27 



interpolation of the writer who abridged tlie two first books of 

 the Deipuosophists of Athenseus, as Justin abridged the history 

 of Trogus Pompeius. But what necessity for this supposition ? 

 Athenaeus might have seen Commodus, as he declared he did, 

 and lived till the reign of Caracalla, and after the death of Oppian* 

 In this there is nothing at all inconsistent or improbable. Though 

 he is supposed by Suidas to have flourished in the time of M. Aure- 

 lius, the very passage under consideration, proves that he also 

 flourished under Commodus, and Vossius adds, Pertinax and 

 Severus. A work of such various and extensive erudition as the 

 Deipnosophists, and it is only one of his works, may well be 

 allowed to require and occupy the labours of a long life.* 



The hypothesis of Schneider is not supported by the testimony 

 of any ancient writer, nor do any of the biographers of Oppian 

 appear to suspect the two poems commonly ascribed to him, to 

 be the composition of different pens. Eusebius speaks of only one 

 Oppian, a Cilician ; Sozomen of one who was rewarded by Severus ; 

 and Manasses, with the anonymous biographer, of one who wrote 

 on fishing and hunting. Schneider, notwithstanding, thinks he 

 has found internal evidence sufficient to prove that the author of 

 the Cynegetics was not of Auazarba, but Apamea. Unfortunately 

 for bis cause, tlie principal passage on which he rests is acknow- 

 ledged to be corrupt. It occurs in the second book of the Cyne- 

 getics, where the jioet is speaking of the Orontes, and the inundation 

 of the Apamean plains. 



E 2 



• AthenEEUs himself shews, beyond all question, that he long survived the reign of Caracalkj 

 and, therefore, might well speak of Oppian, as having lived some time before him. In the 

 XV book, 23d c. of the Oeipnosophistis, he mentions the death of Ulpian, the friend and mi- 

 nister of Alexander Severus ; an event which did not happen till A. D. 228 — sixteen or seven- 

 teen years after Oppian's death. 



Vid. Animad. in Athenseum. Tom. prim. Argentorati, 1801. 



