Seneca, and by others to Aufonius'. It is, however, more antient than the time of the emperour Valentinian the third, who died in 455. On the other hand, it was written after the appearance of Lucan's PHARSALIA, as the author, at the beginning of the second book, commends Virgil, Macer", Ovid, and Lucan. The name of Cato probably became prefixed to these distichs, in a lower age, by the officious ignorance of transcribers, and from the acquiefcence of readers equally ignorant, as Marcus Cato had written a fet of moral diftichs. Whoever was the author, this metrical fyftem of ethics had attained the highest degree of eftimation in the barbarous ages. Among Langbain's manufcripts bequeathed to the university of Oxford by Antony Wood, it is accompanied with a Saxon paraphrafe'. John of Salisbury, in his POLYCRATICON, mentions it as the favourite and established manual in the education of boys'. To enumerate no others, f It was printed under the name of Aufonius, Roftoch. 1572. 8vo. Ex Epiftol. Vindiciani Medici, ad Valent. They are mentioned by Notkerus, who flourished in the tenth century, among the Metrorum, Hymnorum, Epigrammatumque conditores. Cap. vi. DE ILLUSTRIB. VIR. etc. printed by Fabric. M. Lat. v. P. 904. The poem DE VIRTUTIBUS HERBARUM, under the name of Macer, now extant, was written by Odo, or Odobonus, a physician of the dark ages. It was tranflated into English, by John Lelarmoner, or Lelamar, mafter of Hereford fchool, about the year 1373. MSS. Sloane. 29. Princ. 66 Apium, Ache is hote and drie." There is Macer's Herbal, ibid. 43. This feems to have been printed, fee Ames, p. 158. i Cod. 12. [8615.] 1 Polycrat. vii. 9. p. 373. edit. Lugd. Bat. 1595. It is cited, ibid. p. 116. 321. 512. In the ART OF VERSIFICATION, a Latin poem, written by Eberhardus Bethunienfis, about the year 1212, there is a curious paffage, in which all the claffics of that age are recited; or the best authors, then in vogue, and whom he recommends to be taught to youth. [Leyfer. Poet. Med. æv. p. 825.] They are, CATO the moralift. THEODULUS, the author of a leonine Eclogue, a dialogue between Truth and Falfhood, written in the tenth century, printed among the OCTO MORALES, and by Goldaftus, Man. Bibl. 1620. 8vo. MSS. Harl. 3093. 4. Wynkyn de Worde printed this piece under the title of Theodoli liber, cum commento fatis prolixo autoris cujufdam Anglici qui multa Anglicana ubi que mifcuit. 1515. 4to. It was from one of Theodulus's ECLOGUES, beginning Ethiopum terras, that Field, master of Fotheringay college, about the year 1480, fette the verfis of the book caullid Ethiopum terras, in the glaffe windowe, with figures very neatly. Leland. ITIN. i. fol. 5. [p. 7. edit. 1745.] This feems to have been in a window of the new and beautiful cloister, built about that time. FLAVIUS AVIANUS, a writer of Latin fables, or apologues, Lugd. Bat. 1731. 8vo. Æsor, or the Latin fabulift, printed among the OCTO MORALES, Lugd. Bat. 1505. 4to. MAXIMIANUS, whofe fix elegies, written about the feventh century, pafs under the name of Gallus. Chaucer cites this writer; and it is much applauded by Ifidore the old etymologist ", Alcuine", and Abelard: and we must acknowledge, that the writer, and in a manner, which fhews his elegies had not then acquired the name of Gallus. COURT OF L. v. 798. "MAXIMINIAN "truely thus doeth he write." PAMPHI LUS MAURILIANUS, author of the hexametrical poem de Vetula, and the elegies de Arte amandi, entitled PAMPHILUS, published by Goldaftus, Catalect. Ovid. Francof. 1610. 8vo. [See fupr. p. 130.] GETA, or Hofidius Geta, who has left a tragedy on Medea, printed in part by Pet. Scriverius, Fragm. Vett. Tragic. Lat. p. 187. [But fee fupr. vol. i. p. 234.] DARES PHRYGIUS, on the deftruction of Troy. MACER. [See fupr. p. 159.] MARBODEUS, a Latin poet on Gems. [See fupr. vol. i. p. 378.] PETRUS DE RIGA, canon of Rheims, whofe AURORA, or the Hiftory of the Bible allegorifed, in Latin verfes, fome of which are in rhyme, was never printed entire. He has left alfo Speculum Ecclefia, with other pieces, in Latin poetry. He flourished about the year 1130. SEDULIUS. PROSPER. ARATOR. PRUDENTIUS. BOETHIUS. ALANUS, author of the Anticlaudian, a poem in nine books, occafioned by the fcepticism of Claudian. [See fupr.vol.i. p.391.]VIRGIL, HORACE, OVID, LUCAN, STATIUS, JUVENAL, and PERSIUS. JOHN HANVILLE, an Englishman, who wrote the ARCHITRENIUS, in the twelfth century, a Latin hexameter poem in nine books. PHILIP GUALTIER, of Chatillon, who wrote, about the fame period, the ALEXANDREID, an heroic poem on Alexander the great. SOLYMARIUS, or GUNTHER, a German Latin poet, author of the SOLYMARIUM, or Crujade. GALFRIDUS, our countryman, whofe NOVA POETRIA was in higher celebrity than Horace's Art of Poetry. [See vol. i. Differtat. ii.] MATTHEUS, of Vendofme, who in the year 1170, paraphrafed the Book of Tobit into Latin elegiacs, from the Latin bible of faint Jerom, under the title of the TOBIAD, fometimes called the THEBAID, and first printed among the OCTO MORALES. ALEXANDER DE VILLA DEI, whofe DocTRINALE, or Grammar in Leonine verse, fuperfeded Prifcian about the year 1200. It was first printed at Venice, fol, 1473. And by Wynkyn de Worde, 1503. He was a French frier minor, and also wrote the ARGUMENTS of the chapters of all the Looks of either Teftament, in two hundred and twelve hexameters. With fome other forgotten pieces. MARCIANUS CAPELLA, whofe poem on the MARRIAGE OF MERCURY WITH PHILOLOGY rivalled Boethius. [See fupr. p. 75.] JOANNES DE GARLANDIA, an Englishman, a poet and grammarian, who studied at Paris about the year 1200. The most eminent of his numerous Latin poems, which croud our libraries, feem to be his EPITHALAMIUM on the Virgin Mary in ten books of elegiacs. MSS. Cotton. CLAUD. A. x. And DE TRIUMPHIS ECCLESIÆ, in eight books, which contains much English history. MS. ibid. Some of his pieces, both in profe and verse, have been printed. BERNAR DUS CARNOTENSIS, or Sylvefter, much applauded by John of Salisbury, who ftyles him the most perfect Platonic of that age. Metallog. iv. c. 35. His MEGACOSM and MICROCOSM, a work confifting both of verfe and profe, is frequently cited by the barbarous writers. He is imitated by Chaucer, Man of L. Tale, v. 4617. 4617. "In ❝fterres many a winter, &c." PHYSIOLOGUS, or THEOBALDUS EPISCOPUS, who wrote in Latin verfe De Naturis xii. animalium, MSS. Harl. 3093. 5. He is there called Italicus. There is alfo a Magifter FLORINUS, ftyled alfo PHYSIOLOGUS, on the fame fubject. Chaucer quotes PHYSIOLOGUS, whom I by mistake have fuppofed to be Pliny," For PHISIOLO"Gus fays fikerly." 66 NONNES PR. Το TALE. V. 15277. [See fupr. vol. i. p. 420.] SIDONIUS, who wrote a metrical dialogue between a Jew and a Christian on both the Teftaments. And a SIDONIUS, perhaps the fame, regis qui fingit prælia. thefe our author adds his own GRECISMUS, or a poem in hexameters on rhetoric and grammar; which, as Du Cange [Præf. Lat. Gloff. § XLV.] obferves, was antiently a common manual in the feminaries of France, and, I suppose, of England, m Etymol. V. OFFICIPERDA. n Contra Elipand. lib. ii. p. 949. • Lib. i. Theol, Christ. p. 1183, exclusive of the utility of his precepts, poffeffes the merit of a nervous and elegant brevity. It is perpetually quoted by Chaucer. In the MILLER'S TALE, he reproaches the fimple carpenter for having never read in Cato, that a man should marry his own likenefs": and in the MARCHAUNT'S TALE, having quoted Seneca to prove that no bleffing is equal to an humble wife, he adds Cato's precept of prudently bearing a fcolding wife with patience. It was tranflated into Greek at Conftantinople by Maximus Planudes, who has the merit of having familiarifed to his countrymen many Latin claffics of the lower empire, by metaphrastic versions: and at the restoration of learning in Europe, illuftrated with a commentary by Erafmus, which is much extolled by Luther'. There are two or three French translations. That of Mathurine Corderoy is dedicated to Robert Stephens. In the British museum, there is a French tranflation by Helis de Guinceftre, or Winchester; made, perhaps, at the time when our countrymen affected to write more in French than English". Chaucer conftantly calls this writer CATON or CATHON, which fhews that he was more familiar in French than in Latin. Caxton in the preface to his aforefaid tranflation affirms, that Poggius Florentinus, whofe library was furnifhed with the most valuable authors, esteemed CATHON GLOSED, that is, Cato with notes, to be the best book in his collection". The gloffarist I take to be Philip de Pergamo, P V. 3227. a V. 9261. It occurs often among the Baroccian manufcripts, Bibl. Bodl. viz. 64. 71, bis. 95. 111. 194. The first edition of Cato, foon followed by many others, I believe, is Auguft. A. D. 1485. The most complete edition is that of Chrift. Daumius, Cygn. 1672. 8vo. Containing the Greek metaphrafes of Maximus Planudes, Jofeph Scaliger, Matthew Zuber, and John Mylius, a German verfion by Martinus Apicius, with annotations and other acceffions. It Vol. II. Z was before tranflated into German rhymes by Abraham Morterius, of Weiffenburgh, Francof. 1590. 8vo. • Colloqu. Menfal. c. 37. One by Peter Grofnet, Les mots dorees du fage Caton. Parif. 1543. MSS. Harl. 4388. This manuscript is older than 1400. Du Cange quotes a CATO in French rhymes. Gl. Lat. V. LECATOR. See MSS. Afhmol. 789. 2. [6995.] Many of the gloffed manufcripts, fo common in the libraries, were the copies with a prior at Padua ; who wrote a most elaborate MORALISATION on Cato, under the title of SPECULUM REGIMINIS, fo early as the year 1380*. In the fame preface, Caxton obferves, that it is the befte boke for to be taught to yonge children in fcole. But he But he supposes the author to be Marcus Cato, whom he duly celebrates with the two Scipios and other noble Romaynes. A kind of supplement to this work, and often its companion, under the title of CATO Parvus, or Facetus, or Urbanus, was written by Daniel Churche, or Ecclefienfis, à domeftic in the court of Henry the second, a learned prince and a patron of scholars, about the year 1180. This was also tranflated by Burghe; and in the British museum, both the CATOS of his version occur, as forming one and the fame work, viz. Liber MINORIS Catonis, et MAJORIS, tranflatus a Latino in Anglicum per Mag. Benet Borugh". Burghe's performance is too jejune for with which pupils in the university attended their readers, or lecturers; from whose mouths paraphraftic notes were interlined or written in the margin, by the more diligent hearers. In a Latin translation of fome of Ariftotle's philofophical works, once belonging to Rochefter priory, and tranfcribed about the year 1350, one Henry de Rewham is faid to be the writer; and to have gloffed the book, during the time he heard it explained by a public reader in the fchools of Oxford. "Et audivit in "fcholis Oxonie, et emendavit et GLO SAVIT audiendo." MSS. Reg. 12 G. ii. 4to. In the mean time, I am of opinion, that the word reader originally took its rife from a paucity of books: when there was only ONE book to be had, which a profeffor or lecturer recited to a large audience. * Printed, Auguft. 1475. In Exeter college library, there is CATO MORALISATUS, MSS. 37. [837.] And again at All Souls, MSS. 9. [1410.] Compare MSS. More, 35. [9221.] And Bibl. Coll. Trin. Dublin. 651. 14. And MSS. Harl. 6294. y MSS. Coll. Trin. Dublin. 275. And Bibl. Ecclef. Vigorn fub. Tit. URBANUS, MSS. 147. One Tedbaldus, of the fame age, is called the author, from a manufcript cited, Giornal. Lett. d'Ital. iv. p. 181. In Lewis's CAXTON, in a collection of Chaucer's and Lydgate's poems by Caxton, without date, are recited 3. PARVUS CATHO. 4. MAGNUS CATO. p. 104. What thefe tranflations are I know not. Befide Caxton's CATO, mentioned above, there is a feparate work by Caxton," Hic "incipit PARVUS CATON," in English and Latin. No date. Containing thirtyfeven leaves in quarto. I find PARVUS CATO in English rhyme, MSS. Vernon. Bibl. Bodl. fol. cccx. [See fupr. vol. i. P. 14.] The Latin of the leffer CATO is printed among AucTORES Осто МоRALES, Lugd. 1538. Compare MSS. Harl. 2251. iii. fol. 174. 112. fol. 175. A tranflation into English verfes of both CATOS, perhaps by Lydgate. See alfo MSS. Coll. Trin. Dublin. V. 651. The PROVERBIA CATONIS are a different work from either of these, written in hexameters by Marbodeus, Opp. Hildebert. p. 1634. Paris 1708. fol. 2 MSS. Harl. 116. 2. See alfo, 271. 2. transcription; transcription; and, I fufpect, would not have afforded a fingle splendid extract, had even the Latin poffeffed any sparks of poetry. It is indeed true, that the only critical excellence of the original, which consists of a terfe conciseness of sentences, although not always expreffed in the pureft latinity, will not easily bear to be transfufed. Burghe, but without fufficient foundation, is faid to have finished Lydgate's GoVERNAUNCE OF PRINCIS. About the year 1481, Julian Barnes, more properly Berners, fifter of Richard lord Berners, and priorefs of the nunnery of Sopewell, wrote three English tracts on Hawking, Hunting, and Armory, or Heraldry, which were foon afterwards printed in the neighbouring monastery of faint Alban's". See fupr. LYDGATE. There is a tranflation of the Wyz Cato, and fop's Fables, into English dogrell, by one William Bulloker, for Edm. Bollifant. 1585. This W. Bulloker wrote a Pamphlet for grammar, for the fame, 1586. 12mo. b There was a strong connection between the two monafteries. In that of faint Alban's a monk was annually appointed, with the title of Cuftos monialium de Sopewelle. Regiftr. Abbat. Wallingford, [Sub an. 1480.] MSS. Bibl. Bodl. MSS. Tanner. In the year 1486. fol. Again, at Weftminster, by W. de Worde. 1496. 4to. The barbarifm of the times ftrongly appears in the indelicate expreffions which The often ufes; and which are equally incompatible with her fex and profeffion. The poem begins thus. [I tranfcribe from a good manufcript, MSS. Rawlins. Bibl. Bodl. papyr. fol.] Mi dere fones, where ye fare, by frith, or by fell⚫, Take good hede in his tyme how Triftrem t wol tell; How many maner beftes of venery there b The first of hem is a hart, the fecond is an hare; Z 2 The boor is one of tho, And wherefo ye comen in play † or in place, The ffox, and the marteryn, and the wilde roo: And ye fhall, my dere fones, other bestes all, Or in fforreft, y yow tell. And to fpeke of the hert, if ye wil hit lere, Among Crynes's books [911. 4to. Bibl. Bodl.] there is a bl. lett. copy of this piece, "Imprynted at London in Paul's church yarde by me Hary Tab." Again by William Copland without date, The boke of hawkyng, hunting, and fishing, "with all the properties and medecynes "that are neceflary to be kept." With wooden cuts. Here the tract on armory is omitted, which feems to have been firft infefted, *Wood or field. Sir Triftram. See OBSERVAT. SPENS. i. p. 21. + Plain. |