HexaemeronHis chief production, entitled
Hexaemeron, in heroic measure, extending to
575 lines, contains a description of the six days of the creation, in addition to which we
possess a fragment in 198 elegiac verses addressed to the younger Theodosius, in which the
author implores forgiveness of God for certain errors in his greater work, and excuses
himself to the emperor for having neglected to celebrate his victories. Although the
Hexaemeron is by no means destitute of spirit, and plainly indicates that the writer had
studied carefully the models of classical antiquity, we can by no means adopt the criticism
of Isidorus: " Dracontius composnit heroicis versibus Hexaemeron creations mundi et
luculenter, quod composuit, scripsit," if we are to understand that any degree of clearness
or perspicuity is implied by the word
luculenter, for nothing is more
characteristic of this piece than obscurity of thought and perplexity of expression. Indeed
these defects are sometimes pushed to such extravagant excess, that we feel disposed to
agree with Barthius (
Advers. 23.19), that Dracontius did not always
understand himself.
Editions
It is to be observed that the Hexaemeron exists under two forms. It was published
in its original shape along with the Genesis of Claudius Marius Victor, at Paris, 8vo.
1560; in the "Corpus Christianorum Poetarum," edited by G. Fabricius, Basil.
4to. 1564; with the notes of Weitzius, Franc 8vo. 1610; in the
"Magna Bibliotheca Patrum," Colon. fol. 1618, vol. vi. par. 1; and in the "
Bibliotheca Patrum," Paris, fol. 1624, vol. viii.
In the course of the seventh century, however, Eugenius, bishop of Toledo, by the orders
of king Chindasuindus, undertook to revise, correct, and improve the Six Days; and, not
content with repairing and beautifying the old structure, supplied what he considered a
defect in the plan by adding an account of the Seventh Day. In this manner the performance
was extended to 634 lines. The enlarged edition was first published by Sirmond along
with the Opuscula of Eugenius, Paris, 8vo. 1619. In the second volume of Sirmond's
works (Ven. 1728), p. 890, we read the letter of Eugenius to Chindasuindus, from which we
learn that the prelate engaged in the task by the commands of that prince; and in p. 903 we
find the Elegy addressed to Theodosius. The Eugenian version was reprinted by
Rivinus, Lips. 8vo. 1651, and in the " Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum," Lugdun.
vol. ix. p. 724.
More recent editions have appeared by F. Arevalus, Rom. 4to. 1791, and by
J. B. Carpzovius, Helmst. 8vo. 1794.