Page:Hesiod, and Theognis.djvu/120

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HESIOD.

And in close proximity was the delineation of a vintage; some gathering the fruit, vine-sickle in hand, and others carrying it away in baskets. By a marvellous skill in metals, a row of vines had been wrought in gold, waving with leaves and trellises of silver, and bending with grapes represented in some dark metal. Treading the winepress, and expressing the juice, completed the picture, which is less perfect than Homer's parallel passage.

But there was room found, it would seem, on this part of the shield, for athletic and field sports of various kinds, the chariot-race being the most elaborate description of the set:—

"High o'er the well-compacted chariots hungThe charioteers: the rapid horses loosedAt their full stretch, and shook the floating reins.Rebounding from the ground with many a shockFlew clattering the firm cars, and creaked aloudThe naves of the round wheels. They therefore toiledEndless: nor conquest yet at any timeAchieved they, but a doubtful strife maintained."—E. 413-420.

Around the shield's verge was represented the circumambient ocean, girding, as it did in Homer's view, the flat and circular earth with its boundless flood:—

"Rounding the utmost verge the ocean flowedAs in full swell of waters: and the shieldAll variegated with whole circle bound.Swans of high-hovering wing there clamoured shrill,Who also skimmed the breasted surge with plumeInnumerous: near them fishes 'midst the wavesFrolicked in wanton leaps,"—E. 424-429.
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