AUSO'NIUS, DEcimtos (e.310-394 A.D.). The most conspicuous Roman poet of the Fourth Century A.D. He was born at Burdigala (Bordeaux) about 310. His father was a man of considerable importance, having been at one time honorary prefei-t of 111yricum, and he appears to have taken care that the young Au sonius should receive an excellent education. Many amiable female relatives fostered and probably flattered the talents of the boy. After finishing his curriculum at Tolosa (Toulouse), he returned to Burdigala, where, after practicing for a short time at the bar, he turned his attention to literature, and soon distinguished himself as a professor of oratory. Some years later he was appointed by Valentinian tutor to his son Gra flan,, afterwards qmestor, and by Gratian, pre fect of Latium, and subsequently Consul of Gaul (379). On the death of Gratian, Au sonius retired from public life to his estate at Burdigala. where he oecttpied himself with lit erature and rum-al pursuits until the time of his death (about 394). The question whether or not Ausonius was a Christian has occasioned much controversy. He probably conformed to
Christianity, hut with a sort of pagan indiffer ence. His works include translations of Greek eclogues, a collection of 150 epigrams. epistles in verse and prose, 20 so-called idyls and other de scriptive pieces, which were admired in their day, and of late have once more come to be read with appreciation for their love of nature. But though destitute of the highest poetic quality, Ausonius occasionally displays a certain neat ness and grace of expression, which show that in a better era he might have proved a greater poet. Besides these, he also wrote a panegyric on the Emperor Oration, full of bombastic adu lation. Ilis best-known poems. .1/osena, contain mammy eharming bits of description, and some strikingly modern kindles. Best edition by Peiper (Leipzig, 1880). Consult also: Dill, Roman Society in the Last Century of the Western Empire, especially Bk. IL, Chap. III. (London. 1899), and for an app•eviation, :Mae kail, Latin Literature (New- York, 1896).