64 HARM-JAN VAN DAM
In his letter to Gronovius, Grotius remarked that others had made
the same suggestions that he had offered, and he repeated this to Pey-
rarède. In fact, it is clear that the same ideas on the text occurred more
than once, or that older humanist conjectures may be infinitely recy-
cled in margins and manuscripts. In a similar way composing occa-
sional poetry in imitation of Statius was a common pastime in Leiden,
by Heinsius, Scriverius, Meursius and many others, and also else-
where.^58 However, I do think that the Leiden circle of the early 1600’s
is unique in the enthusiasm and intensity of its curae Statianae, and
also in its combination of textual and literary activities. In my opinion
Grotius is the key figure within this group, inspired, original and ver-
satile, a worthy successor to Poliziano, someone who worked on the
text, imitated and emulated Statius in the spirit of Poliziano, and cre-
ated new poetry.
the Supplement volume, no 17), 3460, 3476, 3788, 3826, 4077, 4121, 4167, 4175,
422 5 (in the Supplement volume, no 17), 4226, 4265, 4922.
58 Cf. van Dam 2008 (n. 20).