Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

nutive size, as compared with that of Europeans. Their imperfect understanding and inferiority to other races of the human species, seem to be covertly noticed by the repeated mention of old qua παντες αιδρείησιν εποντο (257), and by ὅτε φρεσιν now agnews, and their remarkable insensibility to pain seems to be noticed by the frequent use of expressions like the following (343),

Μητι μοι αυτω σήμα κακον βουλευσεμεν αλλο.

But in order to remove all doubt that America is the country in question, it is twice covertly named, in the concluding part of the first and the beginning of the second of these two lines (294),

ξιφος οξυ ερυσσάμενος παρά μηρό

Κίρκη επαίξας

which lines are again inserted at 321; and if any other express notice of the name of America be required, I refer to the 622d line of the catalogue of the Iliad, where one of the divisions of Sicily, Awgns, that is, the part which includes Ætna,

from δαίω and oρος, is called Αμαρυγκείδης, from its resemblance to the great volcanoes of America (Αμαρυγη and είδος), as the epithet κρατερος refers also to their craters :

Των δ' Αμαρυγχειδης ηρχε κρατερος Διωρης.

But who was Circe (Kign)? I take it to be clear of all doubt that she represents South America. That country in fact has its outline shaped like the head of a hawk (Kigxoσ) as drawn from

[blocks in formation]

a statement which is of itself sufficient to explain some at least of the multitude of hieroglyphics which are delineated with the head of a hawk. The following expressions regarding Circe taken from the book of Odyssey last referred to-viz,

αείδεσι οτι καλη,
Καλον αοιδιαει,

Δαπεδον δ' απαν αμφιμεμυκεν,
Λιγ' αειδεν

and the like, have a poetical reference to the noises of the eruptions of the numerous volcanoes in South America; and the web that Circe weaves

Μεγαν ιςον εποιχομενη

alludes to the multitude of rivers that intersect each other in that country (like the cross-threads of a piece of cloth) in their several courses to the

sea.

But before I quit the subject in which Circe has so considerable a part assigned to her, it may be proper to observe that the first and several following Books of Virgil's Eneid, have a direct relation to South America in particular, and give a very detailed account of the discovery of America in general. There is certainly on one ground a strong objection to anticipating so extensive a subject of enquiry by so summary and concise

statement but the close bearing which the following lines have upon the malady under discussion, and the proof which they, together with their context, involve, that that malady had its birth-place in America, would make it improper not to introduce the mention of it, however otherwise to be regretted.

331 Et quo sub cœlo tandem, quibus orbis in oris Jactemur, doceas. Ignari hominumque locorumque Erramus, vento huc et vastis fluctibus acti.

Multa tibi ante aras nostrâ cadet hostia dextrâ. Tum Venus: Haud equidem tali me dignor honore: Virginibus Tyriis most se gestare pharetram, Purpurcoque altè suras vincire cothurno.

Punica regna vides, Tyrios et Agenoris urbem :
Sed fines Lybici, genus intractabile bello.
Imperium Dido Tyriâ regit urbe profecta,
Germanum fugiens. Longa est injuria, longæ
Ambages; sed summa sequar fastigia rerum.
Huic conjux Sychæus erat, ditissimus agri
Phoenicum, et magno miseræ dilectus amore:
Cui Pater intactam dederat, primisque jugârat
Ominibus. Sed regna Tyri germanus habebat
Pygmalion, scelere ante alios immanior omnes:

363

Quos inter medius venit furor. Ille Sychæum
Impius ante aras, atque auri cæcus amore,
Clam ferro incautum superat, securus amorum
Germanæ ; factumque diu celavit; et ægram
Multa malus simulans, vanâ spe lusit amantem.
Ipsa sed in somnis inhumati venit imago
Conjugis; ora modis attollens pallida miris,
Crudeles aras, trajectaque pectora ferro

Nudavit

--portantur avari

Pygmalionis opes pelago. Dux fœmina facti.
Devenere locos, ubi nunc ingentia cernis

Monia, surgentemque novæ Carthaginis arcem-687 -Cum dabit amplexus atque oscula dulcia figet Occultum inspires ignem fallasque veneno—

The first three or four lines have a general relation to the accident by which America was first discovered; the next three exhibit Venus in her disguise, exactly in the character of the American natives, as we have often seen them drawn, viz. with a quiver full of arrows, a tablier, or skirt made of feathers, and with buskins: genus intractabile bello, points to the unwarlike character of the aborigines of America; Sichæus (sick and ala, country),

« VorigeDoorgaan »