There also, laden with its fruit, he form’d A vineyard all of gold: purple he made The clusters: and the vines supported stood By poles of silver, set in even rows. The trench he colour’d sable, and around Fenced it with tin. One only path it show’d: By which the gatherers, when they stripp’d the vines, Pass’d and repass’d. There youths and maidens blithe In frails of wicker bore the luscious fruit; While in the midst a boy on his shrill harp Harmonious play’d: and ever as he struck The chord, sang to it with a slender voice. They smote the ground together, and with song And sprightly reed came dancing on behind. COWPER. [267] _Hung_ _The charioteers._] This may be compared with the chariot-race at the funeral games of Patroclus, in the Iliad, xxiii. 362, to which, however, it is very inferior. All raised the lash together; with the reins All smote their steeds, and urged them to the strife Vociferating: they with rapid pace Scouring the field soon left the fleet afar. Dark, like a stormy cloud, uprose the dust Beneath them, and their undulating manes Play’d in the breezes: now the level field With gliding course, the rugged now they pass’d With bounding wheels aloft: meantime erect The drivers stood: with palpitating heart Each sought the prize: each urged his steeds aloud; They, flying, fill’d with dust the darken’d air. COWPER. This description apparently suggested to Virgil the chariot-race in the Georgics iii. 402, which Dryden has rendered with all the fire of the original. [268] _The ocean flow’d._] Homer, Il. xviii. Shield of Achilles: Last with the might of ocean’s boundless flood He fill’d the border of the wondrous shield. COWPER. [269] _Race of the far-famed Lyngeus._] Lyngeus was the ancestor of Perseus, the son of Danaë, and the father of Alcæus: of whom Amphitryon was the son. [270] _As rocks_ _From some high mountain-top._] Homer, Il. book xiii. Then Hector led himself Right on: impetuous as a rolling rock Destructive: torn by torrent waters off From its old lodgment on the mountain’s brow, It bounds, it shoots away: the crashing wood Falls under it: impediment or check None stays its fury, till the level found At last, there overcome it rolls no more. COWPER. [271] _He cast forth dews of blood._] Iliad, xvi, 459. Death of Sarpedon: The Sire of gods and men Dissented not: but on the earth distill’d A sanguine shower, in honour of a son Dear to him. COWPER. [272] _As in the mountain thickets._] Homer, Iliad xiii.