618 ON THE DIONYSIACS OF NONNUS 



Rdmdyana we have repeated introductions of the counteracting elements, 

 fire and water, employed as weapons by the chief heroes. The troops of 

 Bacchus have now the worst of the battle, and Bacchus himself flies in 

 alarm. He is stopped by Minerva, and encouraged to return to the field, 

 when the action is renewed. 



The greater part of the two next books is occupied with a prolix imi- 

 tation of Homer's account of Juno's device to divert Jupiter's attention 

 from the fields of Troy — Juno being, in the Dionysiacs, the friend of Deri- 

 ades and the Indians. Whilst Jove sleeps in her embraces, the furies, by 

 her direction, render Bacchus insane, and he deserts his own troops ; but 

 Mars, disguised as Modceus, comes to their aid, and maintains the con- 

 flict against Deriades and Morrhozus, until the latter becomes enamoured 

 of one of the Bassarides, or nymphs of Bacchus, Chalcomene, and directs 

 his efforts more to her capture than the general cause. The army of Bac- 

 chus is nevertheless dispersed, and many of the Bassarides taken and put 

 to death. Chalcomene leads Morrhceus away, under pretence of com- 

 plying with his desires, but her chastity is guarded by a dragon, from 

 whom Morrhceus escapes with difficulty. Wilford says it is here 

 that he is called Sondes, — whence he is the same with Jara-sandha. 

 I have not found the expression. In the mean time, Jove awakes, 

 Bacchus recovers his senses, and the fight is renewed. The Gods 

 take part in the encounter, but are separated by Mercury. Deri- 

 ades attacks Bacchus, who, after various transformations, is wounded: 

 he binds, however, Deriades with a vine, and the prince is obliged to 

 humble himself — on which he is set at liberty. He again prepares for 

 war, and Bacchus finding that it is impossible to vanquish the Indians by 

 land, prepares to attack them by sea. With this view, he orders the Arab 

 Rhadamanes to build him a fleet. The Indians are nothing dismayed at 

 this, and Morrheus, who has returned to his duty, encourages them, by 



