ALLATIUS (Leo), keeper of the Vatican library, a native of Scio, and a celebrated writer of the 17th century. He was of great service to the gentlemen of Port Royal in the controversy they had with M. Claude touching the belief of the Greeks with regard to the eucharist. No Latin was ever more devoted to the see of Rome, or more inveterate against the Greek schismatics, than Allatius. He never engaged in matrimony, nor was he ever in orders; and Pope Alexander VII. having asked him one day, why he did not enter into orders, he answered, "Because I would be
free to marry." The pope rejoined, "If so, why do you not marry?" "Because," replied Allatius, "I would be at liberty to take orders." Thus, as Mr Bayle observes, he passed his whole life, wavering betwixt a parish and a wife; sorry, perhaps, at his death, for having chosen neither of them; when, if he had fixed upon one, he might have repented his choice for 30 or 40 years.—If we believe John Patricius, Allatius had a very extraordinary pen, with which, and no other, he wrote Greek for 40 years; and we need not be surprised, that, when he lost it, he was so grieved, that he could scarce forbear crying. He published several manuscripts, several translations of Greek authors, and several pieces of his own composing. In his compositions he is thought to shew more erudition than judgment: he used also to make frequent digressions from one subject to another. He died at Rome in 1669, aged 83.