highest fruit of the stalks of corn, nor did they break them:[1] but when they sported over the broad back of the ocean, they ran along the surface of the ridge of the hoary sea. But Erichthonius begat Tros, king of the Trojans. From Tros again were descended three illustrious sons, Ilus, Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede, who indeed was the handsomest of mortal men; and whom the gods caught up into heaven, to pour out wine for Jove,[2] that, on account of his beauty, he might be with the immortals. Ilus again begat his renowned son Laomedon; but Laomedon begat Tithonus and Priam, Lampus, Clytius, and Hicetaon, a branch of Mars; and Assaracus Capys, who also begat his son Anchises. But Anchises begat me, and Priam noble Hector. Of this race and blood do I boast myself to be. But Jove increases and diminishes valor to men, as he pleases; for he is the most powerful of all. But come, let us no longer talk of these things, like little boys, standing in the middle combat of the strife. For it is possible for both to utter very many reproaches, so that a hundred-oared galley[3] would not contain the burthen; for the language of mortals is voluble,[4] and the discourses in it numerous and varied: and vast is the distribution[5] of words here and there. Whatsoever word thou mayest speak, such also wilt thou hear. But what need is there to us of disputes and railing, that we should quarrel with each other like women, who, being angry with a soul-destroying strife, proceeding into the middle of the way, chide each other with many things true and not true: for rage also suggests those things?[6] With words, however, thou shalt not turn me, courageous, from my valor, before thou fightest against me with thy brass; but come, quickly let us make trial of each other with brazen spears."
He spoke, and hurled his brazen spear against the dreadful shield, terrible [to be seen], and the huge buckler resounded
- ↑ This hyperbole has been emulated by numberless poets. Cf. Oppian, Cyn. i. 231; Apollon. Rh. i. 183; Quintus Calab. viii. 156; Virg. Æn. vii. 808; Claudian in 3d Cons. Hon. i. 97.
- ↑ Cf. Pindar, Ol. i. 69, and Serv. on Æn. i. 32.
- ↑ Compare the Latin phrase, "plaustra convitiorum," and Duport, p. 116.
- ↑ Στρεπτὴ—ὑγρὰ καὶ εὐλύγιστος.—Eustath.
- ↑ Νομὸς, ἐπινέμησις ἐφ' ἑκάτερα.—Eustath. See Kennedy.
- ↑ i. e., "prompts to utter all sorts of things, true and false."—Oxf. Tr.
