SCOLIA. those poems written in a laxer kind of metre [Greek: skolia]. But, "as there are three kinds of songs" (as Artemo of Cassandra says in the second book of his treatise on the Use of Books), "one or other of which comprehends everything which is sung at banquets; the first kind is that which it was usual for the whole party to sing; the second is that which the whole party indeed sang, not, however, together, but going round according to some kind of succession; the third is that which is ranked lowest of all, which was not sung by all the guests, but only by those who seemed to understand what was to be done, wherever they might happen to be sitting; on which account, as having some irregularity in it beyond what the other kinds had, in not being sung by all the guests, either together or in any definite kind of succession, but just as it might happen, it was called [Greek: skolion]. And songs of this kind were sung when the ordinary songs, and those in which every one was bound to join, had come to an end. For then they invited all the more intelligent of the guests to sing some song worth listening to. And what they thought worth listening to were such songs as contained some exhortations and sentiments which seemed useful for the purposes of life."
50. And of these Deipnosophists, one quoted one scolium, and one another. And these were those which were recited—
I.
O thou Tritonian Pallas, who from heaven above
Look'st with protecting eye
On this holy city and land,
Deign our protectress now to prove
From loss in war, from dread sedition's band.
And death's untimely blow, thou and thy father Jove.
II.
I sing at this glad season, of the Queen,
Mother of Plutus, heavenly Ceres;
May you be ever near us,
You and your daughter Proserpine,
And ever as a friend
This citadel defend.
III.
Latona once in Delos, as they say,
Did two great children bear,
Apollo with the golden hair,
Bright Phœbus, god of day.
And Dian, mighty huntress, virgin chaste.
On whom all women's trust is placed.
