Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. Munro book i munro book ii munro book iii munro book iv munro book v munro book vi. Revising rouses translation in 1975, smith added full explanatory notes and a substantial introduction. This abridged presentation of lucretius famous sixbook poem on nature focuses mostly on those passages essential to epicureanism based on translations by. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. Drawing upon this materialist philosophy, lucretius cites the fear of death as the cause of mans ills, and shows the way to freedom from that fear. Lucretius, on the nature of things, book two english. So, if you know a little latin, but youre not really great at it, this compact volume with the latin on the left. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines life. On the nature of things by lucretius, paperback barnes.
Book i 94k book ii 106k book iii 95k book iv 117k book v 9k book vi 122k download. Pleasant is it also to behold great encounters of warfare arrayed over the plains. The text of the browne translation needs to be typed into books two through six, and then line equivalent line numbers added to the munro and bailey versions which are already transcribed. Thomas sawbridge in little britain, and anthony stephens in oxford, 1683. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. On the nature of things leonard translation titus lucretius carus c. There is really no other explanation for this book than the fact that richard feynman had built a time machine and had the opportunity to talk with lucretius for one hour but no more and explain to him what he feynman has said is the most important statement he could say in the fewest words, that all things are made of atomslittle. Lucretius has 110 books on goodreads with 78773 ratings. In the present reprint the translation has been adapted to the second edition of. Lucretius, on the nature of things loeb classical library. It is sweet, when on the great sea the winds trouble its waters, to behold from land anothers deep distress. Lucretius on the nature of things matter and void, part i. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient.
Among digressions about the importance of philosophy in mens life and praises of. Proem mother of rome, delight of gods and men, dear venus that beneath the gliding stars makest to teem the manyvoyaged main and fruitful lands for all of living things through thee alone are evermore conceived. Aug 19, 2017 lucretiuss on the nature of things is not easy latin. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. Lucretius poem on the nature of things combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. The section in the middle of the first book,5 in which lucretius criticizes rival theories of the world, shows us how epicurus applied his principle. In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek.
The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. If livy is easy and horace is hard, then lucretius is much closer to horace in difficulty. Prepared from the sphere library book, translated martin. This elegant new translation at last restores the poetry to one of the greatest and most influential poems in the western tradition. Lucretiuss on the nature of things is not easy latin. On the nature of things by lucretius, part of the internet classics archive. On the nature of things, is a firstcentury bc didactic poem by the roman poet and philosopher lucretius. On the nature of things watson translation by carus.
In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek philosopher epicurus, with the aim of dispelling fear of. If youre like me, the following layout might be useful. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Visit the webpage for lucretius ii thomas nail argues convincingly and systematically that lucretius was not an atomist, but a thinker of kinetic flux. Lucretius synonyms, lucretius pronunciation, lucretius translation, english dictionary definition of lucretius. Argument of the book and new proem against a teleological concept 06. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi card.
On the nature of things has been divided into the following sections. On the nature of things by lucretius the internet classics archive. Henri bergson, the philosophy of poetry, the genius of lucretius translated and edited by wade. Don fowler 2007 lucretius on creation and evolution. At present 062718 transcription of book one is now complete, with books two through six remaining to be done. Lucretius is a really difficult text and you need a translation that will point out his sources and what hes doing with them. It is sweet, when winds trouble the waters on the great sea, to behold from land the distress of others, not because it is a pleasure that any should be afflicted, but because it is sweet to see from what evils you are yourself exempt. On the nature of things watson translation by carus, titus. Jun 26, 2011 lucretius is a really difficult text and you need a translation that will point out his sources and what hes doing with them. Munros lucretius book ii it is sweet, when on the great sea the winds trouble its waters, to behold from land anothers deep distress. Titus lucretius carus was probably born in the early first century b. Leonard and smith lucretius university of wisconsin press 1942.
Editions containing works of lucretius titus lucretius carus lucretius on atomic motion. Little is known of his life, although two tantalizing bits of gossip were passed on by st. On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. Book ii deals with the motion and forms of the atoms, and their combination in. Small octavo 412 by 714 inches, contemporary full brown calf, later red morocco spine label, raised bands.
Have a look at what they say of his concluding passage, the one where hes translating thucydides as a test. Pleasant it is, when on the great sea the winds the serene sanctuaries of philosophy. This translation is based primarily upon the latin text of h. The different kinds of atoms are many, but not infinite. On the nature of things leonard translation by titus. In book 2 he explains atomic movement, the variety of atomic shapes, and argues that the atoms lack colour, sensation, and other secondary qualities. For a more detailed description of the contents of each book, please consult the. Jan 11, 2010 05 book 2, pt 2 attack on those who refuse the theories of epicurus. By a comparison of an entry in jeromes fastp and acasualnote in donatuss life of virgil,2 and an attempt to reconcile their disagreement by considerations of probability, we can arrive at the conclusion that he was born in 94 b. So, if you know a little latin, but youre not really great at it, this compact volume with the latin on the lefthand page and the english on the right, is the book for you.
Lucretius definition of lucretius by the free dictionary. Once more, we all from seed celestial spring, to all is that same father, from whom earth, the fostering mother, as she takes the drops. Evelyns complete extant translation lacking book 2 not published until john evelyns translation of titus lucretius carus. I have collected a more uptodate set of links to various versions of lucretius on my newepicurean library page. Lucretiuss scientific poem on the nature of things c. Lucretiuss most popular book is the way things are. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. Apart from lucretiuss poem almost nothing is known about him. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Pet care marketing tips elementary mathematics k2 for girls like you cera una volta il mito, alle otto della sera bfi horbar podcast des bfi no eyes on the horizon, feet on the ground. An oldspelling critical edition ed repetzki, peter lang 2000 isbn 9780820443881. The translated text provides the general sense of the lost text. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position.
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