Essay on the PTritings of Hesiod. 9 



troduced in the manner above stated. In repeated places in tbe Hesiodeau 

 remains, we find entire lines introduced, often verbatim and literatim, 

 identical with, or altered only by the most immaterial variations from, 

 those which we also read in the poems ascribed to Homer.* Critics 

 have sometimes speculated, and with very small success, on these corres- 

 ponding passages, in order to detect from their comparison some internal 

 evidence, which might enable them to judge which poet was the original 

 and wliich the imitator, and thus to settle their respective dates. But I 

 think that a judicious examination of the several examples will lead us to 

 agree with AA^olf, that in Hesiod they have been generally interpolations, 

 introduced either intentionally or perhaps unconsciously, from the memory 

 of the Rhapsodist, ever overcharged with the materials of his Homeric 

 recitations. 



I would conclude these preliminary observations with a short notice of 

 the most striking peculiarities, both of diction and composition, which 

 characterise this early school of poetry ; and these observations will be 

 fonnd, 1 believe, to apply with equal justice both to Homer and to Hesiod. 



In the first place, as to the diction ; although we have already admitted its 

 general high perfection of force, dignity, and harmony, we shall yet find 

 these blended throughout with many features which sufficiently indicate a 

 period and school of poetical improvisation. The necessities of such a 

 school must always impress a marked character on the poetical language 

 of the period in which it prevails. That language will be ever found very 

 abundant in common-places of constantly recurring epithets and phrases, 

 appropriated to all the most ordinary subjects which may be likely to de- 

 mand the poet's notice. Every god and hero, and every great feature of 

 nature, will have their inalienable attributes to aid them in filling their just 

 place in the metre. HERE will be ever BowTrtg Jlorvia ; and it were impiety 

 tc mention Athenfe and omit her just style and title as VXuvkmtzlq. Achilles 

 can seldom dispense with his characteristic distinction of fleetness of foot, 

 TTocctc oiKvc ; and Ulysses, when not praised for his many wiles, TroXvfxijnc, 

 is so constantly coupled with the assurance that he was as much enduring 

 as divine, TroXorXac cioc, that Pindar gravely comforts us with the hope 

 that not more than half of what Homer tells us is true. Thus also we 

 must usually sail tir' tvpea yioru SaXcto-aije, or walk Trapa ^ly' AXoc 

 uTpvyEToio. And in like manner as to phrases ; it seems impossible that 

 conversation should be carried on without Eizta Trrepoei'Ta Trpoar]vla on 

 one side, and roy canantiftofxevo^ 7rpoaE(j>ri on the other. And the cause 



* Compare Theog.;j2;i, with II. vi. 181 ; Thcog. 75G, with Od. -xi. 15 ; Theog. 749, 

 with II. .\x. 65 J AiTTT. Up 15G, with 11. .wiii. 5;15 ; Epy : kui Hji : 315, with Od. xvii. 

 3-17, and I), xxiv. 44. I have here cited only some of the instances of the incorpora- 

 tion of entire lines ; the cxamjilcs of identity of epithets and i)hrases are too numer- 

 ous for notice ; but these may have been only part and parcel of the stock of poetical 

 diction common to all the AmSui. 



No. 1.— Vol. I. c* 



