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T. Lucretius Carus, 90 B.C.

He wrote a philosophical poem on the Nature of Things, which represents the philosophy of the Epicurean sect in its most imposing features. The composition in particular passages is very rich in scenery, and florid, and bursts, at turns, like the lightning from a cloud.-Eschb.

Best edition, D. Brown, Edinb., 1812. Best translation, J. M. Good, 2 vols., Lond., 1805.

Albius Tibullus.

He combined soft, tender feeling, with the noblest and most expressive diction, with the most elegant variety of invention, of images and allusions, without any far-fetched art and unnatural ornament of style.-Eschb.

Transl., James Granger, 2 vols. 12mo, $1 75, London, 1720.

Sextus Aurelius Propertius, 701 A.U.

The chief merits of his remaining elegiac poems are passionate expression, rich poetical diction, and correctness of style; but he often transgresses the limits of nature and decorum, and is too prodigal in the use of poetical ornament. -Eschb.

Best edition, Tibulli and Propertii opera, ex editione J. Broukhusii fideliter expressa, 18mo, $2 25, Glasgow, 1753.

Publius Virgilius Maro, 684 A.U.

He was the greatest of the Roman poets in pastoral, didactic, and epic poetry.—Eschb.

Best edition, Virgilii Opera, Heynii editio, quarto, 8 vols. 8vo, $50 00, Lips., 1830-39. Good edition, V. Opera notis ex editione Heyniana excerptis illustrata, 8vo, $6 50, Oxon., 1830. For translation, see third part.

Q. Horatius Flaccus, 688 A.U.

His satires and epistles converse with external and internal life, delineate man and human nature, and, while seeming to teach only the arts of luxurious living and courtly flattery, gently guide to a self-dependant life, adorned with arts and sciences.-Wachler.

Best edition, Horatius, recensuit et illustravit F. G. Dö ring, 8vo, $4 00, Oxon., 1838. For transl., see third part.

Catullus (Caius Valerius), born 86 B.C.

His poems are usually published with those of Tibullus

and Propertius. He was the friend of Cicero, Cinna, and Cornelius Nepos. He was the first of the Romans who imitated successfully the Greek lyric poetry. He succeeded also in heroic verse, but was most happy in epigrams and sportive composition. Martial, in one of his epigrams, grants to Catullus alone a superiority over himself. Two editions of his works, one by Volpius (Padua, 1737), the other by Döring, (Leipsic, 1788-90), deserve mention.

P. Ovidius Naso, 43 B.C.

His principal work is the "Fasti," as giving, in the familiar garb of light versification, a complete view of the connexion of the Roman state, religion, and history with daily life. His "Metamorphoses," a species of epic, has exercised a highly important influence on the arts and cultivation of more recent times.- Wachler.

Good edition, Ovidius Naso, ex recensione Heinsio-Burmanniana-Parisiis, 1820-24, 9 vols. Best translation, Dryden, Pope, Congreve, &c., &c., 2 vols., 90 cts. Harper & Brothers, New-York.

Marcus Manilius, 1st century.

His work "Astronomicon" is more valuable for the history of Astronomy it contains than for intrinsic poetical excellence.-Eschb.

Good edition, Richard Bentley, London, 1739, $2 75.

Phædrus, 1st century.

He is celebrated for his five books of Æsop's Fables, related with all the natural ease and simplicity of which fable is capable in a poetical dress.-Eschb.

Good edition, Fred. Henr. Bothe, Paris, 1821, $2 50.

Lucius Annæus Seneca, 1st century.

His tragedies are in general removed from the noble simplicity of Grecian tragedy, and are mostly of very defective plot and execution, though not without single poetical beauties.-Eschb.

Good edition, Torkill Baden, Lips., 1821, 2 vols., $3 75.

M. Valerius Martialis, end of the 1st century.

The most of his epigrams are uncommonly acute and appropriate; their multitude and proportionate excellence render the almost inexhaustible and always lively wit of this poet admirable.-Eschb.

Best edition, Martialis Epigrammata ad optimas editiones collata, 8vo, $1 62, Bipont, 1784.

Juvenal, 1st century.

He wrote 16 satires, in which he chastises the follies and viees of his times. His style is not so elegant, nor his disposition so mild and humorous as that of Horace, nor yet so gloomy and stern as that of Persius, and he often betrays the rhetorician.

Best edition, that of Henninius (Utrecht), 1685, 4to. Gifford's translation is very valuable.-Enc. Am.

Aurelius Prudentius, 4th century.

A Christian poet, whose hymns are distinguished for their good poetical expression, but still more for their pious and devotional contents.-Eschb.

Good edition, Rome, 1789, 2 vols.

(B.) MEDIEVAL.

From the 5th to the 14th century.

1. FRENCH.

The Norman Alexander, 1180.

The Alexandrine verse derived its name from him.-Eschb.

Doëte de Troyes, 13th century.

A celebrated poetess.

Jean Froissart, 1337.

His poems are distinguished by the most graceful simplicity and loveliness.-Enc. Am.

Coinsi and Farsi.

These were two monks, who distinguished themselves by their moral and satirical fabliaux.

2. GERMAN.

The heroic songs, of which Tacitus speaks, are lost.

Ottfried's Harmony of the Gospels, 840.

It is the most important biblical poem. The language is rich and fluent, and the whole stands in high estimation. -Wachler.

It may be found in "Schill Thesaurus Antiquitatum Teutonicarum," Ulm., 1727, 3 vols., $3 75.

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The earliest German ballad, 881,

celebrates the victory of Louis III. over the Normans; it is a beautiful production, breathing a poetical and pious spirit. -Wachler.

The Minnesingers,

amatory poets, who began with Henry of Veldeck (1170). The most celebrated are Wolfram of Eschenbach, Walter von der Vogelwaide, Henry of Ofterdingen, &c., &c.— Enc. Am.

L. Tieck has published two hundred and twenty poems, modernized, from that great collection, under the title of Minnelieder aus dem Schwabischen Zeitalter, Berlin, 1803. The Niebelungenlied, 1207.

A romantic epic of great merit, both in regard to the plan and the execution. Characters are developed in it as in a drama of Shakspeare.-Enc. Am.

Best edition, Vonder Hagen, with notes, Frankfort on the Maine, 1824, 2 vols.

The Heldenbuch.

A celebrated collection of old German poems, drawn from national traditions of events which happened in the time of Attila and the irruption of the German nations into the Roman Empire.-Enc. Am.

"Heldenbuch in der Ursprache," Berlin, 1820-24, 2 vols.,

4to.

(See third part.)

3. ITALIAN.

Dante Alighieri, 1265.

Cino da Pistoria, 1266.

He ranks among the best of the early Italian poets, and resembles Petrarca more than any of the other predecessors of this poet.-Enc. Am.

The most complete edition is that of Ciampi, Florence, 1812.

Petrarca.

(See third part.) Good edition, Padua, 1819-20, 2 vols., 4to. Boccacio, 1313.

He appears, in all his productions, to be a poet of the rich

est invention, the most lively imagination, and the tenderest and warmest feeling.-Enc. Am.

3 vols. 8vo, $8 50.

4. SPANISH.

El Poema de Cid, 12th century.

This is a collection of ballads commemorating the deeds of a Spanish hero Cid, and is very striking for the simplicity and poetical colouring. A great number have been published in the Collection of the best Ancient Spanish Historical, Chivalrous, and Moorish Poems, by Depping (Altenburg and Leipzic, 1817).—Enc. Am.

El Poema de Alexandro Magno, 12th century. Much inferior to the former.

5. ENGLISH.

Robert Langland, 14th century.

Author of the curious poems, "The Vision of Pierce Plowman," and "Pierce Plowman's Creed." They are satires on the vice and luxury of the monastic orders and Romish clergy in general. Editions have been published by Dr. T. D. Whitaker.-Enc. Am.

(See third part.)

Chaucer, 14th century.

John Gower, 14th century.

The language is tolerably perspicuous, and the versification often harmonious.-Enc. Am.

(C.) MODERN.

1. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN.

Alexander Barclay, 16th century.

He is remarkable for his "Ship of Fools," for the greater part a translation from the German.-P. Enc.

Sir Thomas Wyatt, 1503.

His poetical works evince more elegance of thought than imagination, while his mode of expression is artificial and laboured. Enc. Am.

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Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, 1520.

As a poet he is very respectable. The harmony of his

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