ANALYSIS 



OP THE 



CYJyrEGETICS 



OF OPPIAN. 



BOOK FIRST. 



Read, Jan. 24th. 1820, 



The work commences with a very complimentary address to 

 Antoninus, and praises his mother, Julia Domna, in terms of in- 

 genious flattery. The poet then declares, that he is invited by 

 Calliope and Diana herself, to undertake the novel subject on which 

 he writes. He hears the voice of the goddess of the chace exhort- 

 ing him to arise, and accompany her through a region of song 

 where no poet ever trod before, and professes his willingness to 

 sing what she may inspire. She does not wish to hear of the 

 rites of Bacchus, the race of heroes, or the deeds of war ; but de- 

 sires him to sing of dogs and horses— the stratagems and profits 

 of the chace — the loves, the antipathies, and the births of wild 

 beasts. 



