BASSUS

bassus, saleius, roman epic poet, a contemporary of valerius flaccus, in the reign of vespasian. quintilian credits him with a vigorous and poetical genius (_instit_, x. 1. 90) and julius secundus, one of the speakers in tacitus _dialogus de oratoribus_ (5; see also 9) styles him a perfect poet and most illustrious bard. he was apparently overtaken by poverty, but was generously treated by vespasian, who made him a present of 500,000 sesterces. nothing from his works has been preserved; the _laus pisonis_, which has been attributed to him, is probably by titus calpurnius siculus (j. held, _de saleio basso_. 1834).