On the nature of things titus lucretius carus, lucrece. On the nature of things work by lucretius britannica. On the nature of things lucretius harvard university press. Check out other translated books in french, spanish languages. Titus lucretius carus, on the nature of things online library of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lucretius. Don fowler 2007 lucretius on creation and evolution. Little is known of his life, although two tantalizing bits of gossip were passed on by st. Humphries admirable and exciting translation makes it easy to grasp the shape and the magnitude of lucretius conception.
This textbased pdf or ebook was created from the html version of this book and is part of the portable library of liberty. Editions containing works of lucretius titus lucretius carus lucretius on atomic motion. Home collectionstexts perseus catalog research grants open source about help. Ebook lucretius on the nature of things as pdf download. The importance of lucretius lucretius brings together the worlds of poetry and philosophy his poetry makes a philosophical argument. Pdf the nature of things by titus lucretius carus download. 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. The way things are quotes showing of 70 all religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher. Even a few selections from his poetry reveal the radical freethinker at his very best. Lucretius regarded him as the spiritual savior of mankind. On the nature of things by titus lucretius carus free ebook. Study science in order to rid yourself of unneccesary fears, especially of the gods and death. This is a didactic poem that also provides a comprehensive view of epicurus philosophy the supposed structure of the universe, the origin and evolution of the world, how life and. Many comments have been posted about on the nature of things.
The greek atomic theory is significant historically and philosophically, but it has no scientific value. Titus lucretius carus died mid to late 50s bce was an epicurean poet. The project gutenberg ebook of of the nature of things, by titus lucretius carus lucretius this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with. Martin ferguson smiths work on lucretius is both well known and highly regarded. In it, he set out to explicate the universe, embracing and refuting ideas of the great greek philosophers.
Lucretius featured as a source and an example in the lectures of marcello adriani in florence at the end of the fifteenth century, though adriani seems never to have lectured directly on the poet. 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. 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. Reeve, lucretius from the 1460s to the 17th century. Titus lucretius carus was probably born in the early first century b. Titus lucretius carus, lucretius on the nature of things, trans.
Book i 94k book ii 106k book iii 95k book iv 117k book v 9k book vi 122k download. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines life. Lucretius offers his readers a complete guide to happiness and a total tour of the universe. Epicureanism was a missionary philospohy, aiming to give man happiness by making him selfsufficient. J download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It was not based on observations additional information.
In six books compounded of solid reasoning, brilliant imagination, and noble poetry, he expounds the scientific theories of the greek. Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas, alma venus, caeli subter labentia signa quae mare navigerum, quae terras frugiferentis concelebras, per te quoniam genus omne animantum 5 concipitur visitque exortum lumina solis. Athens first gave the sweet and laws, consolations of life, when she brought forth a man b but epicurus the discoverer of truth, endowed with such wisdom, who. Preface no one can set about tnnslating lucretius into english without finding his head full of the great work of h. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. The life top quality will not only about the amount of knowledge you will get.
This book draws on the latest research into the text and interpretation of lucretius. It was athens of illustrious name that first in former athens produced not only corn, days spread abroad the corn bearing crops amongst suffering mankind a. I have translated from my own text published in the bibliotheca oxoniensi. On the nature of things has been divided into the following sections. It is a formidable task to put 7,500 latin hexameter lines into english verse, but mr. Book i proem mother of rome, delight of gods and men, dear venus that beneath the gliding stars makest to teem the manyvoyaged main and fruitful landsfor all of living things through thee alone are evermore conceived, through thee are risen to visit the great sun before thee, goddess, and thy coming on, flee stormy wind and massy cloud away, for thee the daedal earth bears scented. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. The poem is the fullest extant statement of the physical theory of the greek philosopher epicurus. On the nature of things titus lucretius carus full. On the nature of things by lucretius the internet classics archive. Athens bestowed on them a new life and established laws. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. An exposition of epicurus atomic theory and the ethical tenets based upon it. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Titus lucretius carus, altalanosan elterjedt neven lucretius pompei, kr. This is a facsimile or imagebased pdf made from scans of the original book. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Mother of aeneas and his race, darling of men and venus, aid me in my work gods, nurturing venus, a who beneath the smoothmoving heavenly signs fill with yourself the sea fullladen with ships, the earth that bears the crops, since through you every kind of living thing is conceived and rising up looks on the light of the sun. It also alludes to his ethical and logical doctrines. Reissued to accompany stephen greenblatts the swerve. Of the nature of things, by titus lucretius carus project gutenberg. Humphries easy, varied lines are thoroughly readable. The internet classics archive on the nature of things by. Apart from lucretiuss poem almost nothing is known about him. Little is known about lucretius, although various contemporary authors have written about his life.