If Lucretius has in any degree benefited by the works of Empedocles, he has in return been most lavish and eloquent in his commendations. One of the most delightful features in the character of the Latin poet is, the glow of admiration with which he writes of his illustrious predecessors. His eulogy of the Sicilian philosopher, which he has so happily combined with that of the country which gave him birth, affords a beautiful example of his manner of infusing into everything a poetic sweetness, _Musæo contingens cuncta lepore_,— “Quorum Agragantinus cum primis Empedocles est: Insula quem Triquetris terrarum gessit in oris: Quam fluitans circum magnis anfractibus, æquor Ionium glaucis aspergit virus ab undis, Angustoque fretu rapidum, mare dividit undis Æoliæ terrarum oras a finibus ejus: Hîc est vasta Charybdis, et hîc Ætnæa minantur Murmura, flammarum rursum se conligere iras, Faucibus eruptos iterum ut vis evomat igneis, Ad cœlumque ferat flammäi fulgura rursum. Quæ, quum magna modis multis miranda videtur Gentibus humanis regio, visundaque fertur, Rebus opima bonis, multa munita virûm vi; Nil tamen hoc habuisse viro præclarius in se, Nec sanctum magis, et mirum, carumque, videtur. Carmina quin etiam divini pectoris ejus Vociferantur, et exponunt præclara reperta; Ut vix humana videatur stirpe creatus.”—Lib. I. 717. It was formerly mentioned, that Ennius had translated into Latin verse the Greek poem of Epicharmus, which, from the fragments preserved, appears to have contained many speculations with regard to the productive elements of which the world is composed, as also concerning the preservative powers of nature. To the works of Ennius our poet seems to have been indebted, partly as a model for enriching the still scanty Latin language with new terms, and partly as a treasury or storehouse of words already provided. Him, too, he celebrates with the most ardent and unfeigned enthusiasm:— “Ennius ut noster cecinit, qui primus amæno Detulit ex Helicone perenni fronde coronam, Per genteis Italas hominum quæ clara clueret. Et si præterea tamen esse Acherusia templa Ennius æternis exponit versibus edens; Quo neque permanent animæ, neque corpora nostra; Sed quædam simulacra modis pallentia miris; Unde, sibi exortam, semper florentis Homeri Commemorat speciem, lacrumas et fundere salsas Cœpisse, et RERUM NATURAM expandere dictis.”—I. 122. These writers, Empedocles and Ennius, were probably Lucretius’ chief guides; and though the most original of the Latin poets, many of his finest passages may be traced to the Greeks. The beautiful lamentation,— “Nam jam non domus accipiet te læta, neque uxor Optuma, nec dulceis occurrent oscula nati Præripere, et tacitâ pectus dulcedine tangunt,” ——