ANATOLIUS.
ABout the same time, under the same Emperour, and under Carus his Successor, Anatolius also flou∣rish'd, born at Alexandria, and Bishop of Lacdicea in Syria; a Man of profound Learning, very well skilled in Arithmetick, Geometry, Physick, Astronomy, Grammar, and Rhetorick. Eusebius and St. Jerome assure us, that the greatness of his Spirit, the force of his Eloquence, and the depth of his Knowledge, abundantly appear in a Book of his concerning Easter; and that he show'd the Dexterity of his Address and Politicks in the Siege of Alexandria, which by his Prudent Counsels he saved from an entire Destruction that threatned it. Eusebius in the last Chapter of his Seventh Book, has preserved a Fragment of this Treatise about Easter, concerning the time wherein that Festival is to be celebrated. This same Author likewise composed Ten Books of Arithmetick, and left behind him several Monu∣ments of his Learning and Exactness; particularly in those things that concerned the Holy Scriptures.
Aegidius Bucherius hath given us an entire Version of the Treatise about Easter by Anatolius, which he Copied out of an ancient Manuscript. He pretends that it was done by Ruffinus, and that it answers the Treatise of Anatolius. And indeed, the Fragment cited by Eusebius, is to be found intirely in Latin, and the Passages cited by Bede are there word for word. But it would be no strange thing, for an Im∣postor to insert a Passage mentioned by Eusebius, that was so easie to find, and for this Work to be forged since Bede's time. Though I am of Opinion, That this Canon is ancient, though full of Errours, and perhaps a little corrupted by him that Translated it.