The Space That Remains: Reading Latin Poetry in Late Antiquity

205 Pages·2014·1.11 MB·English

by  Aaron Pelttari

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THE SPACE THAT REMAINS
A VOLUME IN THE SERIES
Cornell Studies in Classical Philology
Edited by Frederick M. Ahl, Theodore R. Brennan, Charles F. Brittain,
Michael Fontaine, Kim Haines-Eitzen, David P. Mankin, Sturt W. Manning,
Alan J. Nussbaum, Hayden N. Pelliccia, Verity Platt, Pietro Pucci,
Hunter R. Rawlings III, Éric Rebillard, Jeffrey S. Rusten,
Barry S. Strauss, Michael Weiss
A list of titles in this series is available at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu.
THE SPACE
f
THAT REMAINS
f
READING LATIN POETRY
IN LATE ANTIQUITY
Aaron Pelttari
CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS
Ithaca and London
Copyright © 2014 by Cornell University
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a
review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be
reproduced in any form without permission in writing
from the publisher. For information, address Cornell
University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street,
Ithaca, New York 14850.
First published 2014 by Cornell University Press
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Pelttari, Aaron, 1982– author.
The space that remains : reading Latin poetry in late
antiquity / Aaron Pelttari.
pages cm. — (Cornell studies in classical
philology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978- 0- 8014- 5276- 5 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Latin poetry– History and criticism. 2. Latin
poetry— Appreciation. 3. Authors and readers—
Rome. 4. Reader- response criticism. I. Title.
PA6051.P45 2014
871'.0109—dc23
2014002762
Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally
responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent
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include vegetable- based, low- VOC inks and acid- free
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visit our website at www .cornellpress .cornell .edu .
Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Jacket art: Verg. Aen. 11, 371–72 repeated on
Oxyrhynchus Papyri, vol. 50, 3554. Photo courtesy of
the Imaging Papyri Project and the Egypt Exploration
Society.
For Natalia
hanc praetexuit velut in musica concordiam dissonorum
he hid it like the harmony of music in dissonance
Marcob. Sat. 5.1.18
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Contents
Ac know ledg ments ix
List of Abbreviations xi
Introduction: Late Antique Poetry
and the Figure of the Reader 1
1. Text, Interpretation, and Authority 12
2. Prefaces and the Reader’s Approach
to the Text 45
3. Open Texts and Layers of Meaning 73
4. The Presence of the Reader: Allusion
in Late Antiquity 115
Conclusion 161
References 165
General Index 181
Index of Passages Cited 187

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Ac know ledg ments
In these days of tightened budg ets and nar-
rowed visions, I have been privileged with the opportunity to explore the
history of Latin poetry. I am thankful to Cornell University and to the Uni-
versity of California, Santa Barbara, for the support that allowed me to com-
plete this book. I am convinced that such studies are vital for a culture that
is increasingly ignorant of its past, and it is my earnest hope that the recep-
tion of classical literature in late antiquity may show in some small way that the
humanities can still have a bright future in our culture today. Learning about
the classical world both deepens my understanding of history and broadens
my enjoyment of literature. For that I am grateful.
I am also glad to acknowledge the personal debts accumulated in writing
this book. The incisive reading of Éric Rebillard lies behind most of the
structure and clarity that these chapters may have. I have been glad many
times for his mentoring and friendship. Michael Fontaine, Joseph Pucci,
and Hayden Pelliccia have also improved my work in a great many ways.
Pucci is the kindest of readers, and Fontaine has a knack for fi nding just the
right detail to adjust. Erik Kenyon, Zachary Yuzwa, and Jeffrey Leon read
early drafts of each chapter. Talking over lunch about our writing remains
one of my fondest memories of Ithaca. A number of other friends and col-
leagues read or discussed with me portions of my work at various stages in
the writing of it. In par tic u lar, I am grateful to Kim Bowes, Charles Brittain,
Kim Haines- Eitzen, Gavin Kelly, Cillian O ’Hagan, Christopher Polt, Suzanne
Rebillard, and Catherine Ware. The anonymous readers for Cornell Uni-
versity Press made a number of valuable suggestions. If there w ere space and
my memory was better, there are surely many others who have infl uenced
me. My notes will give some idea of how much I have learned from the
writings of others. If I w ere not so stubborn, I surely would have benefi ted
more from all this help. As it is, I alone am responsible for the infelicities and
misjudgments that surely are here.
My greatest debt is to my wife, who encouraged me to begin, continue,
and fi nish this project. I am thankful as well for the patience of both of my
ix