The Satires of Persius: Introduction, Text, Translation and Commentary (Latin and Greek Texts, 4) - Hardcover

Lee, Guy; Barr, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0905205375 ISBN 13: 9780905205373

Publisher: Francis Cairns (Publications) Ltd, 1987

Synopsis

Aulus Persius Flaccus (A.D. 34-62) wrote in racy conversational Latin six satires countering contemporary vice with Stoic morality; he died young. This is not easy poetry, with its sudden shifts of tone, switches of speaker and situation, vivid evocation of the everyday roman background, and confident handling of philosophical positions. But it is still a good read. This edition prints the Latin text faced with a brilliant verse translation by Guy Lee. The introduction and commentary provided by William Barr make it a suitable class text.

About this title

Review

... a suitably dense and vivid translation of the Satires and illuminating commentary at an affordable price -- Classical Review 39 (1989) 29-30

Succinct, learned and informative notes in this new edition apply and enlarge exiting stores of comment and citation. Lucid summaries interpret the argument and line-by-line metrical translation inventively catches the compression and other features of Persius' style. -- Journal of Roman Studies 80 (1990) 269

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

(the end of Satire 6) Sell your soul for profit. Trade and slyly squeeze The world's four corners, lest another outclass you At slapping Cappadocian fat on the hard slave-platform. Double your wealth. 'I have - and trebled, and quadrupled. Tenfold I've folded it. Do point me where to stop, And the man to quantify Chrysippus' heap is found.'

Edition details

• Publisher: Francis Cairns (Publications) Ltd
• Publication date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0905205375
• ISBN 13: 9780905205373
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 177