The Roman Poets of the Republic, 3rd edition

by W. Y. Sellar

Saeptum altisono cardine templum!

Vidi ego te, astante ope barbarica,

Tectis caelatis, lacuatis,

Auro ebore instructum regifice![⁵⁸]

While his peculiar poetical feeling is present chiefly in the fragments of the Annals, the moral elements of his poetry may be gathered both from his epic and dramatic remains. Strength and dignity of character are the qualities with which his own nature was most in sympathy. Yet in delineating the agitation of Ilia, the shame of Cassandra, and the sorrow of Andromache, he reveals also much tenderness of feeling,—the not unusual accompaniment of the manly genius of Rome. A similar tenderness is found in union with the grave tones of Pacuvius and Accius, and in still greater measure with the fortitude of Lucretius and the majesty of Virgil. The masculine qualities which most stir his enthusiasm are the Roman virtues of resolution (constantia), sincerity, magnanimity, capacity for affairs. Thus a latent glow of feeling may be discerned in the lines which record the brave resolution of the Roman people during the first hardships of the war with Pyrrhus—

Ast animo superant atque aspera prima

Volnera belli dispernunt[⁵⁹];

and in this strong and scornful triumph over natural sorrow, from the Telamon:—

Ego cum genui tum morituros scivi, et ei rei sustuli: