38. Dion (1. lxix. p. 1249) affirms the whole to have been a
fiction, on the authority of his father who being governor
of the province where Trajan died, had very good
opportunities of sifting this mysterious transaction. Yet
Dodwell (Praelect. Camden. xvii.) has maintained that
Hadrian was called to thc certain hope of the empire during
the lifetime of Trajan.