Chapter II

VIRGIL’S PLACE IN ROMAN LITERATURE.
Virgil’s pre-eminence acknowledged till recent times 59
Disparagement of his genius in the present century 60
I. Estimate of Virgil in former times 60-68
His former reputation as a great Epic Poet 61
Estimate of the Aeneid among the Romans 61
" " during the ‘Dark Ages’ 64
" " at the revival of letters 65
" " during the 17th and 18th centuries 67
II. Change in the estimate of Virgil in the present 68-77
century
Virgil’s alleged dissatisfaction with the Aeneid 69
Probable explanation of this 70
Adverse criticisms in the present century 71
Causes of these criticisms 74
Advance in Greek scholarship 74
Modern interest in remote antiquity 74
Literary reaction at the end of the 18th century 75
III. Virgil’s supreme importance as a representative 77-87
writer
Virgil a great representative of his country and age 78
" " of the idea of Rome 79
" " of the sentiment of Italy 80
" " of the political feeling of his age 81
" " of its ethical and religious
sensibility 83
" " of Roman culture and learning 84
" " of Roman art and style 85
The style of Virgil the maturity preceding decay 86
IV. Virgil’s claim to rank among the great Poets of 87-92
the World
Distinction between Greek, Latin, and modern imagination 87
Vividness and realism of feeling characteristic of the 89
Latin imagination
Modes in which this vividness and realism are 90
manifested by Virgil