πέτρης ἐκ γλαφύρης ἀεὶ νεὸν ἐρχομενάων:
and yet they do not surpass the exquisite verses of a living poet:—
Myriads of rivulets hurrying through the lawn;
The moan of doves in immemorial elms,
And murmur of innumerable bees.
Again, what can be more vivid than the marvellous way in which Homer recalls the snapping of a shattered sword, in—
Τριχθί τε καὶ τετραχθὶ διατρύφεν:
which is incomparably superior to the much-admired hemistich of Racine, “L’essieu crie et se rompt.” Both Homer and Virgil have imitated the rapid clatter of horses’ hoofs with equal felicity:—
Πολλὰ δ’ ἄναντα, κάταντα, πάραντά τε δόχμιά τ’ ἦλθον:
Quadrupedante putrem sonitu quatit ungula campum: