Claudian, Volume 1Claudius Claudianus (c. 370-c. 410 CE) gives us important knowledge of Honorius's time and displays poetic as well as rhetorical skill, command of language, and diversity. A panegyric on the brothers Probinus and Olybrius (consuls together in 395 CE) was followed mostly by epics in hexameters, but also by elegiacs, epistles, epigrams, and idylls. Claudius Claudianus, Latin poet of great affairs, flourished during the joint reigns (394-5 CE onwards) of the brothers Honorius (Emperor in the West) and Arcadius (in the East). Apparently a native of Greek Alexandria in Egypt, he was, to judge by his name, of Roman descent, though his first writings were in Greek, and his pure Latin may have been learned by him as a foreign language. About 395 CE he moved to Italy (Milan and Rome) and though really a pagan, became a professional court-poet composing for Christian rulers works which give us important knowledge of Honorius's time. A panegyric on the brothers Probinus and Olybrius (consuls together in 395) was followed during ten years by other poems (mostly epics in hexameters): in praise of consulships of Honorius (395, 398, 404 CE); against the Byzantine ministers Rufinus (396) and Eutropius (399); in praise of the consulship (400) of Stilicho (Honorius's guardian, general, and minister); in praise of Stilicho's wife Serena; mixed metres on the marriage of Honorius to their daughter Maria; on the war with the rebel Gildo in Africa (398); on the Getic or Gothic war (402); on Stilicho's success against the Goth Alaric (403); on the consulship of Manlius Theodorus (399); and on the wedding of Palladius and Celerina. Less important are non-official poems such as the three books of a mythological epic on the Rape of Proserpina, unfinished as was also a Battle of Giants (in Greek). Noteworthy are Phoenix, Senex Veronensis, elegiac prefaces, and the epistles, epigrams, and idylls. Through the patronage of Stilicho or through Serena, Claudius in 404 married well in Africa and was granted a statue in Rome. Nothing is known of him after 404. In his poetry are true poetic as well as rhetorical skill, command of language, polished style, diversity, vigour, satire, dignity, bombast, artificiality, flattery, and other virtues and faults of the earlier "silver" age in Latin. The Loeb Classical Library edition of Claudian is in two volumes. |
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Page 18 - Saepe mihi dubiam traxit sententia mentem curarent superi terras an nullus inesset rector et incerto fluerent mortalia casu.
Page 294 - Nec tibi quid liceat , sed quid fecisse decebit , Occurrat , mentemque domet respectus honesti.
Page 54 - EHEU! quam brevibus pereunt ingentia fatis! Imperium tanto quaesitum sanguine, tanto Servatum , quod mille ducum peperere labores , Quod tantis romana manus contexuit annis, Proditor unus iners angusto tempore vertit. URBS etiam, magnae quae dicitur...
Page 234 - Zephyro contenta colono, umbrosumque nemus, quo non admittitur ales, ni probet ante suos diva sub iudice cantus: quae placuit, fruitur ramis; quae victa, recedit. vivunt in Venerem frondes omnisque vicissim felix arbor amat; nutant ad mutua palmae foedera, populeo suspirat populus ictu et platani platanis alnoque adsibilat...
Page 190 - Quippe metus poenae. Pridem mos ille vigebat, ut meritos colerent impacatisque rebelles urgerent odiis; at nunc, qui foedera rumpit, ditatur; qui servat, eget. Vastator Achivae 215 gentis et Epirum nuper populatus inultam praesidet Illyrico; iam quos obsedit amicos ingreditur muros illis responsa daturus, quorum coniugibus potitur natosque peremit.
Page 238 - ait ; " quae proelia sudas improbe ? quis iacuit telis ? iterumne Tonantem inter Sidonias cogis mugire iuvencas ? an Titana domas ? an pastoralia Lunam rursus in antra vocas ? durum magnumque videris debellasse deum.
Page 316 - Memphis 570 in vulgus proferre solet ; penetralibus exit effigies, brevis illa quidem : sed plurimus infra liniger imposito suspirat vecte sacerdos testatus sudore deum ; Nilotica sistris ripa sonat Phariosque modos Aegyptia ducit 575 tibia ; summissis admugit cornibus Apis.
Page 236 - Née cetera numina desunt. Hic habitat nullo constricta Licentia nodo, Et flecti faciles Irae, vinoque madentes Excubiae, Lacrimaeque rudes, et gratus amantum Pallor, et in primis titubans Audacia furtis, lucundique Metus, et non secura Voluptas ; Et lasciva volant levibus Periuria ventis.
Page 46 - Tum tellus communis erit, tum limite nullo 380 discernetur ager; nec vomere sulcus obunco findetur : subitis messor gaudebit aristis. Rorabunt querceta favis; stagnantia passim vina fluent oleique lacus ; nec murice tinctis velleribus quaeretur honos, sed sponte rubebunt 385 attonito pastore greges pontumque per omnem ridebunt virides gemmis nascentibus algae".
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