The statesman and scholar Boethius, writing in prison before his execution, reminds us that some things in the Universe remain forever true and do not change. Hear the poem here.
Dido, bereft, watches in despair as Aeneas and the Trojans ready their ships to sail away and leave her. Hear the poetry here.
Catullus is envious of Lesbia’s little playmate. Hear about it in Latin and follow in translation here.
Mercury gets into formal dress to bring a stern message to Aeneas, visiting his Grandfather, Atlas, on the way. No wonder Aeneas will be startled. Virgil closely echoes Homer, but adds touches from his own imagination which bring Mercury, the shepherd of the souls of the dead, to disturbingly vivid life. Hear the story here.
Did you miss Catullus’s great poem about kisses? Hear it in Latin with a translation here.
Dido has discovered that Aeneas is preparing to leave her, and Carthage, without telling her. Their next interview does not go well. Hear Dido’s reaction here.
Another war against the Parthians looks in the offing and the outcome of the last one does not reflect well on Roman military pride and moral fibre. An inspiring example is needed. Step forward Regulus, who long ago persuaded the Senate to reject a deal with the Carthaginians which would have saved his own life. Hear the Regulus Ode here.
