NEW THEORY OF ACHILLES' SHIELD. 311 



With eyes oblique retorted, that aslant 

 Shot gleaming flame.* Elton's Translation. 



We seem, also, to find a reference to the above-named 

 relations of the aquatic constellations, and specially to 

 the constellation Pisces: 



In the midst, 



Full many dolphins chased the fry, and show'd 

 As though they swam the waters, to and fro 

 Darting tumultuous : twof of silver scale 

 Panting above the wave. 



For we learn from both ( shields ' that the waves of 

 ocean were figured in a position corresponding with 

 the above- mentioned position of the celestial equator, 

 beneath which that is, in the ocean, on our assump- 

 tion the aquatic constellations were figured. The 



* Compare the description of the constellation Draco by Aratus : 



Swol'n is his neck eyes charg'd with sparkling fire 



His crested head illume. As if in ire 



To Helice he turns his foaming jaw 



And darts his tongue, barb'd with a blazing star. 



Lamb's Translation. 



f It is scarcely necessary to remark that no importance is to be 

 attached to the numerical relations in this and other passages. In the 

 original work describing a zodiac-dome, the exact number of constella- 

 tions representing fishes, dogs, or the like, would of course be men- 

 tioned ; but any changes necessary to Homer's purpose in describing a 

 shield would unhesitatingly have been introduced by him subsequently. 

 It is singular, however, that we should have here, and in the passage 

 quoted farther on as referring to Orion and the Dogs, the number two 

 specially mentioned. The latter instance is the more remarkable inas- 

 much as the mention of men and hares would lead one to expect that 

 more than two dogs would be introduced. I would suggest as a suffi- 

 cient reason for this peculiarity that the verbal alterations necessary to 

 pluralise some of the objects in the dome would be more easily effected 

 than those necessary to undualise others. 



