THEOBALDUS, a French bishop, who probably lived during the twelfth, or even as early as the eleventh century, if he was the person alluded to by Hildebert, archbishop of Torres, in an epitaph on "Magister Theobaldus Dervensis." He is supposed to have been the author of a didactic and theological poem entitled "Physiologus de Naturis Duodecim Animalium." The poem is written in hexameters, sapphic, and other kinds of verse, and describes the different habits of twelve different animals, drawing from each in conclusion some moral and religious reflections. The subject seems to have been largely borrowed from a prose work of a similar kind written by Epiphanius.—W. J. P.
THEOCRITUS, a celebrated Greek pastoral poet, was, according to the well-known epigram prefixed to some editions of his poems, the son of Praxagoras and Philinna. Others indeed make him the son of Simchus or Simichidas; but this conjecture, for it is nothing more, owes its origin probably to the fact that Theocritus, according to a custom common among both ancient and modern poets, sometimes assumes this name in his poems. He was a native of Syracuse (hence Virgil styles pastoral poetry Syracusan); though again some ancient writers affirm that he belonged to the island of Cos in the Ægean. Nothing is known of the precise time either of his birth or death, and even of the history of his life we possess very little certain knowledge. We know, however, that he flourished in the earlier part of the third century b.c. This is made certain by the fact of his sojourn at Alexandria, where he enjoyed the favour and patronage of Ptolemy Philadelphus. It was probably while residing in that city that he made the acquaintance of the poets Philetas, Asclepiades, and Aratus, all of whom are mentioned in his poems. It is said in the Θεοκρίτου γενός that he was a disciple of Philetas, but we cannot determine whether the instruction he received was personal, or merely derived from the writings of that poet. From Alexandria Theocritus must have returned to Syracuse, as the sixteenth idyl, which is in praise of Hiero, the son of Hierocles, was evidently written there; and we know that that king did not begin to reign till 270 b.c. This, if we include the fact of his friendship with Nicias the physician, is the sum of the information which has come down to us respecting the life of Theocritus; but from the poem to which we have already referred, we can gather that he was, like so many other poets since his day, no stranger to disappointment and neglect. Few men, whether poets or not, have been happy who have put their trust in princes; and the complaints of the father of pastoral poetry have a strange familiar sound, coming as they do from these old heathen centuries, and mingling with the lamenting voices of so many modern bards. Theocritus may be called the creator of bucolic poetry; for although something of the kind had long been practised by the Lydiastæ and Bucolistæ of Sicily and the neighbouring parts of Italy, yet was it he who first reduced it to such a form as to constitute it a branch of regular literature. His idyls, many of which are in dialogue, are essentially of a dramatic and mimetic character. They are pictures of the actual life of the Sicilian people, herein differing from the most of pastorals which have been subsequently produced. In these we generally have descriptions of some imaginary Arcadia, and of modes of life which never existed. but in Theocritus everything is natural and real, and his pictures are besides drawn with an inimitable sweetness, naïvete, and grace. One might say that he had snatched the simple pipe of the actual shepherds of his native Sicily, and made it give forth a strain whose marvellous sweetness and simplicity has been often imitated, but never equalled. The poems which go under the name of Theocritus are thirty in number, but it is probable that a few of them were written by other and later poets. The best of the modern editions are those of Reiske, with a Latin translation, the Greek Scholia and notes, 2 vols. 4to, Leipsic, 1765; Valckenaer, Leyden, 1799 and 1781; E. F. Wüstermann, Gotha and Erfurt, 1830. There are English versions by Creech, London, 1681; Fawkes, London, 1767; and Polwhele, London, 1786.
THEODORE (Anthony) I., King of Corsica, was born at Metz about 1690. His father, Anthony, baron of Neuhof in Westphalia, had been captain of the guards belonging to the bishop of Munster, but having been disgraced in consequence of his marriage, he went to France, and was patronized there by the duchess of Orleans. After his death, Theodore was taken care of by the duchess, and became one of her pages. He subsequently entered into the regiment of La Marck, and then into the Swedish service. Charles XII.'s minister. Baron de Goertz, perceived his abilities for diplomacy, and sent him on a secret mission to Spain. He afterwards rejoined his protector at the Hague, whence he made several voyages to London, and became ambassador of Sweden in England. On the death of his patron he was obliged to leave Sweden, and went to Spain, when the Duke de Riperda, successor to Cardinal Alberoni, gave him a colonel's rank, and induced him to marry Lady Sarsfield. Disappointed in his expectations from this alliance, he left her and went to France, where he became acquainted with Law the speculator. After spending several years in different countries, he repaired to Florence. He next became involved in the affairs of Corsica, Genoa, and Austria; proved useful to the Corsicans; and artfully insinuated himself into their favour. With the help of the dey of Tunis, whom he flattered with the promise of the possession of Corsica, and under the pretence of his driving the Genoese out of the island, he landed there, 15th March, 1736, in state, and succeeded in procuring the crown of the island in the same year, amid the acclamations of the people. The Genoese, however, declared him and his adherents guilty of high treason. He soon got together an army of twenty-five thousand men; carried Porto Vecchio, and ultimately Bastia also. Discontent spreading among the people because his promised succours did not arrive, he went to Holland, and returned to Corsica in 1738 with supplies of war. But he was soon after obliged to fly from the island, because he saw himself exposed to the danger of being given up to the Genoese by the Corsicans. In Naples he was arrested, but afterwards set at liberty. He now travelled through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. After the French troops had withdrawn from Corsica, Theodore appeared again before the island, and landed at Isola Rossa. His appeal met with no response, so that he was compelled to reimbark. In 1744 he renewed the attempt, but failed. As a last resort he fled to England, where his creditors pursued and had him imprisoned. Being released, he spent the last seven years of his life in misery and neglect, dying in 1756. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Anne's, Westminster, where a marble monument was raised to his memory by Lord Orford. Theodore was a remarkable adventurer, who possessed great talents for intrigue. His life affords a striking proof of the instability of fortune. As the inscription on his tomb states—"Fate bestowed a kingdom, and denied him bread."—(See also Southey's Life of Nelson, chap, iii.)—S. D.
THEODORE, Bishop of Mopsuestia, was a native of Antioch. Following the example of his fellow-student Chrysostom, he embraced the monastic life. He was favoured with distinguished teachers in early life—Libanius, from whom he learned rhetoric; Flavianus of Antioch, Diodorus of Tarsus, and Craterius, under whom he studied sacred literature. Having removed from Antioch to Tarsus, he became bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia in 394. His death took place in 429, after he had filled the episcopate thirty-six years. Theodore was a decided opponent of different heretics in the christian church in his day, such as the Arians and Apollinarists. He himself, however, did not escape the charge of heresy. It is said that he was inclined to Pelagianism, and saved his reputation by retracting doubtful expressions. In the fifth general council in 553 his writings were condemned, because the Nestorians had appealed to them. Though vigorously attacked, however, by many intemperate men, his memory and writings were defended by Facundus and others. He had also numerous disciples of note. The chief merits of Theodorus lay in his commentaries on scripture. Here he followed the historico-grammatical method, rejecting the allegorical and fanciful interpretations then prevalent. Several of his commentaries on the minor prophets were first published by Angelo Mai; some are still in MS., and the fragments of others have been printed. He also wrote on original sin, against Jerome and the Augustinians; on the incarnation, against the Arians and others; a work on the Nicene creed; a liturgy; and a treatise against allegorical interpretation, with many others.—S. D.
THEODORE, consecrated archbishop of Canterbury in 668, was appointed by Pope Vitalian by reason of the death of Wighard, an English priest, who having been appointed by the kings of Northumbria and Kent, had proceeded to Rome for consecration. Theodore's archiepiscopal reign was an important one for the Church of England; and the Romanists have pleaded his occupation of the see of Canterbury as a proof that the early Anglican church acknowledged the supremacy of the pope.
