P. Papini Stati Thebaidos liber decimus: Edited with a commentary PDF
Preview P. Papini Stati Thebaidos liber decimus: Edited with a commentary
MNEMOSYNE BIBLIOTHECA CLASSICA BATAVA COLLEGERUNT W. DEN BOER • W. J. VERDENIUS ' R. E. H. WESTENDORP BOERMA BIBLIOTHECAE FASCICULOS EDENDOS CURAVIT W. J. VERDENIUS, HOMERUSLAAN 53, ZEIST SUPPLEMENTUM VICESIMUM ALTERUM R. D. WILLIAMS P. PAPIN! STATI THEBAIDOS LIBER DECIMUS LUGDUNI BATA VORUM E. J. BRILL MCMLXXII P. PAPINI STATI THEBAIDOS LIBER DECIMUS EDITED WITH A COMMENTARY BY R. D. WILLIAMS LUGDUNI BATAVORUM E. J. BRILL MCMLXXII Copyright 1972 by E. f. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or translated in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche or any other means without written permission from the publisher PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS GRATAE MEMORIAE PETRI JOHANNIS ENK THEBAIDOS AMATORIS CONTENTS Preface ... IX Introduction XI I. Life and works of Statius . XIII II. Literary qualities of Statius. XIV (i) Use of sources . . . . XIV (ii) Descriptive ability . . . xv (iii) Rhetoric and hyperbole XVI (iv) Subjective involvement. XVII (v) The theme of violence and pity XIX III. The manuscript tradition of the Thebaid XXI P. PAPIN! STATI Thebaidos Liber Decimus. I Sigla. 2 Text. 3 List of chief works cited and abbreviations used . Commentary Index ... PREFACE This edition of the tenth book of Statius' Thebaid offers a new text and apparatus criticus, and a commentary which aims to be full enough to shed light on the stylistic and metrical qualities of this much neglected poet. The density and far-fetched elaboration of much of Statius' poetry requires but well repays careful study. I have chosen Book ro because it contains much that is charac teristic of Statius, and indeed some of his finest writing: it has the brilliant description of the Cave of Sleep, the reworking (in the story of Hopleus and Dymas) of Virgil's famous account of the deeds of Nisus and Euryalus, the violence of the night slaughter and the pathos of Menoeceus' death, and finally the superb and grandiose hyperbole of the exploits of Capaneus. My gratitude is especially due to the late Professor Enk who discussed with me on many occasions the literary qualities of Statius and encouraged me to persevere in writing a commentary. I should like also to thank Mr. J. F. Burgess, Professor 0. A. W. Dilke, Professor H. H. Huxley, and :\fr. F. Robertson for help and discus sion, and the classical editor and staff of Messrs. E. J. Brill for all their skill and care in the various processes of publication. University of Reading R. D. WILLIAMS. December 1971. INTRODUCTION
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