The ''Laus Pisonis'' (''Praise of Piso'') is a Latin verse
panegyric of the 1st century AD in praise of a man of the
Piso family. The exact identity of the subject is not certain. Some scholars identify him with
Gaius Calpurnius Piso, the leader of a conspiracy against Nero in AD 65; Others argue for a later date, one possible candidate being a Piso mentioned by
Pliny the Younger
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus (born Gaius Caecilius or Gaius Caecilius Cilo; 61 – ), better known in English as Pliny the Younger ( ), was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of Ancient Rome. Pliny's uncle, Pliny the Elder, helped raise and e ...
as the young author of a poem in Greek, who became consul in 111 AD. The
Latinity is straightforward; the subject is praised for his oratorical ability as an advocate in law cases, for the kindness with which he maintains his house open to poor men of talent, but also for his skill at playing ball, composing poetry in Greek, and especially the board game of
latrunculi, for which the poem is one of our main sources. The author three times addresses Piso as a ("young man"), but also mentions that he had been
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states thro ...
and had made a speech in the senate praising the Emperor.
About the author of the work there is considerably more doubt; it has been attributed to
Saleius Bassus,
Statius
Publius Papinius Statius (Greek language, Greek: Πόπλιος Παπίνιος Στάτιος; , ; ) was a Latin poetry, Latin poet of the 1st century CE. His surviving poetry includes an epic in twelve books, the ''Thebaid (Latin poem), Theb ...
,
Lucan and
Calpurnius Siculus among others. Whoever he was, the author says in the concluding verses of his poem that he was not yet twenty years old.
The work, comprising 261 dactylic hexameters, has come down via a single manuscript once preserved in the monastery of
Lorsch, and now lost; although sizeable portions were also preserved in several medieval
florilegia, the manuscripts of which are still extant. The is in J. Sichard's edition of Ovid, Basel, 1527, and the work has seen about a dozen editions over the centuries, having drawn the attention of
Joseph Scaliger and
Emil Baehrens among others. A restoration of the archetype of the florilegia was published by
Berthold Ullman.
Summary
– 1 The writer wonders which to praise more, Piso's own virtues or his noble ancestry, since the Calpurnian family descend from Calpus (son of King
Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius (; 753–672 BC; reigned 715–672 BC) was the Roman mythology, legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus after a one-year interregnum. He was of Sabine origin, and many of Rome's most important religious and political ins ...
).
– 22 Piso's ancestors' deeds in war have been recorded by earlier poets; now that wars have quietened down, it is possible to show valour in civic life. Addressing Piso as (), he encourages him to outdo his ancestors by victories in the law courts. The crowds which once watched his ancestors' military triumphs now pack the courts to hear him speak. With his eloquence he is able to control the jurors just as a Thessalian horseman controls his horse. His speeches surpass the forcefulness of
Ulysses, the brevity of
Menelaus
In Greek mythology, Menelaus (; ) was a Greek king of Mycenaean (pre- Dorian) Sparta. According to the ''Iliad'', the Trojan war began as a result of Menelaus's wife, Helen, fleeing to Troy with the Trojan prince Paris. Menelaus was a central ...
, and the eloquence of
Nestor (three warriors from the ''
Iliad
The ''Iliad'' (; , ; ) is one of two major Ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odyssey'', the poem is divided into 24 books and ...
''). He also reminds Piso of the success of his speech as consul in the Senate in praise of the Emperor. The poet says, however, that he himself does not have the strength to match Piso's eloquence with his own.
– 81 Calling on the
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
Calliope
In Greek mythology, Calliope ( ; ) is the Muse who presides over eloquence and epic poetry; so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice. Hesiod and Ovid called her the "Chief of all Muses".
Mythology
Calliope had two famous sons, OrpheusH ...
to help him, the poet describes how when the law courts are closed, the young men of Rome flock to Piso's house to hear him speak. He is skilled in Greek culture also and is able to compose a fine epigram. The dignity of his noble demeanour, his faithfulness, and his freedom of speech combined with modesty are also remarkable.
– 109 The poet describes how Piso is generous to his poor clients and dependants, treating them as equals, respecting them, and appreciating their different talents. Like the seasons, Piso is able to change from one thing to another easily, from the dignity of the courts to the playfulness of his free time, composing poetry or playing the lyre. One could believe that the god
Phoebus himself had taught him the lyre, and the poet encourages him to play and to imitate the warrior
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles ( ) or Achilleus () was a hero of the Trojan War who was known as being the greatest of all the Greek warriors. The central character in Homer's ''Iliad'', he was the son of the Nereids, Nereid Thetis and Peleus, ...
, who was skilled in the lyre as well as in fighting.
– 178 He goes on to describe Piso's skill in fencing, playing ball, and especially at playing the board game known as , which the poet describes in terms of battling with soldiers.
– 209 The poet begs Piso to accept the gift of his poem. If his present effort falls short, he hopes he will do better in future. He begs Piso to become his patron, so that he can develop his talents. Virgil would never have become famous without the patronage of
Maecenas
Gaius Cilnius Maecenas ( 13 April 68 BC – 8 BC) was a friend and political advisor to Octavian (who later reigned as emperor Augustus). He was also an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets, including both Horace and Virgil. ...
, who also encouraged the tragedian and epic poet
Varius, and the lyricist
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 BC – 27 November 8 BC), Suetonius, Life of Horace commonly known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). Th ...
. He begs Piso to help him, as a man stretches out his hand to help a swimmer in the water. Though the poet comes from a humble family and is only 19 years old, he can emerge from the darkness of poverty with Piso's help.
The , or simply , was a board game played with black and white circular glass pieces on a plain board of 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 squares.[Green (2010), p. 516.] The aim was to capture as many as possible of the opponent's pieces by surrounding each one with two of one's own pieces on either rank or file. Pieces were allowed to move forwards or backwards but not diagonally.
Seneca the Younger
Lucius Annaeus Seneca the Younger ( ; AD 65), usually known mononymously as Seneca, was a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome, a statesman, a dramatist, and in one work, a satirist, from the post-Augustan age of Latin literature.
Seneca ...
,
Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro (116–27 BCE) was a Roman polymath and a prolific author. He is regarded as ancient Rome's greatest scholar, and was described by Petrarch as "the third great light of Rome" (after Virgil and Cicero). He is sometimes call ...
and
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...
.
[Lewis & Short, ''Latin Dictionary'', s.v]
Bibliography
* Austin, R. G. (1934)
"Roman Board Games. I" ''Greece & Rome'', 4(10), 24–34.
* Austin, R. G. (1935)
"Roman board games. II" ''Greece & Rome'', 4(11), 76–82.
* Bell, A. A. (1985)
"A New Approach to the ''Laus Pisonis''" ''Latomus'', 44(Fasc. 4), 871–878.
* Green, S. J. (2010)
"‘(No) arms and a man’: The imperial pretender, the opportunistic poet and the Laus Pisonis" ''The Classical Quarterly'', 60(2), 497–523.
* Reeve, M. D. (1984)
"The Addressee of ''Laus Pisonis''" ''Illinois Classical Studies'', 9(1), 42–48.
* Richmond, J. (1994)
"The ''Ludus Latrunculorum'' and ''Laus Pisonis'' 190–208" ''Museum Helveticum'', 51(3), 164–179.
* Ullman, B. L. (1929)
"The Text Tradition and Authorship of the ''Laus Pisonis''" ''Classical Philology'', 24(2), 109–132.
References
External links
Latin text with summary apparatus, English translation and introduction at
LacusCurtius, a transcription of the edition by J. Wight Duff and Arnold Duff (
Loeb Classical Library
The Loeb Classical Library (LCL; named after James Loeb; , ) is a monographic series of books originally published by Heinemann and since 1934 by Harvard University Press. It has bilingual editions of ancient Greek and Latin literature, ...
, Carmina Minora, Vol. I), in which the Latin text is that of Baehrens with minor changes.
{{Authority control
Laus Pisonis
Works of unknown authorship