TALBOT5904

Kirby Underdale
Pocklington
Oct^r 21. – 39

Dear Sir

I am very much obliged to you for your suggestion about the library at Catherine Hall ¹ which may perhaps lead to a discovery of the book I have been in search of. I am amazed at my own stupidity, that I did not myself think of inquiring there.

Among the German scholars I believe I may mention as both generally distinguished & as having paid particular attention to those branches of philology in which you seem to take the greatest interest, Welcker of Bonn ² – C. O. Müller of Göttingen Lobeck of Königsberg, ³ Creuzer of Heidelberg Schwenck of Frankfurt on Main, ⁴ Völcker and Osann both of Giessen ⁵ –

That the story of the pile on which Crœsus⁶ was to be burnt is one of the fabulous points in his history may I think be considered as unquestionable. And I think it might with some plausibility be connected with those of Hercules & Sardanapalus. ⁷ But if from this you would draw the conclusion that Crœsus is not a historical personage you are much bolder than I am. I can feel no more doubt as to his reality than as to that of Solon or Pisistratus: ⁸ and should much sooner suspect that the representation on the Etruscan vase which you mention did not refer to him – or else that the rule which you say is settled admitted of exceptions.

As to Candaules ⁹ it is certainly very possible that the real parts of the revolution through which he lost his life may be much disfigured in the story told by Herodotus: ¹⁰ but it seems impossible to deny his real existence unless we also question that of Gyges, ¹¹ a contemporary of Archilochus ¹² & mentioned by the poet – as well as the fact – which has not at all a mythical aspect – mentioned by Pliny, ¹³ that Candaules purchased a picture of Bularchus ¹⁴ for its weight in gold. With regard to the name there is a good deal of difficulty. According to Hesychius ¹⁵ it signified either Hermes ¹⁶ or Hercules – which, considering that Candaules was the last Lydian Heracleid, ¹⁷ makes a great difference. In the verse of Hipponax ¹⁸ it must be observed that κανδαυλα is not the interpretation of Ερμη, but of the epithet [Κυναγχα?], as appears from Tzetzes ¹⁹ Chiliad VI. 482. Το δε Κανδαυλης Λυδικως τον σκυλοπνικτην λενει. – a reference which I owe to Schneidewin’s ²⁰ Delectus Poetarum Græcorum. ²¹ And it may further be observed that this epithet would equally have suited Hercules or Hermes. Nor should it be overlooked that the Lydians gave the name Κανδαυλος to one of their savoury dishes. Athenæus xii. 516. D.²²

May I be allowed to suggest that some of your etymological conjectures appear to require more support from analogy than you have provided for them. For instance in your conjecture about Κηρεςit is not make clear how the X could ever have become K. The same remark applies to your derivation of Discordia-²³ beside that it might be well doubted how the adjectives, discors, concors, could have been formed from the root chord^a. At p. 118. I think you overlook that though three goats might be a worthy subject for a disputa, they were certainly rather a trifling one for a lawsuit – at least if law cost as much then as it does now. But lest I should seem either cavillari or capillari I will remain

Dear Sir Very truly yours
C Thirlwall

H. F. Talbot Esq^e
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham