http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/07/11/18684430.php
J. D. Duff's remarks in his preface to his translation (1928) of Lucan's Pharsalia: "The translation does not profess to be a literal version of the original. Lucan's manner of expression is so artificial that such a version would be unintelligible to an English reader," would be a poor excuse for doing a bad job if Lucan had not been an uncommon genius.
Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (A.D. 39—65), out of a conflict with Nero who forbade him publish his poems, joined the conspiracy of Caius Piso against the Emperor Nero (A.D. 37-68) and thus earned his death by suicide on Nero's orders for his involvement. In his Annals, Tacitus tells us of that conspiracy and Lucan's horrible death in the manner of opening his veins on the arms and the legs, then suffocating himself in a hot steam bath.
[Ann. 15.70] Exim Annaei Lucani caedem imperat. Is profluente sanguine ubi frigescere pedes manusque et paulatim ab extremis cedere spiritum fervido adhuc et compote mentis pectore intellegit, recordatus carmen a se compositum quo vulneratum militem per eius modi mortis imaginem obisse tradiderat, versus ipsos rettulit eaque illi suprema vox fuit.
[Ann. 15.70] Thence the death of Annaeus Lucanus was ordered. He, with flowing blood, when, proceeding from his extremities, hands and feet becoming cold, with a glowing spirit in his breast, and in complete control of his mind, remembered a song he had composed which told of a wounded soldier going to a death like his, and reciting those same verses, those words were his very last.
[Ann. 15.70] Exim Annaei Lucani caedem imperat. Is profluente sanguine ubi frigescere pedes manusque et paulatim ab extremis cedere spiritum fervido adhuc et compote mentis pectore intellegit, recordatus carmen a se compositum quo vulneratum militem per eius modi mortis imaginem obisse tradiderat, versus ipsos rettulit eaque illi suprema vox fuit.
[Ann. 15.70] Thence the death of Annaeus Lucanus was ordered. He, with flowing blood, when, proceeding from his extremities, hands and feet becoming cold, with a glowing spirit in his breast, and in complete control of his mind, remembered a song he had composed which told of a wounded soldier going to a death like his, and reciting those same verses, those words were his very last.
