C ii )

Mr. Gibbon, in speaking of the EmpressJulia, says, “ She applied herself to letters andphilosophy with some success, and great appli-cation ; and was the patroness of every art, andthe friend of 6very man of genius.” The sameelegant writer, in speaking of her husband,adds, “ that he was passionately addicted to thevain studies of magic and divination, was deeplyversed in the interpretation of dreams andomens, and perfectly acquainted with the sci-ence of judicial, astrology.” In a court whichpatronized such studies and pursuits, we are notsurprised to learn that the talents of Philostra-tus were encouraged, his skill in rhetoric ap-plauded, and the wishes of the Empress obeyedwith alacrity. A woman like Julia, attached somuch to letters, was naturally desirous of know-ing every circumstance respecting so extraordi-nary a person as she might have been informedApollonius was, in whose particular characterwere combined all the leading features and pre-vailing sentiments then so fashionable in thecourt of her husband. Philostratus was a pas-sionate admirer of Pythagoras , and as such musthave had great pleasure in bringing into publicnotice and esteem, the character of one who wasso strict and zealous a follower of the rules andmaxims of the enlightened Sage of Samos. Hishistory of ApolLonius he composed in eightbooks, which have been translated at differenttimes into Latin; but the translation of Olearius ,