THE SHIELD OF HERCULES. 109

or reprisals must involve a conflict with herself. But the god, sore at his bereavement, heeds not her word, and with violent effort hurls his brazen spear at the huge shield of his antagonist. In vain; for Pallas diverts the javelin's force. Ares rushes upon Hercu- les, and he, having "watched his opportunity, " Beneath the well- wrought shield the thigh exposed Wounded with all his strength, and thrusting rived The shield's large disk, and cleft it with his lance, And in the midway threw him to the earth Prostrate." E. 624-628. a curious denouement, wherein an immortal is in bit- ter need of a Deus ex machina. The author of the 4 Shield/ however, has provided for the contingency. Fear and Consternation had sat as helpers in the chariot of Cycnus, as Pallas in that of Hercules. They hurry the vanquished god into his car, and, lashing the steeds, transport him without more ado to Olympus. Here the poem should have ended; but a later chronicler seems to have felt, like many a modern novelist, that the minor dramatis personce, must be accounted for. And so we have a few lines about the victor spoiling Cycnus, whose obsequies were after- wards duly performed by his respectable father-in-law Ceyx at lolchos. But the tomb erected over the brigand and fane-robber was not suffered to remain in honour. In requital for repeated sacrilege " Anaurus foaming high with wintry rains Swept it from sight away. Apollo thus