Cato, DIONYSIUS

Cato, DIONYSIUS, is the name prefixed to a little volume of moral precepts in verse, which was a great favourite during the middle ages, but the author of which is unknown. Its usual title is Dionysii Catonis Disticha de Moribus ad Filium. It begins with a preface addressed by the supposed author to his son, after which come fifty-six injunctions of rather a simple character, such as parentem ama. Next follow 164 moral precepts, each expressed in two dactylic hexameters, the whole monotheistic in tone without being distinctly Christian. The book was early translated into most of the western languages. An English version by Benedict Burgh was printed by Caxton before 1479. A good edition is Hauthal's (Berlin, 1869).