Lucretius : De rerum natura IV /

Godwin has produced a very useful edition of Lucretius, Book 4, with up-to-date references to current critical literature as well as a very good bibliography. It is instructive to compare it with the recent edition of Lucretius, Book 5 by C.D.N. Costa (1985). The principal feature of each edition is a detailed commentary with plentiful reference to recent discussions of critical issues. Costa, incidentally, is credited in Godwin's preface with having gone over much of the commentary. The major features present in Costa-but absent in Godwin-are the ``Index Rerum et Nominum'' and the ``Index Verborum.'' It is a pity that Godwin's book does not have these useful instruments. The major feature present in Godwin but absent in Costa is the close translation into English on pages facing the Latin text. The presence of the translation is to be applauded. Aside from the very important object of making the work accessible to those whose Latin is weak or nonexistent, the translation may reveal aspects of the editor's interpretation that are otherwise omitted or ignored. Godwin's book is more modest in appearance since it is in photographically reproduced typescript on distractingly glossy paper. Academic libraries that desire to maintain reader interest in Lucretius should purchase both Costa and Godwin.-N.A. Greenberg, Oberlin College