CHAPTER II.

VIRGIL’S PLACE IN ROMAN LITERATURE. Virgil’s pre-eminence acknowledged till recent times 59 Disparagement of his genius in the present century 60 I. Estimate of Virgil in former times 60-68 His former reputation as a great Epic Poet 61 Estimate of the Aeneid among the Romans 61 " " during the ‘Dark Ages’ 64 " " at the revival of letters 65 " " during the 17th and 18th centuries 67 II. Change in the estimate of Virgil in the present 68-77 century Virgil’s alleged dissatisfaction with the Aeneid 69 Probable explanation of this 70 Adverse criticisms in the present century 71 Causes of these criticisms 74 Advance in Greek scholarship 74 Modern interest in remote antiquity 74 Literary reaction at the end of the 18th century 75 III. Virgil’s supreme importance as a representative 77-87 writer Virgil a great representative of his country and age 78 " " of the idea of Rome 79 " " of the sentiment of Italy 80 " " of the political feeling of his age 81 " " of its ethical and religious sensibility 83 " " of Roman culture and learning 84 " " of Roman art and style 85 The style of Virgil the maturity preceding decay 86 IV. Virgil’s claim to rank among the great Poets of 87-92 the World Distinction between Greek, Latin, and modern imagination 87 Vividness and realism of feeling characteristic of the 89 Latin imagination Modes in which this vividness and realism are 90 manifested by Virgil