3 Lucretius on the origin and evolution of species

As has been shown in the previous post, when the earth was new, a number of living things were generated that proved to be unfit to survive and were extinguished accordingly. But not any kind of living things could be created:

Sed neque Centauri fuerunt, neque tempor(e) in ullo

esse queunt duplici natur(a) et corpore bino

‘But neither were there Centaurs, nor at any time can there be animals of twofold nature and double body,’

ex alienigenis membris compacta, potestas

hinc illinc par, vis ut sat par esse potissit.

‘so that the power and strength of each, derived from this parent and that, could be equal.’

id licet hinc quamvis hebeti cognoscere corde.

‘That we may learn, however dull be our understanding, from this.’

principio circum tribus actis impiger annis

floret equus, puer haudquaquam; nam saep(e) etiam nunc

ubera mammar(um) in somnis lactantia quaeret.

‘First of all, when three years have come round, the horse is in the prime of vigour, but the child by no means so; for often even now in his sleep he will clutch for the milky paps of his mother’s breasts.’

post ub(i) equum validae vires aetate senecta

membraque deficiunt fugienti languida vita,

‘Afterwards, when the stout strength and limbs of horses fail through old age and droop, as life flees from them,’

tum demum pueril(e) aevo florente iuventas

occipit et molli vestit lanugine malas.

‘then at last youth sets in the prime of boyish years, and clothes the cheeks with soft down;

ne fort(e) ex homin(e) et veterino semin(e) equorum

confieri credas Centauros posse nequ(e) esse,

‘that you may not by chance believe that Centaurs can be created or exist, formed of a man and the load-laden breed of horses,’

aut rabidis canibus succinctas semimarinis

corporibus Scyllas et cetera de gener(e) horum,

‘or Scyllas either, with bodies half of sea-monsters, girt about with ravening dogs, or any other beasts of their kind,’

inter se quorum discordia membra videmus;

‘whose limbs we see cannot agree with one another;’

quae neque florescunt pariter nec robora sumunt

corporibus neque proiciunt aetate senecta

‘for they neither reach their prime together nor gain the full strength of their bodies nor let it fall away in old age,’

nec simili Vener(e) ardescunt nec moribus unis

conveniunt, neque sunt eadem iucunda per artus.

‘nor are they fired with a like love, nor do they agree in a single character, nor are the same things pleasant to them throughout their frame.’

(878-898, translation Cyril Bailey, who prepared the Oxford edition of Lucretius’ De rerum natura)

 

I shall skip the Chimaera (899-906):

quar(e) etiam tellure nova caeloque recenti

talia qui fingit potuiss(e) animalia gigni,

‘Wherefore again, he who feigns that when the earth was young and the sky new-born, such animals could have been begotten,’

nixus in hoc uno novitatis nomin(e) inani,

‘trusting only in this one empty plea of the world’s youth,’

multa licet simili ration(e) effutiat ore,

‘may blurt out many things in like manner from his lips;’

aurea tum dicat per terras flumina vulgo

fluxiss(e) et gemmis florer(e) arbusta suesse

‘he may say that then streams of gold flowed everywhere over the lands, and that trees were wont to blossom with jewels,’

aut hominem tanto membror(um) ess(e) impete natum,

or that a man was born with such expanse of limbs,’

trans mari(a) alta pedum nisus ut ponere posset

‘that he could plant his footsteps right across the deep seas,’

et manibus totum circum se vertere caelum.

‘and with his hands twist the whole sky about him.’

(907-915)

 

Lucretius rejects the creation of such monsters with reference to ‘a fixed law of nature’:

nam quod multa fuer(e) in terris semina rerum

‘For because there were in the earth many seeds of things’

tempore quo primum tellus animalia fudit,

‘at the time when first the land brought forth animals,’

nil tamen est signi mixtas potuisse creari

inter se pecudes compactaque membr(a) animantum,

‘yet that is no proof that beasts of mingled breed could have been born, or the limbs of living creatures put together in one;’

propterea quia quae de terris nunc quoqu(e) abundant

herbarum gener(a) ac fruges arbustaque laeta

‘because the races of herbage and the crops and fruitful trees, which even now spring forth abundantly from the earth’

non tamen inter se possunt complexa creari,

‘yet cannot be created intertwined one with another’

sed res quaque suo ritu procedit et omnes

foedere naturae certo discrimina servant.

‘but each of these things comes forth after its own manner, and all preserve their separate marks by a fixed law of nature.’

(916-924)

 

Follows the depiction of the early men:

At genus humanum multo fuit illud in arvis

durius, ut decuit, tellus quod dura creasset,

‘But the race of man was much hardier then in the fields, as was seemly for a race born of the hard earth:’

et maioribus et solidis magis ossibus intus

fundatum, validis aptum per viscera nervis,

‘it was built up on larger and more solid bones within, fastened with strong sinews traversing the flesh;’

nec facil(e) ex aestu nec frigore quod caperetur

nec novitate cibi nec labi corporis ulla.

‘not easily to be harmed by heat or cold or strange food or any taint of the body.’

(925-930)

 

Primitive men lived like wild beasts, they did not till, but lived on what earth had created:

multaque per caelum solis volventia lustra

‘And during many lustres of the sun rolling through the sky’

vulgivago vitam tractabant more ferarum.

‘they prolonged their lives after the roving manner of wild beasts.’

nec robustus erat curvi moderator aratri

quisquam, nec scibat ferro molirier arva

‘Nor was there any sturdy steerer of the bent plough, nor knew any one how to work the fields with iron,’

nec nova defoder(e) in terram virgula nec altis

arboribus veteres decidere falcibu’ ramos.

‘or to plant young shoots in the earth, or cut down the old branches off high trees with pruning-hooks.’

quod sol atqu(e) imbres dederant, quod terra crearat

sponte sua, satis id placabat pectora donum.

‘What sun and rains had brought to birth, what earth had created unasked, such gift was enough to appease their hearts.’

glandiferas inter curabant corpora quercus

plerumqu(e); et quae nunc hiberno tempore cernis

arbuta puniceo fieri matura colore,

plurima tum tellus etiam maiora ferebat.

‘Among oaks laden with acorns they would refresh their bodies for the most part; and the arbute-berries, which now you see ripening in winter-time with scarlet hue, the earth bore then in abundance, yea and larger.’

multaque praeterea novitas tum florida mundi

pabula dura tulit, miseris mortalibus ampla.

‘And besides these the flowering youth of the world then bare much other rough sustenance, enough and spare for miserable mortals.’

at sedare sitim fluvii fontesque vocabant,

‘But to slake their thirst streams and springs summoned them,’

ut nunc montibus e magnis decursus aquai

‘even as now the downrush of water from the great mountains’

claru’ citat late sitientia saecla ferarum.

‘calls clear far and wide to the thirsting tribes of wild beasts.’

denique nota vagi silvestria templa tenebant

nympharum, quibus e scibant umori’ fluenta

‘Or again they dwelt in the woodland haunts of the nymphs, which they had learnt in their wanderings, from which they knew that gliding streams of water’

lubrica proluvie larga laver(e) umida saxa,

umida saxa, super viridi stillantia musco

‘washed the wet rocks with bounteous flood, yea washed the wet rocks, as they dripped down over the green moss,’

et partim plano scater(e) atqu(e) erumpere campo.

‘and here and there welled up and burst forth over the level plane.’

(931-952)

 

Primitive men did not know how to make fire or how to use skins of wild beasts to clothe their body:

necdum res igni scibant tractare neque uti

pellibus et spoliis corpus vestire ferarum,

‘Nor as yet did they know how to serve their purposes with fire, nor to use skins and clothe their body in the spoils of wild beasts,’

sed nemor(a) atque cavos montis silvasque colebant

‘but dwelt in woods and the caves on mountains and forests,’

et frutices inter condebant squalida membra

‘and amid brushwood would hide their rough limbs,’

verbera ventorum vitare imbrisque coacti.

‘when constrained to shun the shock of winds and the rain-showers.’

(953-957)

 

Primitive men could not see any common good, they did not know morals and laws that they could use in their dealings with one another; love was promiscuous:

nec commune bonum poterant spectare nequ(e) ullis

moribus inter se scibant nec legibus uti.

‘Nor could they look to the common weal, nor had they knowledge to make mutual use of any customs or laws.’

quod cuiqu(e) obtulerat praedae fortuna, ferebat

‘Whatever booty chance had offered to each, he bore it off;’

sponte sua sibi quisque valer(e) et vivere doctus.

‘for each was taught at his own will to live and thrive for himself alone.’

et Venus in silvis iungebat corpor(a) amantum;

‘and Venus would unite lovers in the woods;’

conciliabat enim vel mutua quamque cupido

‘for each woman was wooed either by mutual passion,’

vel violenta viri vis atqu(e) impensa libido

‘or by the man’s fierce force and reckless lust,’

vel pretium, glandes atqu(e) arbuta vel pira lecta.

‘or by a price, acorns and arbute-berries or choice pears.’

(958-965)

 

They hunted many wild animals, feared but a few; at night they lay naked on the ground, wrapping themselves in leaves:

et manuum mira freti virtute pedumque

‘And trusting in their strange strength of hand and foot’

consectabantur silvestria saecla ferarum

‘they would hunt the woodland tribes of wild beasts’

missilibus saxis et magno pondere clavae;

‘with stones to hurl or clubs of huge weight;’

multaque vincebant, vitabant pauca latebris;

‘many they would vanquish, a few they would avoid in hiding;’

saetigerisque pares subus silvestria membra

nuda dabant terrae nocturno tempore capti,

‘and like bristly boars these woodland men would lay their limbs naked on the ground, when overtaken by night time,’

circum se foliis ac frontibus involventes.

‘wrapping themselves up around with leaves and foliage.’

(966-971)

 

They did not spend their nights in fear that the sun might not rise; what made their rest at night time precarious were the wild beasts:

nec plangore diem magno solemque per agros

qaerebant pavidi palantes noctis in umbris,

‘Nor did they look for daylight and the sun with loud wailing, wandering fearful through the fields in the darkness of night,’

sed taciti respectabant somnoque sepulti,

‘but silent and buried in sleep waited mindful,’

dum rosea face sol inferret lumina caelo.

‘until the sun with rosy torch would bring the light into the sky.’

a parvis quod enim consuerant cernere semper

‘For, because they had been wont ever from childhood to behold’

alterno tenebras et lucem tempore gigni,

‘darkness and light begotten, turn by turn,’

non erat ut fieri posset mirarier umquam

‘it could not come to pass that they should ever wonder,’

nec diffidere ne terras aeterna teneret

nox in perpetuum detracto lumine solis.

‘or feel mistrust lest the light of the sun should be withdrawn for ever, and never-ending night should possess the earth.’

sed magis illud erat curae, quod saecla ferrarum

‘But much greater was another care, inasmuch as the tribes of wild beasts’

infestam miseris faciebant saepe quietem.

‘often made rest dangerous for wretched men.’

eiectique domo fugiebant saxea tecta

‘Driven from their home they would flee from their rocky roof’

spumigeri suis adventu validique leonis

‘at the coming of a foaming boar or a mighty lion’

atqu(e) intempesta cedebant nocte paventes

‘and in the dead of night in terror they would yield’

hospitibus saevis instrata cubila fronde.’

‘their couches spread with leaves to their cruel guests.’

(972-987)

 

The life of primitive men for all its misery and horrors compared favourably to society in Lucretius’ days:

Nec nimio tum plus quam nunc mortalia saecla

‘Nor then much more than now would the races of men’

dulcia linquebant lamentis lumina vitae.

‘leave the sweet light of life with lamentation.’

unus enim tum quisque magis deprensus eorum

‘For then more often would some one of them be caught’

pabula viva feris praebebat, dentibus haustus,

‘and furnish living food to the wild beasts, devoured by their teeth,

et nemor(a) ac montis gemitu silvasque replebat

‘and would fill woods and mountains and forests with his groaning’

viva videns vivo sepeliri viscera busto.

‘as he looked on his living flesh being buried in a living tomb.’

at quos effugium servarat corpore adeso,

‘And those whom flight had saved with mangled body,’

posterius tremulas super ulcera taetra tenentes

palmas horriferis accibant vocibus Orcum,

‘thereafter, holding trembling hands over their noisome sores, would summon Orcum with terrible cries’

donec eos vita privarant vermina saeva

‘until savage griping pains had robbed them of life,’

expertis opis, ignaros quid vulnera vellent.

‘all helpless and knowing not what wounds wanted.’

at non multa virum sub signis milia ducta

‘Yet never were many thousands of men led beneath the standards’

una dies dabat exitio nec turbida ponti

aequora lidebant navis ad saxa virosque.

‘and done to death in a single day, nor did the stormy waters of ocean dash ships and men upon the rocks.’

hic temer(e) incassum frustra mare saepe coortum

‘Then rashly, idly, in vain would the sea arise’

saevibat leviterque minas ponebat inanis,

‘and rage, and idly set aside its empty threatenings,’

nec poterat quemquam placidi pellacia ponti

subdola pellicer(e) in fraudem ridentibus undis.

‘nor could the treacherous wiles of the windless waves lure any man to destruction wirh smiling waters;’

improba navigii ratio tum caeca iacebat.

‘then the wanton art of sailing lay as yet unknon.’

tum penuria deinde cibi languentia leto

membra dabat, contra nunc rerum copia mersat.

‘Then, too, want of food would give over their drooping limbs to death, now on the other hand ‘tis surfeit of good things brings them low.’

ill(i) imprudentes ipsi sibi saepe venenum

vergebant, nunc dant <aliis> sollertius ipsi.

‘They all unwitting would often pour out poison for themselves, now with more skill they give it to others.’

 (988-1010)