De Rerum Natura, The Nature of Things: A Poetic TranslationThis elegant new translation at last restores the poetry to one of the greatest and most influential poems in the Western tradition. De Rerum Natura is Lucretius's majestic elaboration of Greek Epicurean physics and psychology in an epic that unfolds over the course of six books. This sumptuous account of a secular cosmos argues that the soul is mortal, that pleasure is the object of life, and that humanity has free will, among other ideas. Renowned author, translator, and poet David R. Slavitt has captured Lucretius's elegance as well as his philosophical profundity in this highly readable translation of a poem that is crucial to the history of ancient thought. |
Common terms and phrases
Aeschylus arise atoms Ausonius beasts beginnings birds blow body bones bounce breath bronze burning Catullus Centaur Ceres clouds cloven hoof cold color combined comes constellations creatures Danaids darkness death Democritus dispersed dream earth elements Empedocles Epicurus exist eyes fall fear feel fill flames flesh flow force give gods gold grow happen heat heaven idea image stream images imagine immortal infinite Joan Palevsky kind light limbs living look Lucretius marjoram matter Memmius mighty wind mind and spirit moon mortal motions mountains mouth move nature nature of things nature's never night objects pain particles pass perhaps produce Prudentius rays rivers seeds of fire sensation senses shape simulacra smell solid somehow sometimes soul sounds space stone substance sum of things sun's suppose surface taste thunderbolts Tityos touch trees truth turn void wind wonder words