horror-stricken than herself, and rushed into the
corridor, where, after a few paces, she fell
down heavily in a swoon.

A CHAPTER ON THE LATIN POETS.

MR. TENNYSON'S extraordinary poem of
Lucretius, and the criticisms to which it
gave occasion, have naturally induced some
inquiry among readers in general as to the
Latin poets in particular. Curiously enough,
Lucretius stands not only in the first rank,
but as the first in time, of the great writers
who brought Roman verse to perfection.
We wish to make a few remarks on this
line of singers, of whom less is known by
us than of the Greek bards, to whom, indeed,
scholars have paid almost exclusive
attention.

We have the confession of Cicero that
poetry appeared very late among the
Romans in the shape of refined composition.
The Fescennine verses, or the loose satirical
pieces sung at harvest-homes, were of
course of great antiquity; as were also the
Versus Saturnii, or the iambic ravings of
Faunus and the prophets, in which measure
Nævius composed an historical poem on the
Punic War. The older Romans looked
with contempt on Greek accomplishments;
counting, indeed, music, painting, singing,
dancing, acting, and other arts, as mean
and dishonourable professions, in which
they were willing to educate their slaves,
but not their children. The perfection of
Latin verse was due to Lucretius and
Catullus, but especially to the former,
whose style always flows in a pure stream,
and whose verses are frequently
recommended by a beautiful harmony of numbers.
Lucretius was educated at Athens, in the
Epicurean philosophy. He had for patron
one Memnius, whom he has celebrated in
his verses, but who nevertheless fell into
disgrace, having been accused of canvassing
and bribery for the consulship, and was, with
others, condemned and banished for the
crime. Here, it is probable, lay the real
cause of the poet's distemper and death,
which happened in the year of Rome 701,
when he was about forty-four years of age.

The great poem of Lucretius was, after
his death, revised by Cicero, for so highly
was it esteemed that it was deemed proper
it should be given to the world in the best
possible form. The Invocation to Venus at
the beginning of the poem has always been
admired, understanding by the goddess the
principle of Love and Concord. Mars, in
her embrace, forgets his rage; and
therefore the poet pleads, in the interests of his
country, that she will so propitiate the
War-God as to procure for Rome the peace
which was so needful for the cultivation
of the arts and sciences. Among the
descriptions which have received the highest
praise are, those of Sicily, the sacrifice of
Iphigenia, the offering of the calf and the
dam's concern for its loss, the shells that
cover the sea-shore, and the plague of
Athens.

The purely philosophical character of
the poem provoked opposition, which was
increased by its plain speaking; for
Lucretius professed a noble pity for human
ignorance and superstition, which he believed
it was the mission of Epicurus to enlighten
and remove. His aim was to supply
mankind with a motive for directing their
affections to objects whose perfections are
sufficient to satisfy the desire, and fill the
soul with admiration and delight. What
Lucretius says on this point vindicates
Epicurus against the imputation of his having
encouraged sensual pleasure, the main drift
of the argument being in recommendation
of sobriety and temperance as the sole
conditions of true happiness.

The next poet in time and merit is
Catullus, who was born about eighty years
before the Christian era in the territory of
Verona. His father was acquainted with
Julius Cæsar. He was carried at an early
age to Rome by his patron Manlius, and
there soon gained another patron in Cicero.
Indeed, his wit and merit recommended
him to the greatest men of his time, who
are mentioned in his writings as his most
intimate friends. His poems are lyrical
and epigrammatic, much inferior in the
harmony of numbers, and also in their moral
tone, to the verses of Lucretius. One of
his most celebrated poems is in praise of
Lesbia and her Sparrow. The heroine so
styled, was a Roman lady named Clodia; he
had also another mistress named Ipsithilla
of Verona. Most of his writings are lost;
many of them were licentious and satirical,
the severest being directed against Julius
Cæsar. The latter, to counteract his
animosity, invited the poet to supper, and
treated him with such affability and good
nature, that the satirist was subdued by
his courtesy, and resolved on silence for
the future. He died about the age of thirty.

The third poet on our list is Tibullus,
who was born at Rome, and patronised by
Messala Corvinus. He had a country seat
at Pedum, a town in Latium, near Rome,