That the divine vengeance for evil deeds comes not immediately, but slowly, at a predestined season, is a doctrine as true in Christian theology as it is familiar to the Heathen dramatists. Therefore, Tiresias, in the Antigone, prophesies to Creon that "the avenging spirits of Hades and of Heaven, storing up mischief for a future day (ὑστεροφθόροι), would punish him for his crimes. But when the sword of Olympian justice is once drawn, then the execution of the divine judgment comes swiftly and by a short way, and no mortal can stay it." As the same Sophocles says-- συντέμνουσι γὰρ θεῶν ποδώκεις τὸυς κακὸφρονας βλάβαι. ANTIG. V. 1104. Note 9 (p. 44). ". . . Jove, the high protector Of the hospitable laws." As he is the supreme ruler of the physical, so Jove has a providential supervision of the moral world, and in this capacity is the special punisher of those who sin (where human laws are weak to reach), by treachery or ingratitude, as was the case with Paris. This function of the Hellenic Supreme Deity is often piously recognized by Homer, as in Odys. XIV. 283-- "But he feared the wrath of Jove, lord of the hospitable board, Jove who looks from Heaven in anger on the evil deeds of men." Note 10 (p. 44). "The powers whose altars know no fire." ἀπύρων ἱερῶν, "fireless holy things." By "tireless" is here meant, so far as I can see, not to be propitiated by fire, persons to whom all sacrificial appeals are vain. Whether the Fates or the Furies are meant there are no means of ascertaining; for both agree with the tone of feeling, {337} and with the context; and as they are, in fact, fundamentally the same, as powers that always act in unison (Eumen. 165 and 949), the reader need not much care. It is possible, however, that the whole passage may bear the translation of "powers wroth for tireless altars," _i.e._ neglected sacrifices.--So HUMB. and FR. Nor are we bound to explain what sacrifices, or by whom neglected; for omission of religious rites, known or unknown, was a cause, always at hand, with the ancients, to explain any outpouring of divine wrath. BUCKLEY, following BAMBERGER and DINDORF, considers that the sacrifice of Iphigenia is alluded to; which is also probable enough. No commentary can make clear what the poet has purposely left dark. Note. 11 (p. 45). "The oil that knows no malice." We see in this passage the religious significancy, as it were, of the oil used in their sacred rites by the ancients; and we may further remark, with SEW., that "the oil used in religious rites was of great value. Compare the directions given in the Scriptures for making that which was used in the service of the Tabernacle," and, generally--see Leviticus c. ii. for a description of the various kinds of sacred cakes made of fine flour and oil used in the sacrificial offerings of the Jews. Note 12 (p. 45). "I'll voice the strain."