The epics of the three Flavian poets-Silius Italicus, Statius, and Valerius Flaccus-have, in recent times, attracted the attention of scholars, who have re-evaluated the particu…

'But I must stop now. I can no longer speak for tears - and my client has ordered that tears are not to be used in his defence.'Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the…