This is adopted by Grævius and Robinson. In like manner φως its opposite, light, is often used for χαρα, joy: as appears in the oriental style of scripture. But they have omitted to notice that this is a _specific_ sorrow: for what connexion have these horrible symptoms with sorrow in general? I conceive that the prosopopœia describes the misery attendant on war: and especially in a city besieged, with its usual accompaniments of famine, blood, and tears, and the dust or ashes of mourning. Longinus selects the line “an ichor from her nostrils flowed,” as an instance of the false sublime; and compares it with Homer’s verse on Discord, Treading on earth, her forehead touches heaven. This is to compare two things totally unlike: why should an image of exhaustion and disease be thought to aim at sublimity? The objection of Longinus that it tends to excite disgust rather than terror is nugatory. The poet did not intend to excite terror, but horror: that kind of horror which arises from the contemplation of physical suffering. [263] _A well-tower’d city._] Homer, Il. book xviii. Shield of Achilles: Two splendid cities also there he form’d Such as men build: in one were to be seen Rites matrimonial solemnized with pomp Of sumptuous banquets. Forth they led the brides Each from her chamber, and along the streets With torches usher’d them: and with the voice Of hymeneal song heard all around. Here striplings danced in circles to the sound Of pipe and harp; while in the portals stood Women, admiring all the gallant show. COWPER. [264] _Vaulted on steeds._] This circumstance has been thought to betray a later age: as it is alleged, that the only instance of riding on horseback mentioned by Homer is that of Diomed, who, with Ulysses, rides the horses of Rhesus of which he has made prize. But though chariot-horses only are found in the Homeric battles, there is an allusion to horsemanship, as an exhibition of skill, in a simile of the 15th book of the Iliad, v. 679; where the rider is described as riding four horses at once, and vaulting from one to the other. [265] _Others as husbandmen appear’d._] Homer Il. xviii. Shield of Achilles: He also graved on it a fallow field Rich, spacious, and well-till’d. Plowers not few There driving to and fro their sturdy teams Labour’d the ground. There too he form’d the likeness of a field Crowded with corn: in which the reapers toil’d Each with a sharp-tooth’d sickle in his hand. Along the furrow here the harvest fell In frequent handfuls: there they bound the sheaves. COWPER. [266] _In baskets thus up-piled._] Homer Il. xviii. Shield of Achilles: