Unclassified

Horace

Ancient Latin poet, mentioned by Virgil in Limbo as part of the 'bella scola' of the great ancient poets, representing the humble style for his Satires.

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In Canto IV of the Inferno, during the description of Limbo, Virgil indicates the great poets who accompany him. At verse 89 'Orazio satiro' is named, qualified by the reference to the Satires that characterize him as a representative of the humble style. The notes to the canto explain that the Latin poets listed here appear in chronological order and seem to represent the three principal styles: humble (Horace of the Satires), comic (Ovid of the Metamorphoses), and tragic (Lucan). Together with Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and Lucan, Horace is part of the 'bella scola', the group of poets favored by Dante. These five names are the same ones that Dante cites in the Vita Nuova as authority and example for those who rhyme.

In the text

Linked verses

1 verses
CanticaCantoVersoTestoOpen verse
InfernoCanto IV89l’altro è Orazio satiro che vene;Open verse