The ninth piece in the collection of the "Panegyrici Veteres" [see DREPANIUS] bears the title Nazarii Panegyricus Constantino Augusto. It was delivered at Rome (100.38) at the beginning of the fifth year of the Caesars, Crispus and Constantine, which commenced on the 1st of March A. D. 321 (cc. 1, 2). It is chiefly occupied with the praises of Constantine, the father, who is proposed as the bright exemplar of every virtue to his sons. The circumstance that the emperor was not present (100.3, comp. 100.36), renders the grossness of the flattery somewhat less odious. With regard to the author we find two notices in the version of the Eusebian Chronicle by Jerome, the one under A. D. 315, "Nazarius insignis rhetor habetur ;" the other under A. D. 337, "Nazarii rhetoris filia in eloquentia patri coaequatur," both of which we may fairly conclude refer to the author of this oration. Ausonius also notices incidentally an "illustrious" rhetorician, Nazarius, who may be the same person. (Prof. Burdig. xiv.)
The eighth piece in the above collection, styled Incerti Panegyricus Constantino Augusto dictus, from the resemblance in style as well as from an expression in the ninth (100.30), is generally believed to be also the work of Nazarius. It was pronounced at Trèves by a native of Gaul (100.1), in the year A. D. 313, and celebrates in the most turgid language the victory over Maxentius. (For authorities and illustrations see the references at the end of DREPANIUS, EUMENIUS, MAMERTINUS.)
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