n as a god among mortal
men, he has obtained to himself imperishable glory. Melanion (10) so far
excelled in zest for toil that he alone of all that flower of chivalry
who were his rivals (11) obtained the prize of noblest wedlock with
Atalanta; while as to Nestor, what need to repeat the well-known tale?
so far and wide for many a day has the fame of his virtue penetrated the
ears of Hellas. (12)

(7) Hemera (al. Eos). For the rape of Cephalus see Hes. "Theog." 986;
Eur. "Ion," 269; Paus. i. 3. 1; iii. 18. 7.

(8) Lat. Aesculapius. Father of Podaleirius and Machaon, "the noble
leech," "Il." ii. 731, iv. 194, 219, xi. 518; "Od." iv. 232.

(9) Cf. "Anab." I. ii. 8; Lincke, "z. Xen. Krit." p. 299.

(10) Melanion, s. Meilanion, Paus. iii. 12. 9; v. 17. 10; v. 19. 1.

(11) "Which were his rival suitors." As to Atalanta see Paus. viii.
45. 2; iii. 24. 2; v. 19. 2; Grote, "H. G." i. 199 foll.

(12) Lit. "the virtue of Nestor has so far penetrated the ears of
Hellas that I should speak to those who know." See Hom. "Il." i.
247, and passim.

Amphiaraus, (13) what time he served as a warrior against Thebes, won
for himself the highest praise; and from heaven obtained the honour of a
deathless life. (14)

(13) Amphiaraus. Pind. "Nem." ix. 13-27; "Olymp." vi. 11-16; Herod. i.
52; Paus. ix. 8. 2; 18. 2-4; ii. 23.2; i. 34; Liv. xlv. 27; Cic.
"de Div." i. 40. See Aesch. "Sept. c. Th." 392; Eur. "Phoen." 1122
foll.; Apollod. iii. 6; Strab. ix. 399, 404.

(14) Lit. "to be honoured ever living."

Peleus kindled in the gods desire to give him Thetis, and to hymn their
nuptials at the board of Cheiron. (15)

(15) For the marriage of Peleus and Thetis see Hom. "Il." xxiv. 61;
cf. Pope's rendering:

To grace those nuptials from the bright abode Yourselves were present;
when this minstrel god (Well pleased to share the feast) amid the quire
Stood proud to hymn, and tune his youthful lyre ("Homer's Il." xxiv.)

Prof. Robinson Ellis ("Comment on Catull." lxiv.) cites numerous
passages: Eur. "I. in T." 701 foll., 1036 foll.; Pind. "Isthm." v.
24; "Pyth." iii. 87-96; Isocr. "Evag." 192. 6; Apoll. Rh. iv. 791;
"Il." xxiv. 61; Hes. "Theog." 1006, and "Epithal." (ap. Tsetz,
"Prol. ad Lycophr."):

{tris makar Aiakide kai tetrakis olbie Peleu os toisd' en megarois ieron
lekhos eisanabaineis}.

The mighty Telamon (16) won from the greatest of all states and wedded
her