No More Learning

Nay, he is even sus
two of his works, of which little more than the pected of more infamous vices. (Tacit. Ant. i. 54. )
titles remain, were tragedies, namely the Pro- In his way of life Maecenas was addicted to
metheus and Octavia. But Seneca (Ěp. 19) calls every species of luxury. We find several allusions
the former a book (librum); and Octavia, men in the ancient authors to the effeminacy of his
tioned in Priscian (lib. 10), is not free from the dress. Instead of girding his tunic above his
suspicion of being a corrupt reading. An hexameter knees, he suffered it to hang loose about his heels,
line supposed to have belonged to an epic poem, like a woman's petticoat ; and when sitting on the
another line thought to have been part of a Galli- tribunal he kept his head covered with his pullium
ambic poem, one or two epigrams, and some other (Sen. Ep. 114). Yet, in spite of this softness be
fragments, are extant, and are given by Meibom was capable of exerting himself when the occasion
and Frandsen in their lives of Maecenas. In prose required, and of acting with energy and decision
he wrote a work on natural history, which Pliny (Vell. Pat. ii. 86). So far was he from wishing
several times alludes to, but which seems to have to conceal the softness and effeminacy of his man-
related chiefly to fishes and gems. Servius (ad ners, that he made a parade of his vices ; and,
Virg. Aen. viii. 310) attributes a Symposium to him. during the greatest heat of the civil wars, openly ap-
If we may trust the same authority be also com- peared in the public places of Rome with a couple of
posed soine memoirs of Augustus ; and Horace eunuchs in his train (Senec. l. c. ). He was fond
(Curm. ii. 12. 9) alludes to at least some project of theatrical entertainments, especially pantomimes;
of the kind, but which was probably never carried as may be inferred from his patronage of Bathyllus,
into execution. Maecenas's prose style was affected, the celebrated dancer, who was a freedman of his.
unnatural, and often unintelligible, and for these It has been concluded from Tacitus (Ann. i. 54)
qualities he was derided by Augustus. (Suet that he first introduced that species of representation
Aug. 26. ) Macrobius (Saturn. ii. 4) has pre at Rome ; and, with the politic view of keeping
served part of a letter of the emperor's, in which the people quiet by amusing them, persuaded
he takes off his minister's way of writing. The Augustus to patronize it. Dion Cassius (lv. 7)
author of the dialogue De Causis Corruptae Elo tells us that he was the first to introduce warm
quentiae (c. 26) enumerates him among the orators, swimming baths at Rome. His love of ointments
but stigmatises his affected style by the term cala- is tacitly satirized by Augustus (Suet. Aug. 86),
mistros Maecenatis. Quintilian (Inst
. Orat. ix. 4. $ and his passion for gems and precious stones is
28) and Seneca (Ep. 114) also condemn his style; notorious. According to Pliny he paid some at-
and the latter author gives a specimen of it which tention to cookery ; and as the same author (xix.
is almost wholly unintelligible. Yet, he likewise 57) mentions a book on gardening, which had been
tells us (Ep. 19), that he would have been very dedicated to him by Sabinus Tiro, it has been
eloquent if he had not been spoiled by his good thought that he was partial to that pursuit His
fortune ; and allows him to have possessed an in- tenacious, and indeed, unmanly love of life, he has
genium grande et virile (Ep. 92). According to himself painted in some verses preserved by Seneca
Dion Cassius (lv. 7), Maecenas first introduced (Ep. 107), and which, as affording a specimen of
short-hand, and instructed many in the art through his style, we here insert:-
bis freedman, Aquila. By other authors, however,
Debilem facito manu
the invention has been attributed to various persons
Debilem pede, coxa ;
of an earlier date ; as to Tiro, Cicero's freedman,
Tuber adstrue gibberum,
to Cicero himself, and even to Ennius.
Lubricos quate dentes ;
But though seemingly in possession of all the
Vita dum superest, bene esta
means and appliances of enjoyment, Maecenas
Hanc mihi, vel acuta
cannot be said to have been altogether happy in
Si sedeam cruce, sustine. --
his domestic life. We have already alluded to an
intrigue between Augustus and his wife Terentia ; | From these lines it has been conjectured that he
but this was not the only infringement of his belonged to the sect of the Epicureans ; but of his
domestic peace.
Terentia, though exceedingly philosophical principles nothing certain is known.
beautiful, was of a morose and haughty temper, That moderation of character which led him to
and thence quarrels were continually occurring be- he content with his equestrian rank, probably arose
tween the pair. Yet the natural uxoriousness of from the love of ease and luxury which we have
Maecenas as constantly prompted him to seek a described, or it might have been the result of more
reconciliation ; so that Seneca (Ep. 114) remarks prudent and political views. As a politician, the
that he married a wife a thousand times, though he principal trait in his character was fidelity to his
never had more than one. Her influence over him master (Maecenatis erunt vera tropaea fides, Pro-
was so great, that in spite of his cautious and pert. iii. 9), and the main end of all his cares was
tacitum temper, he was on one occasion weak the consolidation of the empire. But, though he
enough to confide an important state secret to her, advised the establishment a despotic monarchy,
respecting her brother Murena, the conspirator he was at the same time the advocate of mild and
(Suet. Aug. 66 ; Dion Cass. liv. 3). Maecenas liberal measures. He recommended Augustus to put
himself, however, was probably in some measure to no check on the free expression of public opinion ;
blame for the terms on which he lived with his but above all to avoid that cruelty, which, for so
wife, for he was far from being the pattern of a many years, had stained the Roman annals with
good husband. His own adulteries were notorious. blood (Senec. Ep. 114). To the same effect is the
Augustus, in the fragment of the letter in Macrobius anecdote preserved by Cedrenus, the Byzantine
before alluded to, calls him uán ayua maecharum ; | historian ; that when on some occasion Octavianus
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## p. 895 (#911) ############################################

MAECILIA GENS.
895
MAELIUS.
sat on the tribunal, condemning numbers to death, 1. L. MAECILIUS, one of those tribunes of tho
Maecenas, who was among the bystanders, and plebs who were chosen for the first time in the
could not approach Caesar by reason of the crowd, comitia tributa, B. C. 471. (Liv. ii. 58. )
wrote upon his tablets, “ Rise, hangman ! " (Surge 2. SP. MAECILIUS, chosen for the fourth time
tandem carnifex /), and threw them into Caesar's tribune of the plebs, B. C. 416. (Liv. iv. 48. )
lap, who immediately left the judgment-Beat (comp. In the time of Augustus we find the name of
Dion Cass. Iv. 7).
M. Maecilius Tullus, a triumvir of the mint, on
Maecenas appears to have been a constant vale many coins (Eckhel, vol v. p. 240);
and at length
tudinarian. If Pliny's statement (vii. 51) is to be not long before the downfall of the Roman empire
taken literally, he laboured under a continual fever. in the west a Maecilius obtained the imperial
According to the same author he was sleepless dignity. (Avitus, MAECILIUS. )
during the last three years of his life ; and Seneca MAECIUS, QUINTUS (Koivros Malkis), the
tells us (de Provid. iii. 9) that he endeavoured to author of twelve epigrams in the Greek Anthology,
procure that sweet and indispensable refreshment, which are among the best in the collection, was
by listening to the sound of distant symphonies. evidently, from his name, a Roman ; but nothing
We may infer from Horace (Carm. ii. 17) that he further is known of him. (Brunck. Anal. vol. ii.
was rather hypochondriacal. He died in the con- p. 236, vol. iii. p. 332 ; Jacobs, Anth. Graec. vol.
sulate of Gallus and Censorinus, B. C. 8 (Dion ii. p. 220, vol. xiii. pp. 913, 914; Fabric. Bibl.
Cass. lv. 7), and was buried on the Esquiline. He Graec. vol. iv. p. 481. )
[P. S. ]
Jeft no children, and thus by his death his ancient fa- MAE'LIA GENS, the richest plebeian gens of
mily became extinct. He bequeathed his property to the equestrian order, shortly after the time of the
Augustus, and we find that Tiberius afterwards re- decemvirate. The name does not occur after the
sided in his house (Suet. Tib. 15). Though the Samnite wars. Of this gens CAPITOLINUS is the
emperor treated Maecenas with coldness during the only cognomen mentioned.
latter years of his life, he sincerely lamented his MAELIUS. 1. SP. MAELIUS, the richest
death, and seems to bave sometimes felt the want of the plebeian knights, employed his fortune in
of so able, so honest, and so faithful a counsellor. buying up corn in Etruria in the great famine at
(Dion Case. liv. 9, 1v. 7 ; Senec. de Ben. vi. 32. ) Rome in B. C. 440. This com he sold to the poor
The life of Maecenas has been written in Latin at a small price, or distributed it gratuitously.
by John Henry Meibom, in a thin quarto, entitled Such liberality gained him the favour of the ple-
Liber singularis de C. Cünü Maecenatis Vita, Mori- beians, but at the same time exposed him to the
bus, et Rebus Gestis, Leyden, 1653. It contains at hatred of the ruling class. Accordingly, in the
the end the elegies ascribed to Pedo Albinovanus, following year, B. c. 439, soon after the consuls had
and is a learned and useful work, though the entered upon their office, L. Minucius Augurinus,
author has taken an extravagant view of his hero's who had been appointed praefectus annonae [Au-
virtues, and, according to the fashion of those days, GURINUS, No. 5), revealed to the senate a con-
has been rather too liberal of the contents of his spiracy which Maelius was said to have formed for
commonplace book. In Italian there is a life by the purpose of seizing the kingly power. He de-
Cenni, Rome 1684 ; by Dini, Venice 1704 ; and clared that the tribunes had been bribed by Mae-
by Sante Viola, Rome, 1816; in German, by lius, that secret assemblies had been held in his
Bennemann; Leipzig, 1744 ; by Dr. Albert Lion house, and that arms had been collected there.
(Maecenatiana), Göttingen, 1824 ; and by Frand- Thereupon the aged Quintius Cincinnatus was im-
sen, Altona, 1843 ; which last is by far the best mediately appointed dictator, and C. Servilius
life of Maecenas. In French there is a life of Abala, the master of the horse. During the night
Maecenas by the Abbé Richer, Paris, 1746. The the capitol and other strong places were garrisoned,
only life in English is by Dr. Ralph Schomberg, and in the morning the dictator appeared in the
London, 1766, 12mo. It is a mere compilation forum with an armed force. Maelius was summoned
from Meibom and Richer, and shows no critical to appear before his tribunal ; but as he saw the
discrimination.
[T. D. ] fate which awaited him, he refused to go, seized a
MA'ECIA GENS, plebeian.
Only one person butcher's knife to ward off the officer (apparitor),
of this gens is mentioned under the republic, Sp. who was preparing to drag him along, and took
Maecius Tarpa, a contemporary of Cicero (TARPA); refuge among the crowd. Straightway Ahala,
but under the empire the Maecii became more dis- with an armed band of patrician youths, rushed
tinguished though they are rarely mentioned by into the crowd, and slew Maelius. His property
ancient writers. Thus we find on coins mention was confiscated, and his house pulled down ; its
made of a M. Maecius Rufus, who was proconsul vacant site, which was called the Aequimaelium,
of Bithynia in the reign of Vespasian ; in inscrip continued to subsequent ages a memorial of his
tions (Gruter, p. 49. 3) of a M. Maecius Rufus fate. Niebuhr says that it lay at the foot of the
who was consul with L. Turpilius Dexter, though capitol, not far from the prison.
the date of their consulship is uncertain ; and in Later ages, following the traditions of the Quin-
the consular Fasti of a M. Maecius Memmius tian and Servilian houses, fully believed the story
Furius Placidus, who was consul A. D. 343, with of Maelius's conspiracy. Thus Cicero speaks of
Fl. Pisidius Romulus.
him as “ omnibus exosus" (de Amic. 8), and re-
MAECIA'NUS, the son of Avidius Cassius, peatedly praises the glorious deed of Ahala. But
was, at the breaking out of the rebellion against his guilt is very doubtful, and his death was clearly
M. Aurelius, entrusted by his father with the com- an act of murder, since the dictator himself had no
mand of Alexandria, and was soon afterwards slain right to put him to death, but only to bring him to
by his own soldiers. (Capitolin. M. Aurel. 25. ) trial before the comitia centuriata. The fact that he
[AVIDIUS Cassius. ]
(W. R] was thus violently and illegally slain, is a strong
MAECI'LIA GENS, plebeian. "Only two proof that no crime could be proved against him.
members of it are mentioned under the republic Niebuhr thinks it not improbable that the real de


## p. 896 (#912) ############################################

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sign of Maelius was to obtain the consulship for protecting power of the tribunes ceased. All who
himself, and to compel the patricians to divide it be refused to obey the summons of the consuls were
tween the two orders. None of the alleged accom- punished (Dionys viii. 87). The manuscripts of
plices of Maelius was punished; but Ahala was Dionysius have C. Manius, for which Lupus sub
brought to trial, and only escaped condemnation by stituted Manilius, and Gelenius Maenius ; but
a voluntary exile. [AHALA, No. 2. ) (Liv. iv. the latter is no doubt the correct conjecture. (Nie-
13–16; Zonar. vii. 20; Dionys. Exc. Vat. in buhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. ii. p. 185, n. 410. )
Mai, Noo. Collect. ii. p. 466 ; Cic. de Senect. 16, 3. M. MAENIUS, tribune of the plebs B. C. 410,
in Cat. i. 1, de Rep. ii. 27, Philipp. ii. 44, pro was the proposer of an agrarian law, and attempted,
Mil. 17, pro Dom. 38 ; Val. Max. vi. 3. § 1; like his predecessor (No. 2), to prevent the consuls
Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. ii. p. 418, &c. ) from levying troops, till this law was passed and
2. Sp. Maelius, tribune of the plebs B. c. 436, carried into execution. But as the consuls were
brought in a bill for confiscating the property of supported by the nine colleagues of Maenius, they
Ahala, but it failed. (Liv. iv. 21. ) Livy makes were able to enforce the levy. So great was the
no other mention of the punishment of Ahala ; but popularity of Maenius, that the senate resolved
it is stated on other authorities, as is mentioned that consuls should be elected for the following
above, that Ahala was brought to trial, and only / year, and not consular tribunes, because, if the
escaped condemnation by a voluntary exile. (Val. latter had been elected, Maenius would have been
Max. v. 3. & 2; comp. Cic. de Rep. i. 3, pro Dom. sure to have been one of the number. (Liv. iv. 53. )
32. )
4. P. MAENIUS, is mentioned by Livy as con-
3. Q. Maelius, tribune of the plebs B. C. 320, sular tribune in B. C. 400, and again in B. C. 396
maintained, with his colleague, Ti. Numicius or L. (Liv. v. 12, 18). The name, however, is written
Livius, that the peace made with the Samnites at variously in the manuscripts. Alschefski, the latest
the Caudinc Forks ought to be faithfully kept editor of Livy, reads P. Manlius in the former of
They had been present at the battle, and they are these years, but retains P. Macnius in the latter.
mentioned among the other officers who were sur- In the Fasti Capitolini the name Maenius does not
rendered to the Samnites, when the Romans re- occur in either of these years, but instead of it we
solved not to adhere to the agreement. (Liv. ix. have P. Manlius Vulso, in B. C. 400, and Q.
8; Cic. de Off. iii. 30. ) As to the question how Manlius Vulso, in B. C. 396. The names in
tribunes of the plebs could have been with the Diodorus (xiv. 47, 90) differ again ; and it seems
army on that occasion, see Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, to be impossible to reconcile the conflicting state-
vol. iii. p. 220.
ments. In any case Livy is in error in designating
MAEMACTES (Maiyáktis), i. e. the stormy, Maelius and his colleagues as patricians.
a surname of Zeus, from which the name of the 5. M. MAENIUS, occurs in the old editions of
Attic month Maemacterion was derived. In that Livy (vi. 19) as tribune of the plebs in B. C. 384,
month the Maemacteria was celebrated at Athens. where, however, Alschefski, in accordance with the
(Plut. de Ir. cohib. 9. )
[L. S. ] best MSS. , now reads M. Menenius. In the same
MAENAʼLIUS or MAENA'LIDES (Maivá. way, in another passage (vii. 16), we ought to
Acos), a surname of Pan, derived from mount read L. Menenius, instead of L. Maenius, as tribune
Maenalus in Arcadia, which was sacred to the of the plebs in B. C. 357.
god. (Paus. viii. 26. & 2, 36. & 5; Oy. Fast. iv. 6. C. MAENIUS P. F. P. N. , consul, in B. C.
650. )
(L. S. ] 338, with L.