oracles—though in his case obscurity covers a multitude of sins. Those who consult him have so much to do to make out his meaning that they haven't much leisure to criticise his verse.
Jup. Well, but, Mercury, mix up a little Homer in your summons—the form, you know, in which he used to call us together; you surely remember it.
Merc. Not very readily or clearly. However, I'll try:—
And all ye streams within old Ocean's pale,
And all ye nymphs, at Jove's high summons, come,
All ye who eat the sacred hecatomb!
Who sit and sniff the holy steam, come all,
Great names, and small names, and no names at all."[1]
Jup. Well done, Mercury! a most admirable proclamation. Here they are all coming already. Now take and seat them, each in the order of their dignity—according to their material or their workmanship; the golden ones in the first seats, the silver next to them; then in succession those of ivory, brass, and stone,—and of these, let the works of Phidias, and Alcamenes, and Myron, and Euphranor, and suchlike artists, take precedence; but let the rude and inartistic figures be pushed into some corner or other, just to fill up the meeting—and let them hold their tongues.
Merc. So be it; they shall be seated according to their degree. But it may be as well for me to understand,—supposing one be of gold, weighing ever so
- ↑ A burlesque of sundry passages in Homer.
