CHAPTER IV 



THE DOLPHIN — HERODOTUS — THE ICHTHYOPHAGI — 

 THE TUNNY 



The Shield of Heracles, now rarely attributed to Hesiod the 

 poet nearest in time to Homer, givtG us pictures, similar if 

 more ornate in style to those in Homer's " The Shield of 

 Achilles." 



The Shield of Heracles would probably not have been 

 written had not Homer's " Shield of Achilles " existed. It 

 differs from the older poem in the presentation of mythological 

 scenes and a scene of fishing, but is perhaps the most complete 

 illustration from fisher life extant before Theocritus. 



" there appeared 

 A sheltering haven from the untamed rage 

 Of ocean. It was wrought of tin refined 

 And rounded by the chisel ; and it seemed 

 Like to the dashing wave ; and in the midst 

 Full many dolphins chased the fry, and show'd 

 As though they swam the waters, to and fro 

 Darting tumultuous. Two of silver scale 

 Panting above the wave, the fishes mute 

 Gorged, that beneath them shook their quivering fins 

 In brass. But on the crag a fisher sate 

 Observant : in his grasp he held a net 

 Like one that, poising, rises to the throw." ^ 



The painting of the harbour, of the cliffs, of the fishes tossing 

 in tumultuous heaps, and of the chase and capture by dolphins 

 of their prey, all seem to Mr. Hall but a careful elaboration of a 



* Translated by C. A. Elton. In the last two lines occurs the solitary 

 mention by Hesiod of fishing. 



90 



