This means lightning on and from the left, so that the lightning passes, or seems to pass, towards the right. The analogy of this case to that of the star is very close; because it is rarely that lightning gives the semblance of motion: and this expression precisely exemplifies the observation, that these phrases often really imply a position of the subject exactly opposite to that which at first sight would be supposed. Again, when Antinous bids the Suitors rise in turn for the trial of the bow, he says, Od. xxi. 141, ὄρνυσθ’ ἑξείης ἐπιδέξια, πάντες ἑταῖροι· and he goes to explain himself beyond dispute, by referring to the order observed by the cupbearer at the feast; ἀρξάμενοι τοῦ χώρου, ὅθεν τέ περ οἰνοχοεύει. (142) His meaning evidently is, Rise up, beginning on or from the left. ~_From Il._ i. 597. vii. 238. xii. 239, 249.~ The practice of the cupbearer is stated with respect to Vulcan, Il. i. 597: αὐτὰρ ὁ τοῖς ἄλλοισι θεοῖς ἐνδέξια πᾶσιν ᾠνοχόει. So the κήρυξ (Il. vii. 183) goes round ἐνδέξια with the lots for the chieftains to draw. The beggar[678] in making his round follows the supreme law of luck, and goes ἐνδέξια. And as this meaning seems to be established, we must give the same sense, in Il. ix. 236, to ἐνδέξια σήματα φαίνων ἀστράπτει, as to the ἐνδέξια in Il. ii. 353, namely, that Jupiter displayed celestial signs on the left. [678] Od. xvii. 365. Again, Hector boasts of his proficiency in moving his shield so as to cover his person, Il. vii. 238, οἶδ’ ἐπὶ δεξιὰ, οἶδ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ νωμῆσαι βῶν. We should translate this probably without much thought ‘to the right and to the left.’ But when we consider what sense is required by the idea to be conveyed, it is evident that ἐπὶ δεξιὰ means, from the left side of his person towards the right, and ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ from the right side of his person towards the left. That is to say, the first position before and during the motion, in each case, is at the side opposite to that indicated by the adjectives respectively. Again, in a well known passage (Il. xii. 239.) Hector tells Polydamas that he cares not for omens, be they good or bad; εἴτ’ ἐπὶ δεξί’ ἴωσι πρὸς Ἠῶ τ’ Ἠέλιόν τε, εἴτ’ ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ τοίγε, ποτὶ ζόφον ἠερόεντα. Apart from the question, whether the sense of right and left is suitable to this passage at all, and assuming it to be so, the meaning is _from the left_ for ἐπὶ δεξιὰ and _from the right_ for ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ, on their way in each case to the opposite quarter. Again, the portent which had drawn forth the observation of Hector was, (Il. xii. 219,) αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτης, ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ λαὸν ἐέργων, namely, an eagle appearing on the right and then moving towards the left. Now ἐέργω is not properly a verb of motion; and yet we see that ἐέργειν ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ means to close the army in from the right; that is to say, the eagle, which does the act ἐπ’ ἀριστερὰ, is itself on the right.