(or Muretus), Marc Antoine, a celebrated grammarian, was born at the town of Muret, near Limoges, in 1526. At an early age he cast off the uncongenial discipline that his teachers imposed upon him, and resolved to educate himself. Under the friendly eye of the elder Scaliger his progress in classical studies was so rapid, that at the age of eighteen he was invited to deliver lectures on Cicero and Terence at the college of Auch. After passing the next few years in teaching the ancient languages at Villeneuve-d'Agen, Poitiers, and Bordeaux, he was promoted to the chair of philosophy and civil law in the college of St Barbe at Paris. His lectures soon attracted notice by the lucid, elegant, and flowing style in which they set forth the most uninteresting legal details. Numbers, including the King and Queen, flocked to hear them. Yet envy at length marred his popularity by accusing him of the most unnatural sensuality. He was thrown into prison, and was on the eve of destroying himself; when the exertions of his friends secured his liberation. Returning to Toulouse, he was pursued by the calumny, and barely escaped being burnt as a sodomist and heretic. His next place of refuge was Venice. There he published several of those clear and learned commentaries on the classics which constitute the corner-stone of his fame. But there also the relentless scandal found him out and drove him to Padua. By this time his character was gradually vindicating itself; his accomplishments were recommending him to the friendship of eminent literary men; and the malicious whisperings of his former friends, Lambin and the younger Scaliger, were in vain attempting to re-kindle the flame of persecution against him. In 1559 he was invited to Rome to take up his abode at the court of Cardinal Ipolito d'Este, a munificent patron of letters. The rest of his life was passed in unclouded prosperity. He was caressed by popes and cardinals, crowded audiences applauded his lectures on philosophy and theology, and when he entered into holy orders in 1576 several rich benefices were provided for him. He died at Rome in June 1585. Regarding his rhetorical powers, his pupil Montaigne represents him as that "Marc Antoine Muret whom France and Italy recognised for the best orator of his time." A collection of his works, published by Ruhken, in 4 vols. 8vo, Leyden, 1789, contains, among other productions, *Juvenilia et Poemata Varia; Variae Lectiones; De Origine Juris; De Legibus et Sententiaconsultis; Notae in Justitiarii Institutiones*; and *Orationes*. The verses of Muret are nothing higher than a collection of poetical expressions hiding prosaic and common-place ideas. His notes and commentaries, however, on ancient authors are still valuable.

a town of France, in the department of Upper Garonne, is situated at the confluence of the Bézère and the Garonne, 11 miles S.S.W. of Toulouse. It is well built, principally of brick; and has manufactures of woollen stuffs, leather, earthenware, and brandy; and a considerable trade in cattle. It is celebrated in history for the siege it sustained in 1213 from Peter II. of Aragon, and for the battle fought in the same year, beneath its walls, between that monarch and Simon de Montfort, in which the former was defeated and lost his life. Pop. 4213.