[172] Claudian refers to the early Ionian philosophers. Anaximenes believed that air was the first principle of all things, Thales said water, Heraclitus fire. l. 72 refers to Empedocles who postulated the four elements and two principles, love and hate, which respectively made and unmade the universe out of the elements. The “hic” of l. 75 may be Democritus or it may refer to the Sceptic, Pyrrho. The “hic” of l. 76 is Anaxagoras, the friend of Pericles. “Ille” (79) may be taken to refer to Leucippus, the first of the atomic philosophers; he postulated infinite space. “Hi” (82) = Democritus, Epicurus, and other atomists. “Alii” (83) are the Platonists.

[344]

alter in Aetnaeas casurus sponte favillas

dispergit revocatque deum rursusque receptis

nectit amicitiis quidquid discordia solvit.

corporis hic damnat sensus verumque videri 75

pernegat. hic semper lapsurae pondera terrae

conatur rapido caeli fulcire rotatu

accenditque diem praerupti turbine saxi.

ille ferox unoque tegi non passus Olympo