what our Poet had faid of himself, with what Horace and Ovid have wrote concerning him, to reject that Line as fpurious, and to affert that Tibullus muft have been born almoft twenty Years fooner. Although we think fome confiderable Objections may be raised against Douza's Opinion*, yet as the old Account is liable to ftill greater, we shall venture with that Critic, to inform the Reader, that Albius Tibullus, the Prince of Elegiac Poets, was born at Rome, A. U. C. 690, fix Years after the Birth of Virgil, and one after that of Horace. Tibullus might fay with his great Admirer, Ovid, ufque a proavis vetus ordinis hæres, Non modo militia turbine factus eques †. being defcended from an Equestrian Branch of the Albian Family :- and though fome of the old Biographers || affert, that his Ancestors made a Figure in the Forum and in the Field, yet as History makes no mention of them, Pofterity would have been unacquainted with this Branch of that illuftrious House, had it not been for our Poet. * See the Arguments on both Sides of the Question in' the Notes to the fifth Elegy of the third Book. + Amor. lib. iii. el, 14. Crinitus, &c. As 1 As the ancient Writers of Tibullus's Life have favoured us with no Particulars of his Infancy, it is probable it was distinguished by nothing remarkable. The human Mind does not always bloffom at the fame Period; and it by no means follows that his Childhood must have flourished, whofe mature Age has produced fair Fruits of Science. Perhaps too, Details of early Excellence are lefs useful than is commonly imagined, as they often difpirit those who would otherwise in due Time have expanded into an extenfive Reputation. But if fuch Accounts are less useful, it would have been no unprofitable Gratification of Curiofity to have known by what Plan his Studies were condu&ed, and who were his Preceptors. Antiquity, however, having left us in the Dark with regard to thefe Matters, we can only fuppofe that as his Father's Condition was confiderable, so nothing was omitted to render our Poet an useful and elegant Member of Society. The Romans poffeffed a real Advantage over the Moderns in Point of Education; for as the fame Citizen might plead Causes, command Armies, and arrive at the first Dignities of the Priesthood; fo their literary Inftitutions were made to comprehend thefe feveral Objects. Objects. It is easy to fee of what vaft Utility fo general a Plan must have been to a State; and perhaps it is not paying Letters too high a Compliment, to fay, that the Succeffes of the Romans were in a great measure owing to this Advantage. In the Year of Rome 705, the civil War broke out between Cæfar and Pompey. The Army and corrupt part of the Legislature followed Cæfar; while the Majority of the Senate and of the Knights, with all those who dreaded a perpetual Dictator, fided with Pompey, as the Perfon from whom the Republic had lefs Danger to apprehend. Of this Number was the Father of Tibullus; and there is Reason to fufpect, that he either fell in the Field, or was butchered by Profcription, for we know that a confiderable Part of his Estate was left a Prey to the rapacious Soldiery ". These Events probably determined our Author's public Attachments; but without thefe Motives to Revenge, it is not unlikely that Tibullus had, before this Time, adopted the political Opinions of his Father †. At what Actions in the civil War our young Knight was prefent, as it was not prudent in him to mention * Vide Panegyr. ad Meffalam, lin. 191. Jan. Douz. Sched, Succid. See Francis's Notes on the thirty-third Ode of the first Book of Horace, in his Poems, fo Hiftorians do not inform us : but as Principle and Revenge cqually confpired to rouze his Courage (and Courage he certainly poffeffed 1) may we not fafely infer, that Tibullus did not run away, like his Friend Horace, from Philippi ||, at which Battle he was prefent with his Patron the illuftrious Meffala Corvinus ? But the Fortune of Octavius prevailing over the better Caufe of Brutus and Caffius, Meffala too (who was next in Command to these Patriot Citizens) going over with his Forces to the Conqueror, Tibullus, although he paid the greatest regard to the Sentiments of that excellent Soldier and Orator, yet determined to leave the Army; for as he would not fight against the Party which his Friends had now espoused, so neither could he appear in Arms against those whom his Principles taught him to regard as the Affertors of Liberty. Befides, the bad Succefs of the Patriotparty and his own Experience, had now inspired him with an Abhorrence of the War; he therefore retirA. U. C. 712, to his Country-feat at Pedum, there, by an honeft Industry, to raise his impaired Fortune to its ancient Splendor, while his Hours of Leisure were either devoted to Philosophy or the Mufes *. Tibull, Lib. i. El. 8. Vell. Patercul. lib. ii. cap. 71. * Panegyr, Tibull, ad Meffalam, lin. 184. But But we are not to imagine that rural Obje&s and Study folely engaged our Poet's Attention; for being formed with a natural Tenderness of Difpofition, he began to enlarge the Sphere of his Pleasures by converfing with the Fair Sex. The first Object of his Affection was probably Glycera; and we have Horace * on our Side, when we add, that she at firft gave him Hopes of Succefs: but though his Perfon was elegant f, his Fortune not contemptible, and his Life was then in the Prime, Glycera deferted him for a younger Lover ‡. As he entertained a real Affection for that Lady, her Infidelity gave him much Uncafinefs, he therefore endeavoured, by exerting his Elegiac Genius, to reclaim her. But his Poems producing in Glycera no Change to his Advantage, his Friend and old Fellow-foldier Horace advised him to abate of his Sorrow for her Lofs, and fend her no more Elegies. * Lib. i. Ode 33. + Horat. lib. i. ep. 4. Horat. lib. i. ode 33. Albi ne doleas plus nimio, &c.· No more in Elegiac Strain None |