The Iliad (tr. Pope) | Page 5

invoked a favourable wind, and prayed that he might be able to expose the
imposture of Thestorides, who, by his breach of hospitality, had drawn down the wrath of
Jove the Hospitable.
At Erythrae, Homer fortunately met with a person who had known him in Phocoea, by
whose assistance he at length, after some difficulty, reached the little hamlet of Pithys.
Here he met with an adventure, which we will continue in the words of our author.
"Having set out from Pithys, Homer went on, attracted by the cries of some goats that
were pasturing. The dogs barked on his approach, and he cried out. Glaucus (for that was
the name of the goat-herd) heard his voice, ran up quickly, called off his dogs, and drove
them away from Homer. For or some time he stood wondering how a blind man should
have reached such a place alone, and what could be his design in coming. He then went
up to him, and inquired who he was, and how he had come to desolate places and
untrodden spots, and of what he stood in need. Homer, by recounting to him the whole
history of his misfortunes, moved him with compassion; and he took him, and led him to
his cot, and having lit a fire, bade him sup.[Footnote: This is so pretty a picture of early
manners and hospitality, that it is almost a pity to find that it is obviously a copy from the
Odyssey. See the fourteenth book. In fact, whoever was the author of this fictitious
biography, he showed some tact in identifying Homer with certain events described in his
poems, and in eliciting from them the germs of something like a personal narrative.]
"The dogs, instead of eating, kept barking at the stranger, according to their usual habit.
Whereupon Homer addressed Glaucus thus: O Glaucus, my friend, prythee attend to my
behest. First give the dogs their supper at the doors of the hut: for so it is better, since,
whilst they watch, nor thief nor wild beast will approach the fold.
Glaucus was pleased with the advice, and marvelled at its author. Having finished supper,

they banqueted [Footnote: Dia logon estionto. A common metaphor. So Plato calls the
parties conversing daitumones, or estiatores. Tim. i. p. 522 A. Cf. Themist. Orat. vi. p.
168, and xvi. p. 374, ed. Petav So diaegaemasi sophois omou kai terpnois aedio taen
Thoinaen tois hestiomenois epoiei, Choricius in Fabric. Bibl. Gr. T. viii. P. 851. logois
gar estia, Athenaeus vii p 275, A] afresh on conversation, Homer narrating his
wanderings, and telling of the cities he had visited.
At length they retired to rest; but on the following morning, Glaucus resolved to go to his
master, and acquaint him with his meeting with Homer. Having left the goats in charge of
a fellow-servant, he left Homer at home, promising to return quickly. Having arrived at
Bolissus, a place near the farm, and finding his mate, he told him the whole story
respecting Homer and his journey. He paid little attention to what he said, and blamed
Glaucus for his stupidity in taking in and feeding maimed and enfeebled persons.
However, he bade him bring the stranger to him.
Glaucus told Homer what had taken place, and bade him follow him, assuring him that
good fortune would be the result. Conversation soon showed that the stranger was a man
of much cleverness and general knowledge, and the Chian persuaded him to remain, and
to undertake the charge of his children. [Footnote: It was at Bolissus, and in the house of
this Chian citizen, that Homer is said to have written the Batrachomyomachia, or Battle
of the Frogs and Mice, the Epicichlidia, and some other minor works.]
Besides the satisfaction of driving the impostor Thestorides from the island, Homer
enjoyed considerable success as a teacher. In the town of Chios he established a school
where he taught the precepts of poetry. "To this day," says Chandler, [Footnote: Chandler,
Travels, vol. i. p. 61, referred to in the Voyage Pittoresque dans la Grece, vol. i. P. 92,
where a view of the spot is given of which the author candidly says,-- "Je ne puis
repondre d'une exactitude scrupuleuse dans la vue generale que j'en donne, car etant alle
seul pour l'examiner je perdis mon crayon, et je fus oblige de m'en fier a ma memoire. Je
ne crois cependant pas avoir trop a me plaindre d'elle en cette occasion."] "the most
curious remain is that which has been named, without reason, the School of Homer. It is
on the coast, at some distance from the city, northward, and appears to have been an open
temple of Cybele, formed on the top of a rock. The shape is oval, and in the centre is