Decimius Magnus Ausōnius

, a poet, born at Bordeaux in Gaul, in the fourth century, preceptor to Gratian son of the emperor Val ent in i an, and made consul by the means of his pupil. His compositions have been long admired. The thanks he returned the emperor Gratian is one of the best of his poems, which were too often hurried for publication, and consequently not perfect. He wrote the consular fasti of Rome, a useful performance, now lost. His style is occasionally obscene, and he has attempted upon the words of Virgil, what revolts everything against his indelicacy. The best edition is that of Tollius, 8vo, Leiden, 1671; or that of Jaubert, with a French translation, 4  vols. , 12mo, Paris, 1769.