Relation of the illustrative matter to the cultivated Italian mind Feeling of the dignity of labour an Italian sentiment Distinction between primitive and literary epic Absence of primitive epics from Roman literature TRoman epic originates in the imitation of the Greek epic New type of Roman epic introduced by Varro Atacinus Type of historical epic rejected in the maturity of Roman art FORM AND SUBJECT OF THE AENEID. Largeness of scope afforded by the vagueness of the legend III. Composite character of the Aeneid illustrated by an Twofold purpose of Virgil in composing the Aeneid Native and Greek sources employed by him Prominence given to his double purpose in the statement of the I. General character of the action as affected by the Age in which the poem was written, and by the author's Dignity of the circumstances treated in the poem PAGE His exact acquaintance with religious ceremonial 198, line 2 from the end, for its shock read the shock of that force, and omit its' twice in the following line. 314, line 22 from top, for Literaque read Litoraque. 393, line 4 from top, for Polydamus read Polydamas. THE ROMAN POETS OF THE AUGUSTAN AGE. CHAPTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. I. Relation of the Augustan Age to other Literary Epochs. THE Augustan Age, regarded as a critical epoch in the history of the world, extends from the date of the battle of Actium, when Octavianus became undisputed master of the world, to his death in the year 14 A.D. But the age known by that name as a great epoch in the history of literature begins some years earlier, and ends with the death of Livy and Ovid in the third year of the following reign. Of the poets belonging to that age whose writings have reached modern times-Virgil, Horace, Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid—all were born, and some had reached manhood, before the final overthrow of the Republic at the battle of Philippi. The earlier poems of Virgil and Horace belong to the period between that date and the establishment of the Empire. The age of the Augustan poets may accordingly be regarded as extending from about the death of Julius Caesar in 44 B. C. to the death of Ovid 17 A.D. The whole of this period was one of great literary activity, especially in the department of poetry. Besides |