These two, I wot, were forking their tongues, and, looking savagely, were gnashing their teeth in wrath. But1 over the dread Gorgon heads great terror was shaking: and the men above them were fighting in warlike arms, one party warding off a pest on behalf of their city and their parents, and the other eager to devastate. Many were lying low; yet more still were fighting engaged in the conflict: and the women on the well-built towers were shrieking with a brazen shrillness,2 and were tearing their cheeks, like to living women, works of famous Vulcan. But men, who were elders, and whom age had overtaken,3 were in crowds without the gates, and were uplifting their hands to the blessed gods, in fear concerning their children :-these again were engaging in combat, and in their wake the dark Fates,* gnashing white teeth, of aspect-fierce and terrible, bloody and unapproachable, were holding strife for those who fell.

But all, I wot, were eager to quaff dark blood: and whomsoever they had happened to find first lying-low or falling fresh-wounded, about him indeed one of them was casting huge talons, and a soul was descending to Hades, into chill Tartarus. So when they had satisfied their fancy with human blood, behind them they would cast the corpse, and, going back again, hurry to the tumult and fray. Clotho and Lachesis stood beside them: the somewhat lesser goddess

This seems the beginning of another distinct image on the shield, unconnected with the Gorgons.

2 χάλκεον ὀξὺ βόων, Heinrich explains as if ὀξὺ βόων were one word, and xáλкεov were a neut. adj. taken adverbially. Goettling suggests that it is tantamount to ἐν χάλκῷ ὀξὺ βόων. But see 445, δεινὰ δ ̓ ὑπόδρα ἰδοῦσ ̓

3 Comp. Hom. Od. xxiv. 390, πεì кaтà yñρas ¤μapper. Goettling. 4 Knoes. These differ from the Parcæ (ver. 258, seq.). The Parcæ bring life and death; Kñpes only death, and that a violent one. These last are innumerable; cf. Hom. Il. xii. 236; xxiii. 78; as many as are the kinds of violent death. Simonid. Fragın. xviii. 20. So Goettling at this passage.

5 BáX'. Guietus here suggests that " unaquæque" should be supplied in sense. See Matt. Gr. Gr. 293, p. 502, vol. i. Lehrs translates, injiciebat una ungues magnos. It may be an instance of the Schema Pindaricum, respecting which, see Wordsw. Gr. Gr. § 150, obs. 2. KαTεTEV, according to Matt. Gr. Gr. § 219, should be KaTyεν, imp. ind. pers. sing. from Kárεμ. See Goettling, however, who retains, with all the MSS., Kartiεv.

5

Atropos1 was by no means a tall goddess; but, I ween, she yet was excellent above them all and eldest of them. All of them then had engaged in a sharp conflict about one man, and fiercely looked they one at the other, wrathful in their glances, and on the body they made their nails and hands alike Beside them too stood Gloom,3 sad and dread, pale, squalid, cowering through famine, swollen-of-knee: but long nails were upon the tips of her hands. From her nostrils indeed were flowing mucous discharges, and from her cheeks blood was dripping on the ground: but she stood grinning intolerably, and much dust lay upon her shoulders; and moistened was she with tears. But hard-by was a city of men with-noble-towers: and seven golden gates fitted in their lintels enclosed it: whilst its men were taking delight in festivities and dances: for some upon a well-wheeled car were leading home a bride to her husband, and the marriage-song was bursting forth unbounded; whilst afar a brilliant gleam from blazing torches was whirling about in the hands of attendant maidens. Now these, blooming in beauty, were going in advance, and sportive bands-of-dancers followed them. These from their soft voices were breathing a song to the sound of shrill pipes, and echo around them spread in broken

1 Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos, the Parcæ distinct from the Kñpes. See above at 249. ǹ μèv vpńoowv. According to Hermann, Atropos is represented less in stature, because eldest, and so nearest to death. Goettling considers upýσow to mean debilior," and our μɛyáλŋ, “ formâ minor.”

66

πãσαι. кñρeç, i. e. for the verses 258-260 are parenthetical.

3 ̓Αχλὺς is not, as Guietus explains, ἡ ἐπὶ θανατῳ σκότωσις, but, as Liddell and Scott observe, a personification of Trouble. This is confirmed by the epithets following.

4

YovvoTaxýs. Goettling here compares Op. et D. 497, πaxiv Tóda, from which it would seem clear that the notion of swelling is contained in Taxǹs here.

5

äπληтоv σεσapνĩa. Grinning so that none might approach her. Goettling. Hermann reads anλnorov, "incessantly.'

6 KATεvývoεv, said of something "lying upon and covering, as ἐπενήνοθε, Ι. ii. 219; x. 134. ἐνήνοθε, from ἐνέθω. ἔνθω, akin to ἔθω. Butm. Lexil. p. 110, 133.

The nuptial procession in the following order: maidens with torches (276); the car with the bride (273); two choruses, the former with pipes, the latter with lyres (277). Goettling.

8 ἐξ ἀπαλῶν στομάτων. Goettling takes this to mean, "from mouths finely wrought on the shield,' ""subtili arte factorum."

utterance: whilst those to the lyre1 were leading the delightsome dance.

Then again on another side young men were making merry to the sound of the flute these indeed disporting with dance and song, those on the other hand laughing. But to the flute-player they were proceeding, each of them: and festivals, choirs, and rejoicings were occupying all the city. Others again in front of the city had mounted on horseback and were darting along. And ploughers were cleaving the rich earth, and had their tunics girt neatly.2 But there was a thick standing-crop. Some on their part indeed were reaping with sharp sickles the staff-like stalks laden with ears, as it were the present of Ceres.3 Others, I wot, were binding them in straw-ropes, and were laying the threshing-floor; 4 whilst others with vine-sickles in their hands were gatheringthe-fruit of the vines; others again were carrying to baskets from the vintagers clusters white and dark from tall rows, laden with foliage and silvery tendrils; and others again were carrying them in baskets: near them was a row-of-vines wrought-in-gold, famous works of very-skilful Vulcan,5 waving with leaves and trellises in-silver, [these again indeed

1 vлò pооμiyyшv. For the same sense of vrò, see Hom. Il. xviii. 492; Eurip. Phoen. 838; Herodot. i. 17, orpаreveто dε vπò σvρiyуw v Kai TηKTídov, and more examples, as Matt. Gr. Gr. § 592, ß.

2 ἐπιστολάδην. ἐσταλάτο. The Scholiast explains the former word ἀνεσταλμένως, succinctâ tunica. The form ἐστάλατο for ἦσαν oraλuevo, suggests the proper reading in Herodot. vii. 89, where MSS. have ἐσταλάδατο, doubtless a corruption of ἐστάλατο οἱ ἐστολίdaro. See Baehr's Herodot. vol. iii. ad loc.

3 Δημήτερος ἀκτήν. There appears no need to supply δωρεάν, cf. Op. et D. 464; Il. xi. 630; Od. ii.,355. The word is generally deRohrived from ayvv, of bruised corn. But Goettling shows that in the passage in the Works and Days it is used of corn unground, and derives it from ayw, making it imply id quod allatum est.' 4 ἔπιτνον ἀλώην, a peculiar use of πίτνω in the imperfect transitively. Others read πirvov aλwy. Others, as Gaisford, miñλov. For the operation in question, see Virg. Georg. i. 178, 179,

Area cum primis ingenti æquanda cylindro

Et vertenda manu, et cretà solidanda tenaci.

5 For this apposition of the plural to the singular, see Matt. Gr. Gr. § 293 and § 431; Eurip. Hippolyt. 11, 'Iπóλvтog ảyvoũ HIɩrdéws παιδεύματα. ο καμαξι. From the reference to Achill. Tat. i. 15, given by Goettling, it would seem that these were as it were trellis-work, by

sporting each to the minstrel's flute,] weighed down with grapes: yes, and these indeed had been represented dark. Some were treading1 the grapes and others were drawing the juice; whilst others were contending with the fist, and in wrestling: 2 others were chasing fleet-footed hares, sportsmen, and a brace of sharp-toothed hounds in front, eager to catch the hares, and they eager to escape them: and beside them horsemen 3 were busy, and for prizes they were engaging in strife and toil: charioteers standing on well-compacted chariots were letting-loose swift steeds, giving them the reins; and the close-joined chariots were flying rattling over the ground, and the naves of the wheels added to the din. They then, I wot, were busied in endless toil, nor had victory ever been achieved for them, but they were engaged in a yet-doubtful contest. Now to them also was proposed a huge tripod, within the course, wrought-of-gold, the famous work of skilful Vulcan.// Around the rim was flowing Ocean, like as it were swelling; and it was encircling all the curiously-wrought shield. About it the high-hovering swans were clamouring loud, many of which, I wot, were swimming on the water's surface, while near them fishes were tumbling. A marvel to look-upon, even to loud-thundering Jove, through whose

6

4

which one vine was knit to another, and this would explain σɛcóμɛvoc. The next verse is omitted in several MSS., and appears out of place.

· ἐτράπεον. Cf. Odyss. vii. 125, and Butmann, Lexil. p. 266. "I have not the least doubt that the Greek language preserved in this verb that family of words, which pervades modern European languages; in the German 'treten,' to tread-' trappen,' to stamp." L. and S. Lex. derives from rрanέw, trapetes and trapetum, an oil

press.

2 ¿λŋdóv, in wrestling. Hom. Il. xxiii. 715, has, in the same sense, ἐλκόμενα στερεῶς.

3 Goettling understands iπñes of charioteers, with Heinrich. This seems to mean a Hippodrome-contest used for place-ofcontest. In next line, with Kλvrà Epya, compare 297.

Around the rim.] The ocean formed the work about the margin or periphery of the shield.

• Goettling here observes, that the whole shield was a marvel to Jove, and not the tumbling fishes only; and therefore he puts a full stop at ExλovέOVTO. Hence too he would infer, that from ver. 140 to 318 is the work of a later writer, taking up the thread which the older poet had laid down at 140, and here resumes.

F

counsels Vulcan made the vast and sturdy shield, and framed1 it with his hands. This was the valiant son of Jove shaking with violence, and vaulting upon his horse-chariot, like unto the lightning-flash2 of his sire, ægis-bearing Jove, as he lightly took his stand: but for him his brave charioteer, Iolaus, mounting the chariot-board, was guiding the crooked car. And nigh them came Minerva, glancing-eyed goddess, and in encouragement addressed them in winged words.

"Save you, offspring of Lynceus 3 far-renowned: now of a truth Jove, ruling among the blest, giveth you might to slay Cycnus, and spoil him of his famous arms. But I will tell you one other word, O far chiefest among the hosts. Whensoever, I say, you shall have 'reft Cycnus of dear life, there leave him5 then, and his arms: but do you by yourself watch Mars, the slayer of mortals, as he approaches, where you shall have seen him with your eyes, unprotected by the curiously-wrought shield, and there wound him with sharp blade, and then retire: for look you now, it is not fated for you to capture either his steed or his famous arms."

So spake she, divine among goddesses, and mounted the car in haste, bearing in her immortal hands victory and glory. 'Twas then, I wot, Iolaus, Jove-descended, terribly

ápoάuevos. 1 aor. mid. from noσáμnv. In Op. et D. 429, we have pooαphpεral, the pass. perf. of the same verb.

2 Cf. Hom. Il. xiv. 386, said of ãop. xiii. 242, of a coat of mail; and x. 154; sudden flashing of light being the idea in all these passages. Goettling.

3 Iolaus derived his descent from Lynceus through Iphicles, Amphitryon, Alcæus, Perseus, Danae, Acrisius, and Abas, son of Lynceus. The use of the plural verb, addressed to one individual, is illustrated by Matt. Gr. Gr. § 511, 2; Lobeck, Ajax, 191, who adduces many instances of this usage, and its opposite, the verb singular addressed to many. Cf. Philoctet. Soph. 646, and for the opp. Ed. Col. 1104. Heinrich compares Virg. Æn. ix. 525, Vos, O Calliope, precor.

4 This is addressed to Hercules.

5 XTέev, and ovтáμɛv, (335,) are instances of infin. for imperat. Cf. Matt. Gr. Gr. § 546.

The car of Hercules. Goettling shows, by reference to Il. v. 837, that Heinrich wrongly supposes Minerva to have come in a chariot of her own. She sate in the car of Hercules, rendered in visible by the helmet of Orcus, which she had put on.