CHAPTER XI

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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

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