4.  The promise of Thetis to present her son with a suit of armor, was
   the most artful method of hindering him from putting immediately in
   practice his resolution of fighting, which, with his characteristic
   violence, he would otherwise have done.

5. [The sun is said to set with reluctance, because his setting-time
   was not yet come.  Jupiter had promised Hector that he should
   prevail till the sun should go down, and sacred darkness cover
   all.  Juno therefore, impatient to arrest the victor’s progress,
   and having no other means of doing it, shortens the time allotted
   him.]—­TR.

6. [{Katademoboresai}.]

7.  This custom of washing the dead is continued among the Greeks to
   this day, and is performed by the dearest friend or relative.  The
   body is then anointed with a perfume, and covered with linen,
   exactly in the manner here related.

8.  Among the Greeks, visitors of rank are still honored in the same
   manner, by being set apart from the rest of the company, on a high
   seat, with a footstool.

9. [{’Anedrame}.]

10.  The description of the shield of Achilles is one of the noblest
   passages in the Iliad.  It is elaborated to the highest finish of
   poetry.  The verse is beautifully harmonious, and the language as
   nicely chosen and as descriptive as can be conceived.  But a still
   stronger interest belongs to this episode when considered as an
   exact representation of life at a very early period of the world,
   as it undoubtedly was designed by the poet.

It is certainly a most remarkable passage for the amount of information it conveys relative to the state of arts, and the general condition of life at that period.  From many intimations in the ancient authors, it may be gathered, that shields were often adorned by deities of figures in bas-relief, similar to those here described.  In particular, see AEschylus in the Seven against Thebes.  A close examination of the whole passage will lead to many curious inductions and inferences relative to the ancient world, and throw much light upon points which are elsewhere left in great obscurity.—­FELTON.

11.  Murder was not always punished with death or even banishment.  But
   on the payment of a fine, the criminal was allowed to remain in the
   city.

12.  Linus was the most ancient name in poetry, the first upon record
   as inventor of verse and measure among the Grecians.  There was a
   solemn custom among the Greeks, of bewailing annually their first
   poet.  Pausanias informs us, that before the yearly sacrifice to the
   Muses on Mount Helicon, the obsequies of Linus were performed, who
   had a statue and altar erected to him in that place.  In this
   passage Homer is supposed to allude to that custom.

13.  See article Theseus, Gr. and Rom.  Mythology.