Petronius

The most celebrated of this name is a great favourite of the emperor Nero, and one of the ministers and a ociates of all his pleasures and his debauchery. He was naturally fond of pleasure, and effeminate, and pa ed his whole nights in revels and the days in. sleep. He was affable in his behaviour, and his witticisms and satirical remarks appeared artle and natural. He was appointed roconsul of Bithynia, and afterwards consul, in both of which employments he behaved with all the dignity becoming the succe ors ofa Brutus or a Scipio, but with his office he laid down his artificial gravity, and again’ gave himself up to the pursuits of pleasure. He did not long enjoy the imperial favours. ‘'Tigellinus, likewise one of Nero’s favourites, jealous of his fame, accused him of conspiring against the emperor’s life. The accusation was cre- _dited, and Petronius withdrew himself from Nero’s punishments by a Riba death, This was performed in a manner altogether unprecedented, A. D, 66. Petronius ordered his veins to be opened, but had them closed at intervals, until at last nature was exhausted. Petronius distinguished himself by his writings as well as by his luxury and voluptuousne . He is the author of many elegant ‘but obscene compositions still extant, among which is a poem on the civil wars of Pompey and Cesar, There is also the feast of Trimalcion, in whiek he paints the pleasures and the debaucheries of _a corrupted court and monarch, ,. The best editions of this cla ic are those of Burman at Utrecht, in 1709, and 1743; and that of Antonius at Leipsic, in 1783, with an excellent reface and several erudite notes.