[20] Among the neighbouring lakes are Trephea1 and Cephissis. Homer mentions it;
for he did not mean to specify the lake Copais, as some suppose, but that called Hylicus,3 from the neighbouring village, which is called Hylæ: nor did he mean Hyda, as some write the passage, “ He lived in Hyda,“ Who dwelt in Hyla, intent upon amassing wealth, close to the lake Cephissis;2
”Il. v. 708.
” for there is a place of this name in Lydia,
and another in Bœotia; he therefore adds to “ behind the lake Cephissis,“ at the foot of the snowy Tmolus, in the fruitful country of Hyda;4
”Il. xx. 385.
” these words, “ near dwelt other Bœotians.
” 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 Thebes5 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, ἠδ᾽ ῞υλην καὶ πετεῶνα6 and sometimes shortening it, as in this instance; ῞ος ῤ̔ ἐν ῟υλῃ ναίεσκε; and again, Tychius σκυτοτόμων ὄχ᾽ ἄοͅιστος ῞υλῃ ἔνι οἰκία ναίων7 Nor do some persons correctly write in this passage, ῟υδῃ ῎ενι, “ In Hyda,
” for Ajax was not to send for his shield from Lydia.
