Symmetrical wordplay in the First Book of Manilius' Astronomica

Symmetrical wordplay in the First Book of Manilius' Astronomica Tetsufumi Takeshita Marcus is one earliest extant astrological treatises. Consisting five books, work dates at least partly from reign Augustus and thus poet belongs to last generation Latin literature's Golden Age.1 While didactic poem attracted little attention until later twentieth century, especially among English-speaking scholars,2 recent scholarship has shed fresh light on Augustan poet's literary contributions. Focusing fondness for deliberate arrangement words, this note suggests a further example poem. Manilius been shown employ more than form wordplay. One such acrostic, technique forming word first letters successive lines poem.3 Already occurring book Iliad,4 acrostics are typically found Hellenistic poets as Aratus, whose Phaenomena Jacques discovered famous λεπτή acrostic.5 imitates Aratus' Astronomica, particularly regarding catalogue constellations (Man. 1.255–531). The [End Page 316] most interesting occurs 796-99, which proper name vocative case spelled by initial subsequent 1.796–99):6 … et Claudi magna propago,Aemiliaeque domus proceres, clarique Metelli,et Cato fortunae victor, fictorque sub armismiles Agrippa suae, Venerisque ab origine prolesIulia. Here great line Claudius; leading members Aemilian house, famed Metelli. Agrippa, who proved arms master, other maker his destiny; Julian boasted descent Venus.7 Another was pointed out MacGregor, repeats same words regular intervals: Man. 5.161–70, instance, ille deliberately regularly repeated four times.8 Mac-Gregor considers 'tetractys pattern' be evidence Pythagorean sources it seems likely that rhythmical word-patterning reflects lively movement children born under Lepus, an extra-zodiacal constellation rising with Gemini. Like acrostics, aesthetics shows not only well acquainted ludic word-arrangement, but also keen apply scholars have tended concentrate start verses, examination arrangements verse ends yields instance symmetrical far gone unnoticed. In book, describes structure universe. After brief doxography origins universe 1.118–254), he enumerates constellations. Having listed twelve zodiacal signs, precedes northern argument concerning polar axis, explains follows 1.285–93): nec vero solidus stat robore corporis axisnec grave pondus habet, quod onus ferat aetheris alti, 317] sed cum aer omnis semper volvatur orbemquoque semel coepit totus volet undique ipsum,quodcumque medio est, circa cuncta moventur,usque adeo tenue ut verti non possit ipsumnec iam inclinari se convertere orbem,hoc dixere axem, quia motum habet ullumipse, videt volitantia moveri. Yet axis solid hardness matter, nor does possess massive weight bear burden lofty firmament; since entire atmosphere ever revolves circle, every part whole rotates place once began, middle, about all moves, so insubstantial cannot turn round upon itself or even submit motion spin circular fashion, men called since, motionless itself, yet sees everything spinning it. Colborn already noted ipsum 290 corresponds 288,9 of...