Page:Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica.djvu/635

 "Only tell me this thing that I ask: Mow many Achaeans went to Ilium with the sons of Atreus?"

Homer answered in a mathematical problem, thus:

"There were fifty hearths, and at each hearth were fifty spits, and on each spit were fifty carcases, and there were thrice three hundred Achaeans to each joint."

This is found to be an incredible number; for as there were fifty hearths, the number of spits is two thousand five hundred; and of carcasses, one hundred and twenty thousand...

Homer, then, having the advantage on every point, Hesiod was jealous and began again:

"Homer, son of Meles, if indeed the Muses, daughters of great Zeus the most high, honour you as it is said, tell me a standard that is both best and worst for mortal-men; for I long to know it." Homer replied: "Hesiod, son of Dius, I am willing to tell you what you command, and very readily will I answer you. For each man to be a standard to himself is most excellent for the good, but for the bad it is the worst of all things. And now ask me whatever else your heart desires."

"How would men best dwell in cities, and with what observances?" 581