Who are some good ancient Latin poets?

Question

I'm taking Latin right now and I want to try and translate some poetry. Shorter stuff would be preferable. I'm not looking to release my own version of the Aeneid or anything like that.

Answer 1

First of all, I commend you your enthusiasm and fortitude.

Catullus wrote pithy, smart little poems that can be fun to translate. He wrote alot about his mistress so his stuff can get juicy, with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Martial wrote short, witty, two-lined poems.

I'd reccomend these two before going to someone like Vergil. Latin poets took even more liberty with word order so it's not at all unusual to see a noun's adjective five or six words away, and the next line down, from what it's modifying. So the shorter the better, I'd say. In that respect you may want to start off with some prose first to ease you into it. Cicero was of course the master of Classical Latin, but Julius Caesar's "Commentaries on the Gallic Wars" would probably be a good choice. Unlike Cicero, Caesar was known for a short, succint, clipped style. This would be easier to translate than Cicero's flowery language. You may want to pick up Wheelock's Latin. It's the generally accepted Latin text and has passages and adaptations of Classical authors. In the back of the book are several unchanged Latin passages.

Answer 2

Try Claudian. He wrote between AD 395 and 410. This sounds late, but he is great. The reason is that he was born in Roman Egypt, studied "Latin as a second language" (LOL). There is no zeal like the faith of a convert. He was attached to a Romano-Vandal general named Stilicho, who served first emperor Theodosius I and later Honorius. The subject matter is pitiful, but the language great. You can buy him published by Loeb Classical Library. Maybe they have cheap used copies on the internet.

Answer 3

It truly depends on what your taste in poetry is. Catullus is known primarily for two things: his sarcasm and his obsessive infatuation with a woman, believed by many to be Clodia, whom he named "Lesbia." His poems are generally easy to translate, and they often seem more heartfelt than most poets, especially Ovid.

Ovid is a bit harder to translate, although his poems are generally more epic. He frequently splits apart phrases (especially ablative absolutes) and omits forms of esse in his works. Don't expect to see it in passive periphrastics; the gerundive is often your only clue.

Vergil is most well known for his epigrams, extremely sarcastic swipes at well known people.

I'd recommend one of these three, if you're beginning poetry. Bear in mind that Latin poetry is generally significantly more difficult to translate than Latin prose.

Answer 4

You're already aware of Virgil, apparently. Other well-known poets are Ovid, Catullus, and Horace. Perhaps somewhat lesser known are Ennus, Lucretius, and Lucan.

One interesting one is Sulpicia, the only female poet whose works have survived. Her work is included with that of Tibullus.

Below is a great site, with loads of information on the classic poets.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_raclassicalliterature.htm

ADDED: Briana is absolutely right about Martial. Don't know how I forgot him. His works are short and downright funny. Some of them would go over well in comedy clubs today. Thanks for reminding me, Briana.

Answer 5

I don't think poetry was favored in Rome, try reading Plaut (comedies), or try finding some medieval poets, they wrote in Latin........