Αυτοδιδακτος δ' ειμί θεός δέ μοι εν φρεσίν οίμας
Παντοίας ενε φυσεν:

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΙΑΣ. Χ'. 347.

Untaught by others, in my mind I bear,
By God himself implanted, all the strains
Of melody and verse.

BLACKWELL.

That this is not an imaginary delineation, but that united Greece hung as it were on the steps of Homer, sightless and in years, with an enthusiasm of regard little short of adoration, may

be inferred from the admirable sketch which he has himself given of Demodocus, the blind Bard of Phcacia.

Than this portrait, without all doubt, intended as a faithful representation of himself, and of the honours which usually awaited him*, nothing can be more lovely and affecting. It places Homer before us as he lived, and as he sung, and we dwell with rapture on the sketch, as

exhibiting in the most pleasing light, the kind manners of that remote period, and the very affectionate respect which was paid to age and talent.

Alcinoüs, the hospitable monarch of Phæacia, wishing to do honour to his illustrious guest, the ship-wrecked wanderer Ulysses, assembles together, at a sumptuous feast, the noblest in his realm. Without the sacred bard, however, the banquet had been joyless, and Alcinoüs therefore gives especial orders for his prescence:

καλέσασθε δε θείον αοιδόν Δημόδοκον" τω γάρ ρα θεός περι δώκεν αοιδών Τερπνήν, όππη θυμός εποτρύνησιν αείδειν.

ΟΔΥΣ, Θ'. 43.

Call, too, Demodocus, the bard divine,
To share my banquet, whom the Gods have blest
With powers of song delectable, what theme
Soe'er his animated fancy choose.

CowPER.

He is accordingly introduced with all that care and tenderness, that deference and delicacy of feeling, due to his talents and infirmities;

attentions which cannot fail to impress us with a high and amiable idea of the tone of society in which they prevailed; recollecting, also, as we must delight to do on this occasion, that they were attentions which Homer had often experienced in his own person, and which he, therefore loved to commemorate.

Κηρυξ δ' εγγυθεν ηλθεν αγων εριηρον αοιδον 1. 62.

ad Οίμης, της τότ' άρα κλέος ουρανόν εύρυν κάνε. 1. 74.

ΟΔΥΣ, Θ'.

a

And now the herald thither led with care
The tuneful bard; him partially the Muse
And dearly lov’d, yet gave him good and ill;
She quench'd his sight, but gave him strains divine.
For him, Pontonoüs in the midst disposed
An argent studded throne, thrusting it close
To a tall column, where he hung his lyre
Above his head, and taught him where it hung.
He set before him, next, a polish'd board
And basket, and a goblet fill’d with wine,
For his own use, and at his own command;
Then all assail'd at once the ready feast;
And when, nor hunger more, nor thirst they felt,
Then came the muse, and roused the bard to sing
Exploits of men renown'd; it was a song,
In that day, to the highest heaven extoll’d.

CowPER.

If, as hath been conjectured by Eustathius, the poet alludes in the last line of this passage to his own Iliad, it furnishes us both with a striking proof of the great and early celebrity which that poem must have acquired, and with a just inference as to the honors which awaited its author, whithersoever he turned his steps. We cannot wonder, therefore, that he describes his own Demodocus as the chosen care of kings and princes, and that he represents Alcinoüs as appointing an herald, to attend his every movement, with the utmost courtesy and kindness. Thus, when the guests break up from the banquet :

Καδ δ' εκ πασσαλόφιν κρέμασε φόρμιγγα λιγείαν,
Δημοδόκου δ' έλε χείρα και έξαγεν εκ μεγαροιο
Κηρυξ» ήρχε δε τω αυτήν οδον, ηνπερ οι άλλοι

·
Φαιάκων οι άριστοι, αέθλια θαυμανεoντες.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ'. 105.

the herald hanging high The sprightly lyre, took gently by his hand

Demodocus, and leading him abroad,
Follow'd Phæacia's Princes to the games.

CowPER.

and when, reseeking the social hall, they resume their seats to share the

generous

wine.

Κήρυξ δ' εγγύθεν ήλθεν αγων ερίηρον αοιδόν,
Δημόδοκον, λαοϊσι τετιμένον· είσε δ' άρ αυτόν
Μέσσω δαιτυμόνων, πρός κίονα μακρόν ερεισας.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ. 471.

-introducing by his hand the bard, Phæacia’s glory, at the column's side The herald placed Demodocus again.

CowPER.

Literal as Cowper may generally be esteemed in his version, he has not here given the full import of the original, omitting the epithet amiable, as applied to the bard, égrýsov 2018òv, and translating 180toi terijevov, honoured by the people, by the less characteristic term of Phæacia's glory.

It is evident, however, from these passages, that Homer has taken a more than common delight in enumerating the attentions paid to