The third age, styled the Brazen, was like the former: only, to diversify it a little, the poets supposed that there was now a more regular process of war. They had now, it seems, brazen arms, and brazen houses; and every implement was of brass. This race is said to have been quite different from those of the Silver Age. 10 xx ×× agyvew δεν όμοιον. Yet I cannot see wherein the difference consisted. The former were guilty of violence and bloodshed; and slew one another so fast, that they scarce attained the age of manhood. The latter had the same love for war; and fell in like manner by each other's hand, so that not one survived. Η Και τοι μεν χείρεσσιν ύπο σφετέρησι δαμέντες Νώνυμοι. This race engag'd in deadly feuds, and fell Each by his brother's hand. They sunk in fight, 10 Ζευς δε πάτηρ τριτον άλλο γενος μέροπων ανθρώπων Χαλκειον ποιησ ̓, εκ αργυρῳ δὲν ὁμοιον. ν. 143. See Aratus of the Golden Age, and of those succeeding. Phæ nom. v. 108. Also Ovid. Metamorph. 1. 1. v. 89. "Hesiod supra. v. 1514 All to the shades of Erebus consign'ð, . After these canre another Age, by most poets called the Iron; but by Hesiod mentioned as the Heroic, or Age of Demigods ; and described as a time of great justice and piety. Yet these heroes, whose equity is so much spoken of, upon a nearer inquiry are found to be continually engaged in wars and murders: and, like the specimens exhibited of the former Ages, these are fihally cut off by one another's hands, in acts of robbery and violence: some for purloining oxen; others for stealing sheep; and many for carrying away the wives of their friends and neighbours. * Και τες μεν πόλεμος τε κακος, και φύλοπις αιν Τές δε και εν νηεσσιν ὑπερ μέγα λάιτμα θάλασσης 12. Αυθις επ' άλλο τεταρτος επι χθονι πολυβοτείρη Ζευς Κρονίδης εποίησε δικαιότερον, και άρειον. ν. 156. Hesiod makes the Iron Age the fifth in succession. 33 Hesiod. Έργα και Ημερ. 1. 1. ν. 161. In battle some were carried off; and fell At Thebes, renown'd for its seven tow'ring gates, The seat of Cadmus : here they sternly strove There joined in cruel conflict for the sake 14 In like manner it is said of the hero Cycnus, that he robbed people of their cattle, as they went to Delphi whence he was called Kunvos ansns. He, like the rest, was slain in fight, having rashly encountered Hercules. Such was the end of these laudable banditti: of whom Jupiter, we are told, had so high an opinion, that after they had plundered and butchered one another, le sent them to the Islands of the Blessed, to partake of perpetual felicity. * Και τοι μεν ναιεσιν, ακηδέα θυμον έχοντες, 14 Hesiod. Ασπις 'Ηρακλ. v. 478. Εν Μακαρων νησοισι παρ' ωκεανον βαθυδίνην, These, freed from grief and every mortal care, And wafted far to th' ocean's verge extreme, Rove uncontroul'd amid the Happy Isles, Illustrious heroes. We have here seen four divisions of times: in some of which the poet has endeavoured to make a distinction, though no material difference subsists. And as these times are supposed to be in succession, he has brought the last period as low as the era of Troy. The whole relates to a series of history, very curious and interesting; but ruined, by being diversified, and in a manner separated from itself. 16 From what has been said, we may perceive that the Crusean Age being substituted for the Cusean, and being also styled the era of the Cuthim, was the cause of these after-divisions being introduced; that each Age might be distinguished in gradation by some baser metal. Had there been no mistake about a Golden Age, we should never have been treated with one of Silver; much less with the subsequent of Brass and Cuthim, n, signified Gold and Golden. Iron. The original history relates to the patriarchic age, and to what the Greeks termed the Scuthic period, which succeeded: when the term of man's life was not yet abridged to its present standard, and when the love of rule and acts of violence first displayed themselves upon the earth. The Amonians, wherever they settled, carried these traditions with them; which were often added to the history of the country; so that the scene of action was changed. A colony, who styled themselves Saturnians, came to Italy, and greatly benefited the natives. But the antients, who generally speak collectively in the singular, and instead of Herculeans, introduce Hercules; instead of the Cadmians, Cadmus ; suppose a single person, "Saturn, to have betaken himself to this country. Virgil mentions the story in this light: and speaks of Saturn's settling there; and of the low state of the natives upon his arrival, when he introduced an Age of Gold. 38 Hæc nemora indigenæ Fauni, Nymphæque tenebant, 17 It is said of Saturn also, that he built the antient city Byblus in Syria. This was many ages before his supposed arrival in Italy. See Sanchoniatho in Euseb. Præp. Evang. 1. 1. c. 13. p. 37. The city was built by Saturnians. |