Herlitzka, Lucrezio, la morte. In memoriam

Roberto Herlitzka’s La natura di Lucrezio, published in 2019, is one of the most elegant and original poetic translations of Lucretius’ De rerum natura into Italian. Herlitzka, who began this monumental work in the early 1950s, devoted nearly six decades to honing his translation of the first four books of Lucretius’ epic. The text appears to be influenced by Dante, with its archaic language and terza rima structure. Herlitzka’s translation, however, goes beyond mere stylistic homage, subtly reshaping the legacies of both authors. While evoking Dante’s aura, the translation remains uniquely Herlitzka’s, demonstrating a deep sensitivity to the Latin text and intricate poetic craftsmanship. This intersection of Lucretius and Dante ultimately results in a work distinct from both, reflecting Herlitzka’s transformative approach to classical translation.