Kenji Mizuochi: What is libri disciplinarum in Cassiciacum --- From Licentius' Poem in Augustine's Epistula 26

Just after his conversion to Christianity, while staying in Cassiciacum,Augustine wrote several textbooks on artes liberales by discussing withhis friends and disciples (Retr. c.6). The characters and the academicsources he depended on of these lost works have been, till now, conjecturedmainly from his authentic works (e.g. Cassiciacum dialogs and epistles). However, another important source should not be neglected: Licentius' poemincluded in Augustine's Epistula 26. Even after Augstine returned toAfrica in 388, Licentius continued his studies on artes liberales inMilano. But, as his studies had not so rapidly and deeply developed as hehad wished at the beginning, he wrote an hexametros and, in 395, sent it toAugustine in Africa. In this poem, Licentius recollects his heavenly blissfulacademic days in Cassiciacum and entreats Augustine to send his work DeMusica to him. In this presentation, I would like to analyze the poem philologically, andby representing Augustine's vivid life in Cassiciacum, show the charactersof his libri disciplinarum. I also utilize Martianus Capella's De nuptiisPhilologiae et Mercurii as supports of the analysis.