Introduction to classical Latin literature . been preserved in great houses, but if so they mostly390 perished, like nearly all other records, in the Cf. Livy, vi., I. great sack of liome by the Gauls. In anycase, they had no great literary value. The general belief is, that the early Latins were asnearly strangers to the Muses as any people well can meagre fragments offered us, certainly, are unin-spired indeed. A charm for footache, to be sung thricenine times, spitting and touching the ground, may be translated: Earth, take the pest to thee!Health, tarry here with me I A farmers
Introduction to classical Latin literature . been preserved in great houses, but if so they mostly390 perished, like nearly all other records, in the Cf. Livy, vi., I. great sack of liome by the Gauls. In anycase, they had no great literary value. The general belief is, that the early Latins were asnearly strangers to the Muses as any people well can meagre fragments offered us, certainly, are unin-spired indeed. A charm for footache, to be sung thricenine times, spitting and touching the ground, may be translated: Earth, take the pest to thee!Health, tarry here with me I A farmers maxim is quite as rude as our rendering: Winter dust and muddy springBig haivest, child, will surely bring. The songs of the Fratres Arvales, and other primevalhymns, have been transmitted in a form quite unintelli-gible. They are cniofly appeals to the rustic gods by name,and are mere priestly incaptations, uttered in spring as ablessing on the cornfields. Neither in them, nor in theversified epitaphs found in the tomb of the Scipios, is. p lli,.;,,:,,,;;.i:i.,l!l.;i:iiii|iii:lliilii;ilili;ii;;:.,i.:,l::;iii:. i^m TRACES OF EARLY LATIN POETRY AND PROSE 17 tliere anything like poetic fancy. A single example ofthese latter will be convincing : a8o Cornelius Lucius |I Scipio Barbatus, Son of a father Gnaivos,Wliose form unto liis natureConsul, censor and arlileTaurasia, Cisauna,Reduced Lucania wholly, A man both wise and excellently became among Samnium he conquered,And hostapfes exacted. The best early verse quotable is, however, an epitaph,upon a woman. It has a certain pathetic power due toits absolute simplicity. Stranger, I say but little: pause and read. This is a lovely dames unlovely tomb. The name her parents gave was Claudia. Her husband she did love with all her heart. Two sons she bore him. One of these on earth She leaves, the other under earth she laid. Of gentle speech she was, and gracious mien. She kept her house, span wool.
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