Part 14

Does this throw light on Esther, i. 10-12?

By their patronage.

"Republic," v. p. 462, C.

By the power of sympathy. This is especially true of eyes. Wyttenbach compares the Epigram in the Anthology, i. 46. 9. [Greek: Kai gar dexion omma kakoumenon ommati laio Pollaki tous idious antididosi ponous.]

Reading [Greek: kalon] with Hercher.

The ancients hardly ever drank wine neat. Hence the allusion. The symposiarch, or arbiter bibendi, settled the proportions to be used.

Compare the French proverb, "Le beau soulier blesse souvent le pied."

Thessaly was considered by the ancients famous for enchantments and spells. So Juvenal, vi. 610, speaks of "Thessala philtia," and see Horace, "Odes," i. 27. 21, 22; "Epodes," v. 45.

Wyttenbach well compares the lines of Menander:--

An allusion to Homer, "Iliad," xiv. 214-217.

Called by the Romans "pronuba Juno." See Verg. "AEneid," iv. 166; Ovid, "Heroides," vi. 43.

See Pausanias, vi. 25. The statue was made of ivory and gold.

Compare Terence, "Hecyra," 201. "Uno animo omnes socrus oderunt nurus." As to stepmotherly feelings, the "injusta noverca" has passed into a proverb with all nations. See for example Hesiod, "Works and Days," 823, [Greek: allote metruie pelei hemere, allote meter].

Wyttenbach compares Seneca's "Fidelem si putaveris facies." "Ep." iii. p. 6.

Euripides, "Medea," 190-198.

Homer, "Iliad," xiv. 205, 209.

See Mulier Parturiens, Phaedrus' "Fables," i. 18.

Euripides, "Andromache," 930.

Proverb. Cf. Horace, "Oleum adde camino," ii. "Sat." iii. 321.

See AEsop's Fables, No. 121. Halme. [Greek: Drapetes] is the title. All readers of Plautus and Terence know what a bugbear to slaves the threat of being sent to the mill was. They would have to turn it instead of horses, or other cattle.

That is, Yoking oxen for the plough.

Procreation of children was among the ancients frequently called Ploughing and Sowing. Hence the allusions in this paragraph. So, too, Shakspere, "Measure for Measure," Act i. Sc. iv. 41-44.

The reference is to the rites of Cybele. See Lucretius, ii. 618.

See Erasmus, "Adagia." The French proverb is "La nuit tous les chats sont gris."

"Laws," p. 729, C.

From the words of Andromache to Hector, "Iliad," vi. 429, 430.

Theano was the wife of Pythagoras.

See Livy, xxix. 14. Propertius, v. 11. 51, 52. Ovid, "Fasti," iv. 305 sq.