blows. He said. Hippomedon, and Tydeus rose ! These hands shall dash him headlong to the Renown and praise inflame his heart by turns: Besides him, tow'ring, huge Agylleus rose, Low Tydeus was. What Nature there deny'd, Soon as their shining limbs are bath'd in oil, Each on his shoulder half reclines his head. Now bending 'till he almost touch'd the plain, The mountain-cypress thus, that firmly stood So vast Agylleus scarcely mov'd below, And all appears an undistinguish'd wound. tent. Not half so bloody, or with half such rage, Two furious monarchs of the herd engage. Apart the milk-white heifer views the fight, And waits to crown the victor with delight. Their chests they gore, the mighty shock resounds; [wounds. Love swells their hate, and heals the gaping So shaggy bears in strict embraces roll, And from each corse squeeze forth th' unwilling soul. Thus Tydens storm'd; nor heats nor toils as- His furious strength, or mitigate his rage. Short of their reach, his hands the blow deny. (High o'er him hung) down rush the ruins round, knows: Full of disdain Etolian Tydeus rose; Nought boots resistance now. Agylleus makes So Hercules, who long had toil'd in vain, sprung. Long Tydeus held him thus. At length he found The point of time, and hurl'd him to the ground Side-long-Himself upon the giant lies, Prone o'er th' inglorious dust, Agylleus quakes Slowly he trail'd his feeble legs along. When Tydeus thus. (His nobler hand sustain'd The palm, his left the warlike gifts he gain'd:) "What though my blood o'erflow'd yon guilty [round; ground, When singly arm'd, whole numbers press'd me Others in arms their manly limbs enclose; ThenthusAdrastus. "Gen'rous youths give o'er; Howe'er in sign of conquest and renown, Him too the chiefs with kind persuasions pray cause Proceeds, unseen, from Heav'n's eternal laws. Each reasons, as his wayward thoughts decrec; NOTES UPON THE SIXTH THEBAID OF STATIUS. NOTE 1. 2. It must certainly be an infinite pleasure to peruse the most ancient piece of history now extant, excepting that in holy scripture. This remark must be understood of the action of the Thebaid only, which Statius, without question, faithfully recited from the most authentic chronicles in his own age. The action of the Iliad and Odyssey happened several years after. This is evident from Homer's own words. Agamemnon, in the 4th Iliad, recites with great transport the expedition of Tydeus: and Ulysses mentions the story of Jocasta (or Epicaste, as he calls her) in a very particular manner. It is in his descent to Hell, Odyssey the eleventh : Μητέρα δ' Οιδιπόδαο ἴδον, καλὴν Επικάςην, ̓Αλλ' ὁ μὲν ἐν Θήβῃ πολυηράζω ἄλλια πάχων 3. The antiquity of the Thebaid may be considered also in another view. As the poet was obliged to conform the manners of his heroes to the time of action, we in justice ought not to be so much shock'd with those insults over the dead which run through all the battles. This softens a little the barbarity of Tydeus, who expired gnawing the head of his enemy; and the impiety of Capaneus, who was thunderstruck while he blasphemed Jupiter. Whoever reads the books of Joshua and Judges will find about those times the same savage spirit of insolence and fiertè. 4. The Nemeæan games. 7. 4. Mr. Dryden, in his excellent preface to the Eneid, takes occasion to quarrel with Statius, and calls the present book an ill-timed, and injudi- of the Nemeæan games. I beg to be excused from giving a long account What the world calls cious episode. I wonder so severe a remark learning, differs very little from pedantry; and could pass from that gentleman, who was an admirer of our author even to superstition. I own I am sensible many an honest man may deserve I can scarce forgive myself, to contradict so great harm: so much harder 'tis to conceal knowledge, that imputation when he means no manner of a poet, and so good a critic; talium enim virorum ut admiratio maxima, ita censura difficilis. How-information now extant is to be collected from than first get it. The best and most ancient ever the present case may admit of very alleviating circumstances. It may be replied in general, that the design of this book was to give a respite to the main action, introducing a mournful, but pleasing variation from terrour to pity. It is also highly probable, that Statius had an eye to the funeral obsequies of Polydore, and Anchises, mentioned in the 3d and 5th books of Virgil. We may also look upon them as a prelude, opening the mind by degrees to receive the miseries and horrour of a future war. This is intimated in some measure by the derivation of the word Archemorus. Besides the reasons above mentioned, we have a fine opportunity of remarking upon chief of the heroes who must make a figure hereafter; this is represented to the eye in a lively sketch that distributes to each person his proper lights, with great advantage. take notice of a funeral oration spoken in honour Pindar's odes in general. However I must just of Archemorus, as it is mentioned by Clemens Alexandrinus, in his admonit. ad Gentes. 5. The youthful sailors thus with early care 'Tis worth while here to take notice of Statius's similies in general. They are sometimes proper, but not often: a common fault with most young authors, who can reject nothing; though either suppress the thought, or at most content a more judicious writer at the same time would himself with a metaphor. I am apt to think similies must seldom be used, except they convey to the mind some very pleasing, or strong For all similies are descrippiece of painting. He mixes with the bleating lambs his cries; tions (or pictures) whose only beauty proceeds | If a translator can leave out such similies (or other passages) in Statius as are not proper, without violating the context or if he can supply any of their defects in a very short compass, I think he ought. Though these liberties are not to be taken with more correct writers. 6. Was more, alas! than cruel fate would give! 9. The pious mother thus, deceiv'd too late v. 90. I scarce ever met with a more incoherent passage than this, in any author. The sense is fine, Swift from mankind the Pow'r of slumbers and easily apprehended by the context: the flew. v. 31. This place is not translated exactly to the letter, nor indeed would our language bear it. The original is extremely poetical, and correspondent to the best paintings in those times: -cornu fugiebat somnus inani. For Somnus (or sleep) was represented as a deity pouring dews out of a horn, over the temples of the sleeping person. Statius alludes to this in another passage, upon the same occasion; ——cornu perfuderat omni. This remark I owe to Lactantius, who has given us the only tolerable comment upon Statius. Care has been taken to read him entirely over, though to little purpose. His notes are learned, short, and clear, but seldom poetical. Most of them are like the old Scholia upon Homer, explaining one word by another. He is full of apostrophes and exclamations, yet gives no reasons. Such as, exquisitè dictum! pictum egregie! &c. 7. words are obscure to a fault, and the transition too sudden and violent : Namque illi & pharetras, brevioraque tela Festinus voti pater, insontesque sagittas. Spes avidæ, must certainly be spoken of the mother, or else credula has nothing to agree with. In short, it must never be defended, but by one of these two excuses, either that Statius left his poem unfinished, or that the verse immediately preceding, is now lost. It might mean perhaps no more than this, "thus too was the unhappy mother deceived! with what care-&c." This consideration clears the sense, and solves all objections at once. However 'tis a mere conjecture, and may be truer to the author's reputation,than his first meaning. All grave readers will reject this as a whimsical young man's notion; nor do I lay any stress upon it. To show I can be serious on occasion, I shall just refer them to Virgil's third Georgic, where will be found a transition from horses to cows, as obscure almost as this in Statius. Mean while Adrastus bears the friendly part, And with kind words consoles, &c. v. 51. Chaucer, who was perhaps the greatest poet among the moderns, has translated these verses Gronovius (without any authority) thinks we almost word for word in his Knight's Tale. I shall should read spes avidi, instead of avidæ, still make this remark once for all: as nothing parti-preserving the context, and referring credula to cularises the fine passages in Homer more than that Virgil vouchsafed to imitate them: so scarce any thing can exalt the reputation of Statius higher, than the verbal imitations of our great countryman. I prefer this to a volume of criticisms; no man would imitate what he could exceed. spes. I cannot approve of this emendation for many reasons; we at once lose half the beauty. Besides, the repetition of in nomen would be tautology, if it did not refer to another person: nor can urgere vestes be so properly applied to the father. Whoever reads this positive Dutchman's preface to Ammianus Marcellinus, will never think him to be a man of sense, or candour. 10. Stretch'd o'er the ground the tow'ring oaks were seen, &c. v. 108. This description is inimitably beautiful, and I might spend a whole page in admirations. "Twere easy also, by drawing parallel places, (a common, but unfair practice) to prefer Statius to all the ancients, and moderns. Most of the poets have exercised their genius upon this occasion; particularly Ovid in the 10th book of his Meta morphosis: 342 -Non Chaonis absuit arbos, Non nemus Heliadum, non frondibus esculus Non tiliæ molles, non fagus, & innuba laurus, Down fall the sacred palms, and ashes wild- The weeping fir, thick beech, and sailing pine; The married elm fell with his fruitful vine; The tufted cedar, and the branching pine.... Drayton. I ask pardon for the tediousness of this note, and the reader in justice ought to acknowledge I writ it to gratify my pleasure, rather than my vanity; and surely no person who has the least taste can be displeased with so much variety. I insist only to produce one description more out of Statius. The verses are extremely natural, and carry something with them as awful and venerable as the subject: Sylva capax ævi, validâque incurva senectâ, Subter opaca quies, vacuusque silentia servat 11. Thebaid 4. Sacred to Heav'n and Hell the mourners rear It may If the reader supposes this to be too much honour The Phrygian measure in music was made use of, to call the spirits of the deceased from Hades. Pelops was the first person who invented, and set it to the lyre, and from him it came to the Grecians. 13. Lactantius. Behind Hypsypile's soft sorrows flow Y. 147. Nothing can be more finely imaged than this character of Hypsypile; it seems a perfect picture of beauty in distress. Her very silence is eloquent she knows her innocence, but must along by herself the very last of them all, while not speak one word to defend it. She moves every eye seems to threaten and accuse her. And even after all this, there is still a dejected sweetness, a tenderness, a confusion that cannot be expressed. I know not how to make the reader any ways sensible of my own images, except I refer him to the character of Briseïs in Homer's first Iliad, and the picture of Sisigambis in Darius's tent. Spenser, though upon a different occasion. What Thereat she sighing softly, had no pow'r See also the same canto, stanza the 15th. 14. Speech of Eurydice. v. 133. Statius has equally shown his conduct in this speech of Eurydice. She is injured, and indeed deserves a liberty to resent it. She condoles, she repents, she heightens her misfortunes, and then seems to wonder why Providence should inflict them. This she aggravates by considering the prosperity of her neighbours, which certainly gives the deepest remorse in all afflictions. Nothing can be finer than these two last particulars. They arise immediately from human nature, and give a lively picture of self-respect, and indulgency to our own frailties. What follows is more abrupt and violent; she draws the author of her misery in the most disagreeable colours, makes her treacherous, negligent, and even insensible of gratitude or pity. 15. 18. If Jove's almighty wisdom can deceive, This apostrophe contains a fine picture of human nature in distress. Heaven itself cannot escape our censure: its unerring justice is called into question,and we fancy more to be inflicted on us, than we ought to suffer. Much of this kind is the speech of Asius in Homer's 12th Iliad. Eustathius makes a very moral remark upon it, which I shall transcribe, as I find it admirably translated to my hands. "The speech of Asius is very extravagant : he exclaims against Jupiter for a breach of promise, Whose hands sustain'd thee, and whose music not because he had broken his word, but because charm'd, Whose eye o'ersaw thee-v. 185. I am far from being disgusted with these little particularities that attend the most serious and noble passions. Nothing has a better effect in poetry, or painting. An incident may be small, and at the same time not trifling. This puts me in mind of an observation in Longinus: it is made upon Sappho's love-ode, translated afterwards by Catullus. "The poetess" (says he) "has assembled with admirable skill all the little accidents to that passion. Her heart beats fast, her tongue trembles, her sight seems to swim, and her colour vanishes all in one moment." This confusion suits admirably well with the wandering irresolutions of the soul upon such occasions. he had not fulfilled his own vain imaginations. This conduct, though very blameable in Asius, is very natural to persons under disappointments, who are ever ready to blame Heaven, and turn their misfortunes into a crime." Thus far Eustathius. Æneas (whose chief character is piety) could not help accusing men and gods when he lost Creusa. Though in justice to Virgil it ought to be observed, that he softens, or rather disapproves of the impiety at the same time; for so the word amens must be understood. Quem non incusavi, amens, hominumque deo, rumque ? As this note is capable of very serious reflections, it may not perhaps be amiss to look a little into the holy scriptures. The impatience of Job's wife, as also the diffidence and irresolution of David in the 73d Psalm, are extraordinary instances of this sort. But Jeremiah carries it yet farther: he proceeds to an expostulation with his Maker. "Let me talk with thee, O Lord, of thy judgments. Thou hast planted (the wicked) yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit. But thou, O Lord, knowest me, thou hast seen me, and tried my heart towards thee. I have forsaken my house, &c." Chap. 12. v. 1, 2, 3, & 8. Lactantius solves the extravagance of this speech of Lycurgus very oddly, by a reflection on his priesthood. His words are these, "priests may be as angry as they will," for so must he be understood according to the purport of the original. I much question whether his name-sake would have allowed this concession to the clergy and if the translator may have leave to give his opinion, he thinks them to have less need of it, than any other part of the nation. |