this goddess, as described by Hesiod, are so discrepant from those ascribed to her by later poets, as to afford strong proof of the antiquity of this poem. She is not, as in later poetry, the patron of magic arts, but the goddess who blesses labour and energy, in field, senate, and forum:—
To deadly battle, comes the goddess prompt
To whom she wills, bids rapid victory
Await them, and extends the wreath of fame.
She sits upon the sacred judgment-seat
Of venerable monarchs. She is found
Propitious when in solemn games the youth
Contending strive; there is the goddess nigh
With succour: he whose hardiment and strength
Victorious prove, with ease the graceful palm
Achieving, joyous o'er his father's age,
Sheds a bright gleam of glory. She is known
To them propitious, who the fiery steed
Rein in the course, and them who labouring cleave
Through the blue watery waste the untractable way."
—E. 581-595.
The other goddess, Styx, a daughter of Oceanus, is memorable not more for her own prominent position in ancient fable, than for having amongst her off-spring those iron-handed ministers of Jove, Strength (Kratos) and Force (Bia), whom the classical reader meets again in the opening of the 'Prometheus' of Æschylus. Their nearness to Zeus is ascribed by Hesiod to the decision with which their mother espoused his cause in the struggle with Cronus and the Titans:—
