The quiver rattleth against him - The quiver was a case made for containing arrows. It was usually slung over the shoulder, so that it could be easily reached to draw out an arrow. Warriors on horseback, as well as on foot, fought with bows and arrows, as well as with swords and spears; and the idea here is, that the war-horse bore upon himself these instruments of war. The rattling of the quiver was caused by the fact that the arrows were thrown somewhat loosely into the case or the quiver, and that in the rapid motion of the warrior they were shaken against each other. Thus, Virgil, Aeneid ix. 660:
- pharetramque fuga sensere sonantem.
Silius, L. 12:
Plena tenet et resonante pharetra.
And again:
Turba ruunt stridentque sagittiferi coryti.
So Homer (“Iliad, a.”), when speaking of Apollo:
Τόξ ὤμοισιν ἔχων, ἀμφηρεφέα τε φαρέτρην
Ἔκλαγξαν δ ̓ ἄῤ ὀΐστοὶ ἐπ ̓ ὤμων χωομένοιο.
Tox́ ōmoisin echōn, amfērefea te faretrēn
Eklangxan d' aŕ oistoi ep' ōmōn chōmenoio.
See Seheutzer’s “Phys. Sac., in loc.”