Quintus Hortensius

, a celebrated orator, who began to distinguish himself by his eloquence, in the Roman forum, at the age of 19. His friend and succe or Cicero speaks with great eulogium of his oratorical powers, and mentions the uncommon extent of his memory. The affected actions of Hortensius at the bar procured him the ridiculous surname of Dionysia , a celebrated stage-dancer at the time. He was pretor and consul, and died 50 years before Christ, in his 63rd year. His orations are not extant. Quintilian mentions them as undeserving the great commendations which Cicero had so liberally bestowed upon them. Hortensius was very rich, and not le than 10,000 casks of Arvisian wine were found in his cellar after his death. He had written pieces of amorous poetry, and annals, all lost. Cicero , Brutus ; Letters to Atticus ; On Oratory , . — Varro , de Re Rustic a , bk. 3 , ch. 5 .――Corbio, a grandson of the orator of the same name, famous for his lasciviousne .――A rich Roman, who asked the elder Cato his wife, to procreate children. Cato gave his wife to his friend, and took her again after his death. This behaviour of Cato was highly censured at Rome, and it was observed, that Cato’s wife had entered the house of Hortensius very poor, but that she returned to the bed of Cato in the greatest opulence. Plutarch , Cato .――A Roman, slain by Antony on his brother’s tomb. Plutarch. ――A pretor, who gave up Macedonia to Brutus. Plutarch. ――One of Sylla’s lieutenants. Plutarch. ――A Roman, the first who introduced the eating of peacocks at Rome. This was at the feast which he gave when he was created augur.