245. Tern 4. The brooch of Thebes had this property, that every one who saw
it desired to possess it; when he possessed it, he was haunted with
constant dread; and when he lost it, he had a double sorrow in thinking
that it was gone. This was due, however, not to the brooch itself, but to
the cunning of the maker, who had contrived that all who possessed it
should suffer. In the same way, my lady was as the brooch; yet it was not
she who caused me wo, but it was He who endowed her with beauty.
The story referred to occurs in the account of the war between Eteocles and
Polynices for the possession of Thebes, as related in the Thebaïd of
Statius.
In the second book of that poem, the story relates the marriage of
Polynices and Tydeus to the two daughters of Adrastus, king of Argos. The
marriage ceremony was marred by inauspicious omens, which was attributed to
the fact that Argia, who was wedded to Polynices, wore at the wedding a
magic bracelet (here called a brooch) which had belonged to Harmonia, _a
daughter of Mars and Venus_, and wife of Cadmus. This ornament had been
made by Vulcan, in order to bring an evil fate upon Harmonia, to whom it
was first given, and upon all women who coveted it or wore it. See the
whole story in Statius, Thebais, ii. 265; or in Lewis's translation of
Statius, ii. 313.
246. It must be remembered that great and magical virtues were attributed
to precious stones and gems. See further in the note to Ho. of Fame, l.
1352.
259. _Enfortuned hit so_, endued it with such virtues. 'He that wrought it'
was Vulcan; see note to l. 245.