it to have been. He writes of the country which he passed through 'The result of my observations perfectly confirms what you had already supposed. The country south of the Lago di Garda for a distance of at least twenty miles is of a gently undulating character, and is intersected by long ranges of hills which gradually sink down towards the lake and the Mincio. The loftiest of these hills may perhaps reach a height of 1000 feet above the lake-level, but that is a point on which I cannot say anything certain.' EDINBURGH, Nov. 1876. CONTENTS. I. Relation of the Augustan Age to other Literary Epochs Relation of the Augustan poetry to that of the preceding Age Parallel of the Augustan Age with other great literary Epochs especially with the Age of Louis XIV. Chief conditions modifying the poetry of the Augustan Age. Revival of national sentiment and pride of Empire Augustus the centre of the national enthusiasm Deification of the Emperor in the poetry of the Age illustrated by other extant works of art Direction given to national sentiment by Augustus Pollio, Messala, Agrippa, Cornelius Gallus Causes of the connexion between literature and social eminence IV. Influence of material conditions on Literature Wealth and luxury of Rome in the Augustan Age Liberality of Augustus and Maecenas to Virgil and Horace 33 Intellectual character of the last years of the Republic and earlier Distinction between the earlier and later periods Pictorial art of the later Greeks Superiority of the Augustan to the Alexandrine literature Effect of the Monarchy on the great forms of prose literature Poetry later in feeling the effects of Despotism The Augustan literature the maturest development of the national 37-54 II. Change in the estimate of Virgil in the present century. of the political feeling of his age of its ethical and religious sensibility The style of Virgil the maturity preceding decay . IV. Virgil's claim to rank among the great Poets of the World Modes in which this vividness and realism are manifested by Virgil Publication of the Eclogues and preparation of the Georgics Testimonies of Horace as to his life during this time The Georgics composed at Naples His death and wish to destroy the Aeneid 102-123 |