Where, for instance, shackleton bailey accuses statius of a clangorous mistake when he says, in his description of atedius meliors oddly shaped plane tree, that its underwater branches struggle sub auras 2. I dont think ive begun any little work of mine without invoking the divinity of our great emperor, but this book owns to three such pieces, and what greater tribute to you than that the. The poems deal with consolation, description, and end with an exhortation to statius wife to move with him to naples. Book 4 was published later, and although the chief stylistic features of the silvae. It reflects the more private side of roman culture, its pleasures, houses, gardens, friendships, and personal losses. No wandering foreign general shakes campanias fields in perfidious war. Statiuss silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce. The first published collection of silvae books were. He was the author of a collection of dedicatory poems known as the silvae, the epic thebaid in twelve books. In the prose preface to his third book of occasional verse silvae, statius also reveals that earinus is now a freedman, and that silvae 3. Publius papinius statius was a roman poet who flourished in the late c1st a. Statius silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce.
The silvae were probably composed by statius between 8996 ce. Statius silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between. Books may well have been published as a unit see coleman, op. None of the books of the silvae is dedicated to domitian. As often on such matters van dam, silvae, book ii n. Classical texts library statius, thebaid book 1 statius, thebaid 1. Critical and exegetical commentary on statius silvae, i. Statius stresses the confidence he now has in his silvae and pollius help in their composition. The silvae as shorter poems of occasion are well worth the read. I read the oxford u press translation of the thebiad, the epic poem from statius, and found it even in translation a great poem.
The book is notable for its concern with statius himself one poem is a lament for his father, who was himself a poet and a teacher. Statius, thebaid book 1 theoi classical texts library. Not all of the poems featured in a given book are addressed to that. Born in naples, he was the son of a professional poet and teacher. Published near the end of statius life, the silvae is a collection of witty and engaging occasional poems, but beyond their verbal artistry lies their importance as social documents, contemporary witnesses to the roman world during the reign of domitian. Here the poet congratulates friends, consoles mourners, offers thanks, admires a monument or artistic object, and describes a memorable scene. Shackleton baileys edition, which replaced the earlier loeb classical library edition by j. Prologue statius to his friend, lucius arruntius stella, greetings ive thought long and hard, my stella, given how knowledgeable and distinguished you are in whatever of our pursuits you follow, as to whether i should gather these things together for publication, works that rose one by one from my heart, flowing in sudden fire and lovely haste from my pen. Represents the first fulllength english language commentary on book 2 of statius thebaid juxtaposes the newly edited full latin text with an accessible translation and extensive contextualizing introduction. Publius papinius statius lived from the 40s to the mid90s c. Book 3 letter 3 from silvae of statius translated with introduction and notes by slater, d. One of statius consolatory strategies hinges on a correspondence of amorous senses that continues postmortem and is free of any petty jealousy. Unlike the silvae, statius thebaid was read and admired throughout the middle.
In the fourth book the argive forces gather, commanded by the seven champions adrastus, polyneices, amphiaraus, capaneus, parthenopaeus, hippomedon, and tydeus and march to thebes, but at nemea, bacchus. Ironically literary criticism of statius poetry has generated its own kind of civil war, so. This new edition deals with book 5 of statius silvae, which has often been neglected in thematic treatments of the poets work. With the exception of a poem on the unscripted death of a lion in the colosseum, book ii of statius silvae is largely domestic in theme. Statius, thebaid 2 edited with an introduction, translation, and commentary edited by kyle gervais. Statius silvae and the poetics of intimacy arethusa 40. He featured both in chaucers house of fame as stace and in dantes divine comedy, where he is called il dolce poeta. Volume i, silvae loeb classical library edition 1 by.
I need not justify to you at least, dearest pollius, so deserving of the quiet to which you cling so faithfully, the temerity of these little pieces, since you know that many of them were suddenly born at your side, and you were frequently troubled by my pens audaciousness, when you led me into your eloquences sanctuary, and i. Statius was a significant roman poet and i certainly hope his writings get more attention. This edition of book 5 of statius silvae includes an introduction, translation, and full literary and cultural commentary, enabling readers to engage with the work of this learned and increasingly popular poet. Statius compliments domitian for passing a law forbidding the creation of eunuchs. Books 1 to 3 together after january 93, book 4 in 95, book 5 posthumously, probably in or after 96. Book 4, letter 3 of the silvae of statius, translated by slater, d. During this period at naples, statius maintained his relations with the court and his patrons, earning himself another invitation to a palace banquet silv. These last two works relate the stories of the seven against thebes and the youth of achilles respectively. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Bilingual onomastics and the arrangement of statius, silvae 2. Statius stresses the confidence he now has in his silvae and pollius. In his teens he moved to rome, and there, some years later, he embarked on his own career in poetry. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Quis duri silicis, the emperors road, roman poets of the silver age, classical literature and history, english translation and notes, ancient roman authors and historians, free ebook, open source texts, on.
In the final poem of the third book of his silvae, statius famously urges his wife. Statius first three books of the silvae seem to have received some criticism, and in response he composed a fourth book at naples, which was published in 95. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. The verse is light in touch, with a distinct pictorial quality.
On the topos of encountering friends in the underworld, see h. The silvae, with probable composition dates of 89 to 96, appeared in three installments. Prefatory notes 152 statius to his friend pollius 154 1. Maecius celer is known only from statius and the acts of the arval. One poem celebrates the emperors dedicating a minions blond tresses to the god asclepius 3. Silvae book iii, a new downloadable english translation. This essay presents a detailed literary analysis of statiuss silvae 1. Publius papinius statius is the author of the thebaid 3. My reading follows the progress of the poem, as it first outlines the quality of the domain as a whole, then examines aspects of what a visitor might encounter.
Statius, achilleid book 1 theoi classical texts library. Ive contrived a book, dearest marcellus, that i can dedicate to your loyal affection. Silvae, thirtytwo occasional poems, were written probably between 89 and 96 ce. Mozley, is now reissued with corrections by christopher a. Tydeus slaughters the thebans and escapes to argos, causing adrastus and polyneices to declare war on thebes book 3. I dont think ive begun any little work of mine without invoking the divinity of our great emperor, but this book owns to three such pieces, and what greater tribute to you than that the fourth is by way of honouring you.
The silvae several times praises parthenopaeus, one of the seven against thebes, whose name refers to his feminine features. In the preface to each book of his collected poems, the silvae, statius writes in the apologetic mode. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Mozley 1 but not to the perfidious lord of the aonian palace comes the repose of slumber in the twilight hours, although for the dank stars long travail yet remain till dawn. The first three books seem to have been published together after 93 ce.
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