Page:Hesiod, and Theognis.djvu/121

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THE SHIELD OF HERCULES.
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so like the life, the poet adds, as to exact the admiration of even Zeus, the artificer's sire and patron.

So much for the shield: what remains concerns the combat betwixt Hercules, and Cycnus with the war-god to help him. The odds are partially balanced by the aid of the blue-eyed Pallas to the hero, who by her counsel forbears to dream of "spoiling the steeds and glorious armour of a god," a thing which he finds is against the decrees of fate. Nor does the goddess stop at advice, but vouchsafes her invisible presence in the hero's car. As the combatants come to close quarters Hercules resorts to mock civilities, and with taunting allusions asks free passage to the court of Ceyx, king of Iolchos, the father-in-law of Cycnus. As a matter of course the permission is denied. Hercules and Cycnus leap to the ground, and their charioteers drive a little aside to give free scope for the tug of war:—

"As rocksFrom some high mountain-top precipitateLeap with a bound, and o'er each other whirledShock in the dizzying fall; and many an oakOf lofty branch, pine-tree, and poplar, deepOf root, are crashed beneath them; as their courseRapidly rolls, till now they reach the plain;So met these foes encountering, and so burstTheir mighty clamour. Echoing loud throughoutThe city of the Myrmidons gave backTheir lifted voices, and Iolchos famed,And Arnè, and Anthea's grass-girt walls,And Helicè. Thus with amazing shoutThey joined in battle: all-consulting ZeusThen greatly thundered: from the clouds of heaven
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