LOLLIUS. Scholars have advanced many candidates for this name. Lillian Hornstein asserts that Lollius was the pseudonym of Petrarch's classicist friend, Lelus Petri Stephani de Toseltes. Boyd A. Wise proposes that Lollius is another name for Boccaccio. H.J. Epstein advocates Bassus Lollius, whose epigrams are dated A.D. 19. G.L. Kittredge and R.A. Pratt maintain that Chaucer means Lollius when he says Lollius, and they show that Lollius of Horace's Epistles I.ii.1-2 was thought to be a writer on the Trojan War. John of Salisbury also misread Horace's lines in Policraticus VII.9.

Lollius, with other writers on war--Homer, Dares, Titus Livius, and Guido--stands on a pillar of iron, metal of Mars, HF III.1465-1472. Chaucer names Lollius as his source for the story of Troilus, Tr I.393-399. [Dares Frygius: Guido: Livius: Omer]

Lollius appears only in final rhyming position, HF III.1468; Tr I.394; Tr V.1653.