triple wave; whilst dreadful ring around
The brazen bosses of his shield, impress'd
With his proud argument:—'A sable sky
Burning with stars; and in the midst full orb'd
A silver moon;'—the eye of night o'er all,
Awful in beauty, forms her peerless light."
2. Capaneus.
("Ἔχει δὲ σῆμα—ΠΡΗΣΩ ΠΟΛΙΝ."—Lines 428–430.)
"On his proud shield portray'd: 'A naked man
Waves in his hand a blazing torch;' beneath
In golden letters—'I will fire the city.'"
3. Eteoclus.
("Ἔσχημάτισται—πυργωμάτων."—Lines 461–465.)
" … No mean device
Is sculptured on his shield: 'A man in arms,
His ladder fix'd against the enemies' walls,
Mounts, resolute, to rend their rampires down;'
And cries aloud (the letters plainly mark'd),
'Not Mars himself shall beat me from the Tow'rs.'"
4. Hippomedon.
("Ὁ σηματουργὸς—φόβον βλέπων·"—Lines 487–494.)
" … On its orb, no vulgar artist
Expressed this image: 'A Typhæus huge,
Disgorging from his foul enfounder'd jaws,
In fierce effusion wreaths of dusky smoke.
Signal of kindling flames; its bending verge
With folds of twisted serpents border'd round.'
With shouts the giant chief provokes the war,
And in the ravings of outrageous valour
Glares terror from his eyes … "
5. Parthenopæus.
("Ὁν μὴν ἀκόμπαστος—ἵαπτεσθαι Βέλη·"—Lines 534–540.)
" … Upon his clashing shield,
Whose orb sustains the storm of war, he bears
The foul disgrace of Thebes:—'A rav'nous Sphynx
Fixed to the plates: the burnish'd monster round
Pours a portentous gleam: beneath her lies
A Theban mangled by her cruel fangs:'—
'Gainst this let each brave arm direct the spear."
6. Amphiaraus.
("Τοιαῦθ ὁ μάντις—βλαστάνει βουλευματα."—Lines 587–591.)
"So spoke the prophet; and with awful port
Advanc'd his massy shield, the shining orb
Bearing no impress, for his gen'rous soul
Wishes to be, not to appear, the best;
And from the culture of his modest worth
Bears the rich fruit of great and glorious deeds."
7. Polynices.
("Ἔχει δὲ—τά ξευρηματα."—Lines 639–646.)
" … His well-orb'd shield he holds,
New wrought, and with a double impress charg'd:
A warrior, blazing all in golden arms,
A female form of modest aspect leads,
Expressing justice, as th' inscription speaks,
'Yet once more to his country, and once more
To his Paternal Throne I will restore him'—
Such their devices … "
VIRGIL.
(The Æneid.)
1. ("Atque hic exultans—insigne decorum."—Lib. ii. lines 386–392.)
"Choræbus, with youthful hopes beguil'd,
Swol'n with success, and of a daring mind,
This new invention fatally design'd.
'My friends,' said he, 'since fortune shows the way,
'Tis fit we should the auspicious guide obey.
For what has she these Grecian arms bestowed,
But their destruction, and the Trojans' good?
Then change we shields, and their devices bear:
Let fraud supply the want of force in war.
They find us arms.'—This said, himself he dress'd
In dead Androgeos' spoils, his upper vest,
His painted buckler, and his plumy crest."
"Next Aventinus drives his chariot round
The Latian plains, with palms and laurels crown'd.
Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field;
His father's hydra fills his ample shield;
A hundred serpents hiss about the brims;
The son of Hercules he justly seems,
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