When Homer has occasion to define distance, he does not attempt to do it by a fixed measure, but by reference always to human or other action: it is as far as a man can throw a spear, (δουρὸς ἐρώη); or as far as a man’s cry can be heard (ὅσον τε γέγωνε βόησας); or as far, when we come to larger spaces, as we can sail within a certain time; if I make a good passage, says Achilles[820], I may get to Phthia on the third day: and again, we hear of the distance that a ship can perform within the day[821]. The horses of the gods in Homer clear, at each bound, a space as large as the eye can cover along the surface of the sea. As he comes to speak of points more remote and less known, he becomes greatly more vague, and says of Egypt, that even the birds do not get back from it within the year[822]: without doubt drawing his idea from those birds which periodically migrate. [820] Il. ix. 362. [821] ὅσσον τε πανημερίη νηῦς ἤνυσε, Od. iv. 356. [822] Od. iii. 322. With this compare the Tempest, Act ii. Sc. 1; where, be it observed, Shakespeare is treating his subject as one of Dreamland. _Ant._ Who’s the next heir of Naples? _Seb._ Claribel. _Ant._ She that is queen of Tunis: she, that dwells Ten leagues beyond man’s life; she that from Naples Can have no note, unless the sun were post, (The man i’ th’ moon ’s too slow,) till new-born chins Be rough and razorable. ~_No scheme of Chronology in Homer._~ As with spaces, so with times. The year indeed by its revolution forms itself into a natural whole, and is thus in a manner self-defined. So the waxing and waning moon defines the month. But even with these well marked terms Homer deals loosely; for the birth of infants is promised to take place after the revolution of a year from the time of conception[823]. [823] Od. xi. 248. ~_Case of the three decades of years._~