ABSTRACT
Lucilius, one o f the last archaic poets, died just before the opening o f the first century b.c . During the period o f Horace’s youth Lucilius’ poetry was one o f the most carefully studied bodies o f verse available to budding poets. Not every reader caught the true spirit o f Lucilian satire. Some thought that by imitating the savage invective with which the poet had assaulted eminent politicians o f the Gracchan Age they were producing genuine ‘satires’ . We know o f writers who lampooned the Trium virs or who uttered polemic statements against personal foes; such writers, i f they used verse, apparently claimed to follow the Lucilian model. However, the truly creative poets o f the 6o’s
and jo ’s, often called the Neoterics or New Poets, saw more clearly into the contribution o f the older poet. His artfully stylized conversational manner, his ability to write verse with a strong personal stamp, his choice o f ordinary subjects, his anti-heroic attitude, and finally his refusal to accept the political values o f many aristocrats, all these made Lucilius’ poetry one o f the ideals o f the New Poets.
