Book 8
3.24
We are even given the means of realising the extraordinary stature of the heroes of old by the description of their weapons, such as the shield of Ajax Il. vii. 219. and the spear-shaft of Achilles Il. xvi. 140. hewn in the forests of Pelion. Virgil Aen. iii. 659. also has made admirable use of this device in his description of the Cyclops. For what an image it gives us of the bulk of that body Whose hand was propped by a branchless trunk of pine. So, too, what a giant must Demoleos Aen. v. 264. have been,
3.25
Whose corselet manifold Scarce two men on their shoulders could uphold And yet the hero buckled it upon him and Drave the scattering Trojans at full speed. And again, Cicero Phil. ii. 27. could hardly even have conceived of such luxury in Antony himself as he describes when he says, You might see beds in the chambers of his slaves strewn with the purple coverlets that had once been Pompey's own. Slaves are using purple coverlets in their chambers, aye, and coverlets that had once been Pompey's! No more, surely, can be said than this, and yet it leaves us to infer how infinitely greater was the luxury of their master.
