Latin epic poetry flourished in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania between the early sixteenth and late seventeenth centuries, accompanied by the widely accepted belief that the Lithuanian language was a corrupted form of Latin and therefore Latin should be Lithuania’s national language. This edition presents translations of three key epics that reflect the beginnings, maturity and decline of the epic tradition in Lithuania: The Prussian War (1516) by Joannes Vislicensis; The Muscovite Expedition (1582) by Francisczek Gradowski; and The Strength of the Lord’s Right Arm (1674) by James Bennett. Between them, these epics show the creativity and inventiveness of the Lithuanian Latin epic tradition and the involvement of authors from different ethnic backgrounds in creating a national literature for early modern Central Europe’s largest state.
- Cover
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Latinitas and Lituanitas
- Selecting the Poems
- Virgil in Sarmatia: The Prussian War (1516) by Joannes Vislicensis
- Epic as Current Affairs: The Muscovite Expedition (1582) by Franciszek Gradowski
- Epic as Patrician Panegyric: The Strength of the Lord’s Right Arm (1674) by James Bennett
- The Decline of the Lithuanian Latin Epic Tradition
- Conclusion
- Lietuviška Santrauka / Lithuanian Summary
- Editor’s Note and Note on Translation
- Names and Transliteration
- Transcription and Orthography
- Translation
- Joannes Vislicensis, The Prussian War (1516)
- Book One: English Translation
- Liber Primus
- Book Two: English Translation
- Liber Secundus
- Book Three: English Translation
- Liber Tertius
- Franciszek Gradowski, The Muscovite Expedition (1582)
- English Translation
- Latin Text
- James Bennett, The Strength of the Lord’s Right Arm (1674)
- English Translation
- Latin Text
- Appendix
- Bibliography
- Primary Texts
- Secondary Sources
- Unpublished Theses
- Web Sources
- Index
Text
Audio
Adobe DRM
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