CASSIODORUS, MAGNUS AURELIUS. Born in Calabria about 470 or 480. He was of good family, and was the principal minister and associate of Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, and con tinued in high office under his immediate succes sors. At the age of 66 years, probably from a desire for repose, increased by the disorders he saw threatening his country, he withdrew to a monastery which he had founded in a beautiful spot in Calabria. Here he established an order less severe than usual, and the inmates of Viviers devoted themselves not only to sacred studies but to agriculture and secular pursuits. Cassiodorus drew up short treatises for them on most of the subjects of a liberal education at that time, and de fends this innovation in his book De institution Dinh:arum Litteranem, which forms a sort of in troduction to the work referred to above, De artibus at disciplinis Liberalium littemrum. His favourite occupation, or at least object, was the accurate copying of ancient MSS. He paid great attention to this, and wrote a treatise, de Ortho graphies, for the guidance of the copyists whom he directed. He wrote this work in the 93dyear of
his age, and much is not known of his life after wards. He is said to have lived to too years, or at least to 97. Besides other works, be wrote An exposition of the Epistle to the Romans, now lost, especially directed against Pelagius ; and works called Complexiones in Epistolis Afiostolorum et Actibus eoruni et Apocalypsi Quasi brevissima ex planation( decursas. Cassiodorus was a man of infinite industry, and did considerable service to literature. His theological works are of little in herent value—very interesting as exhibiting in a man of high cultivation in the sixth century the aspect of Christianity and ancient philosophy ; but from this very combination and the position of the man, somewhat artificial and wanting in earnest ness. His works and life are in Migne's Biblio theca Patrum.—H. W.