It must immediately occur to any reader who peruseth the Hymn of Callimachus to Jupiter, that the subject was too great to be properly managed by the correct and elegant genius of that writer. Instead of enlarging (as we should have naturally expected) on any particular perfection of this Supreme Deity, or even of enumerating in a poetical manner the attributes which were commonly ascribed to Him, he entertains us coldly with traditionary stories about His birth and education; and the sublime part of his subject is either wholly omitted, or superficially passed over. Thus speaking of the bird of Jove, he says only, Θηκαο δ’ οιωνον μεγ’ ὑπειροχον αγγελεωτην, Σων τεραων‧ ἁτ’ εμοισι φιλοις ενδεξια φαινοις[63]. Thy bird, celestial messenger, who bears Thy mandate thro’ the sky;--O be his flight Propitious to my friends! [Footnote 63: Callim. Hymn. in Jov. a lin. 68.] Pindar introduceth this King of the feathered race in a much nobler and more animated manner. He exhibits with true poetic enthusiasm, as an instance of the power of harmony, the following vivid picture. -- -- -- -- -- εὑ- δει ανα σκαπτω Διος αιετος, ω- κειαν πτερυγ’ αμφοτερω- θεν χαλαξεις, Αρχος αιωνων‧ -- -- -- -- ὁ δε κνωσσων ὑγρον νωτον αιωρει, τεαις ρεπαισι κατασχομενος[64]. The birds fierce Monarch drops his vengeful ire; Perch’d on the sceptre of the Olympian King, The thrilling darts of harmony he feels, And indolently hangs his rapid wing, While gentle sleep his closing eye-lids seals; And o’er his heaving limbs, in loose array To every balmy gale the ruffling feathers play. WEST. [Footnote 64: Pind. Pyth. I.] Homer never touches this sublime subject, without employing the utmost reach of his invention to excite admiration in his reader. Ζευς δε Πατηρ ιδηθεν ευτροχον ἁρμα και ἱππους Ολυμπονδ’ εδιωκε, θεων δ’ εξεκετο θωκους. Τω δε και ἱππους μεν λυσε κλυτος Εννοσιγαιος Ἁρματα δ’ αμβρωμοισι τιθει, κατα λιτα πετασσας. Αυτος δε χρυσειον επι θρωνον ευρυοπα Ζευς Ἑζετο, τω δε ὑπο ποσσι μεγας πελεμιζετ’ Ολυμπος[65]. ---- The Thund’rer meditates his flight From Ida’s summits to th’ Olympian height. Swifter than thought the wheels instinctive fly, Flame thro’ the vast of air, and reach the sky. ’Twas Neptune’s charge his coursers to unbrace, And fix the car on its immortal base, &c. He whose all-conscious eyes the world behold, Th’ eternal Thunderer, sate thron’d in gold. High heav’n the footstool of his feet He makes, And wide beneath him all Olympus shakes. POPE. [Footnote 65: Iliad. Lib. VIII.]