Page:History of the Literature of Ancient Greece (Müller) 2ed.djvu/75

53 LITERATURE OF ANCIENT GREECE. 53 inconsistencies of different passages and interruptions in the connexion have arisen. We may mention especially the contradictory expressions of Diomed and his counsellor Athena, as to whether a contest with the gods was advisable or not*. Another inconsistency is that remarked by the ancients with respect to the breastplate of Diomed f ; this, however, is re- moved, if we consider the scene between Diomed and Glaucus as an inter- polation added by an Homerid of Chios; perhaps, with the vievV of doing- honour to some king of the race of Glaucus. With regard to the ni«ht-scenes, which take up the tenth book §, a remarkable statement has been preserved, that they were originally a separate book, and were first inserted in the Iliad by Pisistratus ||. This account is so far sup- ported, that not the slightest reference is made, either before or after, to the contents of this book, especially to the arrival of Rhesus in the Trojan camp, and of his horses taken by Diomed and Ulysses; and the whole book may be omitted without leaving any perceptible chasm. But it is evident that this book was written for the particular place in which we find it, in order to fill up the remainder of the night, and to add another to the achievements of the Grecian heroes ; for it could neither stand by itself nor form a part of any other poem. § 8. That the first part of the Iliad, up to the Battle at the Ships, has, as compared with the remaining part, a more cheerful, sometimes even a jocose character, while the latter has a grave and tragic cast, which extends its influence even over the choice of expressions, naturally arises from the nature of the subject itself. The ill-treatment of Ther- sites, the cowardly flight of Paris into the arms of Helen, the credulous folly of Pandarus, the bellowing of Mars, and the feminine tears ot Aphrodite when wounded by Diomed, are so many amusing and even sportive passages from the first books of the Iliad, such as cannot be found in any of the latter books. The countenance of the ancient bard, which in the beginning assumed a serene character, and is sometimes brightened with an ironical smile, obtains by degrees an excited tragic expression. Although there are good grounds in the plan of the Iliad for this difference, yet there is reason to doubt whether the beginning of Hence he is, in Homer, placed in a closer relation with the Olympic gods than any other hero: Pallas driving his chaiiut, and giving him courage to encounter Ares, Aphrodite, and even Apollo, in battle. It is particularly observable that Diomed never fights with Hector, but with Ares, who enables Hector to conquer. •II. v. 130,434,827; vi. 128. f II. vi. 230 ; and viii. 194. The inconsistency with regard to P) lamienes is also removed, if we sacrifice v. 579, and retain xiii. 658. Of less impoitance, as it seems to me, is the oblivion of the message to Achilles, which is laid to the charge of Patmclus. II. xi. 839; xv. 390. M..y not Patioclus have sent a messenger to inform Achilles of what he wished to know ? 'the nun-observance by Pulydamas of the advice which he himself gives to Hector (II. xii. 75 ; xv. 354, 447 ; xvi. 3t>7) it easily excused by the natural weakness of humanity. J Above, p. 31, note §. ^ Nvxriyioirta. and AoAwvs/a. ji Schol. Ven. ad II. x. 1 ; Eustafh. p. 785, 41, ed. Rom.