Part 53 (1/2)

[23] Pro s.e.xt. 58.

[24] See Book i. chapter viii.

[25] These were doubtless much the worst of his poetical effusions. It was in them that the much-abused lines _O fortunam natam me Consule Romam_, and _Cedant arma togae, concedat laurea laudi_, occurred. See Forsyth, Vit. Cic. p. 10, 11. His _gesta Marii_ was the tribute of an admiring fellow-townsman.

[26] In the preface to his _Lucretius_.

[27] _E.g. Inferior paulo est Aries et flumen ad Austri Inclinatior. Atque etiam_, etc. v. 77; and he gives countless examples of that break after the fourth foot which Lucretius also affects, _e.g. Arcturus nomine claro._ Two or three lines are imitated by Virgil, _e.g._ v. 1, _ab Jove Musarum primordia_; so v. 21, _obstipum caput et tereti cervice reflexum_.

The rhythm of v. 3, _c.u.m caeloque simul noctesque diesque feruntur_, suggests a well-known line in the eighth Aeneid, _olli remigio noctemque diemque fatigant_.

[28] Suet. J. C. 56.

[29] N. H. xix. 7.

[30] Suet. vit. Ter. see page 51.

[31] See Bernhardy Grundr. der R. L. Anm, 200, also Caes. Op. ed. S.

Clarke, 1778.

[32] De Bell. Alex. 4.

[33] Whenever a s.h.i.+p touched at Alexandria, Euergetes sent for any MSS.

the captain might have on board. These were detained in the museum and labelled _to ek ton ploion_.

[34] The museum was situated in the quarter of the city called _Brucheium_ (Spartian. in Hadr. 20). See Don. and Muller, Hist. Gk. Lit. vol. ii.

chap. 45.

[35] The school of Alexandria did not become a religious centre until a later date. The priestly functions of the librarians are historically unimportant.

[36] It is true Theocritus stayed long in Alexandria. But his inspiration is altogether Sicilian, and as such was hailed by delight by the Alexandrines, who were tired of pedantry and compliment, and longed for naturalness though in a rustic garb.

[37] This is the true ground of Aristophanes' rooted antipathy to Euripides. The two minds were of an incompatible order, Aristophanes represents Athens; Euripides the human spirit.

[38] He must have had some real beauties, else Theocritus (vii. 40) would hardly praise him so highly: ”_ou gar po kat' emdn noon oude ton eslon Sikelidan nikemi ton ek Samo oude Philetan Aeidon, batrachos de pot akridat hos tis erisdo_.”

[39] Even an epic poem was, if it extended to any length, now considered tedious; _Epyllia_, or miniature epics, in one, two, or three books, became the fas.h.i.+on.

[40] Others a.s.sign the poem which has come down to us to Germanicus the father of Caligula, perhaps with better reason.

[41] Cic. De Or. xvi. 69.

[42] Ovid (Amor. i, 15, 16) expresses the high estimate of Aratus common in his day: _Nulla Sophocleo veniet iactura cothurno. c.u.m sole et luna semper Aratus erit_. He was not, strictly speaking, an Alexandrine, as he lived at the court of Antigonus in Macedonia; but he represents the same school of thought.

[43] They are generally mentioned together. Prop IV. i. 1, &c.

[44] Nothing can show this more strikingly than the fact that the Puritan Milton introduces the loves of Adam and Eve in the central part of his poem.

[45] The _Cantores Euphorionis_ and despisers of Ennius, with whom Cicero was greatly wroth. Alluding to them he says:--_Ita belle n.o.bis_ ”Flavit ab Epiro lenissimus Onchesmites.” _Hunc spondeiazonta si cui vis to neoteron pro tuo vendita_. Ad. Att. vii, 2, 1.