150 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Hook XXXIV. 



lias so infinitely increased, the reputation of the art itself 20 is 

 nearly extinct. But it would appear, that in this, as in every 

 thing else, what was formerly done for the sake of reputation, 

 is now undertaken for the mere purpose of gain. For 

 whereas this art was ascribed to the gods* 1 themselves, and 

 men of rank in all countries endeavoured to acquire fame by 

 the practice of it, we have now so entirely lost the method of 

 making this valuable compound by fusion, that, for this long- 

 time past, not even chance itself has assumed, in this depart- 

 ment, the privilege which formerly belonged to art. 2 " 



Xext after the above compound, so celebrated in antiquity, 

 the Corinthian metal has been the most highly esteemed. This 

 was a compound produced by accident, when Corinth was burnt 

 at the time of its capture. 23 There has been a wonderful mania 

 with many for gaining possession of this metal. It is even said, 

 that Yerres, whom M. Cicero caused to be condemned, was 

 proscribed by Antonius, along with Cicero, for no other reason 

 than his refusal to give up some specimens of Corinthian metal, 

 which were in his possession. But most of these people seem 

 to me to make a pretence of their discernment in reference to 

 this metal, rather for the purpose of distinguishing themselves 

 iroin the multitude, than from any real knowledge which they 

 possess; and this I will brielly show. 



Corinth was captured in the third year of the 158(h 

 Olympiad, being the year of the City, GOB,'* 1 some agt-s aftrr the 

 period when those artists flourished, who produced all the 

 specimens of what these persons now call Corinthian metal. 

 It is in order, therefore, to refute this opinion, that I shall 

 tate the age when these different artists lived; for, if we 

 reckon according to the above-mentioned era of the Olympiads, 

 it will be easy to compare their dates with the corresponding 

 years of our City. The only genuine Corinthian vessels, then, 



- 1 The art of making compound metals. 21 Vulcan, namely. 



22 No one Las accidentally stumbled upon the art of making tbis com- 

 posite metal. 



- 3 We have an account of the destruction of Corinth, and the accidental 

 formation of this compound, in Floru*, ]J. ii. c. 10. Although tbis ac- 

 count was generally received by the ancients, we may venture to assert, 

 that it cannot be correct; we cannot conceive the possibility of such a 

 fusion taking place during 1 the destruction of the city, or ot the complete 

 union of the component*, in the mode in which they have been found to 

 i-sJ*t.U 2I B.C. 146. K 



