Traditionally, what classical works would young men study to be considered well-versed in the Classical tradition of the Occident?
Are any of these works easy enough to be studied as an exercise to learn Latin?
Assuming one has to start from "square one", what should I do? I want to attain written and reading fluency in Latin within the next few years - i.e., be able to read Seneca without a dictionary, maybe understand the Mass w/o a missal, compose letters, etc.
I'd like to know the way Latin was traditionally taught and if there was a graded progression of the literature studied, etc.
The only text i have available at the moment is the Vulgate. I understand this is not the classical language though.
I can buy others if necessary, depending on the price.