Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . y with eroticthemes; and it was with traditions due tothem that it passed to the younger poets of the Augustan age,—Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid. These writers, if less learned thantheir teachers, had a more ardent temperament, fresher and morevivid sensibilities. Accordingly, this last form of literature whichthe Romans appropriated from the Greeks was one of the very fewin which they could flatter themselves that they had surpassed theirmodels. If not the greatest genius among Roman elegiac poets,— as manyancient critics were inc
Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . y with eroticthemes; and it was with traditions due tothem that it passed to the younger poets of the Augustan age,—Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid. These writers, if less learned thantheir teachers, had a more ardent temperament, fresher and morevivid sensibilities. Accordingly, this last form of literature whichthe Romans appropriated from the Greeks was one of the very fewin which they could flatter themselves that they had surpassed theirmodels. If not the greatest genius among Roman elegiac poets,— as manyancient critics were inclined to rate him,— Tibullus was at least themost typical. His art was the most consistent and symmetrically devel-oped, quite in keeping with his amiable and yet singularly independ-ent character. It was his aim to be an elegiast pure and love, or rather its reflection in his poetry, was to him all in all;and no other subject could long divert his attention. Even Propertiussometimes forgets his Cynthia, and repeats a legend of early Rome,. Albius Tibullus ALBIUS TIBULLUS 14933 or recounts the exploits of Augustus. And Ovid could neglect theart of love to narrate the adventures of gods and heroes. But to theend Tibullus is found, as Horace pictures him in the well-known ode,chanting his miserabiles elegos >* and bewailing the harshness ofhis mistress.* This entire devotion to his one chosen theme not only distin-guishes him from these his immediate rivals, but is in marked con-trast with the attitude of the greater poets of the Augustan and Virgil, though provincials of low birth, possibly of alienrace, and writing in the very shadow of the imperial power, areyet impressed by a sense of Romes greatness. Though freedom hadperished, they believe that there is still a mission for the noblequalities that had made the nation great: to conserve, to stimulate,to direct these loftier impulses, are the aims which lend dignity totheir art. But Tibullus, who
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectliterature, bookyear1
