretius, on the nature of things, book 4 english text. An oldspelling critical edition ed repetzki, peter lang 2000 isbn 9780820443881 lambinus 1570 heroic. Ancient understandings of the cosmos, evolution, atoms, mans place in the animal kingdom, that are spot on. Prepared from the sphere library book, translated martin ferguson smith 1969. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. This is a must have book for any humanist, freethinker, scientifically oriented person. His birth date is not certain, and little is known of his parentage or birthplace.
The title of lucretius s work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942 richard minadeo, the lyre of science. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. Lucretius ii paperback thomas nail oxford university. Share lucretius quotations about atheism, earth and water. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient.
Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things. Lucretius has 110 books on goodreads with 78091 ratings. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic. Close section on the nature of the universe text with commentary close section book 2 lines 32 close section book 5 text and translation with commentary. Evelyns complete extant translation lacking book 2 not published until john evelyns translation of titus lucretius carus. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
In book 3 he expounds the nature and composition of mind and spirit, proves their mortality, and argues that there is nothing to fear in death. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. The deversification of lucretius treating it as prose is an unintended theme of the most famous contemporary account of of things nature, stephen greenblatts the swerve. Tis pleasant to stand on shore and watch others labouring in a stormy sea. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble. On the nature of things watson translation internet archive. Lucretius synonyms, lucretius pronunciation, lucretius translation, english dictionary definition of lucretius. Translated by ian johnston vancouver island university nanaimo, british columbia 2010. On the nature of things leonard translation titus lucretius carus c. A word cloud of the leonard translation of lucretius the nature of things. Thomas nail argues that lucretius was the first to locate the core of all these ethical ills in our obsession with stasis, our. A pathbreaking new reading of lucretius materialist ethicshuman suffering, the fear of death, war, poverty, ecological destruction and social inequality. On the nature of things has been divided into the following sections.
On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Lucretiuss denunciations in the fourth book4 are unmistakable. Lucretiuss most popular book is the way things are. A useful recent translation of lucretius on the nature of. Lucretius definition of lucretius by the free dictionary. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. 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.
Book i 94k book ii 106k book iii 95k book iv 117k book v 9k book vi 122k download. 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. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Librivox recording of on the nature of things, by titus lucretius carus c. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.
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