feet through the battle; and had the garment around her shoulders crimsoned with the gore of men.[1] But they turned about, like living mortals, and fought, and drew away the slaughtered bodies of each other.
On it he also placed a soft fallow field,[2] rich glebe, wide, thrice-plowed; and in it many plowmen drove hither and thither, turning round their teams. But when, returning, they reached the end of the field, then a man, advancing, gave into their hands a cup of very sweet wine; but they turned themselves in series,[3] eager to reach the [other] end of the deep fallow. But it was all black behind, similar to plowed land, which indeed was a marvel beyond [all others].
On it likewise he placed a field of deep corn, where reapers were cutting, having sharp sickles in their hands. Some handfuls fell one after the other upon the ground along the furrow, and the binders of sheaves tied others with bands. Three binders followed [the reapers], while behind them boys gathering the handfuls, [and] bearing them in their arms, continually supplied them; and among them the master stood by the swathe[4] in silence, holding a scepter, delighted in heart. But apart, beneath an oak, servants were preparing a banquet, and sacrificing a huge ox, they ministered; while women sprinkled much white barley[5] [on the meat], as a supper for the reapers.
On it likewise he placed a vineyard, heavily laden with grapes, beautiful, golden; but the clusters throughout were black; and it was supported throughout by silver poles. Round it he drew an azure trench, and about it a hedge[6] of
- ↑ Cf. Æn. vi.: "Tisiphoneque sedens, palla succincta cruenta." Stat. Theb. i. 109: " Riget horrida tergo Palla, et cærulei redeunt in pectore nodi."
- ↑ With the whole of this description of the shield of Achilles, the lover of poetry should compare Milton, Paradise Lost, xi. 638, sqq., with the remarks of Bishop Newton.
- ↑ But Hesychius by ὄγμους understood αὔλακας, "the furrows." See Schneid. on Nicand. Ther. 371.
- ↑ I here follow the Oxford translator. The term βασιλεὺς is well in accordance with the simple manners of the early ages, when kings were farmers on a large scale. Many of our Saviour's parables present a similar association of agriculture with the regal dignity.
- ↑ Probably a religious rite. Cf. i. 449, 458.
- ↑ Ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε. Matt. xxi. 33. See Rosemüller on Jer. v. 5.
