Greek Texts & Translations

except the chasm which receives the Cephissus, and the marshes. 20

Among the neighbouring lakes are Trephea ^note and Cephissis. Homer mentions it; Who dwelt in Hyla, intent upon amassing wealth, close to the lake Cephissis; ^note
Il. v. 708. for he did not mean to specify the lake Copais, as some suppose, but that called Hylicus, ^note from the neighbouring village, which is called Hylae: nor did he mean Hyda, as some write the passage, He lived in Hyda,
for there is a place of this name in Lydia, at the foot of the snowy Tmolus, in the fruitful country of Hyda; ^note
Il. xx. 385. and another in Boeotia; he therefore adds to behind the lake Cephissis,
these words, near dwelt other Boeotians.
For the Copais is of great extent, and not situated in the Theban district, but the other is small, and filled from the former by subterraneous channels; it is situated between Thebes ^note and Anthedon. Homer however makes use of the word in the singular number, sometimes making the first syllable long by poetical licence, as in the Catalogue, ἠδʼ υλην καὶ πετεῶνα ^note and sometimes shortening it, as in this instance; ος ἐν υλῃ ναίεσκε; and again, Tychius σκυτοτόμων ὄχ' ἄιστος υλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων ^note Nor do some persons correctly write in this passage, υδῃ ενι, In Hyda,
for Ajax was not to send for his shield from Lydia. 21

^noteThe lakes themselves would indicate the order in