The Aeneid of Virgil

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The Aeneid of Virgil ranks as one of the world's most important and impressive literary epics. Although it is often mentioned in the same vein as Homer's Iliad, it is more closely akin to Milton's Paradise Lost in its level of cultural sophistication. Taylor's verse translation is widely considered to be an excellent representation of the Latin verse. Virgil was recognized during his lifetime as being the greatest poet of his age, and the most striking figure in the brilliant circle of literary men centered about the court of the Emperor Augustus. He seems to have been a man of simple, pure, and loveable character, and the references to him in the works of Horace clearly show the affection with which he was regarded by his friends. Although Virgil turned to the Greek epics for the general framework and many of the details of his epic poem, The Aeneid, he always remained master of his materials, and stamped them with the impress of his own genius. The spirit which inspired the Aeneid was wholly Roman, and the deep faith in the National Destiny, and stern sense of duty to which it gave expression, its profoundly religious character and stately and melodious verse, have always caused it to be recognized as the loftiest expression of the dignity and greatness of Rome at her best. But, the sympathetic reader will be conscious of a deeper and more abiding charm in the poetry of Virgil. Even in his most splendid passages his verses have the quality to thrill us with a strange pathos with his sensitiveness to unseen things - things beautiful and sad - giving utterance as the voice of Nature herself, to that pain and weariness, yet hope of better things, which is the experience of her children in every age.