Callimachus
ka-lim’a-kus, an Alexandrian critic, poet, and grammarian. He was born at Cyrene, Africa, during the third century B. C. Under Ptolemy Philadelphus, Callimachus became chief librarian of the Alexandrian Library. He left rian of the Alexandrian Library. He left six hymns to the goods and many epigrams. Of his elegiacs, however, which were his most famous writings, only fragments remain. Callimachus was one in whom “ingenious, elegant, and harmonious versification took the place of higher poetry.” He may be regarded as the first representative of the learned poetry of Alexandria. See Alexandria
A great book is a great evil.
He but sleeps
The holy sleep, say not that the good man dies.
All Hail! Thrice hail! We pray thee to dispense Virtue and wealth to us, wealth varying For virtue’s naught, mere virtue’s no defense Then send us virtue hand in hand with competence.
- Hymn to Jove.
Callimachus takes up this part of earth, A man much famed for poesy and mirth. -Epitaph of Callimachus, written by himself.