godlike, brazen-helmed Sarpedon. But when now even he [Bellerophon] was become odious to all the gods, he, on his part, wandered alone[1] through the Aleian plain,[2] pining in his soul, and shunning the path of men. But Mars, insatiable of war, slew his son Isandrus, fighting against the illustrious Solymi. And golden-reined Diana, being enraged, slew his daughter. But Hippolochus begat me, and from him I say that I am born; me he sent to Troy, and gave me very many commands, always to fight bravely, and to be superior to others; and not to disgrace the race of my fathers, who were by far the bravest in Ephyra, and ample Lycia. From this race and blood do I boast to be."
Thus he said: and Diomede, valiant in the din of war, rejoiced. His spear indeed he fixed in the all-nurturing earth, and next addressed the shepherd of the people in courteous words:
"Certainly thou art my father's ancient guest; for in his halls noble Œneus once entertained blameless Bellerophon, having detained him for twenty days; and they bestowed valuable gifts of hospitality on each other. Œneus on his part gave a belt shining with purple; and Bellerophon in turn a golden double cup; and this I left in my halls when I was coming hither. But Tydeus I remember not, for he left me while I was yet young, when the people of the Greeks perished at Thebes. Wherefore I am a guest-friend to thee in the midst of Argos, and thou art the same to me in Lycia, whenever I shall visit their state. But let us also in the crowd avoid even each other's spears. For there are many Trojans and illustrious allies for me to slay, whomsoever the deity shall present, and I shall overtake
- ↑ This "melancholy madness" of Bellerophon has been well illustrated by Duport, p. 31. Burton, Anatomy, p. 259, observes, "They delight in floods and waters, desert places, to walk alone in orchards, gardens, private walks, back lanes, averse from company, as Diogenes in his tub, or Timon Misanthropus; they abhor all companions at last, even their nearest acquaintances and most familiar friends; confining themselves therefore to their private houses or chambers, they will diet themselves, feed and live alone." Hence melancholy was called the "morbus Bellerophonteus." See Bourdelot on Heliodor. p. 25.
- ↑ Properly, "the Plain of Wandering." It lay between the rivers Pyramus and Pinarus, in Cilicia. Cf. Dionys. Perieg. 872. κεῖθι δὲ καὶ πεδίον τὸ Ἀλήιον, οὖ κατὰ νῶτα Ἀνθρώπων ἀπάνευθεν ἀλώμενος ἐνδιάασκε.
