Page:Curiosities of Olden Times.djvu/149

"Hermippus Redivivus" QUI. VIXIT. ANNOS. CXV. DIES. V. PUELLARUM. ANHELITU. QUOD. ETIAM. POST MORTEM EIUS. NON. PARUM. MIRANTUR. PHYSICI. IAM. POSTERI. SIC. VITAM. DUCITE.

That is to say: "To Æsculapius and to health, L. Clodius Hermippus dedicates this, who lived 115 years, 5 days, on the breath of little girls, which, even after his death, not a little astonishes physicians. Ye who follow, protract your life in like manner."

Other old writers, as Cujacius and Dalechampius, quote similar inscriptions, as "L. Clodius Hirpanus vixit Annos CXV. Dies V. alitus Puerorum anhelitu," and "L. Clodius Hirpanus vixit Annos CLV. Dies, V. Puerorum halitu refocillatus et educatus."

These inscriptions are sufficiently like and unlike to make it more than probable that they are all forgeries. It is hardly to be conceived that there should have been two individuals with names so very similar, living similar lengths of time, the one on little girls' breath, the other on that of little boys. If, however, we are to suppose them genuine, we have:—"Lucius Clodius Hermippus dying aged 115 years, 5 days"; "Lucius Clodius Hirpanus dying aged 115 years, 5 days."

However, the authenticity of these monuments is of little importance. Let us to our book. 137