Greek literature does not abound, like Roman and Hebrew, in perpetual allusions to the Sword: it refers more frequently to the spear and bow. Yet Athenæus ennobles the end of his curious olla podrida (the ‘Deipnosophists’) with some charming lines alluding to the Queen of Weapons. The first passage begins with:—
I’ll wreathe my sword in myrtle bough,
The sword that laid the tyrant low,
When Patriots burning to be free
To Athens gave equality.[851]
The second is the song of Hybrias the Cretan:—
My wealth is here, the sword, the spear, the breast-defending shield,
With this I plough, with this I sow, with this I reap the field;
With this I rape the luscious grape and drink the blood-red wine,
And slaves at hand in order stand, and all are counted mine![852]