CoLor OF ASTER-RAYS 337 
LXIII. Marcertus VERGILIvs 
The author known by these assumed names is called Marcel- 
lus Adriani by the historian Tiraboschi; was professor of belle 
lettres and chancellor of state for Florence, and hence often 
entitled Secretarius Florentinus; was born 1464, or perhaps 
1474, suggests Meyer,—as the Secretary describes himself in 1491 
as ‘“‘me adhuc puero”; died Nov. 27, 1521, from a fall from a 
horse. 
Marcellus Vergilius was learned in Greek and Latin, and his 
notes on Dioscorides * have been much esteemed ; Gesner in 1545 
pronounced his work “ utilissimus” ; Haller praises it, Sprengel 
deems it ‘“ laudabilis,’’ and ‘of the greatest sagacity.”’ 
The description of Aster Atticus, in Marcellus Vergilius’ Latin 
translation of Dioscorides, forms chapter 115 of the fourth book. 
In this chapter Marcellus was first to settle the disputed color- 
phrase for Aster flowers as “ purple and yellow,” by inserting zaé 
in place of 7 in Dioscorides’ text. He was also first to separate 
from Dioscorides’ genuine text, the account of Aster as shining 
by night ; rejecting this as superstitious and unsupported by the 
oldest Greek and Latin authorities. In this he has been followed 
ever since.+} 
LXIV. RUELLIUS 
Ruellius, Jean Ruel of Soissons, 1474-1537, canon of Paris, 
was physician to Francis I, of France, and so remarkable for the 
learning, elegance and number of his translations into Latin that 
he has been styled the Prince of Translators. In I 516 he issued 
his oft-printed translation of Dioscorides, in 1528 that from Seri- 
bonius Largus, in 1529 from Celsus, 1530 the “ Veterinariae 
medicinae,” 1539, that of Joannes Actuarius. 2. 
The chapter on Aster Atticus formed number 105 in Ruellius 
Pe * His Latin translation of Dioscorides with his copious comm: 
orence, 1518; again in 1523 from a revision of : 
Shortly b i * : 129, when Soter printed the translation, 
y before his death ; again at Cologne, 1529, wee Ciaiiticids 
of the 1518 and 1529 
Hermolaus Barbarus. Meyer was the fortunate possessor 
editions. 
and continuously by Brunfels in his 
eris, t. ii, p. 85, Polypodium, 
17; also Conyza ; etc. 
: * Marcellus Vergilius was quoted at length , 
ts Rhapsodies’” ; especially tom. i, p. 220-1, on Capillus-Ven 
", 73, Nasturtium, ii, 38, Herb Robert, ii, 31, Solanum, 1, 
