You would not scruple to rank him among the ancient orators. Eorum quos viderim, Domitius Afer et Julius Secundus longe praestantissimi.  Verborum arte ille, et toto genere dicendi praeferendus, et quem in numero veterum locare non timeas. Lib. x. cap. 1.  Quintilian relates, that in a conversation which he had when a young man, he asked Domitius Afer what poet was, in his opinion, the next to Homer?  The answer was, Virgil is undoubtedly the second epic poet, but he is nearer to the first than to the third.  Utar enim verbis, quae ex Afro Domitio juvenis accepi; qui mihi interroganti, quem Homero crederet maxime accedere:  Secundus, inquit, est Virgilius, propior tamen primo quam tertio. Lib. x. cap. 1.  We may believe that Quintilian thought highly of the man whose judgement he cites as an authority.  Quintilian, however, had in view nothing but the talents of this celebrated orator.  Tacitus, as a moral historian, looked at the character of the man.  He introduces him on the stage of public business in the reign of Tiberius, and there represents him in haste to advance himself by any kind of crime. Quoquo facinore properus clare cere. He tells us, in the same passage (Annals, b. iv. s. 52), that Tiberius pronounced him an orator in his own right, suo jure disertum.  Afer died in the reign of Nero, A.U.C. 812, A.D. 59.  In relating his death, Tacitus observes, that he raised himself by his eloquence to the first civil honours; but he does not dismiss him without condemning his morals. Annals, b. xiv. s. 19.

[e] We find in the Annals and the History of Tacitus, a number of instances to justify the sentiments of Maternus.  The rich found it necessary to bequeath part of their substance to the prince, in order to secure the remainder for their families.  For the same reason, Agricola made Domitian joint heir with his wife and daughter. Life of Agricola, section 43.

[f] By a law of the Twelve Tables, a crown, when fairly earned by virtue, was placed on the head of the deceased, and another was ordered to be given to his father.  The spirit of the law, Cicero says, plainly intimated, that commendation was a tribute due to departed virtue.  A crown was given not only to him who earned it, but also to the father, who gave birth to distinguished merit. Illa jam significatio est, laudis ornamenta ad mortuos pertinere, quod coronam virtute partam, et ei qui peperisset, et ejus parenti, sine fraude lex impositam esse jubet. De Legibus, lib. ii. s. 24.  This is the reward to which Maternus aspires; and, that being granted, he desires, as Horace did before him, to waive the pomp of funeral ceremonies.

Absint inani funere naeniae,
Luctusque turpes et querimoniae;
Compesce clamorem, ac sepulchri
Mitte supervacuos honores. 
Lib. ii. ode 20.

My friends, the funeral sorrow spare,
The plaintive song, and tender tear;
Nor let the voice of grief profane,
With loud laments, the solemn scene;
Nor o’er your poet’s empty urn
With useless idle sorrow mourn. 

                                        FRANCIS’S HORACE.