Bloomsbury Classical Languages – serie

Taking the reader through the fragmentary text of Petronius’ Satyrica in a coherent sequence, this book gives a deeper understanding of the fascinating aesthetic, literary and social issues raised within the text. Petronius' Satyrica has long been popular with readers of Latin: it is one of the few texts that offers a glimpse into non-elite society in the early Roman imperial period. It is also one of only a handful of ancient novels to survive in any form, and certainly the most racy and controversial. Supported by a detailed contextualising introduction and companion website resources, these selections from the Latin text are carefully annotated for students and a full vocabulary can be found at the end of the book.The selections in this edition put at centre stage the figure of Eumolpus: poet, storyteller and would-be critic, as well as charlatan, swindler and lecher. He is one of the major characters in what survives of the Satyrica; he serves as an internal narrator for many of the longer embedded poems and stories; and he meditates on topics of great interest, not the least being the perceived decline of art, science and culture in the contemporary Graeco-Roman world. In this way,students are introduced to some of the best-known myths and tales of antiquity, including the Capture of Troy and the Widow of Ephesus, while affording the opportunity to translate both prose and verse passages, and to consider and evaluate the Satyrica’s relationship to the literary tradition.

Taking the reader through the fragmentary text of Petronius'' Satyrica in a coherent sequence, this book gives a deeper understanding of the fascinating aesthetic, literary and social issues raised within the text. Petronius'' Satyrica has long been popular with readers of Latin: it is one of the few texts that offers a glimpse into non-elite society in the early Roman imperial period. It is also one of only a handful of ancient novels to survive in any form, and certainly the most racy and controversial. Supported by a detailed contextualising introduction and companion website resources, these selections from the Latin text are carefully annotated for students and a full vocabulary can be found at the end of the book.The selections in this edition put at centre stage the figure of Eumolpus: poet, storyteller and would-be critic, as well as charlatan, swindler and lecher. He is one of the major characters in what survives of the Satyrica; he serves as an internal narrator for many of the longer embedded poems and stories; and he meditates on topics of great interest, not the least being the perceived decline of art, science and culture in the contemporary Graeco-Roman world. In this way,students are introduced to some of the best-known myths and tales of antiquity, including the Capture of Troy and the Widow of Ephesus, while affording the opportunity to translate both prose and verse passages, and to consider and evaluate the Satyrica''s relationship to the literary tradition.

Taking the reader through the fragmentary text of Petronius'' Satyrica in a coherent sequence, this book gives a deeper understanding of the fascinating aesthetic, literary and social issues raised within the text. Petronius'' Satyrica has long been popular with readers of Latin: it is one of the few texts that offers a glimpse into non-elite society in the early Roman imperial period. It is also one of only a handful of ancient novels to survive in any form, and certainly the most racy and controversial. Supported by a detailed contextualising introduction and companion website resources, these selections from the Latin text are carefully annotated for students and a full vocabulary can be found at the end of the book.The selections in this edition put at centre stage the figure of Eumolpus: poet, storyteller and would-be critic, as well as charlatan, swindler and lecher. He is one of the major characters in what survives of the Satyrica; he serves as an internal narrator for many of the longer embedded poems and stories; and he meditates on topics of great interest, not the least being the perceived decline of art, science and culture in the contemporary Graeco-Roman world. In this way,students are introduced to some of the best-known myths and tales of antiquity, including the Capture of Troy and the Widow of Ephesus, while affording the opportunity to translate both prose and verse passages, and to consider and evaluate the Satyrica''s relationship to the literary tradition.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid XI. Lines 1–224, 498–521, 532–596, 648–689 and 725–835 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the whole of Book XI, including sections omitted here from the Latin.In Book XI Pallas, the warrior son of Evander who was killed by Turnus, is buried, amid the mourning of his father and the Trojans. After a truce to collect and bury the dead on both sides, fighting resumes, during which the warrior-maiden Camilla battles bravely for the Latins before being killed. The events of the book take up just four days: Pallas' funeral occupies the first; the second and third are devoted (briefly) to the truce and burials; the fourth, taking up the second half of the book, is concerned with Camilla's aristeia, in which she is likened to an Amazon.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid XI. Lines 1–224, 498–521, 532–596, 648–689 and 725–835 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the whole of Book XI, including sections omitted here from the Latin.In Book XI Pallas, the warrior son of Evander who was killed by Turnus, is buried, amid the mourning of his father and the Trojans. After a truce to collect and bury the dead on both sides, fighting resumes, during which the warrior-maiden Camilla battles bravely for the Latins before being killed. The events of the book take up just four days: Pallas' funeral occupies the first; the second and third are devoted (briefly) to the truce and burials; the fourth, taking up the second half of the book, is concerned with Camilla's aristeia, in which she is likened to an Amazon.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Ovid's Amores. Poems 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.10, 2.12 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Ovid's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, including analysis of a further six poems: 2.1, 2.9 (both parts), 2.11, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18.Ovid's Amores represent the culmination of Roman love elegy, and the selection from Book II presented here shows the poet at the height of his literary and sexual powers. From dead parrots and eunuch slaves to the elusive mistress Corinna, Ovid teases and tantalises, deftly reworking themes and motifs from his elegiac predecessors to produce verse of effortless sophistication, wit and charm, poems that for the last two thousand years have scandalised and delighted readers in equal measure.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Ovid's Amores. Poems 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 2.10, 2.12 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Ovid's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, including analysis of a further six poems: 2.1, 2.9 (both parts), 2.11, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18.Ovid's Amores represent the culmination of Roman love elegy, and the selection from Book II presented here shows the poet at the height of his literary and sexual powers. From dead parrots and eunuch slaves to the elusive mistress Corinna, Ovid teases and tantalises, deftly reworking themes and motifs from his elegiac predecessors to produce verse of effortless sophistication, wit and charm, poems that for the last two thousand years have scandalised and delighted readers in equal measure.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid X. Lines 215–250, 260–307, 362–398 and 426–542 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the whole of Book X, including sections omitted here from the Latin.In Book X, the story moves from a council of the gods, via a depiction of Aeneas's return by sea to his beleaguered Trojan camp, to a bloody field of battle. We see Aeneas for the first time as a heroic warrior, but also afflicted by the searing pain of loss as the young son of his new ally, entrusted to him by his father, is killed. Aeneas is for now cheated of his revenge, a revenge which is the preoccupation of the rest of the poem. He does, however, slay the son of a champion of the opposition and then the champion himself, in scenes which re-emphasise that pain.The heart of the book, where Aeneas and his allies join the fray, constitutes the selection presented here. It is an immensely powerful confrontation between violence and compassion, cruelty and nobility.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid X. Lines 215–250, 260–307, 362–398 and 426–542 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the whole of Book X, including sections omitted here from the Latin.In Book X, the story moves from a council of the gods, via a depiction of Aeneas's return by sea to his beleaguered Trojan camp, to a bloody field of battle. We see Aeneas for the first time as a heroic warrior, but also afflicted by the searing pain of loss as the young son of his new ally, entrusted to him by his father, is killed. Aeneas is for now cheated of his revenge, a revenge which is the preoccupation of the rest of the poem. He does, however, slay the son of a champion of the opposition and then the champion himself, in scenes which re-emphasise that pain.The heart of the book, where Aeneas and his allies join the fray, constitutes the selection presented here. It is an immensely powerful confrontation between violence and compassion, cruelty and nobility.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Horace's Satires. Satire 1.1 lines 1–12, 28–100, Satire 1.3 lines 25–75 and Satire 2.2 lines 1–30, 70–111 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Horace's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.'Telling the truth with a smile' is the way Horace describes his approach to satire in this, his first published poetry. The poems in this collection discuss universal ideas of how we should live our lives simply with regard to money, ambition, food and friendship and how to live contented with what nature provides rather than always yearning for more. The poet does this in a manner which is light but not flippant, always entertaining and powerfully moving at the same time.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Horace's Satires. Satire 1.1 lines 1–12, 28–100, Satire 1.3 lines 25–75 and Satire 2.2 lines 1–30, 70–111 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Horace's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.'Telling the truth with a smile' is the way Horace describes his approach to satire in this, his first published poetry. The poems in this collection discuss universal ideas of how we should live our lives simply with regard to money, ambition, food and friendship and how to live contented with what nature provides rather than always yearning for more. The poet does this in a manner which is light but not flippant, always entertaining and powerfully moving at the same time.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Cicero's Pro Milone. Sections 24–32, 34–35, 43–52, 53–64 (to defendere) and 72–80 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the full speech, including sections omitted here from the Latin.The death of Publius Clodius and the prosecution of Milo for his murder came at a critical point in the history of the late Republic, with Civil War and the collapse of the Republic only three years away. In his passionate defence of Milo, Cicero pleads for the rule of law as a vital counterweight to the anarchy that the gangs of Clodius, and Milo, had created. The published speech was regarded as a masterpiece of oratory in its own time, and is still held to be one of his finest compositions and a model for the presentation of such a defence.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Cicero's Pro Milone. Sections 24–32, 34–35, 43–52, 53–64 (to defendere) and 72–80 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the full speech, including sections omitted here from the Latin.The death of Publius Clodius and the prosecution of Milo for his murder came at a critical point in the history of the late Republic, with Civil War and the collapse of the Republic only three years away. In his passionate defence of Milo, Cicero pleads for the rule of law as a vital counterweight to the anarchy that the gangs of Clodius, and Milo, had created. The published speech was regarded as a masterpiece of oratory in its own time, and is still held to be one of his finest compositions and a model for the presentation of such a defence.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Tacitus Histories I. Sections 4 (finis Neronis ...) to 7, 12–14, 17–23, 26–36, 39–44 and 49 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Histories I starts in AD 69, during the civil war after the death of Nero. Tacitus describes the unstable conditions in the Roman Empire, as different generals are elevated by their soldiers to the position of emperor. In the prescribed selection, rebellion and violence break out in the city of Rome, as the Praetorian Guard of the emperor Galba transfer their support to a controversial younger man, Otho. Tacitus vividly portrays the elderly Galba's attempts to maintain order and discipline as power slips from his grasp, while Otho inspires the disorderly soldiers, keeping control only with difficulty over this volatile group of men.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Tacitus Histories I. Sections 4 (finis Neronis ...) to 7, 12–14, 17–23, 26–36, 39–44 and 49 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Histories I starts in AD 69, during the civil war after the death of Nero. Tacitus describes the unstable conditions in the Roman Empire, as different generals are elevated by their soldiers to the position of emperor. In the prescribed selection, rebellion and violence break out in the city of Rome, as the Praetorian Guard of the emperor Galba transfer their support to a controversial younger man, Otho. Tacitus vividly portrays the elderly Galba's attempts to maintain order and discipline as power slips from his grasp, while Otho inspires the disorderly soldiers, keeping control only with difficulty over this volatile group of men.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Tacitus' Annals I. Sections 3–7, 11–14, 16–30 and 46–49 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Annals I starts with the death of Augustus and the beginning of Tiberius' principate. Tacitus chronicles the uneasy and unprecedented transition from one to the other, in the context of a political elite shaken by years of civil war and unsure as to how best to protect their own interests and the stability Augustus had brought to Rome. With damning references to the servile nature of the new regime, Tacitus vividly paints scenes of confused senatorial debates, and Tiberius' own uncertainty over his own position and the best decisions to make. Opportunistic rebellions in the army are described with dramatic brilliance.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Tacitus' Annals I. Sections 3–7, 11–14, 16–30 and 46–49 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Annals I starts with the death of Augustus and the beginning of Tiberius' principate. Tacitus chronicles the uneasy and unprecedented transition from one to the other, in the context of a political elite shaken by years of civil war and unsure as to how best to protect their own interests and the stability Augustus had brought to Rome. With damning references to the servile nature of the new regime, Tacitus vividly paints scenes of confused senatorial debates, and Tiberius' own uncertainty over his own position and the best decisions to make. Opportunistic rebellions in the army are described with dramatic brilliance.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Ovid's Heroides. Heroides VI, lines 1–100 and 127–64, and Heroides X, lines 1–76 and 119–50 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Ovid's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the full text of both poems, including sections omitted here from the Latin, and also Heroides IV.The heroines of the Heroides are women in love who can do nothing but write sad verse letters to their faithless lovers across the sea. They tell their stories and express their feelings in poetry of great power and psychological subtlety. Hypsipyle (in VI) and Ariadne (in X) are feminists before feminism, royal ladies who are slaves to their passion – these women are given a voice by Ovid in poetry which is at once simple and sophisticated, heartfelt and yet also full of irony and literary resonance.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Ovid's Heroides. Heroides VI, lines 1–100 and 127–64, and Heroides X, lines 1–76 and 119–50 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Ovid's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, encompassing the full text of both poems, including sections omitted here from the Latin, and also Heroides IV.The heroines of the Heroides are women in love who can do nothing but write sad verse letters to their faithless lovers across the sea. They tell their stories and express their feelings in poetry of great power and psychological subtlety. Hypsipyle (in VI) and Ariadne (in X) are feminists before feminism, royal ladies who are slaves to their passion – these women are given a voice by Ovid in poetry which is at once simple and sophisticated, heartfelt and yet also full of irony and literary resonance.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Horace's Odes. Odes 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Horace's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, including analysis of a further seven odes: 3.1, 3.7, 3.8, 3.11, 3.12, 3.16 and 3.30.Horace was the finest lyric poet in Latin and these four of the six 'Roman Odes', written in the early years of the rule of the first Roman emperor Augustus, show his poetic power at full stretch. They discuss issues of political and moral concern for the regime and its citizens with the clarity of a deeply personal and unique voice, making clever use of mythology and literary allusion and coining some of the most resonant phrases in the Latin language.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Horace's Odes. Odes 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of Horace's other work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, including analysis of a further seven odes: 3.1, 3.7, 3.8, 3.11, 3.12, 3.16 and 3.30.Horace was the finest lyric poet in Latin and these four of the six 'Roman Odes', written in the early years of the rule of the first Roman emperor Augustus, show his poetic power at full stretch. They discuss issues of political and moral concern for the regime and its citizens with the clarity of a deeply personal and unique voice, making clever use of mythology and literary allusion and coining some of the most resonant phrases in the Latin language.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Cicero's Philippic II. Sections 44–50 (… viri tui similis esses), 78 (C. Caesari ex Hispania redeunti…)–92 and 100–119 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.It is 44 BC. Following Caesar's assassination, his supporters are looking for a new leader. Caesar's deputy, Antony, and the 18-year-old Octavian, the future Augustus, are vying with each other to fill the role; each seems more concerned with personal power than the good of Rome. Cicero returns to the city to try to save it with the one weapon at his disposal: his oratory.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Cicero's Philippic II. Sections 44–50 (… viri tui similis esses), 78 (C. Caesari ex Hispania redeunti…)–92 and 100–119 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.It is 44 BC. Following Caesar's assassination, his supporters are looking for a new leader. Caesar's deputy, Antony, and the 18-year-old Octavian, the future Augustus, are vying with each other to fill the role; each seems more concerned with personal power than the good of Rome. Cicero returns to the city to try to save it with the one weapon at his disposal: his oratory.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid VIII. Lines 86–279 and 558–584 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Book VIII of the Aeneid is remarkable for the diversity of its subject matter. Aeneas travels upriver to the site where Rome will be founded. He meets King Evander, who tells him the dramatic story of Hercules and Cacus and shows him round 'Rome' before it is Rome. Aeneas' mother makes new armour for him and at the end of the book we see him brandishing the shield whose centrepiece is the triumph of Augustus. The selection presented here focuses on Evander and Hercules, and concludes with the fatal moment when Aeneas takes Evander's son Pallas to war. Its vivid narrative, human characters and larger-than-life heroes and villains are compelling reading.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Virgil's Aeneid VIII. Lines 86–279 and 558–584 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest.Book VIII of the Aeneid is remarkable for the diversity of its subject matter. Aeneas travels upriver to the site where Rome will be founded. He meets King Evander, who tells him the dramatic story of Hercules and Cacus and shows him round 'Rome' before it is Rome. Aeneas' mother makes new armour for him and at the end of the book we see him brandishing the shield whose centrepiece is the triumph of Augustus. The selection presented here focuses on Evander and Hercules, and concludes with the fatal moment when Aeneas takes Evander's son Pallas to war. Its vivid narrative, human characters and larger-than-life heroes and villains are compelling reading.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Apuleius' Metamorphoses V. Sections 11–24 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of literary and stylistic interest, encompassing the beginning of the story, from Metamorphoses IV, section 28.Apuleius is considered one of the great Latin stylists. The tale of Cupid and Psyche, a story set within the larger narrative of his novel, the Metamorphoses, follows the romance of the god of love, Cupid, and his mortal lover, Psyche, brought to disaster by the wiles of Psyche's wicked sisters and the anger of Venus, but eventually reconciled. It is both an adventure story, and an allegory for the relationship between the soul and desire. The selection here contains some of the most hauntingly beautiful Latin prose which has come down to us and gives an unparallelled insight into the relationship between philosophy, religion, and art under the high empire.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection from Apuleius' Metamorphoses V. Sections 11–24 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately concise extract from the original, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of the longer work and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of literary and stylistic interest, encompassing the beginning of the story, from Metamorphoses IV, section 28.Apuleius is considered one of the great Latin stylists. The tale of Cupid and Psyche, a story set within the larger narrative of his novel, the Metamorphoses, follows the romance of the god of love, Cupid, and his mortal lover, Psyche, brought to disaster by the wiles of Psyche's wicked sisters and the anger of Venus, but eventually reconciled. It is both an adventure story, and an allegory for the relationship between the soul and desire. The selection here contains some of the most hauntingly beautiful Latin prose which has come down to us and gives an unparallelled insight into the relationship between philosophy, religion, and art under the high empire.

This is the first intermediate-student edition of a selection of Latin love elegy. Propertius 1.1, 1.3 and 2.14, Tibullus 1.1 and 1.3 and Ovid's Amores 1.1, 2.5, 2.7 and 2.8 are included as Latin text with an accompanying commentary and vocabulary. Focusing on a deliberately limited number of poems, this edition is designed to be manageable for students reading the text for the first time while also perfectly encapsulating the interest of elegy as a genre and inspiring further study of it. A detailed introduction explains points of historical and stylistic interest, and includes analysis of three further poems: Propertius 4.7, Tibullus 2.4 and Ovid Amores 2.19.Propertius, Tibullus and Ovid are our three main writers of Latin love elegy. The selected poems depict the bitter-sweet love affairs of the poet-lovers and their mistresses, from the heartbreak of rejection to the elation at love reciprocated. While Propertius's and Ovid's setting is the city and their poems show us such details of urbane Roman life as drinking parties and elaborate hair-dressing, Tibullus introduces the idyll of the countryside to the genre. Their sophisticated poems combine intense emotion with wit and irony, and celebrate the life of love and their mistresses, Propertius's Cynthia, Tibullus's Delia and Nemesis, and Ovid's Corinna.