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Si non ipsa dedit specimen natura creandi?'

country. In regard to all his religious impressions his intensity

The same strength of heart and mind characterises that passage of

fortitude combating the suggestions of human weakness.

First, we are made to realise the entire unconsciousness in death

Non si terra mari miscebitur et mare caelo.

Nec radicitus e vita se tollit et eicit

Sed facit esse sui quiddam super inscius ipse.

Nec quisquam expergitus exstat,

Frigida quem semel est vitai pausa secuta.

ἀλλὰ, φίλος, θάνε καὶ σύ· τίη ὀλοφύρεαι οὕτως;

κάτθανε καὶ Πάτροκλος, ὅπερ σέο πολλὸν ἀμείνων--

Frigida quem semel est vitai pausa secuta;--

Cum summo gelidi cubat aequore saxi;--

Urgerive superne obtritum pondere terrae.--

Iam iam non domus accipiet te laeta, neque uxor

Optima nec dulces occurrent oscula nati

Praeripere et tacita pectus dulcedine tangent,

Ad confligendum venientibus undique Poenis,

of the regal state of kings and emperors--

Inde alii multi reges rerumque potentes

Occiderunt, magnis qui gentibus imperitarunt,

Sic alid ex alio nunquam desistet oriri.

The practical use of the study of Nature, according to Lucretius,

Sed nil dulcius est, bene quam munita tenere

Edita doctrina sapientum templa serena,

Despicere unde queas alios passimque videre

Errare atque viam palantis quaerere vitae,

Certare ingenio, contendere nobilitate,

Noctes atque dies niti praestante labore

Ad summas emergere oper rerumque potiri.

Quod si ridicula haec ludibriaque esse videmus,

Re veraque metus hominum curaeque sequaces

Nec metuunt sonitus armorum nec fera tela,

Audacterque inter reges rerumque potentis

Versantur neque fulgorem reverentur ab auro

Nec clarum vestis splendorem purpureai,

Quid dubitas quin omni' sit haec rationi' potestas?

Omnis cum in tenebris praesertim vita laboret.

The desire of power and station leads to the shame and misery of

most sacred ties of Nature. While failure in the struggle is

degradation, success is often only the prelude to the most sudden

Quandoquidem sapiunt alieno ex ore petuntque

Res ex auditis potius quam sensibus ipsis.

Praesertim cum tempestas adridet et anni

Tempora conspergunt viridantis floribus herbas.

With fervid sincerity he announces the truth that 'to the man who

Quod siquis vera vitam ratione gubernet,

Divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parce

Aequo animo.

Aeternumque daret matri sub pectore volnus;--

or such pictures, as that at iii. 469, of friends and relatives

surrounding the bed of one who has sunk into a deep lethargy--

Ad vitam qui revocantes

Circumstant lacrimis rorantes ora genasque,--

show how strong and real was his regard for the great elemental

inscriptions of the Romans, of that 'fear of Acheron'--

Funditus humanam qui vitam turbat ab imo

Omnia suffendens mortis nigrore neque ullam

Esse voluptatem liquidam puramque reliquit.

persecution, and to extreme forms of fanaticism in modern times,

than to the tolerant spirit and the not unkindly superstition of

Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum,--

The limitation of his philosophy is also apparent in his want of

sympathy with the active duties and pursuits of life. He can see

only different modes of evil in the busy interests of the world.

Sed mage pacata posse omnia mente tueri--

he regards as the only true religion for man: the 'mute and

Yet a modern reader, without accepting the conclusions of his

The same 'vivida vis' with which he observes natural phenomena

characterises his insight into human character and passion. He

men seem objects of ridicule or scorn, but to restore them to the

Aut cum conscius ipse animus se forte remordet

Desidiose agere aetatem lustrisque perire,

Aut quod in ambiguo verbum iaculata reliquit

Quod cupido adfixum cordi vivescit ut ignis,

Aut nimium iactate oculos aliumve tueri

Quod putat in voltuque videt vestigia risus:

Exit saepe foras magnis ex aedibus ille,

Esse domi quem pertaesumst, subitoque revertit,

Quippe foris nilo melius qui sentiat esse.

Currit agens mannos ad villam praecipitanter,

Auxilium tectis quasi ferre ardentibus instans;

Oscitat extemplo, tetigit cum limina villae,

Aut abit in somnum gravis atque oblivia quaerit,

Aut etiam properans urbem petit atque revisit.

Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.--

Cur non ut plenus vitae conviva recedis?--

Vitaque mancipio nulli datur omnibus usu.--

Surgit amari aliquit quod in ipsis floribus angat.--

Nam verae voces tum demum pectore ab imo

Eiciuntur et eripitur persona, manet res.--

Divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parce

Aequo animo.

nervous energy, not without flashes of the vigorous wit, of Roman

Cur etiam loca sola petunt frustraque laborant?

Nam tibi praeterea quod machiner inveniamque,

Quod placeat, nil est: eadem sunt omnia semper.--

'Quantum Epicure tibi parvis suffecit in hortis.'

'Vidi ego multa saepe picta quae Acherunti fierent