HORA!TIUS FLACCUS, QUINTUS, was born at Venusia, or V0011811103, December 8, n.c. 65, during the consulship of L. Aurelius Cotta and L. Manlius Torquatus c' iii. 21, 1; Epod.; xiii. 6). His father, who was a libertinus, or freedman, had gained consider able property as a ' cc/actor,' or servant of the money-brokers (1 ' Sat.,' vi. 6, 86), with which he purchased a farm in the neighbourhood of Venusia, on the banks of the Aufidus. In this place Horatius appears to have lived till his eleventh or twelfth year, when his father, dis satisfied with the country school of Flaviue (1 vi. 72), removed with his sou to Rome, where he was placed under the care of a cele brated schoolmaster, Orbiliue Pupillus, of Beneventum, whose life has been written by Suetonius (' De Illustr. Gramm.; c. 9). After study ing the ancient Latin poets (2 ' Ep.,' L 70, 71), Horatius learned the Greek language (2 Ep.; ii. 41, 42). He also enjoyed during the course of his education the advice and assistance of his father, who appears to have been a sensible man, aud who is frequently mentioned by his eon with the greatest esteem and respect (1 ' Sat.,' iv. 105-121; vi. 76 89). It is probable that soon after he had assumed the toga virilis, at the age of about seventeen, he went to Athens to pursue his studies (2 Ep.; ii. 43-45), where he appears to have remained till the breaking out of the civil war during the second triumvirate. Iu this contest he joined the army of Brutus, was promoted to the rank of a military tribune (1 'Sat.,' vi. 48), and was present at the battle of Philippi, n.c. 42 (` Caren.; ii. 7, 9). Though the life of Horatiue was spared, his paternal property at Venusia was confiscated (2 Ep.; ii. 49.51), and ho repaired to Rome with the hope of obtaining a living by his literary exertions. Some of his poems attracted the notice of Virgil and Varius, who introduced him to Mmeeoass, whose liberality quickly relieved the poet from all pecuniary difficulties. (1 'Sat.,' vi. 54.62; Epod.; L 31, 32 ; 'Cam.; ii. 18, 11-14 ; iii. 10, 37-3S.) We are informed by Suetonius, in his life of Horatius, that he purchased a place as clerk in the treasury. From hie introduction to Mmeenas till the Limo of his death Horatius appears to have en joyed exemption from all cares : he was intimate with Virgil, Tibullus, and other distinguished literary men in Rome, and was a great favourite of his patron hiceeenas and also of Augustus. He resided principally at Rome, or at his country-house in the Sabine Valley, which had been given him by Mecums. Ile also in the latter part of his lite another country residence at Tibur, or, as it is now called, Tivoli. The fact of his having a house at the last place, though denied by some critics, is abundantly established by many passages in his works. ('Carm.; i. 7, 10-14; H. 6, 5-8 ; iii. 4, 21.24 ; iv. 3, 10-12; 1 Ep.; vii. 44, 45; viii. 1, 2.) Iforatius died on the 27th of November, ac. 8, when he had nearly completed hie fifty-eighth year.
Many critics have maintained that each ode, each satire, &a, was published separately by Horatiue ; but Bentley, in the Preface to his edition of the poet's works, argues from tho words of Suctenius, the practice of other Latin poets, and the expressions of llorstiue himself (' Carus,' i. 1 ; ii. 20; iii. 30; 'Epod.; xiv. 7 ; 1 ' Sat.,' x. 92 ; ii. 1 ;
Ep.,' i. 1; 1. 20), that his works were originally published iu hooks in the order in which they now appear. Ho maintains that the first book of the Satires' was composed D.C. 40-38; the second book D.C. 35-33; the 'Epodea ' D.C. 32-s31; the first book of ' Odes' n.c. 80-28 ; the second book B.C. 26-25 ; the third book D.C. 24-23 ; the first book of ' Epistles' a.c. 20-19 ; the Carmen Sreculare' and the fourth book of 'Odes' me. 17-15; the second book of ' Epistles,' and the Epistle to the Pisces, called 'Do Arts I'oetica,' were written last, but at what period is uncertain. The works of Horatiue have been printed in this order by Mr. Tate, uudor the title of Horatius Restitutus, or the Books of Horace arranged in chronological order,' Camb., 1832, 2nd edit, 1837, with a preliminary dissertation, in which ho brings forward many reasons for adopting the order of Bentley. The poetry of Horace is differently estimated according to the taste of each individual. In our opinion the Satires and Epistles, which arc familiar moral discourses, and are hardly worthy of the name of poetry, according .to the usual acceptation of the word, are by far the moat valuable of his works. The Odes, which for the most part are little more than translations or imitations of the Greek poets, are generally written in a very artificial manner, and seldom depict the stronger and more powerful feelings of human nature. The best are those in which the poet describes the pleasures of a country life, or touches on the beauties of nature, for which he had the most lively perception and the most exquisite relish ('Epod.,' 2); nor are his lyrical productions altogether without those touches which excite our warmer sympathies. But if we were to name those qualities in which Horace most excels, we should mention his strong good sense, his clear judgment, and the purity of his taste. Many readers, we are aware, attribute still greater merit to the poetry of Horace than we are disposed to allow.
The following are tho most esteemed editions of Horace :—Lam blow, 1561 ; Heinsius, 1629; Bentley, 1711; Burmann, 1713 ; Sanadon, 1723; Mitscherlich, 1800; the edition of Baxter, edited by (leaner and Zeune, frequently printed; Doming, 1828-29; Braunhard, 1833. Milman'e Life and Works of Horace,' London, 1849, is an eminently beautiful work. Horace has been translated into alniost all the European languages, both in prose and verse. A few of the Odes and Satires have been well translated into English, especially those freely rendered by Pope and Swift; but there is no good trans lation in English of the whole of his works. That of Francis (4 vols. 12mo, 1747) is a poor and lifeless performance.