And in close proximity was the delineation of a vintage; some gathering the fruit, vine-sickle in hand, and others carrying it away in baskets. By a marvellous skill in metals, a row of vines had been wrought in gold, waving with leaves and trellises of silver, and bending with grapes represented in some dark metal. Treading the winepress, and expressing the juice, completed the picture, which is less perfect than Homer's parallel passage.
But there was room found, it would seem, on this part of the shield, for athletic and field sports of various kinds, the chariot-race being the most elaborate description of the set:—
The charioteers: the rapid horses loosed
At their full stretch, and shook the floating reins.
Rebounding from the ground with many a shock
Flew clattering the firm cars, and creaked aloud
The naves of the round wheels. They therefore toiled
Endless: nor conquest yet at any time
Achieved they, but a doubtful strife maintained."
—E. 413-420.
Around the shield's verge was represented the circumambient ocean, girding, as it did in Homer's view, the flat and circular earth with its boundless flood:—
As in full swell of waters: and the shield
All variegated with whole circle bound.
Swans of high-hovering wing there clamoured shrill,
Who also skimmed the breasted surge with plume
Innumerous: near them fishes 'midst the waves
Frolicked in wanton leaps,"—
E. 424-429.
