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

960 SYMNMACH US. SYYMMACH US.
charge vaguely preferred, and unsupported by any (Hzst. xii. 21) that Symmachus had published
distinct evidence, that he abused his power when many speeches which were greatly admired (ihyav
chief magistrate of Rome, in order to oppress the adpo'rTovs), not a single remnant of these was known
Christians, seems totally destitute of foundation. to exist until very recently, when Mai discovered
That his leisure hours were devoted exclusively to in one of the palimpsests of the Ambrosian library,
literary pursuits, seems evident from the numerous fragments of eight orations, and subsequently in
allusions in his epistles to the studies in which he another portion of the same palimpsest, deposited
was engaged, and his friendship with Ausonius in the Vatican, some additional fragments of these
and other distinguished authors of that epoch eight and also a portion of a ninth. The titles
proves that he delighted in associating and cor- are, 1. Laudes in Valentinianumt seniorern Agullsresponding with the learned. His wealth must tune I. We have twenty-three short chapters
have been prodigious, for in addition to his town nearly entire; the beginning and the end of the
mansion on the Caelian Hill (Ep. iii. 12, 88, vii. speech are both wanting. 2. Laudes in Valentinia18), and several houses in the city which he lent numn seniorem Augustum II. Extending to twenty
to his friends, he possessed upwards of a dozen chapters, in which there are several blanks and
villas in the most delightful parts of Italy, many imperfections; the beginning and the end are
detached farms, together with estates in Sicily and wanting. 3. Laudes in Gratianum Augustuzm.
Mauritania. The following inscription contains Extending to twelve chapters interrupted by two
a list of his honours and titles as recorded by his blanks; the beginning and the end are wanting.
son:- 4. Laudes in Patres. Extending to four chapters;
Q. AuR. SYMMACHO. V. C. QUAEST. PRART. the beginning and the end are wanting. 5. OraePONTIFICI. MAIORI. CORRECTORI. LUCANIAE. ET. tio pro Patre, returning thanks for the elevation of
BRITTIORUM. COMITI. ORDINIS. TERTI. PROCONS. his father to the consulship. Ten chapters, interAFRICAB. PRAEF. URB. COS. ORDINARIO. ORA- rupted by one blank; the beginning and the end
TORI. DISSERTISSIMO. Q. FAB. MEM. SYMMA- both wanting. 6. Oratio pro Trygetio, recollCHUS. V. C. PATRI. OPTIMO. mending the son of his friend Trygetius for the
The extant works of Symmachus consist of praetorship (see Ep. i. 44). Four chapters;
letters and fragments of speeches. the beginning and the end both wanting. 7.
I. Epistolaruns Libri X., published after his Oratio pro Synesio, recommending the elevation of
death by his son. The last book contains his Synesius, the son of his friend Julianus, to the
official correspondence, and is chiefly composed of dignity of a senator (see Ep. v. 43). Seven
the letters presented by him when praefect of the chapters interrupted by a blank, the portion which
city to the emperors under whom he served. The follows the third chapter having been obtained
remaining books comprise a multitude of epistles, from the Vatican MS. We have here the coinmany of them notes extending to a few lines only, mencement of the speech. 8. Oratio pro o Flaeio
addressed to a wide circle of relations, friends, and Severo. Four chapters; the beginning and the
acquaintances. They relate for the most part to end both wanting. 9. Oratio po Vcalerio Fortumatters of little moment, and notwithstanding the nato, on behalf of a high-born but poor individual
praises so liberally lavished by Politian and Laetus, who was unable to defray the expenses incurred by
are, taken as a whole, uninteresting and destitute officers of the state. Five chapters; the beginning
of value. The style is elaborated with great and and the end are both wanting. It will be seen
painful diligence. Pliny was the object proposed that the above are all of apanegyrical or complifor imitation, and we are presented with a stiff copy mentary character, and while they exhibit considerof a stiff model, in which the degenerate taste and able command of language and grace of expression,
decaying Latinity of the fourth century are en- do not afford an opportunity for the development
grafted on the solemn pedantry and cold affectation of oratorical powers of a high order.
of the original. We must, however, make an We may gather from notices in the epistles and
exception in favour of the most highly finished and in other writers the arguments of several lost oraimportant piece in the collection, the celebrated tions, such as Panegyricus Theodosii senioris (Ep.
epistle "DDD. Valentiniano, Theodosio et Arcadio ii. 1 3.); Panegyricus Maxinzi tyrazni (Socrat.
semper Auggg.," entreating them to restore the H. E. v. 14, comp. Ep. ii. 31); Oratio de abroAltar of Victory to its ancient position in the ganda censura (Ep. iv. 29, 45, v. 9); Oratio de
senate house. This document, whether we con- Polybiifilio (Ep. iv. 45); Oratio contra Gildonemn,
sider the judicious choice of the arguments employed, (Ep. iv. 4); Gratiarums actio (Ep. vii. 50. This,
the skilful arrangement according to which they as Mai suggests, was perhaps not an oration but an
succeed and mutually support each other, the art epistle, comp. Ep. ii. 22, iii. 81).
with which they are developed, the pointed energy Symmachus composed in verse as well as prose,
with which they are enforced, and at the same among other productions a poetic history of Bauli.
time the tone of moderation and liberality which See the lines in Ep. i. 1.
pervades the whole, impresses us with deep admi- Jornandes (de Rebus Get. 15) quotes a long pasration of the genius, learning, dialectic acuteness, sage from an historical work by Symmachus, but it
and eloquence of the author, who seems to have is extremely doubtful whether this Symmlachus is
lacked nothing but a good cause for the display of the same person with the Symmachus we have
his talents. Notwithstanding the folly and false- now been discussing.
ness of the doctrines which he advocates, this state The editio princeps of the epistles of Symmapaper is infinitely superior as a literary composition chus, which contains but a small number of letters,
and a work of art to the well-known reply of St. was printed in 4to., by Bartholomaeus Cynischus
Ambrosius, which is verbose, abusive, and not of Ameria, and although without date or name of
always honest. place, is known to have been published during the
II. Novees Orationznz Fragmenta. Although pontificate of Pope Julius II., that is, A. D. 1503we were told by Socrates (II.E. v. 14) and Callixtus 1513. The second edition, 4to. Argentorat. 1510,