Book 3
681
Ath. The same that Homer himself mentioned next to the second, when he said that the third form arose in this way. His verses run thus— Dardania he founded when as yetThe Holy keep of Ilium was not builtUpon the plain, a town for mortal folk,But still they dwelt upon the highland slopesOf many-fountained Ida.Hom. Il. 20.216 ff.
682
Ath. Indeed, these verses of his, as well as those he utters concerning the Cyclopes, are in a kind of unison with the voices of both God and Nature. For being divinely inspired in its chanting, the poetic tribe, with the aid of Graces and Muses, often grasps the truth of history.
682
Clin. It certainly does.
682
Ath. Now let us advance still further in the tale that now engages us; for possibly it may furnish some hint regarding the matter we have in view. Ought we not to do so?
682
Clin. Most certainly.
682
Ath. Ilium was founded, we say, after moving from the highlands down to a large and noble plain, on a hill of no great height which had many rivers flowing down from Ida above.
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Clin. So they say.
682
Ath. And do we not suppose that this took place many ages after the Deluge?
682
Clin. Many ages after, no doubt.
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Ath. At any rate they seem to have been strangely forgetful of the catastrophe now mentioned, since they placed their city, as described, under a number of rivers descending from the mount, and relied for their safety upon hillocks of no great height.
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Clin. So it is evident that they were removed by quite a long interval from that calamity.
682
Ath. By this time, too, as mankind multiplied, many other cities had been founded.
682
Clin. Of course.
682
Ath. And these cities also made attacks on Ilium, probably by sea too, as well as by land, since by this time all made use of the sea fearlessly.
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Clin. So it appears.
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Ath. And after a stay of ten years the Achaeans sacked Troy.
682
Clin. Very true.
