THE ORIGIN OF ARMORY
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- 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."
