THERE is a verse of the poet Parthenius: 1
To Glaucus, Nereus and sea-dwelling Melicertes.This verse Virgil has emulated, and has made it equal to the original by a graceful change of two words: 2
To Glaucus, Panopea, and Ino's son Melicertes.[p. 505] But the following verse of Homer he has not indeed equalled, nor approached. For that of Homer 3 seems to be simpler and more natural, that of Virgil 4 more modern and daubed over with a kind of stucco, 5 as it were: Homer:
A bull to Alpheus, to Poseidon one.
Virgil:
A bull to Neptune, and to you, Apollo fair.