History in the sixteenth yeare of Tiberius his Ancestors were all famous for Military Discipline he dedicated his two Books of History to Marcus Vinicius Tacitus maketh mention of him in the sixth of his Annals where speaking of his Descent he tels us that his Father and Grandfather were of Consular Degree and Dignity a great part of what he writ is lost Vossius thus Characteriseth him and in his little Work Dictio ejus plane Romana ac elegans Quaedam etiam habet quae haud alibi invenias sed in sui aevi rebus nimis Domui Augustae Sejano adulatur His phrase of Speech is truly Roman and elegant he hath also some things which you may not elswhere meet with but in the Affaires of his owne time he too much flatters both Caesars House and Sejanus Dempster herein complies with Vossius who speaking of his History affirms it to be Styli elegantis sed pudendae adulationis of elegant Stile but of shamefull Adulation I 'le end with that of Lipsius Compendium Velleianum laudabile fuit sed potior pars periit judicio ordine tamen scriptum quod exemplar pleniori Chronologiae sit ad Imitandum Velleius his Epitome was worthy of praise but the better part thereof is perisht yet written judiciously and with order and which may be an Imitable Platform to a more full Chronology Diodorus Siculus DIodorus Siculus of Agyrium a Towne in Sicily according to the Geograpy of Cluverius though others call it Argyrium and Angyrium lived in the Reign of Julius Caesar as Eusebius reporteth and yet this contradicteth not learned Suidas who would have him to flourish in the time of Augustus and so he did his Life reaching unto the midst of his long Domination He wrote an Historicall Library or as the Sholiast of Aristophanes calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Librarie of Histories who gave it that appellation because it was Catholick as treating of the Affaires of the Egyptians Assyrians Medians Persians Romans Graecians Carthaginians and others and this Work of his he comprized in forty books the Argument whereof he setteth down in his Preface where he also saith that he was full thirty years in compiling of it much of the time being consumed in Travell through Asia and Europe of all which Books we have at present but fifteen remaining What he writ was highly commended both by Justine Martyr and Eusebius and yet Ludovicus Vives reprehends his Matter and Bodinus his Phrase but Photius the Patriarch had a more noble opinion of him who saith Vsum esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he used a perspicuous Phrase of Speech not too much adorned with Tropes but most convenient for an History I 'le let him pass with the phrase of Stephanus Quantum solis lumen inter stellas tantum inter omnes quotquot ad nostra tempora pervenerunt historicos si utilitatis potius quam voluptatis habenda sit ratio noster hic Diodorus eminere dici potest As far as the Suns light is beyond the Stars so far doth our Diodorus excell the Historians of our times if so be that we regard rather profit then pleasure And Dempster expresseth him to be an Author of ancient Erudition and blames nothing else in him but his corrupt Roman Names Crispus Sallustius CRispus Sallustius was born at Amiternum of the Sabines the year after that Catullus was at Verona and died four years after the Actiack War as Eusebius hath recorded He was Tribune of the People that same year that Cicero was recalled from banishment and Clodius slaine of Milo and in that Tribuneship of his he behaved himself very loosly for being taken in Adultry with Fausta L. Sylla's Daughter he was scourged with Rods by Milo which was the cause that he acted with the Clodian Party against him he was removed the Senate for his Adulteries and Rapes by Claudius Pulcher and Calpurnius Piso though afterwards restored again by Julius Caesar Dion records that he was set over Numidia which he exceedingly pillaged but was absolved of the Crime by the very power that advanced him yet the Infamy ever stuck to him as one that acted those Obliquities which he highly condemned in all others he was at length so enricht with his Numidian Rapes that he bought those stately Buildings on the Quirinall Hill which were afterwards called Sallustii forum The Court of Sallustius His Deportment was so extravagant in his publick Capacities that in respect of his Conversation it prevented him of all Praise however his Writings were ever matter of Applause unto him being a good Writer though a bad man The Ancients do judge his phrase of Speech to be brief and finuous as one that aemulated Thucidides Turnebus calls him Scriptorem Atticum The Athenian Writer and one that comes neerer to Demosthenes then Cicero himself did Tacitus in the third of his Annals stiles him Rerum Romanarum florentissimum autorem A most flourishing Author of Roman Affaires Scaliger calls him Patrem Historiae The Father of History Scriptorem seriae severae orationis Agellius a Writer of serious and severe Speech Principem senatus Historici Lysius the chief of the Historian Senate Romana primum in historia Martial the first for the Roman Story And S. Augustine calls him Nobilitatae veritatis historicum An Historian of enobled Verity Titus Livius Patavinus TItus Livius Patavinus called by Seneca in his first Book De ira vir disertissimus A most eloquent man flourished in the Reigns of Caesar Augustus and Tiberius in the beginning of the latters Reign he compiled his History consisting of an hundred and forty two Books as Petrarch reporteth though others will have two bated of the said number Therein be comprized all the Roman Affaires from the Foundation of the City to the German War which was managed by Drusus of all which Books there are but left remaining thirty and five No Writer expresseth more Majesty and plenty then this Historian Quintilian stiles it Lacteam ubertatem and compares him to Herodotus as Sallustius to Thucidides On the other-side it s written of Caligula one of the Roman Majesties That he much vilified him calling him Verbosum Likewise Asinius Pollio quarrelling with his Phrase was wont to say that he found therein a smack of Patavinity But the forementioned Emperour did so distaste him that he threatned his removall and ejâ—ction out of all the Roman Libraries but no wonder that he was thus transported against this noble Historian when as those two renowned Poets Virgil and Homer could not escape his Censure nay he was like to consume them if we may believe Suetonius in these his words Cogitavit de Homeri carminibus abolendis cur enim sibi non liceret dicens quod Platoni licuit qui eum a civitate quam constituebat ejecerit sed Virgilii Titi Livii scripta paulum abfuit quin ex omnibus bibliothecis amoverit quorum alterum nullius ingenii minimaeque
name of Publius but misliked of and rejected by the learned he wrote his History in the Reign of the Emperour Nerva and not when Trajane Governed as will appeare by his stiling of Nerva Divus but not Trajan he writ his Annalls after his History although they be placed before it He begins them with the death of Augustus and ends them within two years of the death of Nero. Besides his said Annalls and History he left behind him a Book of the Scituation of Germany and the manners of that People as also a Treatise of the life of his Father-in-Law Julius Agricola which he writ in Trajans time Vossius comparing his History with his Annalls speaketh thus of them Dictio Taciti floridior uberiorque in Historiarum est libris pressior siociorque in Annalibus Interim gravis utrobique disertus The Speech of Tacitus is more florid and copious in the Books of his Histories more contracted and more dry in his Annalls In the mean every where Grave and Eloquent However Alciatus a man well learned prefers Paulus Jovius far before him in comparison of which Author he cals the Lines of this Tacitus but Senticeta Bryars but this was sayd by him in regard of his transcendent Affection to his Friend Jovius But the Emperour M. Claudius Tacitus so highly honoured this Historian that he placed his image in all the Libraries and caused his Books to be ten times transcribed in one yeare by his Notaries for feare of perishing Sidonius saith of him that he should be never mentioned without praise Tacitus nunquam sine laude loquendus Lipsius calls him Sallustii imitatorem The Immitator of Sallustius and of whom he also further saith Quod est omni virtute antiquis proximus si linguae latinae esset eadem puritas caeteris sic perfectus ut vocare illos ipsos antiquos in certamen possit dignitatis That he is in every Vertue next unto the Ancients and if there were but in him the same purity of Language in other matters be is so perfect that he might contend for Dignity with those very Ancients The foresaid Critick moreover stiles him Acrem prudentem scriptorem A sharp and prudent Writer The first five Books of this singular good Author were found hid at Corbeia and being brought to Leo the Great the person which presented them was rewarded with five hundred Pieces Owen has an Epigram upon him with which I shall end his Character Veracem fecit probitas Natura sagacem Obscurum brevitas te Gravitasque brevem Lucius Annaeus Florus LVcius Annaeus Florus flourished as some are of opinion neer the end of the Reign of the Emperour Trajan though others will have it to be in the time of Adrian The Prologue of his History Discovers the Age that he lived in A Caesare Augusto in seculum nostrum saith he sunt non multo minus anni ducenti From Caesar Augustus to our time there are not much fewer then two hundred years But there is a grand mistake in the very number for if we will compute the term of years which interven'd between Augustus and Trajan we shall find that its short of it by fifty and therefore Vossius taking speciall notice thereof will have the number to be but an hundred and fifty It hath been a generall opinion that this Author should be the Epitomizer of that voluminous History of Titus Livius but they which will well observe him will find much of Discrepancy or difference betwixt them There are some that disagree likewise concerning his very name occasioned by Lactantius in his seventh Book of Institutions where he thus writes Non inscite Seneca Romanae urbis tempora distinguit in aetates Soneca doth not unwittily distinguish the times of the Roman City into Ages But questionless they were distinct and different persons onely the one did imitate the other as Florus Seneca However it cannot be denyed but that Florus was of the Family of the Senecaes and therefore called in the ancient Books by the Name of Seneca and Annaeus as well as Julius The Senecaes being all of them Branches of the Annean Family Now for his Character we may receive it from that excellent Grammarian Gerardus Vossius who speaking of him in his Book of the Latine Historians thus extolls him Ea potissima est Flori nostri laus quod scriptor est elegans disertus si paucula exceperis quae frigidius dicta videntur vere floridus That is the principall commendation of our Florus that he is a Writer elegant and eloquent and if you will but except some few things which seem more coldly spoken by him he is truly florid As for his stile it is declamatory and neerer unto Poeticall as one that powreth out Virgils Hemisticks Flavius Josephus FLavius Josephus a Jew was the Son of Matthathias born in the first year of Caius Caligula by the Mother-side neerly related to the Royall Stock of the Maccabes As for his Sect he was a Pharisee which Sext among the Jews was not unlike the Stoicks of the Gentiles He when he was arrived at the Age of twenty six years repaired to the Roman Court that he might there mediate with the Caesarean Majesty for those Priests which Felix the Governour had for some petty Offences cast into Prison Now arriving at Rome and falling into Favour with Poppaea Augustus Caesars Wife his success was such that he did not onely procure liberty for the Captives but was dismissed with bountifull Rewards but soon after returning into his Country and upon an insurrection being chosen chief Captain of those Galilaeans which rebelled was at length besieged in Jotapata and the City being taken by assault he was commmitted unto safe Custody that he might be sent thence to give an account of his Sedition unto Caesar Now being advertized of the Enemies design towards him he requested the favour of Conference with the Generall Vespasian into whose presence as soon as he was admitted he saluted him with a Praediction that he should be Emperour Vespasian at first supposed that he devised that shift thereby to procure his liberty but on the suddain receiving Intelligence of the death both of Nero and Galba as also news of the Civill Wars already commencing between Otho and Vitellius he forthwith not onely discharged him of his Restraint but cloathed him with such Apparell too as might suit with his Education and Condition Now soon after these Attempts and providences that followed them he accompanied that Heroe Titus to the Siege of Jerusalem which Siege he Ingenuously described and commended it when finisht to Vespasian and his Son Titus The latter of the two approving it by a Subscription from his Royall hand and afterwards commanding it to be received into the publick Library This Author writ also the Jewish Antiquities which work was perfected by him in the thirteenth year of the Reign of Domitian Many there were that undervalued the Faith of this Writer
Oratory and Rhetorick that can be so that his transcendent Wit is very worthy the Readers Admiration What pity is it then that this laudable Work could not come unto our hands so perfect as he intended it a great part thereof being lost indeed so great a part that the remainder may be called but as it were an Epitome of the whole He is stiled by Isaac Casaubon Scriptor vere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Writer very learned in many things ut paucis multa complectamur Grecorum Varro aut Plinius And that we may comprehend much in a little the Varro or Pliny of the Greeks Dempster also calleth him Doctum veterum autorum compilatorem A learned Compiler of ancient Autors There was another of his Name before him one that was an admirable Philosopher as this was an Historian Julius Pollux JVlius Pollux lived under Caesar Commodus and taught Rhetorick at Athens he dedicated his Onomasticon to his Scholar the Emperour Suidas saith That he writ also on other Subjects but they all miscarried This Encomium is given to his Onomasticon that it s called a Treasury of all Words and Things fit for and exposed unto every use Isacus Casaubonus in an Epistle that he writ to one that set him forth hath Characterized him thus Et sane Pollux siquid Judico scriptor optimus eruditissimus utilissimus eo seculo quod tot claros in literis viros tulit dignissimut If I have truly any Judgment Pollux is a very good Writer very Learned very profitable and most worthy of that Age which brought forth so many famous men for Learning Dempster sayes That in his Collections he is incomparably diligent and erudite he died in the fifty eighth year of his Age. Aulus Gellius AVlus Gellius called by Gifanius Maximi Judicii vir A man of deep and solid Judgment flourished according to the account of learned Petavius in the Reigns of Trojan and Antoninus who in his Rationary of times joynes him with some other eminent Grammarians which were then Contemporary with him Nay Gellius himself in his twentieth Book of Attick Nights discovers unto us the Age he lived in where he saith That he was present at the Dispute which was betwixt Sextus Caecilius the Civilian and Favorinus the Philosopher Lipsius in his Miscellanies very highly commends his Latine stiling him Scriptorem purissimae latinitatis plane ad comadiam antiquam A Writer of the purest Latine and plainly suitable to the ancient Comaedian strain Politian speaking of his Books of Attick Nights saith thus of them That they are Maxime candidae Very candid Onely Vives doth most injuriously condemn and under value him for which he is reproved by Henricus Stephanus Pareus calls him Criticorum madulsam and Dempster Grammaticorum utilissimum As for this Authors Name its uncertaine whether it be Agellius as some have thought or Aulus Gellius It s Lipsius his confession Se ejus nomen nunquam nisi dubitantem haesitantem posuisse That he never writ his Name without great haesitation and doubting Martianus Capella MArtianus Capella was a Carthaginian of proconsular degree and dignity whom Dempster calls Rebus latinum verbis Africanum For Things a Roman for Words a Carthaginian And though Barthius acknowledgeth him to be Barbarior scriptor A Writer that savoureth in his Speech of too much Barbarism yet in this he commends him that he is Vtilissimus ad autorum de singulis artibus liberalibus sententiam capiendam very profitable in apprehending the Judgment of Authors touching all the liberall Arts and therefore not worthy to be prostituted by the Criticks unto that reproachfull Name of Tulliaster I will but add to this the commendation which that eminently learned Grotius is pleased to bestow upon him Ad ipsum Martianum te Relego in quo plurima invenies quae nec discere taedebit nec didicisse poenitebit Neque hoc ipsos barbari seculi homines latuit apud quos quanâ—i nominis fuerit Capella vel solùs Turonensis satis superque docebit qui eum in fine libri non aliter nominat quam si Aristotelem Ciceronem Varronem nominasset I send thee to Martianus himself in whom thou shalt find very many things which it will not be irksome to learn nor repent thee to have learned Neither were the men of that barbarous Age ignorant of this with whom in how great repute and credit this Capella was Turonensis alone will more then sufficiently make appear who in the end of his Book calls him after no other name then that of Aristotle Cicero Varro Suidas SVidas was as some say a Monk of Byzantium and flourisht about six hundred years since according to the opinion of learned Casaubon His Work is stiled Thesaurus insignis Amaltheae velut Cornu which though it be imputed unto his Name yet many learned men whose Names are praefixed to the Book were Instrumentall to the composure of it The Grammarian Dempster thus is pleased to limn him and to afford us such a Draught of him as may serve sufficiently to express him Suidas admirabilis incomparabilis unus instar omnium Grammaticorum Suidas an admirable and an incomparable Author one that is worth all the rest of the Grammarians This Encomium may seem to some Censurers hyperbolicall but if any Author in that kind hath merited such a Character Surely this Suidas hath much more deserved it Some there are that have taken notice of a notable slip committed by this Critick in that he hath passed by in his Thesaurus the Names of many eminent Writers particularly amongst the Historians he neither mentions Polybius nor Dion However his Work is called by one that was very learned Copiosa perfecta quaedam Grammatica A certain copious and perfect Grammar There was another Grammarian also of this Name one that was charged with this Fault by the Learned as to be full of untrue Discourses and therefore deservedly stiled by some Fabulosus scriptor A fabulous Writer Caelius Rhodiginus Caelius Rhodiginus called Varro by Caesar Scaliger as was Athenaeus by Isack Casaubon yea Varrone major And greater then Varro and he thinks it spoken without the least shadow of Flattery He is indeed an Author as Dempster saith Admirandae eruditionis Of wonderfull Erudition although he be as the same Critick hath elsewhere decyphered him Asperae dictionis Of rough Phrase or Elocution Jovius doth discredit this mans Thesaurus affirming that it seemeth to him Rancidum quiddam olere To have a very rank and offensive smell however those two well known Verses do sufficiently vindicate him Abfuit usque adeo nihil hoc in Caelio haberent Tempora Varronem quo minus ista suum Desiderius Erasmus DEsiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam in Holland honoured by Jovius with this Excellent Title Varro sui seculi Cicero Germaniae The Varro of his Age and Cicero of Germany The same Author saith further to his honour Quod ad arcana cujusque doctrinae infinita
lectione inusitataque memoria penetravit That he pierced to the secrets of all Learning by his infinite reading and unheard of Memory The Monks were wont to say this of him Erasmum posuisse ova Lutherum caeteros exclusesse pullos That Erasmus layed the Eggs and Luther and others brought forth the young Ones A certain Romish Doctor having gotten his Picture imprest upon a piece of Paper set it up within his Parlour which as he passed by he would disdainfully spit upon and being asked the question why he did so he returned answer Se Erasmo acceptum ferre calamitosum illud seculum That he imputed to Erasmus the calamity of that Age. He is called in allusion to his Name by one that wrote his life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amiable and by Gifanius Alterum orbis jubar maximumque rei literariae decus Another Sun beam of the World and the greatest Ornament and honour of Learning Onely Gyraldus doth endeavour to abate somewhat of his true worth Vir saith he Vbique magnus sed an tantus fuerit quantus a nonnullis existimatur haud mihi parum liquet Certe inter Germanos latinus inter latinos aliquando Germanus A man every where great but whether so great as he is thought by some it s not so clear to me truly amongst the Germans he is a Roman and sometimes among the Latines he is a German There were some that thus expounded this Versicle in that Psalm of Davids Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and the Dragon Upon the Lyon that was Luther and upon the Dragon that was this Erasmus Gulielmus Budaeus GVlielmus Budaeus called Gallicus Alcides The French Hercules and for his great Erudition and Knowledge by Erasmus Galliae portentum The Wonder of France Nay Jovius preferreth him before all the Learned men of Europe Non Galliae modo sed etiam totius Europae longe doctissimus Not onely the Learnedst of the French-men but also of all the Europaeans Barthius honours him for his incomparable skill in the Greek Tongue which did indeed give occasion to those two Verses of the Poet. Gallia quod Graeca est quod Graecia barbara non est Utraque Budaeo debet utrumque suo It was his earnest desire before he died that all Solemnities should be omitted at his Funeralls and therefore they Inter'd him very privately in the deep silence of the Night It s a gallant report which the Poet Buchanan bestows on him in these following Verses Sunt universi splendor orbis Galliae Et Galliarum splendor est Lutetiae Splendor Camoenae sunt sacrae Lutetiae Budaeus ornat unus innocentia Splendore vitae literis solertia Orbem Camoenas Galliam Lutetiam Julius Scaliger JVlius Scaliger stiled by learned Vossius Eruditorum maximus naturae miraculum vir ad unguem factus The Greatest of Scholars Natures Miracle and a man exactly made even to a Nails breadth He was an excellent Poet as well as a Grammarian whose Poems Justus Lipsius equalls with the Poetry of the Ancients The said Critick speaketh thus of him Quod de Tullio dixit vetus magister profecisse multum cui is placeret ego verius magnum esse cui Julius iste magnus Vossius saith that he was Sed uno Aristotele minor Inferiour to none but great Aristotle Barthius calleth him Hominum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The great wonder of men Isack Casaubon doth compare him with the very Gods themselves giving him this sacred Epithet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 'le let him pass with that of Vossius Vir ille hoc uno excepto quod parem sibi filium genuit caetera incomparabilis That man This one think being excepted that he begot a Son not inferiour but equall to him is to all others Incomparable Camerarius CAmerarius graced by Turnebus with this ensuing Appellation Germaniae ornamentum Europae Decus The Ornament of Germany and the Honour of Europe Thuanus saith That he was of Noble Extraction though his Wealth did no way answer to his Descent He was endued with an Ingenuous and handsome Shape and delighted his Mind in such noble Exercises as his Birth and Quality did require He greatly affected good Horsmanship being very skilfull in managing his Bridle and for all such Feats as that Art could instruct him with For his Learning he was of that great Repute that Janus Gruterus on that account stileth him Incomparabilem Incomparable and Justus Lipsius in his Miscellanies thus honours him Vir quem Germania habuit sine paro A man that Germanie could not equall or parallel His knowledge was such both in the Latine and Greek Tongues that Jovius said this of him Quod scribendo pernobilis Ciceronis imitator evaserit That in Writing he shewed himself a very noble Imitator of that eloquent Orator Marcus Cicero Isacus Casaubenus ISacus Casaubonus is by Dempsterus called Quidam Pythius A certain Apollo By Heinsius Eruditionis sol aetatis Decus The Sun of Learning and the Glory of the Age And by Josephus Scaliger Eruditorum Phoenix The Phoenix of the Learned His Writings were of that weight and worth that one said of him Quod tot palladas edidit quot libros conscripsit That he begat so many Pallaces as he wrote Books and therefore saith another Vir erat Nectare Ambrosia qui alatur sarrano qui dormiat ostro dignissimus He was a man most worthy to be fed with Nectar and Ambrosia and to sleep upon a silken Bed His Language and expression is so sweet That Vossius calls him Musarum-Favum The Hive of the Muses and for his great Learning he is stiled by Pareus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 politioris literaturae I l'e but mention Barthius his Character of him and so proceed unto the next Immortale Galliae decus quo digniorom omni laude alium ne historiae quidem continent The Immortal Grace of France then whom History mentions not any more worthy of all Praise Julius Scaliger IVlius Scaliger was the Son of Julius whom Casaubon thus salutes Magni parentis non minor Filius O thou Son no less then thy great Father He is stiled by the same Critick Hercules Musarum The Muses Hercules By Vossius Alter Varro Another Varro By Pareus Criticus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Critick skil'd in many Tongues By Lipsius Rei literariae Aesculapius The Aesculapius of Learning And lastly by Caspar Barthius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Most divine Heinsius in his Funerall Oration breaks out thus into his Praises Alii Abyssum eruditionis alii scientiarum mare alii doctorum solem Alii patris sobolem divinam Alii genus Deorum Alii perpetuum literarum dictatorem Alii maximum naturae opus miraculum Alii aliter vocare Some call him an Abyss of Learning Others a Sea of Sciences Others a Sun amongst the literate Others the divine Off-spring of a divine Father Others the Stock of the Gods Others a perpetuall Dictator of Letters Others the greatest Work and
Poetices Romanae One of the three Lights of the Roman Poetry and Julius also thus limnes him Tibullus omnium cultissimus nec redundans in elegia Tibullus of all Poets the most adorned no way redundant in his Elegy Petrus Crinitus speaking of his Books of Loves saith thus of them Facile probatur quam elegans candidum sit ejus carmen ut ejusmodi caloribus describendis latinos omnes videatur superasse cum affectibus exprimendis tum elegantia suavitate ingenii It s easily proved how elegant and candid his Verse is that he seems in describing those heats to have gone beyond all the Latine Poets both for expressing the Affections as also for Elegancy and sweetness of wit He died young to the great grief of his Friend Naso yet his Poetry will never die according to that known Distick Donec erunt ignes arcusque Cupidinis arma Discentur numeri culte Tibulle tui Sextus Aurel. Propertius SExtus Aurel. Propertius an Vmbrian called himself the Roman Callimachus because he was a notable Imitator of that Cyrenean Poet he lost his Father when he was but young even as it were a Child whom Caesar Augustus caused to be slain for his siding with Antonius at Perusia his Son the Poet upon occasion of this sad Accident repaired unto Rome and there lived where he soon procured favour with that noble Heroe Mecaenas as also neer familiarity with Cornelius Gallus both honouring him for his Wit and Breeding Ovid commemorates him as his speciall Friend in this ensuing Distick Saepe suos solitus recitare Propertius ignes Jure sodalitii qui mihi junctus erat It seems that he had communicated unto him his burning Affections to the Maiden Hostia which not so well liking that Name he would familiarly call Cynthia Hence it is that Sidonius Apollinaris reckoning up each Poets Friend calls Propertius his by the name of Cynthia Meminisse debes quod saepe versum Corinna cum suo Nasone complevit Lesbia cum Catullo Cesenna cum Getulico Argentaria cum Lucano Cynthia cum Propertio Delia cum Tibullo As for his commendations Justus Lipsius joynes him with Catullus and Tibullus and then calls them Amorum Triumviros Crinitus speaking of Callimachus Mimnernus and Philetas those Greek Poets whom this Author imitated saith thus Nam ut illi apud Graecos in elegia consensu omnium longe praestiterunt ita Propertius apud Latinos eorum imitatione primus videtur quorundam consecutus For as they among the Greeks by the consent of all men far excelled in Elegy so Propertius amongst the Latines by imitating those Greeks in the Judgment of some hath out-stript many others Quintilian after that he had highly commended Albius Tibullus adds this to it Non deesse tamen qui Propertium malint That there were not wanting those that prefer Propertius I 'le let him pass with that of Barthius Dulciore eruditione eruditiore dulcedine nemo scriptor est tota antiquitate ante Propertium quem scriptorem quo magis rimaberis eo magis amabis quae enim primo intuitu abscuriora videbuntur ea si penetraveris omnium videbuntur naturali quadam venere gratiosissima There is no Writer in all Antiquity to be preferred before Propertius for sweet Erudition and erudite sweetness which Writer the more narrowly you sift him and the more deeply you dive into him the more dearly you will affect him for indeed those very things which at the first sight seem most obscure if you will throughly search into them you will in the end perceive them to be most gratious He had the Name of Nauta given to him and the reason thereof Scaliger in his Castigations tels us his death for the manner and time of it is not certain There are some that say he died at the age of one and forty Gratius GRatius a Latine Poet Contemporary with Albius Tibullus and Propertius wrote a Book in Hexameters De venatione Of hunting he was so ingenious and excellent at his Art that that incomparable Censor Scaliger acknowledgeth in him the felicity of that age He is esteemed next after Virgil inferiour to none As for his phrase of speech Caspar Barthius saies of it that it is Castigata erudita pressaque sibi semper aequalis Corrected and erudite and pressed and alwaies equall unto it self Dempsterus gives him this Encomium That he is Poeta cultus ac tersus An adorned and neat Poet. Barthius was the first that vindicated his Cynegeticon ex carcere squaloris situs From the Corruptions and Errours wherewith it was depraved Lucius Annaeus Seneca LVcius Annaeus Seneca the Tragaedian who of all Latine Writers in that kind is onely extant and it is the Opinion of Learned Heinsius that he onely wrote these four following Tragedies Hercules Furens Oedipus Thyestes and Agamemnon and that the Philosopher composed Hippolitus Troas and Medaea the rest being written by severall distinct persons it being customary for Criticks to deale with Tragick Poets as with other Writers that is to joyn together divers mens Works and then to prefix such a Name as they think most convenient This man was by Nation a Spaniard borne at Corduba Comtemporary with Pomponius secundus of whom Quintilian saith that he affected the same Studies this Poet did as one that took great delight in composing of Tragedies That Grammarian hath commended him both for his Sublimeness and Gravity In the composure of every Tragedy he is sayd to follow those two eminent Ancients Aeschylus and Euripides as it is hinted unto us by Sidonius Apollinaris in these following Verses Non quod Corduba praepotens alumnis Facundam ciet hic putes legendum Quorum unus colit hispidum Platonae Incassumque suum monet Neronem Orchestram quatit alter Euripidis Pictum faecibus Eschylum secutus Scaliger equalleth him for stateliness and Majesty with any of the Greeks and for clearness he prefers him far before Euripides and Dempster stileth him Tragaedum purum gravem A Tragaedian pure and grave Aulus Persius Flaccus AVlus Persius Flaccus of Volaterris a Towne in Etruria was in great esteem when Domitius Nero was Emperour he was instructed in Grammaticall Learning by Rhemmius Palaemon in Rhetorick by Virginius and for his proficiency and growth in Philosophicall Literature he most familiarly conversed with Annaeus Coruntus whom he very gratefully acknowledgeth in one of his Satyrs as appears by these ensuing Verses Cumque iter ambiguum vitae nescius error Deaucit trepidas ramosa in compita mentes Me tibi supposui teneros tususcipis annos Socratico Cornute sinu He imitated that excellent Satyrist Lucilius who was the most dexterous of all the Poets to inveigh against the Vices of the Romans some think that this Poets little Work was not absolved by reason of the Authors suddaine death he living not above the Age of thirty He was very invective against the naughtiness of Nero whom under the person of Miâ—as he laies
those because they had been hastily and as it were on a suddain heat compiled by him yet Sidonius Apollinaris doth greatly praise them in these his Hendecasyllablis Non quod Papinius tuus meusque Inter Labdaicos sonat furores Aut cum forte pedum minore rythmo Pingit gemmea prata sylvularum The Emperor Domitian was so well affected towards him that he entertaind him with a magnificent and royall Banquet his Verse is so lofty and Stile so sublime that they named him by the name of Aquilinus so saies Barthius Scaliger calls him Equum alatum The winged or flying Horse only upon this account of his mounting Language He is preferd by the same Author before Renowned Homer and also in these following words compared with heroick Virgil. Non ullus veterum ac recentiorum propius ad Virgilianm majestatem accedere valuit etiam propinquior futuus si tam prope esse voluisset None of the ancient or latter Poets were able to approach so neer Virgils Majesty as he who indeed if he would have assented might have come neerer unto it then he did Lipsius giveth him these honourable Characters Sublimis ac celsus magnus summus poeta And Dempster does assigne unto each Book its deserved praise Eruditus in Sylvis Learned in his Woods Sublimis in Thebaide Sublime in his Thebais blandus in Achilleide Pleasant in his Achilleis He lived untill he was very aged Decius Ausonius DEcius Ausonius by Nation a French-man was the Son of Julius Ausonius a Physician which Julius was of so great account with the Aquitanes that they would compare him with any of the wise men They have his saying frequently in their Mouthes Beatum esse non qui habet quae cupit sed qui non cupit quae non habet That he is happy not that hath the things which he desireth but that desireth not the things which he hath not This mans Son the Epigrammatist was high in favour with Valentinus and Valentinianus the Emperors but most familiar with Gratianus Caesar whom he tutoâ—â—â— by whose Affection and Countenance he was advanced to consular Dignity He was excellently well skild both in the Greek and Latine Tongues wherefore he expressed the Greek Epigrams in most elegant and sweet Latine amongst his speciall good Friends he chiefly placed Tetradius Gallus Paulinus the Poet and Hesperius neither was there less familiarity betwixt him and Symmachus who in his Epistles delivers his Judgment of this Authors Poems Oratio alticis salibus aspersa thymo odorata Barthius would have us believe that what we read in Ausonius we may finde both in Lucilius and Ennius of whose Composures he was a great Admirer and Peruser His Writings express him to have been a Christian of his death we have nothing that is certain some report that he lived to the Age of ninety but they mistake him for Julius his Father who died very aged Oppianus OPpianus a Poet of Cilicia and of the City Anazarba wrote five Books of Fisher which he called Halieutica and foure of Venation wherein he hath shewn both Elegancy of expression and inoffensiveness or chastity of Verse what he wrote of the Nature and Genius of living Creatures he dedicated to Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla with which Present the Emperor being highly pleased wisht him in a way of recompense to ask any thing that he could like at his royall hands The Poet forth with begged his Fathers return from banishment which request of his was with much good will and approbation granted and besides or over and above the Emperor gave him for every Verse Aureum staterum whence from that time forward his Verses were called Aurea carmina Golden Verses Julius Scaliger thus writeth of him Musarum alumnus prudentissimus poeta candidissimus atque magniloquentissimus cui Graecorum neminem ausis comparare cujus unius spiritu Virgiliana divinitas repraesentata The most prudent Scholar of the Muses a Poet most candid and magniloquent to whom thou canst not compare any of the Greeks one whose Spirit represents the diviness of Virgil And Dempster also honours him with these following Characters Suavis Generosus Incomparabililis Poeta A Sweet a Generous and an Incomparable Poet. Claudius Claudianus CLaudius Claudianus an Aegyptian though some would have him to be a Florentine was had in great reverence by those two learned Emperors Arcadius and Honorius whom they honoured with a Statue having this Inscription engraved upon it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And now if he had the mind of Virgil and the Muse of Homer of how great Fame then must we think that he was in the World His Genius at first was much propense to Poetry so that what I read in Crinitus of him I cannot but assent unto Ingenio excellenti fuit maximeque apto ad carmen componendum nam assurgit feliciter variisque figuris ac sententiis mirifice delectat ut videatur a natura ipsa instructus ad poeticam facultatem He was of a most excellent Wit and very apt to compose Verses for he happily swelleth and wonderously delighteth with variety of Figures and Sentences so that he seems naturally instructed and fitted for the Poeticall Faculty Barthius hath afforded him two notable Characters first he saith that he is Praecentor choragus poetarum panegyricorum The prime Singer and Ring-leader of the panegyricall Poets as also Obeuntis jam eloquentiae supremus Fulgor The last Lightning of fading Eloquence Dempster tells us that he is before all the Latines for plenty of matter and amongst the Greeks only inferiour to Homer for glory of Invention He wrote foure Books of the Rape of Proserpine but the fourth had not the success as to come unto our hands Even S. Austine hath commended the Wit and Erudition of this Poet. Of his death I read not Aurelius Prudentius AVrelius Prudentius was skilfull in the Law and Consul of Messalia and that he was honoured with Military Dignities as well as Civill his own Verses shew it as they follow Froenis nobilium reximus urbium Jus civile bonis reddidimus reos Tandem terruimus militiae gradu Evectum pietas principis extulit Sidonius Apollinaris no contemptible Author in reading and observing the ancient Writers when he comes to speak of this Poet Prudentius he does not fear to joyn him with Horace he acquired much praise especially from that Poem wherein he commended their patience and constancy that suffered Martyrdome for the Christian Faith He was by the Ancients named Amaenus because he surpassed all other Christian Poets in sweetness Caspar Barthius tells us Quod nemo divinius de Christianis rebus unquam scripsit That no man ever wrote more divinely of Christian matters And saith another of him Vnius omnium inter poetas christianos lectores suos pascere sufficiet lautissime sive pretiosissimas panis coelestis h. e. verbi divini epulas esurias sive efficacis eloquenâ—iae condimenta requiras
doctrinae alterum ut verbosum in historia negligentemque earpebat He thought of abolishing Homers Verses saying Why should it not be as lawfull for him to do it as it was for Plato who cast him out of that City wherof he was the Founder But the Judgment of this Savage Prince was no way prejudiciall to those two renowned Authors and as little to this eminent Historian let us therefore heare what better heads have sayd of him He is called by Barthius Patavina Syren The Patavinian Mearmaid Gruterus stiles him Historiae latinae principem The Prince of the Latine History Lipsius Historicorum uberrimum Of Historians the most plentifull And againe sayes the same Author In Livio nimia nobis bona In Livy we meet with things that are too good for us Valerius Maximus VAlerius Maximus lived after Velleius Paterculus as may be made to appeare from his depressing and disgracing of Sejanus whilst Paterculus beyond the bounds of all Moderation parasitically extolls him which shews that when Paterculus writ Sejanus was in his full Greatness and Glory but when Valerius compiled his Collections he was under judgment contempt and Ignominy as his own words do cleerly manifest which are as followeth Eum speaking of Sejanus omni cum stirpe sua Populi Romani pedibus obtritum etiam apud Inferos si tamen illuc receptus est quae meretur supplicia pendere He flourished under Caesar Tiberius for he saith in his second Book and eighth Chapter That he went with Sextus Pompeius into Asia which Pompey was Consull with Sextus Appuleius on that very yeare that Augustus died and so were the first Consulls which sware Alleagiance to Tiberius Further it s proved that he lived then from another passage in his fifth Book where speaking of Marcus Antonius he saith that he was the famous Orator of his Grandfathers time Now this Antony flourished in Julius Caesars Reign Again considering the Language wherewith he scourgeth the Parricide Brutus all to gratifie the care of Tiberius and that Speech of his also in reference to Cassius whom he would not have named without a Note of the grandest Infamy All these Arguments may cleerly convince that he lived after Paterculus in the Reign of the Emperour Tiberius Neither doth the meanness of his Language any way gainsay it for Cicero himselfe could complaine in his time which was many years before that the Roman Tongue began even then to be corrupt through the reception of Forreiners no wonder therefore if this Authors Speech did somewhat decline from that sweet purity that was in the Age before it However let us heare what Testimonies either of Merit or Demerit the Ancients have afforded him It s Caussinus Character of him Valerius Maximus ut Aegyptus Homerica bonis malis mixtus est in plerisque enim est acutus subtilis in plerisque durus obscurus ad plebeium sermonem abjectus a puritate candore latini sermonis longius discedit Est tamen in eo jucunda tot Historiarum quasi florum congesta varietas brevitas narrationum acuminibus sententiarum non raâ—o â—am apte aspersa ut nihil videatur Amaenius Valerius Maximus as Homers Aegyt mixt with good and bad things for he is in very many of them acute and subtile and againe in many hard and obscure and being immerst into the Vulgar Dialect he deviates far from the purity and candor of the Latine Phrase yet there is in him a sweet variety of so many Histories as it were Flowers gathered into a heap and shortness of Narrations with acuteness of Sentences not seldome so aptly scattered that nothing seems more delightfull Thus Caussin Dempster no way detracts from him for he stiles him Authorem rerum varietate eloquentiaque incomparabilem An Author incomparable both for variety of things and for his Eloquence Onely this he saith in his disparagement That he did Sola adulationis foeditate vilescere onely become vile through the deformity of Adulation And another calls him Ineptum affectatorem sententiarum quanquam non inutilem propter exempla A Fond Affectator of Sentences though not unprofitable for examples Quintus Curtius Rufus QVintus Curtius Rufus filled the World with the Exploits of Great Alexander his History being contained in ten Books two whereof are lost yet supplyed by an addition from some other There is a passage in his tenth Book which discovers the Age he lived in which passage is after this manner Proinde jure meritoque Populus Romanus salutem se principi suo debere fatetur Which Prince who it should be the Learned agree not Some wil have him to be Caesar Augustus but that Opinion cannot well stand because he brought not peace along with him as who had civil Wars for the space of thirteen years Others affirm that it may be Claudius Caesar and that those Hurli-burlies before mentioned might relate to the slaughter of Caligula and the Confusions which happened thereupon but this Opinion also is very rationally impugned by some learned Ones Now a third sort refers it to the Reign of the Emperour Vespasian and that because the foregoing words of the Historian may suite well with those Distractions that happened upon the death of Nero when Romes Dominion was sought by force of Armes between Galba Otho and Vitellius And this is the Judgment of Rutgersius and Vossius That he flourisht in the Reign of Vespasian of whom it s reported that he should teach Rhetorick in the last yeare of Tiberius which might well be considering that there were but two and thirty yeares betwixt that and the Reign of Vespasian he being young when a Rhetoritian and old when an Historian Vossius thus advanceth him Vsque adeo auctor est is verborum eligens nec perspicue minus quam terse scribit Acuius etiam est in sententiis inque orationibus mire disertus Imo vel Augustaeo aevo digna esus est dictio vel proxime abit That he is an Author very choice in his words neither writes he less perspicuously then neatly He is also acute in his Sentences and in his Orations wonderfully eloquent Nay his Phrase is worthy of the Age of Augustus or else that which immediatly followed it Lipsius stiles him Historicum proprium principum assidue iis in manu sinuque habendum An Historian proper for Princes and dayly to be had in their hands and Bosomes Floriditas Curtiana quatenus laudanda sayes C. Barthinus Alphonsus King of Arragon being very sick and his Physitians having tryed all the waies they could to cure him with their Physick but therein failing he though very weak on the sudden sell to reading of the History of Great Alexander written by this Curtius and thereupon he recovered crying out Valeant Avicenna Hippocrates caeteri medici vivat Curtius sospitator meus Away with Avicenna Hippocrates and other Physitians and let Curtius live my onely Recoverer Cornelius Tacitus COrnelius Tacitus in some old Editions called by the
open and obnoxious to derision Quintilian highly advanceth his smal Volume Multum verae gloriae quamvis uno libro Persius meruit Although Persius wrote one only Book yet he hath merited thereby much of true glory Whence also is that of the Epigrammatist Martial Saepius in libro memoratur Persius uno Quam levis in tota Marsus Amazonide Casaubon saith that he is Gravissimus morum Censor virtutum praeceptor fidissimus A most grave Censurer of our Manners and a most faithfull Master of the Vertues Scaliger in his Poetices tells us That his stile is Morosus and that he endeavoured so to write as that being read none might be able to understand him although now he is become sufficiently intelligible Gyraldus saith of him that he is to be reckoned amongst the laudable Authors notwithstanding his obscurity and darkness for though he be very intricate to some according to that oâ— Owen Scripta tenebrosi lego non intelligo Persi Lectores nimium negligit ille suos Yet he is well enough apprehended and understood by those that are more Learned Caius Pedo Albinovanus CAius Pedo Albinovanus was an Epigrammatist and flourished in the Reign of Nero in his youth he studied Oratory and was accounted no mean Declamator as may be gathered from some words of Annaeus Seneca concerning him Ovid reckons this Pedo amongst those Poets that were notable that way in his time and Martial relates him to be one of the Authors he imitated in his witty kind of Poetry Indeed his Wit was Elegant and Urbane and for his dexterity in composing of happy Epigrams he was had in great account Quintilian stiles him Sublimem Altiloquum poetam A sublime and lofty Poet. Ovid sydereum starry and Seneca Fabulatorem elegantissimum A most elegant Fabulator Non indignum cognitione si vacet Caspar Barthius likens him to the Poet Naso Quem vulgo Pedonem Albinovanum faciunt non alius est Nasone ipso He whom they call Pedo Albinovanus is no other then Ovid himself Pomponius Secundus POmponius Secundus was of Noble and Illustrious Parentage numbred amongst those Poets which were Tragicall he flourisht when those excellent Orators Porcius Latro Domitius Afer and Albusius Silo were living at Rome Quintilian writes that this Author for exceld all those Poets which in that kind of Verse he had ever seen so transcendent was his Erudition and Sublimity in the composure of his Poems that he was stiled by all that read him The Tragick Pindar Pliny wrote two Books of the Life and Manners of this Tragaedian because he was induced thereunto by the eminency of his Name and Vertues He was much endeared to that renowned worthy Caesar Germanicus whom he entertained with a sumpteous Supper Pliny calls him Civem vatem clarissimum Where he speaks of the Monuments of the two Gracchi Caius and Tiberius Maurus Terentianus a worthy Poet mightily bemoans the loss of this mans Tragedies in a paper of well-composed Verses of his Death Authors mention nothing Aruntius Stella ARuntius Stella was a Poet of great repute in Vespasians time he was of Patavium for Martial sayes that the Region of Apenum was dignified and enobled with the Births of Livius Flaccus and this Stella Papinius mentions him in these his Verses commending thereby the nobleness of his Descent Clarus de gente latina Est juvenis quem patriciis majoribus ortum Nobilitas gavisa tulit praesagaque formae Protinus e nostro posuit cognomina coelo He loved Violantilla a Neapolitan Maiden and at length obtained her for his Wife whom Martial calls Ianthis a Greek Name Amongst many Poems which this Poet writ there were Elegies and his Work De Asteride but none so much cried up and had in admiration as that De Interitu Columbae of the death of his Dove which the Epigrammatist prefers before Catullus his Verses of Lesbia's Sparrow as the Epigram declareth Stellae delicium mei Columba Verona licet audiente dicam Vicit maximi passerem Catulli Statius in his Sylvis acquaints us with the Dignities he was honoured with who had been created Praetor and after that Duumvir only for his admirall qualifications and Embellishments whereupon he was so high in that Poets Affections that he could find none in Rome so worthy to whom he might dedicate his Poems as he This Stella was of intimate acquaintance with Julius Secundus and the Poet Martial of his death I read not Decius Jun. Juvenalis DEcius Jun. Juvenalis a Satyricall Poet of Aquinas flourisht in the Reigns of Caesar Domitian Nerva and Trajan in these following Verses he congratulates the Emperour Nerva for favouring so much those of his profession Et spes ratio studiorum in Caesare tantum Solus enim tristes hac tempestate Camaenas Respexit Yet there are some that think they do refer unto Domitian because he greatly affected Poetry as Suetonius and Tacitus have joyntly testified He was instructed in Grammaticall Learning by Fronto a Grammarian of great Name then in Rome though others affirm that his Master was Quintilian a Rhetor of as excellent Endowments and Abilities his chief Friends were Volusius and Corvinus and also Martial who in this Distick speaks his Intimacy with this Satyrist Cum Juvenale meo quae me committere tentas Quid non audebis per fida lingualoqui He is called by Gifanius Satyricorum haud dubie princeps Without doubt the Prince of Satyrists and is preferd by most of the Ancients before Horatius and Persius as one that had attained to the Perfections of them all the salt and bitterness of Lucilius the Candor and Elegancy of Horace and the Gravity of Aulus Persius It s the same Authors commendation of him Juvenalis Ardet Instat Jugulat Juvenal burns presseth stabs Barthius stiles him Scriptorem eruditissimum elegantissimum poetam censorum morum celeberrimum acutissimum A most learned Writer a most elegant Poet and a most free and sharp Censurer of Mens Manners He is dignified by the Criticks with the Title of Ethicus the Moralist being indeed compared and equald to the most flourishing Philosophers by Sarisburiensis Alanus and other Philologues It s Lipsius his observation of him In Satyra nemo Idoneor ad mores corrigendos Juvenali None more fit for correction of mens Manners then Juvenal And it is also Casaubons Vbertate inventionis copia exemplorum tractandi dexteritate praestat Juvenalis Juvenal excels for plenty of Invention abundance of Examples and dexterity of handling Caius Valerius Flaccus CAius Valerius Flaccus called Setinus from the City Setia in Campania was an heroick Poet and Countryman to Titus Livius and Aruntius Stella Martial stiles him Laris Antenorei alumnum He wrote eight Books De Argonauticis which he dedicated to Domitian or as others will have it to his Father Vespasian He had written much more if sudden death had not prevented Quintilian speaks as one very sensible of it in his Books to Marcellus Victorius wherein he sadly complains