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Tua, Maecenas, haud mollia iussa. Materiali e appunti per la storia di un topos proemiale
2006-08-23T07:24:43Z
Abstract
The paper takes a stand on the famous Virgilian expression haud mollia iussa, Virg. Geor. 3, 41. Many scholars and readers, even in recent times, understand the meaning of iussa in this passage to correspond to 'call' rather than 'order'. But after comparing this passage with other occurrences of the term in Virgil, and after a reconnaissance of loci similes in other authors, the canonical meaning of the word appears to be confirmed. The 'orders' of Maecenas, however, are more closely approximated by the orders with which the divine Musa urges the poet, rather than a simple 'human' order.