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-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
THE TRUE EFFIGIES OR Portraicture Of the chief Philosophers Historians Poets Grammarians and Oratours OR A Compendious VIEW of each both dignified with and distinguished by their peculiar CHARACTERS By Ed. Larkin A. M. late Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge and now of Limesfield in Surrey Minister LONDON Printed by E. Cotes for Henry Eversden and are to be sold at his Shop at the Greyhound in St. Pauls-Church yard 1659. ΕΙΚΩΠΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΩΠOR THE Philosophers In their Express IMAGES By E. Larkin M. A. and late Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge now of Limesfield in Surrey Minister LONDON Printed by E. Cotes for Henry Eversden and are to be sold at his Shop at the Greyhound in St. Pauls-Church-yard 1659. TO THE Right Worshipfull Sir WILLIAM HAWARD OF TANDRIDGE KNIGHT A great Honourer of LEARNING and Learned Men. Noble SIR HAving considered of some few choice Philosophers and Historians when spare houres were for such pleasing Recreations I have here represented them in as brief Characters as I could onely begging your favourable View of them Sir your high Deserts in respect of your Excellent Parts and your large Improvement of them in all Literature together with that serene Candour which is in you to Admiration have emboldned me to make these rude Draughts yours and to shroud them under the Wings of your great Name I know I have pitcht upon as a most Judicious so a most Candid Patron And were I sure to meet with as gentle a Reader I should not then feare that black Coale which young Writers so much dread Sir your Indulgent Acceptance of this so mean a Present will tye me to you with the strongest Cords of Observance and force me not only to write but also to shew myself ever more Yours to Honour and Reverence You Edw. Larkin The Names of the Philosophers as they are handled in order HErmes Pythagoras Democritus Heraclytus Socrates Plato Epicurus Zeno Chrysippus Cleanthes Anaxagoras Carneades Aristoteles Diogenes Theophrastus Seneca Plinius Plutarchus Apollonius Tyan Epictetus Arianus Plotinus Porphyrius Maximus Tyrius Boethius Whereunto are added the Characters of those two most Eminent Physitians HIppocrates Galenus THE CHARACTERS Of the chief of the PHILOSOPHERS Hermes i. e. Mercurius HErmes i. e. Mercurius called by Gyraldus Trismegistus because he was in three respects great as a Philosopher as a Priest and as a King He was esteemed as the wisest of the Egyptians and is thought by learned Suidas to have flourished in the World before Pharaoh He calls him Termaximum not upon that account as Gyraldus doth but because he spake something that did intimate to him he had some acknowledgment of the Trinity Lactantius expresseth this wise Ancient in his Book de Ira Dei where he saith Ob virtutem multarumque artium Scientiam Trismegistus nominatus non modo Plaâ—one verum etiam Pythagora septemque illis sapientibus antiquior Hermes named Trismegistus for his Vertue and Science of many Arts not only more ancient then Plato but Pythagoras also and the seven wise Men. Lypsius tells us That though he was an Egyptian and a Heathen man Tamen in eo multa esse mysteria arcana nostrae legis Yet there are in him many mysteries and secrets of our Law I 'le let him pass with those Verses of Joseph Scaliger Quid vetus ejusdem Tyrannus aulae terque maximus Nili Regnator Hermes qui logisticis punctis Collegit astra coelici penetraliâ— Reseravit adyta venit ad Deos ipsos Coelo potitus sic per astra captivo Pythagoras PYthagoras the Samian Philosopher was the Son of Mâ—esarchus a Jeweller of whom it is sayd That in the Trojan War his Name should be Euphorbus according to that of the Poet Trojani Tempore belli Panthoides Euphorbus eram But being there slain and afterwards reviving he was called thenceforward Pythagoras whence arose that mad opinion of the Pythagorean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereby they report that there is a migration of Souls out of one body into another as they suit each with other in their Constitutions and Tempers so that according to this principle if a man of a fierce and fiery disposition dies then his Spirit goes into some wild and ravenous Beast such as is the Bear or Lyon and so their Bodies are inform'd with an humane Soul Now what a Chimaera this is I need not stand to shew it being in its self absurd and monstrous unto every eye This Philosopher is by Justinus in his Dialogue with Tryphon joyn'd with the great Plato and cal'd with him Vir sapiens quasi murus praesidiumque Philosophiae A Wise man and as it were the Wall and Bulwark of Philosophy Valerius Maximus in his seventh Book stiles him perfectissimum opus sapientiae Wisdomes most perfect Work And Plutarch tells us That the Decrees of him and of Empedocles were the only Laws of the Ancient Graecians He was against any mans eating of things wherein there was Blood and Life as is expressed by the Poet in the fifteenth Book of his Metamorphosis I 'le conclude him with that of Lypsius Ejus singula sententiarum frusta gemmas habent All his Crusts of Sentences have their Jewels Democritus DEmocritus Sirnamed Abderites and called as Suidas saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod inania hominam studia derideret Because he derided the vain Studies of men Aelianus further calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wisdome and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because he was learned in Physicks Ethicks Mathematicks and in all other liberall Arts and Disciplines Epicurus in Laertius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Censurer of toyes Or else as Hadrianus Jun. would have it read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Philosopher placing himself in his Garden scituate neer the City Walls did there purposely put out the sight of his Eyes that he might be the better disposed for Contemplation His Opinion was That all things were made of Atomes and that there were more Worlds then one He learned Theologie and Astronomy from the Chaldeans He bought himself to great want by reason of his tedious and frequent Travaile which he undertook for no other end but to advantage his Knowledge by them He was the first Anotamist Pliny calls him Virum sagacem vitae utilissimum He lived untill he was very Aged as being an hundred and nine years old when he dyed He wasted himself in supplying the necessities of other men His Father was so rich in Substance that it is reported of him that he entertained Xerxes huge and mighty numerous Host with a sumpteous Banquet Heraclitus HEraclitus the Ephesian Philosopher had affections quite contrary to those of Democritus for he would weep at every Object as the other laughed He is by Suidas cal'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—bscure and dark because he so clouded all his Speeches that the best eyed and most judicious Philosophers could very hardly discover the
But Scaliger in his Book De Emendatione Temporum doth most nobly vindicate him where he thus Characters him Diligentissimus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnium scriptorum Josephus de quo nos hoc audacter dicimus non solum in rebus Judaicis sed etiam in externis tutius ei credi quam omnibus Graecis ac Latinis Josephus the most diligent and the greatest Lover of Truth of all Writers of whom we dare boldly affirm this That not onely in Judaicall matters but also in externall he may be more safely credited then all other Authors whether Greek or Latine He is stiled by Isidore Pelusiote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A man most famous for Erudition and Eloquence No marvell then if he merited a Statue among the Romans for the Glory of his Wit To all this I 'le add but one thing more and its this That he gave an excellent Testimony to our Lord and Saviour in the twenty second Book of his Antiquities Caius Suetonius Tranquillus CAius Suetonius Tranquillus lived in the Reigns of Trajan and Adrian being Magister Epistolarum The principall Secretary to the latter of the two As Spartianus hath recorded it in the life of that noble Emperour His Father was Suetonius Lenis as he himself testifieth in his Otho and not Paulinus as some others have reported Plinius held great Correspondency with this Historian as appeareth by some speciall and choice Epistles directed unto him This man among other of his works writ the lives of the Grammarians and Rhetors but the greater part of them is lost and almost his whole Book of the Poets none of them remaining to be seen but the lives of Terence and Horace as for Lucan and Persius though they are with us yet its questionable whether their Lives were written by him many of the learned Criticks doubt it a Book he wrote 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whereof Suidas makes mention Vopiscus stiles this man Auctorem emendatissimum candidissimum cui familiare sit amare brevitatem A most faire and most candid Author and to whom its familiar to love brevity Ludovicus Vives calls him also Graecorum ac Latinorum scriptorum diligentissimum atque Incorruptissimum Of the Greek and Latine Writers the most diligent and most pure There are some that would prefer him before those Renowned Ones Livy Salust and Tacitus but the Grammarian Vossius will by no means assent to that who approves of the Encomiums given him by Vopiscus and Vives only in reference to such men that have written Lives like himself Suidas calls him The Roman Grammarian and Plinius Virum probissimum Honestissimum Eruditissimum Justinus JVstinus whom Orosius calls Breviatorem Pompeii The Epitomizer of Trogus Pompeius and Justus Lipsius variarum rerum gentium temporum compendium A Compend of various Things Nations Times He lived almost Contemporary with Suetonius though indeed both his Name and the Age he lived in fall under some mens doubts and suspicions Arnoldus his Edition expresseth him by the name of Frontinus but the Medicaean Library calls him Junianus and the latter may well carry with it more shew of truth because of its Antiquity And now for his time also that hath been under some controversie there are they that think he lived after the Traslation of the Empire to Constantinople as seems to them out of those very words of his in his eigth Book Graeciam nunc viribus dignitate orbis terrarum principem But their mistake lyeth in misapplying the Conjunction Nunc which indeed is to be referred not to the time he writ in as they suppose but to the subject matter whereof he wrote It is the Judgment of Vossius that he lived under Antoninus Pius and dedicated his Epitome unto him as is manifest by those very words in the Preface Quod ad te Imperator Antonine non tam cognoscendi quam emendandi causa transmisi And that he lived under this very Emperour we have besides this the Testimony of Martinus Polonus as he hath asserted it in his Chronicles Dempsier gives him none of the meanest Commendations calling him Quantum stili genus patitur disertum As far as his kind of stile suffereth eloquent Onely one tells us that his Epitome is confused Et omni temporum luce carens Tilem Pausanias PAusanias a man of great Note and Repute in the Reign of Marcus Antoninus was the Disciple of that Herod Atticus who under those two Emperours Adrian and Antoninus Pius had obtained a great Name amongst the Sophists of that Age. The Native Country of this gallant Historian was Cappadocia and the place of his Commoration Caesarea whereupon it has been observed of him that according to the Genius of the Cappadocians he doth produce those Syllables which he should shorten and on the other side shorten those that he should produce and therefore he is very ingenuously resembled to a Cook that provides unpleasing Sauce for good and savoury Meats He declamed not at Athens onely the famous Academy of all Greece but at Rome also the Metropolis of the whole World Philostratus speaketh much of him in his Lives of the Sophists There is extant of his composure a Book De Graecia wherein he describes the Scituation of her Cities Regions Countries and whatsoever in any of her Confines is thought worthy of notice-taking a Treatise of more Learning then Eloquence As concerning his stile it is accounted very weak languid and faint However that which Domitius Piso said once may well be applyed to this Pausanias Thesauros scribi debere non libros That Treasuries ought to be written not Books for his Work is indeed a very Treasury He is stiled also by the Learned Autor ob variarum rerum copiam Historiarum jucundam diversitatem utilissimus An Author for copiousness of divers things and sweet variety of Histories most profitable Herodianus HErodianus flourished much about the time that Commodus was Emperour a man of great esteem for his Abilities amongst the Romans he wrote eight Books of History beginning them from the death of M. Aurelius Antoninus the Philosopher and ending them at the decease of Balbinus and Maximus His stile according to the Judgment of Photius is elegant perspicuous and indeed such that he is comparable upon any account to the best Historian he is much for the truth of things onely in Alexander and Maximinus he doth somewhat decline from it which is well observed by that most exquisite Interpreter of him Angelus Politianus He is commemorated by Julius Capitolinus in his Clodius Albinus where he saith Quod ad fidem pleraque dixit as who was both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So doth also Trebellius Pollio make mention of him in his thirty Tyrants as also Lampridius in his Alexander Severus and Antoninus Diadumenus Ammianus Marcellinus stileth him Artium minutissimum sciscitatorem A most exact Searcher of all Arts and Dempster calleth him Historicum elegantem copiosum An elegant and copious Historian Of his
and gravity of Demosthenes Quintus Aurelius Symmachus QVintus Aurelius Symmachus was a man of Cosular degree and Praefect of the City He is much commmended by Marcellinus for his Learning and modesty and thus Characterized by Boethius Illud pretiofissimum generis humani decus vir totus ex sapientia ac virtutibus factus That most pretious Ornament of Mankind altogether composed of Wisdome and the Vertues As also thus by Prosper Mirabili eloquie scientia praeditus Endued with wonderfull knowledge and Eloqution Ausonius writing an Epistle to him gives him therein these following Commendations Haud quisquam ita nitet ut comparatus tibi non sordeat Quis ita Aesopi venustatem Quis sophisticas Socratis conclusiones Quis Enthymemata Demosthenis aut opulentiam Tullianam aut proprietatem nostri Maronis accedat Quis ita affectet singula ut tu imples omnia Quid enim aliudes quam ex omni bonarum artium ingenio collecta perfectio Who comes so neer the Grace of Aesop who the sophisticall conclusions of Socrates Who the Enthymemâ— of Demosthenes Or the Opulency of Cicero Or the propriety of our Maro Who so affects each as thou fillest all For what art thou else but collect Perfection from the Wit of all good Arts I l'e but add a Note from Dempster In Epistolis eloquens in Relatione vehemens Eloquent in his Epistles in his Relation vehement ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗ'Ρ ΠΟΙΗΤΩ̄ΠOR THE POETS In their lively PICTURES LONDON Printed by E.C. for Henry Eversden at the Grey-hound in S. Pauls Church-yard 1659. TO HIS HONOURED FRIEND JOHN HOLMDEN Of Limsfield in the County of Surrey ESQUIRE Ingenious SIR AND I hope as kind otherwise I must expect to meet with Frowns for so slender hath my performance been that if there be such a Grace as Modesty I may blush to own it However a courteous Eye may pass over all my slips with a generous Indulgence Indeed this is the presage to which I may impute all my boldness and if I am deceived it s my too forward praeconception of your Candor hath beguiled me And yet I am brief enough and therefore guilty of the fewer Faults had I been more prolix I might have tyred out the greatest Patience but seeing you are secured from that I hope it will be one Graine more in the Scale to make your Lenity the heavier If I shall attain this undeserved Favour I shall have my wish and be engaged to approve my self SIR Yours to all Civilities Edward Larkin THE NAMES Of the POETS As they are handled in Order ORpheus Alcaeus Sappho Musaeus Homerus Hesiodus Pindarus Anacreon Theognis Theocritus Aratus Lycophron Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Menander Aristophanes Plautus Terentius Callimachus Afranius Lucilius Accius Ennius Lucretius Catullus Virgilius Corn. Gallus Horatius Ovidius Manilius Tibullus Propertius Gratius Seneca Persius Pedo Albin Pomponius 2 us Arunt Stella Juvenalis Valerius Flac. Silius Italic Lucanus Martialis Statius Ausonius Oppianus Sidonius Prudentius Claudianus Pontius Paul Dracontius ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗ'Ρ ΠΟΙΗΤΩ̄ΠOR THE POETS In their lively PICTURES Orpheus ORpheus an excellent Musitian and Poet was a Thracian by Birth the Son of Oeagrus and the Muse Calliope much reverenced by the Odrysae a Mountainous and wild People their manners answering to the Climate of their Country who notwithstanding their Native Ferity danced after his wel-tuned Instrument nay the very senseless Trees are reported to have skipt whensoever his Harp sounded whereunto the Poet Horace hath alluded Unde vocalem temere insecutae Orphea sylvae Artemat erna rapidos morantem Fluminum lapsus celeresque ventos Blandum auritas fidebus canoris ducere quercus Suidas saith of him that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A wise man and instructed in many Secrets He was torn in pieces by the raving Maenades neer the River Hebrus whose rent and dispersed Members the Muses gathered up and buried His Harp upon his death was faigned to have been taken up into Heaven Suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affirmeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That he was the first Inventor of the Mysteries of the Greeks so doth also Tertullian in Apologetico Alcaeus ALcaeus of Mitylene a Lyrick Poet equall with that Pittacus which was one of the seven wise men amongst other of his Works wrote a Book called Stasiotica wherein he sharply reproved Pittacus Myrsilus Meglagyrus Cleanthis and other Tyrants for oppressing their Native Country Stobaeus doth recite two of his Verses concerning the dispraise of Poverty the same being also recorded by that learned Writer Athenaeus Plutarch the Philosopher in the life of Flaminius doth rehearse those Verses which this Author hath written in the dishonour of King Philip He was a most excellent Musitian and a great Warrior preferring his strength far before his Poetry Athenaeus doth describe him to have been a Lover of Drink wherein he would exceed without regard had either to the time of the year or the disposition of the Heavens And Barthius gives him this mark Quod erat omnium post Anacreonta maxime bibulus That after Anacreon he was the greatest Tipler It s sayd that one part of his Writings is worthy of a golden Harp but in the other part he descends to his vain sports and loves being indeed fitter for matters of greater weight and moment Sappho SAppho a Lyrick Poetress was born about the forty second Olympiad she wrote Epigrams Elegies Iambicks nine Books of Lyrick Verses Suidas saith of her Quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That she was the first Inventress of the Harp she is cited both by Athenaeus and Stobaeus Plutarch in the life of Demetrius makes mention of a Book that she should write of Loves Others say That there was another Sappho and a Poetress which entirely loved the young man Phaon however the Latines do commend but one who is by Gyraldus stiled Mascula for her Virile Studies which Epithet is likewise given her by Horatius Temperat Archilochi musam pede mascula Sappho And she is called also Pulchra Fair aâ—carminum pulchritudine From the beauty of her Poems In the Greek Anthology they characterize heâ— thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sweet Pierian Bee Whatsoever is extant of her composure is printed in Greek and Latine by Henricus Stephansis Musaeus MVsaeus a famous Poet was the Disciple of Orpheus if as some say not his Son he had that renowned Harp of his conferd upon him at his death being for his great skill in Musick thought worthy of it He is the first that wrote of the Genealogy of the Gods so great was his esteem among his Countrymen that Tertullian saith they accounted of him as a God Deus a suis habitus There goeth a Poem under his authority and Name called Leander and Hero but learned Casaubon hath cleerly discoverd that he was never the Author of it Scaliger in his Poetices speaketh thus of him Arbitror ego Musaei stylum longe esse Homerico politiorem â—o comptiorem Quod si Musaeus ea quae Homerus scripsit
Pagan he writ like a Christian If thou readest him as a Christian he writ like a Pagan Caussinus his Judgment of him was That he had not his equall for Wit and that he is rather to be admired then commended They say that Quintillian and Agellius did for something or other dislike of him but learned Lipsius sheweth that they did it without a cause so that he concludes thus of him Soli Caligulae cui nihil boni placere poterat displicuit He was displeasing only to Caligula whom no good thing could ever please Those Fathers Tertullian Augustine and Jerome speak very honourably of the man Plinius Secundus PLinius Secundus of Verona flourished when Vespasian was Emperour to whose state affaires he was very serviceable as appears by Suetonius who in these following words applauds his Faithfulness Equestribus militiis industrie functus procurationes quoque splendidissimas atque continuas summa Integritate administravit tamen liberalibus studiis tantam operam dedit ut non temere quis plura in otio scripserit His Life was very diligently written by his Grandson Caecilius whose Epistles we have now extant with a Panegyrick in honour of Trajanus But as for this man his chiefest work is his naturall History upon the account whereof we have him stiled by one of the Learned Naturae Bibliothecarium in which Work of his Caussinus takes notice of some disparity for sayes he in the third Book de Eloquentia Plinius non ubique sui similis plaeraque enim acute scripsit nonnulla neglecta inculta Pliny is not every where like himself many things he hath writ acutely others with more neglect and with less Ornament However there are others of the Learned who highly extoll him as Heinsius Jam de Caio Plinio quid dicam qui naturam universam utrumque mundum plane inusitata ante caeteris audacia paucis voluminibus inclusit qui imperio Romano cui universus terrae orbis concessisset coelum quoque adjecit Now what shall I say of Caius Plinius who included the whole Universe in a few Volumes a boldness that others before him did not dare to shew who added Heaven also to the Roman Empire to which the whole World had before submitted His Grandson in one of his Epistles attributes to him Acre Ingenium Incredibile studium summam vigilantiam A quick Wit an incredible studiousness and a wonderfull Vigilancy Dempster the Grammariam heaps upon him many worthy Epethites Scriptor diligentissimus eloquentissimus veracissimus incomparabilis unus omnium Instar A Writer most diligent most eloquent most true incomparable and one in esteem that is worth all He is said to have been consumed in the flames that issued out of the Mountain Vesuvius whilst too carelesly he was enquiring into and seeking out the causes of it Plutarchus PLutarchus of Choeronea in Boeotia called by Eunapius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divine Plutarch As also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Venus and Harp of all Philosophy He was in great repute when Trojanus and Adrian were Emperours Suidas saith That he was honoured with Consular Titles and Dignities by the former of the two Princes and that he was sent by him into Illyria with very great Authority the Magistrates being there required not to act or determine any thing without Commission from their Deputy Heinsius in one of his Orations stiles him Compendium eruditionis Prudentiae Thesaurum Antiquitatum utriusque generis Quendam Delium Apollinem An Epitome of Learning a Treasury of Prudence and for Antiquities of either kind a certain Delius Apollo Lipsius calls him Meliorem omnino quam acutiorem Doctorem Rather a better then more acute Doctor Frisclinus did so admire his Works that it was his Judgment of them that in Case all other Authors were lost yet they might be repaired and made good again by these Writings of Plutarch I 'le let him pass with his Encomium from Bodinus Est in eo quod miremur liberum de re quaque judicium ut non tam Historicus quam principum Censor esse videatur sic tamen existimo si quis Idoneus est earum rerum arbiter aut Plutarchum esse aut neminem quid enim tantam sapientiam latere poâ—uit There is that in him we may admire a free Judgment in every matter that he seems not so much to be an Historian as a Censurer of Princes so then I think if there be any fit Arbiter or Judge of those things it s either Plutarch or no man for what is there in the World that can be concealed and hid from so transcendent Prudence and Wisdom Apollonius Tyaneus APollonius Tyaneus a Pythagorean Philosopher stiled by Vopiscus Celeberrimae famae authoritatisque vir A man of most transcent Fame and Authority as also by the same Author Amicus verus Deorum pro numine frequentandus A tâ—â—â— Friend of the Gods and to be honoured as a Deity had his life written by Philostratus and before him by one Damis the sole Companion of his tedious Travels Sidonius in his Epistle extols him as a man that was endued with all Vertues Erat cupidus scientiae continens pecuniae inter epulas abstemius inter purpuratos linâ—eatus inter alabastra censorius He was desirous of Science continent of money in Banquets abstemious amidst purpled Ones mean habited and among the Alabastred censorious This man being at Ephesus in that very houre that the Emperour Domitian was murthered As he was disputing in a Throng of people on a sudden he cast his Eyes downward and became mute but presently he burst out into these or the like words Euge Stephane pulchre percute peccatorem pulsasti vulnerasti interfecisti Alluding therein to the ruine and destruction of that cruell and bloody Emperour This man hath excellent Characters given him by the learned Paulinus sayes of him Quod invenit ubique quod disceret semper proficeret That he every where met with something that he might learn and that he alwaies profited Casaubon affirms that the Criticks called him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faultless and Inculpable in whome indeed there appeared more of Caâ—e then Wit Eunapius speaks him to have been as it were of a middle Nature betwixt the Gods and Mortals Justinus Martyr notes him to have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scientissimum eoque stupendae mirabilitatis effectorem celeberrimum Suidas preferred him before Simonides for strength of Memory calling him Virum admirandum ac divinum Caelius Rhodiginus sayes that he was skilfull in the understanding of the Beasts Language it was his daily wish and prayer unto his Gods that he might know the good ones and avoid the evill Epicteus EPictetus a Stoick Philosopher of Hieropolis in Phrygia who going from thence to Rome bound himself in Service to Epaphroditus one of Nero's principal Life-guard and there lived untill the Reign of Domitian whose Mis-government when he could not well digest he left the City and return'd again
were others likewise of this Name but none equall to him in Repute and Fame Zenophon ZEnophon the Son of Gryllus was the Disciple of Socrates and an Historian of Athens he was called for the sweetness of his stile Musa Attica The Athenian Muse he was the first of the Philosophers that writ an History wherein he shewed himself a most accurate Imitatour of Socrates Cicero affirmeth of him That his Speech is sweeter then Honey and that the Muses did as it were use his Language when they spake He is stiled Apis Attica The Athenian Bee by Laertius as before Musa Attica The Athenian Muse by Suidas P. Cornelius Africanus was so high an Esteemer of him and his History that he would never suffer him to be out of his hands and Lucius Lucullus who was sent against that subtle and potent Enemy Mithrydates being himself but a raw and unskilfull Warriour yet by reading the Works of this Zenophon he so bettered his Judgment in Military Affaires that at last he subdued him and triumphed over him The stile of this man is sublime and his Expression Candid so saith Dempster Agellius informes us that he lived sometimes in variance with great Plato There were three more of this Name one of Antioch another of Ephesus and a third of Cyprus so saith the learned Suidas Polybius POlybius an Historian of Megalopolis a City of Arcadia was the Master of Scipio Africanus he wrote the Roman History in forty Books beginning from the Banishment of Cleomenes the Spartan and Philip the Son of Perseus and afterwards joyning the Roman Affaires with the Macedonian where this man ends Possidonius proceeds as also doth Strabo Cicero and Plutarch with many others of the Learned do in his Philosophy admire his Learning in his Manners his Honesty and in his History his prudence Titus Livius was so great an Admirer of his Works that he would be perpetually writing of them and rehearsing them as though they had been the Product of his own Brain And Marcus Brutus that eminent Censurer both of Mens Writings and Manners to whom Cicero himself could not give sufficient satisfaction would never suffer this Polybius to be out of his hands Cicero stiles him Bonum Autorem A good Author Lipsius saith Recta salutaria ubique esse ejus monita That his Admonitions and Counsels are every where right and wholsome And its Vossius his Character of him Cedit uni altetique Graecorum eloquentia civili prudentia scientia militari nulli secundus He is inferiour to one or other of the Greeks for Eloquence but for civil Prudence and military Science he is behind none of them Herodotus HErodotus of Hallycarnassius an excellent Historian wrote nine Books of History calling them by the Names of the Muses he began from Cyrus King of the Persians This man being discontented at the Tyranny of Lygdanus withdrew himself to Samus but afterwards returned upon the Tyrants expulsion he is called Thurius Scriptor because being envied by his Fellows he departed to Thurius a Colony of the Athenians where he wrote his History Cicero calls him Patrem Historiae The Father of History and Quintilian saith That he is both Dulcis candidus fusus Sweet candid and flowing Thucidides would be present at the reciting of his Books and upon the hearing them read unto him he would frequently fall on weeping Dionysius Halycarnassius makes him the chief of the Historians as Sophocles of the Tragaedians and Plato of the Philosophers Scaliger could say of him Herodoti libros mihi difficilius est deponere quam cyathum It s more difficult to me to lay aside Herodotus his Books then the Cup he died either at Thurius or at Pella and where he died there he was buried Dionysius Halycarnassius DIonysius Halycarnassius the Son of Alexander wrote eleven Books of the Roman Antiquities he flourished according to the Judgment and report of Suidas in the Reigne of Caesar Augustus Eo accuratius tempora nemo observavit sayes Scaliger of him No man observed the times with more diligence and care then he Some prefer him before Livie because he seems to deliver many things pertinent to the Roman Antiquities with more accurateness then other Writers his stile is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To savour of comely novity he was a noble Censurer of other mens Labours and Stile even as Quintilian was amongst the Latines being a Rhetorician and Critick of that Repute and Credit that all men would close with his Sentence and Judgment Dempster calls him Historicorum clarissimum eloquentissimum veracissimum antiquitatis studiosissimum omnium ultissimum The most famous most eloquent most true most studious of Antiquities and the most profitable of all Historians Besides his History he wrote the Characters of the ancient Orators together with a Method of composing Epithalamies Epitaphs and Panegyricks all which were translated into Latine by Theodore Gaza Caius Julius Caesar CAius Julius Caesar the Founder of the Roman Empire is very well Characteriz'd by Velleius Paterculus whose words I shall hear recite Secutus deinde Consulatus Caii Caesariis qui scribenti manum injicit quamlibet festinantem in se morari cogit Then followed the Consulship of Caius Caesar who as I am writing layeth his hand upon me and what haft soever I am in constrains me to pause upon him he being extracted from the most noble Julian Family which was accounted by all men of the greatest Antiquity deriving his Descent from Anchises and Venus of person the most lovely of all the Citizens of Rome in vivacity of Spirit most sharp in Bounty most liberall of Courage either above the nature or belief of any mâ—n in greatness of his Desires Celerity in execution Patience in dangers most neerly resembling that great Alexander but him sober and not transported with Anger Finally That used both Sleep and Meat to live and not for Voluptuousness this is Paterculus his Figuration of him Now if his Person and Qualities were so Eminently Illustrious we cannot but estimate his Writings also conformable Quintilian saith thus of him C. Julius Caesar si foro tantum vacasset non alius ex nostris contra Ciceronem nominaretur Had Caesar onely imployed his time at the place of Pleas he and none else of all the Romans might have been opposed to Cicero Vnus mihi saith Gyraldus Caeteros vicisse scribendo pugnando videtur He alone seemed to me to have overcome both in Writing and Fighting Lipsius speaks him an Historian eloquent his Language pure without any meritricious Paintings worthy of the Roman or the Athenian Muses And Dempster compares him with the best of the Orators Velleius Paterculus VElleius Paterculus was at the first a Military Tribune in Thrace afterwards Praefect of the Horse in Germany Then Quaestor then Tiberius his Legate in the Pannonian Warre all which he publisheth of himself in his own History He sprang out of the eminent Princes of Campaine he wrote his
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
Miracle of Nature Others Natures utmost Strength And others otherwise Casaubon honours him with the Title of Tripos whereto all which are in doubt are to repaire And the same Grammarian further resembleth him to the ancient and wise Cato Plane quod de Catone olim dictum versatile ingenium sic illi pariter ad omnia fuisse ut natum ad id unum diceres quodcunque ageret id verissimum in eo reperiri non seria magis quam lusus evincunt Truly that which was heretofore said of Cato That he had a Wit so pregnant and prompt to every thing that you would say it was formed for the very thing whatsoever it was he was about Now that this is found to be most true in this very man his serious Affairs do not more evince it then his Sports I l'e end him with that of Heinsius Vir sine exemplo magnus A man Great without his Peer Justus Lipsius JVstus Lipsius is saluted by Pareus with the name of the Belgick Seneca and called by Schottus the very Eye of the Low Countries by Woverius Amor deliciae Generis humani The Love and Darling of Man-kind by Gruterus Apex eruditionis reconditae The top of all mysterious Learning By Dausqueius Seculi literati Sydus The Star of the learned Age and by one more Deliciae Musarum The Muses Delights Acidalius in his Readings upon Paterculus gives him this excellent ensuing Character Quem virum per omnia Diis quam hominibus ingenio propiorem uti lumen unicum numen aevi nostri colo veneror praeter omnes quos ille admiratores cultoresque ubique habuit plurimos Which man in all things for Wit more neer the Gods then Men as the onely light and Deity of our Age I love and reverence beyond those many Honourers and Admirers which he hath I l'e add to this but that of Heinsius Lipsius suavissimae quidem sed inimitabilis ut ipse judicabat ne tentandae quidem aliis eloquentiae vir Lipsius a man of most sweet and yet of unimitable Eloquence and as he himself did judge not to be aspir'd unto by any others And therefore it was well said by Gaulterus That he was Major omni invidia Above all Envy Janus Gruterus JAnus Gruterus an excellent Grammarian and Critick is commended by Caspar Barthius for his skill in correcting what in any learned Author may be amiss Vir sayes he emendandi prudentissimus ac perspicacissimus Dempster extolls him for a Critick of incomparable reading and Judgment calling him Seculi sui alterum Varronem Another Varro of that age he lived in Barthius advanceth his prudence Honesty Learning and Wit Praestantissimus Gruterus vir intime bonus prudens super quam credibile eruditus acutus But of all men Pareus bursts forth into a strange admiration of him Janus Gruterus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qui vir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 criticorum hujus seculi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cujus scripta merum Nectar spirant Ambrosiam Janus Gruterus a Wonderment which man is an Eagle in the Clouds the Alpha and Omega of the Criticks of this Age whose Writings breath forth meer Nectar and Ambrosia Caspar Barthius CAspar Barthius is called by one of the Learned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and graced by Pareus with this following Periphrasis Clarissimum Germaniae lumen columen nutantium literarum The most clear light of Germany and the very Prop of staggering Learning One saith of the Books he writ that they are such that we can scarce read the Indexes of them without astonishmment much less the Books themselves Another thus Characters him Varro alter si quisquam merito dicendus qui tam multa legit ut aliquid ei scribere vacare miremur tam multa scribit quam vix quenquam legere posse credamus Worthy to be called another Varro if any man may be so named who reads so many things that we may wonder he had time to write writes so many things as that we may think no man able to read them I le end all with that Hyberbolicall Eulogy given him by one that Comments upon Musaeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The all-seeing Eye of the Graces ΣΧΗ̄ΜΑ ΡΗΤΟΡΩ̄ΠOR THE ORATORS In their right SHAPES Antiphon ANtiphon an Orator of Athens was the first that did write an Oration and delivered Precepts concerning it whereupon he is stiled by Suidas the most ancient of the Orators of whom Cicero saith in his Brutus That no man ever went beyond him in pleading of Causes of life and death as it appeared when he pleaded his own Case No marvell therefore if the foresaid Suidas calls him Nestor and after Gorgius the Prince of Orators And Philostratus who writ the Lives of the Sophists gives him also the same Character and withall inserts the reason Because he was able to perswade in whatsoever he proposed He used to sell his Pleadings at a very high rate so that he became thereby wondrous wealthy he was Contemporary with Socrates with whom he had frequent Conferences Zenophon relates one that he had with that Philosopher he studied also Poetry and profest that the had an Art thereby to drive away all sadness Plutarch tells us that he lived in an hired House neer the Forum where he published by Pen and Paper that he could cure all griefs so that when any made their addresses to him and related the causes of their sorrows he very sweetly allayed them I read not who was his Master but Plutarch acquaints us that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His own Instructer I 'le but add a word from Thuoidides which concers him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 second to none of his time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And one that was most excellent both for Invention and Elocution Suidas saith that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Master of this Thucidides Gorgias GOrgias was a Rhetor of Scicily the Disciple of Empedocles and the Master of Isocrates and other Orators as Cicero hath recorded of whom Philostratus hath said this That as soon as he came forth into the Athenian Forum he was wont to say continually Propound to me what you please and I will forthwith speak copiously to it vanting unto them that he knew all things and could discourse excellently well on every Subject Whence sayes the same Author it was Proverbiall Gorgias his Eloquence Caelius Rhodiginus informs us that his Oratory was had in so great esteem amongst the Athenians that they would call those dayes wherein he was to plead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his Orations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He gained so much Wealth by his Rhetorick that of all the Orators which ever were he was the first that placed a Statue of beaten Gold within the Temple of Apollo Delphicus whereupon Plato meeting him returning from Delphos said unto him Behold the fair and golden Gorgias You may read more of that Statue in Pliny So sweet was this mans
scripsisset longe melius eum scripturum fuisse judicamus I believe that Musaeus his stile is far more polite and neat then Homers so that if Musaeus had written upon Homers Subject in my Opinion and Judgment he would have written much better then he Suidas saith that there were no less then three of this Name and all of them Poets Homerus HOmerus so named by the Ionians for his blindness for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their Language by the Figure Metathesis signifies blind yet his proper Name was Melesigenes because he was born neer the River Meletes He is otherwise called Maeonides from his Parent Maeone though some others would needs have him to be the Son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope he was a Poet of that great Renown that no less then seven Cities strove to have the honour and glory both of his Birth and Breeding The Verses are very wel known Septem urbes pugnant genus obsapientis Homeri Smyrna Chios Colophon Ithace Pylus Argos Athenae Neither only did these 7. lay claim unto him but three times seven if we will give credit to the learned Plutarch and Suidas amongst which Rome is very urgent that he may be accounted hers Now the uncertainty hereof moved Appion the Grammarian to invoke his Ghost to come forth from the dead and to declare the Country that so the Controversie might be decided He wrote in twenty foure Books the Wars of Troy which he calls his Illias and in as many more the Travells of Vlysses which he Names his Odysses They were digested into that Order wherein we now have them not by himself but by other men and as Suidas reports chiefly by Pisistratus the Athenian Tyrant His Works were so admired by Arcesilaus that he would not take his rest untill he had read some portion of them And again in the Morning as soon as he was risen he would say Se ad Amasium ire That he was going to his Darling Alcibiades would strike that Schoolmaster in the Eare whom he found without the Books of this most renowned Author Alexander the great King of Macedon having taken a rich Cabinet from Darius whom he had overcome in Battell resolved that it should serve to keep these famous Works in Elian telleth us That Plato at the beginning studied Poetry and having compiled certain Heroick Verses he came to examine them by these noble Treatises of Homer and finding them to fall very short of this eminent Poeta Art and Faculty he forthwith tare them and burnt them Dionysius Haliâ—arnasensis calls him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The top of all whence every River Sea and Fountain flows No wonder therefore if the Painter Galaton faigned him Vomiting and all the other Poets like so many Dogs licking up what he had spued out Cicero could say Homero nemo similis None like great Homer And Velleìus Paterculus a most elegant and neat Historian could give him a Character somewhat suitable to his merit Clarissimum Homeri ingenium sine exemplo maximum qui magnitudine operum fulgore carminum solus appellaripoeta meruit in quo hoc maximum est quod neque ante illum quem ille imitaretur neque post illum qui eum imitari possit inventus est The most bright and matchless Wit of Homer who both for the greatness of his Works and the clearness of his Verses did alone deserve the Name of Poet in whom this is most glorious That there was neither any one before him for him to imitate nor any found after him that could imitate him I meet with his Epitaph in Suidas which is as followeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He flourished about 160 years before Rome the Mistress of the World was sounded Hesiodus HEsiodus was called Cumaeus from his Native Soile and Ascreus from the place of his Education he lived an hundred yeares after Homer so sayes Porphyrius and some others as it is in Suidas Plutarch writes of him That being a Boy and keeping his Fathers Flocks and Heards he was beloved of the Muses who gave him Laurell to eat whereupon he commenced a most excellent Poet and aâ— Homer was called Poeta Lacedaemoniorum The Poet of the Lacedaemonians so this Hesiod was stiled Poeta Helotarum The Poet of the Helots The one teaching the way of Warfare the other of Tillage The Philosopher Jeronymus reports That Pythagoras descending into Hell saw the Soule of this Hesiod fastned to a brazen Pillar and there making a most dolefull and dreadfull noise as also the Ghost of Homer compast about with Serpents and all for this cause because they uttered in their Books false things of the Gods Pliny and Columella affirm that this Poet was the first man that wrote of Agriculture The Criticks have afforded him many worthy Encomiums Hesiodi opuscula sayes Barthius Quantus Thesaurus Infucatae sunt sapientiae The Works of Hesiod how great a Treasury are they of untainted and unadulterated Wisdome And for his Stile Heinsius saith of it That it is Mitis facilis ac amaenus Mild facile and pleasant Amongst the Tragaedians he is compared to Euripides and amongst the Lyricks unto Sappho and amongst the Orators unto Isocrates Paterculus thus Characters this Poet Hesiodus vir perelegantis ingenii molissima dulcedine carminum memorabilis otii quietisque cupidissimus ut Homero tempore ita operis autoritate prâ—ximus Hesiod for the clearness of his Wit and the dainty smoothness of his Verse is worthy of memory a man infinitely desirous of rest and quiet and as he was in time so also in esteem the next to Homer Suidas speaking of his death sayes that he was slain upon mistake by the two Brothers Antiphus and Climenus who in the Night thought they had been avenged on him who had been the Deflowrer of their Sister Pindarus PIndarus of Thebes the Prince of the Grecian Lyricks was Eschylus his equall he wrote in the Dorick Dialect whom Horace for his Sentences Figures and Expressions calls unimitable he being indeed a Poet so much abounding with them When Alexander the Macedonian King made an assault upon the City Thebes and took it by storm Curtius informs us that he spared the Family of Pindar for the respect and reverence that he bare him But Suidas is of opinion that it was another Pindar the Son of Scopelinus whom Alxeander so honoured though the Cosin German of this Lyrick Poet. Yet Plato stiles this man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Most wise and divine And Athenaeus expresseth him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Greek Anthologie he is tearmed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The sweet singing Heliconian Swan As other Muses were feigned to inspire other Poets so did Polyhymnia him I 'le say no more but a word from Lipsius Pindarus ex ore humano praefert aliquid non humanum Pindar out of an humane Mouth le ts drop somewhat that is more then humane Anacreon ANacreon was a Poet of Ionia
he composed before his death Postquam est morte captus Plautus Comaedia luget Scena est deserta Deinde risus ludus jocusque numeri Innumeri simul omnes collacrymarunt There were imputed to this Poets composure an hundred and thirty Comedies but Laelius a most learned Writer will have but twenty five acknowledged to be his many being composed by one Plautius whereupon the mistake might be grounded in respect of the vicinity of their Names Publius Terentius PVblius Terentius was by Birth a Carthaginian but brought to Rome in his tender yeares where he was ingenuously trained up and educated both in good Literature and Manners by Terentius Lucanus being naturally furnished with a quick Wit and ripe Judgment he was taken into Fellowship by those two noble Romans Laelius and Scipio whose assistance he had as Cicero writeth in the composure of his most neat and elegant Playes And the learned Varro is also of the same judgment This Comaedian was an Imitator of Menander whereof Justus Lipsius calleth him Menandri Imaginem The Image of Menander and so the Verses of Caius Caesar do Decypher him Tu quoque tu in summis o dimidiate Menander Poneris merito puri sermonis Amator Africanus that great Comaedian prefers him before all other Comick Poets Terentio non similem dices quempiam Heinsius saith that his Wit is incredible and that scarcely one in one hundred understands him Caecilius Afranius and he lived all about the same age Dulces latini leporis facetiae per Caecilium Terentiumque Afranium sub pari aetate nituerunt The dainty witty Conceits of the Latine Tongue about the same age were by Caecilius Terentius and Afranius rendred worthy of an high esteem So Paterculus Horatius Flaccus the best Censurer of the old Poets admires the Gravity of Caecilius and the art of this Terence wherein he wonderfully excelled and of the same judgment was also Quintilian as the Epigrammatist Ausonius compareth Virgil with Homer so he doth Terence with Menander attributing to him the very elegancy of the Latine Tongue Tu quoque qui Latium lecto sermone Terenti Comis astricto percurris pulpita socco Concerning his death Authors vary some say that he died in Arabia others and amongst them the Poet Ausonius do affirm that the loss of his Playes which happened through Shipwrack broke his heart so that he died for very grief Callimachus CAllimachus the Son of Battus and Mesaime was an Elegiographe◠of Cyrene of whom Suidas saith That his industry and diligence was so wonderfull that he could compose Poems in any kind of Verse and also write most excellent smooth Prose The said Author moreover affirmeth that he compiled no less then eight hundred Books he lived in the time of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus Quintilian stileth him Elegiae principem and saith Ovid of him Battiades toto semper cantabitur orbe Quamvis ingenio non valet arte valet He wrote a notable Work De sucrorum origine which he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The argument whereof is much after that of Ovid de Fastis Martiall commemoratos him in his tenth Book in an Epigram to his friend Mamurra Legas Aetia Callimachi Before he came to converse with Ptolomy he taught Grammar at Eleusine a Village of Alexandria He married the Daughter of Euphrates a Syracusan his sisters son was of his Name and an heroick Poet mentioned by Suidas Lucius Afranius LVcius Afranius called by some Marcus Afranius was a Comicall Poet and flourished in Rome at that time when Terence and Caecilius were somewhat aged Cicero in his Brutus stileth him Hominem perargutum in Fabulis etiam disertum A witty man and eloquent in all his Comedies He came neer in his imitation to Menander according to that of the Poet Horatius Dicitur Afrani toga convenisse Menandro Indeed Macrobius affirmeth that he borrowed much from that old Comaedian which the Poet himself very ingenuously acknowledgeth as is to be seen in that answer of his to his Obtrectors Fateor sumpsi non a Menandro modo Sed ut quisque habuit quod conveniret mihi Quod me non posse melius facere credidi Quintilian commends his Elegancy but withall takes speciall notice of his filthy loves wherewith he did deprave and corrupt his Arguments He is remembred by that neat Epigrammatist Ausonius Qui toga facundi scenis agitavit Afrani And he is mentioned likewise together with Caelicius and Terentius by Velleius Paterculus ut supra Aulus Gellius highly honours this Poet and chiefly commends that Verse of his wherein he thus speaketh of Wisdome Usus me genuit mater peperit memoria Sophiam me Graii vocant vos sapientiam The Grammarians do frequently make mention of him but of his death the Ancients write not Caius Lucilius CAius Lucilius called by Juvenal Alumnus Aruncae was born of good Parentage being Uncle as some of the Grammarians have written to Cneius Pompeius Petrus Crinitus thus extolls him Illud imprimis manifestum est fuisse Lucilium in genio acerrimo in scribendis versibus festivo urbano He was very intimate and familiar with Quintus Philocomus who was one chief Instrument of the publication of the Works of this Satyrist so records Suetonius He was the first Poet that wrote Satyrs being an Italian by Birth He scourgeth the Vices of those that were his Countrymen by name Rutilius Carbo Tubulus and many others whose wickednesses his Ingenuity could not bear with Horace fastneth this reproach upon him that he should flow muddily At dixi fluere hunc lutulentum And Scaliger saith Illum ne fluere quidem that he floweth not at all But Juvenal well observing his Acrimony thus describes him Ense velut stricto quoties Lucilius ardens Infremuit rubet auditor cui frigida mens est Criminibus tacita sudant praecordia culpa Inde Irae lacrymae The Emperor Adrian preferd this Lucilius before all the Poets that had written Satyrs Gellius and Quintilian were great Admirers of him the Encomium which the latter hath given him we will here publish Satyra quidem tota nostra est in qua primus insignem laudem adeptus est Poeta Lucilius qui quosdam ita deditos sibi habet amatores ut cum non ejusdem modo operis autoribus sed omnibus poet is praeferre non dubitent Ego quantum ab illis tantum ab Horatio dissentio qui Lucilium fluere lutulente esse aliquid quod tollere possis putat nam eruditio in eo mira libertasque acerbitas abunde salis The Satyr is wholly ours wherein the Poet Lucilius hath first attained transcendent praise who hath indeed gained lovers so firme and constant to him that they do not doubt not onely to prefer him to the Authors of the same Work but also to all other Poets In asmuch as I differ from those so I dissent from Horace who thinks that Lucilius floweth muddily and that there is in him which you
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
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
of so great a loss Scaliger writes thus of him Cujus cum esset ingenium felix judicium magnum diligentia non vulgaris immatura morte praeventus acerbum poema suum nobis reliquit Whose Wit when it was happy Judgment solid Diligence extraordinary being prevented with an immature death he left us a bitter Poem The same Critick stiles him Omnium duriusculum He expressed Apollonius Rhodius not onely in the Argument of his Work but also in the phrase and stile of all his Verses he held friendly compliance and correspondence with those eminent Worthies of that time namely Secundus Maternus Stella and Martial The later of them counselled him to leave his Muses and to follow the Forum as it appears by this ensuing Epigram Omihi curarum precium non vile mearum Flacce Antenoreâ— spes alumne laris Pierios differ cantusque chorosque sororum Aes dabit ex istis nulla puella tibi Quid tibi cum Cyrrha quid cum Permessidos unda Romanum propius divitiusque forum est Illic aera sonant I 'le let him go with that of Barthius Poeta nobilissimus Romanae Musae genuinus Sonus spiritus eruditio gravitas in eo sunt insignes A most noble Poet and genuine to the Roman Muse Sound Spirit Learning Gravity are all transcendent in him Silius Italicus SIlius Italicus was as some have reported a Spaniard by Birth called Italicus from a noble City in Italy whence the Family first sprang he was an excellent Orator endeavouring to express and from which he fell not much short the Eloquence of Marcus Cicero he was under some Cloud of disgrace in Neroes time having been accused of some notable Crime to that infamous Emperor but he behaved himself wondrous prudently under Vitellius and at last he found favour and speciall grace with Caesar Domitian Martial reverenceth him with these Verses Augusto pia thura victimasque Pro nostro date Silio Camoenae He imitated heroick Virgil whose Wit and Majesty he greatly admiâ—ed he is called by one Vates Consularis The Consular Poet. Another saies that he writ Verses with more care then wit he would often times recite his Poems publickly to discover thereby mens Judgments of them There is a Critick that speaks thus of him Non Poeta non Historicus sed utrumque est libripunicorum historicum volunt dicendi character poetam He is neither a Poet nor Historian but both his Books of the Wars speak him an Historian and his character of speech a Poet. The same Author saies that he is not unlike to Euripides Martial gives him this great commendation Castalidum decus sororum The Grace or Ornament of the Muses Dempster saith Quod erat Orator verius quam poeta nimius interdum ridiculus Virgilii imitator That he was more truly an Orator then a Poet and too much nay sometimes a ridiculous Imitator of Virgil. Pliny informs us that he died for want of necessaries in his Country-house at Naples Marcus Annaeus Lucanus MAarcus Annaeus Lucanus of Corduba was the Nephew of Seneca the Tragaedian and Son of L. Annaeus Mela he was instructed in Grammar by Palaemon in Rhetorick by Virginius His Condisciples were Saleius Bassus and Aulus Persius he was at first much favoured by Nero but at length put to death by him as being found guilty of Conspiracy against him Martial describes his Birth-day in these Verses and is invective against Nero for killing of him Haec est illa dies quae magni conscia partus Lucanum populis tibi Polla dedit Heu Nero crudelis nullaque invisior umbra Debuit hoc saltem non licuisse tibi Farnaby that set out his Pharsalia with Notes speaking of his River of Poetry saith that it doth not rush with a great noise as Pliny hath written of the River Niâ—us but rather seemeth to flow like the calmest stream his Acuteness is divine his Spirit ardent his Muse Masculine and every expression high cleer and chaste Quintilian Characteriseth him thus Lucanus ardens concitatus sententiis clarissimus ut ita dicam quod sentio magis oratoribus quam poetis annumerandus Lucan is ardent and incensed and in Sentences most clear and that I may speak as I think rather to be registred among the Orators then the Poets Boethius also describes him to be Familiaris philosophiae Familiar with Philosophy His wife Polla was very learned if Sidonius Apollinaris and Papinius Statius may be credited He wrote the Civil War which was between Julius Caesar and Pompey but was prevented of finishing it by an immature and suddain death Dempster saith of him that he was not inferiour to Virgil whom indeed he imitated M. Valerius Martialis M. Valerius Martialis was a Spaniard and a most eminent Epigrammatist he was borne at Bilbilis no mean Towne of Celtiberia which he himself is pleased in one of his Epigrams to mention Nec me tacebit Bilbilis In his youth he came to Rome that he might dedicate himself wholly to his studies where finding an unfitness in his Genius for the way of the Forum he applied his Fancy to the composing of Epigrams wherein indeed he did excell all others in the opinion of the Ancients Pliny gives him the Character of an Ingenious and acute Poet Qui plurimum in scribendo salis haberet fellis nec candoris minus who in his writing discovered much Salt and Gall nor less Candor Elius Verus who was wondrous gracious with the Emperor Adrian entertained his wity Jests with much delight and recreation being ever now and then heard to call him his Virgilius In the framing of his Epigrams he imitated those three facetious poets Marsus Pedo and Getulicus and whensoever he was blamed by any for his obsceness he would excuse himself with this That he did but that which others had done before them meaning those to whose pattern he had conformed He highly regarded Licinius Calvus and Catullus for their Abilities in his way of poetry Caspar Barthius tells us that he was called Cocus because most of his Epigrams are conversant about Meat Drink Cloathing good Fellowship and such like And Dempster gives him this Encomium Vnus qui Epigrammatis genium videtur possedisse Indeed his Genius was ever leading him to the composing of Epigrams he returned in the end to his owne Country and there died whose death Pliny doth bewail in an Epistle to Cornelius Priscus Publius Statius Papinius PVblius Statitus Papinius was the Son of Papinius by Birth a Neapolitan he flourished under the Emperour Domitian to whom he dedicated his Thebaisâ— in which Poem of his he followed the Poet Antimachus who had managed the like Argument and therein he had much assistance from his learned Father next to his Thebais he composed his Achilleis but died ere he could accomplish it though some others have thought that Poem was perfected before his death but since in part lost As for his Sylvae he was in doubt whether he should publish