Indeed, Homer represents a perfection in structure and scope of the raw poetic art of the unknown author of Beowulf; Virgil, on the other hand, represents the self-conscious and literary decadence of that art. It is not until Dante that Western civilization achieves the kind of poetic perfection at which Virgil failed so magnificently. And between the pole of that failure and the pole of Dante's perfection, the primitive art of Beowulf reigns supreme.

john nist

beowulf and the classical epics, in college english journal, v.24,no.4, jan 1963, pg. 262.

among the things i called this man, "ignorant hateful business-schooled idiot" was undoubtedly the kindest. seriously. dante perfection? virgil failure!? does he read real books or just children's abridgments? time to grow up sir.

At the sight of the Muses of Poetry at my bedside dictating words to accompany my tears she became angry.

"Who," she demanded, her piercing eyes alight with fire, "has allowed these hysterical sluts to approach this sick man's beside?"

boethius, consolation of philosophy, i.I, pg.4

heh. philosophy is a true woman. capon would be proud.

Poetry transfigures that nature which ritual has freed from panic. But the world still is the world, where world wars, world riddles, world revolution, world chaos.

eugen rosenstock-huessy, fruit of lips, 1.1