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POEMS

OF

CATULLUS:

SELECTED AND PREPARED

FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

BY F. M. HUBBARD,
Teacher of a Classical School, Boston.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY PERKINS & MARVIN.

PHILADELPHIA: HENRY PERKINS.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1836,

By PERKINS & MARVIN,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

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PREFACE.

THE text of this edition of Catullus is that of Doering as reprinted in the Regent's Classics; which though not in all respects the most perfect, is thought on the whole best suited to students in this country. In a few passages, a different and better reading has been introduced, principally from Isaac Voss and Sillig. The most important of these changes are referred to in the notes.

By far the greater part of the poems of Catullus are given in this edition. In making a selection from them, the editor has been desirous to retain every thing which could exhibit his author in his personal character and poetical powers, or throw light upon the

tastes and sentiments of his age, and at the same time to exclude all that might offend by its indelicacy, or corrupt by its licentious

ness.

Most of their poetry was written by the ancients with so clear a perception of the true principles of art and so skilful an application of them, that very seldom can a part be taken away, without destroying the unity and essentially impairing the beauty of the whole. This is particularly true of their epigrams, lyrics, and all sportive effusions of fancy or feeling. The editor, therefore, while he has made his selections numerous and various enough to show all the peculiar powers, and retain the finest productions of Catullus, has deemed it but justice to him, as well as required by good taste and just criticism, to present no fragments of poems. In compliance with this sentiment, he has omitted entirely some poems, tainted in parts, which as specimens of poetical skill it were desirable to retain. This rule has been scrupulously observed, except in one or two

instances, in which it was thought the canon would not strictly apply.

To each poem is prefixed a brief statement of the occasion of it, or an analysis of the scheme of thought it contains, which will be sufficient in general to guide the student to the true interpretation; and as few students probably will read Catullus who have not made some attainments in classical antiquities, &c., many explanations have been omitted, which would be necessary for younger pupils. In selecting the passages to be illustrated, as well as the material and manner of illustration, the editor has been continually guided by the experience of intelligent pupils with whom he has read this author in his own school.

BOSTON, MARCH, 1836.

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