David X Novak
  • Home
  • About
  • Poetry
  • Plays
  • Prose
  • Books
  • News
  • Contact

What to Read Next, after Aurelius

11/14/2014

1 Comment

 

Lex est, non poena, perire


"To die is not a punishment, but a law." That is a paraphrase of something attributed to Seneca the Elder. I have not read him, though there are some writings extant I would be curious to see—not in the budget at the moment however.

My attempt at Lucan is stalled at the end of book three. (Let me never wonder why I hear so infrequently of somebody finishing one of my long poems, when even a time-tested classic can be difficult to keep on with.) It will be there to pick up another day. I returned to Marcus Aurelius: his speeches consisted of three: one of doubtful attribution and two plausible. I enjoyed them, but was disappointed that the book did not contain more extraneous material. There were some anecdotes and sayings, but meager pickins really. So I picked up my Shotter on Nero, and have begun that. So far he covers the same ground as Warmington.

Since my Marcus supply is exhausted, I am at a loss at whither to turn next—wanting to keep myself in Rome but not wanting to buy anything new (though Cato is enticing). The trouble with buying blindly is you never know what's going to appeal to you or be the right thing at the right time. Lucan was not. There is one book I would love to see, but my price range is more like sixty cents not sixty dollars, so it will have to wait.

I've never been exhaustive in my reading of Seneca (the Younger), but what intrigues me most would be his letters to Lucilius. That is because the Fronto correspondence was such a pleasure to me; but then, if I'm going to read letters, might as well go to Cicero's. To know him is to love him, and his are the best collection we have from antiquity (I have heard). Both in the case of Cicero and Seneca my attentions have been focused on speeches or essays—falsely believing them to be more edifying perhaps than letters—but, as I say, Fronto has convinced me. Sometimes pleasure trumps edification.

I'm still stalled midway with my Handke. After the Shotter I may wrap that up—the reading is fine—and then, if Rome still beckons, I may turn to this, though not likely, or this or this, none of which requires a new purchase.

It is hard to marshall my attention: "all things can tempt me" (as I have stated previously), but even more than that, I am human, and all manner of accident may befall me. I've had enough experience to know that the best of intentions can be immediately and even permanently derailed by some sudden unexpected health crisis—or worse.

So Seneca and Cato (both Elders, respectively) remain on the wish list. 

1 Comment
David X Novak
11/15/2014 05:38:57 am

Two afterthoughts: A friend remarked: "Lucan is a bit pulpy. Goriest death scenes. Nothing to match Homer or Virgil, though—not by a long shot." So I don't feel so bad.

And my thoughtless statement "To know him is to love him" receives a mild correction next post.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    News?

    A new poem is always news to the poet.
    ​Or whatever.

    Archives

    April 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed