Latin to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Lit Crit

Greetings,

The expression “curiosa felicitas” was applied to the writings of Horace by Petronius.

Now, this is purely my own theory, so I very much wish to consult you just in case I'm totally missing something.

Could it be similar to Edison’s dictum that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration? Of course, no proportions are given here, but could “curiosa” approximate to perspiration (cf. cura) and felicitas to inspiration? Although, of course, felicitas perhaps stresses the random nature of inspiration.

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon