This poem claims that "the winning cause pleased the gods, but the losing cause pleased Cato." For 10 points each:
[10m] Name this unfinished epic poem by Lucan about the civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar.
ANSWER: Pharsalia
[10e] The Pharsalia may have influenced this Italian author's epic poem Africa, about the Second Punic War. This author described his love for Laura in Il Canzoniere (can-zohn-YAIR-ey).
ANSWER: Petrarch [or Francesco Petrarca]
[10h] In the introduction to the Pharsalia, Lucan refers to himself as one of these figures. This Latin word, which originally referred to prophets or soothsayers, was revived by poets referring to themselves starting in the Augustan era.
ANSWER: vates
<Eve Fleisig , Literature - European poetry>