For Caelius, see s. xvii. note [c]; and for Brutus, the same section, note [d].

[c] Servius Galba has been already mentioned, s. xviii. note [a].  Caius Laelius was consul A.U.C. 614; before the Christian aera, 140.  He was the intimate friend of Scipio, and the patron of Lucilius, the first Roman satirist.  See Horace, lib. ii. sat. i. ver. 71.

     Quin ubi se a vulgo et scena in secreta remorant
     Virtus Scipiadae, et mitis sapientia Laeli,
     Nugari cum illo, et discincti ludere, donec
     Decoqueretur olus, soliti.

     When Scipio’s virtue, and of milder vein
     When Laelius’ wisdom, from the busy scene
     And crowd of life, the vulgar and the great. 
     Could with their favourite satirist retreat,
     Lightly they laugh’d at many an idle jest,
     Until their frugal feast of herbs was drest. 
                                FRANCIS’S HORACE.

It is probable, that the harsh manner of Lucilius, durus componere versus, infected the eloquence of Laelius, since we find in Cicero, that his style was unpolished, and had much of the rust of antiquity. Multo tamen vetustior et horridior ille quam Scipio, et, cum sint in dicendo variae, voluntates, delectari mihi magis antiquitate videtur, et lubenter verbis etiam uti paulo magis priscis Laelius. De Claris Oratoribus, s. 83.

Section XXVI.

[a] For an account of Caius Gracchus, see s. xviii. note [d].

[b] For Lucius Crassus, see s. xviii. note [f].

[c] The false taste of Maecenas has been noted by the poets and critics who flourished after his death.  His affected prettinesses are compared to the prim curls, in which women and effeminate men tricked out their hair.  Seneca, who was himself tainted with affectation, has left a beautiful epistle on the very question that makes the main subject of the present Dialogue.  He points out the causes of the corrupt taste that debauched the eloquence of those times and imputes the mischief to the degeneracy of the manners.  Whatever the man was, such was the orator. Talis oratio quails vita. When ancient discipline relaxed, luxury succeeded, and language became delicate, brilliant, spangled with conceits.  Simplicity was laid aside, and quaint expressions grew into fashion.