of the Gods*.

four

After this he describes the

ages characterized by some figures which should seem to have been originally derived from Daniel +; and in the well known fables, concerning the corruption of mankind, the daring attempts of the giants, the council of God to destroy the world by a flood, the renewal of the human race by Deucalion, the transformation of Lycaon, the destruction of the serpent Python, and the history of Phaeton, Cadmus, Iphigenia, and others, many unobliterated characters of truth may be discovered.

The book de Vetula, published at Cologne, in 1470, with a preface by Leo of Byzantium, is no doubt supposititious, and written long after the time of Ovid. The mention of algebra, alchemy, and other words of Arabian derivation, as well as the use of expressions which are evidently ecclesiastical, would sufficiently prove the forgery, even if it were not demonstrated by passages respecting the unity of God; the creation of the world from nothing; the resurrection

* Finxit in effigiem moderantum cuncta Deorum. Lib. i. 1. 76. 78. 81. See also Metam. lib. i. 1. 22.

+ Dan. ii. 31. 33.

+ Polycarpas Lyserus, Hist. Poetar. Medii. Evi. p. 2089.

of the dead; the Trinity; and the Virgin Mary, who is said to have been a Mediatrix, and taken up into Heaven; circumstances which sufficiently illustrate in what quarter the fabrication originated*. Roger Bacon, from his regard to astrology, alleges the testimony of this work †.

Fabric. Bib. Lat. Supplement. Ovid. p. 383.

Johan. Picus. lib. i. in Astrologos, p. 284. Opp. et Rob. Holkot, lect. 21. in lib. Sapient.

CHAP. L.

Titus Livius.

He

THIS eminent historian was born at Padua, or in its immediate vicinity*, A.U.C. 695, and died in the fourth year of Tiberius. is represented to have been employed on his history about the 730th year of Rome, and must have been engaged in the work a considerable length of time. He professes to have undertaken it with a view to divert his mind from a contemplation of existing evils, alluding to the vices and distractions of his time, and to the subversion of the freedom of his country. Livy is celebrated by Tacitus for his distinguished eloquence and fidelity; and by Seneca as a most candid estimator of all good men. The frankness with which he

* Sigonius contends that he was born at Apona, now called Abano, see Martial, lib. i. Epig. lxii.; his remains are said to have been found in the fifteenth century. See Vossius. De Hist. Lat. lib. 1.

treats of Brutus and Cassius, and the boldness with which he does justice to the character of Pompey, reflect credit upon Augustus as well as upon himself, since, though on account of his tribute to Pompey, he was styled Pompeianus by the Emperor, he does not appear to have suffered any diminution in his esteem *; but was appointed by him tutor to his grandson Claudius. The free spirit in which he wrote, gave offence, however, to Caligula and Domitian, by the former of whom, the statues erected to the honour of the historian were removed.

The work of Livy was originally composed in a hundred and forty-two books, containing a history of the Roman empire, from its commencement to the year of the city 744. Only thirty-five books of it are now extant. They are written with great clearness and beauty, and with an exuberant flow of eloquence.

Tacit. Annal. 1. iv. § 34.

+ Quintil. Instit. 1. x. § 502. 1. 10. 513. Gravina has observed, that even the epitome of Livy should be read as a compendium by those who are first introduced to Roman history, as being more simple and perspicuous than the works of Florus and Paterculus, and as recording events in proper and suitable words without parade or subtlety, from which those authors are not always free. The original work of

The author complains that it was difficult in his time to collect any thing certain of the ancient history of Rome. Many circumstances which he introduces are probably fictitious or borrowed, as particularly what relates to the rape of the Sabines *, and which possibly was founded on some accounts of the violent procedure of the Benjamites towards the daughters of Shiloh. Fabius Pictor, who wrote an account of the Carthagenian war, Polybius, and a few other writers, preceded him; in whose works probably there was but little correctness of detail, excepting in the history of Polybius, from whom Livy copied much †.

Livy is said to have been less accurate in his statements with respect to military, than with regard to civil affairs. His work, like that of heathen historians in general, is indebted to modern chronologists, for the specification of its periods and dates. It ex

Livy has been regarded as a model, and has been imitated by Buchanan, Frienshemius, Mariana, and others. See Gravina de Instaurat. Studior. Orat. 1. p. 94. Edit. viri, omni honore ac studio prosequendi, Tho. Burgess, Episcopi Menevensis.

* Comp. 1. i. § 9. p. 25. with Judges i. 21. and Iliad, lib. xvi. v. 180. et seq.

+ L. xxxiv. § 50. 1. xxxvi. § 19. 1 Liv. I. i. Voss. c. 3, 4.