INTEODirCTION. IX 



gentleman, and though a heathen, his morality and 

 religious sentiments would put to the hlush many 

 who consider themselves wiser men. 



Soon after his favourable reception at the court of 

 Severus, he returned to his paternal home ; but he 

 did not long enjoy the pleasures resulting from having 

 obtained the liberty of his father, for the plague cut 

 oif this last of the ancient poets, in the thirtieth year 

 of his age. The citizens of his native city, to mark 

 their grief for his loss, gave him a most honourable 

 funeral, and erected a statue to his memory, with 

 this inscription : — 



" Though much they lov'd, no Heliconian maid 

 Could Oppian save, or sullen Fate persuade. ' 



The rigid Destinies' superior power 

 Snapt quick the thread, and fix'd the hastened hour, 

 But had these Sisters, like the nine, been kind, 

 Nor Oppian's life to thrice ten years confin'd, 

 All the inspired had hira their chief allow'd, 

 And all to him their humbler laurels bow'd." 



Many of the fishes which, when Oppian wrote, 

 swam in the Mediterranean, are totally unknown in 

 our seas, or have not been caught by the fishermen of 

 this part of the world ; others puzzle modern Ichthy- 

 ologists to determine what fishes are intended by the 

 ancient descriptions of them ; and large allowances 



