Chapter XX: Appendix: VI

SHORT LIVES OF ROMAN AUTHORS

DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS, 309-392 A.D.

1. Life.

[Sidenote: AUSONIUS.]

Born at Burdigala (_Bordeaux_), and carefully educated. At the age of thirty appointed professor of rhetoric in his native University, where he became so famous that he was appointed tutor to Gratian, son of the Emperor Valentinian (364-375 A.D.), and was afterwards raised to the highest honours of the State (Consul, 379 A.D.). Theodosius (Emperor of the East, 378-395 A.D.) gave him leave to retire from court to his native country, where he closed his days in an honoured literary retirement.

2. Works.

A very voluminous writer both in prose and verse.

1. Prose: The only extant specimen is his _Gratiarum Actio_ to Gratianus for the Consulship.

2. Verse: Of this we have much: it has little value as poetry, but in point of contents and diction it is interesting and valuable. Some of his _Epigrammata_ and _Epitaphia_ are worth preserving, but his claim to rank as a poet rests on his _Mosella_, a beautiful description of the R. Moselle, which is worthy to be compared with Pliny's description of the R. Clitumnus (_Ep._ viii. 8).

'In virtue of this poem Ausonius ranks not merely as the last, or all but the last, of Latin, but as the first of French poets.' --Mackail.

GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR, 102 (or 100?)-44 B.C.

1. Important Events in Caesar's Life.

[Sidenote: CAESAR.]

B.C. 102. Gaius Julius Caesar, nephew of Marius, born July 12th.
" 83. Marries Cornelia, daughter of Cinna, the friend of Marius.
" 81-78. Served with distinction in Asia.
" 76. Studies oratory at Rhodes.
" 68. Begins his political career as Quaestor, partly at Rome,
partly in Spain.
" 65. Curule Aedile. Incurs enormous debts by his splendid shows.
" 61. Propraetor in Spain: conquers Lusitanians: amasses wealth.
" 60. Coalition of Pompeius, Caesar, and Crassus: First
Triumvirate.
" 59. Consul. The Leges Iuliae.
" 58-50. Subjugation of Gaul and two invasions of Britain
(55 and 54).
" 56. Meeting of Triumvirate at Luca.
" 50. The trouble with Pompeius begins.
" 49. Crosses the Rubicon. Civil war with Pompeius. Dictator
a first time.
" 48. Pharsalus. Defeats Pompeius. Dictator a second time.
" 46. Thapsus. Defeats Scipio, Sulla, and Afranius. Declared
Dictator for ten years.
" 45. Munda. Defeats Gn. Pompeius and Labienus. Dictator and
Imperator for life.
" 44. Assassinated in the Senate House on the Ides of March.

2. Works.

(1) +THE DE BELLO GALLICO.+--This work describes Caesar's operations in Gaul, Germany, and Britain during the years 58-52 B.C., the events of each year occupying a separate Book.