APPENDIX A. The Invocation of an Epic Poem. The extracts following will give an idea of the epic convention of an Invocation. 1 and 2 are from translations of Homer and Virgil, respectively, made not a very long time after Milton. 3 is the beginning of Spenser's Faerie Queene, written some time before. To compare these extracts with those that follow,— 4, the beginning of the Seventh Book of Paradise Lost, and 5, the invocation of Paradise Regained, is a good lesson in English Literature. 1. The Iliad in Pope's Translation, Book I. 1–14. Achilles' wrath, to Greece the direful spring Such was the sovereign doom, and such the will of Jove. Sprung the fierce strife, from what offended power? And heaped the camp with mountains of the dead; And for the king's offence the people died. 2. The Eneid in Dryden's Translation, Book I. 1-18. Arms and the man I sing, who, forced by Fate And in the doubtful war, before he won O Muse! the causes and the crimes relate; 3. The Faerie Queene. Book I. Stanzas 1-4. Lo! I, the man whose Muse whilome did maske, For trumpets stern to change mine oaten reeds, To blazon broad amongst her learned throng : Help then, O holy virgin! chief of nine, The antique rolls, which there lie hidden still, Of Faerie Knights, and fairest Tanaquill, Sought through the world, and suffered so much ill, O help thou my weak wit, and sharpen my dull tongue! And thou, most dreaded imp of highest Jove, And with thy mother mild come to mine aid ; Come, both; and with you bring triumphant Mart, In loves and gentle jollities arrayed, After his murderous spoils and bloody rage allayed. And with them eke, O Goddess heavenly bright! Great Lady of this greatest Isle, whose light Like Phoebus' lamp throughout the world doth shine, And raise my thoughts, too humble and too vile, The argument of mine afflicted style : The wish to hear vouchsafe, O dearest dread awhile! 4. Paradise Lost. Book VII. 1-39. Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name Lest, from this flying steed unreined (as once Standing on Earth, not rapt above the pole, On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues, Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard 5. Paradise Regained. Book I. 1–17. I, who erewhile the Happy Garden sung By one man's firm obedience fully tried And Eden raised in the waste wilderness. Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute, And unrecorded left through many an age: Worthy to have not remained so long unsung. B. Epic Similes. The following similes are, 1 from the Iliad, in the translation of Lang, Leaf, and Myer, and 2 from Matthew Arnold's Sohrab and Rustum, an epic fragment which may well be compared both with Homer and Milton. 1. Neither lingered Paris long in his lofty house, but clothed on him his brave armour, bedight with bronze, and hasted through the city, trusting to his nimble feet. Even as when a stalled horse, full-fed at the manger, breaketh his tether and speedeth at the gallop across the plain, being wont to bathe him in the fair-flowing stream, exultingly; and holdeth his head on high, and his mane floateth about his shoulders, and he trusteth in his glory, and nimbly his limbs bear him to the haunts and pasturage of mares; even so Priam's son Paris, glittering in his armour like the shining sun strode down from high Pergamos laughingly, and his swift feet bare him. Iliad vi., 504-514. [Lang, Leaf, and Myers' Translation, p. 126.] And as when a brimming river cometh down upon the plain, in winter flood from the hills, swollen by the rain of Zeus, and many dry oaks and many pines it sucketh in, and much soil it casteth into the sea, even so renowned Aias charged them, pursuing through the plain, slaying horses and men. xi. 490-495. [p. 218.] Thus saying fair-haired Menelaos departed glancing everywhither, as an eagle which men say hath keenest sight of all birds under heaven, and though he be far aloft the fleet-footed hare eludeth him not by crouching beneath a leafy bush, but the eagle swoopeth thereon and swiftly seizeth her and taketh her life. xvii. 672-677. [p. 363.] 2. But as a troop of pedlars, from Cabool, That vast sky-neighbouring mountain of milk snow; As some rich woman, on a winter's morn, |