The Early Textual History of Lucretius' <i>De rerum natura</i>
David Butterfield
This is the first detailed analysis of fate Lucretius' De rerum natura from its composition in 50s BC to creation our earliest extant manuscripts during Carolingian Age. Close investigation knowledge poem among writers throughout Roman and medieval world allows fresh insight into work's readership reception, a clear assessment indirect tradition's value for editing poem. The extended 170+ subject headings (capitula) that intersperse text reveals close engagement readers. A inspection assignation marginal hands poem's most important manuscript (the Oblongus) provides new evidence about work correctors offers basis Lucretian stemma codicum. Further clarification interrelationship Renaissance gives additional reception circulation fifteenth-century Italy.