Bavius
Encyclopedia
Bavius and Maevius were two critics in the age of Augustus Caesar who belittled and attacked the talents of superior writers, according to John Lemprière
. In particular, they attacked the work of Virgil
and Horace
, both of whom mocked Maevius. Virgil struck back at Maevius in his Eclogue III, while Horace did the same in his tenth Epode. Alexander Pope
mentions Bavius in his 1732 Dunciad Variorum
and explains, in a note, that he got the reference from Virgil. Pope draws a parallel between these two critics and his own dunces by quoting John Dennis
who thought it likely that Bavius "and Maevius had (even in Augustus's days) a very formidable Party at Rome, who thought them much superior to Virgil and Horace: For (saith he) I cannot believe they would have fix'd that eternal brand upon them, if they had not been coxcombs in more than ordinary credit" (Dunciad Variorum).
Bavius and Maevius are also like the "dunces" in Pope's own Dunciad in that little is remembered of them except for their bad reputations. In the Dunciad, Book III, Pope has Bavius dip the transmigrating
souls of poetasters in Lethe
, making them doubly stupid before being born as hack writers. In his iambic pentameter essay of couplets "An Essay on Criticism," Pope writes of Maevius:
Some are bewilder'd in the Maze of Schools,
And some made Coxcombs Nature meant but Fools.
In search of Wit these lose their common Sense,
And then turn Criticks in their own Defence.
Each burns alike, who can, or cannot write,
Or with a Rival's or an Eunuch's spite.
All Fools have still an Itching to deride,
And fain wou'd be upon the Laughing Side;
If Maevius Scribble in Apollo's spight,
There are, who judge still worse than he can write...
Maevius also features in the Earl of Roscommon
's "An Essay on Translated Verse" as a symbol of poetic failure:
N.b. material in this article is taken from the public domain 1828 edition of Lempriere's Dictionary.
John Lemprière
John Lemprière , English classical scholar, lexicographer, theologian, teacher and headmaster...
. In particular, they attacked the work of Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
and Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
, both of whom mocked Maevius. Virgil struck back at Maevius in his Eclogue III, while Horace did the same in his tenth Epode. Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
mentions Bavius in his 1732 Dunciad Variorum
The Dunciad
The Dunciad is a landmark literary satire by Alexander Pope published in three different versions at different times. The first version was published in 1728 anonymously. The second version, the Dunciad Variorum was published anonymously in 1729. The New Dunciad, in four books and with a...
and explains, in a note, that he got the reference from Virgil. Pope draws a parallel between these two critics and his own dunces by quoting John Dennis
John Dennis
John Dennis was an English critic and dramatist.-Life:He was born in Harrow, London. He was educated at Harrow School and Caius College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1679. In the next year he was fined and dismissed from his college for having wounded a fellow-student with a sword....
who thought it likely that Bavius "and Maevius had (even in Augustus's days) a very formidable Party at Rome, who thought them much superior to Virgil and Horace: For (saith he) I cannot believe they would have fix'd that eternal brand upon them, if they had not been coxcombs in more than ordinary credit" (Dunciad Variorum).
Bavius and Maevius are also like the "dunces" in Pope's own Dunciad in that little is remembered of them except for their bad reputations. In the Dunciad, Book III, Pope has Bavius dip the transmigrating
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
souls of poetasters in Lethe
Lethe
In Greek mythology, Lethe was one of the five rivers of Hades. Also known as the Ameles potamos , the Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld, where all those who drank from it experienced complete forgetfulness...
, making them doubly stupid before being born as hack writers. In his iambic pentameter essay of couplets "An Essay on Criticism," Pope writes of Maevius:
Some are bewilder'd in the Maze of Schools,
And some made Coxcombs Nature meant but Fools.
In search of Wit these lose their common Sense,
And then turn Criticks in their own Defence.
Each burns alike, who can, or cannot write,
Or with a Rival's or an Eunuch's spite.
All Fools have still an Itching to deride,
And fain wou'd be upon the Laughing Side;
If Maevius Scribble in Apollo's spight,
There are, who judge still worse than he can write...
Maevius also features in the Earl of Roscommon
Earl of Roscommon
Earl of Roscommon was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 August 1622 for James Dillon, 1st Baron Dillon. He had already been created Baron Dillon on 24 January 1619, also in the Peerage of Ireland. The fourth Earl was a courtier, poet and critic. The titles became dormant on the...
's "An Essay on Translated Verse" as a symbol of poetic failure:
- "Whoever vainly on his strength depends,
- Begins like Virgil, but like Maevius ends."
N.b. material in this article is taken from the public domain 1828 edition of Lempriere's Dictionary.