MELENA ELPIS. 291 MELI. MELE'NA EL'PIS. A psciulonyui of Espe- rance von Selnvartz (([.v. ). MELENDEZ VALDES, ma-lan'dath vul- das', JlaN (1754-1817). A Spanish poet, born at Ribera del Fresno, in Estreniadura, March 11, J7a4. He studied at Salamanca, and began his poetical career with some compositions in the manner of Lobo, but soon came under the in- fluence of the elder iluratin and other members of the so-called French school of writers. In 1780 he won the prize of the Spanish Academy for an ode. (.'oming to Madrid in 17S1, ^Nlelendez there enjoyed tlie favor of the minister and au- thor, Jovellanos, wlio appointed liim to a chair at the L'niversity of Salamanca. In this intel- lectual centre he became the chief figure of the Salaniancan circle of lyric poets, who played an important part in the regeneration of Spanish literary production. With his coraed.y, Los bodas de CiniKiclio. he won a prize offered by the city 1 of Madrid in 1784; but the play failed on the , stage. The next year he published his first vol- I UMie of collected poems, which marked a decided improvement over the methods both of contemiio- raries and of most lyric poets who had written since the sif/lo de oro. Melendez now entered upon a political career that was to lead to his ruin. At his own request, he was made a judge of the court of Saragossa in 1789; two years later he was promoted to the chancer.y of Valla- dolid ; and in 1707 he was given a post at the royal Court. In 1798 Melendez's constant friend, Jovellanos. fell from favor and the former was inolved in his ruin. He was exiled for a while, but in 1802 he was allowed to settle in Salamanca, He identified himself with the endeavors of the Napoleonic Government in Spain. Serving this cause, he incurred the hatred which his coinitrymen felt for the Afrance- smhis:. and on several occasions he nearly lost his life at the hands of the excited populace. With the end of .Joseph Bonaparte's rule, he had to leave Spain, and, going into exile in France, he died at Montpellier, May 24, 1817. During this last period of exile he prepared a final edition of his lyrics, which did not appear, however, until 1820, Melendez was one of the few genuine poets that Spain produced during the decadent period of the eighteenth century. Consult the life of Melendez by Qnintana, prefixed to the edition of his poems of Madrid (1820), and also pub- lished with Quintana's prose works in volume xix. of the Bihliotcca de autores espaitoles; and see, also, the edition of his poems in the Bih- lioteca. vol. Ixiii., and E. Mfiriraee's essay on him in the Reriie hisjjiitiiriiie. vol. i. MELETIUS, mele'shi-iis (Lat., from Gk. Meh'/Tiiir), Bishop of Lycopnlis in the Thebais in the beginning of the fourth century and found- er of the sect of the ileletians. According to Epiphanius, during the persecution under Diocle- tian and Maximiuus, many Christians were led tliniMgh torture to renounce their faith; .after- wards repenting of their sin. they repaired to the bishops to receive absolution, and to he recon- ciled to the Church. Peter. Archbishop of Alcx- andria,_ was willing to receive the backsliders. on their doing penance, but ilclctius refused to have any intercourse with them until the close of the persecution. This caused a schism, and Meletius became the leader of the disaffected. He traveled through the patriarchate, ordaining and excommunicating according to his own will, obtaining many followers, and disregarding the protest of the Egyptian bishops. This proselvling tour was extendecl to Palestine. But in 32"5 the Council of Nicica checked his career, compelling liim to remain at Lycopolis as a mere titular bishop without active jurisdiction. He died soon after this. The :Meletians afterwards allied themselves with the Ariaus against Athanasius, continuing, however, a distinct sect until the fifth century. MELETIxrS OF Antioch ( ?-381 ) . A famous Greek ecclesiastic. He was born in the beginnings of the fourth century at Mclitene in Armenia ilinor. His first important appointment was to the bishopric of Sebaste, but he soon resigned this and retired to Beraja (Aleppo) in Syria. In .'JOO he was chosen Bishop of Antioeh. The Church in that city was rent in twain by the Arian con- troversy, but ileletius, whose position was not well understood, was accepted by both ])arties. He was generally respected for his virtues and the Arians believed him on their side. He dis- appointed their expectations, however, and the dispute raged more fiercely than ever. Meletius- was several times banished and recalled. The Council of Alexandria sent representatives to Antioeh to settle the dispute, but Lucifer (q.v.) of Cagliari by his hot-headed advocacy of the orthodox cause defeated the plan. 'Meletius died at an advanced age, while presiding over the Council of Constantinople, in 381. His body was taken to Antioeh and buried with great honor. His funeral oration was pronounced by Gregory of Xyssa. A part of the inaugural dis- course of Meletius at Antioeh is printed in tlie fifth volume of Galland's Bibliotheca Patnim I Venice, 1765-81). MELEI, mel'fe. A town in the Province of Potenza, Italy. 41 miles south of Foggia (Map: Italy, K 7). It is situated on one of the old craters of the extinct volcano Monte Vul- ture. The frequent earthquake disturbances to which it has been subjected have destroyed most of its ancient buildings; the cathedral, dating from 115,5, and the castle in which the Norman rulers lived, alone remain, both having under- gone modern restoration. The soil of the vicinity is extremely fertile, and produces grain, wine, and olives. ^Mclfi is a very ancient city, and is mentioned as early as the fourth century". It was the capital of Apulia at the time of the Norman occupation ; was pillaged by Frederick Barba- rossa in 11(37; and in 1528 was captured by the French general Lautrec, who put to death thou- sands of its inhabitants. Population, in 1901 (commune). 14.049. MELGAREJO, mePga-ril'iio, Mari.ino (1818- 72). A P.(divian revolutionist. He was born of illegitimate parentage at Cochabamba, and was ]ioorly educated, but rose rapidly in the army and soon became a power in politics. In 1865 he became President, after deposing Ach.'i, and held this post through six stormy years, in whicb he defeated Belzi'i. head of the insurgents ( 1S60) , joined the alliance against Spain, and attempted to settle the Chilean boundary. He was deposed in 1871 by a revolution under the leadership of Augustin Jlorales, who succeeded to the presi- dency. Melgarejo fled to Peru and was theie killed in a brawl with Sanchez, his son-in-law. MELI, ma'U'-. Giovaxni (1740-1815). An Italian poet, horn at Palermo. Sicilv. He studied and practiced medicine, and in 1787 was ap-
