Fabrĭcius

, a Latin writer in the reign of Nero, who employed his pen in satirizing and defaming the senators. His works were burnt by order of Nero.――Caius Luscinus, a celebrated Roman who, in his first consulship, obtained several victories over the Samnites and Lucanians, and was honoured with a triumph. The riches which were acquired in those battles were immense, the soldiers were liberally rewarded by the consul, and the treasury was enriched with 400 talents. Two years after, Fabric us went as amba ador to Pyrrhus, and refused with contempt the presents, and heard with indignation the offers, which might have corrupted the ♦ fidelity of a le virtuous citizen. Pyrrhus had occasion to admire the magnanimity of Fabric i us; but his astonishment was more powerfully awakened when he opposed him in the field of battle, and when he saw him make a discovery of the perfidious offer of his physician, who pledged himself to the Roman general for a sum of money to poison his royal master. To this greatne of soul were added the most consummate knowledge of military affairs, and the greatest simplicity of manners. Fabric i us never used rich plate at his table. A small salt-cellar, whose feet were of horn, was the only silver ve el which appeared in his house. This contempt of luxury and usele ornaments Fabric i us wished to inspire among the people; and during his censorship he banished from the senate Cornel i us Rufinus, who had been twice consul and dictator, because he kept in his house more than 10 pounds weight of silver plate. Such were the manners of the conqueror of Pyrrhus, who observed that he wished rather to command those that had money than po e it himself. He lived and died in the greatest poverty. His body was buried at the public charge, and the Roman people were obliged to give a dowry to his two daughters, when they had arrived to marriageable years. Valerius Maximus , bk. 2 , ch. 9 ; bk. 4 , ch. 4 .— Florus , bk. 1 , ch. 18 .— Cicero , bk. 3 , de Officiis .— Plutarch , Pyrrhus .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 6 , li. 844 .――A bridge at Rome, built by the consul Fabric i us, over the Tiber. Horace , bk. 2 , satire 3, li. 36 . ♦ ‘fidelty’ replaced with ‘fidelity’