A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

624 CASSIODORUS.
was prolonged until he had nearly completed a
century, in the seclusion of the cloister. Here his
activity of mind was no less conspicuous than
when engaged in the stirring business of the world,
and his efforts were directed towards the accomplishment of designs not less important. The great
object which he kept steadily in view and prosecuted with infinite labour and unflagging zeal, was
to elevate the standard of education among ecclesiastics by inducing them to study the models of
classical antiquity, and to extend their knowledge
of general literature and science. To accomplish
this he formed a library, disbursed large sums in
the purchase of MSS., encouraged the monks to
copy these with care, and devoted a great portion
of his time to labour of this description and to the
composition of elementary treatises on history,
metaphysics, the seven liberal arts, and divinity,
which have rendered him not less celebrated as an
author and a man of learning than as a politician
and a statesman. The leisure hours which remained he is said to have employed in the construction of philosophical toys, such as sun-dials,
water-clocks, everlasting lamps, and the like. The
benefit derived from his precepts and example was
by no means confined to the establishment over
which he presided, nor to the epoch when he
flourished. The same system, the advantages of
which were soon perceived and appreciated, was
gradually introduced into similar institutions, the
transcription of ancient works became one of the
regular and stated occupations of the monastic life,
and thus, in all probability, we are indirectly indebted to Cassiodorus for the preservation of a
large proportion of the most precious relics of ancient genius. The following is a list of all the
writings of Cassiodorus with which we are acquainted:1. " Variarum (Epistolarum) Libri XII.," an
assemblage of state papers drawn up by Cassiodorus
in accordance with the instructions of the sovereigns whom he served. In the first ten books
the author always speaks in the person of the ruler
for the time being; in the last two, in his own.
The first five contain the ordinances of Theodoric,
the sixth and seventh regulations (formulae) with
regard to the chief offices of the kingdom, the
eighth, ninth, and tenth, the decrees promulgated
by the immediate successors of Theodoric, the
eleventh and twelfth the edicts published by Cassiodorus himself during the years 534-538, when
praefect of the praetorium. This collection is of
the greatest historical importance, being our chief
and most trustworthy source of information in regard to everything connected with the constitution
and internal discipline of the Ostrogothic dominion
in Italy. We must not, however, expect to find
much that is attractive or worthy of imitation in
the style of these documents. While we cannot
help admiring the ingenuity displayed in the selection and combination of phrases, moulded for the
most part into neat but most artificial forms,
and polished with patient toil, we at the same
time feel heartily wearied and disgusted by the
sustained affectation and declamatory glitter which
disfigure every page. The language is full of
strange and foreign words, and little attention is
paid to the delicacies of syntax, but Funccius is
too harsh when he designates it as a mere mass of
Gothic solecisms. Perhaps the best description
which can be given of the general effect produced

CASSIODORUS.
upon the reader by these compositions is contained
in the happy expression of Tiraboschi, who characterises the diction of Cassiodorus as " barbara
eleganza."
The Editio Princeps of the " Variarum" was
printed under the inspection of Accursius by Henr.
Sileceus, at Augsburg, in the month of May,
1533 (fol.), the disquisition " De Anima" being
included in the same volume.
2. " Chronicon," a dull, pompous, clumsy summary of Universal History, extending from the
creation of the world down to A. D. 519, derived
chiefly from Eusebius, Hieronymus, Prosper, and
other authorities still accessible. It was drawn up
in obedience to the orders of Theodoric, and by no
means deserves the respect with which it was regarded in the middle ages, since it is carelessly
compiled and full of mistakes.
3. " Historiae Ecclesiasticae Tripartitae ex tribus Graecis Scriptoribus, Sozomeno, Socrate, ac
Theodoreto ab Epiphanio Scholastico Versis, per
Cassiodorum Senatorem in Epitomen redactae
Libri XII." The origin of this work is sufficiently
explained by the title. It contains a complete
survey of ecclesiastical history from Constantine
down to the younger Theodosius. This, like the
Chronicon, is of little value in the present day,
since the authorities from which it is taken are still
extant, and are infinitely superior both in matter
and manner to the epitomizer. Prefixed we have
an introduction, in which Cassiodorus gives full
scope to his taste for inflated grandiloquence. The
editio princeps of the Ecclesiastical History was
printed by Johannes Schussler, at Augsburg, 1472,
fol.
4. " Computus Paschalis sive de Indictionibus,
Cyclis Solis et Lunae," &c., containing the calculations necessary for the correct determination of
Easter. This treatise belongs to the date 562,
and this is the latest year in which we can prove
the author to have been alive.
5. " De Orthographia Liber," compiled by Cassiodorus when 93 years old from the works of nine
ancient grammarians,-Agnaeus Cornutus, Velius
Longus, Curtius Valerianus, Papirianus, Adamantius Martyrius, Eutyches, Caesellius, Lucius Caecilius Vindex, and Priscianus, in addition to whom
we find quotations from Varro, Donatus, and
Phocas.
6. " De Arte Grammatica ad Donati Mentem,"
of which a fragment only has been preserved.
This tract, together with the preceding, will be
found in the " Grammaticae Latini Auctores antiqui" of Putschius, Hanov. 1605, p. 2275 and
p. 2322.
7. " De Artibus ac Disciplinis Liberalium Literarum," in two books, a compilation from the best
authorities, much esteemed and studied during the
middle ages. It contains a compendium of the
seven liberal arts which were at one time supposed
to embrace the whole circuit of human knowledge,
-Grammar, Rhetoric, Dialectics, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy, Music.
Angelo Mai has recently published from a Vatican MS. some chapters, hitherto unedited, which
seem to have formed the conclusion of the work.
(Classzcorum Auctorum e Vat. Codd. vol. iii. p. 349.)
8. " De Anima," on the name, origin, nature,
qualities, abode, and future existence of the soul,
together with speculations upon other topics connected with the same subject.