did indeed, as the Poets had affirmed, contain their ashes; that the Muses did not lament over him, nor had been present at his funeral; but that the Nereids still frequented the spot. A dispute on the subject may have given rise to the question, which cannot well be supposed to have been framed without some motive; Achilles is made a party in it by Philostratus, and answers as he would have him. The conference ended with his setting an example to modern Ghosts, by vanishing on hearing the cocks crow; but in a flash of mild lightning.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE HEROICS OF PHILOSTRATUS.

I. Of the Vineyard, Barrow, Temple and Image of Protesilaus.II. The Vine-dresser.-III. Of the island Leuce, and the barrow of Achilles and Patroclus.-IV. Stories of the plain of Ilium.-V. Of Hector.-VI. Of Ajax Telamon.-VII, Plutarch cited.

I.

THE scene of this Dialogue is on the sea-coast near Eleûs, opposite Ilium, by the barrow of Protesilaus, in a vineyard, which is extolled as a spot uncommonly beautiful and fertile, the stocks aptly disposed, the walks grateful, the trees tall, the rills of water various, the odour ambrosial, and the harmony of nightingales

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ingales in the morning and evening enchanting. No wolf dared to enter it, no scorpion or venomous spider, nor even an informer. It was a place all over delicious and divine, worthy of its guardian Protesilaus.

The barrow is described as large, and as shaded with elms, which, we are told, were planted by the Nymphs; who, it was surmised, had directed, that the boughs toward Ilium should flourish soon, presently shed their leaves, and, like the mortal part of Protesilaus, perish early; while those on the other side remained alive and healthy. It was observed, if we may credit the relation, that only the trees about the barrow were thus affected; those in a garden near it thriving in all their branches.

By the barrow, it is said, were remaining a few specimens of the architectural ornaments of the temple; that, which had been insulted by the Persian Governor of Sestos, in the time of Xerxes; and which, from its basement, appeared to have been no inconsiderable structure. The hero had been represented standing on the prow of his vessel, as ready to leap on the shore; but the image was thrown down, and much disfigured by time and by devotees, who had bedaubed it with ointment and fixed their petitions on it.

II. The fictitious owner, the Vine-dresser, who is the principal speaker, courteously invites a stranger, a Phoenician merchant, to enter in; as one liberal of his grapes, figs, almonds, and pomgranates. He tells him, that he had been left an orphan, and that his estate had been taken from him, but was restored; the spectre of Protesilaus appearing to the usurper

of

of his property, and striking him blind; that he had lived in the city, where he studied philosophy, leaving his farm to the management of servants; that, losing by them, he had come to consult the hero, who was angry at his neglect, and, for some time, silent; but, on his continuing to supplicate, and to declare that he was undone without his assistance, he directed him to change his garb; that, on discovering his meaning, he had fitted himself with a leathern jacket, and, carrying about a two-forked prong, had commenced Vine-dresser; and, forsaking the town, had prospered by agriculture; advising with Protesilaus as his physician, whenever a tree, a lamb, or his bees ailed any thing: and attending on him as his priest; in the evening, pouring to him a libation of wine made from Thasian stocks, which had been set by him; and, at noon-tide, placing before him fruits, with milk at certain seasons; when, on his retiring, the whole was consumed in an instant. Whatever he did was with his good Protesilaus; with whom he pretends to familiarity. He retails their conversation; describes his person, his features, and his dress, which was a purple mantle or cloke fastened in the Thessalian fashion, as on the image, which resembled him; expresses the most ardent affection for this battered relic; shows the foot-steps of Protesilaus; with whose company he was favoured, when he wanted flowers for crowns, of which he was fond, or toplant, or to gather grapes; his abode being in Hades with Laodamia his wife, or at Phthia in Thessaly, where he had a temple and was worshipped; affirms, that at times he hunted with his

fellow

fellow soldiers, the warriors, who were still seen shaking their crests on the plain of Troy; and that, coming from the chace of the wild boar or stag about noon, he would sleep extended in the vineyard. He specifies the gymnastic exercises preferred by him; asserts that he had once been oracular; and recounts answers, which he had given to wrestlers who had consulted him; with their success in the Olympic and Pythian Games. He relates, that the hero still cured coughs and dropsies, sore eyes, and quartern agues; and that he was compassionate to the slighted lover, suggesting potent incantations and soft arts of persuasion; but when a man and a woman who had conspired against her husband were standing by his altar, and swearing falsely, he had excited the dog to interrupt and bite them; which he did in so terrible a manner that they both died. This animal is described as not fierce in general, but mild and gentle, like his old bearded master; who, after gratifying the curiosity of his guest, dismisses him with a present of fruits to his vessel, which lay wind-bound at Eleûs; bidding him, when he sailed, to make, as was the custom there, a libation to Protesilaus.

III. The Vine-dresser recites, on the authority of Protesilaus or of persons who had arrived in the port of Eleûs, the wonders of the Holy Island, Leuce, the abode of Achilles; with an address to Echo, containing an elogium on Homer, then recently composed by the hero; who is a musician in the Ilias and was now become a poet. He relates, that the temple, in which his statue was, had been enriched with numerous offerings, some having in

scription

scriptions in the Greek and Roman languages; and that it was usual for mariners who touched at the island to sacrifice on his altar at sun-set, and to pass the night, making fast their vessel, if the wind did not rise and enable them to pursue their voyage. But enough of Leuce. I hasten to introduce the Vine-dresser as it were pointing to the opposite coast, and saying, "This hill, Stranger, which you see standing on the front of the shore, the assembled Greeks raised when Achilles was mingled in the barrow with Patroclus, having bestowed on himself and on him a most beautiful funeral envelope; on which account they who praise friendship celebrate him." Further he adds, that the Greeks heaped up gold and the booty they had acquired, to be consumed with his body; repeated their presents to him, when Neoptolemus came to the camp; and, before they set sail from Troy, took leave of the barrow and Achilles'.

IV. Of the plain there the Vine-dresser relates, that the unembodied heroes were still beheld in it by herdsmen and shepherds, who deemed the spectres ominous; portending drought, if covered with dust; floods and rain, if with sweat; and, if blood appeared on them or their weapons, they sent diseases on Ilium; but they were supposed, if seen without these tokens, to bring kindly seasons; and the hinds, from gratitude, then offered to them a lamb, or bull, a fowl, or any thing they had. The Ghosts were not all known, for they were many; differing

Περιεπιπίον τῳ τάφῳ, και τον Αχιλλέα φονίο περιβάλλειν, p. 715.

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