llow-nailed, swart bear-skin, the coat-armour made
with cloth of Tars, the mantelet thick-sown with rubies; for the locks
like the raven's plumage, the curls like Apollo's tresses. He is in the
dazzling prime of youth. Black Lycurge, without question, has more than
twice his years. The beard that yet springs, joined close to the voice
that is like a trumpet, is well found for raising the expression of
native power in that thundering voice. The laurel wreath for the
ponderous golden diadem--the white eagle on the wrist for the snowy
alauns, are all studied to carry through the same opposition. Emetrius
is a son of chivalry; Lycurge might be kin or kith, with a difference
for the better, of that renowned tyrant Diomedes, who put men's limbs
for hay into his manger, and of whom Hercules had, not so long ago,
ridded the world. _His_ looking, too, is paralleled away from humanity,
but it is by the kingly and generous lion. Observe that the companions
of the two kings are described, whether through chance or choice, in
terms correspondingly opposite. The Thracian leads a hundred lords, with
hearts stern and stout. The Indian's following, earls, dukes, kings,
have thronged to him, for the love and increment of chivalry. The lions
and leopards, too, that run about him have been tamed. They finish the
Indian picture.

How does Dryden acquit himself here? Grandly.

DRYDEN.

With Palamon, above the rest in place,
Lycurgus came, the surly king of Thrace;
Black was his beard, and manly was his face:
The balls of his broad eyes roll'd in his head,
And glared bewixt a yellow and a red;
He look'd a lion with a gloomy stare,
And o'er his eye-brows hung his matted hair;
Big-boned, and large of limbs, with sinews strong,
Broad-shoulder'd, and his arms were round and long.
Four milk-white bulls (the Thracian use of old,)
Were yoked to draw his car of burnish'd gold.
Upright he stood, and bore aloft his shield,
Conspicuous from afar, and overlook'd the field.
His surcoat was a bear-skin on his back;
His hair hung long behind, and glossy raven-black.
His ample forehead bore a coronet
With sparkling diamonds, and with rubies set;
Ten brace, and more, of greyhounds, snowy fair,
And tall as stags, ran loose, and coursed around his chair,
A match for pards in flight, in grappling for the bear.
With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound,
And