CHAPTER I.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. PAGE I. Relation of the Augustan Age to other Literary Epochs 1-8 Relation of the Augustan poetry to that of the 1 preceding Age Parallel of the Augustan Age with other great literary 4 Epochs ---- especially with the Age of Louis XIV 5 Chief conditions modifying the poetry of the Augustan Age 7 II. Influence of the enthusiasm in favour of the Empire 8-21 General longing for peace 8 Revival of national sentiment and pride of Empire 10 Moral and religious reaction 13 Augustus the centre of the national enthusiasm 14 Deification of the Emperor in the poetry of the Age 15 ---- illustrated by other extant works of art 19 Direction given to national sentiment by Augustus 20 III. Influence of Patronage on the Augustan Poetry 21-31 Poetry employed in the interest of the Government 21 Patrons of literature--Augustus 22 Personal influence of Maecenas 23 Pollio, Messala, Agrippa, Cornelius Gallus 26 Causes of the connexion between literature and social 28 eminence Effects of this connexion on the tone of literature 29 IV. Influence of material conditions on Literature 31-37 Wealth and luxury of Rome in the Augustan Age 31 Liberality of Augustus and Maecenas to Virgil and Horace 33 Effects of this on the art of these poets 34 Reaction from the luxury of the Age apparent in literature 35 V. General condition of literary culture as affecting 37-54 the Augustan Poetry Intellectual character of the last years of the 37 Republic and earlier years of the Empire Distinction between the earlier and later periods 38 Appreciation of Greek art and literature in both 39 Alexandrine influences on the Augustan poetry 41 Characteristics of the Alexandrine poets 42 Their treatment of mythological subjects 43 Scientific and learned character of their poetry 44 Their treatment of the passion of love 45 Their treatment of external Nature 46 Pictorial art of the later Greeks 48 Superiority of the Augustan to the Alexandrine literature 49 Friendly relations among the poets of the Augustan Age 51 Influence of these relations on their art 52 Hostility of other literary coteries 53 VI. Causes of the special devotion to Poetry in the 54-58 Augustan Age Effect of the Monarchy on the great forms of prose 55 literature Poetry later in feeling the effects of Despotism 56 The Augustan literature the maturest development of 57 the national mind