Robinson Ellis

Experience the passionate and enduring voice of Gaius Valerius Catullus in "The Poems and Fragments of Catullus." This collection showcases the brilliance of Roman poetry, offering a glimpse into the life and emotions of one of its most celebrated figures. Catullus, a master of Latin verse, explores themes of love, loss, friendship, and betrayal with remarkable intensity. From poignant elegies to biting epigrams, his work resonates with a timeless quality. This volume includes meticulously prepared translations of his complete poems and fragments, preserving the power and artistry of the original Latin. A cornerstone of classical literature, Catullus's poetry provides a unique window into Roman society and the human condition. Discover why his work continues to captivate readers centuries after its creation. Perfect for students, scholars, and anyone seeking to explore the depths of ancient Roman poetry. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This 1876 work is the magisterial commentary by the Oxford scholar Robinson Ellis (1834–1913) on the life and oeuvre of the Roman poet Catullus, whose work illuminates the closing years of the Roman Republic. Our knowledge of Catullus' life derives almost entirely from his own writings. Three manuscripts survive which contain a collection of poems that are ascribed to him, and all three date from the fourteenth century. Ellis considers the research that has already been undertaken on the poet and his environment but mostly draws on his own work in assessing the value of the Renaissance Italian commentators who established the generally accepted poetic canon. He traces the Greek influences that Catullus was exposed to and discusses his use of different metres, while also speculating on the identity of his beloved Lesbia, a controversial question still unresolved in the twenty-first century.