Sense and Sensation, Roman Style

As Namantius has just departed Rome but still remains just close enough to be able to see parts of it (or maybe not), he focuses heavily on the senses that remind him of his beloved city.  The active emphasis in these passages (starting at 1.189) is impersonal in nature; instead of focusing on the enjoyment of the man himself, Namantius describes the 'enjoyment' of the individual body parts as they soak up all that Rome has to offer.  First, because his location of rest remains nearly in sight of Rome, he mentions how clear and bright the sky remains over his dear seven-hilled city before switching firmly into the realm of memory with the sounds of Rome.  This shift from the factual to semifactual description into one of pure remembrance is touched upon by the poet who notes that the sounds of the theater might be generated solely from a desire to hear them rather than by the actual noises themselves.  Unfortunately the nostalgia ends for Namantius with the sights and sounds of the city and he neglects to touch upon any other sensations of the city prior to his departure.  It is also worth noting that the sunshine and calm expanse over the city of Rome that the poet observes forms a stark contrast with the tumultous weather hindering the expedition.  Although these two meteorological descriptions may be based on the actual different weather conditions at the time, it certainly fits well into the poet's description of the serene calm city versus the stormy lands outside and adds further validation to his desire to stay.