Latin Texts – serie

This edition, first published by Macmillan in 1943, has the straightforward utilitarian aims of all those prepared by H.E. Gould and J.L. Whiteley: a basic introduction, reliable text, suitable illustrations, and a vocabulary that gives only those meanings that are required. Last and perhaps most important of all, adequate assistance is provided in the notes, so that the student may feel capable of translating with confidence and accuracy.

Book VI of Caesar’s description of his campaigns in Gaul deals with events of 53 BC, teh year after his major expedition to Britain. He suppresses revolts in Northern Gaul and crosses the Rhine to deal with maurauding Germans, then pursues the chieftain Ambiorix into the Ardennes, leaving Q. Cicero (the orator’s younger brother) at Arduatuca with the Fourteenth Legion where the camp is attacked and casualties inflicted by German forces. The central section contains a description of the customs of the northern Gauls and Germans, in particular the practices of Druidism.Full annotation on linguistic matters, and a comprehensive vocabulary, makes this book ideal for post-beginners tackling their first Latin prose, or preparing for examination.

This brief, user friendly edition has long remained popular, for it is pitched at just the right level for school students tackling their first continuous prose, and for other early-stage learners of Latin. Moreover, the text is selected from the Pro Cluentio - the defence speech of one of the most intriguing and lurid ancient murder trials - set in the northern Italian provincial town of Larinum - for which evidence survives, by the young forensic lawyer Cicero, destined to become Rome’s most celebrated political orator. The excitement and scandal of the original case still resonates with those who might compare the ancient reality with the modern fictions of Perry Mason or LA Law.The Introduction elucidates the background situation, the feud between the Cluentil and the villainous Oppicianus; the Notes give ample linguistic and historical assistance and there is also a full Vocabulary. This is unadapted and exciting Latin well within the grasp of those who are tackling a 'real' text for the first time.

Julius Caesar's De Bello Gallico is a clear, straightforward account of his campaigns against the Gauls in seven books, covering the period 58 to 52 BC. Book II deals with his campaigns against the Belgae, Bellocai, Nervii and Aduatuci.This school edition gives the Latin text of Book II of De Bello Gallico, with an Introduction giving background information on Gaul, the military situation, the Roman army, Caesar himself, and his book. It also includes come comments on pronunciation and translation, extensive grammatical notes and a useful vocabulary.

Book V of De Bello Gallico, Julius Caesar's memoirs of the Gallic War, deals the preparations for and execution of his second assault on Britain in 54 BC, and the revolt which broke out amongst the tribes of ancient Gaul, in which Quintus Cicero (younger brother of the orator) was involved. It also covers and defeat of the British commander Cassivellaunus, his return to Gaul and his campaigns against the Belgae. The content therefore makes this an ideal book for students to tackle as they make their first approach to Caesar's prose. This school edition still provides a very reliable, serviceable introduction, clearly presented notes, index of proper names and a full vocabulary.

The first book of Ovid's Metamorphoses contains an interesting variety of material. It begins with myths related to the creation of the world and man, decline from the golden age, the flood and the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha. In the second half it deals primarily with two main metamorphosis myths - Apollo's love for Daphne and the story of Io. Guy Lee's edition, first published by CUP in 1952, supplies a detailed commentary of explanatory notes (with useful index) and, separately, a number of critical notes on the readings adopted by his text. the substantial introduction deals with Ovid himself, with the Metamorphoses and Ovid's other works; there is also a practical section on the Ovidian hexameter and (as one might expect from an editor who is himself a consummate translator of Latin poetry) a sensitive section on translations of the Metamorphoses, in particular Golding, Sandys and Dryden.

This selection includes 450 lines of Martial and 580 of Pliny the Younger. Edited with Introduction, Notes and Vocabulary by E. C. Kennedy, the introduction deals with scansion and gives an outline of Martial's life and this relations with Pliny. Thirty-three epigrams follow, arranged by their traditional numbering, with copious notes on each extract. The extracts from Pliny follow, covering topics such as the eruption of Vesuvius and the Christians in Bithynia.

This book is the surviving part of the intended two-volume commentary on Virgil's Aeneid by R.G. Austin and C.J. Fordyce. The virtually complete work by Fordyce on Books VII and VIII was edited by his colleagues, originally published by OUP and the University of Glasgow. Of these two central books of the Aeneid, this remains the most comprehensive commentary in English for the serious student of Virgil. This edition includes the full Latin text with Latin-English vocabulary and notes in English.Classic Commentaries on Latin and Greek Texts series - re-issues in paperback key editions of Latin and Greek authors otherwise unavailable to scholars and students. It in cludes Virgil: Aeneid III, edited by R.D. Williams.

Book I of Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War starts with an account of Gaul and goes on to cover Caesar's defeat of first the Helvetians and then the Germans under Ariovistus. The Introduction to this edition of the Latin text, first published in 1957, gives background information on the Rome of Caesar's time, on Caesar himself and on the composition and reliability of his commentaries, on Gaul, and on the Roman Army. Useful maps are provided, along with Notes on the text, Index of names, and a Vocabulary.

Book XXI of Livy's history of Rome is one of the most frequently read either in its entirety or in extracts, for it includes Carthaginian campaigns in Spain and Hannibal's momentous crossing of the Alps to invade Italy.P.G. Walsh's edition is designed specifically for use by students at A-Level. The commentary explains points of historical and literary importance, and elucidates grammatical peculiarities and passages of unusual difficulty. The introduction sets Livy in the context of Roman historiography as a whole, and deals in particular with Book XXI. There is a full vocabulary as well as an index of names and illustrative maps and plans.

Cicero's speech on behalf of Roscius of Ameria in Umbria represents his first public 'cause celebre' in 80 BC when he was just twenty-six. It followed closely the notorius proscriptions made under hte dictator Sulla. One of Sulla's freedman favourites, Chrysogonus, had criminally contrived to have Roscius' wealthy father's name added to the list of the proscribed after his death and after closure of the list, with the aim of depriving Roscius of his substantial inheritance. Cicero's speech, one of his most straightforward and yet powerful, brought him into immediate political danger but at the same time established him as a fearless forensic orator.Donkin's edition, first published as one of the history 'red Macmillan' series, has never been bettered for its concise, yet detailed, introduction and its annotation covering matters of language and content.

Aimed at advanced school students, this classic collection - first published in 1964 - contains forty passages, coherent in themselves, illustrating Cicero's thinking on government, religion, law and ethics. This book fills a gap, as most students are only familiar with Cicero's speeches and letters, knowing little of his philosophical works, through which many of our ideas of civilisation have come down to us.The introduction gives the essential background, including a brief outline of Greek philosophy. There are practical notes on the texts, observations on Cicero's style and a select vocabulary.

Sallust's account of the conspiracy raises considerable historical problems, and the moral intention and political bias and style can make him a difficult author for Middle School level students to understand, so this text makes Catiline as concise and comprehensible as possible.To clarify and simplify the Latin text of Sallust's Catiline, this school edition omits speeches and passages of moral reflection, and the style and spelling have been modified to introduce more common words and to suit those with an elementary knowledge of Latin. The editor has removed historic infinitives, phrase or sentence whose difficulty seemed to outweigh its significance, and rephrased where it would seem helpful to understanding.The text is supplemented by an introduction giving necessary background, comprehensive questions, classified vocabulary, passages for retranslation, and Ciceronian passages in eight appendixes. A classified vocabulary list provides scope for the methodical acquisition and revision of vocabulary; the number of words listed for each chapter is distributed fairly evenly,

This selection from Caesar's Gallic War, intended for use in schools, includes the following passages in Latin: Book IV, chapters 20-36, and Book V, chapters 8-23. These cover Caesar's expeditions to Britain in 55 and 54 BC. Eight explanatory sections in English, with maps, palns and notes give the student an opportunity to become familiar with Roman Britain and to follow up with project work n that background area. The Latin text is supplemented by an introduction and textual notes on the text in English aid the comprehension of the Latin.

Cornelius Nepos was a Roman biographer who lived in the first century BC. His simple style of writing has made him a comparatively easy and popular author for use in Latin classes at early school level. This book contains the Latin text of his Lives of Alcibiades, Dion and Atticus, with a short historical introduction and illustrations.This edition contains three of Nepos' short biographies, and aims to provide beginners with an early means of escape from synthetic Latin. There is a useful general introduction, and further introductions to each Life, a short English summary before each chapter, and annotation that helps with both subject matter and points of syntax and grammar which might present difficulties to the intelligent beginner. The volume ends with a full index of proper names and a comprehensive vocabulary. The lives of Alcibiades, Dion and Atticus were selected for their literary associations and to emphasise continuity between the worlds of Greece and Rome.

Livy’s first book covers the 'mythical' period of Rome, from the arrival of Aeneas in Italy, including the founding of Alba Longa and Rome, the lives of Romulus and Remus, and the period of Kingship up to the banishment of the last of the seven kings, Tarquinus Superbus and the election of the first consuls. The book opens with Livy’s important Preface which explains his rationale for writing this history.This edition, with introduction, commentary notes and vocabulary by H.E. Gould and J.L. Whiteley, was first published in Macmillan’s Modern School Classics series. The introduction covers the life and work of Livy, his role as an historian, Livy’s writing, style, grammar and syntax, and the historical context of the period. The edition’s comprehensive annotation, vocabulary and introduction elucidates essential points of historical content as well as providing all the linguistic support needed to understand the text, including glosses of obscure words, explanations of difficult phrases and grammatical support. A translation of the Preface and maps of Latium and Rome of the Regal Period are also included.

This simple, utilitarian edition offers sixth-form and undergraduate students an introduction to the enchanted, sometimes violent, often sad, often funny world of the "Metamorphoses". Book III is ideal in this respect, for it possesses a homogeneity unusual among the fifteen books of the poem and follows the fortunes of the royal house of Thebes in episodes which are related at some length, allowing the reader to savour the individual quality of each story and fix its 'dramatis personae' in mind and memory. The brief introduction places the book in its ancient context. Notes serve primarily to aid comprehension of the Latin but also give aesthetic and antiquarian information. A vocabulary is included.

This introduction to three of Juvenal's satires aims to help intermediate high school or college readers understand the meaning of Juvenal's Latin. Satire I is Juvenal's explanation of why he writes poetry and satire. Satire III discusses why life in Rome has become intolerable. Satire X concerns itself with explaining why most prayers are misguided and - if answered - harmful.This edition made accessible, in a concise format, with an introduction and commentary, the three Satires, which are most frequently prescribed at A-level and early university courses. It has been constantly reprinted since it was first published, a measure of its success.

This is Sallust's text, Bellum Catilinae, in Latin with English introduction and notes. It is intended primarily for use by sixth-formers (upper high / secondary school) and undergraduates. The commentary concentrates on the elucidation of historical points and on the analysis of character and motive, and also explains points of grammar as they arise. The Introduction gives essential information on the life and work of Sallust along with a full explosition of his unique style. A Bibliography and Vocabulary are included.

This edition, first published by Macmillan in 1955, continues to servegenerations of students taking GCSE. J.L Whiteley's workmanlike introduction(including a section on scansion), notes and vocabulary enablethe student to tackle Virgil's poetry for the first time.

This school edition, first published by Macmillan in 1953, includes an introduction, the Latin text, notes on the text and an appendix containing brief selections from Livy, Ovid and Horace relating to themes in the legends and history of Rome relevant to the subject matter of Aeneid VIII.

This edition of the first book of Ovid's "Amores" was first published in 1973 by OUP. It has been kept in print by BCP because it remains an outstandlingly useful volume. It was one of two editions (the other being Gordon Williams' "Horace 'Odes' III", 1969) in which OUP pioneered a new kind of continuous running commentary particularly suited to short poems, one 'likely to be more illuminating than a series of disconnected notes on isolated problems, which may contribute little to the total understanding of the poem as the poet conceived it'. This approach was intended to promote in sixth-formers and undergraduates not just an understanding of the Latin but a critical appreciation of literary quality. In this aim, the edition has been a continued success.

Cicero's fifth speech against Verres - a Roman magistrate prosecuted for his notorious misgovernment of Sicily - was never actually delivered but is nonetheless a carefully crafted piece which shows all the vigour of Cicero's oratory at its height. This edition includes introduction, the Latin text, a comprehensive commentary of the text and a vocabulary. The introduction, divided into seven sections, describes the history and condition of Sicily down to the time of Verres, with special attention to Roman administration and the duties of Roman governors. It dealing with all aspects - historical, legal, and oratorical - of the trial of Verres. The meticulous commentary and full vocabulary, all serve to make this an excellent edition for school and undergraduate students.

Book XVI of Tacitus' Annals is the last of the surviving books of the great Roman historian's monumental account of the reigns of the emperors from Tiberius to Nero. The unfinished book offers a stunning portrait of Nero in his last years, a man now free of the restraining influences of his mother Agrippina and tutor Seneca. Annals XVI presents such unforgettable scenes as the spectacle of Petronius' suicide, and the mad quest of Nero to find the gold of the Carthaginian queen Dido.This edition provides a commentary to the entire book, with notes carefully aimed at first-time readers of Tacitus as well as more advanced students. An introduction provides a guide to what we know of Tacitus' life and work, as well as to the reign of Nero and Tacitus' depiction of an empire in transition, of a Rome teetering on the verge of chaos and collapse. A full vocabulary at the end of the volume is a vital resource for students preparing this text for class work or assessment.

This study provides a critical edition of the Pervigilium Veneris with a Latin text, translation and commentary. This late-antique poem, the ‘Vigil of Venus’, is of unknown date and authorship. It exists in four heavily corrupted manuscripts, including the Codex Salmasianus, as part of a collection of later Latin poetry compiled around the 6th Century AD. Considerable attention has been paid to the piece since its first edition in the 16th century, largely on account of its singularity, mysterious origins and enigmatic final stanza, in which the poet suddenly bursts into the piece lamenting his 'lost muse'. Despite this scholarly interest, much work remained to be done in order to arrive at a more solid text of the poem and a more complete understanding of its meaning. This new edition, with detailed commentary notes and a full introduction to the historical and literary contexts of the poem, furthers our knowledge by offering new perspectives and analysis, incorporating existing scholarship and reviving ideas that had previously been set aside.

This study provides a critical edition of the Pervigilium Veneris with a Latin text, translation and commentary. This late-antique poem, the ‘Vigil of Venus’, is of unknown date and authorship. It exists in four heavily corrupted manuscripts, including the Codex Salmasianus, as part of a collection of later Latin poetry compiled around the 6th Century AD. Considerable attention has been paid to the piece since its first edition in the 16th century, largely on account of its singularity, mysterious origins and enigmatic final stanza, in which the poet suddenly bursts into the piece lamenting his 'lost muse'. Despite this scholarly interest, much work remained to be done in order to arrive at a more solid text of the poem and a more complete understanding of its meaning. This new edition, with detailed commentary notes and a full introduction to the historical and literary contexts of the poem, furthers our knowledge by offering new perspectives and analysis, incorporating existing scholarship and reviving ideas that had previously been set aside.

Metamorphoses is an epic poem but is very different from what we expect in an epic. Original, inventive and charming, the poem tells the stories of myths featuring transformations, from the creation of the universe to the death and deification of Julius Caesar. Book III concentrates on the House of Thebes, and this selection details the story of Pentheus and his tragic end after refusing to acknowledge the god Bacchus.This edition contains the Latin text as well as in-depth commentary notes which provide language support, explanation of difficult words and phrases, and analysis of literary features as well as information on the background to the story. The introduction presents an overview of Ovid in his historical and literary context, as well as a plot synopsis and a discussion of the literary genre and metre. All words in the text are given in a full vocabulary at the end and there are also suggestions for further reading. This is the prescribed edition of the verse set text for OCR's AS GCE Classics Latin qualification, for examination from 2015 to 2017 inclusive.

De Imperio Cn. Pompeii (in support of Pompey), or Pro Lege Manilia, (in favour of the Manilian law) was Cicero’s first speech on public affairs. Delivered in 66 BC when Cicero was praetor, he argued in support of a proposal from Manilius, the tribune at that time, to extend Pompey’s command in the East and so take over the command in the war against Mithridates. The speech charts the moment when Cicero was transformed from lawyer to politician, but also effected a decision which led to Rome’s success in the third Mithridatic War and her assertion of supremacy in the East. This edition contains sections 27-45, where Cicero discusses how to choose a general, passionately advocating for a leader with the skills and expertise of Pompey. The introductory essay provides an overview of the historical and political context, and provides detail on the rhetorical and literary devices employed by Cicero in this speech. Detailed commentary notes accompanying the Latin text gloss difficult words and phrases, explain references to Cicero’s contemporary politics, and highlight instances of oratorical usage. This is the prescribed edition of the prose set text for OCR's AS GCE Classics Latin qualification, for examination from 2015 to 2017 inclusive.

Metamorphoses is an epic-style, narrative poem written in hexameters. Original, inventive and charming, the poem tells the stories of myths featuring transformations, from the creation of the universe to the death and deification of Julius Caesar. Book X contains some of Ovid's most memorable stories: Orpheus and Eurydice, Pygmalion, Atalanta and Hippomenes (with the race for the golden apples), Venus and Adonis, and Myrrha.This edition contains the Latin text as well as in-depth commentary notes that provide language support, explain difficult words and phrases, highlight literary features and supply background knowledge. The introduction presents an overview of Ovid and the historical and literary context, as well as a plot synopsis and a discussion of the literary genre. Suggested reading is also included.