THE SHIELD OF HERCULES. 99

" Shuddering horrors these Inflicted, and the agony of death Sudden, that chokes the suffocative voice : The points were barbed with death and bitter-steeped With human tears : burnished the length'ning shafts, And they were feathered from the tawny plume Of eagles." E. 177-183. The heroic spear and helm complete his equipment, save and except the shield, to which it has been above noted that all the rest is introductory. This would seem to have been a circular disc, with, a dragon for centre, and the parts between it and the outer rim divided by layers of cyanus or blue steel into four compartments of enamel, ivory, electrum, and gold. According to Muller,* a battle of wild boars and lions forms a narrow band round the middle. The first con- siderable band which surrounds the centre-piece in the circle consists of four departments, of which two contain warlike, and two peaceable subjects, so that the entire shield contains, as it were, a sanguinary and a tranquil side. The rim of the shield is surrounded by the ocean. An idea of the poem is best gathered from some of the details of the several parts. Perched in the centre on the dragon's head " Stern Strife in air Hung hovering, and arrayed the war of men ; Haggard ; whose aspect from all mortals reft All mind and soul ; whoe'er in brunt of arms Should match their strength, and face the son of Zeus, Below this earth their spirits to the abyss

• Hist. Gr. Lit., i. 132.