Tiberianus (poet)

Tiberianus (fl. c. late 3rd or early 4th century AD) was a late Latin writer and poet, surviving only in fragments, who experimented with various metrical schemes, and is a possible candidate for the authorship of the Pervigilium Veneris. Tiberianus has traditionally been identified with Annius Tiberianus, the "eloquent" (disertus) governor of Gaul in 336 AD mentioned by Jerome. An earlier candidate is however the prefect of Rome 303–4, Iunius Tiberianus.

Quotes

• Inter ista dona veris gemmeasque gratias
  omnium regina odorum vel colorum Lucifer
  auriflora praeminebat, flamma, Diones, rosa.
  • Mid such guerdons of the spring-time, mid its jewelled coronets,
    Shone the queen of all the perfumes, Star that loveliest colours shows,
    Golden flame of fair Dione, passing every flower—the rose.
  • I, 8–10 (Tr. Duff), a locus amoenus

• Aurum, quod nigri manes, quod turbida versant
  flumina, quod duris extorsit poena metallis!
  • O Gold, whirled onward by dark hell and muddy rivers, wrested by the convict from cruel mines.
  • II, 1–2 (Tr. Duff)

• Omne nefas auro tegitur, fas proditur auro.
  • All guilt is hidden by gold, by gold all righteousness betrayed.
  • II, 22 (Tr. Duff)
  • Cp. Shakespeare, King Lear, IV, 6: Plate sin with gold, &c.

External links

• J. Wright Duff; Arnold M. Duff, Minor Latin Poets, vol. 2 (LCL, 1934), p. 558