Images de page
PDF
ePub

ÆGYPTIUS. See EGIZIO.

ÆLFRED. See ALFRED.

ÆLFRIC, successively bishop of Wilton and archbishop of Canterbury, and one of the greatest luminaries of his dark age, was the son of an earl of Kent, and after receiving a few scanty instructions from an ignorant secular priest, assumed the habit of the Benedictine order of monks in the monastery at Abingdon, over which Athelwold then presided, having been appointed abbot in the year 955. Athelwold, being created bishop of Winchester in the year 693, settled several of the Abingdon monks in his cathedral. Among these was Ælfric; who, in return for the benefit which he had formerly derived from the instructions of Athelwold, was now eager to show his gratitude, by forwarding the wishes of his benefactor to instruct the youth of his diocese. With this view he drew up his "Latin-Saxon Vocabulary," and some "Latin Colloquies." The former of these works was published by Somner, under the title of a Glossary, Oxon. 1659 (See SOMNER). During his residence in this city, Ælfric translated, from the Latin into the Saxon language, most of the historical books of the Old Testament: the greatest part of which translations has reached our time, having been print. ed at Oxford in 1698. Here, likewise, at the request of Wulfsine, bishop of Sherborn, he drew up what has been called his "Canons," but might more properly be styled, a charge to be delivered by the bishops to their clergy. They are preserved in the first volume of Spelman's Councils, and were composed, between the years 980 and 987. Some time about this last year, Ælfric was removed to Cerne Abbey, to instruct the monks, and regulate the affairs of that monastery. Here it was that he translated, from the Latin fathers, the first volume of his "Homilies." After remaining in this place about a year, he was made abbot of St. Alban's in the year 988, and composed a liturgy for the service of his abbey, which continued to be used there till Leland's time. In the year 989 he was created bishop of Wilton, and during his continuance in that see, translated, about the latter end of the year 991, a second volume of "Homilies." These are the volumes of which Mrs. Elstob issued proposals for a translation, in 1713, accompanied with the original, but did not live to publish the 'work. Here also Ælfric wrote his "Grammar," a supplement to his Homilies, and, probably, a tract dedicated to

Sigeward or Sigeferth, containing two epistles on the Old and New Testament, which his biographer concludes to have been written between the years 987 and 991. In 994, he was translated to Canterbury, where, after exerting himself for some years, with equal spirit and prudence, in defending his diocese against the incursions of the Danes, he died Nov. 16, 1005. He was buried at Abingdon, the place where he first embraced the profession of a monk, whence his remains were afterwards transferred to Canterbury, in the reign of Canute.'

ÆLIAN (CLAUDIUS), an historian and rhetorician, born at Præneste in Italy, about the year 160, taught rhetoric at Rome, according to Perizonius, under the emperor Alexander Severus. He was surnamed Μελιγλωσσα, Honeytongue, on account of the sweetness of his style. He was likewise honoured with the title of sophist, an appellation in his days given only to men of learning and wisdom. He loved retirement, and devoted himself to study; and his works shew him to have been a man of excellent principles and strict integrity. He greatly admired and studied Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch, Homer, Anacreon, Archilochus, &c.; and, though a Roman, gives the preference to the writers of the Greek nation. His two most celebrated works are his "Various History," and that "Of Animals." He wrote also an invective against Heliogabalus, or, as some think, Domitian; but this is not certain, for he gives the tyrant, whom he lashes, the fictitious name of Gynnis. He composed likewise a book "Of Providence," mentioned by Eustathius; and another on divine appearances, or the declarations of providence. Some ascribe to him also the work entitled "Tactica, or De re Militari;" but Perizonius is of opinion, that this piece belonged to another author of the same name, a native of Greece. There have been several editions of his "Various History." The Greek text was published at Rome in 1545, by Camillus Peruscus, Justus Vulteius gave a Latin translation, which was printed separately in 1548; and joined to the Greek text in a new edition, by Henricus Petrus, at Basil, 1555. It contains likewise the works of several other authors, who have treated on such subjects as Ælian. John Tornæsius published three several editions at Lyons, in 1587, 1610, and 1625. All these were eclipsed by that of John Schefferus, in 1647 and 1662: he rectified the text in many places, and illustrated the whole with very learned notes and animadversions. Perizonius gave a new edition in two voJumes, 8vo, at Leyden, 1701. He followed the translation of Vulteius, which he rectified in many places, together with the Greek text, illustrating the most intricate passages with learned notes. The next and best edition of this work is that of Abraham Gronovius, who has given the Greek text and version of Vulteius, as corrected by Perizonius, together with the notes of Conrad Gessner, John Schefferus, Tanaquil Faber, Joachim Kuhnius, and Jac. Perizonius; to which he has added short notes of his own, and the fragments of Ælian, which Kuhnius collected from Suidas, Stobæus, and Eustathius. His treatise on animals is in many respects a curious and important work, but, like that of Pliny, often disgraced with ridiculous and fabulous

1 Ed. Rowe Moresi de Ælfrico Commentarius, a G. J. Thorkelin, 4to, Lond. 1789.-Mouth. Rev. vol. IL. N. S. p. 387.

accounts.

ÆLIANUS (MECCIUS), a physician of the second century, under the reign of Adrian, was the first who employed the Theriaca, both as a remedy and preservative, in the plague. Galen in his treatise on the subject, considers him as one of the first of his masters, and praises him also for his great knowledge and success. *

ÆLIUS SEXTUS POETUS CATUS, a celebrated Roman lawyer, and author of the oldest work on jurisprudence, flourished in the sixth century after the building of Rome. He was successively ædile, consul, and censor. When Cnæus Flavius divulged his formula, the patricians, who considered themselves as the depositories of the law, composed novels, and endeavoured to conceal them with the utmost care. But Ælius, when ædile, got access to them, and published them. These last obtained the name of the Ælian law, as what Flavius had published were called the Flavian law. It appears also, that notwithstanding what Grotius and Bertrand have advanced, he was the author of a work entitled the "Tripartite," by far the oldest work on the subject. It was so called as containing, 1. The text of the Law; 2. Its interpretation; and 3. The forms of procedure. He was appointed consul in A. U. C. 556, at the end of the second Punic war; and was distinguished for his homely diet, and simple manners, and his rejecting of presents.1

1 Gen. Dict-Fabric. Bibl. Græc.-Saxii Onomasticon. - Bibliographical Dictionary. * Biographie Universelle,

ÆLMER. See AYLMER.

AELST (EVERT, or EVERHARD VAN), a Dutch painter, born at Delft in 1602, acquired a great reputation by his delicate manner of painting fruit, still life, and dead game. He was exact in copying every thing after nature, disposing them with elegance, and finishing his pictures with neatness, and transparency of colour. Whether he painted dead game, fruit, helmets with plumes of feathers, or vases of gold and silver, to each he gave a true and striking resemblance of nature, and an extraordinary lustre to the gold, silver, and steel. He died in 1658.*

AELST (WILLIAM VAN, called in Italy GULIELMO), was the nephew and disciple of the preceding, born at Delft in 1620, and arrived at a much higher degree of perfection than his instructor. In his youth he went to France, and exercised his art there for four years, and afterwards to Rome, where he resided for seven years; and in both places was encouraged by the patronage of persons of the first distinction. In 1656, he returned to his own country, and settled at Amsterdam, where his pictures were highly valued, and sold at a very great price. Some of them are still in the collections of the amateurs of that city. Van Aelst knew his own merit, and would not submit to disre spect. On one occasion when a burgomaster of Amster dam gave him a very haughty answer in a matter of some importance to him, he opened his breast and shewed him a gold chain and medal which the grand duke of Tuscany had given him, adding, "You came into the world with a sack of money, that is all your merit: as to mine, it is in my talents." Like his uncle he employed himself chiefly on still life, and his pencil was so light, and his touch so delicate, that the objects he painted seemed real. He died in 1679.3

ÆMILIANI (St. JEROME), a nobleman, born at Venice in 1481, carried arms in his youth, and was taken prisoner. On his release he made a vow to dedicate his life to the care of orphans, and accordingly collected a considerable number of them in a house, where they were educated in virtue and industry. This laid the foundation of the regular clerks of St. Maieul, who are also called the fathers of

1 Biographie Universelle. Gen. Dict.
• Pilkington's Dict. -Biographie Universelle,
VOL. I.

0

3 Ibid.

Somasquo, from the place where he first established their community. They were afterwards successively confirmed by the popes Paul III. and Pius IV. Their chief occupation was to instruct young persons in the principles of the Christian religion, and particularly orphans. He appears to have been a man of a most humane disposition; and in 1528, when plague and famine raged in Italy, he sold even his furniture to assist the poor. He died in 1537, and was admitted into the number of saints by Benedict XIV. Andreas Stella, the general of the Somasques, wrote his life.'

ÆMILIUS (ANTHONY), professor of history in the university of Utrecht, was born Dec. 20, 1589, at Aix-laChapelle, whither his father John Meles (Latinized by his son into Æmilius) had fled on account of his attachment to the Protestant religion. He studied first at Aix-la-Chapelle, and afterwards at Juliers under Kunius, and at Dort under Adrian Marcellus, and Gerard Vossius. At Leyden, he attended the lectures of Baudius, and spent four years in visiting the foreign universities. On his return, in 1615, he succeeded Vossius as rector of the college at Dort. At Utrecht he was, some years after, appointed professor of history; the subjects of the lectures which he gave for above twenty-six years, were taken from Tacitus. He was a firm supporter of the Cartesian philosophy, and refused to have any hand in the proceedings of the univer sity of Utrecht against Des Cartes. He died Nov. 10, 1660. His only publication was a "Collection of Latin Orations and Poems," 1651, 12mo.

ÆMILIUS (PAULUS). See EMILIUS.

ÆNEAS, or ÆNGUS, an Irish abbot, or bishop, and historian, of the eighth century, called Hagiographus, from his having written the lives of the saints, descended from the kings of Ulster; and was reputed one of the Colidei, or Culdees, worshippers of God, on account of his great piety. The accounts we have of him are rather confused; but it appears that he took extraordinary pains in compiling ecclesiastical history and biography, under the names of martyrology, fastology, &c. Sir James Ware says, that his martyrology was extant in his time. Moreri gives an account of it, or of a different book under the

Mosheim.-Dictionnaire Historique, 1810.
Cen. Dict.-Saxii Onomasticon.

« PrécédentContinuer »