CAUS VALERIUS, a celebrated Roman poet, born at Verona in the year B.C. 87. Though he inherited at least a comfortable independence, his fortune was greatly impaired by his dissipated manner of living in the metropolis. With a view to improve what remained, he visited Bithynia in the train of the praetor Memmius, but with little success. On his return he resided alternately in Rome and at his villas on the promontory of Sirmio and at Tibur. His great merits as a poet procured for him the esteem of Cicero and many other celebrated men of his time. Julius Caesar was a frequent guest at his father's house; and although the poet ventured, from some temporary cause of irritation, to lampoon that illustrious man, an apology at once effected their reconciliation. Catullus appears to have died in B.C. 47, in the thirtieth year of his age. His extant works comprise 116 poems, including lyrics, elegies, epigrams, and his finest poem on the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis. From his intimate acquaintance with Grecian literature, he is styled *doctus* by Titullus, Ovid, and others. Original invention and felicity of expression are the peculiar characteristics of Catullus, who may be said to have adorned everything he touched; but the licentiousness of the man is too frequently reflected in his works.

Editions—by Aldus, Ven. 1509; Vossius, Lond., 1684; Volpi, Patav., 1710; Doering, Altona, 1834, 2d ed.; Lachmann, Berol., 1829. The best metrical translation into English is that of the Hon. George Lamb, Lond., 1821, 2 vols. 12mo.