19 



to Nero on the lake Agrippa, in a large vessel towed by others of 

 inferior size, embellished with ornaments of gold and ivory. The 

 feast, to harmonize with the scene, consisted entirely of wild ani- 

 mals. Fishing formed a part of these amusements ; and the empe- 

 rors did not disdain to handle the implements of the art. Eutro- 

 pius numbers it among Nero's luxurious vices, that he fished with 

 golden nets, drawn by purple ropes.* A passage, near the 

 commencement of the first Halieutic, shews that the family of 

 Severus sometimes enjoyed this recreation. The imposition 

 practised by Pythias, the goldsmith of Syracuse, on Can as, the 

 Roman knight, as related in the third book of Cicero's Offices, 

 shews how much a good fishing coast enhanced the value of a 

 country residence, in the estimation of the Romans. And the fourth 

 satire of Horace's second book, if we had no other documents, would 

 show how well they appreciated the various excellencies of fishes, 

 as articles of luxury. Their fish-ponds were supported at immense 

 expence, and sometimes sold for the most exorbitant sums. Nor 

 were they contented with having one sense gratified at the cost of 

 this part of the animal creation. They had certain fishes, parti- 

 cularly the mullet, brought to table alive in vases, that they might 

 feast their eyes wdth the change of colours exhibited in their 

 dying agonies. -f- 



Hunting was followed, as an amusement, less by the Romans, 

 than the Greeks. It is classed by Sallust, in his philosophising 

 mood, with agriculture, among servile employments. But he speaks 



d2 



• Retibus aureis piscaretur quae blateis funibu8 extrahebat, Eutrop. lib. vi!. c. 14. 



f Mullum expirantem versicolori quadam et numerosa varietate spectari, proceres guise nar- 

 rant, rubentium squamarum raultiplici mutatione pallescentem, utique si vitro cpectetur 

 inclusus. C. Plin. Nat. Hist. Liber, ix. c. 17. 



