Page:The Remains of Hesiod the Ascraean, including the Shield of Hercules - Elton (1815).djvu/112

Her wail is heard, her tear upbraiding falls
O'er their stain'd manners,^[1] their devoted walls.
But they who never from the right have stray'd,
Who as the citizen the stranger aid;
They and their cities flourish:^[2] genial Peace
Dwells in their borders, and their youth increase:

She standeth on the top of high places, by the way, and the places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates: at the entry of the city: at the coming in of the doors.
1. O'er their stain'd manners.] Grævius observes that the interpreters render ηθεα λαῶν, "most foolishly" by the manners of the people: because ηθεα signifies also habitations. But as it is not pretended that ηθεα does not equally signify manners, "the extreme folly" of the interpreters has, I confess, escaped my penetration. Is it so very forced an image that Justice should weep over the manners of a depraved people?
2. They and their cities flourish.] This passage resembles one in the nineteenth book of the Odyssey: but not so closely as to justify the charge of plagiarism which Dr. Clarke prefers against Hesiod, and which might be retorted upon Homer. These were sentiments common to the popular religion.
   Like the praise of some great king
   Who o'er a numerous people and renown'd,
   Presiding like a deity, maintains
   Justice and truth. Their harvests overswell
   The sower's hopes: their trees o'erladen scarce
   Their fruit sustain: no sickness thins the folds:
   The finny swarms of ocean crowd the shores,
   And all are rich and happy for his sake. Cowper.