THE NEW THEORY OF ACHILLES'S SHIELD. 337 



lines which clearly point to other constellations. [Re- 

 membering what has just been stated about Draco, 

 it seems at the least a singular coincidence that we 

 should find the centre or boss of the shield occupied 

 by a dragon : 



" The scaly horror of a dragon, coiled 

 Full in the central field, unspeakable, 

 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 sho\ved 

 As though they swam the waters, to and fro 

 Darting tumultuous : two t of silver scale 

 Panting above the wave." 



* Compare the description of the constellation Draco by Aratus : 



" Swol'n is his neck eyes charged with sparkling fire 

 His crested head illume. As if in ire 

 To Helice he turns his foaming jaw 

 And darts his tongue, barbed with a blazing star." 



LamVs 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 



15 



