Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

92 Bacchic Mysteries.The poet, indescribing the employmentsof the blessed, says:Pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris:Contendunt ludo, et fulva luctantur arena :Pars pedibus plaudunt choreas, et carmina dieunt.Nee non Threicius longa cum veste sacerdosObloquitur numeris septem discrimina vocum :lamque eadem digitis, jam pectine pulsat eburno.Hie genus antiquum Teucri, puleherrima proles,Magnanimi heroes,nati melioribus annis,Illusque, Assaracusque, et Trojse Dardanus auctor.Arma procul, currusque virum miratur inanis.Stant terra defixas hastoa, passimque solutiPer campum pascuntur equi.Quae gratia curruumArmorumque fuit vivis, quse cura nitentisPascere equos, eadem sequitur tellure repostos.Conspicit, ecce alios, dextra laavaque per herbamVescentis, leetumque choro Pseana canentis,Inter odoratum lauri nemus : unde super nePlurimus Eridani per silvam volvitur amnis.** "Some exercise their limbs upon the grassy field, contend inplay and wrestle on the yellow sand; some dance on the groundand utter songs. The priestly Thracian, likewise, in his longrobe [Orpheus] responds in melodious numbers to the sevendistinguished notes ;and now strikes them with his fingers, nowwith the ivory quill. Here are also the ancient race of Teucer,a most illustrious progeny, noble heroes, born in happier years,II, Assarac, and Dardan, the founder of Troy. yEneas lookingfrom afar, admires the arms and empty war-cars of the heroes.There stood spears fixed in the ground, and scattered over theplain horses are feeding. The same taste which when alive