Chapter XI: Lucretius. Personal Characteristics

Little known of him from external sources 280
Examination of Jerome's statement 284
Inferences as to his national and social position 287
Relation to Memmius 288
Impression of the author to be traced in his poem 290
Influence produced by the action of his age 290
Minute familiarity with Nature and country life 292
Spirit in which he wrote his work 294
His consciousness of power and delight in his task 295
His polemical spirit 298
Reverence for Epicurus 299
Affinity to Empedocles 300
Influence of other Greek writers 302
" of Ennius 303
His interests speculative, not national 304
His Roman temperament 305