Hŏrātius Cocles

See: Cocles .――Quintus Flaccus, a celebrated poet, born at Venusia. His father was a freedman, and though poor in his circumstances, he liberally educated his son, and sent him to learn philosophy at Athens, after he had received the le ons of the best masters at Rome. Horace followed Brutus from Athens, and the timidity which he betrayed at the battle of Philippi so effectually discouraged him, that he for ever abandoned the profe ion of arms, and at his return to Rome he applied himself to cultivate poetry. His rising talents claimed the attention of Virgil and Varius, who recommended him to the care of Mecænas and August us, the most celebrated patrons of literature. Under the fostering patronage of the emperor and of his minister, Horace gave himself up to indolence and refined pleasure. He was a follower of Epicurus, and while he liberally indulged his appetites, he neglected the calls of ambition, and never suffered himself to be carried away by the tide of popularity or public employments. He even refused to become the secretary of August us, and the emperor was not offended at his refusal. He lived at the table of his illustrious patrons as if he were in his own house; and August us, while sitting at his meals with Virgil at his right hand, and Horace at his left, often ridiculed the short breath of the former, and the watery eyes of the latter, by observing that he sat between tears and sighs, Ego sum inter suspiria et lacrymas . Horace was warm in his friendship, and if ever any ill-judged reflection had caused offence, the poet immediately made every conce ion which could effect a reconciliation, and not destroy the good purposes of friendly society. Horace died in the 57th year of his age, B.C. 8. His gaiety was suitable to the liveline and di ipation of a court; and his familiar intimacy with Mecænas has induced some to believe that the death of Horace was violent, and that he hastened himself out of the world to accompany his friend. The 17th ode of his second book, which was written during the last illne of Mecænas, is too serious to be considered as a poetical rhapsody or unmeaning effusion, and indeed, the poet survived the patron only three weeks, and ordered his bones to be buried near those of his friend. He left all his po e ions to August us. The poetry of Horace, so much commended for its elegance and sweetne , is deservedly censured for the licentious expre ions and indelicate thoughts which he too frequently introduces. In his odes he has imitated Pindar and A nacre on; and if he has confe ed himself to be inferior to the former, he has shown that he bears the palm over the latter by his more ingenious and refined sentiments, by the ease and melody of his expre ions, and by the pleasing variety of his numbers. In his satires and epistles, Horace displays much wit, and much satirical humour, without much poetry, and his style, simple and unadorned, differs little from prosaical composition. In his art of poetry he has shown much taste and judgment, and has rendered in Latin hexameters what Aristotle had, some ages before delivered to his pupils in Greek prose. The poet gives judicious rules and useful precepts to the most powerful and opulent citizens of Rome, who, in the midst of peace and enjoyment, wished to cultivate poetry and court the muses. The best editions of Horace will be found to be that of Basil, folio, 1580, illustrated by 80 commentators; that of Baxter’s, edited by Gesner, 8vo, Lipscomb, 1752; and that of Glasgow, 12mo, 1744. Suet on i us , August us .— Ovid , Tristia , bk. 4 , poem 10, li. 49 .――Three brave Romans, born at the same birth, who fought against the three Curiatii, about 667 years before Christ. This celebrated fight was fought between the hostile camps of the people of Alba and Rome, and on their succe depended the victory. In the first attack two of the Horatii were killed, and the only surviving brother, by joining artifice to valour, obtained an honourable trophy. By ♦ pretending to fly from the field of battle, he easily separated his antagonists, and, in attacking them one by one, he was enabled to conquer them all. As he returned victorious to Rome, his sister reproached him with the murder of one of the Curiatii, to whom she was promised in marriage. He was incensed at the rebuke, and killed his sister. This violence raised the indignation of the people; he was tried and capitally condemned. His eminent services, however, pleaded in his favour; the sentence of death was exchanged for a more moderate, but more ignominious punishment, and he was only compelled to pa under the yoke. A trophy was raised in the Roman forum, on which he suspended the spoils of the conquered Curiatii. Cicero , de Invent i one , bk. 2 , ch. 26 .— Livy , bk. 1 , ch. 24 , . — Dionysius of Halicarna us , bk. 3 , ch. 3 .――A Roman consul, who defeated the Sabines.――A consul, who dedicated the temple of Jupiter Capitol in us. During the ceremony he was informed of the death of his son, but he did not forget the sacred character he then bore for the feelings of a parent, and continued the dedication after ordering the body to be buried. Livy , bk. 2 . ♦ ‘pre tenting’ replaced with ‘pretending’