Phile

or Philes, Ma'nuel (Μανουὴλ ὁ Φιλῆς), a Byzantine poet, and a native of Ephesus, was born about A. D. 1275, and died about 1340.

We know little of his life. Works

He is called a poet, because he either extracted the works of poets, or wrote compositions of his own, in "versus politici" (στίχοι ἰαμβικοὶ), the worst sort of poetry, and the most unmelodious kind of verses that were ever tried by poets. The following is a list of his works :-- 1. De Animalium Proprietate (Στίχοι ἰαμβικοὶ περὶ ζώων ἰδιότητος)

chiefly extracted from Aelian, and dedicated to the emperor Michael Palaeologus. Edition

The Greek text by Arsenius, archbishop of Monembesia, Venice, 1530, 8vo, dedicated to Charles V., emperor of Germany; the same with a Latin version by Gregorius Bersemannus, dedicated to Augustus, elector of Saxony, in Joachimi Camerarii "Auctuarius," Leipzig, 1574, 4to : the editor made many strange alterations; by the elegant scholar, John Cornelius de Paw, Utrecht, 1739, 4to, ex Cod. Bodl., with the notes and the translation of Bersemannus revised by the editor, and cum fragmentis ineditis, among which Carmen Περὶ Ναυτίλου. 2. Carmina (varia)

containing his other poetical productions, except the aforesaid Carmen de Animalium Proprietate Editions

edited by G. Wernsdorf, and dedicated to Dr. Askew of London, and preceded by Carmen ignoti Poetae in S. Theodorum. Leipzig, 1768, 8vo. Contains : 1. Εἰς τὸν κακοπαθῆ μοναχὸν λωβὸν, In Monachum Leprosum 2. εἰς τὸν αὐτοκράτορα βασιλέα, In Augustum, id est, Andronicum Seniorem 3. De Plantis, viz. εἰς τὸν σταχὺν (in Spicam), εἰς τὸν βότρυν (in Uvam), and εἰς τὸ ῥόδον (in Rosam), as well as εἰς τὴν ῥοίαν (in Malum Punicum) 4. In Cantacuzienum (Joannem), in the form of a dialogue, a sort of moral drama 5. Epigrammatae 6. In Augustum, id est, Andronicum Seniorem 7. εἰς τὸν ἐλέφαντα, In Elephantem 8. Περὶ σηροσκοληρός, De Bombyce sire Verme Serico 9. Epigranmanta 10. Eulogirm (of the historian) Pachymerae 11. Epitaphium in Phaerasem 12. Some verses In Templum Evergetae. This is a very curious book upon which the editor has bestowed remarkable care; each Carmen is preceded by a short explanatory introduction. Further Information

Wernsdorf's Preface to his edition; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. viii. p. 617, &c. Other Byzantine writers named Phile

There are other Byzantine writers of the name of Phile, though of little note.

wrote a Commentary on four orations of Gregorius Nazianzenus.

He is said to have written tetrastichs on some psalms of David, and on other kindred subjects.

a priest who lived about 1124. Works Poetry

He is the author of an iambic epitaph on the empress Irene, and a short poem on Alexis and Joannes, the sons of Isaac Porphyrogenitus. Editions

These poems are printed in the old edition of Fabricius' Bibl. Graec.; but Harless did not think it worth while to reprint them in the new edition. Further Information

Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. viii. p. 618. Notes s, t, i, v. [W.P]