Datasets:

biglam

/

gutenberg-poetry-corpus

like 6

Tam magis expressus salsus de corpore sudor

Augebat mare manando camposque natantis.

Quoniam nec venae perpetiuntur

Quod satis est neque quantum opus est natura ministrat.

As a necessary result of a system of natural philosophy based on

assumptions, largely illustrated indeed, but not corroborated by

Namque alid ex alio clarescet nec tibi caeca

Nox iter eripiet quin ultima naturai

Pervideas: ita res accendent lumina rebus,

To the general reader there is another aspect, in which it is

Impia te rationis inire elementa viamque

Indugredi sceleris,

show that scientific enquiry had to encounter the same prejudice

in ancient as in modern times. The insufficiency and audacity of

Immortalia mortali sermone notantes.

The views of Lucretius as to the natural origin of life, and the

and consequent denial of immortality,--and his utilitarianism in

morals,--all present striking parallels to the opinions of one of

Scilicet haec aliis praedae lucroque iacebant

Indupedita suis fatalibus omnia vinclis,

Donec ad interitum genus id natura redegit.

The attempt to trace the origin of all supernatural belief to the

But altogether apart from the truth and falsehood, the right and

the 'vivida vis animi.' The freshness of feeling and vividness of

Mente vigenti

Avia Pieridum peragro loca,

are as remarkable in the processes of his intellect as of his

imagination.

This vigour of understanding is displayed in many processes of

His system cannot be called either purely inductive or purely

deductive, though it is more of the former than of the latter. He

E thuris glaebis evellere odorem

Haud facile est quin intereat natura quoque eius.

So also it is difficult to separate his faculty of clear, exact,

Denique fluctifrago suspensae in litore vestes,

curiosity of a naturalist, as well as the sympathetic feeling and

Errant saepe canes itaque et vestigia quaerunt.

How happily their characteristics are struck off in the line--

At levisomna canum fido cum pectore corda.

Et validis cycni torrentibus ex Heliconis

Cum liquidam tollunt lugubri voce querellam;

and again--

Parvus ut est cycni melior canor ille gruum quam

Clamor in aetheriis dispersus nubibus austri.

The description of sea-birds,

Mergique marinis

Fluctibus in salso victum vitamque petentes,

τανύγλωσσοί τε κορῶναι

εἰνάλιαι τῇσίν τε θαλάσσια ἔργα μέμηλεν.

His lively personal observation and active interest in the casual

Cum lubrica serpens

Exuit in spinis vestem; nam saepe videmus

Illorum spoliis vepres volitantibus auctas.

that overtakes the mind--

Adde furorem animi proprium atque oblivia rerum,

Adde quod in nigras lethargi mergitur undas;

the bodily waste, produced by long-continuous speaking--

Perpetuus sermo nigrai noctis ad umbram

Aurorae perductus ab exoriente nitore;

observation of a physician, as well as the profound thought of a

moralist.

Quam Grai memorant nec nostra dicere lingua

Concedit nobis patrii sermonis egestas.

Lucretius has occasionally to meet the first difficulty by the

character appears in the links by which his argument is kept

country, or the first unfolding of some illimitable prospect.

Nullam rem e nilo gigni divinitus unquam,

Unde refert nobis victor quid possit oriri,

Quid nequeat, finita potestas denique cuique

Quanam sit ratione atque alte terminus haerens.

Following on his steps the poet himself professes to teach--

Quo quaeque creata

Foedere sint, in eo quam sit durare necessum,

Nec validas valeant aevi rescindere leges.

In another place he says--

Et quid quaeque queant per foedera naturai

Quid porro nequeant, sancitum quandoquidem extat.

Certum ac dispositumst ubi quicquit crescat et insit.

Libera continuo dominis privata superbis.

Illud in his rebus videor firmare potesse,

Usque adeo naturarum vestigia linqui

Parvola, quae nequeat ratio depellere nobis

Ut nil inpediat dignam dis degere vitam.

From these high places of his philosophy,--'the "templa serena"

well-bulwarked by the learning of the wise' he derives not only a

Haud igitur penitus pereunt quaecumque videntur,

Quando alid ex alio reficit natura nec ullam

Rem gigni patitur nisi morte adiuta aliena?

Sic aequo geritur certamine principiorum

Ex infinito contractum tempore bellum.

and life, support the existing creation in unceasing harmony. The

Nunc hinc nunc illic superant vitalia rerum,

Et superantur item.

decay is no mere war of abstractions: it is the daily and hourly

Cedit enim rerum novitate extrusa vetustas.

runners in a race, pass on the torch of life'--

Inque brevi spatio mutantur saecla animantum

Et quasi cursores vitai lampada tradunt.

Sic alid ex alio numquam desistet oriri

Vitaque mancipio nulli datur, omnibus usu.