“Meanwhile the bard began to sing the loves of Mars and Venus, and how they first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan. Mars made Venus many presents, and defiled King Vulcan’s marriage bed, so the sun, who saw what they were about, told Vulcan. Vulcan was very angry when he heard such dreadful news, so he went to his smithy brooding mischief, got his great anvil into its place, and began to forge some chains which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place. {69} When he had finished his snare he went into his bedroom and festooned the bed-posts all over with chains like cobwebs; he also let many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them so fine and subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the chains all over the bed, he made as though he were setting out for the fair state of Lemnos, which of all places in the world was the one he was most fond of. But Mars kept no blind look out, and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off to his house, burning with love for Venus.”
Demodocus’s song placed Vulcan in his smithy forging the snare.
See evidence text
“Meanwhile the bard began to sing the loves of Mars and Venus, and how they first began their intrigue in the house of Vulcan. Mars made Venus many presents, and defiled King Vulcan’s marriage bed, so the sun, who saw what they were about, told Vulcan. Vulcan was very angry when he heard such dreadful news, so he went to his smithy brooding mischief, got his great anvil into its place, and began to forge some chains which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place. {69} When he had finished his snare he went into his bedroom and festooned the bed-posts all over with chains like cobwebs; he also let many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them so fine and subtle were they. As soon as he had spread the chains all over the bed, he made as though he were setting out for the fair state of Lemnos, which of all places in the world was the one he was most fond of. But Mars kept no blind look out, and as soon as he saw him start, hurried off to his house, burning with love for Venus.”
Vulcan returned and stood in the vestibule of his house.
See evidence text
“She was nothing loth, so they went to the couch to take their rest, whereon they were caught in the toils which cunning Vulcan had spread for them, and could neither get up nor stir hand or foot, but found too late that they were in a trap. Then Vulcan came up to them, for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos, when his scout the sun told him what was going on. He was in a furious passion, and stood in the vestibule making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods.”
Vulcan made the silver and gold mixing bowl by his own hand.
See evidence text
“It is a mixing bowl by Vulcan’s own hand, of pure silver, except the rim, which is inlaid with gold.”
·Simile
In the gilding simile, a skilful artisan studies every kind of art under Vulcan and Minerva.
See evidence text
“studied art of all kinds under Vulcan and Minerva enriches a piece of silver plate by gilding it”
·Direct
With consummate skill, Vulcan fashioned the palace’s metallic mastiffs expressly as guardians.
See evidence text
“gold and silver mastiffs which Vulcan, with his consummate skill, had fashioned expressly to keep watch over the palace of king Alcinous”
·Reported
Demodocus sings that angry Vulcan forges unbreakable, nearly invisible chains and spreads them over his bed as a snare.
See evidence text
“Vulcan was very angry when he heard such dreadful news, so he went to his smithy brooding mischief, got his great anvil into its place, and began to forge some chains which none could either unloose or break, so that they might stay there in that place. {69} When he had finished his snare he went into his bedroom and festooned the bed-posts all over with chains like cobwebs; he also let many hang down from the great beam of the ceiling. Not even a god could see them so fine and subtle were they.”
·Reported
Vulcan returns in a furious passion, stands in his vestibule, and shouts dreadfully to all the gods.
See evidence text
“Then Vulcan came up to them, for he had turned back before reaching Lemnos, when his scout the sun told him what was going on. He was in a furious passion, and stood in the vestibule making a dreadful noise as he shouted to all the gods.”
·Reported
Vulcan calls himself lame and crippled and says Venus dishonours him for it.
See evidence text
“Venus is always dishonouring me because I am lame. She is in love with Mars, who is handsome and clean built, whereas I am a cripple”
·Reported
The gods remark that lame, limping Vulcan has outwitted and caught the stronger Mars.
See evidence text
“Ill deeds do not prosper, and the weak confound the strong. See how limping Vulcan, lame as he is, has caught Mars who is the fleetest god in heaven; and now Mars will be cast in heavy damages.’”
·Reported
Vulcan distrusts Mars as a bad debtor and refuses to release him on inadequate security.
See evidence text
“‘Do not,’ replied Vulcan, ‘ask me to do this; a bad man’s bond is bad security; what remedy could I enforce against you if Mars should go away and leave his debts behind him along with his chains?’”
·Reported
Vulcan loosens the bonds on Mars and Venus.
See evidence text
“Thereon he loosed the bonds that bound them”
·Direct
Vulcan made Menelaus’s precious silver-and-gold mixing bowl.