PHÆDRUS (Thomas) was a professor of eloquence at Rome, early in the 16th century. He was canon of Lateran, and keeper of the library in the Vatican. He owed his riſe to the acting of Seneca's Hippolytus, in which he performed the part of Phædra; from whence he ever after got the name of Phædruſſ. Erafmus, who tells this, ſays he had it from cardinal Raphael Georgianus, in whoſe court-yard, before the palace, that tragedy was acted. The cauſe of his death was very remarkable; for as he was riding through the city on a mule, he met a cart drawn by wild oxen, and was thrown by his mule, who took fright at them. Though corpulent, the cart fortunately paſſed over him without doing him any hurt, as he fell in the ſpace between the wheels; but fright and the fall together ſpoiled the whole maſs of his blood ſo much, that he contracted a diſtemper, of which, after languiſhing ſome time, he died under the age of 50. If he had lived, he would moſt probably have become an author; and perhaps, adds Bayle, have confirmed what has been obſerved of him, that his tongue was better than his pen. The obſervation was made by Erafmus, who tells us, that he knew and loved him; and owns that he was called the Cicero of his time. Janus Parrhaſius, his colleague, was much grieved at his death, and gave the titles of ſeveral works, which were almoſt ready for public view.