THE LIFE

OF

TITUS POMPONIUS ATTICUS.

FROM THE LATIN OF CORNELIUS NEPOS.

POMPONIUS ATTICUS was descended from one of the most ancient families of Rome, and

'Titus Pomponius'Atticus.-The Pronomen Titus is omitted by Cornelius Nepos: it was properly personal, and probably that of his father or grandfather: Pomponius was the nomen, or name of the family, which was as old as the days of Numa Pompilius ; and Atticus was the agnomen, added on account of his love of Athens, and his spending a great deal of his time there. It does not appear, says Melmoth, in a note to his Cato, upon what account he received the surname of Atticus. One of the commentators conjectures that it took its rise from his speaking the Greek language with all the correctness and propriety of a native Athenian. Perhaps

possessed the equestrian dignity," which had devolved to him from an uninterrupted line of ancestors. In his education he had the advantage of a father, who was not only zealous, but kind in his instructions; one who, according to the times in which he lived, was considered rich, and was besides particularly fond of literature. In proportion as he loved letters himself, he took care his son should

it was given to him as a designation of that singular elegance and politeness which distinguished every part of his accomplished character.

2 The Equestrian Dignity, or that order of the Roman people which we commonly call knights, depending entirely upon a census, or valuation of their estates, which was usually made every five years by the Censors in their Lustrum, or general review of the whole people. At this time all those citizens, whose entire fortunes amounted to the sum of 400 sestertia, that is, about 32291. of our money, were enrolled of course in the list of Equites, or knights, who were considered as an intermediate order between the senators and the common people, and were allowed the following distinctions, such as " a horse given by the public, the Augustus Clavus, or Tunica Augusticlavia, and an allotted place at the public shews, according to the law of Roscius Otho:" but the principal privilege granted them was that of wearing a gold ring, as the peculiar badge of the order.

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be instructed in whatever learning3 was best adapted to his juvenile years. He had, whilst boy, great sweetness of elocution and expression, added to such natural docility of disposition, as made him easily comprehend all that was taught him; and whatever he learned, he was capable of reciting in a superior manner : from which circumstance he was esteemed noble amongst his equals; and his character even then had such a decided brilliancy, as was not quite patiently relished by his school-fellows, who were descended from illustrious parents.4 The consequence was, that he incited, by his studious example, all his young contemporaries to emulate his acquirements; amongst

3 The learning then generally taught consisted of rhe toric, history, poetry, and sometimes mathematics. "Legimus epistolas Cornelia Matris Gracchorum," says Cicero in his book, de Claris Oratoribus, from which it appears, adds he, that her children were not "tam in gremio educatos, quam in sermone matris."

Orig. clariusque explendescebat, quam generosi condiscipuli animo æquo ferre possent.

Pomponius was not generosus, because his father, and all his ancestors, were only equites, and never senatores, which could have entitled them to the honourable ap pellation of generosi.

whom were Lucius Torquatus, Caius Marius, the son of Caius, and Marcus Cicero, whom he so engaged by his habitual intimacy, that no man was dearer to them than he was. His father died early, and his son, though young at the time his relation Publius Sulpicius' was slain, (whilst tribune of the people,) ran some risk on account of that con

5 His name was Lucius Manlius Torquatus, who was consul two years before the consulship of Cicero.

This young man, who was the son of the famous Caius Marius, made himself consul in the 25th year of his age, almost twenty years before he was entitled to enjoy it; and put to death all the senators who opposed his ambitious views. He was defeated by Sylla, and fled to Præneste, where he killed himself.

7 Publius Sulpicius was connected with Atticus by a family alliance, the brother of the former having married Anicia, the cousin-german of the latter. Pompeius was consul, and Sulpicius tribune, in the year of Rome 665; at which time the opposite factions of Sylla and Marius occasioned great disturbances in the republic. Cicero, in his Lælius, mentions a quarrel which arose between them in consequence of their having taken different sides in those civil commotions; and we know from history, that each lost their lives in the sanguinary contests of the two destructive factions, before the expiration of their respective magistracies. Sulpicius was a man of great eloquence, and is introduced by Cicero as one of the speakers in his Complete Orator.

nection; for Anicia, his cousin-german, was married to Marcus Servius, the brother of Sulpicius. Finding, therefore, upon the death of Publius Sulpicius, that the city was much disturbed by the insurrection of Cinna, and that he could not live in it in a way becoming his dignity, without giving offence to either party, in the distracted state of men's minds; some favouring the side of Sylla, and others that of Cinna; finding, I say, things in this situation, and judging the opportunity favourable to a further prosecution of his literary pursuits, he withdrew to Athens: yet whilst

8 The different factions of Sylla and Cinna having, about the year 666, occasioned great and dangerous commotions in the state, Atticus, finding, if he continued in Rome, it would be impossible, from his family connections, to stand neuter, withdrew to Athens; that nobilissimum orbis Gymnasium, as Cicero emphatically calls it, which was filled with students from every quarter of the world, and to which kings, and the sons of kings, repaired. During his residence in that illustrious seminary of learning and the polite arts, says Melmoth, he employed himself in cultivating his mind under those great masters with which that celebrated city so eminently abounded. Athens was esteemed by the ancients the source, as it unquestionably was the seat, of all those useful and polite arts, which most contribute to the ease and ornament of life.