Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. We know virtually nothing, beyond what little can be inferred from the poem itself, of lucretius. Humphries admirable and exciting translation makes it easy to grasp the shape and the magnitude of lucretius conception. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. The poem, written in some 7,400 dactylic hexameters, is divided into six untitled books, and explores epicurean physics through poetic. Who is able with mighty mind to build a song worthy the divine discoveries of epicurus of the majesty of nature and these discoveries. Titus lucretius carus was probably born in the early first century b. Gilliatt is a woolen yarn of soft french merinos darles and black portugese merino produced in france in an ecological way. The title of lucretiuss work translates that of the chief work of epicurus, peri physeos on nature. 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. We recommend handwashing in warm not hot water with gentle soap.
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. Aug 06, 2008 this elegant new translation at last restores the poetry to one of the greatest and most influential poems in the western tradition. For comparison purposes the less literal william leonard 1916 edition in poem form is available at perseus here. Its earliest published translation into any language french did not occur until 1650. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library.
This translation is based primarily upon the latin text of h. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. My main goal is to understand epicurean philosophy, though of course it would be nice if it sounded good too. A word cloud of the leonard translation of lucretius the nature of things. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942 richard minadeo, the lyre of science. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is the object of life, and. 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. On the nature of things by titus lucretius carus free ebook. In order to still produce a lofty yarn, solenn convinced the mill operator in creuse, france to combine combed and uncombed fibers into the airy finished. In book 1 he establishes the general principles of the atomic system, refutes. The purpose of this edition is to demonstrate the quality and. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by wade. 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. On one of my forays, i was struck by an extremely odd paperback cover.
Humphries easy, varied lines are thoroughly readable. On the nature of things by lucretius the internet classics archive. This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is. In 1799 the first book was translated in rhyme by an anonymous author. Prepared from the sphere library book, translated martin ferguson smith 1969. Titus lucretius quotes 15 science quotes dictionary of. Please click here to go to our dedicated site for lucretius. Or who is so potent in speech as to devise praises fit for his merits, who by his own intellect winning and gaining such treasures, has left them to us.
It is a formidable task to put 7,500 latin hexameter lines into english verse, but mr. Ancient understandings of the cosmos, evolution, atoms, mans place in the animal kingdom, that are spot on. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. I care about clarity and ease of reading more than accuracy or aesthetics. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942.
In the present reprint the translation has been adapted. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. On the nature of things is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius c. Lucretius on the nature of things 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. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card. Mother of rome, delight of gods and men, dear venus that beneath the gliding stars. This book represents the primary source of modern knowledge on epicurean thought, and it played an important role in the development of atomism. Check our home page for introductory material on epicurus by clicking here. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3.
You may be familiar with the lofty twist of woolen spun yarns like brooklyn tweed shelter or loft, but this method is not ideal for merino wool. Little is known of his life, although two tantalizing bits of gossip were passed on by st. The poem was lost during the middle ages, rediscovered in 1417, and first printed in 1473. This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is this elegant new translation at last restores the poetry to one of the greatest and most influential poems. 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.