44 On the Theogony. 



the narrowest bounds of the most succinct and jejune narration. Thus in 

 his description of the nuptials of Bacchus and Ariadne, than which no 

 other topic can be conceived more happily accommodated to the uses of 

 poetrj', we find only the simple dry and bald statement : — 



KpvrroKOfiijg oe Aionwaog %ai'Oi]v A'piaovijv 



Kspyjv MivuiOQ OaXepijv -TroiijaaT ukoitiv. 



Ti]v Se 'oi ctBavaroi' Kai ayrjpoi SrtjKe KpovKov. 



The gold-hair'd Bacchus chose a blooming bride, 



Daughter of Minos, Ai'iadne fair. 



So Jove from age and death exempted her. 



The translation is literal, and by no means more prosaic than the original. 



But on the other hand, as a remarkable contrast to this severe simplicity, 

 the author most freely expatiates, on many occasions, which, as we pro- 

 ceed, we shall have occasion to specify, such especially as his descriptions 

 of the warfare of the Titans and the newer gods, Qtoi vecuTEpoi ; and in- 

 dulges his poetical genius to an extent which may appear altogether dis- 

 proportioned to the general tenor and constitution of his work. 



If we proceed to a regular survey of this work from the beginning, we 

 shall find at the very threshold a remarkable example of the phsenomena, 

 which, as we have said, have led many critics to maintain that the compo- 

 sition, as it now stands, is but a compilation of fragments, from many 

 originally distinct, although similar poems. 



The whole poem consists of only one thousand and twenty verses, and of 

 this a very disproportionate portion, more than a tenth, extending to v. 1 15, 

 is occupied by the exordium, which is made up of an address, or rather re- 

 peated addresses, to the muses, strung together in a style of incoherence 

 which we can scarcely believe to have originally proceeded, even from the 

 most inartificial of poets. In these we sometimes find sentences the most 

 abrupt, and without the slightest bond of coherence : sometimes we observe 

 the very same ideas repeated over and over again, with a very trifling 

 change of expression. In his remarks on this passage, Herman, treading 

 in the steps of Wolfe, believes that he has detected the substance of no 

 less than seven exordia, originally appertaining to distinct poems, now 

 blended together into one ill-associated mass. With a plausibility and in- 

 genuity, at least, which all must admire, he has drawn out the whole of 

 these distinct exordia j but as his remarks will be found at length in the 

 edition of the Greek minor poets, now most popular in this country, (that 

 of Gaisford, Oxford, 1820,) and therefore may be at once consulted by 

 every one interested, we need not further dwell on his views at present. 



But at whatever conclusion we may arrive concerning the doubtful original 

 form of this exordium or exordia, there can be no doubt that many of the de- 

 tached passages are marked by a very consummate degree of poetical 

 beauty ; nor can we need a better example than the very commencement 

 of the poem as it at present stands : — 



