Chapter XI: Lucretius. Personal Characteristics

Little known of him from external sources 274
Examination of Jerome's statement 275
Inferences as to his national and social position 281
Relation to Memmius 282
Impression of the author to be traced in his poem 283
Influence produced by the action of his age 284
Minute familiarity with Nature and country life 286
Spirit in which he wrote his work 288
His consciousness of power and delight in his task 289
His polemical spirit 291
Reverence for Epicurus 292
Affinity to Empedocles 293
Influence of other Greek writers 295
" of Ennius 297
His interests speculative, not national 298
His Roman temperament 299