❧
THE
LIFE
OF
VIRGIL
,
written
by
Tiberius
Claudius
Donatus
,
as
Servius
in
his
commentarie
upon
Virgil
relates
it
.
PUblius
Virgilius
Maro
was
(
as
antiquity
testifies
)
born
of
mean
parentage
,
especially
on
the
fathers
side
,
whose
name
was
Maro
,
who
,
as
some
say
,
was
by
profession
a
potter
.
He
was
(
as
many
suppose
)
at
first
,
servant
to
a
certain
wandring
wizard
or
southsayer
;
and
by
his
sedulous
industrie
in
ru●ick
affaires
,
husbandrie
,
keeping
of
catt●ll
,
working
in
woods
,
and
tending
of
bees
,
raised
up
his
mas●●rs
small
means
to
a
good
estate
,
and
afterwards
marrying
his
daughter
,
became
his
masters
sonne
in
law
.
He
was
born
the
15.
day
of
October
in
a
countrey
village
called
Andes
,
neare
Mantua
,
in
the
yeare
of
the
consulship
of
Cneins
Pompey
the
great
,
and
Marcus
Licinius
Crastus
,
and
was
a
citizen
of
Mantua
,
as
saith
Servius
M●urus
Honoratus
,
a
learned
Grammarian
.
His
m●ther
Ma●a
,
being
great
with
childe
of
him
,
dreamed
that
she
was
delivered
of
a
〈◊〉
branch
,
which
being
set
in
the
ground
,
grew
up
immediately
into
a
great
spreading
tree
,
fairely
fraught
with
variety
of
fruit
and
fr●grant
flowers
:
And
the
next
day
she
and
her
husband
walking
into
the
next
neighbouring
countrey
,
she
stepping
aside
,
was
delivered
of
him
in
a
ditch
.
It
is
said
,
that
being
born
,
he
never
cried
;
but
was
of
such
a
sweet
and
amiable
countenance
,
that
he
gave
great
hope
of
a
m●st
flourishing
future
condition
.
His
infancie
,
till
the
age
of
about
seven
yeares
,
was
spent
in
Cremona
.
From
Crem●na
he
went
into
Millain
,
and
from
th●nce
shortly
after
passed
over
into
Naples
,
where
with
great
indu●●rie
and
utilitie
studying
the
Greek
and
Latine
●ongues
,
he
addicted
himself
principally
and
most
seriously
to
the
studie
of
Physick
,
and
of
the
Mathematicks
,
and
in
both
exceeded
all
others
of
his
time
,
insomuch
that
he
planted
himself
in
Rome
;
where
falling
into
f●miliaritie
and
acquaintance
with
the
master
of
the
horse
to
Augustus
the
emperour
,
he
cured
many
of
his
horses
diseases
,
who
rewarded
him
with
a
dayly
allowance
of
bread
,
as
to
the
rest
of
the
officers
of
his
stable
.
Afterward
the
Cretonians
presented
to
the
emperour
a
gallant
colt
,
which
in
the
opinion
of
all
the
beholders
was
like
to
prove
a
nagge
of
rare
spirit
and
pace
:
but
when
Virgil
saw
him
,
he
told
the
master
of
the
horse
that
it
was
bred
of
a
very
faultie
mare
,
and
would
prove
neither
quick
spirited
nor
nimble
paced
:
which
afterward
fell
out
so
indeed
.
Which
the
master
of
the
horse
relating
to
Augustus
,
he
commanded
that
Virgils
allowance
of
bread
should
be
dayly
doubled
.
Again
,
certain
hounds
being
sent
as
a
present
out
of
Spain
to
the
emperour
,
Virgil
told
both
of
what
kinde
they
came
,
and
how
they
would
prove
dogs
of
admirable
use
and
swiftnes
:
which
also
being
made
known
to
Augustus
Cesar
,
he
again
gave
order
that
his
allowance
of
bread
should
be
re-doubled
.
Shortly
after
,
Augustus
growing
doubtfull
of
himself
whether
Octavi●s
were
his
father
,
and
perswaded
that
Virgil
,
who
so
well
knew
the
nature
and
kinde
of
hounds
and
horses
,
could
also
resolve
this
doubt
,
separating
all
other
companie
,
and
retiring
into
a
private
room
,
he
taks
Virgil
with
him
,
and
askes
him
alone
,
whether
he
knew
who
he
was
,
and
what
power
h●
had
to
make
men
honourable
and
happie
.
Whereunto
he
answered
,
I
know
that
thou
art
Augustus
Cesar
,
and
that
thou
hast
power
almost
equall
to
the
immortall
Gods
,
and
that
thou
can●t
happifie
whomsoever
thou
pleasest
.
Surely
,
said
Cesar
,
I
have
now
a
minde
and
purpose
to
make
thee
most
happie
and
honourable
,
if
th●u
canst
give
a
full
answer
to
my
request
unto
thee
.
Sir
,
sayes
Virgil
,
I
wish
it
were
in
my
power
to
tell
you
the
certainty
of
whatsoever
your
majesty
could
demaund
of
me
.
Some
men
(
sayes
Cesar
)
think
that
Octavius
was
my
father
,
others
think
some
body
else
:
Whereunto
Virgill
with
a
smile
,
thus
replied
,
Sacred
sir
,
if
I
may
freely
and
with●ut
offence
answer
your
majesties
demaund
,
I
am
perswaded
I
shall
easily
resolve
this
doubt
.
Cesar
hereupon
assured
him
with
an
oath
,
that
whatsoever
he
spake
he
would
not
take
it
amisse
,
and
that
withall
,
he
would
not
leave
him
unrewarded
.
Now
then
Virgil
fixing
his
eyes
seriously
on
the
emperours
face
,
said
;
It
is
easie
in
other
creatures
(
by
rules
of
philosophie
and
the
mathematicks
)
to
discern
the
qualities
and
conditions
of
their
prog●●itours
and
parents
,
but
in
man
it
is
not
so
easie
a
matter
;
yet
as
touching
your
sacred
majestie
,
I
am
able
to
make
some
probable
conjecture
what
profession
your
father
was
of
.
Hereat
Cesar
began
to
li●ten
the
more
attentively
what
he
would
say
.
Then
sayes
Virgil
;
So
farre
forth
as
I
can
collect
and
understand
,
thou
wast
a
bakers
sonne
.
The
emperour
hereat
amazed
,
presently
began
to
wonder
within
himself
how
that
could
be
.
But
Virgil
instantly
interrupting
his
thoughts
,
said
;
Hearken
sir
,
I
beseech
you
,
on
what
ground
I
build
this
my
opinion
:
Your
majestie
knows
,
that
when
I
formerly
foretold
diverse
things
which
could
not
be
seen
into
nor
foreshown
,
but
by
men
of
great
learning
and
understanding
,
that
your
majestie
the
great
monarch
of
the
world
again
and
again
rewarded
me
with
a
lot
and
allowance
of
bread
,
which
surely
is
the
propertie
eith●r
of
a
baker
or
a
bakers
sonne
.
This
facetious
conceit
pleased
the
emperour
wondrous
well
:
who
thereupon
said
unto
him
,
Thou
shalt
now
be
no
more
rewarded
by
a
baker
,
but
by
a
munifice●t
and
magnificent
king
:
and
ever
after
the
emperour
highly
esteemed
him
and
commended
him
to
Pollio
.
He
was
big
of
body
,
and
tall
of
stature
,
of
a
shallow
complexion
,
hard
favoured
and
of
a
sickly
constitution
,
a
moderate
drinker
,
and
of
a
spare
diet
.
It
is
reported
that
he
was
given
to
the
filthie
and
lu●●full
love
of
boyes
,
but
the
honestest
sort
of
men
of
his
dayes
were
perswaded
he
loved
them
no
otherwise
then
as
Socrates
loved
Alcibiades
,
and
Plato
his
schollars
:
and
that
above
all
other
he
loved
Cebetes
and
Alexander
best
,
whom
in
the
second
Eclog
of
hi●
Bucoiicks
he
termed
Alexis
,
whom
Asinius
Pollio
gave
unto
him
.
And
it
is
reported
also
that
he
kept
Plotia
Hieria
,
but
Asconius
Pedianus
affirms
the
contrarie
from
Virgils
own
s●rious
d●niall
thereof
.
In
all
other
demeanours
of
his
life
he
was
both
in
speech
and
conversation
so
honest
and
upright
,
that
throughout
all
Naples
he
was
called
Virginity
;
and
if
at
any
time
(
as
that
was
but
seldome
)
he
walked
the
streets
of
Rome
,
and
observed
himself
to
be
noted
and
followed
by
any
in
the
streets
,
he
would
retire
himself
immediately
into
the
next
house
he
came
unto
.
He
in
his
moderation
of
riches
refused
the
goods
and
estate
of
a
banished
man
,
which
Augustus
Cesar
profered
to
him
;
having
a
good
competent
estate
of
his
own
,
and
a
house
in
Rome
in
the
Exsquiliae
neare
Mecoenas
his
gardens
.
He
used
much
,
and
most
frequently
,
to
retire
himself
into
Campania
and
Sicil.
In
any
request
to
Cesar
he
never
had
deniall
.
He
was
annually
helpfull
to
his
parents
in
great
measure
,
who
died
when
he
was
himself
grown
to
a
ripe
age
;
his
father
being
blinde
ere
he
died
.
His
two
brethren
Silo
and
Flaccus
being
dead
,
he
bewailed
under
the
name
of
Daphnis
.
Melissus
reports
,
that
he
was
slow
of
tongue
and
sparing
of
speech
,
as
if
he
hadbeen
a
very
ignorant
and
illiterate
man
.
When
he
fir●t
addicted
himself
to
poetry
,
he
made
this
distich
upon
one
Balista
a
master
of
fence
,
who
f●r
report
of
robberies
was
covered
with
a
heap
of
stones
:
Monte
sub
hoc
lapidum
tegitur
Balista
sepultus
;
Nocte
,
die
tutum
carpe
,
viator
,
iter
.
This
heap
of
●●ones
,
Balista's
corps
interre
;
Then
night
or
day
passe
safely
,
passenger
.
After
this
he
wrote
Moretum
,
Priapus
,
Epigrams
,
Dirae
,
Culex
,
and
other
Poems
,
when
he
was
but
about
sixteen
yeares
of
age
.
He
wrote
Aetna
also
:
and
after
that
,
writing
of
Romane
affairs
,
yet
misliking
the
sharpnes
and
rigidnes
of
the
matter
and
names
thereof
,
he
fell
upon
his
Bucolicks
:
especially
to
celebrate
the
names
of
Asinius
Pollio
,
Alphenus
Varius
,
and
Cornelius
Gallus
his
great
friends
.
Afterward
he
wrote
his
Georgi●ks
in
honour
of
Mecoenas
.
Last
of
all
,
he
t●ok
these
Aeneïds
in
hand
,
a
work
of
a
various
and
multifarious
argument
,
and
in
a
manner
,
resembling
both
Homers
works
.
When
he
wrote
the
Georgicks
,
it
is
reported
,
that
every
morning
he
was
accustomed
to
write
a
certain
number
of
verses
,
which
he
would
all
the
day
long
overlook
and
so
abridge
,
and
refine
them
into
a
f●w
,
that
it
might
not
be
unfitly
said
,
that
he
brought
forth
verses
ursino
more
,
as
the
female-be●re
doth
her
young
,
bringing
them
into
due
form
by
licking
.
This
his
work
called
the
Aeneïds
,
he
wrote
first
in
twelve
books
in
prose
(
as
some
think
)
and
afterward
digested
it
into
verse
;
and
some
think
,
that
had
he
lived
he
would
have
enlarged
it
unto
twentie
foure
books
,
even
unto
the
time
of
Augustus
.
Of
his
Aeneïds
(
scarcely
yet
begun
)
there
was
spread
such
a
fame
,
that
Sextus
Propertius
doubted
not
thus
to
write
of
them
;
Cedite
Romani
scriptores
,
cedite
Graii
;
Nesciò
quid
majus
nascitur
Iliade
.
Give
place
,
give
place
Greeks
,
Romane
writers
wise
;
Some
worthi●r
work
then
Ilias
now
doth
rise
.
When
Augustus
Cesar
,
who
by
chance
was
absent
from
the
Cantabrick
expedition
,
requested
Virgil
,
partly
by
intreating
,
partly
by
merrily
m●nacing
letters
,
to
send
him
,
if
it
were
but
a
very
little
,
or
(
as
his
own
words
are
)
some
one
perfect
sentence
of
his
Aeneids
,
he
refused
it
:
but
afterward
,
when
it
was
fully
perfected
,
he
recited
to
him
three
of
the
books
,
namely
the
second
,
the
fourth
,
and
the
sixth
,
and
this
especially
for
Octavia's
sake
,
who
being
there
present
at
the
recitall
of
those
verses
of
her
sonne
,
Tu
Marcellus
eris
&c.
Thou
shalt
Marcellus
be
,
it
is
reported
she
fell
into
a
swound
with
sorrow
:
and
being
with
much
adoe
recovered
,
she
commanded
that
Virgil
should
have
to
the
value
of
five
pound
for
every
verse
.
He
read
his
book
also
to
diverse
,
but
not
often
,
and
those
places
onely
,
whereof
he
made
any
scruple
or
doubt
;
thereby
to
heare
mens
judgements
of
them
.
He
fully
perused
his
Bucolicks
and
Georgicks
:
and
when
he
was
about
52
yeares
old
,
with
a
desire
to
finish
his
Aeneids
,
he
resolved
to
have
withdrawn
himself
into
Greece
and
Asia
,
and
there
to
have
spent
three
whole
yeares
in
correcti●g
and
perusing
it
,
that
he
might
bestow
the
remainder
of
his
dayes
onely
in
the
studie
of
Philosop●ie
.
But
being
in
his
journey
,
at
Athens
he
met
Augustus
returning
out
of
the
East-countreys
towards
Rome
;
whereupon
he
purposed
to
have
returned
home
again
with
the
emperour
:
but
travelling
to
Megara
,
a
town
neare
Athens
,
onely
to
see
it
,
he
took
a
sicknesse
there
,
which
with
continuall
travell
by
sea
so
increased
till
he
came
to
Brundusium
,
that
within
few
dayes
after
he
there
died
,
on
the
22
of
Septemb.
Cneius
Plautius
and
Quintus
Lucretus
being
Consuls
.
When
he
felt
himself
sick
unto
the
death
,
he
called
often
and
very
earnestly
for
his
desk
,
that
he
might
burn
his
Aeneids
:
which
being
denyed
him
,
he
notwithstanding
▪
ordered
by
his
last
will
and
testament
,
that
it
should
be
burned
,
as
a
work
both
faultie
and
imperf●ct
.
But
Tucca
and
Varrus
told
him
that
Augustus
would
by
no
means
suffer
it
.
Whereupon
he
bequeathed
that
work
and
his
other
writings
to
Varius
and
Tucca
,
upon
this
condition
,
that
they
should
set
forth
nothing
but
that
which
he
would
have
set
forth
;
and
such
verses
as
were
imperfect
,
to
leave
so
still
.
He
desired
that
his
bones
should
be
translated
to
Naples
,
where
he
had
lived
long
and
merrily
;
which
at
Cesars
command
was
accordingly
performed
,
and
he
buried
in
the
way
to
Puteoli
.
Vpon
his
tombe
,
at
the
second
stone
was
engraven
this
distick
,
made
by
himself
,
Mantua
me
genuit
,
Calabri
repuêre
;
tenet
nunc
Parthenope
;
Cecini
pascua
,
rura
,
duces
.
Mantua
gave
life
,
Calabria
death
,
a
grave
Parthenop
:
I
sang
fields
,
lands
,
captains
brave
.
Plotius
Tucca
after
Virgils
decease
(
as
he
had
requested
)
at
Cesars
command
,
corrected
the
Aeneids
;
for
no
man
judged
them
to
be
burnt
;
whereof
these
verses
of
Suspitius
the
Carthaginian
,
are
extant
.
Jusserat
haec
rapidis
aboleri
carmina
flammis
Virgilius
,
Phrygium
quae
cecinere
ducem
.
Tucca
vetat
,
Variusque
simul
:
tu
maxime
Caesar
,
Non
sinis
;
&
Latiae
consulis
historiae
.
Infelix
gemino
cecidit
propè
Pergamos
igni
,
Et
penè
est
alio
Troia
cremata
rogo
.
Virgil
these
verses
vow'd
to
fires
fierce
flame
,
Which
sweetly
sang
the
Trojan
princes
fame
.
But
Tucca
,
Varius
,
Cesar
,
to
his
glorie
,
The
fact
forbad
,
preserv'd
th'
Italian
stori●
.
Vnhappie
Troy
,
twice
(
neare
)
with
fire
consum'd
;
Neare
Pergame
perisht
had
,
to
fire
twice
doom'd
.
There
are
extant
also
many
other
and
most
excellent
verses
written
by
Augustus
Cesar
himself
,
to
the
same
effect
:
which
begin
thus
;
Ergóne
supremis
potuit
vox
improba
verbis
Tam
dirum
mandare
nefas
?
Ergò
ibit
in
ignes
,
Magnáque
doctiloqui
morietur
Musa
Maronis
?
And
must
so
vile
a
voice
of
last-will
stand
,
And
such
a
foule
nefarious
fact
command
?
Must
Maro's
marrow
of
pure
poëtrie
,
Most
learned
lines
in
furious
fire
so
frie
?
And
a
little
after
;
Sed
legum
servanda
fides
;
suprema
voluntas
Quod
mand
at
fieríque
jubet
,
parere
necesse
est
.
Frangatur
potiùs
legum
veneranda
potestas
,
Quàm
tot
congestos
noctésque
diésque
labores
Hauserit
una
dies
,
&c.
But
law
,
and
what
last-will
doth
will
,
must
stand
,
And
that
must
be
obey'd
which
laws
command
:
Nay
rather
we
'le
infringe
laws
awfull
power
,
Then
such
rare
nights
and
dayes
toiles
in
one
houre
Suffer
to
suffer
shipwrack
,
&c.
Pedianus
reporteth
,
that
Virgil
was
very
courteous
,
and
a
lover
of
all
good
and
learned
men
,
and
so
unspotted
with
the
foot
of
envie
,
that
if
he
heard
or
saw
any
thing
wittily
or
worthily
said
or
done
by
any
others
,
he
as
much
rejoyced
therein
,
as
if
it
had
been
his
own
:
That
he
used
not
to
dispraise
any
man
,
but
ever
praised
good
men
;
and
that
he
was
so
courteous
and
affable
,
that
there
was
none
(
except
he
were
most
rudely
and
barbarously
inclined
)
but
both
much
favoured
,
and
most
ardently
affected
him
.
He
seemed
utterly
unglued
from
strict
meum
and
tu●m
;
for
his
librarie
stood
still
as
open
to
the
schollars
,
as
to
himself
,
and
oftentimes
used
that
old
adage
of
Euripides
,
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
〈◊〉
,
Communia
amicorum
esse
omnia
,
All
things
are
common
among
friends
.
And
therefore
he
so
lovingly
respected
all
the
poëts
of
his
time
,
that
when
they
were
emulously
and
enviously
jarring
and
snarling
at
o●e
another
,
yet
they
all
with
an
unanime
consent
ever
loved
and
reverenced
him
,
as
Tucca
,
Varius
,
Horace
,
Gallus
,
and
Propertius
.
He
so
much
despised
glorie
,
that
when
some
had
ascribed
and
arrogated
to
themselves
certain
of
his
verses
,
and
were
therefore
had
in
the
greater
reputation
for
their
learning
,
he
not
onely
shewed
himself
no
way
discontented
therewith
,
but
much
rejoyced
at
it
.
For
when
once
he
made
a
couple
of
v●rses
containing
the
praise
and
prosperitie
of
Cesars
emperie
,
which
were
set
upon
the
gates
without
name
,
(
these
were
the
verses
;
Nocte
pluit
tota
,
redeunt
spectacula
mane
,
Divisum
imperium
cum
Iove
Caesar
habet
.
All
night
it
rains
,
next
morn
sights
glut
the
eye
:
Cesar
with
Jove
hath
equall
emperie
.
)
Cesar
having
made
enquirie
for
the
authour
of
them
,
yet
could
not
know
him
,
at
length
Bathyllus
a
certain
plain
poët
(
when
none
would
father
them
)
took
upon
him
to
be
the
authour
of
them
;
and
was
therefore
both
well
rewarded
and
much
respected
by
Cesar.
But
Virgil
not
taking
this
very
well
,
set
upon
the
same
gates
,
this
begining
of
his
conceit
fouretimes
,
Sic
vos
,
non
vobis
,
which
Augustus
Cesar
would
have
had
made
up
:
but
when
many
had
fruitlessely
e●deavoured
it
,
Virgil
himself
rep●yed
thus
to
the
foresaid
distich
:
Hos
ego
versiculos
feci
,
tulit
alter
honores
.
Sic
vos
non
vobis
nidificatis
,
aves
:
Sic
vos
non
vobis
vellera
fertis
,
oves
:
Sic
vos
non
vobis
mellificatis
,
apes
:
Sic
vos
non
vobis
fertis
aratra
,
boves
.
These
verses
I
did
make
,
Others
my
palm
did
take
.
So
you
not
for
you
,
birds
,
build
nests
in
trees
:
So
you
not
for
you
,
sheep
,
wooll-fleeces
beare
:
So
you
not
for
you
gather
honey
,
bees
:
So
you
not
for
you
,
beeves
,
plow-yokes
do
weare
.
This
thus
known
,
Bathyllus
was
for
a
long
time
an
occasion
of
jest
and
laughter
to
the
whole
citie
of
Rome
.
Once
Virgil
having
in
his
hand
the
works
of
Ennius
,
and
being
demanded
by
one
,
what
he
did
with
them
,
he
answered
,
that
he
gathered
gold
out
of
Ennius
his
dung
:
for
that
author
expressed
worthy
sentences
and
matter
under
homely
words
and
phrases
.
Augustus
Cesar
asking
him
how
a
citie
might
be
best
governed
,
he
answered
,
If
the
wisest
men
were
placed
at
the
helm
of
government
,
and
good
men
authorized
to
over-rule
the
bad
;
and
that
thus
men
of
desert
might
have
their
due
honour
,
and
men
of
mean
condition
not
oppressed
w●th
injurie
.
Mecoenas
also
asking
him
what
it
is
that
procures
least
loathsomenesse
and
tediousnesse
to
a
man
,
he
answered
,
The
multitude
and
similitude
of
all
things
offends
every
mans
appetite
and
affection
,
except
of
understanding
.
Mecoenas
asked
him
again
,
how
a
man
might
conserve
from
ruine
a
faire
and
flourishing
estate
?
To
whom
Virgil
answered
,
If
he
excell
others
as
much
in
liberalitie
and
goodnesse
,
as
in
riches
and
in
honour
.
He
was
accustomed
to
say
,
that
none
of
all
the
vertues
was
more
laudable
or
more
profitable
for
a
man
then
patience
;
and
that
no
estate
or
fortune
could
be
so
terrible
or
untoothsome
,
but
that
a
wise
man
by
discreet
sufferance
might
overcome
it
.
Which
he
excelently
urgeth
in
the
fifth
of
his
Aeneïds
,
thus
;
Nate
Dea
,
quà
fata
trahunt
,
retrahúntque
,
sequamur
;
Quicquid
erit
,
superanda
omnis
fortuna
ferendo
est
.
Fair●
Goddesse
sonne
,
let
's
follow
fates
where
s●ere
;
Worst
state
or
fate
by
bearing
let
's
o'rebeare
.
There
are
many
other
worthy
and
memorable
things
written
by
this
authour
,
of
this
our
poet
,
and
his
other
excellent
works
;
which
,
partly
to
avoid
prolixitie
,
partly
also
as
not
being
peculiarly
pertinent
to
this
work
,
I
have
of
purpose
pretermitted
,
and
referre
the
reader
,
for
farther
satisfaction
(
if
he
require
it
)
to
Donatus
himself
in
Servius
his
Commentarie
upon
that
our
Prince
of
Poëts
,
Virgil.