ABSTRACT
Rarely is the question asked in what sort of intellectual climate the ancient commentators on poetry were at home. Important and interesting as it would be to use their writings its a means of reconstructing the trends of thought prevalent in late antiquity, they are almost exclusively considered in their relevance for the understanding of the works of the great poets. The book under review, therefore, deserves praise on account of the subject chosen: it endeavors to represent the philosophical problems discussed by Servius, to ascertain whether in dealing with them he exhibits a consistent point of view, and, if this proves to be the case, to determine to which of the known systems his philosophy may be related (p. 5), thus throwing light upon the philosophical situation in Servius' time (cf. p. 182). The method applied in this study is meritorious as well; for the answers to the questions raised arts not derived from a haphazard investigation of a few selected passages. A collection of all the utterances concerning philosophy that are found in Servius' commentary on Vergil precedes the interpretation (chap. I, pp. 11-69; for the arrangement of the testimonies, cf. pp. 6-9). The examination of the various topics (chaps. II-VI, pp. 70-175) first takes the entire material into consideration, then sifts the decisive ideas for closer inspection as to their essential unity, sad ultimately characterizes their distinctive hue. Thus a sure foundation is laid for gaining durable results. 1
