[p. 495] of the Rhodians, wishing to describe too great prosperity, used three words which mean the same thing. 1 His language is as follows: I know that most men in favourable, happy and prosperous circumstances are wont to be puffed up in spirit and to increase in arrogance and haughtiness.' In the seventh book of his Origins too, 2 in the speech which he spoke Against Servius Galba, Cato used several words to express the same thing: 3 ' Many things have dissuaded me from appearing here, my years, my time of life, my voice, my strength, my old age; but nevertheless, when I reflected that so important a matter was being discussed... "But above all in Homer there is a brilliant heaping up of the same idea and thought, in these lines: 4
Zeus from the weapons, from the dust and blood,Also in another verse: 5
From carnage, from the tumult Hector bore.
Engagements, battles, carnage, deaths of men.For although all those numerous synonymous terms mean nothing more than 'battle,' yet the varied aspects of this concept are elegantly and charmingly depicted by the use of several different words. And in the same poet this one thought is repeated with admirable effect by the use of two words; for Idaeus, when he interrupted the armed contest of Hector and Ajax, addressed them thus: 6
No longer fight, dear youths, nor still contend,
