Proceedings, &c. xv 



indeed, at any time at Pompeii. It is very likely a copy of one of 

 the most celebrated pictures of antiquity. Achilles is sitting near 

 his tent, the ships being wisely omitted, the heralds, Talhybius and 

 Eurybates, had come unwillingly, and from a feeling of respect are 

 standing at a distance, and turning away. The hero gives them a 

 friendly greeting, and bids them approach, as it is not their fault 

 that they have been sent by Agamemnon. He then proceeds : 

 'Patroclus, bring the fair Briseis, and conduct my captive to the 

 haughty king ! ' The wrath and indignation of Achilles is easily 

 detected, where he takes the solemn oath never to assist Agamemnon 

 in any difficulties. Thus commences Homer, in his Iliad, with the 

 words : — 



Mrjviv aeiSe Oca IhjklfiaBeS} ' A)(iX\i]os. 



That is :— 



' Sing to me,. Muse, the wrath of Achilles, the son of Pelous. ' 

 Briseis, who, according to Homer, follows the heralds unwillingly, 

 •is weeping while she is yet in his presence. It is impossible to mis- 

 take old Phoenix in this bald old fellow, and in the others, Achilles' 

 Myrmidons watching the proceedings. Everything lias been well- 

 considered and arranged with care, and the entire space has been 

 employed to the greatest possible advantage. Sir Edward Bulwer 

 mentions this picture in his ' Last Days of Pompeii.' 



"Juno visiting Jupiter upon Mount Ida. — Principal part of a large 

 picture. This visit of Juno is described in the fourteenth book of 

 the Iliad. She is with her attendant, Iris. Juno is remarkable for 

 the size of her naming eyes. Bourns wo-rvia. 'H/>?; is she called 

 by Homer, which signifies the gracious Juno with heifer's eyes. 

 Her arms are left uncovered in honor of another epithet given to her 

 by Homer : \evKuf\evos, that is with white arms. If she was 

 not according to the ancient poets, an always cunning and grumbling 

 shrew, we could not understand why she was so much neglected by 

 Jupiter. 



" Jupiter in the Clouds. — The father of the gods is here couched 

 on a bed of clouds, according to his character, cloud compeller, 

 vecfieXTjiyepeTa ZeD? of Homer. On the other side, the eagle 

 is seen, the inhabitant of the clouds and servant of Jupiter. The 

 thunderbolt is ready at hand. Busy thought and a certain degree of 

 annoyance are plainly expressed in Jupiter's widely open eyes and 

 half open mouth. He is crowned with oak leaves, and the presence 

 of Cupid may give rise to the idea that he intends some amusement 

 with some of his lady subjects. 



" A Scene from a Comedy. — The master leaving the house has 

 charged the slave with some particular business, and the unfaithful 

 steward has taken the opportunity of playing the master of the 

 house, given a party, and ordered a flute-player. But during the 



