ydia. His father had five sons, Olympius, a lawyer, Dioscorus and Alexander, physicians, Metrodorus, a grammarian, and our Anthemius, who was an excellent mathematician,
, an eminent architect of the sixth century, was born at Tralles in Lydia. His father had five sons, Olympius, a lawyer, Dioscorus and Alexander, physicians, Metrodorus, a grammarian, and our Anthemius, who was an excellent mathematician, and availed himself of that science in the works which he erected. It appears likewise that he was acquainted with the more modern secrets of philosophy and chemistry, as historians inform us that he could imitate thunder and lightning, and even the shock of an earthquake, In consequence of a trifling dispute with Zeuo, his neighbour, respecting the walls or windows of their contiguous houses, in which Zeno appeared to have the advantage, Anthemius played him a trick, which is thus described: he arranged several vessels or cauldrons of water, each of them covered by the wide bottom of a leathern tube which rose to a narrow top, and was artificially conveyed among the joists and rafters of the adjacent building. A fire was kindled beneath the cauldron, and the steam of the boiling water ascended through the tubes: the house was shaken by the efforts of the imprisoned air, and the trembling inhabitants wondered that the city was unconscious of an earthquake which they felt. At another time the friends of Zeno, as they sat at table, were dazzled by the intolerable light which flashed in their eyes from the reflecting mirrors of Anthemius; they were astonished by the noise which he produced from a collision of certain minute and sonorous particles: and Zeno declared to the senate, that a mere mortal must yield to the power of an antagonist who shook the earth with the trident of Neptune, and imitated the thunder and lightning of Jove himself. But the genius of Anthemius appeared to most advantage in the erection of the new church of St. Sophia at Constantinople. This he undertook by order of the emperor Justinian, and was assisted by ten thousand workmen, whose payment, we are told, doubtless as a hint to modern surveyors, was made in fine silver, and never delayed beyond the evening. It was completed in five years, eleven months, and ten days. Gibbon has given a splendid description of this edifice, now the principal Turkish mosque, which continues to excite the fond admiration of the Greeks, and the more rational curiosity of European travellers. Anthemius died about the year 534. He is said to have written on the subject of machinery, and Dupuy, secretary to the French academy of inscriptions, published a fragment of his in 1777, on mechanics and dioptrics, in which Anthemius endeavours to explain the burning mirrors employed by Archimedes in destroying the Roman ships.
, the elder, a grammarian and divine, was a native of Alexandria, and flourished
, the elder, a grammarian and divine, was a native of Alexandria, and flourished about the middie of the fourth century. When, under the reign of Julian, the Christians were prohibited the use of the Greek and Roman classics in their schools, he drew up a grammar in a Christian form, and translated the books of Moses, and the whole history of the Hebrews down to the time of Saul, in Greek heroic verse, divided, in imitation of Homer, into twenty-four books. He translated other parts of the Old Testament into verse, which Sozomen has praised, but of which it is now impossible to form a judgment. He was the father of the Apollinarius in the next article.
in the time of Alexander Severus, and is supposed to have been of the Martian family. His talents as a grammarian appear only in his book “concerning Accents,” frequently
, a celebrated critic, chronologer, antiquary, and grammarian, for such Priscian calls him,
flourished at Rome in the time of Alexander Severus, and is
supposed to have been of the Martian family. His talents
as a grammarian appear only in his book “concerning
Accents,
” frequently cited by Sidonius Apollinaris, and
other things, which are lost; and not in his “De die
jiatali,
” which is the only piece remaining of him. This
treatise was written about the year 238, and dedicated to
Quintus Cerellius, a Roman of the equestrian order, of
whom he speaks very highly in his 15th chapter. Vossius,
in one place, calls this “a little book of gold;
” and, in
another, declares it to be “a most learned work, and of
the highest use and importance to chronologers, since it
connects and determines with great exactness some principal aeras in history.
” It is however a work of a miscellaneous nature, and treats of antiquities as well as chronology.
It was printed at Hamburgh in 1614, with a commentary
by Lindenbrog, whose notes were adopted afterwards in
an edition printed at Cambridge, in 1695; and there is
an edition by Havercamp, 1743, reprinted at Leyden, 1767,
8vo. Sir John Hawkins has translated Censorinus’s remarks on music, which are curious.
in the same college but he left off that study in order to apply himself to his former functions of a grammarian. He had taught at Nevers in 1534, 1535, and 1536.
, in Latin Corderius, lived in
the sixteenth century, and was an eminent teacher. He
understood the Latin tongue critically, was a man of virtue, and performed his functions with the utmost diligence,
mixing moral with literary instruction. He spent his long
life in teaching children at Paris, Nevers, Bordeaux, Geneva, Neufchastel, Lausanne, and lastly again at Geneva,
where he died September the 8th, 1564, at the age of
eighty-five, having continued his labours until three or
four days before his death. He studied divinity for some
time at Paris in the college of Navarre, about the year 1528,
after he had taught a form in the same college but he left
off that study in order to apply himself to his former functions of a grammarian. He had taught at Nevers in 1534,
1535, and 1536. Calvin, who had been his scholar at
Paris in the college de la Marche, dedicated his Commentary on the 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians to him. It is
not exactly known of what province Mathurin Cordier was;
some say he was born in Normandy; others pretend he
was born in the earldom of Perche. He published several
books for the use of schools, among which were, 1. “Epistres Chrestiennes,
” Lyons, Sentences
extraictes de la Saincte Escriture pour Tinstruction des
Enfans,
” Latin and French, Cantiques spirituels en nombre 26,
” Le Miroir de la Jeunesse,
pour la former a bonnes mceurs, et civilite de la vie,
” Paris,
16to. 5. “L‘ Interpretation et construction en Francois
des distiques Latins, qu’on attribue a Caton,
” Lyons, 8vo,
and since, perhaps, above an hundred times. His “Colloquia
” have long been used in schools, and have been
printed, says Bayle, a thousand times.
until the reign of Edward VI. Bale says that he was instructed in all the liberal arts, that he was a grammarian, a rhetorician, and a poet; a sound divine, and a
In 1541, Henry VIII. granted him, by patent, the office
of master of the grammar-school of Reading, with a certain tenement called “a scole-house,
” with a stipend of
ten pounds, issuing out of the manor of Cholsey, belonging to the late dissolved monastery of Reading. A few
years after he had obtained this patent, which he appears,
to have had the power of assigning during his life, he
quitted Reading, and travelled over great part of the continent, teaching the learned languages. Leland, in some
Latin verses, among his “Encomia,
” addressed to Cox,
speaks of his visiting the universities of Prague, Paris, and
Cracow, and that he was known to Melancthon, who was
Greek professor at Wittemberg. In the latter part of his
life he kept a school at Caer-leon, and is said to have
survived until the reign of Edward VI. Bale says that he was
instructed in all the liberal arts, that he was a grammarian,
a rhetorician, and a poet; a sound divine, and a diligent
preacher of God’s word. It is needless after this to add
that he was of the reformed religion. In Edward Vlth’s
time, he was one of the licensed preachers.
ow, of an epidemic fever, 1633. Father Simon’s opinion of him may be quoted as generic. “Crellius is a grammarian, a philosopher, and a divine throughout. He has a
, a once celebrated writer of the
Sociriian persuasion, was born in Franconia in 1590, and
after some early education received from his father, studied
at Nuremberg, and other German schools or universities.
He was brought up in the Lutheran church, but in the
course of his reading, having formed to himself a set of
opinions nearly coinciding with those of Socinus, he declined the offers of promotion in the Lutheran church,
where he probably would not have been favourably received, and determined to go to Poland, where such opinions as his were no bar to advancement. In 1612 he
went to Racow, and besides becoming a preacher, was appointed Greek professor and afterwards rector of the university. His theological works form a considerable part of
the works’ of the “Fratres Poloni,
” and he engaged in a
controversy with Grotius, who had written against Socinus,
and a correspondence, of great politeness, took place between them, which made Grotius be suspected of inclining
too much to the opinions of his antagonist. He certainly
carried his politeness very far, when he told Crellius that
“he was, grieved to see so much enmity between those,
who call themselves Christians, for such trifling matters,
”
these matters being no less than the doctrine of the Trinity, and the divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ.
Crellius, we are told, like many of his descendants, would
not be called a Socinian, but an Artemonite, after Artemon, who lived in the reign of the emperor Severus, and
denied the pre-existence and divinity of Christ. Crellius’
opinions on other subjects will not probably procure him
much respect, at least from one sex. In his “Ethics,
”
he is said to maintain that it is lawful for men upon certain
occasions to beat their wives! Crellius died at Racow, of
an epidemic fever, 1633. Father Simon’s opinion of him
may be quoted as generic. “Crellius is a grammarian, a
philosopher, and a divine throughout. He has a wonderful address in adapting St. Paul’s words to his own prejudices. He supports the doctrines of his sect with so much
subtlety, that he does not seem to say any thing of himself, but to make the scriptures speak for him, even where
they are most against him.
”
d so many successive improvements and alterations, that little of the original remains. His fame, as a grammarian, to those who study the histciy of that art, will
The word inoculiis, in the first of these, alludes to his having the sight of only one eye, which when Christopher
Massaeus objected to him, calling him Polyphemus, Despauter replied with rather more warmth than was justified
by the provocation; and with some degree of vanity,
added, “You call me Polyphemus. I am Polyphemus
and Euphemus too. Italy, France, and Germany applaud
my diligence, while you can expect hereafter to be ranked
among the Cacophemi, the Zoilus’s, the Bavins’ s, &c.
”
Vossius supports this character so far as to declare that
Despauter saw clearer into the grammatical art with one
eye, than all his contemporaries with tsvo. It is certain
that his grammar was long the only one used in the schools
on the continent, and has been republished in an hundred
abridged forms, for the use of scholars of every country;
but has received so many successive improvements and
alterations, that little of the original remains. His fame,
as a grammarian, to those who study the histciy of that
art, will be found to rest on his very scarce work, entitled
“Joan. Despauterii Ninivitae Commentarii Grammatici,
”
Paris, printed by Robert Stephens, Rudimenta.
” 2. “Syntaxis.
” iJ. “Ars versificatoria.
” 4. “De accentibus.
” 5. “De carminum generibus.
” 6. “De Figuris.
” 7. “Ars Epistolica;
” and 8.
“Orthographia,
” which is not quite finished. Although
his grammar is now in less estimation, he deserves to be
remembered among the most useful scholars of his time,
and among the benefactors to learning on its revival.
shed. As an original author, Dolce embraced the whole circle of polite literature and science, being a grammarian, rhetorician, orator, historian, philosopher, editor,
, a most laborious Italian writer, was
born at Venice in 1508. His family was one of the most
ancient in the republic, but reduced in circumstances.
Lewis remained the whole of his life in his native city,
occupied in his numerous literary undertakings, which
procured him some personal esteem, but little reputation
or wealth. Perhaps his best employment was that of cor-,
rector of the press to the celebrated printer Gabriel Giolito, whose editions are so much admired for the beauties
of type and paper, and yet with the advantage of Dolce’s
attention, are not so correct as could be wished. As an
original author, Dolce embraced the whole circle of polite
literature and science, being a grammarian, rhetorician,
orator, historian, philosopher, editor, translator, and commentator; and as a poet, he wrote tragedies, comedies,
epics, lyrics, and satires. All that can be called events
in his life, were some literary squabbles, particularly with
Ruscelli, who was likewise a corrector of Giolito’s press.
He died of a dropsical complaint in 1569, according to
Apostolo Zeno, and, according to Tiraboschi, in 1566.
Baillet, unlike most critics, says he was one of the best
writers of his age. His style is flowing, pure, and elegant;
but he was forced by hunger to spin out his works, and to
neglect that frequent revisal which is so necessary to the
finishing of a piece. Of his numerous works, a list of
which may be seen in Niceron, or Moreri, the following
are in some reputation: 1. “Dialogo della pittura, intitolato I'Aretino,
” Venice, Cinque priini canti del Sacripante,
” Vinegia^
Primaleone,
” Achilles; 1 *
and
” Jineas,“1570, 4to. 5.
” La prima imprese del
conte Orlando," 1572, 4to. 6. Poems in different collections, among others in that of Berni. And the Lives of
Charles V. and Ferdinand the First.
or Eutychus, a grammarian of the sixth century, was a disciple of Priscian,
or Eutychus, a grammarian of the
sixth century, was a disciple of Priscian, and wrote a treatise
“De aspiratione.
” which is noticed by Cassiodorus, in the
ninth chapter of his work on Orthography. He left also
two books, " De discernendis conjugationibus, which Joachim Camerarius printed along with some pieces by Victorinus and Servius, at Tubingen, in 1537, 4to; but Eutyches’ s work is said to be printed more completely in the
edition of the ancient grammarians by Putchius, at Hanover, 1605, 4to. Simler says that the commentary of one
Sedulius, on Eutyches’s work, is in the library at Zurich.
, of Florence, son of John Peter Fontius, born in 1445, was a historian, an orator, and a grammarian, and in high esteem with Picus Mirandula, Marsilius
, of Florence, son of John Peter Fontius, born in 1445, was a historian, an orator, and a grammarian, and in high esteem with Picus Mirandula, Marsilius Ficinus, Jerome Donatus, and all the literati of his age and country. He had the care of collecting books for the library of Matthew Corvinus, king of Hungary at Buda. He wrote a commentary on Persius, printed at Venice in 1491, and some orations, which were republishecl together at Frankfort, in 1621, 8vo; and died in 1513.
, or Joannes de Garlandia, a grammarian, is said to have been a native of Garlande en Brie
, or Joannes de Garlandia, a
grammarian, is said to have been a native of Garlande en
Brie in Normandy; hut as he came into England soon after
the Conquest, Bale, Pitts, Tanner, have supposed him
an Englishman, and Prince has enrolled him among the
“Worthies of Devon.
” He was not dead in A Poem on the contempt of the World,
”
improperly attributed to St. Bernard, Lyons, Floretus, or Liber Floreti;
”
on the Doctrines of Faith, and almost the whole circle of
Christian morality. 3. A treatise on “Synonimes,
” and
another on Equivoques,“or ambiguous terms, Paris, 149O,
4 to, and reprinted at London by Pynson in 149.6, and
again in 1500. 4. A poem in rhymed verses, entitled
” Facetus,“on the duties of man towards God, his neighbour, and himself, Cologne, 1520, 4to the three poems are
often printed together. 5.
” Dictionarium artis Alchymiae,
cum ejusdem artis compendio," Basle, 1571, 8vo.
do we know whether he lived in public life, or in retirement. His letters, however, show that he was a grammarian, and was acquainted with theology, history sacred
, was one of the Byzantine historians, but biographers are not agreed as to the period when
he lived. Some years ago, professor Walchius published
in the Gottingen Transactions an inquiry into this subject,
but was obliged to confess that he could arrive at no probable conclusion. Some place Glycas in the twelfth, and
some in the fifteenth century. No ancient record or writer
mentions even his name, and all that is known of him has
been gleaned from his works. It appears that he was a
native of Constantinople; but passed a great part of his
life in Sicily. Some have thought he was a monk, but this
is uncertain, nor do we know whether he lived in public
life, or in retirement. His letters, however, show that he
was a grammarian, and was acquainted with theology, history sacred and profane, and other branches of knowledge; and such was his reputation that he was frequently
consulted by monks, bishops, and the most celebrated
doctors of his time. His “Annals,
” by which only he is
now known, contain an account of the patriarchs, kings,
and emperors, and, in a word, a sort of history of the
world as far as the emperor Alexis Comnenus, who died in
1118, including many remarks on divinity, philosophy,
physic, astronomy, &c. Leunclavius first translated this
work into Latin, and the whole was published by father
Labbe, Paris, 1660, fol. Some of his letters have been
published in the “Deliciae eruditorum,
” Florence,
at minister gave him consequence both as a man of the world and as an author. He figured by turns as a grammarian, a classical scholar, a poet, an antiquary, a preacher,
, at first an advocate, afterwards
an ecclesiastic, and abbé of Auhignac and Meimac, was
born at Paris in 1604. Cardinal Richelieu, whose nephew
he educated, bestowed on him his two abbeys, and the
protection of that minister gave him consequence both as
a man of the world and as an author. He figured by turns
as a grammarian, a classical scholar, a poet, an antiquary,
a preacher, and a writer of romances; but he was most
known by his book entitled “Pratique du Theatre,
” and
by the quarrels in which his haughty and presumptuous
temper engaged him, with some of the most eminent
authors of his time. The great Corneille was one of these,
whose disgust first arose from the entire omission of his
name in the celebrated book above mentioned. He was
also embroiled, on different accounts, with madame Scuderi, Menage, and Richelet. The warmth of his temper
exceeded rhat of his imagination, which was considerable;
and yet he lived at court a good deal in the style of a philosopher, rising early to his studies, soliciting no favours,
and associating chiefly with a few friends, as unambitious
as himself, he describes himself as of a slender constitution, not capable of taking much exercise, or even of applying very intensely to study, without suffering from it in
his health; yet not attached to any kind of play. “It is,
”
ays he, “too fatiguing for the feebleness of my body, or
too indolent for the activity of my mind.
” The abbé
d'Aubignac lived to the age of seventy-two, and died at
xnours in 1676. His works are, 1. “Pratique du Theatre,
”
Amsterdam, Zenobie,
” a
tragedy, in prose, composed according to the rules laid
down in his “Pratique,
” and a complete proof of the total
inefficacy of rules to produce an interesting drama, being
the most dull and fatiguing performance that was ever represented. The prince of Condé said, on the subject of
this tragedy, “We give great credit to the abbé d'Aubignac for having so exactly followed the rules of Aristotle,
but owe no thanks to the rules of Aristotle for having made
the abbé produce so vile a tragedy.
” He wrote a few other
other tragedies also, which are worse, if possible, than
Zenobia. 3. “Macaride; or the Queen of the Fortunate
Islands,
” a novel, Paris, Conseils
d'Ariste à Celimene, 12mo. 5.
” Histoire da terns, ou Relation du Royaume de Coqueterie,“12mo, 6.
” Terence
justifié,“inserted in some editions of his
” Pratique.“7.
” Apologie de Spectacles," a work of no value. A curious
book on satyrs, brutes, and monsters, has been attributed
to him; but, though the author’s name was Hedelin, he
does not appear to have been the same.
, or Horus Apollo, was a grammarian, according to Suidas, of Panoplus in Egypt, who taught
, or Horus Apollo, was a grammarian, according to Suidas, of Panoplus in Egypt, who
taught first at Alexandria, and then at Constantinople,
under the reign of Theodosius, about the year 380. There
are extant under his name two books “concerning the
Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians,
” which Aldus first published in Greek in 1505, folio. They have often been republished since, with a Latin version and notes; but the
best edition is that by Cornelius de Pauw at Utrecht, in
1727, 4to. Meanwhile there are many Rorapollos of antiquity; and it is not certain, that the grammarian of
Alexandria was the author of these books. Suidas does
not ascribe them to him; and Fabricius is of opinion, that
they belong rather to another Horus Apollo of more ancient
standing, who flourished about 1500 B. C. and wrote upon
Hieroglyphics in the Egyptian language, and from whose
work an extract rather than a version has been made of
these two books in Greek.
orks it has usually been considered as a distinct production. He wrote also two books against Apion, a grammarian of Alexandria, and a great adversary of the Jews.
Josephus’s “Jewish Antiquities,
” in 20 books, written in
Greek, is also a very noble work; their history is deduced from
the origin of the world to the 12th year of Nero, when the
Jews began to rebel against the Romans. At the conclusion of the “Antiquities,
” he subjoined the “History of
his own Life,
” although in the editions of his Works it has
usually been considered as a distinct production. He
wrote also two books against Apion, a grammarian of
Alexandria, and a great adversary of the Jews. These
contain many curious fragments of ancient historians. We
have also a discourse of his “upon the Martyrdom of the
Maccabees,
” which is a master-piece of eloquence; but
its authenticity has been doubted, and Whiston would not
admit it in his translation.
The works of Josephus, with Latin versions, have been
often published but the best editions are those of Hudson, Oxford, 1720, 2 vols. fol. and of Havercatnp, at
Amsterdam, 1727, in 2 vols. folio. They have also been
translated into modern languages; into English by L'Estrange, and again by Whiston, in 2 Vol$. fol.
ly directed to investigate the origin of languages and nations; nor could he assume the character of a grammarian, without forming the project of an universal idiom
Gibbon has drawn the character of Leibnitz with great
force and precision, as a man whose genius and studies
have ranked his name with the first philosophic names of
his age and country; but he thinks his reputation, perhaps, would have been more pure and permanent, if he
had not ambitiously grasped the whole circle of human
science. As a theologian, says Gibbon (who is not, perhaps, the most impartial judge of this subject), he successively contended with the sceptics, who believe too little,
and with the papists who believe too much; and with the
heretics, who believe otherwise than is inculcated by the
Lutheran confession of Augsburgh. Yet the philosopher
betrayed his love of union and toleration* his faith in revelation was accused, while he proved the Trinity by the
principles of logic; and in the defence of the attributes
and providence of the Deity, he was suspected of a secret
correspondence with his adversary Bayle. The metaphysician expatiated in the fields of air; his pre-established
harmony of the soul and body might have provoked the
jealousy of Plato; and his optimism, the best of all possible worlds, seems an idea too vast for a mortal mind. He
was a physician, in the large and genuine sense of the
word like his brethren, he amused him with creating a
globe and his Protogæa, or primitive earth, has not been
useless to the last hypothesis of Buffon, which prefers the
agency of fire to that of water. “I am not worthy,
” adds
Gibbon, “to praise the mathematician; but his name is
mingled in all the problems and discoveries of the times;
the masters of the art were his rivals or disciples; and if
he borrowed from sir Isaac Newton, the sublime method of
fluxions, Leibnitz was at least the Prometheus who imparted to mankind the sacred fire which he had stolen from the
gods. His curiosity extended to every branch of chemistry, mechanics, and the arts; and the thirst of knowledge was always accompanied with the spirit of improvement. The vigour of his youth had been exercised in the
schools of jurisprudence; and while he taught, he aspired
to reform the laws of nature and nations, of Rome and
Germany. The annals of Brunswick, and of the empire,
of the ancient and modern world, were presented to the
mind of the historian; and he could turn from the solution
of a problem, to the dusty parchments and barbarous style
of the records of the middle age. His genius was more
nobly directed to investigate the origin of languages and
nations; nor could he assume the character of a grammarian, without forming the project of an universal idiom
and alphabet. These various studies were often interrupted
by the occasional politics of the times; and his pen was
always ready in the cause of the princes and patrons to
whose service he was attached; many hours were consumed
in a learned correspondence with all Europe; and the philosopher amused his leisure in the composition of French
and Latin poetry. Such an example may display the exte^nt and powers of the human understanding, but even his
powers were dissipated by the multiplicity of his pursuits.
He attempted more than he could finish; he designed more
than he could execute: his imagination was too easily satisfied with a bold and rapid glance on the subject, which
he was impatient to leave; and Leibnitz may be compared
to those heroes, whose empire has been lost in the ambition of universal conquest.
”
to the schools of Diophantus.” At Constantinople he ingratiated himself with Nicocles of Lacedosmon ( a grammarian, who was master to the emperor Julian), and the sophist
, a celebrated sophist of antiquity, was born
of an ancient and noble family at Antioch, on the Orontes,
in the year 314. Suidas calls his father “Phasganius
” but
this was the name of one of his uncles; the other, who was
the elder, was named Panolbius. His great-grandfather,
who excelled in the art of divination, had published some
pieces in Latin, which occasioned his being supposed by
some, but falsely, to be an Italian. His maternal and paternal grandfathers were eminent in rank and in eloquence;
the latter, with his brother Brasidas, was put to death by
the order of Dioclesian, in the year 303, after the tumult
of the tyrant Eugenius. Libanius, the second of his father’s three sons, in the fifteenth year of his age, wishing
to devote himself entirely to literature, complains that he
met with some “shadoxvs of sophists.
” Then, assisted
by a proper master, he began to read the ancient writers
at Antioch; and thence, with Jasion, a Cappadocian, went
to Athens, and residing there for more than four years,
became intimately acquainted with Crispinus of Heraclea,
who, he says, “enriched him afterwards with books at
Nicomedia, and went, but seldom, to the schools of Diophantus.
” At Constantinople he ingratiated himself with
Nicocles of Lacedosmon (a grammarian, who was master to the emperor Julian), and the sophist Bermarchius. Returning to Athens, and soliciting the office of a professor,
which the proconsul had before intended for him when he
was twenty- five years of age, a certain Cappadocian happened to be preferred to him. But being encouraged by
Dionysius, a Sicilian who had been prefect of Syria, some
specimens of his eloquence, that were published at Constantinople, made him so generally known and applauded,
that he collected more than eighty disciples, the two sophists, who then filled the chair there, raging in vain, and
Bermarchius ineffectually opposing him in rival orations,
and, when he could not excel him, having recourse to the
frigid calumny of magic. At length, about the year 346,
being expelled the city by his competitors, the prefect
Limenius concurring, he repaired to Nice, and soon after
to Nicomedia, the Athens of Bithynia, where his excellence in speaking began to be more and more approved by
all; and Julian, if not a hearer, was a reader and admirer
of his orations. In the dame'city, he says, “he was particularly delighted with the friendship of Aristaenetus;
” and
the five years which he passed there, he styles “the spring
or any thing else that can be conceived pleasanter than
spring, of his whole life.
” Being invited again to Constantinople, and afterwards returning to Nicomedia, being
also tired of Constantinople, where he found Phoenix and
Xenobius, rival sophists, though he was patronised by
Strategius, who succeeded Domitian as prefect of the East,
not daring on account of his rivals to occupy the Athenian
chair, he obtained permission from Gallus Cassar to visit
for four months, his native city Antioch, where, after Gallus was killed, in the year 354, he fixed his residence for
the remainder of his life, and initiated many in the sacred
rites of eloquence. He was also much beloved by the emperor Julian, who heard his discourses with pleasure, received him with kindness, and imitated him in his writings.
Honoured by that prince with the rank of quaestor, and
with several epistles of which six only are extant, the‘ last
written by the emperor during’ his fatal expedition against
the Persians, he the more lamented his death in the flower
of Ms age, as from him he had promised himself a certain
and lasting support both in the worship of idols and in his
own studies. There was afterwards a report, that LibaIhus, with the younger Jamblichus, the master of Proclus,
inquired by divination who would be the successor of Valens, and ia consequence with difficulty escaped his cruelty, Irenaeus attesting the innocence of Libanius. In like
manner he happily escaped another calumny, by the favour
of duke Lupicinus, when he was accused by his enemy
Fidelis, or Fidustius, of having written an eulogium on the
tyrant Procopius. He was not, however, totally neglected
by Valens, whom he not only celebrated in an oration,
but obtained from him a confirmation of the law against
entirely, excluding illegitimate children from the inheritance of their paternal estates, which he solicited from the
emperor, no doubt for a private reason, since, as Eunapius
informs us, he kept a mistress, and was never married.
The remainder of his life he passed as before mentioned,
at Antioch, to an advanced age, amidst various wrongs
and oppressions from his rivals and the times, which he
copiously relates in his life, though, tired of the manners
of that city, be had thoughts, in his old age, of changing
his abode, as he tells Eusebius. He continued there, however, and on various occasions was very serviceable to the
city, either by appeasing seditions, and calming the disturbed minds of the citizens, or by reconciling to them
the emperors Julian and Theodosius. That Libanius lived
even to the reign of Arcadius, that is, beyond the seventieth year of his age, the learned collect from his oration
on Lucian, and the testimony of Cedrenus; and of the
same opinion is Godfrey Olearius, a man not more respectable for his exquisite knowledge of sacred and polite
literature than for his judgment and probity, in his’ ms
prelections, in which, when he was professor of both languages in the university of his own country, he has given
an account of the life of this sophist.
Mr. Malone’s character as a critic. Mr. Home Tooke in particular, who, whatever were his talents as a grammarian, or his knowledge as an Anglo-Saxon, had by no means
Mr. Steevens having published a second edition of his
Shakspeare, in 1778, Mr. Malone, in 1780, added two
supplementary volumes, which contained some additional notes, Shakspeare’s poems, and seven plays which
have been ascribed to him. There appears up to this
time to have been no interruption to their friendship; but,
on the contrary, Mr. Steevens, having formed a design of
relinquishing all future editorial labours, most liberally
made a present to Mr. Malone of his valuable collection of
old plays, declaring that he himself was now become “a
dowager commentator.
” It is painful to think that this
harmony should ever have been disturbed, or that any thing
should have created any variance between two such men,
who were so well qualified to co-operate for the benefit of
the literary world. Mr. Matone, having continued his researches into all the topics which might serve to illustrate
our great dramatist, discovered, that although much had
been done, yet that much still remained for critical industry; and that a still more accurate collation of the early
copies than had hitherto taken place was necessary towards
a correct and faithful exhibition of the author’s text. His
materials accumulated so fast, that he determined to appear before the world as an editor in form. From that moment he seems to have been regarded with jealousy by the
elder commentator, who appears to have sought an opportunity for a rupture, which he soon afterwards found, or
rather created. But it is necessary to go back for a moment, to point out another of Mr. Malone’s productions.
There are few events in literary history more extraordinary
in all its circumstances than the publication of the poems
attributed to Rowley. Mr. Malone was firmly convinced
that the whole was a fabrication by Chatterton; and, to
support his opinion, published one of the earliest pamphlets which appeared in the course of this singular controversy. By exhibiting a series of specimens from early
English writers, both prior and posterior to the period in
which this supposed poet was represented to have lived, he
proved that his style bore no resemblance to genuine antiquity; and by stripping Rowley of his antique garb,
which was easily done by the substitution of modern synonymous words in the places of those obsolete expressions
which are sprinkled throughout these compositions, and at
the same time intermingling some archaeological phrases in
the acknowledged productions of Chatterton, he clearly
showed that they were all of the same character, and
equally bore evident marks of modern versification, and a
modern structure of language. He was followed by Mr.
Warton and Mr. Tyrwhitt, in his second Appendix; and
the controversy was soon at an end. While Mr. Malone
was engaged in his Shakspeare, he received from Mr.
Steevens a request of a most extraordinary nature. In a
third edition of Johnson and Steevens’s Shakspeare, which
had been published under the superintendance of Mr.
Reed, in 1785, Mr. Malone had contributed some notes
in which Mr. Steevens’s opinions were occasionally controverted. These he was now desired to retain in his new
edition, exactly as they stood before, in order that Mr. S.
might answer them. Mr. Malone replied, that he could
make no such promise; that he must feel himself at liberty
to correct his observations, where they were erroneous;
to enlarge them, where they were defective; and even to
expunge them altogether, where, upon further consideration, he was convinced they were wrong; in short, he was
bound to present his work to the public as perfect as he
could make it. But he added, that he was willing to transmit every note of that description in its last state to Mr.
Steevens, before it went to press; that he might answer it
if he pleased; and that Mr. Malone would even preclude
himself from the privilege of replying. Mr. Steevens persisted in requiring that they should appear with all their imperfections on their head; and on this being refused, declared that all communication on the subject of Shakspeare
was at an end between them. In 1790, Mr. Malone’s
edition at last appeared and was sought after and read
with the greatest avidity. It is unnecessary to point out
its merits; the public opinion upon it iias been long pronounced. It cannot indeed be strictly said that it met
with universal approbation. Mr. Ritson appeared against
it in an angry and scurrilous pamphlet, replete with misrepresentations so gross, and so easy of detection, though
calculated to mislead a careless reader, that Mr. Malone
thought it worth his while to point them out in a letter
which he published, addressed to his friend Dr. Farmer.
Poor Ritson, however, has not been the only one who has
attempted to persuade the world that they have been mistaken in Mr. Malone’s character as a critic. Mr. Home
Tooke in particular, who, whatever were his talents as a
grammarian, or his knowledge as an Anglo-Saxon, had by
no means an extensive acquaintance with the literature of
Shakspeare’s age, has mentioned Mr. Malone and Dr.
Johnson with equal contempt, and immediately after proceeds to sneer at Mr. Tyrwhitt. It may readily be supposed that Mr. Malone would not feel very acutely the
satire which associated him with such companions. But,
to counterbalance these puny hostilities, his work gained
the highest testimonies of applause from all who were best
qualified to judge upon the subject, and from men whose
approbation any one would be prpud to obtain. Dr. J.
Warton, in a most friendly letter, which accompanied a curious volume of old English poetry which had belonged to
his brother Thomas, and which he presented to Mr. Malone as the person for whom its former possessor felt the
highest esteem and the most cordial regard, observes to
him that his edition is by far, very far, the best that had
ever appeared. Professor Person, who, as every one who
knew him can testify, was by no means in the habit of bestowing hasty or thoughtless praise, declared to Mr. Malone’s biographer, that he considered the Essay on the
three parts of Henry the Sixth as one of the most convincing pieces of criticism that he had ever read; nor was
Mr. Burke less liberal in his praises.
avely tells us that an angler should “be a general scholar, and seen in all the liberal sciences; as a grammarian, to know how to write or discourse of his art in
, an English author, who lived
in the reigns of James I. and Charles I. but whose private
history is involved in much obscurity, was son of Robert
Markham, esq. of Gotham, in the county of Nottingham.
He bore a captain’s commission under Charles I. in the
civil wars, and was accounted a good soldier, as well as a
good scholar. One piece of dramatic poetry which he has
published will shew, says Langbaine, that he sacrificed to
Apollo and the muses, as well as to Mars and Pallas. This
play is extant under under the title of “Herod and Antipater,
” a tragedy, printed in Liebault’s La Maison rustique,
or the country -farm,
” in The English Husbandman, in two
parts,
” Lond. Pleasures of Princes
in the Art of Angling.
” Granger mentions “The whole
Art of Angling,
” be a general
scholar, and seen in all the liberal sciences; as a grammarian, to know how to write or discourse of his art in
true and fitting terms. He should have sweetness in speech
to entice others to delight in an exercise so much laudable.
He should have strength of argument to defend and maintai n his profession against envy and slander,
” &c. Markham
also wrote a tract entitled “Hunger’s prevention, or the
whole Art of Fowling,
” The Soldier’s Accidence and Grammar,
” in
Devereux Vertues tears for the loss of the most Christian
king Henry, third of that name king of France, and the
untimely death of the most noble and heroical Walter
Devereux, who was slain before Roan, in Fraunce,
” a translation from the French, 4to. He was the author also of
“England’s Arcadia, alluding his beginning from sir Philip
Sydney’s ending,
” England’s Parnassus,
” are more numerous than
from any other minor poet. The most remarkable of his
poetical attempts appears to have been entitled “The
Poem of Poems, or Sion’s Muse, contaynyng the diuine
Song of king Salomon, deuided into eight eclogues,
” J the sacred virgin, divine
mistress Elizabeth Sydney, sole daughter of the everadmired sir Philip Sydney.
” Bishop Hall, who was justly
dissatisfied with much of the spiritual poetry with which his
age was overwhelmed, alludes to this piece in his “Satires
”
(B. I. Sat. VIII.); and says that in Markham’s verses Solomon assumes the character of a modern sonneteer, and
celebrates the sacred spouse of Christ with the levities and
in the language of a lover singing the praises of his mistress. For this censure, Marston in his “Certayne Satires
”
(Sat. IV.) endeavours to retort upon Hall.
ft numerous treatises of divinity, philosophy, and morality, and was also a poet, a philologist, and a grammarian. He wrote a tract on the mythology of the ancient
,
who flourished in the twelfth century, was probably born,
and certainly educated at St. Alban’s abbey, of which period of his life he speaks with pleasing recollection in his
poem “De Laude sapientiae Divinae.
” He completed his
education at Paris, and took the order of St. Augustine.
He became the friend, associate, and correspondent of
Peter of Blois, or Petrus Blesensis, and was afterwards
abbot of Cirencester, in which office he died in 1217. He
was much attached to the studious repose of the monastic
life, yet he frequently travelled into Italy. His compositions are various, and, as Mr. Warton observes, crowd
the department of Mss. in our public libraries. He has left
numerous treatises of divinity, philosophy, and morality,
and was also a poet, a philologist, and a grammarian. He
wrote a tract on the mythology of the ancient poets, Esopian fables, and a system of 'grammar and rhetoric. Mr.
Warton, who examined his elegiac poem “De vita motiastica,
” says it contains some finished lines; but gives
the highest praise to the poem already mentioned, “De
divina sapientia.
”
, was a grammarian and peripatetic philosopher of Tivoli, by whom we
, was a grammarian and peripatetic philosopher of Tivoli, by whom we have a treatise
“De Proprietate Sermonis, sive da varia significatione
verborum.
” He is supposed to have flourished in. the
fourth century. His work is valuable only because he introduces several fragments of ancient writers not to be
found elsewhere. The best edition is that by Mercer,
printed at Paris, 1614, 8vo, with notes. The first editions, of 1471, and 1476, and 1480, are of great rarity, but
all in the Spencer collection.
e poets before the time of Homer; one a native of Puros, who lived under Artaxerxes Mnemon; and one, a grammarian and philosopher, born at Athens or in Egypt, posterior
was a Greek philosopher, of whom a treatise in explication of ancient fables has been several times reprinted in Greek and Latin; the best edition is that of Fischer, Lips. 1761. But little is known of him, and there are several ancient writers of this name; one an Athenian, placed by the poets before the time of Homer; one a native of Puros, who lived under Artaxerxes Mnemon; and one, a grammarian and philosopher, born at Athens or in Egypt, posterior to Aristotle. Which of these is author of the work already noticed, is not at all certain.
here he had the advantage of profiting by the lessons of Atticus Praetextatus, surnarned Philologus, a grammarian and rhetorician of great celebrity. Under this teacher
, an eminent Roman historian, was born at Amiternum in 86 B. C. The rank of his ancestors is uncertain, but from some circumstances. in his writings, it is not improbable that his family was plebeian. Having passed his more early years at his native town, he was removed to Rome, where he had the advantage of profiting by the lessons of Atticus Praetextatus, surnarned Philologus, a grammarian and rhetorician of great celebrity. Under this teacher he applied -to learning with diligence, and made uncommon progress. It appears, that he had turned his thoughts in his younger days to the writing of history, for which he had unquestionably great talents; but, as he himself intimates in his preface to the history of Catiline’s conspiracy, he was diverted from this pursuit by the workings of ambition. His early lift; too, appears to have been stained by vice, which the gross enormities of his more advanced years render highly probable. In this respect he has found an able advocate in his late learned translator and commentator; but although Dr. Steuart’s researches have removed some part of the reproaches of ancient authors, enough remains to shew that Sallust partook largely of the corruption of the age in which he lived, and added to it by his own example. The story of his having been detected in an adulterous intercourse with the wife of Milo, who, after a severe whipping, made him pay a handsome sum of money, may rest upon little authority, or may be altogether discarded as a fiction, but the general conduct of Sallust shows that the noble sentiments in his works had no influence on his conduct.
ations. There remains only of this work a very indifferent extract or abridgment, made by Hermolaus, a grammarian, and dedicated by him to the emperor Justinian. A
, an able grammarian, lived at Constantinople towards the end of the fifth, or the beginning of the sixth century. He composed a geographical dictionary, which comprized, not only the names of places, and those of their inhabitants, the origin of cities, population, colonies, c. but also historical, mythological, and grammatical illustrations. There remains only of this work a very indifferent extract or abridgment, made by Hermolaus, a grammarian, and dedicated by him to the emperor Justinian. A fragment, indeed, has been recovered, which contains the article Dodona and some others, enough to make us regret the loss of the entire work.