The Comedies of Aristophanes [Tr.] by T. Mitchell (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1820 Excerpt: ... and in skirmish and battle-array, Their aid has been with us full many a day. The learned Casaubon imagines that the poet here satirises the knights fur the immoderate attention they pnid to their steeds. It was more probably intended as a compliment to the Knights for a service which will be presently mentioned; and ingeniously paid through that medium, which every Knight holds most dear. Babieca, Frontino and Baardo are almost as dear to the readers of romance as Rodrigo, Ruggiero or Rinaldo. But their feats and achievements by land I shall pass; The marvel and shew and the bravery was, When in naval array and equipt like a crew Of tars thorough-bred, to the transports they flew. Their cabins withf garlic and onions were stor'd; Their cans (cheaply bought) were laid duly on board. They grasp'd their green oars, and like boatmen did ply, And " JHippapa;, Ryppapae, boys " was the cry; " Bear a hand, my brave Koppa, --Samphor, lad, pull away, (The command came enfore'd twixt a shout and a neigh, ) Do your work, or we never shall compass the land."--The very word brought them to Corinth's proud strand. The first instance mentioned by Thucydides of Athenian cavalry being transported by sea, occurs in the second year of the Peloponoesian war. Thucyd. t. ii. c. 56, f The construction of the ancient ships of war rendered it absolutely impossible to carry much provisions on board; and the crews therefore were generally debarked for the purposes both of refreshment and sleep. The reader of Thucydides is often surprised by unexpected events, resulting from the necessities to which this want of accommodation exposed the Grecian fleets. See, among other instances, l. viii. e. 95. I Hippapts a humorous alteration for the common exhortatory wo...