45% 
to be left, either for additional informa- 
tion, or novelty of disquisition. 
Quintus Horatius Flaccus was born 
at Venusium, a town situated on the 
borders of Apulia and Lucania, on the 
8th of December, in the year of Rome 
688, about three years after the con- 
spiracy of Catiline, and in the consul- 
ship of L. Cotta, and L. Manlius Tor- 
quatus. His birth was mean ; his grand- 
father being described as a tax-gatherer, 
and a dealer in salt-fish—Lzbertino, et 
exactionum Coactore, ul vero creditum est, 
Salsamentario. But even when he be- 
eame the friend and favourite of Augus- 
tus, the philosophy of Horace enabled 
him to think of his descent without un- 
easiness ; and he could bear the raillery 
of his friends, and the sneers of his rivals, 
with the utmost pleasantry and good- 
humour.* His father appears to have 
been a man of prudence and sagacity ; 
and the son frequently mentions, in the 
most grateful terms, the care and pains 
bestowed upon his education. The in- 
structions he received were considerably 
beyond those usually given to persons in 
his rank of life. In a word, he received 
all the accomplishments befitting the 
sons of knights or senators——= 
quas doceat quivis eques atque senator 
Semet prognatos seem 
At the age of ten, he was sent to Rome; 
at eishteen, he went to Athens, where, 
by his own account, he studied the 
principles of philosophy— 
Atque intersilvas Academi querere verum.t 
Thus accomplished and qualified to 
“act a conspicuous part in the world, he 
soon acquired the acquaintanee and pa- 
tronage of Bratus, who was then passing 
through Athens, in his way to Macedo- 
nia. The disposition of Horace certainly 
did not lead him to a military life; and 
if he became a tribune under that. great 
Republican, it was either from a princi- 
pie of gratitude, or that Brutus, in his 
unpatience to encounter the rival forees 
of Octavius and Antony, was anxious, 
%s soon as possible, to fill his ranks, and 
supply his want of officers. But even so 
honourable a post could not impart to 
Horace what nature had denied him. 
At the decisive battle of Philippi, his 
conduct was absolutely disgraceful; he 
fied from the field, after throwing aside, 
* See Sat. vi. lib. 4. 
¥ Kp. is, lib. 2. 
Lyceum of Ancient Literature —No. XXV. [Dees 1, 
his buckler—the most glaring act of cow- 
ardice of which a Roman soldier could 
be guilty. It was thought more scanda- 
lous for a soldier to throw that away, than 
his sword or helmet, because the shield: 
was considered of general service to the 
rest of the army, while the others were 
beneficial only to the person himself, 
But this want of personal courage is so 
candidly acknowledged by the poet,* that 
the reader is easily reconeiled to him, 
The timid caution, however, which saved 
his life, could not secure his estate, 
which was forfeited. He appears to 
have engaged on the side of Brutus with 
very little previous reflection ; and, ex- 
cepting the loss of his patrimony, whiclr 
became the prey of the conqueror, he was 
not exposed to any personal danger, but 
escaped the fate of those who were at- 
tached to the conquered party. His short 
career of hostility to Augustus had been 
attended with too little effect, to excite 
much resentment. ‘Though deficient as 
a soldier, he was, perhaps, already dis- 
tinguished for his wit, his genius, and 
poetical talents; or, which is still more 
probable, he was indebted to his ebscu- 
rity for his safety. 
He returned to Rome in a state of ab- 
solute distress : but.ingenuity, the daugh- 
ter of poverty, soon taught him the exer- 
cise of his own talents. His poetical 
pieces drew the attention of the city, 
and procured him the friendship of 
Virgil, Varius, and other illustrious men 
of that day. It seems, that Virgil was 
the first? to recommend him to Mecz- 
nas, the friend and minister of Augustus. 
The character of Mecenas, for his love 
and patronage of letters, is now pro- 
verbial; and the latter was, probably, 
never so werthily bestowed as upon Ho- 
race. Of a happy, indolent temper, - 
provided he were raised above want, he. 
seems never to have courted either dis- 
tinction or wealth. Sucha man was no¢ 
likely to disgust his patron, by incessang 
clamour for a pension or a place. The 
intimacy between them was founded 
upon mutual esteem. Horace admired 
and esteemed in Meczenas the sagacious 
statesman, the zealous minister of Augus- 
rns Ts A a 
* Tecum Philippos, et celerem fugam 
Sensi, relicta mon bene parmula. 
Od. vii. Lib. 2. 
+ Nulla etenim mihi te fors.obtulit : opti- 
mus olim 
Virgilius, post hune Varius, dixere quid ~ 
ESS6M. Sat. vi. lib. 2. 
tus, 
