36 



rendering corruption palatable, is deserving the reprobation of every 

 lover of mankind. 



Oblivion vi^helm the amatory lay 

 In whose inebriate, deep-drugged current, rolls 

 The soft pollution that corrodes the heart. 

 And saps its virtue ! aye, tho' sweet it flow, 

 Moore sweet than ever flowed fi-om Lesbian lyre. 

 Yet let it perish ! ne'er may ivy wreath. 

 Nor deathless laurel clasp the poet's brow, 

 Whose lyre corruption strings. 



The works of Oppian are valuable to the naturalist, on account 

 of their correct and beautiful descriptions of animals, and the view 

 which they exhibit of the state of natural history at the period when 

 they were written. If he has recorded many fables, he only availed 

 himself of the poet's privilege. Some of these fables might have 

 been received as tnie ; others are such palpable inventions that they 

 could not even be intended to misinform or deceive. Such are the 

 stories of the boy and the dolphin ; of the transformation of the 

 nurses of Bacchus into lynxes ; of Phineus becoming a mole, Myrrha 

 a tree, and Mentha a plant ; of tiie preservation of Arion ; of Per- 

 seus and the Chimtera ; of Progne and Philomela. These are the 

 speciosa miracula of the Cynegetics and Halieutics. 



The style of Oppian is perspicuous and florid ; the versification 

 flowing and harmonious. Sometimes he borders on affectation, and 

 indulges a fondness for Ovidian graces. In describing a fish, as 

 the fisherman draws it out of the sea, he calls it the " niarine 

 dancer." 



