before in my annotations at the end of the fifteenth book,) and refer it to my judicial reader's examination, whether such a translation becomes Homer or not, by noting so much as needs to be by one example; whether the two last above-said translators, in being so short with our everlasting master, do him so much right as my poor conversion; expressing him by necessary exposition and illustration of his words and meaning with more words or not. The reason of his simile is to illustrate the strife of both the armies for the body of Patroclus; which it doth perform most inimitably ; their toil and sweat about it being considered (which I must pray you to turn to before :) the simile itself yet, I thought not unfit to insert here to come up the closer to them, with whom I am to be compared. My pains and understanding converting it thus:

And as a huge ox hide,

A currier gives amongst his men, to supple and extend

With oil, till it be drunk withal: they tug, stretch out, and spend
Their oil and liquor liberally; and chafe the leather so,
They make it breathe a vapour out, and in their liquors go,

A number of them set a work; and in an orb they pull,

That all ways all parts of the hide they may extend at full:
So here and there did both hosts hale the corse in little space,
And wrought it all ways with their sweat, &c.

In which last words of the application considered, lies the life of this illustration, our Homer's divine invention wherein I see not in any of their shorter translations touched. But what could express more the toil about this body, forcing it this way and that, as the opposite advantage served on both sides? an ox's hide, after the tanning, asking so much labour and oil to supple and extend it, Tavvei μEDvourav aλoon, distendendam, temulentam pinguedine; to be stretch'd out, being drunk with tallow, oil, or liquor: the word μuvray, which signifies temulentam, of μådvw, signifying ebrius sum (being a metaphor), and used by Homer, I thought fit to express so; both because it is Homer's, and doth much more illustrate than crassam pinguedine multa, as Eobanus turns it. But Valla leaves it clearly out; and with his briefness utterly maims the simile, which (to my understanding being so excellent) I could not but with thus much repetition and labour inculcate the sense of it; since I see not that any translator hath ever thought of it. And therefore (against the objector, that would have no more words than Homer used, in his translator) I hope those few words I use more, being necessary to express such a sense as I understand in Homer, will be at least borne withal; without which, and other such needful explanation, the most ingenious invention and sense of so matchless a writer might pass endlessly obscured and unthought on-my manner of translation being partly built on this learned and judicious authority: Est sciti interpretis, non verborum numerum et ordinem sectari; sed res ipsas et sententias attentè perpendere; easque verbis et formulis orationis vestire idoneis et aptis ei linguæ in quam convertitur.

-si yàg' Adńvn, &c. Minerva appearing to Menelaus like Phoenix, and encouraging him (as you may read before) to fight; he speaks as to Phoenix, and wishes Minerva would but put away the force or violence of the darts, and he would aid and fight bravely: which is a continuance of his character, being expressed for the most part by Homer ridiculous and simple. The original words yet (because neither Eobanus nor Valla understood the character) they utterly pervert; as if you please to examine them, you may see. The words are these, Bλswv damegunos sgwny, which Spondanus truly interprets, telorum vero depulerit impetum; arsgvxw being a compound of sgvxw, signifying arceo, repello, propulso, abigo; and yet they translate the words, et telis vim afferret: as if Menelaus wished that Pallas would give force to his darts; which Eobanus follows, saying, et tela valentia præstet, most ignorantly and unsufferably converting it; supposing them to be his own darts he spoke of; and would have blest with Minerva's addition of virtue and power where Homer's are plain; he spoke of the enemy's darts; whose force if she would avert, he would fight for Patroclus.

Καὶ οἱ μύης θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἐνῆκε, &c. Et ei muscæ audaciam in pectoribus immisit. Minerva inspired him with the courage of a fly, which all his interpreters very ridiculously laugh at in Homer; as if he heartily intended to praise Menelaus by it, not understanding his irony here, agreeing with all the other silliness noted in his character. Eobanus Hessus, in pity of Homer, leaves it utterly out; and Valla comes over him with a little salve for the sore disgrace he hath by his ignorant reader's laughters, and expounds the words above said thus: Lene namque ejus ingenium prudenti audacia implevit : laying his medicine nothing near the place. Spondanus (disliking Homer with the rest in this simile) would not have Lucian forgotten in his merry encomium of a fly; and therefore cites him upon this place, playing upon Homer (he laughing at all men so ridiculous). I forbear to repeat; and cite only Eustathius, that would salve it with altering the word Jágros, which signifies confidentia, or audacia (per metathesin literæ g) for Igáros, which is temeritas; of which I see not the end: and yet cite all, to show how such great clerks are perplexed, and abuse Homer, as not being satis compotes mentis poeticæ; for want of which (which all their reading and language cannot supply) they are thus often gravelled and mistaken.

Ds aisròs, &c. Veluti aquila. The sport Homer makes with Menelaus is here likewise confirmed and amplified in another simile, resembling him intentionally to a hare-finder, though for colour's sake he useth the word eagle; as in all other places where he presents him (being so eminent a person) he hides his simplicity with some shadow of glory or other. The circumstances making it clear, being here, and in divers other places, made a messenger from Ajax, and others, to call such and such to their aid; which

was unfit for a man of his place, if he had been in magnanimity and valour equal, or any thing near it. But to confirm his imperfection therein in divers other places, he is called μaλdaxòs aixμnrès, mollis bellator ; and therefore was fittest to be employed to call up those that were hardier and abler. In going about which business, Homer shows how he looked about, leering like a hare-finder: for to make it simply a simile illustrating the state of his address in that base affair had neither wit nor decorum. Both which being at their height in the other sense (because our Homer was their great master to all accomplishment), let none detract so miserably from him, as to take this otherwise than a continuance of his irony.

THE END OF THE SEVENTEENTH BOOK.

THEY fought still like the rage of fire. And now Antilochus

Came to acides, whose mind was much solicitous

For that which (as he fear'd) was fall'n. He found him near the fleet
With upright sail-yards, uttering this to his heroic conceit : a

Ay me, why see the Greeks themselves, thus beaten from the field,
And routed headlong to their fleet. O let not heaven yield
Effect to what my sad soul fears; that (as I was foretold)
The strongest Myrmidon (next me), when I should still behold
The sun's fair light, must part with it. Past doubt Menætius' son
Is he on whom that fate is wrought. O wretch, to leave undone
What I commanded, that the fleet once freed of hostile fire,
(Not meeting Hector) instantly he should his pow'rs retire.

As thus his troubled mind discours'd, Antilochus appear'd,
And told with tears the sad news thus: My lord, that must be heard,
Which would to heaven I might not tell: Menætius' son lies dead,
And for his naked corse (his arms already forfeited,

And worn by Hector) the debate is now most vehement.

This said, grief darken'd all his pow'rs. With both his hands he rent
The black mould from the forced earth, and pour'd it on his head,
Smear'd all his lovely face; his weeds (divinely fashioned)
All 'fil'd and mangled; and himself he threw upon the shore,
Lay, as laid out for funeral. Then tumbled round, and tore
His gracious curls; his extasy d he did so far extend,

с

That all the ladies won by him and his now slaughter'd friend
(Afflicted strangely for his plight) came shrieking from the tents,
And fell about him; beat their breasts, their tender lineaments
Dissolv'd with sorrow. And with them wept Nestor's warlike son,
Fell by him, holding his fair hands, in fear he would have done
His person violence; his heart (extremely straiten'd) burn'd,
Beat, swell'd, and sigh'd, as it would burst. So terribly he mourn'd,
That Thetis, sitting in the deeps of her old father's seas,

e

Heard, and lamented. To her plaints the bright Nereides
Flock'd all; how many those dark gulfs soever comprehend.
There Glauce, and Cymodoce, and Spyo did attend,

a Conceit-" conception, thought."
b'Fil'd-" defiled."

• Gracious" full of grace, lovely."

a Extasy-" violent emotion."
e Plaints" complaints."

f How many-" as many as."

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