3 Thus Lucian, according to this idea, affirms, "that the herds were feized and torn afunder, when alive, by these Women "." But the moft circumftantial and elaborate defcription of this Pagan Scene, next to Euripides, occurs in Nonnus, who reprefents in two paffages his Bacchanalian Crew imbruing their hands in animal gore, particularly in that of Bulls, and in fevering their respective hides : Ασχλία μαινομένοιο δορῆς ἐδράξατο ταύρο Καὶ βλοσυροῖς ὀνύχεσσι χαρασσομένης ἀπὸ δειμῆς 4 "Αλλη δ' ἔγκαλα πάλα διήφυσεν 6. (Dionyfiaca, 1. 14. p. 266. Ed. Falken.) by a halter, faftened to one of its horns: La Baccante qui tient un taureau lié par les cornes, & qui f'efforce de l'arrêter, malgré les fecouffes qu'il donne pour f'enfuir, cette Bacchante dis-je eft un chef d'oeuvre de l'art. (tom. 1. part 2. p. 253. & pl. 164. fig. 3.) But I am inclined to think, that the learned Benedictin is here mistaken in imagining this Figure a Bacchanalian, fince there is too much female softness in her countenance to favour this fuppofition. ηση 3 Τὰς δ ̓ ἐν ποίμνας διηρπάσθαι ἤδη ὑπὸ τῶν γυναικῶν καὶ διεσπᾶσθαι ἔτι ζῶντα rà deiμpala. (Bacchus, vol. 3. p. 77. Ed. Hemfter.) 4 This word, derived from rogéw penetro, may fignify non penetratum; but neither réprlos or årópulos is to be found in any Lexicon: If it were not for the constant Dactylick Meafure of Nonnus, I should offer to read äręnlov non foratum, or the unpierced hide. 5 This word fignifies decorticavit, and is the conjecture of Falkenburgius in his Edition of Nonnus. (P. 8o. Ed. Antwerp. 1569.) I have here inferted it instead of the printed &Qλinσe in the Text of the Poet, because that is no where elfe to be found, and is unfupported by any derivation. This alfo is the conjecture of Falkenburgius, which I have here fubftituted instead of the printed dingio in the Text of Nonnus and for the fame reafon, as mentioned in my laft Note: But inpuos has the authority of Homer, and is used in the Odyffey in the appofite sense of exhaufit or difcidit, See also H. Steph. Thefaur. Appendix. to n. 4. p. 755. ἂν ἡ μὲν βοην αγέλην δατρεύσατο ταύρων (Id. 1. 25. p. 774-) I flatter myself, that the learned Reader will pardon the frequency and length of citations in my Notes on this Tragedy from the Dionyfiacks of Nonnus, fince the coincidence of the fubject of that Poem with the Baccha of Euripides prefents many correfponding fentiments and expreffions; and it is very remarkable, how few of these in comparison with their number have been already noticed by any former Commentator of our Poet: I might add too, that the scarcity of the Editions of Nonnus, and the entire ignorance of moft Readers in regard to this neglected Author, plead an additional apology in my favour. I confefs that I am no enthusiastick Admirer of him, for though he has certain paffages, which glow with poetical fervour, yet his total neglect of unity of defign, his defultory mode of compofition, his prolix defcriptions, and his monotony of metre, though flowing with the foft dactyl, unite to lower his reputation in my judgement: But fuch are the wonderful refources of the Greek Language, and fo enchanting are its powers of harmony, that it is fcarce poffible for any Poet, who has been fortunate enough to have employed it, not to reward the elegant Reader for the pains of contemplation. N° XXVI. HERE Euripides again presents to the contemplation of the Reader other Miracles, annexed to the Female Bacchanalian: The first, which he mentions in a preceding line, is the marvellous power of carrying any burden whatever without falling to the earth, though unfupported by any attachment to their fhoulders: Thus Nonnus represents her in the picturesque attitude of feizing an Infant, and of bearing it aloft, though unfastened, immoveably fixed; Αλλη δὲ τριετηρον ἀφαρπάξασα τοκῆος (Dionyfiaca, 1.45. p. 774. Ed. Falken. 1569.) The next miracle is the flame of lambent fire in the locks of these Votaries, which plays without burning them 2: I do not recollect any parallel paffage, where the fame prodigy is. applied to the Bacchanalian; but it recalls to our memory * V. 754. z V. 757. the the historical anecdote, recorded in the Roman History3, of Servius Tullius, which Virgil has attached with no lefs policy than poetry to his young Afcanius: Ecce levis fummo de vertice vifus Juli Fundere lumen apex, tractuque innoxia molli (Æn. 2. v. 686.) The last phænomenon, here exhibited, displays the ineffectual effort of the pointed fpear, and the contrary efficacy of the female thyrfus: Hence these frantick Women by the vifible power of the Deity were Conquerors of their male Antagonists: Thus Nonnus represents them : Καὶ ἀμπελόεσσαν ακωκὴν Βασσαρὶς ἠκόνιζε· μελαῤῥίνε δὲ γενέθλης Αρσενα πολλὰ κάρηνα δαίζετο θήλει θύρσῳ. (Dionyfiaça, 1. 14. p. 267. Ed. Falken. 1569.) Σιδηφόρες δὲ μαχητὰς Χερσὶν ἀθωρήκτοισιν ἐμαὶ κλείνεσι γυναῖκες. (Id. 1.46. p. 780.) 3 Erige te, Deofque duces fequere, qui clarum hoc fore caput divino quondam circumfufo igne portenderunt. (Liv. l. 1. c. 41.) Signa dedit Genitor, tum cum caput igne corufco (Ovid. Faft. 1.6. v. 636.) See alfo Florus, 1. 1. c. 6. Dionyf. Halicar. 1. 4. Plin. Hift. Nat. 1. 2. c. 107. fect. 111. & l. 39. c. 27. fect. 70. Val. Maximus, 1. 1. c. 6. n. 1. 4 V. 760. SV.762. • V. 763. N° XXVII. N° XXVII. Verfe 786. Πείθη μὲν ἐδὲν τῶν ἐμῶν λόγων κλύων. What I have told thee, Pentheus, hath not pow'r 846. To move thee. HENCE the remainder of the Dialogue in this Scene continues in all the printed Editions of Euripides to be held between the Meffenger and Pentheus: But we may collect from the internal evidence of the Characters, Sentiments, and Language, that this appropriation of the different speeches is manifeftly corrupt: And the Dialogue ought to proceed between Pentheus and Bacchus inftead of the Meffenger: The arguments in favour of this new arrangement are indeed unanswerable, and I will here state them collectively for the fatisfaction of the Reader. It appears from the preceding speech of Pentheus, that he commanded the Meffenger to fly to the Electran Gate' in order to fummon his Cavalry and Infantry to attend him : For as no other Perfon, except Bacchus and his Chorus, was on the stage, we must conftrue the injunction, as addressed to him: And it would be a flagrant violation of decorum to fuppofe, that this Vaffal would dare to disobey the order of his Sovereign: After his departure to execute the royal commiffion, the Dialogue paffes between Pentheus and Bacchus; and the God here afferts in the fubfequent line, that 1 1 V. 779. See Heath on V. 783 & 784, and Mufgrave on V. 794 & 795. |