as, of course, to be employed, though in a passing
and very subordinate way; she acts as herald to call the assembly
together, and thus stamps it with a divine import. We must grant to the
poet his right, but the Goddess seems almost unnecessary here, as the
herald could have done the same work. Once more Pallas interferes: "she
sheds a godlike grace upon the head and shoulders of Ulysses,"
imparting to him majesty and beauty, "that he might be dear to all the
Phaeacians," those lovers of the beautiful in art and life. Thus, like a
visible deity, he was "to be feared and to be revered;" strength also
the Goddess gave him, "that he might accomplish all the contests which
the Phaeacians would try him with." Thus is the Hero prepared divinely.

Alcinous makes a speech to the assembly, touching the wanderer, who is
again promised an escort to Ithaca; the king chooses the crew, and the
ship is launched. Meanwhile, however, there is to be a sacrifice with
festival, the bard is led in and his harp adjusted, his portion of food
and drink not being omitted, for he is not a hired musician, but an
equal at the feast.

We are now to witness two kinds of entertainment, both of which
according to the Greek conception, belong to the sphere of art. The one
is an heroic song, and is thrown into the past; the other is a trial of
bodily skill and strength, and belongs to the present. Both kinds show
contest, and this contest is mainly between the physical and the
spiritual elements in man. Which is paramount? Each is necessary, yet
one must be subordinate.

1. Note, first of all, the theme of the bard: "The Muse inspired him to
sing the strife between Ulysses and Achilles, the fame whereof had
reached high Heaven." The Trojan War lies manifestly in the background
of the quarrel. When did it take place, at what period during the
struggle? There is nothing to settle the question decisively, such a
dispute might have arisen almost at any time. But as it is the
antecedent trouble in the Greek army, a dualism which this army brings
with itself in its leaders, we may reasonably put it somewhere towards
the beginning. This is also the opinion of Nitzsch (_Com. ad loc._),
who places the scene of the dispute on the island of Tenedos, in sight
of the walls of Troy and who cites the old _Cypria_ in support of his
opinion. Other ancient authorities place it after the death of Hector;
not long before the fall of the city.

Concerning the subject o