For though it be all the reddition Homer expresseth, yet he intends two special parts in the application more, which he leaves to his judicial reader's understanding, as he doth in all his other similes; since a man may pervially (or, as he passeth) discern all that is to be understood. And here, besides their throngs of soldiers expressed in the swarms of bees, he intimates the infinite number in those throngs or companies, issuing from fleet so ceaselessly that there appeared almost no end of their issue; and thirdly, the every where dispersing themselves. But Spondanus would excuse Homer for expressing no more of his application, with affirming it impossible that the thing compared, and the comparison, should answer in all parts; and therefore alleges the vulgar understanding of a simile, which is as gross as it is vulgar, that a similitude must uno pede semper claudicare. His reason for it is as absurd as the rest; which is this, Si ea inter se omnino responderent, falleret illud axioma, nullum simile est idem; as though the general application of the compared and the comparison would make them any thing more the same, or all one; more than the swarms of bees and the throng of soldiers are all one or the same; for answering most aptly. But that a simile must needs halt of one foot still showeth how lame vulgar tradition is, especially in her censure of poesy. For who at first sight will not conceive it absurd to make a simile, which serves to the illustration and ornament of a poem, lame of a foot, and idle? The incredible violence suffered by Homer in all the rest of his most inimitable similes, being expressed in his place, will abundantly prove the stupidity of this tradition, and how injuriously short his interpreters must needs come of him in his strait and deep places, when in his open and fair passages they halt and hang back so. 275. Tòv μèv ågíčnλov bñnev ✪eòs, &c., hunc quidem clarum (or illustrem) fecit Deus, as it is by all translated; wherein I note the strange abuse (as I apprehend it) of the word aginλos, beginning here, and continuing wheresoever it is found in these Iliads. It is by the transition of into d♪ in derivation, according to the Doric; for which cause our interpreters will needs have Homer intend agidnλos, which is clarus or illustris, when he himself saith άgínλos, which is a compound of agi, which is valde, and λos, and signifies quem valde æmulamur, or valde æmulandus, according to Scapula. But because λos is most authentically expounded, impetus mentis ad cultum divinum, that exposition I follow in this place, and expound τὸν μὲν ἀρίζηλον θῆκεν Θεὸς hunc quidem magnum impulsum ad cultum divinum fecit Deus; because he turned so suddenly and miraculously the dragon to a stone. To make it apídnλov, and say clarum or illustrem fecit Deus qui ostendit, or ostenderat, which follows in the verse, and saith thus much in our tongue, God that showed this, made it clear, is very little more than, God that showed this, showed it. One way it observes the word (betwixt which, and the other, you see what great difference) and is fair, full, grave; the other alters the original, and is ugly, empty, idle. 355. Αὐτόματος δὲ οἱ ἦλθε βοὴν ἀγαθὸς Μενέλαος, &c. Spontaneus autem ei venit voce bonus Menelaus; and some say bello strenuus Menelaus, which is far estranged from the mind of our Homer, Bon signifying vociferatio, or clamor, though some will have it pugna, ex consequenti, because fights are often made with clamour. But in bello strenuus (unless it be ironically taken) is here strained beyond sufferance, and is to be expounded vociferatione bonus Menelaus; which agreeth with that part of his character in the next book, that telleth his manner of utterance or voice, which is uaλà myέws, valde stridulè, or arguto cum stridore, yews being commonly and most properly taken in the worse part, and signifieth shrilly, or noisefully, squeaking; howsoever in the vulgar conversion it is in that place most grossly abused. To the consideration whereof, being of much importance, I refer you in his place, and in the mean time show you, that, in this first and next verse, Homer (speaking scoptically) breaks open the fountain of his ridiculous humour following, never by any interpreter understood, or touched at, being yet the most ingenious conceited person that any man can show in any heroical poem, or in any comic poet. And that you may something perceive him before you read to him in his several places, I will, as I can in haste, give you him here together as Homer at all parts presents him; viz. simple, well-meaning, standing still affectedly on telling truth, small, and shrill voice, (not sweet, or eloquent, as some most against the hair would have him) short spoken, after his country the Laconical manner, yet speaking thick and fast, industrious in the field, and willing to be employed, and (being mollis bellator himself) set still to call to every hard service the hardiest; even by the wit of Ajax played upon, about whom he would still be diligent, and what he wanted of the martial fury and faculty himself, that he would be bold to supply out of Ajax ; Ajax and he, to any for blows; Antilochus and he for wit; (Antilochus old Nestor's son, a most ingenious, valiant, and excellently formed person); sometimes valiant, or daring (as what coward is not?) sometimes falling upon sentence and good matter in his speeches (as what meanest capacity doth not?). Nor useth our most inimitable imitator of nature this cross and deformed mixture of his parts, more to colour and avoid too broad a taxation of so eminent a person, than to follow the true life of nature, being often, or always, expressed so disparent in her creatures. therefore the decorum that some poor critics have stood upon, to make fools always foolish, cowards at all times cowardly, &c., is far from the variant order of nature, whose principle being contrary, her productions must needs contain the like opposition. And But now to the first; autóμatos de oi nλle, &c., spontaneus autem ei venit, &c., about which a passing great piece of work is picked out by our greatest philosophers, touching the unbidden coming of Menelaus to supper or council, which some commend, others condemn in him; but the reason why he staid not the invitement, rendered immediately by Homer, none of them will understand, viz. "H♪ɛɛ yàg narà duμòv &c., sciebat enim in animo quantum frater laborabat; of which verse his interpreters cry out for the expunction, only because it was never entered in their apprehension, which I more then admire (for the easiness of it) so freely offering itself to their entertainment, and yet using the hoof of Pegasus, only with a touch breaking open (as above said) the fountain of his humour. For thus I expound it (laying all again together, to make it plain enough for you); Agamemnon, inviting all the chief 60 THE SECOND BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIADS. commanders to supper, left out his brother; but he, seeing how much his brother was troubled about the dream, and busied, would not stand upon invitement, but came of himself. And this being spoken scopticè, or by way of irrision, argueth what manner of man he made of him. Ineptus enim (as it is affirmed in Plutarch, 1. Symp. and second question) fuit Menelaus, et locum dedit proverbio, qui ad consilium dandum accessisset non vocatus. And to this place he had reference, because a council of war was to be held at this supper. And here, I say, Homer opened the vein of his simplicity, not so much in his going unbidden to supper, and council, as in the reason for it ironically rendered, that he knew his brother was busy, &c. And yet that addition, without which the very sense of our poet is not safe, our interpreters would have rased. THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK. PARIS, betwixt the hosts, to single fight, Of all the Greeks, dares the most hardy knight. King Menelaus doth accept his brave, Conditioning that he again should have Her, and her wealth, in peace. Conquest doth grant ANOTHER ARGUMENT. Gamma the single fight doth sing HEN every least commander's will best soldiers had obey'd, would have fray'd The Greeks with noises, crying out, in coming rudely on At all parts, like the cranes that fill with harsh confusion * His brave-bravado, boasting speech, or challenge. A very frequent word. + Her dear wreath-the wreath, or victor's crown, the sign of conquest. Here put for Helen herself. |