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The ''Epistles'' (or Letters) of Horace were published in two books, in 20 BC and 14 BC, respectively. *''Epistularum liber primus'' (''First Book of Letters'') is the seventh work by Horace, published in the year 20 BC. This book consists of 20 Epistles. The phrase ''sapere aude'' ("dare to be wise") comes from this collection of poems. *''Epistularum liber secundus'' (''Second Book of Letters'') was published in the year 14 BC. This book consists of 3 Epistles. However, the third epistle - the Ars Poetica - is usually treated as a separate composition. == Background == As one commentator has put it: "Horace's ''Epistles'' may be said to be a continuation of his Satires in the form of letters... But few of the epistles are () letters except in form..."〔The Works of Horace Rendered into English Prose by James Lonsdale M.A. and Samuel Lee M.A. London: MacMillan and Co., 1883. Edition is available on Google Books.〕 They do indeed contain an excellent specimen of a letter of introduction (I.9); a piece of playful banter (I.14); pieces of friendly correspondence (I.3, I.4 and I.5); while the last, ''Epistle'' I.20, is inscribed 'To His Book," and forms a sort of epilogue to the ''Epistles'' he had already written. However, as a rule, the Epistles "are compositions like those which Pope, following the manner of Horace, has made familiar to us as Moral Essays."〔 The ''Epistles'' were published about four years after the first three books of ''Odes,'' and were introduced by a special address to his patron Maecenas, as his ''Odes,'' ''Epodes,'' and ''Satires'' had been.〔"Horace" in ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', 11th ed., Vol. XIII. Cambridge: 1910. Edition is available on Google Books.〕 The form of composition may have been suggested by some of the satires of Lucilius, which were composed as letters to his personal friends...〔 "From the ''Epistles''... we gather that () had gradually adopted a more retired and meditative life, and had become fonder of the country and of study, and that while owing allegiance to no school or sect of philosophy, he was framing for himself a scheme of life, was endeavoring to conform to it, and was bent on inculcating it in others."〔 "In both his ''Satires'' and ''Epistles'', Horace shows himself a genuine moralist, a subtle observer and true painter of life, and an admirable writer." But in spirit the ''Epistles'' are more philosophic, more ethical and meditative. Like the ''Odes'' they exhibit the twofold aspects of Horace's philosophy, that of temperate Epicureanism and that of more serious and elevated conviction.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Epistles (Horace)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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