m

blessed, summoned an Argive, by name Orestes, son of Agamemnon, that once assembled the famous armament of Greece. And such were these events. But when any God shall afflict him, not even the strong man could escape. For he on the next day, when at sun-rise there was a swift contest of horsemanship, came in with many a charioteer. One was an Achæan, one from Sparta, two Libyans skilled to guide the chariot and its team; and he among them, with Thessalian steeds the fifth, the sixth from Ætolia with chestnut fillies, the seventh a Magnesian, the eighth, with white horses, an Ænian by race, the ninth from the God-erected Athens, the other a Baotian, filling the tenth chariot. But having taken their stand where

Translators and commentators agree in considering λλs here as synonymous with devregos; (the Latins have the same idiom, as in Cicero: unus, alter, tertius ;) but as it is not certain how long the Pythian games lasted, this appears a gratuitous assumption. Certainly Poppo, in his note on Thuc. III. 59, denies the converse: ..... "provocat enim ad. Pind. Olym. I. 69. ubi postquam Pelops dictus est a Neptuno raptus atque in Jovis domum traductus esse, subjicitur:

Ενθα δευτέρῳ χρόνῳ
Ἦλθε καὶ Γανυμήδης.

Quo in loco quum Scholiastæ multas turbas movissent, Ganymedem Pelope priorem fuisse dicentes, Heynius devriga xgóve positum esse voluit pro λλ xeove, quod satis refutavit Boeckius, quem vide in Notis Criticis, p. 346. Asúregos enim nonnisi ibi usurpari potest, ubi de duobus sermo est, ideòque non cum λλos sed cum argos cohæret, a quo tamen ita difert, ut ἕτερος unum ex duobus significet sine ulla vel temporis vel ordinis sive dignitatis notatione, unde unus ille et prior et posterior esse potest, devregos autem nonnisi de posteriore plerumque dicatur," p. 63.

the appointed umpires had thrown for them with lots, and ranged their chariots, at the sound of the brazen trumpet they started, and all at once in concert cheering on their horses shook the reins in their hands: the whole course within was filled with the noise of rattling "chariots: the dust was tossed on high: while all together in confusion were sparing nought of the lash, that each might get beyond the others' wheels and snortings of their steeds, for the breathings of their horses were at once falling upon and covering with foam their backs and the circles of their wheels. But he keeping under the very last column, continually was wheeling in his axle's nave, and giving rein to the right steed, held in the near horse. And hitherto all the chariots continued upright, but then the hard-mouthed steeds of the Ænian forcibly whirl off his, and in turning at the completion of the sixth and now on the seventh course, they dash their fronts on the Barcæan car. And thenceforth, from a single mishap, one was crushing and tumbling on another, and the whole Crissæan plain was being filled with the wrecks of shattered chariots. But the skilful charioteer from Athens, aware of this, drives by outside them, and slackens speed, having left behind him the tossing tide of horse and car confounded in the centre. But Orestes was driving the hindmost, having inferior coursers, placing his trust in the issue. But he when he saw the other left alone, having cracked in the ears of his swift mares the

ון

Quadrijuges currus. Brunck. "The harnessed car." Potter.

« Ζευγωτών-Hesychius, ξυγώσωκλείσω” Musgrave.

• Xvós are properly the sockets into which the axle-trees are put.

shrill sound of his whip, pursues him; and having brought their poles in line they were driving, now one. and then the other, pushing forward the heads of their chariot horses. And all the other courses in safety the hapless youth drove erect in his car upright; but then, Pslackening the left rein of his wheeling horse, he unawares strikes the pillar's edge, and breaks the middle axle-nave, is tumbled from his chariot, and entangled in his reins, while on his falling to the ground his steeds were dispersed over the middle of the course. But the host, when it perceives him thrown out of his seat, shrieked aloud over the youth, that, after having done such deeds, he meets with such a disaster, whirled along on the ground, and then again tossing up his limbs to heaven: until the charioteers having with difficulty stopped the horses' speed, released him, all bloody, so that none of his friends by looking on him could have recognized his hapless person. And having

As his other instructions agree with the plan pursued by Orestes, so this is the accident against which Nestor particularly warns Antilochus, Il. XXIII.

"Bear close to this, and warily proceed,

A little bending on the left-hand steed,

But urge the right, and give him all the reins,
While thy strict hand his fellow's head restrains
And turns him short; till, doubling as they roll,
The wheels' round naves appear to brush the goal.
Yet not to break the car, or lame the horse,
Clear of the stony heap direct thy course;
Lest, through incaution failing, thou mayst be

A joy to others, a reproach to me."

POPE'S TRANS. v. 407.

N

forthwith burnt him on the pyre, in a little brazen urn the melancholy ashes of a most mighty form are appointed men of Phocis bringing, that he may inherit a tomb in his father's land. Such, look you, are these tidings, as in story told, piteous, but to us eye witnesses that saw it, the greatest of all misfortunes that I ever beheld.

CHO. Alas! alas! It seems then the whole race of mine ancient lords is from its very roots withered away.

CLY. O Jove, what is this? whether shall I call it fortunate, or terrible, yet gainful? yet 'tis a painful case, if by mine own ills I save my life.

ATT. But why, Lady, art thou so dispirited at my present words?

CLY. "Tis a dreadful thing to be a mother; not even to the ill-treated does hatred of those she has borne attach.

ATT. It seems then we are come in vain.

CLY. NO, believe me, not in vain at least: for how couldst thou tell me in vain? if thou camest possessing sure proofs of his death, who born of my life, an alien from my breast and nurture, estranged himself in exile, and since he quitted this land never beheld me, but laying to my charge his father's murder, was ever threatening to perform dreadful deeds, so that neither by night nor by day did gentle sleep overshadow me;

Similarly the messenger in Edipus Tyrannus, v. 1237.

τῶν δὲ πραχθέντων τὰ μὲν

ἄλγιστ ̓ ἄπεστιν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις οὐ πάρα.

but progressing time ever led me on as doomed to die. Now however (for on this day am I released from alarm at her hands and his, since she the greater pest was living with me, ever drinking up my pure life's blood) now haply shall I pass my days in quiet, as far as relates to her threats.

EL. Ah me unhappy! For now 'tis mine to wail, Orestes, thy misfortune, that thus conditioned thou art insulted by this thy mother; is this well?

CLY. Not with thee, be sure; but he, as he is, is well.

EL. Hear, avenging spirit of the lately dead.

CLY. It hath heard whom it ought, and well fulfilled the prayer.

EL. Be insolent; for now thy lot is prosperity. CLY. So shall not Orestes and thou repress it. EL. We have been put down ourselves, no fear that we shall put thee down.

CLY. Thou hadst come deserving of abundant reward, stranger, hadst thou checked her babbling clamour. ATT. I would begone then, if this be well.

CLY. By no means: since thou wouldst be about to act in a manner worthy neither me nor the foreign friend that sent thee. But go ye within, and leave her

r Nemesis, daughter of Nox, and by some supposed to be the same with Leda, was entrusted with the care of avenging all manner of impieties, but especially those committed against the dead. It was in this latter character that Adrastus, in his second expedition to Thebes, to avenge the refusal of burial to his son-in-law Polynices, erected a temple to her. The Greeks also celebrated a feast in her honour, called Nemesia.