124 On the Theogony. 



examples of ancient poetry,and is further remarkable as the prototype of the 

 sixth book of our own Milton ; we shall therefore subjoin a feeble but very 

 literal attempt to translate this passage. But first we would observe, that 

 the localities of the combat, the Titans being arranged on Mount Otheys, 

 and the allies of Jupiter on Mount Olympus, sufficiently indicate Thessaly 

 as the cradle of this legend. 



678 Suvov di TTepiaxe IlovTog airtipuiv, &c. 



O'er the wide waves rolls the dire clamour ; earth 

 Loud echoes ; ample heaven returns the roar 

 Trembling ; and tall Olympus from its base 

 Rocks, with the charge of hostile deities. 

 Deep to Tartarian shades the tumult spreads, 

 Sharp tramp of hurrying tread, and sturdy strokes, 

 And war's wild uproar : while their hissing darts 

 Rush in alternate flights, and loud the shout 

 Rings to heaven's starry vault, from either side 

 In conflict closing. Now Jove checks no more 

 His fury, but his full-fraught soul o'erflows 

 With energy, and collecting all his might 

 He forth displays his power ; and from high heav'n, 

 And from Olympus, rolls at once the blaze 

 Of rapid lightnings, and the thunders' peal ; 

 While from his stout arms flash the sacred flames 

 Incessant. Earth in conflagration roars ; 

 And mightiest forests craRh around the fires. 

 Tlie land dissolves, and boils the ocean wave 

 ^Vith fervent heat -. the burning vapours round 

 Pursue the Titans through the realms of earth. 

 Immense the blaze to th' highest aether spreads ; 

 And dazzling splendours blind the stoutest eye. 

 From the far-flashing lightnings ; Chaos' self 

 The heav'n-enkindled conflagration feels. 

 Like seem'd it to the eye that saw the sight. 

 And ears that heard the crash, as though wide heav'n 

 And earth commingled in confusion lay. 

 And ruin, crush'd and crushing; such the noise 

 When gods meet gods in the rude shock of war. 

 The winds bare on their blast the dust, the storm 

 The pealing thunders, and fierce lightnings flash 

 The darts of mighty Jove : — the cry, the shout. 

 All the wild uproar of the fearful fight. 

 Raged in the midst of th' adverse ranks ; for there 

 Was prowess proved in the stern deeds of war. 



Powerful as the original of this passage undoubtedly is, it is still I think 

 obvious, that it is strongly marked by the fault which perhaps most charac- 

 terises a rude and early stage of poetical art ; the excessive repetition of 

 almost identical ideas, when any striking image possesses the poet's mind, 

 an overloaded wordiness, and the absence of any attempt at compression 



I 



