SilvaeGreek literary education and Roman political reality are evident in the poetry of Statius (c. 50-96 CE). His Silvae are thirty-two occasional poems. His masterpiece, the epic Thebaid, recounts the struggle for kingship between the two sons of Oedipus. The extant portion of his Achilleid begins an account of Achilles' life and renews epic. Statius' Silvae, thirty-two occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 CE Here the poet congratulates friends, consoles mourners, offers thanks, admires a monument or artistic object, describes a memorable scene. The verse is light in touch, with a distinct picture quality. Statius gives us in these impromptu poems clear images of Domitian's Rome. Statius was raised in the Greek cultural milieu of the Bay of Naples, and his Greek literary education lends a sophisticated veneer to his ornamental verse. The role of the emperor and the imperial circle in determining taste is another readily apparent influence: the figure of the emperor Domitian permeates these poems. D. R. Shackleton Bailey's new edition of the Silvae, a freshly edited Latin text facing a graceful translation, replaces the earlier Loeb Classical Library edition with translation by J. H. Mozley. Kathleen M. Coleman contributed an essay on recent scholarship on the Silvae. |
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Page 22
... ecce furens Rutulus saevoque instinctus amore , nequiquam in Phrygiam iaculatus lampada classem , miratur subitas pelago consurgere nymphas ; nec minus irrumpit castris altamque cruentus dat stragem fluvioque evadit laetus amico . Ultor ...
... ecce furens Rutulus saevoque instinctus amore , nequiquam in Phrygiam iaculatus lampada classem , miratur subitas pelago consurgere nymphas ; nec minus irrumpit castris altamque cruentus dat stragem fluvioque evadit laetus amico . Ultor ...
Page 36
... ecce sagax tacitam venientis rusticus anni curam corde coquit , qua bubus ab arbore plaustrum dedolet , unde iuga et curvum fabricetur aratrum . Nec mora , quin veteris truncata cacumina fagi can 70 For this reason a lively energy ...
... ecce sagax tacitam venientis rusticus anni curam corde coquit , qua bubus ab arbore plaustrum dedolet , unde iuga et curvum fabricetur aratrum . Nec mora , quin veteris truncata cacumina fagi can 70 For this reason a lively energy ...
Page 92
... Ecce suum tandem cantor Smyrnaeus Achillem suscitat , ardentem clypeo atque Hyperionis orbem orbe lacessentem pulchro et caelestibus armis ingentique manu Centaurica tela tenentem atque immortalis adigentem in proelia bigas . Hic vero ...
... Ecce suum tandem cantor Smyrnaeus Achillem suscitat , ardentem clypeo atque Hyperionis orbem orbe lacessentem pulchro et caelestibus armis ingentique manu Centaurica tela tenentem atque immortalis adigentem in proelia bigas . Hic vero ...
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Achilles Aeneas Aeneid Ambra amore ancient Angelo Poliziano Aoniae Apollo atque Bausi beautiful Boeotia born cantu carmen carmina cave century BC Cicero clouds cruel cura daughter death divine dulci Ecce eloquence enim Ennius etiam fama famous father Florence Georgics goddess gods Greek haec heavens hero Hesiod hinc Homer honor hunc Iamque illa ille inter ipsa ipse Jupiter king Latin Latium lingua Lorenzo Lucretius lyre magni Manto Mantua manu Medici mihi mother Muses Namque neque numina nunc Nutricia nymph Ocnus Ombrone Orpheus Ovid Pallas Athena Pausanias pectore poem poet poetic poetry procul puer quae quam quid Quin Quintilian quique quis quod quondam quoque rerum river Roman Rusticus sacred saeva scilicet sibi Silvae sing song stars Statius sweet tamen tandem Thracian tibi Trojan Ulysses umbra vatum Venus verse Virgil winds wings wrote young