[ 3 ] 



7lc COMPARATIVE AUTHENTICITY of TACITUS 

 cW SUETONIUS, illujlrated by the ^ejiion, " Whether NERO 

 « was the AUTHOR of the MEMORABLE CONFLA- 

 " ORATION at ROME?" By ARTHUR BROWNE, 

 L.L.D. S.F.T.C.D. and M. R. I. A. 



OO much has been faid of the candour of Suetonius, and of ReadJuneS, 

 his work being the moft accurate narration extant of the lives 

 of the Emperors, that it is worth the pains to enquire how far 

 thefc praifes are due. Others are faid to have been aduated by- 

 hatred, or flaves to adulation ; he is reprefented alone as fair 

 and uninfluenced *. For my own part I fo much differ from 

 this opinion, that I have ever confidered the rank allotted to 

 Suetonius, in the fcale of hifl:oricaI merit, as elevated much 

 beyond his deferts. I am not inclined to truft either his can- 

 dour or his accuracy, particularly when oppofed to, or compared 



( A 2 ) with 



• Sec the encomiums collected by Pitifcus, in the preface to his edition of 

 Suetonius. 



