The Fourth Book of Virgil's Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire's Henriad

Name: The Fourth Book of Virgil's Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire's Henriad
Author: Virgil

By Virgil

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Classics of Literature Poetry

About This Book

The volume pairs English verse translations of a classical Latin epic episode and a French neoclassical canto, framed by a prefatory essay comparing translation and poetic language. One long lyric dramatizes a consuming, politically fraught love affair whose passion conflicts with public duty and culminates in tragic consequence. The companion canto unfolds an elaborate allegory of Love’s realm, juxtaposing sensuous pleasures with hidden rancor, and narrates a monarch’s infatuation with a favored mistress that threatens military success until a confidant intervenes. Lush descriptive imagery and reflections on desire, honor, and poetic technique bind the selections.

About the Author

Virgil

Virgil, a prominent Roman poet of the Augustan period, is best known for his epic work, "The Aeneid," which tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero and the mythical founder of Rome. His poetry is celebrated for its rich imagery, profound themes, and masterful use of the Latin language. In addition to "The Aeneid," Virgil wrote the "Georgics," a didactic poem on agriculture, and the "Eclogues," a collection of pastoral poems that reflect the beauty of rural life. His influence on Western literature is immense, shaping the epic tradition and inspiring countless writers throughout the centuries.