The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

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Title
The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome
Author
Pliny, the Elder.
Publication
London :: Printed by Adam Islip,
1634.
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Subject terms
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. XXX.

¶ Of Plato, Ennius, Virgil, M. Varro, and M. Cicero.

DEnis the tyrant, borne otherwise to pride and cruelty, being aduertised of the comming and arriuall of Plato, that great clerke and prince of learning, sent out to meet him a ship [unspec F] adorned with goodly ribbands, and himselfe mounted vpon a charriot drawne with foure white horses, receiued him as if he had bin a K. at the hauen, when hee dis barked and came aland. Isocrates sold one Oration that he made for 20 talents of gold. Aeschines that famous ora∣tour of Athens in his time, hauing at Rhodes rehearsed that accusatorie oration which he had

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made against Demosthenes, read withall his aduersaries defence againe; by occasion wherof he [unspec G] was confined to Rhodes, and there liued in banishment: and when the Rhodians that heard it wondred thereat; Nay (qd. Aeschines) you would haue maruelled much more at it, if you had heard the man himselfe pronouncing it, & pleading Viua voce: yeelding thus as you see a no∣table testimony of his aduersary, in the time of his aduersitie. The Athenians exiled Thucidides their Generall Captaine: but after he had written his Chronicle, they called him home again, wondring at the eloquence of the man, whose vertue and prowesse they had before condemned. The KK. of Egypt and Macedonie gaue a singular testimony how much they honoured Menan∣der the Comicall poet, in that they sent Embassadors for him, and a fleet to waft him for his more securitie: but he wan vnto himselfe more fame and glory by his owne setled iudgement, for that he esteemed more of his owne priuat study and following his book, than of all those fa∣uors offered vnto him from great princes. Moreouer, there haue bin great personages and men [unspec H] of high calling at Rome, who haue shewed the like in token, how they esteemed and regarded the learned crew of forrein nations. Cn. Pompeius, after he had dispatched the war against Mi∣thridates, intended to go and visit Posidonius, that renowned professor of learning; and when hee should enter into the mans house, gaue streight commandement to his Lictors or Huishers, that they should not (after their ordinary maner with all others) r•…•…p at his dore; and this great warriour, vnto whom both the East and West parts of the world had submitted, vailed bonet, as it were, and based his armes and ensignes of state which his officers carried, before the verie dore of this Philosopher. Cato, syrnamed Censorius, vpon a time when there came to Rome that noble embassage from Athens, consisting of three, the wisest sages among them; when hee had heard Carneades speake (who was one of those three) gaue his opinion presently, That those em∣bassadors [unspec I] were to be dispatched and sent away with all speed; for feare least if that man argued the case, it would be an hard piece of worke to sound and find out the truth, so pregnant were his reasons, and so witty his discourses. But Lord! what a change is there now in mens manners and dispositions! This Cato, the renowned Censor, both now and at all times else, could not a∣bide to haue any Grecian within Italy, but alwaies gaue judgement to them all in generall to be expelled: but after him there comes his nephew once remoued, or his nephewes sonne, who brought one of their Philosophers ouer with him, when he had bin military Tribune or knight marshall: and another likewise vpon his embassage to Cypres. And verily a wonder it is and a memorable thing to consider how these two Catoes differed in another point: for the former of them could not away with the Greek tongue; the other that killed himselfe at Vtica, esteemed [unspec K] it as highly. But to leaue strangers, let vs now speak of our own countrimen, so renowned in this behalfe. Scipio Africanus the elder, gaue expresse order, and commanded, That the statue of Q. Ennius the poet should be set ouer his tomb, to the end, that the great name and stile of Afri∣canus, or indeed the booty rather that hee had woon and carried away from a third part of the world, should in his monument vpon the reliques of his ashes be read together with the title of this poet. Augustus Caesar late Emperor, expressely forbad that the Poeme of Virgil should be burned, notwithstanding that he by his last wil and testament on a modesty, gaue order to the contrary: by which means there grew more credit and authority vnto the Poet, than if himself had approued and allowed his owne verses. Asinius Pollio was the first that set vp a publicke Li∣brary at Rome, raised of the spoile and pillage gained from the enemies. In the Library of [unspec L] which gentleman, was erected the image of M. Varro, euen whiles he liued: a thing that won as great honor to M. Varro in mine opinion (considering that amongst those fine wits, whereof a great number then flourished at Rome, his hap only was to haue the garland at the hands of a noble citizen and an excellent Orator beside:) as that other nauall crowne gained him, which Pompey the Great bestowed vpon him for his good seruice in the pyrats war. Infinite examples more there are of vs Romans, if a man would seeke after them and search them out: for this only nation hath brought forth more excellent and accomplished men in euery kinde, than all the lands besides of the whole world. But what a sin should I commit, if I proceeded farther and speake not of thee, O M. Cicero? and yet how should I possibly write of thee according to thy worthinesse? would a man require a better proofe of thy condigne praises, than the most ho∣norable [unspec M] testimony of the whole body of that people in generall, and the acts onely of thy Con∣sulship, chosen out of al other vertuous deeds throughout thy whole life? Thine eloquence was the cause that all the Tribes renownced the law Agraria, as touching the diuision of Lands a∣among

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the commons, albeit their greatest maintenance and nourishment consisted therein. [unspec A] Through thy persuasion they pardoned Roscius, the first author of that seditious bill and law, whereby the States and degrees of the city were placed distinctly in their seats at the Theatre: they were content I say, and tooke it well, that they were noted and pointed at for this diffe∣rence in taking place and rowms, which he first brought in. By means of thy orations, the chil∣dren of proscript and outlawed persons were ashamed and abashed to sue for honorable digni∣ties in common-weale: thy witty head it was that put Catiline to flight, and banished him the city: thou, and none but thou didst out-law M. Antonius, and put him out of the protection of the State. All haile therefore, O M. Tullius, faire chieue thee, thou that first was saluted by the name of Parens patriae, i. Father of thy countrey: first that deserued triumpth in thy long robe, & the laurel garland, for thy language: the only father indeed of eloquence & of the Latin tongue: and (as Caesar Dictator somtime thine enemy hath written of thee) hast deserued a crown aboue [unspec B] all other triumphs, by how much more praise-worthy it is, to haue amplified and set out the bounds and limits of Roman wit and learning, than of Roman ground and dominion.

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