First lines are more than just beginnings—they’re invitations. In Latin poetry, an incipit (Latin for “it begins”) often announces the theme, tone, or epic scope of what’s to come. These openings have echoed through centuries, inspiring countless poets and readers. In this post, we’re highlighting ten of the most iconic first lines from famous Latin poets—lines that launched masterpieces.
“Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris…”
“I sing of arms and the man, who first from the shores of Troy…”
The epic opening of the Aeneid fuses war and exile into a foundational myth for Rome. With Homeric echoes, Vergil sets the stage for his hero Aeneas and the journey that defines a people.
“Maecenas atavis edite regibus…”
“Maecenas, descended from royal ancestors…”
Horace opens his Odes with a personal address to his patron, Maecenas. It’s a tribute and a declaration of poetic identity, signaling both loyalty and literary ambition.
“In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas corpora…”
“My mind compels me to speak of forms changed into new bodies…”
Ovid’s mythological masterpiece begins with transformation—the central theme of the entire work. It’s a sweeping invitation into a world of gods, mortals, and eternal change.
“Cui dono lepidum novum libellum…”
“To whom do I give this charming new little book…”
Catullus begins with humility and irony, offering his collection to Cornelius Nepos. This playful incipit contrasts with the biting and intimate verse that follows.
“Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas…”
“Mother of the Aeneads, delight of men and gods…”
Lucretius invokes Venus at the start of his philosophical poem on nature and the universe, blending science, poetry, and divine praise.
“Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis…”
“Cynthia first captured wretched me with her eyes…”
A bold entry into love elegy. Propertius’s emotional surrender to Cynthia sets the tone for an intense, self-aware poetic journey.
“Divitias alius fulvo sibi congerat auro…”
“Let another heap up riches of gleaming gold…”
Tibullus rejects wealth and ambition in favor of a simple, pastoral life—and love. This first line expresses his poetic and personal values from the outset.
“Tandem venisti! potes iam dicere ‘felix’…”
“At last you’ve come! Now I can say, ‘Happy am I’…”
Rare among ancient texts, Sulpicia’s poetry offers a female voice. Her direct, emotional first line captures longing and fulfillment in love.
“Hic est quem legis ille, quem requiris…”
“This is the one you read, the one you seek…”
Martial opens with confident flair, announcing himself and his witty verse. His tone balances boast and welcome—true to the spirit of Roman satire.
“Musae quae pedibus magnum pulsatis Olympum…”
“Muses, who with your feet beat mighty Olympus…”
Though fragmentary, the first lines of Ennius’s national epic link him to Greek tradition while claiming Rome’s literary future.
These incipits are far more than quotations—they’re doorways into some of the greatest poetry ever composed. Read them aloud. Savor the sound and shape of the Latin. Let the opening lines pull you into the rhythm and mind of ancient Rome.
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