Macer, Aemi'lius
of Verona, was senior to Ovid, and died in Asia, B. C. 16, three years after Virgil, as we learn from the Eusebian Chronicle.
Works
He wrote a poem or poems upon birds, snakes, and medicinal plants, in imitation, it would appear, of the Theriaca of Nicander. His productions, of which not one word remains, are thus commemorated in the Tristia:--
Saepe suas volucres legit mihi grandior aevo,
Quaeque necet serpens, quae juvet herba,
Macer.
Medieval work ascribed to Macer
The work now extant, entitled
Aemilius Macer de Herbarum Virtutibus, belongs to the middle ages. Of this piece there is an old translation, "Macer's Herbal, practys'd by Doctor Lynacro. Translated out of Laten into Englysshe, which shewynge theyr Operacyons and Vertues set in the margent of this Boke, to the entent you myght know theyr vertues."
There is no date; but it was printed by "Robt. Wyer, dwellynge at the sygne of Saynt Johan evangelyste, in Seynt Martyns Parysshe, in the byshop of Norwytche rentes, besyde Charynge Crosse."
