Oppian

, a Greek poet and grammarian, who flourished about the year 200 under the emperor Caracalla, was a native of Anazarba in Cilicia. We have of this author five books of fishing, entitled “Halieutics;” which he presented to Caracalla, in the life-time of his father the emperor Severus: as also four books of hunting, presented likewise to Caracalla after the death of Severus. Caracalla was so much pleased with Oppian’s poems, that he gave a crown of gold for every line; whence, it is said, they got the title of Golden verses, although others have supposed they merited that appellation for their elegance. Some modern critics say, he was a particular favourite of the Muses; he excels in sentiments and similitudes, but is particularly distinguished by the great erudition which supports his verses. He composed other pieces, which are lost; for instance, “A Treatise upon Falconry.” He died in his own country, of the plague, at thirty years of age; and a statue was erected in honour of him by his feU low-citizens who also placed an epitaph upon his tomb, importing, that the gods took him out of the world, because he excelled all mortals. The best editions of his poems are those of Leyden in 1597, 8vo, with notes by Rittershusius; to which is prefixed an account of his life, and that of Schneider, 1776. His work upon “Fishing” was translated into English heroic verse by Jones and others, of St. John’s college, in Oxford, and printed there in 1722, 8vo, with his life prefixed. ²