Similes of Homer, 
‘animal rendered him peculiarly proper 
for comparifon with the warriors of an 
age of heroes; when, from the artificial 
modes of combat, the ftrength and prow- . 
efs of a fingle individual became emi- 
-nently conf{picuous, and were of great 
moment in deciding the event of a battle. 
To confider every example in which the 
‘fimile of a lion is introduced, would’ 
prove tedious and uninterefting, on ac- 
count of the frequent famenefs, both of 
the original and refembling fcene. I 
fhall therefore fele&t a few, the moft va- 
‘rious in their circumftances and appli- 
cation, and of the greateft value as natu- 
ral reprefentations. 
The common occurrence in countries 
infefted by wild beafts, of a nightly at. 
tack upon the folds or ftalls, by a lion, 
has given occafion to three ftriking fimi- 
lies in Homer, each diftinguifhed by 
fome variation inthe circumftances. In 
the firft I fhall adduce, the affault is ef- 
fectually repelled--- 
As from the folded ftalls a nightly guard 
Of dogsandrvfics all the rage repel | 
Of fome fierce Lion, greedy for the fleth 
Of fatted kine: in vain he rufhes on; 
So thick the javelins hurl’d by vent’rous 
hands, 
And flaming torches fly, that held in awe, 
Though much defiring, at the morning’s dawn 
Sad he retires. The mighty Ajax thus, 
With fwelling breaft indignant quits the 
field. Mis Mle 54-7 « 
This is a charatteriftical and well- 
painted piéture, but not perfectly exact 
in the application; fince Ajax is not 
making an attack on the enemy, like the 
lion, but is ftanding upon the defenfive. - 
‘ In the next inftance, the powers of the 
affailant and defenders are almoft equally 
balanced, and this equality takes place 
both in the real and the refembling icene. 
Sarpedon’s » f{pirited attempt to break 
through the Grecian rampart, is thus 
imaged--- 
So, when a Lion, ’mid the mountains 
bred, _ 
Long huny’ring, feels th’ adventurous im- 
pulfe urge 
To try-the well-barr’d circuit of the fold; 
If chance he find the guardian-fwains around, 
With dogs and fpears in watch, he yet dif- 
dains 
Attemptlefs to retreat but leaping in, 
Or bears away the fpoil, or front to front 
Receives from fome fwift arm the piercing 
fteel. % dl. xii. 299. 
In the following paflage the affailant is 
only roufed to greater exertions by refift- 
ance, and proves completely victorious. 
MontH, Mac, No, XXVII. 
Virgil'and Milton: . 
—-——— The Lion thus 
Whom, leaping at the fold, fome fhepherd 
fwain, 
His flocks defence, has ftruck with feeble 
wound, — 
Now urg’d to mighty rage, no more rea 
puls’d, : 
X33 
He clears the fence, and ’mid the crowd for- ' 
lorn 
Spreads dire difmay ; in heaps they ftrew the 
foil ; es 
Then proudly f{prings again the lofty mound: 
So {prung Tydides on the Trojan hoft. 
I. ¥, 436. 
The impetuous courage of Diomed is 
with peculiar propriety refembled to that — 
of the Lion, and the circumftance of his 
receiving a flight wound fromthe arrow 
of Pandarus, is exactly paralleled in 
the fimile. 
The retreat of the Lion, reprefented 
in the firft of thefe paffages, is defcribed 
in a fimile by Virgil, but lefs cireum- 
ftantially, and without the accompany- 
ment of the nightly attack. 
Ceu feevum turba leonem 
Cum telis premit infenfis; at territus ille, 
Afper, acerba tuens, retro redit; & neque 
terga iat 
Ira dare aut virtus patitur; mec tendere con 
tra, . 
lle quidem hoc cupiens potis eft per tela 
virofque : . 
Haudaliter retro dubius veftigia Turnus 
Improperata refert, & mens exz{tuat ira. 
' LEN. 1K. 7G 2a, 
As when with tilted fpears the clam’rous 
train 
Invade the brindled monarch of the plain, 
The lordly favage from the fhouting foe 
Retires, majeftically ftern and flow, 
Tho’ fingly impotent the croud to dare, 
Repel or ftand their whole colle€ted war; 
Grim he looks back; he rolls his glaring eye, 
Defpairs toconquer; and difdains to fly. 
So Turnus paus’d; and by degrees retired ; 
While fhame, difdain, and rage, the hero 
fir’d\ Pitt. 
There is more of fextiment in this pis- 
ture than in that of Homer, but lets of 
nature. The Lion of the Greck poet 
combats fer prey, and his unwillingnefs 
to retreat only proceeds from his hunger. 
That of the Roman fights for glory, “anc 
is withheld from flying by fhame. He 
is a happier obje€&t of comparifon for a 
hero; but is a lefs faithtul reprefenta- 
tive of an animal which; notwithftand- 
ing’ all the ftories of his magnanimity, has 

probably no moral qualities different trom. 
thofe of other carnivorous wild beafts. 
His propenfity at ali hazards to re- 
verge an affront (a point of character 
common, to Various of the larger preda- 
Qu, JQisk Vad tery 
