21 



wild beasts and birds collected from every region of the empire, ne- 

 cessarily introduced some knowledge of natural history to the 

 Romans, and rendered every thing connected with it interesting. 



The adaptation of such subjects as fishing and hunting to poetry, 

 not being the business of the present inquiry, let it suffice to ob- 

 serve that the success of Oppian justified his choice. The most 

 unpromising subject, in the creative hands of a poet, assumes a 

 character of which a dull imagination is unable to form any con- 

 ception. He covers the naked rock with verdure, and renders the 

 most sterile soil prolific. 



The Halieutics being completed, Oppian repaired to Rome, and, 

 according to the custom of the age, announced their public recital, 

 in the temple of Apollo. This was a mode of giving rapid publi- 

 city to every new composition, and, under proper management, it 

 might have been attended with the most beneficial results. But, as it 

 afforded too much room for party spirit and intrigue, it may have 

 sometimes tended to repress the spirit of true genius, by unmerited 

 reprehension ; and to exalt the mediocrity which could condescend 

 to bribe applause, into an elevation which nothing but solid learn- 

 ing and the most brilliant talents could long support. Oppian, 

 however, was fortunate in having a candid audience. Severus and 

 his family honoured him with their presence, and the poet had 



Some were collected merely for curiosity, as Crocodiles, and various species of beasts and 

 birds ; but the more ferocious kinds were for the combat. — See Kennet's Ants. 



J. CsEsar opposed 20 elephants to 500 men on foot. Twenty more with turrets on theij 

 backs, and 60 men to defend each turret, engaged with 500 foot and as many horse. Titus, 

 at the dedication of the Colisseum gave 5000 wild beaits to be slain. ( Eutrop.) M. Anto- 

 ninus was said to have 100 lions in the exhibition of the games, after a victory. (Eutrop. 

 lib. viii. c. li.) 



Vitellius, at one supper, had 2000 fishes and 7000 birds. 



