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' εγγύθεν ηλθεν αγων ερίηρον αοιδόν 1. 62.

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Οἴμης, τῆς τότ ̓ ἄρα κλέος οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἵκάνε. 1. 74.
ΟΔΥΣ. Θ'.

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 kind

ness.

Thus, when the guests break up from

the banquet:

Καδ δ ̓ ἐκ πασσαλόφιν κρέμασε φόρμιγγα λιγείαν,
Δημοδόκου δ ̓ ἕλε χεῖρα καὶ ἔξαγεν εκ μεγάροιο
Κηρυξ· ἦρχε δὲ τῷ αὐτὴν οδον, ἥνπερ οι ἄλλοι
Φαιήκων οἱ ἄριστοι, ἀέθλια θαυμανέοντες.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ'. 105.

the herald hanging high

The sprightly lyre, took gently by his hand

Demodocus, and leading him abroad,

Follow'd Phœacia's Princes to the games.

COWPER.

and when, reseeking the social hall, they resume

their seats to share the

generous wine.

Κήρυξ δ ̓ ἐγγύθεν ἦλθεν αγων ἐρίηρον αοιδόν,
Δημόδοκον, λαοῖσι τετιμένον· εἶσε δ ̓ ἄρ αὐτὸν
Μέσσω δαιτυμόνων, πρὸς κίονα μακρόν ερείσας.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ. 471.

-introducing by his hand the bard,

Phœacia'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, égińsov aoidòv, and translating λεοισι τετιμένον, honoured by the people, by the less characteristic term of Phoacia's glory.

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

VOL. II.

his bard; and peculiarly does he seem pleased in recording the deference which he receives from the grateful enthusiasm of Ulysses. He paints his hero as selecting for him the most delicate portion of the meat, and as exclaiming to one of the attendants

Κήρυξ, τῇ δὴ τοῦτο πότε κρέας, ὄφρα φάγησι, 477.

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Ηρωϊ Δημοδόκω· ὁ δ ̓ ἐδέξατο, χαῖρε δὲ θυμῶ. 483.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ.

Herald bear it to the bard

For his regale, whom I will soon embrace
In spite of sorrow; for respect is due
And veneration to the sacred bard
From all mankind, for that the muse inspires
Herself his song, and loves the tuneful tribe.

He ended, and the herald bore his charge To the old Hero, who with joy received That meed of honour at the bearer's hand. Cowper.

He then proceeds to describe Ulysses as shortly afterwards calling upon Demodocus for a further trial of his skill, and as prefacing his

request with a lofty and noble encomium on his genius, and the accuracy of his information:

Δημόδοκ", "ξοχα δή σε βροτῶν αἰνίζομ ̓ ἁπάντων 486.

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Ως τέ που ἢ αὐτὸς παρεὼν, ἢ ἄλλου ακούσας. 491.

ΟΔΥΣ. Θ.

Demodocus! I give thee praise above

All mortal men; since either thee, the muse,
Jove's tuneful daughter, or the son of Jove,
Apollo prompts; for, of Achaia's host,
Their glorious deeds and arduous toils thou sing'st
As thou had'st present been thyself, or learnt
From others present there, the mournful tale.
Cowper.

One of the most delightful features of this part of the Odyssey is, as I have before remarked, the manifest identity which seems to subsist between the fate and fortunes of Demodocus and of Homer himself; a coincidence which induces us to dwell upon the character of the Phœacian bard with very singular interest and curiosity.

It is a conviction of the truth of this paral