These rules Virgil hath quite overlooked and neglected; and indeed, if we may boldly fay the truth, his Eclogues, with their allegories, their obfcurities, and their fublimities, are beneath those of Theocritus, of whom he is fo often the mere tranflator. So that if he had not compofed other and better works, particularly his incomparable Georgies, he would not have had fo high a rank amongst the poets. See the Memoires de l'Acad. T. VI. p. 238. CRITICAL CRITICAL REMARKS ΟΝ LATIN AUTHORS, ARNOBIU S. THIS Father lived in the time of Diocletian, and wrote about the clofe of the third century. He is in many respects a valuable author, and a good Edition of his works is much wanted: He is but the bad defender however of a good caufe; and makes objections to the Pagans, which they might eafily have retorted upon Chriftianity, and particularly upon Judaifm. He reminds me of a poor fellow, who was put into the Inquifition at Goa. The Inquifitor faid to him, Sirrah, thou art a Jew, and a worshipper of Mofes."-" Not I, indeed, my lord, faid he. I worship Mofes! I hold him to be an impoftor" "This may be an honeft fellow," faid the Inquifitor. Lib. Lib. IV. Page 143. Quis Spartanum [prodidit] fuiffe Martem?Non Epicharmus auctor vefter? Quis in Thraciæ finibus procreatum? Non Sophocles, Atticus, cunctis confentientibus Theatris? Quis menfibus in Arcadiâ tribus et decem vinctum ?-Non Mela fluminis filius? I correct it thus :-Theatris ? Quis in Arcadia?-Non vos ? Quis menfibus tribus et decem vinctum?-Non Melæ fluminis filius ?— Arnobius takes this from Clemens Alexandrinus, whom he perpetually pillages; and who fays, Ο αλλοπρόσαλλῷ ἔ1ὶς, καὶ ἀνάρσιος, ὡς μὲν Ἐπίχαρμος Φησὶ, Σπαρτιάτης ἦν, Σοφοκλῆς δὲ Θρᾶκα ιδεν αυτόν. ἀλλοὶ δὲ Ἀρκάδα. Τ57ον δὲ Ὅμηρος δεδεσθαι φησὶν ἐπὶ μῆνας τρισκαίδεκα. Tañ μèv"Apus—x. 1. a. "Mars, according to Epicharmus, was a Spartan; according to Sophocles, a Thracian: as others fay, an Arcadian and, as Homer informs us, he was tied neck and heels together for thirteen nionths."# A like paffage, with little variation, is found in the zd Vol. of our Author's Remarks on Ecclef. Hift. Book II. Part II. Page 84. AUSONIUS. AUSONIUS. De XII. CASARUM mortibus. Julius interiit Cæfar, graffante Senatu,- De Cæfare must needs be wrong; for they were all Cæfares, and here is nothing to distinguish this emperor. It fhould be, Expetiit panas de Caio Charea mollis. ECLOGARIUM. De Menfibus, &c. Eternos menfes, et Tempora quatuor Anni, I correct it, Duodenos menfes, &c. The emendation looks like a bold one; but I dare fay it is a true one. So Parentalia, XXIV. 16. Duodeviginti functus Olympiadas. The two first fyllables are contracted into one, BRIXIUS. BRIXIU S. I. CHORDIGERE NAVIS CONFLAGRATIO, THIS Poem occafioned the quarrel between its Author and More, of which I have given some account in the Life of Erafmus, Vol. I. p. 237, &c. Germanus Brixius was a wealthy and a learned Frenchman, and commenced acquaintance with Erafmus A. 1516. at which time he wrote a polite letter, telling Erafmus how much several learned men, not forgetting himself, efteemed him: and ftrongly preffed him to come and fettle in France: But Erafmus having at that time a fixed penfion from his own prince, was not difpofed to quit certainties, for diftant hopes and fair promises. Brixius is faid to have tranflated fome Treatifes of Chryfoftom, for which Erafmus commends him, Tom. VIII. c. 3. In the year 1513. he compofed his poem intitled Ghordigera, where, in above three hundred hexameter verfes, he has deferibed a battle fought that year, on the day of St. Laurence, be tween |
