He adds, that he should not descend to repeat such sayings (for they were neither witty, nor worthy of notice in such a cause), had he not thought it material to shew, that the iniquity of VERRES was, in the mouth of the vulgar, a subject of ridicule, and a proverbial joke. Hinc illi homines erant, qui etiam ridiculi inveniebantur ex dolore:  quorum alii, ut audistis, negabant mirandum esse, JUS tam nequam esse VERRINUM:  alii etiam frigidiores erant; sed quia stomachabantur, ridiculi videbantur esse, cum SACERDOTEM execrabantur, qui VERREM tam nequam reliquisset, Quae ego non commemorarem (neque enim perfacete dicta, neque porro hac severitate digna sunt) nisi vos id vellem recordari, istius nequitiam et iniquitatem tum in ore vulgi, atque communibus proverbiis esse versatam.  In Verrem, lib. i. pars tertia, s. 121.

[c] Quintilian acknowledges that the words esse videatur (it seems to be) occur frequently in Cicero’s Orations.  He adds, that he knew several, who fancied that they had performed wonders, when they placed that phrase in the close of a sentence. Noveram quosdam, qui se pulchre expressisse genus illud caelestis hujus in dicendo viri sibi viderentur, si in clausula posuissent esse videatur. Quintil. lib. x. cap. 2.

[d] The species of composition, called satire, was altogether of Roman growth.  Lucilius had the honour of being the inventor; and he succeeded so well, that even in Quintilian’s time, his admirers preferred him not only to the writers who followed in the same way, but to all poets of every denomination. Lucilius quosdam ita deditos sibi adhuc habet imitatores, ut eum non ejusdem modo operis, sed omnibus poetis praeferre non dubitent. Lib. x. cap. 1.  The great critic, however, pronounces judgement in favour of Horace, who, he says, is more terse and pure; a more acute observer of life, and qualified by nature to touch the ridicule of the manners with the nicest hand. Multo est tersior, ac purus magis Horatius, et ad notandos hominum mores praecipuus.

[e] Lucretius is not without his partisans at this hour.  Many of the French critics speak of him with rapture; and, in England, Dr. Wharton of Winchester seems to be at the head of his admirers.  He does not scruple to say that Lucretius had more spirit, fire, and energy, more of the vivida vis animi, than any of the Roman poets.  It is neither safe nor desirable to differ from so fine a genius as Dr. Wharton.  The passages which he has quoted from his favourite poet, shew great taste in the selection.  It should be remembered, however, that Quintilian does not treat Lucretius with the same passionate fondness.  He places Virgil next to Homer; and the rest, he says, of the Roman poets follow at a great distance.  MACER and LUCRETIUS deserve to be read:  they have handled their respective subjects with taste and elegance; but Macer has no elevation, and Lucretius is not easily understood. Caeteri omnes longe sequuntur.  Nam MACER et LUCRETIUS legendi quidem; elegantes in sua quisque materia, sed alter humilis, alter difficilis. Lib. x. cap. 1.  Statius, the poet, who flourished in the reign of Domitian, knew the value of Lucretius, and, in one line, seems to have given his true character; et docti furor arduus Lucreti; but had he been to decide between him and Virgil, it is probable, that he would say to Lucretius, as he did to himself,