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104
HESIOD.
She stood: a cloud of dust her shoulders spread,
And her eyes ran with tears."
—E. 355-362.
And her eyes ran with tears."
—E. 355-362.
The italicised words in the above description recall a curious image of starvation, "pressing a tumid foot with hand from hunger lean," in the 'Works and Days' (v. 692), and to some extent point to a kindred authorship of the two poems.
From this ghastly picture the poet soon carries his readers to a contrast on the same band of the shield—a city at peace, which has been supposed to be meant for Thebes. We recognise the towers and the seven gates, and become spectators of bridal processions to the sound of the flute, as opposed as possible to the revels of the war-god in that city in its day of trouble—revels which Euripides described as "most unmusical." Here is some account of what is passing:—
"Some on the smooth-wheeled car
A virgin bride conducted: then burst forth
Aloud the marriage song, and far and wide
Loud splendours flashed from many a quivering torch,
Borne in the hands of slaves. Gay blooming girls
Preceded; and the dancers followed blithe.
These with shrill pipe indenting the soft lip
Breathed melody, while broken echoes thrilled
Around them: to the lyre with flying touch,
Those led the love-enkindling dance. A group
Of youths was elsewhere imaged; to the flute
Disporting, some in dances and in song,
In laughter others. To the minstrel's pipe
So passed they on, and the whole city seemed
As filled with pomps, with dances, and with feasts."
—E. 366-380.
A virgin bride conducted: then burst forth
Aloud the marriage song, and far and wide
Loud splendours flashed from many a quivering torch,
Borne in the hands of slaves. Gay blooming girls
Preceded; and the dancers followed blithe.
These with shrill pipe indenting the soft lip
Breathed melody, while broken echoes thrilled
Around them: to the lyre with flying touch,
Those led the love-enkindling dance. A group
Of youths was elsewhere imaged; to the flute
Disporting, some in dances and in song,
In laughter others. To the minstrel's pipe
So passed they on, and the whole city seemed
As filled with pomps, with dances, and with feasts."
—E. 366-380.
