As no ancient
writer makes mention of this writer, and as his pro-
duction contains no account either of himself, his
^ountry, or the period when ho wrote, his era can only
ha filed by conjecture.
writer makes mention of this writer, and as his pro-
duction contains no account either of himself, his
^ountry, or the period when ho wrote, his era can only
ha filed by conjecture.
Charles - 1867 - Classical Dictionary
she was the
goddess of gardens. She was held to be the same
as Libitina, the goddess of funerals, because, says Plu-
tarch (Quasi. Rom. , 23), the one and the same god-
less superintends birth a. id death. -- There was at
Rome a temple of Venus Fruti (Festus, s. v. Frutinal),
which latter term seems to be merely a corruption of
? ? Aphrodite. It may, however, be connected with fruc-
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? V LR
V? S
reconcile thane two opinions by admitting that the
Cehomanni made this settlement in the territory pre-
viously possessed by the Rhteti and Euganei. Under
tbo dominion of the Romans it soon became a large
and flourishing city. (Strao. , 212. ) It ia supposed
to have been colonized by Pompeius Strabo. Tacitus
speaks of it in later times as a most opulent and im-
portant colony, the possession of which enabled Ves-
pasian's party to begin offensive operations against the
Lrctt of Vitellius, and to strike a decisive blow.
{Tacit. , Hist. , 3, 8. ) The celebrity of Verona is still
farther established as being the birthplace of Catullus
(Or. , Am. , 3, 14. -- Martial, 14, 193) and of Pliny
tho naturalist, who, in his preface, calls himself the
countryman of Catullus. It was in the neighbour-
hood of Verona that the famous Kha tic wine, so high-
ly commended by Virgil, was grown. (Georg. , 2,
94. --Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 70. )
Vkrres, C, a Roman who governed the province
of Sicily as praetor. The oppression and rapine of
which he was guilty while in office were of the most
flagrant description, and he was accused by the Sicil-
ians of extortion on the expiration of his office. Ci-
cero managed the prosecution, Hortensius appeared
for the defence. Of Cicero's six orations against
Verres that have come down to us, only one was pro-
nounced. Driven to despair by the depositions of the
witnesses after the first oration, he submitted, without
awaiting his sentence, to a voluntary exile. The
other rive orations of Cicero, forming the scries of
harangues which he intended to deliver after the proof
was completed, were subsequently published in the
same shape as if Verres bad actually stood his trial,
and had made a regular defence. He perished af-
terward in the proscription of Antony, whom he had
offended by refusing to share with him his Corinthian
vases. Verres appears during his exile to have lived
in great affluence on his ill-gotten gains. (Cic. in
Verr. )
Vkrrius Fliccus, a freedman and grammarian,
famous for his powers in instructing. He was ap-
pointed tutor to the grandchildren of Augustus, and
also distinguished himself by his writings, which were
historical and grammatical. Suetoniua also informs
us that he caused to be incrustcd on a semicircular
ouilding at Pneneste twelve tablets of marble, on
which was cut a Roman calendar, which Suetonius
and Macrobius often cite. Four of these tablets, or,
rather, fragments of them, were discovered in 1770,
and published by Foggini in 1779. They contain the
months of January, March, April, and December, and
throw great light on the Fasti of Ovid. Verrius
Flaccus was at the head of a celebrated school cf
grammarians. His principal work in this line was en-
titled de Verborum Signijicalione. It was abridged by
Festus, a grammarian of the fourth century. Tho
abridgment has reached us, but the original work ia
lost. ( Vid. Festus. --Aul. Gcll. , 4, 5. --Suetm. , II-
lastr. Gram , 17. )
Virtumnus or Vortomnus, a deity among the Ro-
? nans. According to some, he was, like Mercury, a
deity presiding over merchandise. (Ascon. ad Cic.
in Verr. , 2, 1, 59. --Scltol. ad Horal. , Epist. , 1, 20,
I. ) Vim, in one place, says he was a Tuscan god,
and that, t. ? refurc, his statue was in tho Tuscan street
at Rome (L. L , 4, 4, p. 14); in another, he sets him
among the gods worshipped by the Sabine king Ta-
? ? lius. (L. L. , p. 22. ) Horace uses Vertumni in the
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? VESPASIANL'S
tie. ai. d gave it once more an actual power in the gov-
ernment. TV, courts of law were also subjected to a
most salutary reform, and rendered again, what they
had long ceased to be, courts oi' justice. The insub-
ordination of the army, which had been the cause of
<<o many bloody revolutions, he repressed with a firm
and steady hand; and restored, in a great measure,
the discipline which had made it so powerful in its bet-
ter days. He directed his attention also to the treas-
ury, which had been quite exhausted by the prodiga
and corrupt expenditure of his predecessors; and
in order to replenish its coffers, he regulated anew the
tribute and custom-dues of the provinces, and imposed
a number of taxes; by which means, though he was
accused of avarice, he placed once more the revenues
of the empire on a stable basis, and restored them to a
flourishing condition. The large sums thus raised
Vespasian did not expend in revelry, neither did he
hoard up in useless masses. He rebuilt the temple
of Jupiter Capitolinus, which had been destroyed du-
ring the tumults that accompanied the fall of Vitellius;
and adorned the city with many other public buildingH
of great elegance and splendour; thus evincing, that,
though rigorous and exact in his methods of amassing
treasure, he knew, on proper occasions, how to use it
witli no parsimonious hand. Under him the empire
began to breathe with fresh life, and to exhibit signs of
prosperity and happiness, such as it had not known
aince the reign of Augustus. His son Titus being
raised to the dignity of Ca? sar, by which name the suc-
cessor to the throne was designated, the peace and
welfare of the empire seemed secured on a stable ba-
his. During the reign of Vespasian, the arms of Rome
were prosperous in various parts of the world. Sev-
eral states bordering on the Roman dominions were
reduced by his generals to the condition of provinces.
But the most celebrated, though not the most formi-
dable war which distinguished his reign, was that in
which he was engaged when he was called to the
throne, the war against the Jews. This was conduct-
ed by his son Titus after his departure to Rome to
enter on the possession of imperial power. The events
of this memorable war are so well known that they
need not here be detailed. Suffice it to state, that af-
ter Jerusalem had been closely invested, the Jews re-
fused all terms of capitulation, blindly trusted in some
terrible interposition of divine power to save them and
consume their enemies, butchered each other with in-
conceivable barbarity during every temporary cessation
of warfare, enduring the wildest extremes of famine,
and, after suffering every form and kind of misery, to
i degree unparalleled in the world's history, their city
ivJH taken, and, together with their celebrated temple,
was reduced to heaps of shapeless ruins; and such of
them as survived these awful calamities were scatter-
ed over the face of the earth, and rendered a mockery,
i proverb, and a reproach among nations. In conse-
quence of this victory over the Jews, Titus and the
imperor enjoyed together the honours of a splendid
triumph, while the rich vessels of the temple of Jeru-
lalein were in gorgeous procession borne in the train
of the conquerors. Soon after this trimph, the Bata-
vian war broke out, caused by the civil wars for the
empire, and threatening Rome with the loss of a prov-
ince. It was at length brought to a propitious conclu-
lion by Cerealis, alter several sharp encounters, and
by a treaty rather than a conquest. The Roman arms
were more successful in Britain during the reign of
? ? Vespasian and his immediate successor than they had
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? r * ? S
y. me Stata Mater, placed there that she might pro-
tact the pavement from the effect of the fires which
used to be made on it in the nighttime. The people
followed the example, and set up similar statues in
several of the streets. Stata Mater is generally sup-
posed to have been Vesta. [Kcightlcy's Mythology,
p. 95, 513, <<y. i
Vistales, priestesses among the Romans conse-
crated to the service of Vesta. They are said to
have been first established by Numa, who appointed
(bur. Tarquinius Priscus added two more; and the
aumber continued to be six ever after. The Vestal
virgins were bound to their ministry for thirty years
After thirty years1 service they might leave the temple
and marry; which, however, was seldom done, and
was always reckoned ominous. (Dion. Hal. , 2, 67. )
These priestesses were bound to observe the strictest
purity of morals. If any one of them violated her vow
of chastity, she was buried alive in the Campus Seele-
ratus, and her paramour was scourged to death in the
Forum. (Vid. Vesta. )
Vkstini, a mountaineer race of Italy, whose terri-
tory was bounded on the south and southwest by the
Peligni and Marsi, on the east by the Adriatic, and on
the north and northwest by the Pranutii and Sabines.
The history of the Vcstini offers no circumstances of
peculiar interest: they are first introduced to our no-
tice in the Roman annals as allies of the Samnitcs, to
whom they are said not to have been inferior in valour;
but, being separately attacked by the Romans, the
Vestini, loo weak to make any effectual resistance,
were soon compelled to submit, A. U. C. 451. (Lin. ,
8, 29. --Id. , 10, 3. ) This people, however, were not
behind-hand with their neighbours in taking up arms
on the breaking out of the Social war. They bore an
active part ir. the exertions and perils of that fierce
. id sanguinary contest, and received their share of the
rights and privileges which, on its termination, were
granted to the confederates. Their chief city was Pin-
na, now Civita di Pcnna. (Cramer's Arte. Italy, vol.
I, p. 335. )
Vasvios. Fid. Vesuvius.
Vksulus, now Monte Viso, a mountain at the ter-
mination of the Maritime, and commencement of the
Coitian, Alps. It is celebrated in antiquity as giving
rise to the Padus or Po. Pliny (3. 16) mentions the
source as being a remarkable sight. The Po flows
from two small lakes, the one situate immediately be-
low the highest peak of Monte Viso, the other still
higher up, between that peak and the lesser one called
Visoletto. The waters of this second lake find vent
in a great cavern; and this, probably, is the source to
which Pliny alludes. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1,
p. 28. )
Vesuvius, a mountain of Campania, about six miles
southeast of Naples, celebrated for its volcano. It ap-
pears to have been first known under the name of Ve-
sevus (Lucr. , 0, 747. -- Virg. , Gcorg. , 2, 224. --Stat. ,
Syfo. , 4, 8, 4); but the appellations of Vosvius and
Vesbius sre no less frequently applied to it. (Sit.
Ital, 17, 594 --Vol. Flacc. ,3, 208. -- Mart. , 4, 44. )
Strabo describes this mountain as extremely fertile at
its base, an account in which many ancient writers
agree, but as entirely barren towards the summit,
which was mostly level, and full of apertures and
cracks, seemingly produced by the action of fire;
whence Strabo was led to conclude that the volcano,
though once in a stale of activity, had been extin-
? ? guished from want of fuel. (Strabo, 246. ) Diodorus
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? VIO
tome down to us. (Vid. Porciua. )--II. Sequester, a
Latin writer, who has left a geographical work, con-
taining a kind of nomenclature of rivers, fountains,
likes, forests, marshes, mountains, and nations men-
tioned by the poets. The work was compiled for the
use of Virgilianus, the author's son.
As no ancient
writer makes mention of this writer, and as his pro-
duction contains no account either of himself, his
^ountry, or the period when ho wrote, his era can only
ha filed by conjecture. Oberlinus believes that he
lived after the fall of the Western empire, in the fifth,
sixth, or seventh century. The same critic regards
the work as a hasty performance, and as containing,
besides numerous errors attributable to the copyists,
some which must be ascribed to the author himself.
Still the work is not without its value, from its con-
taining severe! names nowhere else mentioned. The
celebrated Boccacto compiled a production of a simi-
lar nature in the fourteenth century, and made great
use of the work of Sequester, without ever citing it.
The best edition of Vibius Sequester is that of Ober-
linus, Argent. , 1778, 8vo.
Vibo, Valentia. Vid. Hipponium.
Vica Pota, a goddess at Home, who presided over
victory ("potis vincenii atque potiundi. "--Cic. , de
Leg. , 2, 11. --Consult Goercnz, ad lot. --Sencc. , Apo-
colocymh. --Liv. , 2, 7. )
Vicentia, a town of Gallia Cisalpina, in the terri-
tory of Venetia, and situate between Patavium and
Verona. The name is sometimes written Yicelia.
(Strut. , 214. --Elian, V. H. , 14, 8. ) It is now Vi-
eenza.
Victor, Sext. Aurelius, I. a Latin historian, born
in Africa of very humble parents, but who raised him-
self by his merit to some of the highest offices in the
state. The Emperor Julian, who became acquainted
with him at Sirmium, AD. 360, gave him the govern-
ment of the second Pannonia, and erected in honour
of him a statue of bronze. Ammianus Marcellinus,
who states this fact, informs us also that AureliusV ic-
tor was conspicuous for the purity of his moral char-
acter (21, 10). Sixteen years after this, Theodosius
the Great appointed him prefect of Rome. The pe-
riod of his death is not ascertained. The manner in
which he speaks of the apotheosis of Antinoiis, the fa-
vourite of Hadrian, shows that he was not a Christian.
Three works are ascribed to this writer. The first
bears the title of Ongo gentis Romano:, to which a
long additional title has been given by the copyists.
What we have remaining of this work comprises only
the first year of Rome: it contains extracts from works
now lost, and makes us acquainted with several cir-
cumstances of which no other writer speaks. The
opinion which assigns this work to Aurelius Victor,
however, has no historical fact whatever to serve as a
basis; it is contrary, also, to the conviction of the gram-
marians, to whom we owe the long additional title al-
ready mentioned. These grammarians regard the
work as subsequent to the time of Aurelius Victor. --
The second work is entitled "De Viris illustribus
Ronui," and contains the lives of various illustrious
Romans, commencing with the seven kings of Rome,
and also biographies of tome eminent foreigners, such
as Hannibal, Antiochus, and Mitbradates. This work,
inferior in style to the former, has been sometimes as-
cribed to Corneliu* Nepos, to Suetonius, or to Pliny
the Younger. It is possible that it is an abridgment
merely of Cornelius Nepos, whose work hears a simi-
? ? lar title. The third work is entitled "De Ceesaribut,
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? VIR
VIRGILIUS.
Riilus, and destroyed himself. (Suetm. , Vit. Galb. ,
9. --Id. il>. , ll. --Plut. , Vit. Galb. , 4. --Dio Cass. ,
S3, 23, ieqq. )
ViXDicitrs,' a slave who discovered the conspiracy to
restore Tarquin to his throne. (Vid. Brutus I. )
Vmus, T. , a friend of Galba's, who, on the acces-
sion of tho latter to the imperial throne, became con-
sul, commander of the praetorian guards, and principal
minister of the new monarch. He employed his new
shines so conspicuously in the /Encn. l, anJ which he
employed with so much judgment as richly to mcr*
the eulogy of Macrobius, " Virgilius quern nullius art-
quam discipline error involvit. " (In Somn. , Scip. , 2,
8. ) During his residence in this city he perused the
most celebrated Greek writers, being instructed in
their language and literature by Parthenius Nicenui
(Macrob. , Sat. , 5, 17), well known as the author cf ?
collection of amatory talcs, which he wrote for the use
ly-acquired power, however, in criminal and oppress- i of Cornelius Gallus, in order to furnish him with ma-
ivo acts, plundering others to enrich himself. Vin-
ius advised Galba to adopt Otho for his successor;
but, Galba having nominated Piso, Otho revolted, de-
throned Galba, and Vinius perished along with the
latter, notwithstanding his vehement protestations to
the soldiery that Otho had not ordered his death. It
is probable that Vinius was implicated in the conspir-
acy of Otho itself against his friend arid protector.
(Tacit. . Hist. , 1, 11, cec. )
VIRBIUS (qui tir bis fuit), a name given to Hippol-
Vtus after he had been brought back to life by ^Escu-
lapius, at the instance of Diana, who pitied his unfor-
tunate end. Virgil makes him son of Hippolytus.
(JEn. , 7, 762. --(hid, Met. , 15, 544. )
VIRGILICS, MARO PUBLIUS, a celebrated Latin poet,
born at the village of Andes, a few miles distant from
Mantua, about 70 B. C. It has been disputed whether
his name should be Vcrgilius or Virgilius. "De scrip-
tura nominis," says Heyne, "digladiati mint inter se
cum velcres turn reccntiorcs grammalici. " The let-
ters << and >> were frequently convertible in the old Lat-
in language; and sanction may be found for either
mode of spelling, both in MSS. and inscriptions. At
the revival of letters, Politian contended strenuous-
'y for Vergilius; but even his authority was not suffi-
cient to bring this orthography into general practice.
There exist but few authentic materials frnrn which
we can collect any circumstances concerning the life
af the poet. We possess only some scattered remarks
tf ancient commentators or grammarians, and a life
iy Donatus, of very dubious authority. It bears the
oame of Tiberius Claudius Donatus, who lived in the
fifth century, son:: time after . 'Illius Donatus, so wel
known as a commutator on Terence. Hcyne thinks
Uiat the basis of the Life was laid by Donatus, but thai
it was altered and interpolated from time to time by
the grammarians, and librarians of the convents. It
s thus apparently written without any arrangement in
ihe series of events, and many things are recorded
which are manifestly fictitious. The monks, indeed,
? I' the middle ages seem to have conspired to accumu
iate fables concerning Virgil. --It appears that Virgil's
father was a man of low birth, and that, at one period
of his life, he was engaged in the meanest employ-
ments. According to some authorities he was a pot-
ter orbrickmaker; and, according to others, the hire-
ling of a travelling merchant, called Magus or Maius.
He so ingratiated himself, however, with his master,
? ? that he received his daughter Maia in marriage, and
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? V1RUILTO8.
Talcs. --It does njt seen: certain, or even probable,
iiui Virgil went at all to Koine from Naples. It rath-
er appears thai he returned to his native country, and
to the charge of his paternal farm; and if, as is gen-
. /ally supposed, he intended to describe his own life
<<nd character under the person of Tityrus, in the first
rcloguc, it is evident that he did not visit Rome until
after the battle of Philippi, and consequent division of
the lands among the soldiery. Some poems which
are s'. ill extant, as the Culex and Ciris, were at one
lime believed to have been the fruits of his genius at
tt is early period. We are also told, that, in the
warmth of his earliest youth, he had formed the bold
design of writing, in imitation of Ennius, a poem on the
'. vars of Kome,*but that he was deterred from proceeding
by the ruggedneas of the ancient Italian names, which
wounded the delicacy of his ear. It seems certain, at
east, that, previous to the composition of his Eclogues,
he had made imperfect attempts in the higher depart-
ments of heroic poetry. (Eclog. , G, 3. )--The battle
of Mutina (Modena. ) was fought in 711 A. U. O. , and
'. he triumvirate having been shortly afterward formed,
Asinus Pollio was appointed, on the part of Antony,
to the command of the distridt in which the farm of
Virgil lay. Pollio, who was a noted extortioner, lev-
ied enormous contributions from the inhabitants of the
territory intrusted to his care; and, in some instances,
when the pecuniary supplies failed, he drove tim an-
cient colonists from their lands, and settled his veterans
in their place. He was fond, however, of poetry, and
was a generous protector of literary man. The rising
genius of Virgil had now begun to manifest itself. His
poetic talents and amiable manners recommended him
to the favour of Pollio; and, so long as that chief
continued in command of the Mantuan district, he was
relieved from all exaction, and protected in the peace-
able possession of his property. Residing constantly
in the country, and captivated with the rural beauties
of the Idyllia of Theocritus, Virgil early became ambi-
tious of introducing this new species of poetry into his
rjative land; and, accordingly, he seems to have bent
bis iJ2f endeavours at this time to imitate and rival
the sweet Sicilian. The eclogue entitled "Alexis,"
which is usually placed second in the editions of his
works, is supposed to have been his first pastoral pro-
duction, and to have been written in 711, the year in
which Pollio came to assume the military command
of the territory where our poet resided. It was quick-
iy followed by the "Dophnis" and "Silenus," as also
by the "Palamon," in which he boasts of the favour
of Pollio, and expresses his gratitude for tho favour
that leader had extended to him. But the tranquillity
he enjoyed under the protection of Pollio was of short
duration. Previously to the battle of Philippi, the tri-
umvirs had promised to their soldiers the lands be-
longing to some of the richest towns in the empire.
Augustus returned to Italy in 712, after his victory
at Philippi, and found it necessary, in order to satisfy
their claims, to commence a division of lands in Italy
in a more extensive scale even than he had intended.
,n that country there were considerable territories
which had been originally and legally the patrimony of
the state. But extensive tracts of this species of pub-
lic property had, from time to time, been appropriated
by corporations and individuals, who were unwilling
to Vr disturbed in (heir possessions. Julius Caesar
had ! >et the example of reclaiming these farms and
colonizing them with his soldiers. His successor now
? ? undertook a similar but more extensive distribution.
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? VIRGILIUS
numbers as the pastoral muse demanded. The Bu
colics accordingly were' relished and admired by all
classes of his contemporaries. So universal was their
popularity, that the philosophic eclogue of Silcnui,
soon after its composition, was publicly recited in tho
theatre by Cylhens, a celebrated actress of mimes. --
On quitting his paternal fields, Virgi! first proceeded
to the capital. Here his private fortune was consid-
erably augmented by the liberality of Maecenas (Mar-
tial. 8, 56); and such was the favour he possessed
with his patron, that we find him, soon after his arri-
val at Koine, introducing Horace to the notice of tho
minister (//or, Hut, 1, 6), and attending him, along
with that pud, on a political mission to Brundisium.
Nor did Virgil enjoy less favour with the emperor him-
self than with his minister. It is said that he never
asked anything of Augustus that was refused , and Do-
natus even affirms, though, it must be confessed, with-
> out the least probability, that Augustus consulted him
with regard to his resignation of the government, as ;? .
sort of umpire between Agrippa and Maecenas. It
was probably during this period of favour with the
emperor and his minister that Virgil contributed the
verses in celebration of the deity who presided over
the gardens of Mxcenas; and wrote, though without
acknowledging it, that well-known distich in honour
of Augustus,
"Noetc flu. il lota; redcunt spectacula mane;
Divisum imperium cum Jove Cxsar habet. "
Fnc story goes on to relate, that Bathyllus, a con-
temptible poet of the day, claimed these verses as his
:nvn, and was liberally rewarded. Vexed' at the im-
posture, Virgil again wrote the verses in question near
the palace, and under them,
"Has cgc versiculos fed, lulit alter honores;
with the beginning of another line in these words,
"Sic vos nan vobis,"
foui times repeated. Augustus wished the lines to be
finished; Bathyllus seemed unable; and Virgil at last,
bv completing the stanza in the following order,
"Sic vos non votns nidificatis aues;
Sir. voi non vobis vcllera fcrtis oves;
Sic vos non talus mcUifir. niis ape*;
Sic vos non ruins fertis aratra tones,"
proved himself to be the author of the distich, and the
poetical usurper became the sport and ridicule of
Rome. During his residence at Rome, Virgil inhab-
ited a house on the Esquiline Hill, which was fur-
nished with an excellent library, and was pleasantly
situated near the gardens of Maecenas. The supposed
site, and even ruins of this mansion, were long shown
to modern travellers. -- Yet, however enviable was
Virgil's present lot, the bustle and luxury of an im-
mense capital were little suited to his taste, to his
:arlv habits, or to the delicacy of his constitution,
while the observance and attention he met with were
strongly repugnant to the retiring modesty of his dis-
position. Such was the popularity which he derived
from his general character and talents, that, on one
occasion, when some of his verses were recited in the
theatre, the whole audience rose to salute Virgil, who
>>as present, with the same respect which they would
nave paid to the emperor. (De Cam. corr. cloy. , c.
13. ) And so great was the annoyance which he felt
on being gazed at and followed in the streets of Rome,
that he sought shelter, it is said, in the nearest shops
or alleys from public observation. -- At the period
when Virgil enjoyed so much honour and popularity
? ? u. the cap'tal, Naples was a fa Durite retreat of illus-
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? VIRGILIUS
VIRGILIUiS
ing passage in w'r. ich he alludes to the premature
death of the beloved yo;,ih:
"0 note, ingeniem luctum ne wire titomm," &c.
But he had skilfully suppressed thfl name uc Marcellus
till he came to the line,
"2'u Marcellus eris--manibus date liliajlenia. "
It may well be believed that the widowed mother
of Marcellus swooned away at the pathos of these
verses, which no one, even at this day, can read un-
moved.
goddess of gardens. She was held to be the same
as Libitina, the goddess of funerals, because, says Plu-
tarch (Quasi. Rom. , 23), the one and the same god-
less superintends birth a. id death. -- There was at
Rome a temple of Venus Fruti (Festus, s. v. Frutinal),
which latter term seems to be merely a corruption of
? ? Aphrodite. It may, however, be connected with fruc-
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? V LR
V? S
reconcile thane two opinions by admitting that the
Cehomanni made this settlement in the territory pre-
viously possessed by the Rhteti and Euganei. Under
tbo dominion of the Romans it soon became a large
and flourishing city. (Strao. , 212. ) It ia supposed
to have been colonized by Pompeius Strabo. Tacitus
speaks of it in later times as a most opulent and im-
portant colony, the possession of which enabled Ves-
pasian's party to begin offensive operations against the
Lrctt of Vitellius, and to strike a decisive blow.
{Tacit. , Hist. , 3, 8. ) The celebrity of Verona is still
farther established as being the birthplace of Catullus
(Or. , Am. , 3, 14. -- Martial, 14, 193) and of Pliny
tho naturalist, who, in his preface, calls himself the
countryman of Catullus. It was in the neighbour-
hood of Verona that the famous Kha tic wine, so high-
ly commended by Virgil, was grown. (Georg. , 2,
94. --Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 70. )
Vkrres, C, a Roman who governed the province
of Sicily as praetor. The oppression and rapine of
which he was guilty while in office were of the most
flagrant description, and he was accused by the Sicil-
ians of extortion on the expiration of his office. Ci-
cero managed the prosecution, Hortensius appeared
for the defence. Of Cicero's six orations against
Verres that have come down to us, only one was pro-
nounced. Driven to despair by the depositions of the
witnesses after the first oration, he submitted, without
awaiting his sentence, to a voluntary exile. The
other rive orations of Cicero, forming the scries of
harangues which he intended to deliver after the proof
was completed, were subsequently published in the
same shape as if Verres bad actually stood his trial,
and had made a regular defence. He perished af-
terward in the proscription of Antony, whom he had
offended by refusing to share with him his Corinthian
vases. Verres appears during his exile to have lived
in great affluence on his ill-gotten gains. (Cic. in
Verr. )
Vkrrius Fliccus, a freedman and grammarian,
famous for his powers in instructing. He was ap-
pointed tutor to the grandchildren of Augustus, and
also distinguished himself by his writings, which were
historical and grammatical. Suetoniua also informs
us that he caused to be incrustcd on a semicircular
ouilding at Pneneste twelve tablets of marble, on
which was cut a Roman calendar, which Suetonius
and Macrobius often cite. Four of these tablets, or,
rather, fragments of them, were discovered in 1770,
and published by Foggini in 1779. They contain the
months of January, March, April, and December, and
throw great light on the Fasti of Ovid. Verrius
Flaccus was at the head of a celebrated school cf
grammarians. His principal work in this line was en-
titled de Verborum Signijicalione. It was abridged by
Festus, a grammarian of the fourth century. Tho
abridgment has reached us, but the original work ia
lost. ( Vid. Festus. --Aul. Gcll. , 4, 5. --Suetm. , II-
lastr. Gram , 17. )
Virtumnus or Vortomnus, a deity among the Ro-
? nans. According to some, he was, like Mercury, a
deity presiding over merchandise. (Ascon. ad Cic.
in Verr. , 2, 1, 59. --Scltol. ad Horal. , Epist. , 1, 20,
I. ) Vim, in one place, says he was a Tuscan god,
and that, t. ? refurc, his statue was in tho Tuscan street
at Rome (L. L , 4, 4, p. 14); in another, he sets him
among the gods worshipped by the Sabine king Ta-
? ? lius. (L. L. , p. 22. ) Horace uses Vertumni in the
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? VESPASIANL'S
tie. ai. d gave it once more an actual power in the gov-
ernment. TV, courts of law were also subjected to a
most salutary reform, and rendered again, what they
had long ceased to be, courts oi' justice. The insub-
ordination of the army, which had been the cause of
<<o many bloody revolutions, he repressed with a firm
and steady hand; and restored, in a great measure,
the discipline which had made it so powerful in its bet-
ter days. He directed his attention also to the treas-
ury, which had been quite exhausted by the prodiga
and corrupt expenditure of his predecessors; and
in order to replenish its coffers, he regulated anew the
tribute and custom-dues of the provinces, and imposed
a number of taxes; by which means, though he was
accused of avarice, he placed once more the revenues
of the empire on a stable basis, and restored them to a
flourishing condition. The large sums thus raised
Vespasian did not expend in revelry, neither did he
hoard up in useless masses. He rebuilt the temple
of Jupiter Capitolinus, which had been destroyed du-
ring the tumults that accompanied the fall of Vitellius;
and adorned the city with many other public buildingH
of great elegance and splendour; thus evincing, that,
though rigorous and exact in his methods of amassing
treasure, he knew, on proper occasions, how to use it
witli no parsimonious hand. Under him the empire
began to breathe with fresh life, and to exhibit signs of
prosperity and happiness, such as it had not known
aince the reign of Augustus. His son Titus being
raised to the dignity of Ca? sar, by which name the suc-
cessor to the throne was designated, the peace and
welfare of the empire seemed secured on a stable ba-
his. During the reign of Vespasian, the arms of Rome
were prosperous in various parts of the world. Sev-
eral states bordering on the Roman dominions were
reduced by his generals to the condition of provinces.
But the most celebrated, though not the most formi-
dable war which distinguished his reign, was that in
which he was engaged when he was called to the
throne, the war against the Jews. This was conduct-
ed by his son Titus after his departure to Rome to
enter on the possession of imperial power. The events
of this memorable war are so well known that they
need not here be detailed. Suffice it to state, that af-
ter Jerusalem had been closely invested, the Jews re-
fused all terms of capitulation, blindly trusted in some
terrible interposition of divine power to save them and
consume their enemies, butchered each other with in-
conceivable barbarity during every temporary cessation
of warfare, enduring the wildest extremes of famine,
and, after suffering every form and kind of misery, to
i degree unparalleled in the world's history, their city
ivJH taken, and, together with their celebrated temple,
was reduced to heaps of shapeless ruins; and such of
them as survived these awful calamities were scatter-
ed over the face of the earth, and rendered a mockery,
i proverb, and a reproach among nations. In conse-
quence of this victory over the Jews, Titus and the
imperor enjoyed together the honours of a splendid
triumph, while the rich vessels of the temple of Jeru-
lalein were in gorgeous procession borne in the train
of the conquerors. Soon after this trimph, the Bata-
vian war broke out, caused by the civil wars for the
empire, and threatening Rome with the loss of a prov-
ince. It was at length brought to a propitious conclu-
lion by Cerealis, alter several sharp encounters, and
by a treaty rather than a conquest. The Roman arms
were more successful in Britain during the reign of
? ? Vespasian and his immediate successor than they had
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? r * ? S
y. me Stata Mater, placed there that she might pro-
tact the pavement from the effect of the fires which
used to be made on it in the nighttime. The people
followed the example, and set up similar statues in
several of the streets. Stata Mater is generally sup-
posed to have been Vesta. [Kcightlcy's Mythology,
p. 95, 513, <<y. i
Vistales, priestesses among the Romans conse-
crated to the service of Vesta. They are said to
have been first established by Numa, who appointed
(bur. Tarquinius Priscus added two more; and the
aumber continued to be six ever after. The Vestal
virgins were bound to their ministry for thirty years
After thirty years1 service they might leave the temple
and marry; which, however, was seldom done, and
was always reckoned ominous. (Dion. Hal. , 2, 67. )
These priestesses were bound to observe the strictest
purity of morals. If any one of them violated her vow
of chastity, she was buried alive in the Campus Seele-
ratus, and her paramour was scourged to death in the
Forum. (Vid. Vesta. )
Vkstini, a mountaineer race of Italy, whose terri-
tory was bounded on the south and southwest by the
Peligni and Marsi, on the east by the Adriatic, and on
the north and northwest by the Pranutii and Sabines.
The history of the Vcstini offers no circumstances of
peculiar interest: they are first introduced to our no-
tice in the Roman annals as allies of the Samnitcs, to
whom they are said not to have been inferior in valour;
but, being separately attacked by the Romans, the
Vestini, loo weak to make any effectual resistance,
were soon compelled to submit, A. U. C. 451. (Lin. ,
8, 29. --Id. , 10, 3. ) This people, however, were not
behind-hand with their neighbours in taking up arms
on the breaking out of the Social war. They bore an
active part ir. the exertions and perils of that fierce
. id sanguinary contest, and received their share of the
rights and privileges which, on its termination, were
granted to the confederates. Their chief city was Pin-
na, now Civita di Pcnna. (Cramer's Arte. Italy, vol.
I, p. 335. )
Vasvios. Fid. Vesuvius.
Vksulus, now Monte Viso, a mountain at the ter-
mination of the Maritime, and commencement of the
Coitian, Alps. It is celebrated in antiquity as giving
rise to the Padus or Po. Pliny (3. 16) mentions the
source as being a remarkable sight. The Po flows
from two small lakes, the one situate immediately be-
low the highest peak of Monte Viso, the other still
higher up, between that peak and the lesser one called
Visoletto. The waters of this second lake find vent
in a great cavern; and this, probably, is the source to
which Pliny alludes. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1,
p. 28. )
Vesuvius, a mountain of Campania, about six miles
southeast of Naples, celebrated for its volcano. It ap-
pears to have been first known under the name of Ve-
sevus (Lucr. , 0, 747. -- Virg. , Gcorg. , 2, 224. --Stat. ,
Syfo. , 4, 8, 4); but the appellations of Vosvius and
Vesbius sre no less frequently applied to it. (Sit.
Ital, 17, 594 --Vol. Flacc. ,3, 208. -- Mart. , 4, 44. )
Strabo describes this mountain as extremely fertile at
its base, an account in which many ancient writers
agree, but as entirely barren towards the summit,
which was mostly level, and full of apertures and
cracks, seemingly produced by the action of fire;
whence Strabo was led to conclude that the volcano,
though once in a stale of activity, had been extin-
? ? guished from want of fuel. (Strabo, 246. ) Diodorus
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? VIO
tome down to us. (Vid. Porciua. )--II. Sequester, a
Latin writer, who has left a geographical work, con-
taining a kind of nomenclature of rivers, fountains,
likes, forests, marshes, mountains, and nations men-
tioned by the poets. The work was compiled for the
use of Virgilianus, the author's son.
As no ancient
writer makes mention of this writer, and as his pro-
duction contains no account either of himself, his
^ountry, or the period when ho wrote, his era can only
ha filed by conjecture. Oberlinus believes that he
lived after the fall of the Western empire, in the fifth,
sixth, or seventh century. The same critic regards
the work as a hasty performance, and as containing,
besides numerous errors attributable to the copyists,
some which must be ascribed to the author himself.
Still the work is not without its value, from its con-
taining severe! names nowhere else mentioned. The
celebrated Boccacto compiled a production of a simi-
lar nature in the fourteenth century, and made great
use of the work of Sequester, without ever citing it.
The best edition of Vibius Sequester is that of Ober-
linus, Argent. , 1778, 8vo.
Vibo, Valentia. Vid. Hipponium.
Vica Pota, a goddess at Home, who presided over
victory ("potis vincenii atque potiundi. "--Cic. , de
Leg. , 2, 11. --Consult Goercnz, ad lot. --Sencc. , Apo-
colocymh. --Liv. , 2, 7. )
Vicentia, a town of Gallia Cisalpina, in the terri-
tory of Venetia, and situate between Patavium and
Verona. The name is sometimes written Yicelia.
(Strut. , 214. --Elian, V. H. , 14, 8. ) It is now Vi-
eenza.
Victor, Sext. Aurelius, I. a Latin historian, born
in Africa of very humble parents, but who raised him-
self by his merit to some of the highest offices in the
state. The Emperor Julian, who became acquainted
with him at Sirmium, AD. 360, gave him the govern-
ment of the second Pannonia, and erected in honour
of him a statue of bronze. Ammianus Marcellinus,
who states this fact, informs us also that AureliusV ic-
tor was conspicuous for the purity of his moral char-
acter (21, 10). Sixteen years after this, Theodosius
the Great appointed him prefect of Rome. The pe-
riod of his death is not ascertained. The manner in
which he speaks of the apotheosis of Antinoiis, the fa-
vourite of Hadrian, shows that he was not a Christian.
Three works are ascribed to this writer. The first
bears the title of Ongo gentis Romano:, to which a
long additional title has been given by the copyists.
What we have remaining of this work comprises only
the first year of Rome: it contains extracts from works
now lost, and makes us acquainted with several cir-
cumstances of which no other writer speaks. The
opinion which assigns this work to Aurelius Victor,
however, has no historical fact whatever to serve as a
basis; it is contrary, also, to the conviction of the gram-
marians, to whom we owe the long additional title al-
ready mentioned. These grammarians regard the
work as subsequent to the time of Aurelius Victor. --
The second work is entitled "De Viris illustribus
Ronui," and contains the lives of various illustrious
Romans, commencing with the seven kings of Rome,
and also biographies of tome eminent foreigners, such
as Hannibal, Antiochus, and Mitbradates. This work,
inferior in style to the former, has been sometimes as-
cribed to Corneliu* Nepos, to Suetonius, or to Pliny
the Younger. It is possible that it is an abridgment
merely of Cornelius Nepos, whose work hears a simi-
? ? lar title. The third work is entitled "De Ceesaribut,
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? VIR
VIRGILIUS.
Riilus, and destroyed himself. (Suetm. , Vit. Galb. ,
9. --Id. il>. , ll. --Plut. , Vit. Galb. , 4. --Dio Cass. ,
S3, 23, ieqq. )
ViXDicitrs,' a slave who discovered the conspiracy to
restore Tarquin to his throne. (Vid. Brutus I. )
Vmus, T. , a friend of Galba's, who, on the acces-
sion of tho latter to the imperial throne, became con-
sul, commander of the praetorian guards, and principal
minister of the new monarch. He employed his new
shines so conspicuously in the /Encn. l, anJ which he
employed with so much judgment as richly to mcr*
the eulogy of Macrobius, " Virgilius quern nullius art-
quam discipline error involvit. " (In Somn. , Scip. , 2,
8. ) During his residence in this city he perused the
most celebrated Greek writers, being instructed in
their language and literature by Parthenius Nicenui
(Macrob. , Sat. , 5, 17), well known as the author cf ?
collection of amatory talcs, which he wrote for the use
ly-acquired power, however, in criminal and oppress- i of Cornelius Gallus, in order to furnish him with ma-
ivo acts, plundering others to enrich himself. Vin-
ius advised Galba to adopt Otho for his successor;
but, Galba having nominated Piso, Otho revolted, de-
throned Galba, and Vinius perished along with the
latter, notwithstanding his vehement protestations to
the soldiery that Otho had not ordered his death. It
is probable that Vinius was implicated in the conspir-
acy of Otho itself against his friend arid protector.
(Tacit. . Hist. , 1, 11, cec. )
VIRBIUS (qui tir bis fuit), a name given to Hippol-
Vtus after he had been brought back to life by ^Escu-
lapius, at the instance of Diana, who pitied his unfor-
tunate end. Virgil makes him son of Hippolytus.
(JEn. , 7, 762. --(hid, Met. , 15, 544. )
VIRGILICS, MARO PUBLIUS, a celebrated Latin poet,
born at the village of Andes, a few miles distant from
Mantua, about 70 B. C. It has been disputed whether
his name should be Vcrgilius or Virgilius. "De scrip-
tura nominis," says Heyne, "digladiati mint inter se
cum velcres turn reccntiorcs grammalici. " The let-
ters << and >> were frequently convertible in the old Lat-
in language; and sanction may be found for either
mode of spelling, both in MSS. and inscriptions. At
the revival of letters, Politian contended strenuous-
'y for Vergilius; but even his authority was not suffi-
cient to bring this orthography into general practice.
There exist but few authentic materials frnrn which
we can collect any circumstances concerning the life
af the poet. We possess only some scattered remarks
tf ancient commentators or grammarians, and a life
iy Donatus, of very dubious authority. It bears the
oame of Tiberius Claudius Donatus, who lived in the
fifth century, son:: time after . 'Illius Donatus, so wel
known as a commutator on Terence. Hcyne thinks
Uiat the basis of the Life was laid by Donatus, but thai
it was altered and interpolated from time to time by
the grammarians, and librarians of the convents. It
s thus apparently written without any arrangement in
ihe series of events, and many things are recorded
which are manifestly fictitious. The monks, indeed,
? I' the middle ages seem to have conspired to accumu
iate fables concerning Virgil. --It appears that Virgil's
father was a man of low birth, and that, at one period
of his life, he was engaged in the meanest employ-
ments. According to some authorities he was a pot-
ter orbrickmaker; and, according to others, the hire-
ling of a travelling merchant, called Magus or Maius.
He so ingratiated himself, however, with his master,
? ? that he received his daughter Maia in marriage, and
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? V1RUILTO8.
Talcs. --It does njt seen: certain, or even probable,
iiui Virgil went at all to Koine from Naples. It rath-
er appears thai he returned to his native country, and
to the charge of his paternal farm; and if, as is gen-
. /ally supposed, he intended to describe his own life
<<nd character under the person of Tityrus, in the first
rcloguc, it is evident that he did not visit Rome until
after the battle of Philippi, and consequent division of
the lands among the soldiery. Some poems which
are s'. ill extant, as the Culex and Ciris, were at one
lime believed to have been the fruits of his genius at
tt is early period. We are also told, that, in the
warmth of his earliest youth, he had formed the bold
design of writing, in imitation of Ennius, a poem on the
'. vars of Kome,*but that he was deterred from proceeding
by the ruggedneas of the ancient Italian names, which
wounded the delicacy of his ear. It seems certain, at
east, that, previous to the composition of his Eclogues,
he had made imperfect attempts in the higher depart-
ments of heroic poetry. (Eclog. , G, 3. )--The battle
of Mutina (Modena. ) was fought in 711 A. U. O. , and
'. he triumvirate having been shortly afterward formed,
Asinus Pollio was appointed, on the part of Antony,
to the command of the distridt in which the farm of
Virgil lay. Pollio, who was a noted extortioner, lev-
ied enormous contributions from the inhabitants of the
territory intrusted to his care; and, in some instances,
when the pecuniary supplies failed, he drove tim an-
cient colonists from their lands, and settled his veterans
in their place. He was fond, however, of poetry, and
was a generous protector of literary man. The rising
genius of Virgil had now begun to manifest itself. His
poetic talents and amiable manners recommended him
to the favour of Pollio; and, so long as that chief
continued in command of the Mantuan district, he was
relieved from all exaction, and protected in the peace-
able possession of his property. Residing constantly
in the country, and captivated with the rural beauties
of the Idyllia of Theocritus, Virgil early became ambi-
tious of introducing this new species of poetry into his
rjative land; and, accordingly, he seems to have bent
bis iJ2f endeavours at this time to imitate and rival
the sweet Sicilian. The eclogue entitled "Alexis,"
which is usually placed second in the editions of his
works, is supposed to have been his first pastoral pro-
duction, and to have been written in 711, the year in
which Pollio came to assume the military command
of the territory where our poet resided. It was quick-
iy followed by the "Dophnis" and "Silenus," as also
by the "Palamon," in which he boasts of the favour
of Pollio, and expresses his gratitude for tho favour
that leader had extended to him. But the tranquillity
he enjoyed under the protection of Pollio was of short
duration. Previously to the battle of Philippi, the tri-
umvirs had promised to their soldiers the lands be-
longing to some of the richest towns in the empire.
Augustus returned to Italy in 712, after his victory
at Philippi, and found it necessary, in order to satisfy
their claims, to commence a division of lands in Italy
in a more extensive scale even than he had intended.
,n that country there were considerable territories
which had been originally and legally the patrimony of
the state. But extensive tracts of this species of pub-
lic property had, from time to time, been appropriated
by corporations and individuals, who were unwilling
to Vr disturbed in (heir possessions. Julius Caesar
had ! >et the example of reclaiming these farms and
colonizing them with his soldiers. His successor now
? ? undertook a similar but more extensive distribution.
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? VIRGILIUS
numbers as the pastoral muse demanded. The Bu
colics accordingly were' relished and admired by all
classes of his contemporaries. So universal was their
popularity, that the philosophic eclogue of Silcnui,
soon after its composition, was publicly recited in tho
theatre by Cylhens, a celebrated actress of mimes. --
On quitting his paternal fields, Virgi! first proceeded
to the capital. Here his private fortune was consid-
erably augmented by the liberality of Maecenas (Mar-
tial. 8, 56); and such was the favour he possessed
with his patron, that we find him, soon after his arri-
val at Koine, introducing Horace to the notice of tho
minister (//or, Hut, 1, 6), and attending him, along
with that pud, on a political mission to Brundisium.
Nor did Virgil enjoy less favour with the emperor him-
self than with his minister. It is said that he never
asked anything of Augustus that was refused , and Do-
natus even affirms, though, it must be confessed, with-
> out the least probability, that Augustus consulted him
with regard to his resignation of the government, as ;? .
sort of umpire between Agrippa and Maecenas. It
was probably during this period of favour with the
emperor and his minister that Virgil contributed the
verses in celebration of the deity who presided over
the gardens of Mxcenas; and wrote, though without
acknowledging it, that well-known distich in honour
of Augustus,
"Noetc flu. il lota; redcunt spectacula mane;
Divisum imperium cum Jove Cxsar habet. "
Fnc story goes on to relate, that Bathyllus, a con-
temptible poet of the day, claimed these verses as his
:nvn, and was liberally rewarded. Vexed' at the im-
posture, Virgil again wrote the verses in question near
the palace, and under them,
"Has cgc versiculos fed, lulit alter honores;
with the beginning of another line in these words,
"Sic vos nan vobis,"
foui times repeated. Augustus wished the lines to be
finished; Bathyllus seemed unable; and Virgil at last,
bv completing the stanza in the following order,
"Sic vos non votns nidificatis aues;
Sir. voi non vobis vcllera fcrtis oves;
Sic vos non talus mcUifir. niis ape*;
Sic vos non ruins fertis aratra tones,"
proved himself to be the author of the distich, and the
poetical usurper became the sport and ridicule of
Rome. During his residence at Rome, Virgil inhab-
ited a house on the Esquiline Hill, which was fur-
nished with an excellent library, and was pleasantly
situated near the gardens of Maecenas. The supposed
site, and even ruins of this mansion, were long shown
to modern travellers. -- Yet, however enviable was
Virgil's present lot, the bustle and luxury of an im-
mense capital were little suited to his taste, to his
:arlv habits, or to the delicacy of his constitution,
while the observance and attention he met with were
strongly repugnant to the retiring modesty of his dis-
position. Such was the popularity which he derived
from his general character and talents, that, on one
occasion, when some of his verses were recited in the
theatre, the whole audience rose to salute Virgil, who
>>as present, with the same respect which they would
nave paid to the emperor. (De Cam. corr. cloy. , c.
13. ) And so great was the annoyance which he felt
on being gazed at and followed in the streets of Rome,
that he sought shelter, it is said, in the nearest shops
or alleys from public observation. -- At the period
when Virgil enjoyed so much honour and popularity
? ? u. the cap'tal, Naples was a fa Durite retreat of illus-
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? VIRGILIUS
VIRGILIUiS
ing passage in w'r. ich he alludes to the premature
death of the beloved yo;,ih:
"0 note, ingeniem luctum ne wire titomm," &c.
But he had skilfully suppressed thfl name uc Marcellus
till he came to the line,
"2'u Marcellus eris--manibus date liliajlenia. "
It may well be believed that the widowed mother
of Marcellus swooned away at the pathos of these
verses, which no one, even at this day, can read un-
moved.
