32 The Building Blocks of Reality: Lucretius on Body and Void (De rerum natura, Book I, 416–508)
1. Introductory Context: The Science and “Magic” of Lucretius
The work of Titus Lucretius Carus represents a unparalleled intersection of poetic mastery and speculative scientific inquiry. As Albert Einstein observed in his 1924 foreword to the landmark edition by Hermann Diels, Lucretius’s poem exerts a distinct “magic” on those who feel like spectators of their own age rather than participants in its prevailing intellectual attitudes. Einstein was particularly struck by Lucretius’s “deep conviction” regarding the “causal connectedness” of natural phenomena—the fundamental belief that the world is intelligible through the regular motion of immutable atoms. This firm confidence in the universe’s intelligibility is nowhere more apparent than in the lines presented in this module (I. 416–508), where Lucretius establishes the mechanical necessity of atoms and void as the sole constituents of reality.
Lucretius operated as an “independent man” who, despite lacking the empirical results of modern physics, imagined the world through “lively senses and reasoning.” His atomistic-mechanical worldview, which Einstein found profoundly impressive, attributed all phenomena—warmth, color, and even life itself—to the geometric-mechanical movements of atoms. For Einstein, the reception of Diels’s translation was equally significant; he noted that Diels’s verses “read so naturally” that the reader forgets they are engaging with a translation, allowing the Epicurean spirit to emerge with its original clarity.
The preservation of this worldview across two millennia is itself a historical phenomenon. Naturalist David Attenborough classifies the printed book as a “meme”—a vital vehicle for embedding human experience and handing it down across generations outside the biological body. Attenborough identifies the 1515 Venice edition of Lucretius, published by the Aldine Press, as one of his “most precious books.” This octavo edition, noted for its “wonderfully elegant italic script,” exemplifies the transition from the fragile manuscript tradition to the stabilized print culture of the Renaissance, ensuring that the Lucretian “meme” survived to influence the architects of modern science.
2. Parallel Text: [CORPVS ET INANE ESSE NATVRAM RERVM] (Lines 416–508)
| Line | Latin (Diels, 1923) | English Translation |
| 416 | argumentorum sit copia missa per auris. | That the full supply of arguments be poured into your ears. |
| 417 | Sed nunc ut repetam coeptum pertexere dictis: | But now to resume the weaving of the task begun: |
| [CORPVS ET INANE ESSE NATVRAM RERVM] | [THAT NATURE CONSISTS OF BODY AND VOID] | |
| 418 | omnis ut est igitur per se natura duabus | All nature, then, as it exists by itself, is built |
| 420 | constitit in rebus; nam Corpora sunt et inane, | Of two things: for there are bodies and there is void, |
| 421 | haec in quo sita sunt et qua diuersa mouentur. | In which these bodies are placed and through which they move. |
| 422 | corpus enim per se communis dedicat esse | For that body exists, the general sense of mankind declares; |
| 423 | sensus; cui nisi prima fides fundata ualebit, | And unless our faith in this sense be firmly grounded, |
| 424 | haut erit occultis de rebus quo referentes | There will be no principle to which we may refer |
| 425 | confirmare animi quicquam ratione queamus. | To confirm anything by the reasoning of the mind. |
| 426 | tum porro locus ac spatium, quod inane uocamus, | Furthermore, if there were no place and space, which we call void, |
| 427 | si nullum foret, haut usquam sita corpora possent | Bodies could nowhere be situated, |
| 428 | esse neque omnino quoquam diuersa meare; | Nor could they move at all in any direction; |
| 429 | id quod iam supera tibi paulo ostendimus ante. | This is what we have already shown you a little above. |
| 430 | Praeterea nihil est quod possis dicere ab omni | Besides, there is nothing which you can say is distinct |
| 431 | corpore seiunctum secretumque esse ab inani, | From all body and separate from the void, |
| 432 | quod quasi tertia sit numero natura reperta. | To be discovered as a third nature in the count. |
| 433 | nam quod cumque erit, esse aliquit debebit id ipsum, | For whatever shall exist, must be something in itself, |
| 434 | cui si tactus erit quamuis leuis exiguusque, | Which, if it be tangible, however light and small, |
| 435 | [augmine uel grandi uel paruo denique (dum sit)] | [In an increase either large or small (provided it exist)] |
| 436 | corporis augebit numerum summamque sequetur: | It will increase the number of body and follow its sum: |
| 437 | sin intactile erit, nulla de parte quod ullam | But if it be intangible, such that it cannot at any point |
| 438 | rem prohibere queat per se transeire meantem, | Hinder anything from passing through it, |
| 439 | scilicet, hoc id erit, uacuum quod inane uocamus. | Surely, this will be that which we call empty void. |
| 440 | praeterea per se quod cumque erit, aut faciet quid | Moreover, whatever exists by itself, will either act |
| 441 | aut aliis fungi debebit agentibus ipsum, | Or must suffer while other things act upon it, |
| 442 | aut erit ut possint in eo res esse gerique; | Or it will be such that things can exist and happen in it; |
| 443 | at facere et fungi sine corpore nulla potest res, | But nothing can act or suffer without body, |
| 444 | nec praebere locum porro nisi inane uacansque. | Nor can anything provide place except the empty void. |
| 445 | ergo praeter inane et corpora tertia per se | Therefore, besides void and bodies, no third nature |
| 446 | nulla potest rerum in numero natura relinqui, | Can be left remaining in the count of things, |
| 447 | nec quae sub sensus cadat ullo tempore nostros, | Nor one that can fall at any time under our senses, |
| 448 | nec ratione animi quam quisquam possit apisci. | Nor one that any man can grasp by reasoning. |
| 449 | Nam quae cumque cluent, aut his coniuncta duabus | For whatever things are mentioned, you will find them |
| 450 | rebus ea inuenies aut horum euenta uidebis. | Either as properties of these two or as their accidents. |
| 451 | coniunctum est id quod nusquam sine permitiali | A property is that which can nowhere be separated |
| 452 | discidio potis est seiungi seque gregari; | Without a fatal breakdown of the thing; |
| 453 | pondus uti saxis, calor ignist, liquor aquai, | As weight is to rocks, heat to fire, liquidity to water, |
| 454 | tactus corporibus cunctis, intactus inani; | Touch to all bodies, and intangibility to the void; |
| 455 | seruitium contra, paupertas, diuitiaeque, | Whereas slavery, poverty, and riches, |
| 456 | libertas, bellum, concordia, cetera quorum | Liberty, war, concord, and other things whose |
| 457 | aduentu manet incolumis natura abituque, | Arrival or departure leaves the nature of the thing intact, |
| 458 | haec soliti sumus, ut par est, euenta uocare. | These we are accustomed, rightly, to call accidents. |
| 459 | tempus item per se non est, sed rebus ab ipsis | Time likewise exists not by itself, but from things themselves |
| 460 | consequitur sensus, transactum quid sit in aeuo, | Follows the sense of what has been done in the past, |
| 461 | tum quae res instet, quid porro deinde sequatur; | Then what is present, and what is to follow thereafter; |
| 462 | nec per se quemquam tempus sentire faten dumst | And it must be admitted that no one feels time by itself |
| 463 | semotum ab rerum motu placidaque quiete. | Separate from the motion of things and their quiet rest. |
| 464 | denique Tyndaridem raptam belloque subactas | Finally, when they say that the daughter of Tyndareus was ravished |
| 465 | Troiiugenas gentis cum dicunt esse, uidendumst | And the Trojan race subdued in war, we must see |
| 466 | ne forte haec per se cogant nos esse fateri, | That they do not force us to admit these things exist in themselves, |
| 467 | quando ea saecla hominum, quorum haec euenta fuerunt | Since those generations of men, of whom these were accidents, |
| 468 | inreuocabilis abstulerit iam praeterita aetas. | Irrevocable past time has already carried away. |
| 469 | namque aliud terrast, aliud regionibus ipsis | For one thing may be said of the land, another of the regions |
| 470 | euentum dici poterit quod cumque erit actum, | Wherein every act was performed, |
| 471 | denique materies si rerum nulla fuisset, | Finally, if there had been no matter for things, |
| 472 | nec locus ac spatium, res in quo quaeque geruntur, | Nor place and space, in which all things are done, |
| 473 | numquam Tyndaridis forma conflatus amoris | Never would the flame of love, kindled by the beauty of Tyndareus’ daughter, |
| 474 | ignis Alexandri Phrygio sub pectore gliscens | In the Phrygian breast of Alexander, |
| 475 | clara accendisset saeui certamina belli, | Have set ablaze the famous contests of cruel war, |
| 476 | nec clam durateus Troiianis Pergama partu | Nor would the wooden horse, by its night-birth of Greeks, |
| 477 | inflannnasset equos nocturno Graiiugenarum; | Have set fire to the Trojan citadel; |
| 478 | perspicere ut possis res gestas funditus omnis | So that you may see that all events utterly |
| 479 | non ita ut corpus per se constare neque esse, | Do not exist or consist in themselves as body does, |
| 480 | nec ratione cluere eadem qua constet inane, | Nor are they spoken of in the same way as the void, |
| 481 | sed magis ut merito possis euenta uocare | But rather that you may rightly call them accidents |
| 482 | corporis atque loci, res in quo quaeque gerantur. | Of body and of place, in which all things are carried on. |
| 483 | Corpora sunt porro partim primordia rerum | Bodies, moreover, are partly the first-beginnings of things, |
| 484 | partim concilio quae constant principiorum. | And partly those which consist of a union of first-beginnings. |
| 485 | sed quae sunt rerum primordia, nulla potest uis | But those which are the first-beginnings, no force can |
| 486 | stinguere; nam solido uincunt ea corpore demum. | Quench; for they prevail at last by their solid body. |
| 487 | etsi difficile esse uidetur credere quicquam | Although it seems difficult to believe that anything |
| 488 | in rebus solido reperiri corpore posse. | Can be found among things with a solid body. |
| 489 | transit enim fulmen caeli per saepta domorum, | For the lightning of heaven passes through the walls of houses, |
| 490 | clamor ut ac uoces, ferrura candescit in igni, | As do shouts and voices; iron glows white in the fire, |
| 491 | dissiliuntque fero feruenti saxa uapore; | And rocks fly asunder in fierce, boiling heat; |
| 492 | cum labefactatus rigor auri soluitur aestu, | When the hardness of gold is loosened and melted by heat, |
| 493 | tum glacies aeris flamma deuicta liquescit; | Then the ice of bronze, overcome by flame, turns liquid; |
| 494 | permanat calor argentum penetraleque frigus, | Heat and piercing cold penetrate through silver, |
| 495 | quando utrumque manu retinentis pocula rite | Since we have felt both when holding cups in our hand |
| 496 | sensimus infuso lympharum rore superne. | As the dew of water was poured in from above. |
| 497 | usque adeo in rebus solidi nihil esse uidetur. | So much does it seem that there is nothing solid in things. |
| 498 | Sed quia uera tarnen ratio naturaque rerum | But because true reasoning and the nature of things |
| 499 | cogit, ades, paucis dum uersibus expediamus | Forces us, attend, while in a few verses we explain |
| 500 | esse ea quae solido atque aeterno corpore constent, | That those things exist which consist of solid and eternal body, |
| 501 | semina quae rerum primordiaque esse docemus, | Which we show to be the seeds and first-beginnings of things, |
| 502 | unde omnis rerum nunc constet summa creata. | From which the whole sum of things now created is composed. |
| 503 | Principio quoniam duplex natura duarum | In the first place, since a twofold nature of two |
| 504 | dissimilis rerum longe constare repertast, | Widely different things has been found to exist, |
| 505 | corporis atque loci, res in quo quaeque geruntur, | Namely of body and of place, in which each thing is done, |
| 506 | esse utramque sibi per se puramque necessest. | It must be that each exists by itself and pure. |
| 507 | nam qua cumque uacat spatium, quod inane uocamus, | For wherever the space which we call void is empty, |
| 508 | corpus ea non est; qua porro cumque tenet se | There body is not; and wherever body holds itself, |
3. Critical Apparatus: Testimonia and Codices
- 489.490: Cf. VI 228. 229
- 489: fulmen O*Q1: flurnen O* Q*G; caeli OQ: cali G: caelum Lachm.
- 490: ut OQG utroque loco: it O1, probante Lachm. ac OQ VI 229: ad OQG hoc loco.
- 491: fere fortasse recte Wakefield; feruentia Marullus.
- 492: cum OQG: tum It.
- 495: trumque G*.
- 504: longe rerum Bentley.
- 424: quo O: quo se ferentes Q.
- 425: animi G1: anm G*.
- 427: haut usquam Q: haud usquam O1: haustusquam O*: hauctusquam G.
- 429: supera tibi OQ IV 672: superat ibi O*G: superat . ibi Q*: superat tibi O1Q1: supra tibi OQG I 531.
- 433: aliquo Bockemüller non transpositis vv. 434.435.
- 435.434: transposuit cod. Laur. 35,32.
- 437: ullam ] ulla G.
- 442: possint F: possunt OQG.
- 446: relinqui It.: reliqui OQG.
- 448: Nec OGQ: Nam Ecl. Sang.
- 449: coniuncta duabus Non., O1Q1 (ss. i. e. inseparabilia Q1): coniuncto duobus O* Q*G.
- 452: discido G; greagari O*Q* G.
- 453: saxis OQG: saxi It.: saxist Wakefield; calor ignist Bockemüller: ignis OQG.
- 454: delet Lachm. propter intactus barbaram uocem. cunctis G1: coniunctis G*.
- 455: diuitiaeque O1: diuiaeque O*Q*: diuia aeque G.
- 458: euento O*Q* G.
- 459: per se] personae G; sed] de O*.
- 467: fuerunt O1G: fuerit O*Q*: fuerint Q1: fuere LF.
- 469: terrast scripsi: terris OQG. alid G*. regionibus OQG: legionibus Wakefield.
- 473: forma O*QG: formae O1. amoris Wakefield: amore OQG.
- 474: sub OQ: suo G.
- 477: equos O*Q* G: equus O1: equo Q1.
- 479: ita ut O*: ita ueluti O1: om. QG.
- 480: cluere Q1: fluere O: luere QG. constet O: constat QG.
- 484: quae Q1: qua O*Q*G (glossam add. ubi O1).
- 486: corpore O: corpora QG.
- 487: uidentur Q*G.
- 500: constent Q1: constet OQ*G.
- 506: puruinque QG.
Sigla Legend:
- O: Codex Leidensis Vossianus Oblongus (9th century).
- Q: Codex Leidensis Vossianus Quadratus (9th century).
- G: Schedae Haunienses (Gottorpienses) (9th century fragments).
- V: Schedae Vindobonenses (f. 9-14) (9th century fragments).
- U: Schedae Vindobonenses (f. 15-18) (9th century fragments).
- O1/Q1: Corrections by later medieval or Renaissance hands.
- Os: The “Saxon” corrector of the 9th century.
4. Editorial Methodology Note
The textual transmission of Lucretius relies on an archetype exarated in capital letters, likely in the 4th century, before being transcribed into an “Insular” or Anglo-Saxon script. This module adheres to the “Absolute Grounding” in the Carolingian-era manuscripts established by Hermann Diels, while distinguishing between layers of historical correction.
Central to this methodology are two primary correctors: the 9th-century “Saxon” corrector (Os), who used an Anglo-Saxon hand to resolve obscurities in the primary text (O), and the later corrector (O1), identified by scholar Tangl as potentially the 11th-century monk Otloh of Emmeram. While Renaissance or “Poggiano” influences are acknowledged where they clarify the 15th-century reception, priority is given to the 9th-century codices. Furthermore, the orthography intentionally preserves the inconstantia (inconsistency) found in the original period—such as the variation between quom and cum—eschewing modern “civilized” corrections to respect the poem’s linguistic antiquity.
