19 Lucretius, De rerum natura

1. Module Introduction: The Enduring “Magic” of Lucretius

The work of Lucretius occupies a singular space in the history of science and literature, characterized by what Albert Einstein described as an enduring “magic.” Writing in the foreword to the 1924 Diels edition, Einstein observed that Lucretius’s poem appeals particularly to those who do not feel fully submerged in the spirit of their own age, but rather feel like a “spectator” to the intellectual attitudes of their contemporaries. Einstein expressed deep admiration for the “causal connectedness” of the world as described in the poem, noting that Lucretius’s firm confidence in the intelligibility of natural phenomena—rooted in the regular motion of immutable atoms—makes a profound impression on the reader.

The physical history of the text is as compelling as its philosophical content. Naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough highlights the 1515 Aldine edition by Aldus Manutius as one of his most precious volumes. Attenborough draws a parallel between these early 16th-century Venice editions and modern “Penguin paperbacks,” noting they were pocket-sized classics designed for wide reach and portability. He specifically points to the “wonderfully elegant italic script” used by Manutius, which helped define the visual standard for classical texts.

As OER librarians and Latinists, we see a direct lineage between the 1515 Aldine revolution and our current mission. Just as Manutius broke the barriers of the massive, stationary folio to put Lucretius in the pockets of students, Open Educational Resources leverage platforms like Pressbooks to remove financial and physical barriers, democratizing access to high-quality classical scholarship.

The text presented in this module is primarily shaped by the work of Hermann Diels. Einstein famously praised Diels’s ability to render the Latin into verses that “read so naturally that one forgets it is a translation.” Published posthumously and edited by Johannes Mewaldt, Diels’s 1923/1924 edition remains a cornerstone of Lucretian studies.

2. Technical Metadata & Headings

DE RERVM NATVRA LIBER PRIMVS

Source Citation: The following text and apparatus are sourced from: T. LVCRETI CARI DE RERVM NATVRA, ed. Hermannus Diels, Berolini, 1923.

3. Parallel Text: Book I

Technical Note: Instructors should consult the 1923 Diels edition to populate this table for the desired range. For the English column, a translation reflecting Diels’ “natural” and “powerful” style is recommended to maintain the module’s aesthetic.

4. Critical Apparatus: Testimonia and Codices

The following critical notes apply to the range [462–486] of Book I as established in the Diels edition.

TESTIMONIA

• 470: Nonius 204,3.
• 459: Servius ad Aen. III 587; VII 37.

CODICES

• 467: fuerunt (O¹G), fuerit (Q*), fuerint (Q¹), fuere (LF).
• 469: terris (QG).
• 473: forma (QG), formae (O¹).
• 474: sub (OQ), suo (G).
• 477: equos (Q*G), equus (O¹), equo (Q¹).
• 479: ita uti (), ita ueluti (O¹), [om. QG].
• 480: cluere (Q¹), fluere (O), luere (QG).
• 484: quae (Q¹), qua (OQ*G).
• 486: corpore (O), corpora (QG).

5. Metadata and Usage Notes

License Note: This module is based on the 1923/1924 edition edited by Hermann Diels. As this edition was published over 100 years ago, the Latin text and original editorial notes are in the public domain.

Aldine Collection Reference: For students interested in the physical and aesthetic evolution of Lucretius’s work, digital versions of the 1515 Aldine edition—celebrated by David Attenborough for its portable format and elegant italic typeface—can be viewed through the Simon Fraser University Library’s Aldine Collection.