Varro Atacinus

Publius Terentius Varro Atacinus (82 – c. 35 BC) was a Roman poet.

Quotes

• Marmoreo Licinus tumulo jacet, at Cato parvo,
    Pompeius nullo. Quis putet esse deos?
  Saxa premunt Licinum, levat altum Fama Catonem,
    Pompeium tituli. Credimus esse deos.
  • Licinus lies in a marble tomb, Cato in an humble one, Pompey in none. Who can think that the gods exist? Heavy lies the stone on Licinus; Fame raises Cato on high; his glories, Pompey. We believe that the gods do exist.
  • The first two lines are an epigram from the Latin Anthology in reference to the magnificent tomb of one Licinus, the slave and steward of Julius Caesar. The two lines in answer are of more recent origin. — H. T. Riley, Dictionary of Latin and Greek Quotations, Proverbs, Maxims, and Mottos (1891), p. 220
  • John Scott, The Christian Life, from its Beginning to its Consummation in Glory (1719), pt. 2, ch. 3, pp. 212–13:

    The Wicked Licinus lies in a marble Tomb, but Cato in a small one, and Pompey in none; who would think there are Gods?

  • J. Hain Friswell, "Long Home", Notes and Queries, 4th s., no. 8 (12 August 1871), p. 125, col. 2:

    In marble tomb the base Licinus lies,
      Cato is covered with a few rough sods,
    Pompey lies naked to the sea and skies,
      Yet we believe, weak mortals! there are gods!

  • Variant:

    Marmoreo Licinus tumulo jacet, at Cato nullo,
    Pompeius parvo: credimus esse deos?

    In a marble tomb Licinus lies; yet Cato lies in none
    and Pompey in but a small: Do we believe there are gods?