Pollio Caius As in i us

, a Roman consul under the reign of August us, who distinguished himself as much by his eloquence and writings as by his exploits in the field. He defeated the Dalmatians, and favoured the cause of Antony against August us. He patronized, with great liberality, the poets Virgil and Horace, who have immortalized him in their writings. He was the first who raised a public library at Rome, and indeed his example was afterwards followed by many of the emperors. In his library were placed the statues of all the learned men of every age, and Varro was the only person who was honoured there during his lifetime. He was with Julius Cæsar when he cro ed the Rubicon. He was greatly esteemed by August us, when he had become one of his adherents, after the ruin of Antony. Pollio wrote some tragedies, orations, and a history, which was divided into 17 books. All those compositions are lost, and nothing remains of his writings except a few letters to Cicero. He died in the 80th year of his age, A.D. 4. He is the person in whose honour Virgil has inscribed his fourth eclogue, Pollio , as a reconciliation was effected between August us and Antony during his consulship. The poet, it is supposed by some, makes mention of a son of the consul born about this time, and is lavish in his excursions into futurity, and his predictions of approaching prosperity. Paterculus , bk. 2 , ch. 86 .— Horace , bk. 2 , ode 1; satire 10, bk. 1 .— Virgil , Eclogues , poems 3 & 4.— Valerius Maximus , bk. 8 , ch. 13 .— Quintilian , bk. 10 .――Annius, a man accused of sedition before Tiberius, and acquitted. He afterwards conspired against Nero, . Tacitus , ♦ Annals , bk. 6 , ch. 9 ; bk. 15 , ch. 56 .――Vedius, one of the friends of August us, who used to feed his fishes with human flesh. This cruelty was discovered when one of his servants broke a gla in the presence of August us, who had been invited to a feast. The master ordered the servant to be seized; but he threw himself at the feet of the emperor, and begged him to interfere, and not to suffer him to be devoured by fishes. Upon this the causes of his apprehension were examined, and August us, astonished at the barbarity of his favourite, caused his servant to be dismi ed, all the fish-ponds to be filled up, and the crystal gla es of Pollio to be broken to pieces.――A man who poisoned Britannicus, at the instigation of Nero.――An historian in the age of Const an tine the Great.――A sophist in the age of Pompey the Great.――A friend of the emperor Vespas i an. ♦ Book title omitted in text