Influence Pharsalia

the base of confederate memorial @ arlington national cemetery in united states, inscribed lucan s line, victrix causa deis placuit sed victa catoni.

lucan s work popular in own day , remained school text in late antiquity , during middle ages. on 400 manuscripts survive; interest court of charlemagne evidenced existence of 5 complete manuscripts 9th century. dante includes lucan among other classical poets in first circle of inferno, , draws on pharsalia in scene antaeus (a giant depicted in story lucan s book iv).

christopher marlowe published translation of book i, while thomas may followed complete translation heroic couplets in 1626. may later translated remaining books , wrote continuation of lucan s incomplete poem. 7 books of may s effort take story through caesar s assassination.

the line victrix causa deis placuit sed victa catoni has been favorite supporters of lost causes on centuries; can translated winning cause pleased gods, lost cause pleased cato . 1 american example comes confederate memorial @ arlington national cemetery, has these words in latin inscribed on base.

the english poet , classicist a.e. housman published landmark critical edition of poem in 1926.