Table Of ContentMNEMOSYNE
BIBLIOTHECA CLASSICA BATAVA
COLLEGERUNT
J M BREMER ■ L F. JANSSEN • H. PINKSTER
H.W. PLEKET • C.J. RUQCH • P.H. SCHRIJVERS
BIBLIOTHECAE FASCICULOS EDENDOS CURAVIT
C.J. RUQGH, KLASSIEK SEMINARIUM, OUDE TURFMARKT 129, AMSTERDAM
SUPPLEMENTUM CENTESIMUM SEXAGESIMUM QUINTUM
MICHAEL VON ALBRECHT
A HISTORY OF ROMAN LITERATURE
VOLUME ONE
A HISTORY OF
ROMAN LITERATURE
From Livius Andronicus to Boethius
WITH SPECIAL REGARD TO ITS INFLUENCE
ON WORLD LITERATURE
BY
MICHAEL VON ALBRECHT
Revised by Gareth Schmeling and by the author
VOLUME ONE
Translated with the Assistance of Frances and Kevin Newman
EJ. BRILL
LEIDEN ■ NEW YORK • KÖLN
1997
This English edition was supported by the Stiftung Humanismus Heute des Landes
Baden-Württemberg, by the Robert Bosch Company, and by the Inter Nattones (Bonn).
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
Library of Congress Catmloging-in-Publication Data
Albrecht, Michael von.
[Geschichte der römischen Literatur. English]
A history of Roman literature : from IJvint Andronicus to Boethius
: with special regard to its influence on world literature / by
MS duel von Albrecht ; revised by Gareth Schmeling and by the author.
p. cm. - (Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classics Batava.
Supplementum, ISSN 0169 8958 ; 165)
VoL 1 translated with the assistance of Frances and Kevin Newman ;
v. 2 translated with the assistance of Ruth R. Caston and Francis R.
Schwartz.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004107126 (set : aft. paper). - ISBN 9004107096 (v. I :
alk. paper). - ISBN 9004107118 (v. 2 : aft. paper)
I. Latin literature- History and criticism. 2. Literature,
Modem- Roman influences. 3. Rome-In literature. I. Schmeling,
Gareth L. II. Tide. III. Series.
PA60Q7.A5513 1996
8703TO1 dc20 96 38926
CIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-EinJbeitsJiufinsdime
[Mnemosyne / Supplementum]
Mnemosyne : bibliotheca duna Batava. Supplementum.
Leiden ; New York ; Köln : Brill.
Früher Schriftenreihe
Reihe Supplementum zu: Mnemosyne
165. Albrecht, Michael von: A history of Roman literature.
Vol. I 1996
Albrecht, Michael von:
A history of Roman literature : from livius Andronicus to
Boethius ; with special regard to its influence on world
literature / by Michael von Albrecht. Rev. by Gareth Schmeling
and by the author. Leiden ; New York ; Köln : Brill.
(Mnemosyne : Supplementum ; 165}
ISBN 90-04-10712-6
NF.: Schmeling, Gareth [Bcaib.]
Vol. I. Transl. with the assistance of Frances and Kevin
Newman. - 1996
ISBN 90 04-10709-6
ISBN 90 04 10712 6 (Set}
ISBN 90 04 10709 6 (VoL t}
Original German edition: O Copyright 2J994 by KM Sour, München;
Mow Prmridmee; London; Paris
Th» edition: O Copyright 1997 by EJ, BriH Lnden, The Netherlands
AB rigfos mowed. No part of fttr fmklkatrm may bt npndmat, translated, Hand m
a ntriarai system, or tnrnrmOod m my firm or by any mams, electronic,
•uchaakat, phokxopym^ marking m otherwise, uJhark prior written
permission from the publisher.
Anthoritfiihm to phomeegy kerns Jrn mianai or penenet
mu is grmUat by EJ, Bnil branded that
the appropriate fits an pad hrrctfy to The Copyright
Cteame Cam, 222 Rosewood Drwe, Stair 910
Dowers MA 01923, USA,
Foes on subject to change.
PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS
TO MY TEACHERS AND TO MY STUDENTS
PREFACE
While many frontiers are opened and world traffic is becoming easier
every day, one might ask if this progress in mobility is matched by
a progress in mutual understanding. It might be worthwhile to listen,
in this context, to the undogmatic voice of that literature which to a
special degree influenced all western and some eastern literatures.
Even if the answers given by Roman authors may be ‘dated', cer
tainly the questions they raised, their methods of thought and their
standards of quality proved and still prove to be a path to indepen
dent thought and intellectual freedom for many.
The present book is addressed to students and teachers of classical
and modem languages and to all friends of literature. It will fulfill its
purpose if the reader feels the desire to open a classic anew or to
discover for himself a Latin author he had not known.
'Hie author gratefully dedicates this book to bis teachers—Paul
Ludwig, Ernst Zinn, and Piene Courcelle—and to his students. While
preparing the present Engßsh edition, he constantly kept in mind his
students and die unforgettable experiences of mutual teaching and
learning he had at the University of Florida and at the University
of Texas.
This English edition is a document of friendship. Frances and J.
Kevin Newman did the author the great honor of offering their help
as translators and sending him a rough draft of an English transla
tion of vol. I. They were, therefore, the first English translators of
the present book. Ruth R. Caston and Francis R. Schwartz made
rough drafts of other parts and assisted the author at different stages
of a long and complex working process. It is a pleasure to thank all
translators for their sacrificial work. The author who, of course, is
solely responsible for any error in the final version, is also deeply
obliged to his friend Gareth SchmeHng, who kindly revised it.
The present edition is based on the second, improved and aug
mented German edition of 1994. Within reasonable limits, the bib
liographies have been updated, and English editions and translations
of classical authors have been added. Latin quotations in the text
have been translated. The chapters cm Roman Jurists greatly profited
from three substantial letters from Detlef Lie!». Some remarks came
from Reinhard Haussier (on Sallust and Tadtus) and from Aldo
viü PREFACE
Sctaioii’s admirable Italian translation of this book (Torino 1995-
1996). Further advice was given by Gregor Dänischen, Petra Farian,
Sabine Grebe (e.g. on Martian us Capella), Janet Weisselberg, Rüdiger
Niehl (e.g. on the Poetae Nooelli), Claudia Nissle, Franz M. Scherer,
Matthias Schopper, and, last but not least, by the author’s wife.
This English edition would not have been possible without the
generous support granted by the Stiftung Humanismus Heute of Baden-
Württemberg, by Robert Bosch (Stuttgart), and by Inter Nationes
(Bonn). The author gives his thanks to these institutions and to the
humane persons behind them. Moreover, he wants to express his
gratitude to his Goman publisher K. G. Saur who, with the untir
ing assistance of Petra Hutter, put his international contacts in the
service of the present book. The author is pleased indeed that this
book is pub&hed in the Netherlands, where, thanks to A. D. Leeman’s
friendship, be had the privilege of living ami teaching some twenty
years ago. Albert Hoffttädt of BriU’s was a friendly and competent
tutor of the publication.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book was planned as a single unit, and its division into two
volumes is due purely to external constraints.
The four sections rtfemng la periods (e.g. ‘Survey of the literature of
the Republican Period1) which introduce each of the major Chapters
II to V present synchronical overviews of the literary activity of that
period There follows a detailed discussion of poetry and, subsequently,
prose according to genres and authors. Within each period, works of
the same genre are, where possible, treated together. However, au
thors active in several genres appear only in one place.
The sub-sections on genre (e.g. 'Roman Eptc1) are intended to facilitate
a diachronical ooemiew, and their titles are emphasised by italics. These
sub-sections on genre are in each case placed before the earliest
important representative of that genre.
A synoptic study is also made possible by the (act that all the sub
sections m the authors exhibit the same subdivisions: Life and Dates;
Sources, Models, and Genres; Literary Technique; Language and Style;
Ideas; Transmission; Influence. Because of their particular significance,
reflections on literature (i.e. literary theory and criticism) are discussed
separately (‘Ideas I1) from the other ideas of the author in question
(‘Ideas O’).
In bibliographical references, short tides wMaui initials of the first
name (e.g..Leo, LG) refer to the general hst of abbreviations at the
aid of the whole work. Short titles with initials and dates (e.g. F. Lao
1912) refer to the specialized bibliography at the end of each par
ticular section.
The orthography of places of publication is determined in each
case by the book died, and so ‘Romae1 appears along with ‘Roma1
and ‘Rook*. The names of Latin authors and works are abbreviated
in accordance with the usage of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae. The
few exceptions in the cases of Seneca and Claudian are intended for
ease of reference. Journals and other works dted in brief are listed
fully in the list of abbreviations. Abbreviations toed for editions are:
T = text; Tr = translation; C = commentary; N = notes.
CONTENTS
VOL. I
INTRODUCTION: LITERATURE AND LITERARY HISTORY
FIRST CHAPTER:
CONDITIONS OF THE RISE OF ROMAN LITERATURE
Historical Background ............................................................... 5
Conditions of the Rise of Literature ........................................ 7
Latin and Greek Literature: Tradition and Renewal ........... 12
Individual and Genre...................................................................... 14
Dialogue with the Reader mid Literary Technique................ 21
Language and Style ........................................................................ 26
Ideas I: Conquest of an Intellectual World: Poetry, Thought,
mid Teaching .......................................................................... 31
Ideas II: Old Roman Mentality versus Modern Ideas ........ 33
Before Literature ............................................................................. 41
SECOND CHAPTER:
LITERATURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PERIOD I.
I. SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE OF THE
REPUBLICAN PERIOD
Historical Background ....................................................... 51
Conditions of the Rise of Literature ................................ 55
Latin and Greek Literature ................................................. 58
Genres ..................................................................................... 61
Language and Style ............................................................... 67
Ideas I: Reflections On Literature .................................... 68
Ideas II ..................................................................................... 69
