valuable of the subsequent editions are, that of Camerarius, Basil, 1551, and 1558, 8vo; of Lambinus, Paris, 1577, fol.; of Taubman, Francfort and Wittemberg, 1605, 1612, and 1622, 4to; the Variorum by Gronovius, Amst. 1684, 8vo; of Ernesti, Leipsic, 1760, 2 vols. 8vo; and of Schmeider, at Gottingen, 1804, 2 vols. 8vo.1

PLAYFORD (JOHN), a man distinguished in the musical world, was born in 1613. He was a stationer and a seller of musical instruments, music-books, and musicpaper, and was clerk of the Temple church. What his education had been, is not known; but that he had attained to a considerable proficiency in the practice of music and musical composition, is certain. His skill in music was not so great as to entitle him to the appellation of a master; he knew nothing of the theory of the science, but was very well versed in the practice, and understood the rules of composition well enough to write good harmony. He was also the first and the most intelligent printer of music during the seventeenth century; and he and his son Henry, appear, without a special licence, or authorized monopoly, to have had almost the whole business of furnishing the nation with musical instruments, music books, and music paper, to themselves. In 1655 he published the first edition of his "Introduction to the Skill of Music," a compendium compiled from Morley, Butler, and other more bulky and abstruse books, which had so rapid a sale, that in 1683 ten editions of it had been circulated through the kingdom. The book, indeed, contained no late discoveries or new doctrines, either in the theory or practice of the art; yet the form, price, andstyle, were so suited to every kind of musical readers, that it seems to have been more generally purchased and read, than any elementary musical tract that ever appeared in this or in any other country.

In the same year this diligent editor also published, in two separate books, small 8vo, "Court Ayres, by Dr. Charles Colman, William Lawes, John Jenkins, Simpson, Child, Cook, Rogers," &c. These being published at a time when there was properly no court, were probably tunes which had been used in the masques performed at Whitehall during the life of Charles I. In 1671 he published the first edition of his "Psalms and Hymns in solemn

1 Fabric. Bibl. Lat.-Voss. de Poet. Lat.-Crusius's Lives of the Roman Poets.-Dibdin's Classics, and Bibl. Spenceriana.-Saxii Onomast.

Musick, in foure Parts, on the common Tunes to Psalms in Metre used in Parish churches. Also six Hymns for one Voice to the Organ," folio. The several editions of this work, published in various forms, at a small price, rendered its sale very general, and psalm-singing in parts, a favourite amusement in almost every village in the kingdom. He died about 1693, and Tate, then poet-laureat, wrote an elegy upon him.

His second son, HENRY, succeeded his father as a musicseller, at first at his shop in the Temple, but afterwards in the Temple Exchange, Fleet-street; but the music-books advertised by him were few compared with those published by his father. Among them were the "Orpheus Britannicus," and the ten sonatas and airs of Purcell. He published, in 1701, what he called the second book of the "Pleasant Musical Companion, being a choice collection of catches for three or four voices ;" published chiefly for the encouragement of the musical societies, which, he said, would be speedily set up in the chief cities and towns of England. We know not that this was the case, but certainly the publication of Purcell's catches in two small volumes of the elder Walsh in queen Anne's time, was the means of establishing catch-clubs in almost every town in the kingdom. It is conjectured that Henry Playford survived his father but a short time, for we meet with no publication by him after 1710.'

PLEMPIUS (VOPISCUS FORTUNATUS), an eminent physician, was born at Amsterdam in December 1601. He studied at Ghent, Louvain, Leyden, Padua, and Bologna, at which last university he took his degree of doctor. On his return to Holland, he began practice, but was induced to accept the vacant professorship of the Institutes of Medicine, at Louvain, of which he took possession in 1633. At the same time he abjured the Protestant faith, became a Catholic, and took a new degree of doctor, in conformity with the rules of the university. In the following year, however, he quitted this chair, for the professorship of pathology. He was soon afterwards nominated principal of the college of Breugel. He died at Louvain, in December 1671, aged seventy.

Plempius left the following works: "A Treatise on the Muscles," in Dutch. "Ophthalmographia, sive de Oculi

Hawkins and Burney's Hist. of Music.

Fabricâ, Actione, et Usu," Amst. 1632; Lovæn. 1648, A translation of the Anatomy of Cabrolius into Dutch, with notes, Amst. 1633. "Fundamenta, seu Institutiones Medicinæ," Lov. 1638, 1644, &c. In the first edition of this work, Plempius doubted the circulation of the blood; but in the second, he was a strenuous advocate for that doctrine. "Animadversiones in veram Praxim curanda Tertianæ propositam à Doctore Petro Barba;" ibid. 1642. "Antimus Coningius Peruviani pulveris defensor, repulsus à Melippo Protymo;" ibid. 1655. Coningius is the assumed name of Honoratus Fabri; Protymus was that assumed by Plempius, in order to decry the use of cinchona. "Avicennæ Canonis Liber primus et secundus ex Arabica Lingua in Latinam translatus," ibid. 1658. "Tractatus de Affectuum Pilorum et Unguium," ibid. 1662.“ De Togatorum Valetudine tuendâ Commentarius," Brux. 1670. The two following are generally ascribed to this author, though Mangetus and Lipenius (probably misinterpreting the initial) ascribe them to Francis Plempius, viz. "Munitio Fundamentorum Medicinæ V. F. Plempii adversus Jacobum Primerosium," Amst. 1659. "Loimographia, sive, Tractatus de Peste," ibid. 1664.'

PLINIUS SECUNDUS (CAIUS), called the elder, to distinguish him from his nephew, was one of the most learned of the ancient Roman writers, and was born in the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, about the year of Christ 23. His birth-place was Verona, as appears from his calling Catullus his countryman, who was unquestionably of that city. Tho ancient writer of his life, ascribed to Suetonius, and, after him, St. Jerom, have made him a native of Rome: father Hardouin has also taken some pains to confirm this notion, which however has not prevailed. We can more readily believe Aulus Gellius, who represents him as one of the most ingenious men of his age; and what is related of his application by his nephew the younger Pliny, is almost incredible. Yet his excessive love of study did not spoil the man of business, nor prevent him from filling the most important offices with credit. He was a procurator, or manager of the emperor's revenue, in the provinces of Spain and Africa; and was advanced to the high dignity of augur. He had also several considerable commands in the army, and was distinguished by his courage in the field, as well as by his eloquence at the bar.

1 Eloy, Dict. Hist.-Rees's Cyclopædia.

His manner of life, as it is described by his nephew, exhibits a degree of industry and perseverance scarcely to be paralleled. In summer he always began his studies as soon as it was night: in winter, generally at one in the morning, but never later than two, and often at midnight. No man ever spent less time in bed; and sometimes he would, without retiring from his books, indulge in a short sleep, and then pursue his studies. Before day-break, it was his custom to wait upon Vespasian, who likewise chose that season to transact business: and when he had finished the affairs which the emperor committed to his charge, he returned home again to his studies. After a slender repast at noon, he would frequently, in the summer, if he was disengaged from business, recline in the sun: during which time some author was read to him, from which he made extracts and observations. This was his constant method, whatever book he read: for it was a maxim of his, that "no book was so bad, but something might be learned from it." When this was over, he generally went into the cold-bath, after which he took a slight refreshment of food and rest; and then, as if it had been a new day, resumed his studies tili supper-time, when a book was again read to him, upon which he would make some remarks as they went on. His nephew mentions a singular instance to shew how parsimonious he was of his time, and how covetous of knowledge. His reader having pro

nounced a word wrong, some person at the table made him repeat it upon which, Pliny asked that person if he understood it? and when he acknowledged that he did, "Why then," said he, "would you make him go back again? we have lost, by this interruption, above ten lines." In summer, he always rose from supper by day-light; and in winter, as soon as it was dark. Such was his way of life amidst the noise and burry of the town; but in the country his whole time was devoted to study without intermission, excepting only when he bathed, that is, was actually in the bath; for during the operation of rubbing and wiping, he was employed either in hearing some book read to him, or in dictating himself. In his journeys, he lost no time from his studies, his mind at those seasons being disengaged from all other thoughts, and a secretary or amanuensis constantly attended him in his chariot; and that he might suffer the less interruption to his studies, instead of walking, he always used a carriage in Rome. By this

extraordinary application he found leisure to write a great many volumes.

The circumstances of his death, like his manner of living, were very singular, and are also described at large by the elegant pen of his nephew. He was at that time, with a fleet under his command, at Misenum, in the gulf of Naples; his sister and her son, the younger Pliny, being with him. On the 24th of August, in the year 79, about one in the afternoon, his sister desired him to observe a cloud of a very unusual size and shape. He was in his study; but immediately arose, and went out upon an eminence to view it more distinctly. It was not at that distance discernible from what mountain this cloud issued, but it was found afterwards to ascend from mount Vesuvius. Its figure resembled that of a pine-tree; for it shot up to a great height in the form of a trunk, which extended itself at the top into a sort of brauches; and it appeared sometimes bright, and sometimes dark and spotted, as it was either more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This was a noble phænomenon for the philosophic Pliny, who immedi ately ordered a light vessel to be got ready; but as he was coming out of the house, with his tablets for his observations, the mariners belonging to the gallies stationed at Retina, earnestly intreated him to come to their assistance, since that port being situated at the foot of mount Vesuvius, there was no way for them to escape, but by sea. He therefore ordered the gallies to put to sea, and went himself on board, with intention of assisting not only Retina, but several other towns, situated upon that beautiful coast. He steered directly to the point of danger, whence others fled with the utmost terror; and with so much calmness and presence of mind, as to be able to make and dictate his observations upon the motion and figure of that dreadful scene. He went so nigh the mountain, that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships, together with pumice-stones and black pieces of burning rock: they were likewise in danger, not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of the sea, but also from the vast fragments which rolled down from the mountain, and obstructed all the shore. Here he stopped to consider, whether he should return; to which the pilot advising him, " Fortune," said he, "befriends the brave; carry me to Pomponianus." Pomponianus was then at Stabiæ, a town separated by a gulf,