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diff --git a/old/2013-02-04_348-h.zip b/old/2013-02-04_348-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bdfbff8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2013-02-04_348-h.zip diff --git a/old/homer10.txt b/old/homer10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..28a97c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/homer10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11148 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Etext of Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, and Homerica + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + + +Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica + + + +This file contains translations of the following works: + +Hesiod: "Works and Days", "The Theogony", fragments of "The +Catalogues of Women and the Eoiae", "The Shield of Heracles" +(attributed to Hesiod), and fragments of various works attributed +to Hesiod. + +Homer: "The Homeric Hymns", "The Epigrams of Homer" (both +attributed to Homer). + +Various: Fragments of the Epic Cycle (parts of which are +sometimes attributed to Homer), fragments of other epic poems +attributed to Homer, "The Battle of Frogs and Mice", and "The +Contest of Homer and Hesiod". + +This file contains only that portion of the book in English; +Greek texts are excluded. Where Greek characters appear in the +original English text, transcription in CAPITALS is substituted. + +PREPARER'S NOTE: +In order to make this file more accessable to the average +computer user, the preparer has found it necessary to re-arrange +some of the material. The preparer takes full responsibility for +his choice of arrangement. + +A few endnotes have been added by the preparer, and some +additions have been supplied to the original endnotes of Mr. +Evelyn-White's. Where this occurs I have noted the addition with +my initials "DBK". Some endnotes, particularly those concerning +textual variations in the ancient Greek text, are here ommitted. + +*** + +This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by +Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@AOL.COM), June 1995. + +***************************************************************** + +PREFACE + +This volume contains practically all that remains of the post- +Homeric and pre-academic epic poetry. + +I have for the most part formed my own text. In the case of +Hesiod I have been able to use independent collations of several +MSS. by Dr. W.H.D. Rouse; otherwise I have depended on the +apparatus criticus of the several editions, especially that of +Rzach (1902). The arrangement adopted in this edition, by which +the complete and fragmentary poems are restored to the order in +which they would probably have appeared had the Hesiodic corpus +survived intact, is unusual, but should not need apology; the +true place for the "Catalogues" (for example), fragmentary as +they are, is certainly after the "Theogony". + +In preparing the text of the "Homeric Hymns" my chief debt -- and +it is a heavy one -- is to the edition of Allen and Sikes (1904) +and to the series of articles in the "Journal of Hellenic +Studies" (vols. xv.sqq.) by T.W. Allen. To the same scholar and +to the Delegates of the Clarendon Press I am greatly indebted for +permission to use the restorations of the "Hymn to Demeter", +lines 387-401 and 462-470, printed in the Oxford Text of 1912. + +Of the fragments of the Epic Cycle I have given only such as +seemed to possess distinct importance or interest, and in doing +so have relied mostly upon Kinkel's collection and on the fifth +volume of the Oxford Homer (1912). + +The texts of the "Batrachomyomachia" and of the "Contest of Homer +and Hesiod" are those of Baumeister and Flach respectively: where +I have diverged from these, the fact has been noted. + +Hugh G. Evelyn-White, +Rampton, NR. Cambridge. +Sept. 9th, 1914. + + +INTRODUCTION + +General + +The early Greek epic -- that is, poetry as a natural and popular, +and not (as it became later) an artificial and academic literary +form -- passed through the usual three phases, of development, of +maturity, and of decline. + +No fragments which can be identified as belonging to the first +period survive to give us even a general idea of the history of +the earliest epic, and we are therefore thrown back upon the +evidence of analogy from other forms of literature and of +inference from the two great epics which have come down to us. +So reconstructed, the earliest period appears to us as a time of +slow development in which the characteristic epic metre, diction, +and structure grew up slowly from crude elements and were +improved until the verge of maturity was reached. + +The second period, which produced the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey", +needs no description here: but it is very important to observe +the effect of these poems on the course of post-Homeric epic. As +the supreme perfection and universality of the "Iliad" and the +"Odyssey" cast into oblivion whatever pre-Homeric poets had +essayed, so these same qualities exercised a paralysing influence +over the successors of Homer. If they continued to sing like +their great predecessor of romantic themes, they were drawn as by +a kind of magnetic attraction into the Homeric style and manner +of treatment, and became mere echoes of the Homeric voice: in a +word, Homer had so completely exhausted the epic genre, that +after him further efforts were doomed to be merely conventional. +Only the rare and exceptional genius of Vergil and Milton could +use the Homeric medium without loss of individuality: and this +quality none of the later epic poets seem to have possessed. +Freedom from the domination of the great tradition could only be +found by seeking new subjects, and such freedom was really only +illusionary, since romantic subjects alone are suitable for epic +treatment. + +In its third period, therefore, epic poetry shows two divergent +tendencies. In Ionia and the islands the epic poets followed the +Homeric tradition, singing of romantic subjects in the now +stereotyped heroic style, and showing originality only in their +choice of legends hitherto neglected or summarily and imperfectly +treated. In continental Greece (1), on the other hand, but +especially in Boeotia, a new form of epic sprang up, which for +the romance and PATHOS of the Ionian School substituted the +practical and matter-of-fact. It dealt in moral and practical +maxims, in information on technical subjects which are of service +in daily life -- agriculture, astronomy, augury, and the calendar +-- in matters of religion and in tracing the genealogies of men. +Its attitude is summed up in the words of the Muses to the writer +of the "Theogony": `We can tell many a feigned tale to look like +truth, but we can, when we will, utter the truth' ("Theogony" +26-27). Such a poetry could not be permanently successful, +because the subjects of which it treats -- if susceptible of +poetic treatment at all -- were certainly not suited for epic +treatment, where unity of action which will sustain interest, and +to which each part should contribute, is absolutely necessary. +While, therefore, an epic like the "Odyssey" is an organism and +dramatic in structure, a work such as the "Theogony" is a merely +artificial collocation of facts, and, at best, a pageant. It is +not surprising, therefore, to find that from the first the +Boeotian school is forced to season its matter with romantic +episodes, and that later it tends more and more to revert (as in +the "Shield of Heracles") to the Homeric tradition. + + +The Boeotian School + +How did the continental school of epic poetry arise? There is +little definite material for an answer to this question, but the +probability is that there were at least three contributory +causes. First, it is likely that before the rise of the Ionian +epos there existed in Boeotia a purely popular and indigenous +poetry of a crude form: it comprised, we may suppose, versified +proverbs and precepts relating to life in general, agricultural +maxims, weather-lore, and the like. In this sense the Boeotian +poetry may be taken to have its germ in maxims similar to our +English + +`Till May be out, ne'er cast a clout,' + +or + +`A rainbow in the morning +Is the Shepherd's warning.' + +Secondly and thirdly we may ascribe the rise of the new epic to +the nature of the Boeotian people and, as already remarked, to a +spirit of revolt against the old epic. The Boeotians, people of +the class of which Hesiod represents himself to be the type, were +essentially unromantic; their daily needs marked the general +limit of their ideals, and, as a class, they cared little for +works of fancy, for pathos, or for fine thought as such. To a +people of this nature the Homeric epos would be inacceptable, and +the post-Homeric epic, with its conventional atmosphere, its +trite and hackneyed diction, and its insincere sentiment, would +be anathema. We can imagine, therefore, that among such folk a +settler, of Aeolic origin like Hesiod, who clearly was well +acquainted with the Ionian epos, would naturally see that the +only outlet for his gifts lay in applying epic poetry to new +themes acceptable to his hearers. + +Though the poems of the Boeotian school (2) were unanimously +assigned to Hesiod down to the age of Alexandrian criticism, they +were clearly neither the work of one man nor even of one period: +some, doubtless, were fraudulently fathered on him in order to +gain currency; but it is probable that most came to be regarded +as his partly because of their general character, and partly +because the names of their real authors were lost. One fact in +this attribution is remarkable -- the veneration paid to Hesiod. + + +Life of Hesiod + +Our information respecting Hesiod is derived in the main from +notices and allusions in the works attributed to him, and to +these must be added traditions concerning his death and burial +gathered from later writers. + +Hesiod's father (whose name, by a perversion of "Works and Days", +299 PERSE DION GENOS to PERSE, DION GENOS, was thought to have +been Dius) was a native of Cyme in Aeolis, where he was a +seafaring trader and, perhaps, also a farmer. He was forced by +poverty to leave his native place, and returned to continental +Greece, where he settled at Ascra near Thespiae in Boeotia +("Works and Days", 636 ff.). Either in Cyme or Ascra, two sons, +Hesiod and Perses, were born to the settler, and these, after his +death, divided the farm between them. Perses, however, who is +represented as an idler and spendthrift, obtained and kept the +larger share by bribing the corrupt `lords' who ruled from +Thespiae ("Works and Days", 37-39). While his brother wasted his +patrimony and ultimately came to want ("Works and Days", 34 ff.), +Hesiod lived a farmer's life until, according to the very early +tradition preserved by the author of the "Theogony" (22-23), the +Muses met him as he was tending sheep on Mt. Helicon and `taught +him a glorious song' -- doubtless the "Works and Days". The only +other personal reference is to his victory in a poetical contest +at the funeral games of Amphidamas at Chalcis in Euboea, where he +won the prize, a tripod, which he dedicated to the Muses of +Helicon ("Works and Days", 651-9). + +Before we go on to the story of Hesiod's death, it will be well +to inquire how far the "autobiographical" notices can be treated +as historical, especially as many critics treat some, or all of +them, as spurious. In the first place attempts have been made to +show that "Hesiod" is a significant name and therefore +fictitious: it is only necessary to mention Goettling's +derivation from IEMI to ODOS (which would make `Hesiod' mean the +`guide' in virtues and technical arts), and to refer to the +pitiful attempts in the "Etymologicum Magnum" (s.v. <H>ESIODUS), +to show how prejudiced and lacking even in plausibility such +efforts are. It seems certain that `Hesiod' stands as a proper +name in the fullest sense. Secondly, Hesiod claims that his +father -- if not he himself -- came from Aeolis and settled in +Boeotia. There is fairly definite evidence to warrant our +acceptance of this: the dialect of the "Works and Days" is shown +by Rzach (3) to contain distinct Aeolisms apart from those which +formed part of the general stock of epic poetry. And that this +Aeolic speaking poet was a Boeotian of Ascra seems even more +certain, since the tradition is never once disputed, +insignificant though the place was, even before its destruction +by the Thespians. + +Again, Hesiod's story of his relations with his brother Perses +have been treated with scepticism (see Murray, "Anc. Gk. +Literature", pp. 53-54): Perses, it is urged, is clearly a mere +dummy, set up to be the target for the poet's exhortations. On +such a matter precise evidence is naturally not forthcoming; but +all probability is against the sceptical view. For 1) if the +quarrel between the brothers were a fiction, we should expect it +to be detailed at length and not noticed allusively and rather +obscurely -- as we find it; 2) as MM. Croiset remark, if the poet +needed a lay-figure the ordinary practice was to introduce some +mythological person -- as, in fact, is done in the "Precepts of +Chiron". In a word, there is no more solid ground for treating +Perses and his quarrel with Hesiod as fictitious than there would +be for treating Cyrnus, the friend of Theognis, as mythical. + +Thirdly, there is the passage in the "Theogony" relating to +Hesiod and the Muses. It is surely an error to suppose that +lines 22-35 all refer to Hesiod: rather, the author of the +"Theogony" tells the story of his own inspiration by the same +Muses who once taught Hesiod glorious song. The lines 22-3 are +therefore a very early piece of tradition about Hesiod, and +though the appearance of Muses must be treated as a graceful +fiction, we find that a writer, later than the "Works and Days" +by perhaps no more than three-quarters of a century, believed in +the actuality of Hesiod and in his life as a farmer or shepherd. + +Lastly, there is the famous story of the contest in song at +Chalcis. In later times the modest version in the "Works and +Days" was elaborated, first by making Homer the opponent whom +Hesiod conquered, while a later period exercised its ingenuity in +working up the story of the contest into the elaborate form in +which it still survives. Finally the contest, in which the two +poets contended with hymns to Apollo (4), was transferred to +Delos. These developments certainly need no consideration: are +we to say the same of the passage in the "Works and Days"? +Critics from Plutarch downwards have almost unanimously rejected +the lines 654-662, on the ground that Hesiod's Amphidamas is the +hero of the Lelantine Wars between Chalcis and Eretria, whose +death may be placed circa 705 B.C. -- a date which is obviously +too low for the genuine Hesiod. Nevertheless, there is much to +be said in defence of the passage. Hesiod's claim in the "Works +and Days" is modest, since he neither pretends to have met Homer, +nor to have sung in any but an impromptu, local festival, so that +the supposed interpolation lacks a sufficient motive. And there +is nothing in the context to show that Hesiod's Amphidamas is to +be identified with that Amphidamas whom Plutarch alone connects +with the Lelantine War: the name may have been borne by an +earlier Chalcidian, an ancestor, perhaps, of the person to whom +Plutarch refers. + +The story of the end of Hesiod may be told in outline. After the +contest at Chalcis, Hesiod went to Delphi and there was warned +that the `issue of death should overtake him in the fair grove of +Nemean Zeus.' Avoiding therefore Nemea on the Isthmus of +Corinth, to which he supposed the oracle to refer, Hesiod retired +to Oenoe in Locris where he was entertained by Amphiphanes and +Ganyetor, sons of a certain Phegeus. This place, however, was +also sacred to Nemean Zeus, and the poet, suspected by his hosts +of having seduced their sister (5), was murdered there. His +body, cast into the sea, was brought to shore by dolphins and +buried at Oenoe (or, according to Plutarch, at Ascra): at a later +time his bones were removed to Orchomenus. The whole story is +full of miraculous elements, and the various authorities disagree +on numerous points of detail. The tradition seems, however, to +be constant in declaring that Hesiod was murdered and buried at +Oenoe, and in this respect it is at least as old as the time of +Thucydides. In conclusion it may be worth while to add the +graceful epigram of Alcaeus of Messene ("Palatine Anthology", vii +55). + + "When in the shady Locrian grove Hesiod lay dead, the Nymphs + washed his body with water from their own springs, and + heaped high his grave; and thereon the goat-herds sprinkled + offerings of milk mingled with yellow-honey: such was the + utterance of the nine Muses that he breathed forth, that old + man who had tasted of their pure springs." + + +The Hesiodic Poems + +The Hesiodic poems fall into two groups according as they are +didactic (technical or gnomic) or genealogical: the first group +centres round the "Works and Days", the second round the +"Theogony". + +I. "The Works and Days": +The poem consists of four main sections. a) After the prelude, +which Pausanias failed to find in the ancient copy engraved on +lead seen by him on Mt. Helicon, comes a general exhortation to +industry. It begins with the allegory of the two Strifes, who +stand for wholesome Emulation and Quarrelsomeness respectively. +Then by means of the Myth of Pandora the poet shows how evil and +the need for work first arose, and goes on to describe the Five +Ages of the World, tracing the gradual increase in evil, and +emphasizing the present miserable condition of the world, a +condition in which struggle is inevitable. Next, after the Fable +of the Hawk and Nightingale, which serves as a condemnation of +violence and injustice, the poet passes on to contrast the +blessing which Righteousness brings to a nation, and the +punishment which Heaven sends down upon the violent, and the +section concludes with a series of precepts on industry and +prudent conduct generally. b) The second section shows how a man +may escape want and misery by industry and care both in +agriculture and in trading by sea. Neither subject, it should be +carefully noted, is treated in any way comprehensively. c) The +third part is occupied with miscellaneous precepts relating +mostly to actions of domestic and everyday life and conduct which +have little or no connection with one another. d) The final +section is taken up with a series of notices on the days of the +month which are favourable or unfavourable for agricultural and +other operations. + +It is from the second and fourth sections that the poem takes its +name. At first sight such a work seems to be a miscellany of +myths, technical advice, moral precepts, and folklore maxims +without any unifying principle; and critics have readily taken +the view that the whole is a canto of fragments or short poems +worked up by a redactor. Very probably Hesiod used much material +of a far older date, just as Shakespeare used the "Gesta +Romanorum", old chronicles, and old plays; but close inspection +will show that the "Works and Days" has a real unity and that the +picturesque title is somewhat misleading. The poem has properly +no technical object at all, but is moral: its real aim is to show +men how best to live in a difficult world. So viewed the four +seemingly independent sections will be found to be linked +together in a real bond of unity. Such a connection between the +first and second sections is easily seen, but the links between +these and the third and fourth are no less real: to make life go +tolerably smoothly it is most important to be just and to know +how to win a livelihood; but happiness also largely depends on +prudence and care both in social and home life as well, and not +least on avoidance of actions which offend supernatural powers +and bring ill-luck. And finally, if your industry is to be +fruitful, you must know what days are suitable for various kinds +of work. This moral aim -- as opposed to the currently accepted +technical aim of the poem -- explains the otherwise puzzling +incompleteness of the instructions on farming and seafaring. + +Of the Hesiodic poems similar in character to the "Works and +Days", only the scantiest fragments survive. One at least of +these, the "Divination by Birds", was, as we know from Proclus, +attached to the end of the "Works" until it was rejected by +Apollonius Rhodius: doubtless it continued the same theme of how +to live, showing how man can avoid disasters by attending to the +omens to be drawn from birds. It is possible that the +"Astronomy" or "Astrology" (as Plutarch calls it) was in turn +appended to the "Divination". It certainly gave some account of +the principal constellations, their dates of rising and setting, +and the legends connected with them, and probably showed how +these influenced human affairs or might be used as guides. The +"Precepts of Chiron" was a didactic poem made up of moral and +practical precepts, resembling the gnomic sections of the "Works +and Days", addressed by the Centaur Chiron to his pupil Achilles. + +Even less is known of the poem called the "Great Works": the +title implies that it was similar in subject to the second +section of the "Works and Days", but longer. Possible references +in Roman writers (6) indicate that among the subjects dealt with +were the cultivation of the vine and olive and various herbs. +The inclusion of the judgment of Rhadamanthys (frag. 1): `If a +man sow evil, he shall reap evil,' indicates a gnomic element, +and the note by Proclus (7) on "Works and Days" 126 makes it +likely that metals also were dealt with. It is therefore +possible that another lost poem, the "Idaean Dactyls", which +dealt with the discovery of metals and their working, was +appended to, or even was a part of the "Great Works", just as the +"Divination by Birds" was appended to the "Works and Days". + +II. The Genealogical Poems: +The only complete poem of the genealogical group is the +"Theogony", which traces from the beginning of things the descent +and vicissitudes of the families of the gods. Like the "Works +and Days" this poem has no dramatic plot; but its unifying +principle is clear and simple. The gods are classified +chronologically: as soon as one generation is catalogued, the +poet goes on to detail the offspring of each member of that +generation. Exceptions are only made in special cases, as the +Sons of Iapetus (ll. 507-616) whose place is accounted for by +their treatment by Zeus. The chief landmarks in the poem are as +follows: after the first 103 lines, which contain at least three +distinct preludes, three primeval beings are introduced, Chaos, +Earth, and Eros -- here an indefinite reproductive influence. Of +these three, Earth produces Heaven to whom she bears the Titans, +the Cyclopes and the hundred-handed giants. The Titans, +oppressed by their father, revolt at the instigation of Earth, +under the leadership of Cronos, and as a result Heaven and Earth +are separated, and Cronos reigns over the universe. Cronos +knowing that he is destined to be overcome by one of his +children, swallows each one of them as they are born, until Zeus, +saved by Rhea, grows up and overcomes Cronos in some struggle +which is not described. Cronos is forced to vomit up the +children he had swallowed, and these with Zeus divide the +universe between them, like a human estate. Two events mark the +early reign of Zeus, the war with the Titans and the overthrow of +Typhoeus, and as Zeus is still reigning the poet can only go on +to give a list of gods born to Zeus by various goddesses. After +this he formally bids farewell to the cosmic and Olympian deities +and enumerates the sons born of goddess to mortals. The poem +closes with an invocation of the Muses to sing of the `tribe of +women'. + +This conclusion served to link the "Theogony" to what must have +been a distinct poem, the "Catalogues of Women". This work was +divided into four (Suidas says five) books, the last one (or two) +of which was known as the "Eoiae" and may have been again a +distinct poem: the curious title will be explained presently. +The "Catalogues" proper were a series of genealogies which traced +the Hellenic race (or its more important peoples and families) +from a common ancestor. The reason why women are so prominent is +obvious: since most families and tribes claimed to be descended +from a god, the only safe clue to their origin was through a +mortal woman beloved by that god; and it has also been pointed +out that `mutterrecht' still left its traces in northern Greece +in historical times. + +The following analysis (after Marckscheffel) (8) will show the +principle of its composition. From Prometheus and Pronoia sprang +Deucalion and Pyrrha, the only survivors of the deluge, who had a +son Hellen (frag. 1), the reputed ancestor of the whole Hellenic +race. From the daughters of Deucalion sprang Magnes and Macedon, +ancestors of the Magnesians and Macedonians, who are thus +represented as cousins to the true Hellenic stock. Hellen had +three sons, Dorus, Xuthus, and Aeolus, parents of the Dorian, +Ionic and Aeolian races, and the offspring of these was then +detailed. In one instance a considerable and characteristic +section can be traced from extant fragments and notices: +Salmoneus, son of Aeolus, had a daughter Tyro who bore to +Poseidon two sons, Pelias and Neleus; the latter of these, king +of Pylos, refused Heracles purification for the murder of +Iphitus, whereupon Heracles attacked and sacked Pylos, killing +amongst the other sons of Neleus Periclymenus, who had the power +of changing himself into all manner of shapes. From this +slaughter Neleus alone escaped (frags. 13, and 10-12). This +summary shows the general principle of arrangement of the +"Catalogues": each line seems to have been dealt with in turn, +and the monotony was relieved as far as possible by a brief +relation of famous adventures connected with any of the +personages -- as in the case of Atalanta and Hippomenes (frag. +14). Similarly the story of the Argonauts appears from the +fragments (37-42) to have been told in some detail. + +This tendency to introduce romantic episodes led to an important +development. Several poems are ascribed to Hesiod, such as the +"Epithalamium of Peleus and Thetis", the "Descent of Theseus into +Hades", or the "Circuit of the Earth" (which must have been +connected with the story of Phineus and the Harpies, and so with +the Argonaut-legend), which yet seem to have belonged to the +"Catalogues". It is highly probable that these poems were +interpolations into the "Catalogues" expanded by later poets from +more summary notices in the genuine Hesiodic work and +subsequently detached from their contexts and treated as +independent. This is definitely known to be true of the "Shield +of Heracles", the first 53 lines of which belong to the fourth +book of the "Catalogues", and almost certainly applies to other +episodes, such as the "Suitors of Helen" (9), the "Daughters of +Leucippus", and the "Marriage of Ceyx", which last Plutarch +mentions as `interpolated in the works of Hesiod.' + +To the "Catalogues", as we have said, was appended another work, +the "Eoiae". The title seems to have arisen in the following way +(10): the "Catalogues" probably ended (ep. "Theogony" 963 ff.) +with some such passage as this: `But now, ye Muses, sing of the +tribes of women with whom the Sons of Heaven were joined in love, +women pre-eminent above their fellows in beauty, such as was +Niobe (?).' Each succeeding heroine was then introduced by the +formula `Or such as was...' (cp. frags. 88, 92, etc.). A large +fragment of the "Eoiae" is extant at the beginning of the "Shield +of Heracles", which may be mentioned here. The "supplement" (ll. +57-480) is nominally Heracles and Cycnus, but the greater part is +taken up with an inferior description of the shield of Heracles, +in imitation of the Homeric shield of Achilles ("Iliad" xviii. +478 ff.). Nothing shows more clearly the collapse of the +principles of the Hesiodic school than this ultimate servile +dependence upon Homeric models. + +At the close of the "Shield" Heracles goes on to Trachis to the +house of Ceyx, and this warning suggests that the "Marriage of +Ceyx" may have come immediately after the `Or such as was' of +Alcmena in the "Eoiae": possibly Halcyone, the wife of Ceyx, was +one of the heroines sung in the poem, and the original section +was `developed' into the "Marriage", although what form the poem +took is unknown. + +Next to the "Eoiae" and the poems which seemed to have been +developed from it, it is natural to place the "Great Eoiae". +This, again, as we know from fragments, was a list of heroines +who bare children to the gods: from the title we must suppose it +to have been much longer that the simple "Eoiae", but its extent +is unknown. Lehmann, remarking that the heroines are all +Boeotian and Thessalian (while the heroines of the "Catalogues" +belong to all parts of the Greek world), believes the author to +have been either a Boeotian or Thessalian. + +Two other poems are ascribed to Hesiod. Of these the "Aegimius" +(also ascribed by Athenaeus to Cercops of Miletus), is thought by +Valckenaer to deal with the war of Aegimus against the Lapithae +and the aid furnished to him by Heracles, and with the history of +Aegimius and his sons. Otto Muller suggests that the +introduction of Thetis and of Phrixus (frags. 1-2) is to be +connected with notices of the allies of the Lapithae from +Phthiotis and Iolchus, and that the story of Io was incidental to +a narrative of Heracles' expedition against Euboea. The +remaining poem, the "Melampodia", was a work in three books, +whose plan it is impossible to recover. Its subject, however, +seems to have been the histories of famous seers like Mopsus, +Calchas, and Teiresias, and it probably took its name from +Melampus, the most famous of them all. + + +Date of the Hesiodic Poems + +There is no doubt that the "Works and Days" is the oldest, as it +is the most original, of the Hesiodic poems. It seems to be +distinctly earlier than the "Theogony", which refers to it, +apparently, as a poem already renowned. Two considerations help +us to fix a relative date for the "Works". 1) In diction, +dialect and style it is obviously dependent upon Homer, and is +therefore considerably later than the "Iliad" and "Odyssey": +moreover, as we have seen, it is in revolt against the romantic +school, already grown decadent, and while the digamma is still +living, it is obviously growing weak, and is by no means +uniformly effective. + +2) On the other hand while tradition steadily puts the Cyclic +poets at various dates from 776 B.C. downwards, it is equally +consistent in regarding Homer and Hesiod as `prehistoric'. +Herodotus indeed puts both poets 400 years before his own time; +that is, at about 830-820 B.C., and the evidence stated above +points to the middle of the ninth century as the probable date +for the "Works and Days". The "Theogony" might be tentatively +placed a century later; and the "Catalogues" and "Eoiae" are +again later, but not greatly later, than the "Theogony": the +"Shield of Heracles" may be ascribed to the later half of the +seventh century, but there is not evidence enough to show whether +the other `developed' poems are to be regarded as of a date so +low as this. + + +Literary Value of Homer + +Quintillian's (11) judgment on Hesiod that `he rarely rises to +great heights... and to him is given the palm in the middle-class +of speech' is just, but is liable to give a wrong impression. +Hesiod has nothing that remotely approaches such scenes as that +between Priam and Achilles, or the pathos of Andromache's +preparations for Hector's return, even as he was falling before +the walls of Troy; but in matters that come within the range of +ordinary experience, he rarely fails to rise to the appropriate +level. Take, for instance, the description of the Iron Age +("Works and Days", 182 ff.) with its catalogue of wrongdoings and +violence ever increasing until Aidos and Nemesis are forced to +leave mankind who thenceforward shall have `no remedy against +evil'. Such occasions, however, rarely occur and are perhaps not +characteristic of Hesiod's genius: if we would see Hesiod at his +best, in his most natural vein, we must turn to such a passage as +that which he himself -- according to the compiler of the +"Contest of Hesiod and Homer" -- selected as best in all his +work, `When the Pleiades, Atlas' daughters, begin to rise...' +("Works and Days," 383 ff.). The value of such a passage cannot +be analysed: it can only be said that given such a subject, this +alone is the right method of treatment. + +Hesiod's diction is in the main Homeric, but one of his charms is +the use of quaint allusive phrases derived, perhaps, from a pre- +Hesiodic peasant poetry: thus the season when Boreas blows is the +time when `the Boneless One gnaws his foot by his fireless hearth +in his cheerless house'; to cut one's nails is `to sever the +withered from the quick upon that which has five branches'; +similarly the burglar is the `day-sleeper', and the serpent is +the `hairless one'. Very similar is his reference to seasons +through what happens or is done in that season: `when the House- +carrier, fleeing the Pleiades, climbs up the plants from the +earth', is the season for harvesting; or `when the artichoke +flowers and the clicking grass-hopper, seated in a tree, pours +down his shrill song', is the time for rest. + +Hesiod's charm lies in his child-like and sincere naivete, in his +unaffected interest in and picturesque view of nature and all +that happens in nature. These qualities, it is true, are those +pre-eminently of the "Works and Days": the literary values of the +"Theogony" are of a more technical character, skill in ordering +and disposing long lists of names, sure judgment in seasoning a +monotonous subject with marvellous incidents or episodes, and no +mean imagination in depicting the awful, as is shown in the +description of Tartarus (ll. 736-745). Yet it remains true that +Hesiod's distinctive title to a high place in Greek literature +lies in the very fact of his freedom from classic form, and his +grave, and yet child-like, outlook upon his world. + + +The Ionic School + +The Ionic School of Epic poetry was, as we have seen, dominated +by the Homeric tradition, and while the style and method of +treatment are Homeric, it is natural that the Ionic poets +refrained from cultivating the ground tilled by Homer, and chose +for treatment legends which lay beyond the range of the "Iliad" +and "Odyssey". Equally natural it is that they should have +particularly selected various phases of the tale of Troy which +preceded or followed the action of the "Iliad" or "Odyssey". In +this way, without any preconceived intention, a body of epic +poetry was built up by various writers which covered the whole +Trojan story. But the entire range of heroic legend was open to +these poets, and other clusters of epics grew up dealing +particularly with the famous story of Thebes, while others dealt +with the beginnings of the world and the wars of heaven. In the +end there existed a kind of epic history of the world, as known +to the Greeks, down to the death of Odysseus, when the heroic age +ended. In the Alexandrian Age these poems were arranged in +chronological order, apparently by Zenodotus of Ephesus, at the +beginning of the 3rd century B.C. At a later time the term +"Cycle", `round' or `course', was given to this collection. + +Of all this mass of epic poetry only the scantiest fragments +survive; but happily Photius has preserved to us an abridgment of +the synopsis made of each poem of the "Trojan Cycle" by Proclus, +i.e. Eutychius Proclus of Sicca. + +The pre-Trojan poems of the Cycle may be noticed first. The +"Titanomachy", ascribed both to Eumelus of Corinth and to +Arctinus of Miletus, began with a kind of Theogony which told of +the union of Heaven and Earth and of their offspring the Cyclopes +and the Hundred-handed Giants. How the poem proceeded we have no +means of knowing, but we may suppose that in character it was not +unlike the short account of the Titan War found in the Hesiodic +"Theogony" (617 ff.). + +What links bound the "Titanomachy" to the Theben Cycle is not +clear. This latter group was formed of three poems, the "Story +of Oedipus", the "Thebais", and the "Epigoni". Of the +"Oedipodea" practically nothing is known, though on the assurance +of Athenaeus (vii. 277 E) that Sophocles followed the Epic Cycle +closely in the plots of his plays, we may suppose that in outline +the story corresponded closely to the history of Oedipus as it is +found in the "Oedipus Tyrannus". The "Thebais" seems to have +begun with the origin of the fatal quarrel between Eteocles and +Polyneices in the curse called down upon them by their father in +his misery. The story was thence carried down to the end of the +expedition under Polyneices, Adrastus and Amphiarus against +Thebes. The "Epigoni" (ascribed to Antimachus of Teos) recounted +the expedition of the `After-Born' against Thebes, and the sack +of the city. + + +The Trojan Cycle + +Six epics with the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" made up the Trojan +Cycle -- The "Cyprian Lays", the "Iliad", the "Aethiopis", the +"Little Iliad", the "Sack of Troy", the "Returns", the +"Odyssey", and the "Telegony". + +It has been assumed in the foregoing pages that the poems of the +Trojan Cycle are later than the Homeric poems; but, as the +opposite view has been held, the reasons for this assumption must +now be given. 1) Tradition puts Homer and the Homeric poems +proper back in the ages before chronological history began, and +at the same time assigns the purely Cyclic poems to definite +authors who are dated from the first Olympiad (776 B.C.) +downwards. This tradition cannot be purely arbitrary. 2) The +Cyclic poets (as we can see from the abstract of Proclus) were +careful not to trespass upon ground already occupied by Homer. +Thus, when we find that in the "Returns" all the prominent Greek +heroes except Odysseus are accounted for, we are forced to +believe that the author of this poem knew the "Odyssey" and +judged it unnecessary to deal in full with that hero's +adventures. (12) In a word, the Cyclic poems are `written round' +the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey". 3) The general structure of these +epics is clearly imitative. As M.M. Croiset remark, the abusive +Thersites in the "Aethiopis" is clearly copied from the Thersites +of the "Iliad"; in the same poem Antilochus, slain by Memnon and +avenged by Achilles, is obviously modelled on Patroclus. 4) The +geographical knowledge of a poem like the "Returns" is far wider +and more precise than that of the "Odyssey". 5) Moreover, in the +Cyclic poems epic is clearly degenerating morally -- if the +expression may be used. The chief greatness of the "Iliad" is in +the character of the heroes Achilles and Hector rather than in +the actual events which take place: in the Cyclic writers facts +rather than character are the objects of interest, and events are +so packed together as to leave no space for any exhibition of the +play of moral forces. All these reasons justify the view that +the poems with which we now have to deal were later than the +"Iliad" and "Odyssey", and if we must recognize the possibility +of some conventionality in the received dating, we may feel +confident that it is at least approximately just. + +The earliest of the post-Homeric epics of Troy are apparently the +"Aethiopis" and the "Sack of Ilium", both ascribed to Arctinus of +Miletus who is said to have flourished in the first Olympiad (776 +B.C.). He set himself to finish the tale of Troy, which, so far +as events were concerned, had been left half-told by Homer, by +tracing the course of events after the close of the "Iliad". The +"Aethiopis" thus included the coming of the Amazon Penthesilea to +help the Trojans after the fall of Hector and her death, the +similar arrival and fall of the Aethiopian Memnon, the death of +Achilles under the arrow of Paris, and the dispute between +Odysseus and Aias for the arms of Achilles. The "Sack of Ilium" +(13) as analysed by Proclus was very similar to Vergil's version +in "Aeneid" ii, comprising the episodes of the wooden horse, of +Laocoon, of Sinon, the return of the Achaeans from Tenedos, the +actual Sack of Troy, the division of spoils and the burning of +the city. + +Lesches or Lescheos (as Pausanias calls him) of Pyrrha or +Mitylene is dated at about 660 B.C. In his "Little Iliad" he +undertook to elaborate the "Sack" as related by Arctinus. His +work included the adjudgment of the arms of Achilles to Odysseus, +the madness of Aias, the bringing of Philoctetes from Lemnos and +his cure, the coming to the war of Neoptolemus who slays +Eurypylus, son of Telephus, the making of the wooden horse, the +spying of Odysseus and his theft, along with Diomedes, of the +Palladium: the analysis concludes with the admission of the +wooden horse into Troy by the Trojans. It is known, however +(Aristotle, "Poetics", xxiii; Pausanias, x, 25-27), that the +"Little Iliad" also contained a description of the sack of Troy. +It is probable that this and other superfluous incidents +disappeared after the Alexandrian arrangement of the poems in the +Cycle, either as the result of some later recension, or merely +through disuse. Or Proclus may have thought it unnecessary to +give the accounts by Lesches and Arctinus of the same incident. + +The "Cyprian Lays", ascribed to Stasinus of Cyprus (14) (but also +to Hegesinus of Salamis) was designed to do for the events +preceding the action of the "Iliad" what Arctinus had done for +the later phases of the Trojan War. The "Cypria" begins with the +first causes of the war, the purpose of Zeus to relieve the +overburdened earth, the apple of discord, the rape of Helen. +Then follow the incidents connected with the gathering of the +Achaeans and their ultimate landing in Troy; and the story of the +war is detailed up to the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon +with which the "Iliad" begins. + +These four poems rounded off the story of the "Iliad", and it +only remained to connect this enlarged version with the +"Odyssey". This was done by means of the "Returns", a poem in +five books ascribed to Agias or Hegias of Troezen, which begins +where the "Sack of Troy" ends. It told of the dispute between +Agamemnon and Menelaus, the departure from Troy of Menelaus, the +fortunes of the lesser heroes, the return and tragic death of +Agamemnon, and the vengeance of Orestes on Aegisthus. The story +ends with the return home of Menelaus, which brings the general +narrative up to the beginning of the "Odyssey". + +But the "Odyssey" itself left much untold: what, for example, +happened in Ithaca after the slaying of the suitors, and what was +the ultimate fate of Odysseus? The answer to these questions was +supplied by the "Telegony", a poem in two books by Eugammon of +Cyrene (fl. 568 B.C.). It told of the adventures of Odysseus in +Thesprotis after the killing of the Suitors, of his return to +Ithaca, and his death at the hands of Telegonus, his son by +Circe. The epic ended by disposing of the surviving personages +in a double marriage, Telemachus wedding Circe, and Telegonus +Penelope. + +The end of the Cycle marks also the end of the Heroic Age. + + +The Homeric Hymns + +The collection of thirty-three Hymns, ascribed to Homer, is the +last considerable work of the Epic School, and seems, on the +whole, to be later than the Cyclic poems. It cannot be +definitely assigned either to the Ionian or Continental schools, +for while the romantic element is very strong, there is a +distinct genealogical interest; and in matters of diction and +style the influences of both Hesiod and Homer are well-marked. +The date of the formation of the collection as such is unknown. +Diodorus Siculus (temp. Augustus) is the first to mention such a +body of poetry, and it is likely enough that this is, at least +substantially, the one which has come down to us. Thucydides +quotes the Delian "Hymn to Apollo", and it is possible that the +Homeric corpus of his day also contained other of the more +important hymns. Conceivably the collection was arranged in the +Alexandrine period. + +Thucydides, in quoting the "Hymn to Apollo", calls it PROOIMION, +which ordinarily means a `prelude' chanted by a rhapsode before +recitation of a lay from Homer, and such hymns as Nos. vi, xxxi, +xxxii, are clearly preludes in the strict sense; in No. xxxi, for +example, after celebrating Helios, the poet declares he will next +sing of the `race of mortal men, the demi-gods'. But it may +fairly be doubted whether such Hymns as those to "Demeter" (ii), +"Apollo" (iii), "Hermes" (iv), "Aphrodite" (v), can have been +real preludes, in spite of the closing formula `and now I will +pass on to another hymn'. The view taken by Allen and Sikes, +amongst other scholars, is doubtless right, that these longer +hymns are only technically preludes and show to what +disproportionate lengths a simple literacy form can be developed. + +The Hymns to "Pan" (xix), to "Dionysus" (xxvi), to "Hestia and +Hermes" (xxix), seem to have been designed for use at definite +religious festivals, apart from recitations. With the exception +perhaps of the "Hymn to Ares" (viii), no item in the collection +can be regarded as either devotional or liturgical. + +The Hymn is doubtless a very ancient form; but if no example of +extreme antiquity survive this must be put down to the fact that +until the age of literary consciousness, such things are not +preserved. + +First, apparently, in the collection stood the "Hymn to +Dionysus", of which only two fragments now survive. While it +appears to have been a hymn of the longer type (15), we have no +evidence to show either its scope or date. + +The "Hymn to Demeter", extant only in the MS. discovered by +Matthiae at Moscow, describes the seizure of Persephone by Hades, +the grief of Demeter, her stay at Eleusis, and her vengeance on +gods and men by causing famine. In the end Zeus is forced to +bring Persephone back from the lower world; but the goddess, by +the contriving of Hades, still remains partly a deity of the +lower world. In memory of her sorrows Demeter establishes the +Eleusinian mysteries (which, however, were purely agrarian in +origin). + +This hymn, as a literary work, is one of the finest in the +collection. It is surely Attic or Eleusinian in origin. Can we +in any way fix its date? Firstly, it is certainly not later than +the beginning of the sixth century, for it makes no mention of +Iacchus, and the Dionysiac element was introduced at Eleusis at +about that period. Further, the insignificance of Triptolemus +and Eumolpus point to considerable antiquity, and the digamma is +still active. All these considerations point to the seventh +century as the probable date of the hymn. + +The "Hymn to Apollo" consists of two parts, which beyond any +doubt were originally distinct, a Delian hymn and a Pythian hymn. + +The Delian hymn describes how Leto, in travail with Apollo, +sought out a place in which to bear her son, and how Apollo, born +in Delos, at once claimed for himself the lyre, the bow, and +prophecy. This part of the existing hymn ends with an encomium +of the Delian festival of Apollo and of the Delian choirs. The +second part celebrates the founding of Pytho (Delphi) as the +oracular seat of Apollo. After various wanderings the god comes +to Telphus, near Haliartus, but is dissuaded by the nymph of the +place from settling there and urged to go on to Pytho where, +after slaying the she-dragon who nursed Typhaon, he builds his +temple. After the punishment of Telphusa for her deceit in +giving him no warning of the dragoness at Pytho, Apollo, in the +form of a dolphin, brings certain Cretan shipmen to Delphi to be +his priests; and the hymn ends with a charge to these men to +behave orderly and righteously. + +The Delian part is exclusively Ionian and insular both in style +and sympathy; Delos and no other is Apollo's chosen seat: but the +second part is as definitely continental; Delos is ignored and +Delphi alone is the important centre of Apollo's worship. From +this it is clear that the two parts need not be of one date -- +The first, indeed, is ascribed (Scholiast on Pindar "Nem". ii, 2) +to Cynaethus of Chios (fl. 504 B.C.), a date which is obviously +far too low; general considerations point rather to the eighth +century. The second part is not later than 600 B.C.; for 1) the +chariot-races at Pytho, which commenced in 586 B.C., are unknown +to the writer of the hymn, 2) the temple built by Trophonius and +Agamedes for Apollo (ll. 294-299) seems to have been still +standing when the hymn was written, and this temple was burned in +548. We may at least be sure that the first part is a Chian +work, and that the second was composed by a continental poet +familiar with Delphi. + +The "Hymn to Hermes" differs from others in its burlesque, quasi- +comic character, and it is also the best-known of the Hymns to +English readers in consequence of Shelley's translation. + +After a brief narrative of the birth of Hermes, the author goes +on to show how he won a place among the gods. First the new-born +child found a tortoise and from its shell contrived the lyre; +next, with much cunning circumstance, he stole Apollo's cattle +and, when charged with the theft by Apollo, forced that god to +appear in undignified guise before the tribunal of Zeus. Zeus +seeks to reconcile the pair, and Hermes by the gift of the lyre +wins Apollo's friendship and purchases various prerogatives, a +share in divination, the lordship of herds and animals, and the +office of messenger from the gods to Hades. + +The Hymn is hard to date. Hermes' lyre has seven strings and the +invention of the seven-stringed lyre is ascribed to Terpander +(flor. 676 B.C.). The hymn must therefore be later than that +date, though Terpander, according to Weir Smyth (16), may have +only modified the scale of the lyre; yet while the burlesque +character precludes an early date, this feature is far removed, +as Allen and Sikes remark, from the silliness of the "Battle of +the Frogs and Mice", so that a date in the earlier part of the +sixth century is most probable. + +The "Hymn to Aphrodite" is not the least remarkable, from a +literary point of view, of the whole collection, exhibiting as it +does in a masterly manner a divine being as the unwilling victim +of an irresistible force. It tells how all creatures, and even +the gods themselves, are subject to the will of Aphrodite, saving +only Artemis, Athena, and Hestia; how Zeus to humble her pride of +power caused her to love a mortal, Anchises; and how the goddess +visited the hero upon Mt. Ida. A comparison of this work with +the Lay of Demodocus ("Odyssey" viii, 266 ff.), which is +superficially similar, will show how far superior is the former +in which the goddess is but a victim to forces stronger than +herself. The lines (247-255) in which Aphrodite tells of her +humiliation and grief are specially noteworthy. + +There are only general indications of date. The influence of +Hesiod is clear, and the hymn has almost certainly been used by +the author of the "Hymn to Demeter", so that the date must lie +between these two periods, and the seventh century seems to be +the latest date possible. + +The "Hymn to Dionysus" relates how the god was seized by pirates +and how with many manifestations of power he avenged himself on +them by turning them into dolphins. The date is widely disputed, +for while Ludwich believes it to be a work of the fourth or third +century, Allen and Sikes consider a sixth or seventh century date +to be possible. The story is figured in a different form on the +reliefs from the choragic monument of Lysicrates, now in the +British Museum (17). + +Very different in character is the "Hymn to Ares", which is +Orphic in character. The writer, after lauding the god by +detailing his attributes, prays to be delivered from feebleness +and weakness of soul, as also from impulses to wanton and brutal +violence. + +The only other considerable hymn is that to "Pan", which +describes how he roams hunting among the mountains and thickets +and streams, how he makes music at dusk while returning from the +chase, and how he joins in dancing with the nymphs who sing the +story of his birth. This, beyond most works of Greek literature, +is remarkable for its fresh and spontaneous love of wild natural +scenes. + +The remaining hymns are mostly of the briefest compass, merely +hailing the god to be celebrated and mentioning his chief +attributes. The Hymns to "Hermes" (xviii), to the "Dioscuri" +(xvii), and to "Demeter" (xiii) are mere abstracts of the longer +hymns iv, xxxiii, and ii. + + +The Epigrams of Homer + +The "Epigrams of Homer" are derived from the pseudo-Herodotean +"Life of Homer", but many of them occur in other documents such +as the "Contest of Homer and Hesiod", or are quoted by various +ancient authors. These poetic fragments clearly antedate the +"Life" itself, which seems to have been so written round them as +to supply appropriate occasions for their composition. Epigram +iii on Midas of Larissa was otherwise attributed to Cleobulus of +Lindus, one of the Seven Sages; the address to Glaucus (xi) is +purely Hesiodic; xiii, according to MM. Croiset, is a fragment +from a gnomic poem. Epigram xiv is a curious poem attributed on +no very obvious grounds to Hesiod by Julius Pollox. In it the +poet invokes Athena to protect certain potters and their craft, +if they will, according to promise, give him a reward for his +song; if they prove false, malignant gnomes are invoked to wreck +the kiln and hurt the potters. + + +The Burlesque Poems + +To Homer were popularly ascribed certain burlesque poems in which +Aristotle ("Poetics" iv) saw the germ of comedy. Most +interesting of these, were it extant, would be the "Margites". +The hero of the epic is at once sciolist and simpleton, `knowing +many things, but knowing them all badly'. It is unfortunately +impossible to trace the plan of the poem, which presumably +detailed the adventures of this unheroic character: the metre +used was a curious mixture of hexametric and iambic lines. The +date of such a work cannot be high: Croiset thinks it may belong +to the period of Archilochus (c. 650 B.C.), but it may well be +somewhat later. + +Another poem, of which we know even less, is the "Cercopes". +These Cercopes (`Monkey-Men') were a pair of malignant dwarfs who +went about the world mischief-making. Their punishment by +Heracles is represented on one of the earlier metopes from +Selinus. It would be idle to speculate as to the date of this +work. + +Finally there is the "Battle of the Frogs and Mice". Here is +told the story of the quarrel which arose between the two tribes, +and how they fought, until Zeus sent crabs to break up the +battle. It is a parody of the warlike epic, but has little in it +that is really comic or of literary merit, except perhaps the +list of quaint arms assumed by the warriors. The text of the +poem is in a chaotic condition, and there are many +interpolations, some of Byzantine date. + +Though popularly ascribed to Homer, its real author is said by +Suidas to have been Pigres, a Carian, brother of Artemisia, `wife +of Mausonis', who distinguished herself at the battle of Salamis. + +Suidas is confusing the two Artemisias, but he may be right in +attributing the poem to about 480 B.C. + + +The Contest of Homer and Hesiod + +This curious work dates in its present form from the lifetime or +shortly after the death of Hadrian, but seems to be based in part +on an earlier version by the sophist Alcidamas (c. 400 B.C.). +Plutarch ("Conviv. Sept. Sap.", 40) uses an earlier (or at least +a shorter) version than that which we possess (18). The extant +"Contest", however, has clearly combined with the original +document much other ill-digested matter on the life and descent +of Homer, probably drawing on the same general sources as does +the Herodotean "Life of Homer". Its scope is as follows: 1) the +descent (as variously reported) and relative dates of Homer and +Hesiod; 2) their poetical contest at Chalcis; 3) the death of +Hesiod; 4) the wanderings and fortunes of Homer, with brief +notices of the circumstances under which his reputed works were +composed, down to the time of his death. + +The whole tract is, of course, mere romance; its only values are +1) the insight it give into ancient speculations about Homer; 2) +a certain amount of definite information about the Cyclic poems; +and 3) the epic fragments included in the stichomythia of the +"Contest" proper, many of which -- did we possess the clue -- +would have to be referred to poems of the Epic Cycle. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. in Boeotia, Locris and Thessaly: elsewhere the movement + was forced and unfruitful. +(2) The extant collection of three poems, "Works and Days", + "Theogony", and "Shield of Heracles", which alone have come + down to us complete, dates at least from the 4th century + A.D.: the title of the Paris Papyrus (Bibl. Nat. Suppl. Gr. + 1099) names only these three works. +(3) "Der Dialekt des Hesiodes", p. 464: examples are AENEMI (W. + and D. 683) and AROMENAI (ib. 22). +(4) T.W. Allen suggests that the conjured Delian and Pythian + hymns to Apollo ("Homeric Hymns" III) may have suggested + this version of the story, the Pythian hymn showing strong + continental influence. +(5) She is said to have given birth to the lyrist Stesichorus. +(6) See Kinkel "Epic. Graec. Frag." i. 158 ff. +(7) See "Great Works", frag. 2. +(8) "Hesiodi Fragmenta", pp. 119 f. +(9) Possibly the division of this poem into two books is a + division belonging solely to this `developed poem', which + may have included in its second part a summary of the Tale + of Troy. +(10) Goettling's explanation. +(11) x. 1. 52 +(12) Odysseus appears to have been mentioned once only -- and + that casually -- in the "Returns". +(13) M.M. Croiset note that the "Aethiopis" and the "Sack" were + originally merely parts of one work containing lays (the + Amazoneia, Aethiopis, Persis, etc.), just as the "Iliad" + contained various lays such as the Diomedeia. +(14) No date is assigned to him, but it seems likely that he was + either contemporary or slightly earlier than Lesches. +(15) Cp. Allen and Sikes, "Homeric Hymns" p. xv. In the text I + have followed the arrangement of these scholars, numbering + the Hymns to Dionysus and to Demeter, I and II respectively: + to place "Demeter" after "Hermes", and the Hymn to Dionysus + at the end of the collection seems to be merely perverse. +(16) "Greek Melic Poets", p. 165. +(17) This monument was returned to Greece in the 1980's. -- DBK. +(18) Cp. Marckscheffel, "Hesiodi fragmenta", p. 35. The papyrus + fragment recovered by Petrie ("Petrie Papyri", ed. Mahaffy, + p. 70, No. xxv.) agrees essentially with the extant + document, but differs in numerous minor textual points. + + +BIBLIOGRAPHY + +HESIOD. -- The classification and numerations of MSS. here +followed is that of Rzach (1913). It is only necessary to add +that on the whole the recovery of Hesiodic papyri goes to confirm +the authority of the mediaeval MSS. At the same time these +fragments have produced much that is interesting and valuable, +such as the new lines, "Works and Days" 169 a-d, and the improved +readings ib. 278, "Theogony" 91, 93. Our chief gains from +papyri are the numerous and excellent fragments of the +Catalogues which have been recovered. + +"Works and Days": -- + +S Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1090. +A Vienna, Rainer Papyri L.P. 21-9 (4th cent.). +B Geneva, Naville Papyri Pap. 94 (6th cent.). +C Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2771 (11th cent.). +D Florence, Laur. xxxi 39 (12th cent.). +E Messina, Univ. Lib. Preexistens 11 (12th-13th cent.). +F Rome, Vatican 38 (14th cent.). +G Venice, Marc. ix 6 (14th cent.). +H Florence, Laur. xxxi 37 (14th cent.). +I Florence, Laur. xxxii 16 (13th cent.). +K Florence, Laur. xxxii 2 (14th cent.). +L Milan, Ambros. G 32 sup. (14th cent.). +M Florence, Bibl. Riccardiana 71 (15th cent.). +N Milan, Ambros. J 15 sup. (15th cent.). +O Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2773 (14th cent.). +P Cambridge, Trinity College (Gale MS.), O.9.27 (13th-14th + cent.). +Q Rome, Vatican 1332 (14th cent.). + +These MSS. are divided by Rzach into the following families, +issuing from a common original: -- + +<Omega>a = C +<Omega>b = F,G,H +<Psi>a = D +<Psi>b = I,K,L,M +<Phi>a = E +<Phi>b = N,O,P,Q + + +"Theogony": -- + +N Manchester, Rylands GK. Papyri No. 54 (1st cent. B.C. - 1st + cent. A.D.). +O Oxyrhynchus Papyri 873 (3rd cent.). +A Paris, Bibl. Nat. Suppl. Graec. (papyrus) 1099 (4th-5th + cent.). +B London, British Museam clix (4th cent.). +R Vienna, Rainer Papyri L.P. 21-9 (4th cent.). +C Paris, Bibl. Nat. Suppl. Graec. 663 (12th cent.). +D Florence, Laur. xxxii 16 (13th cent.). +E Florence, Laur., Conv. suppr. 158 (14th cent.). +F Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2833 (15th cent.). +G Rome, Vatican 915 (14th cent.). +H Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2772 (14th cent.). +I Florence, Laur. xxxi 32 (15th cent.). +K Venice, Marc. ix 6 (15th cent.). +L Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2708 (15th cent.). + +These MSS. are divided into two families: + +<Omega>a = C,D +<Omega>b = E,F +<Omega>c = G,H,I +<Psi> = K,L + + +"Shield of Heracles": -- + +P Oxyrhynchus Papyri 689 (2nd cent.). +A Vienna, Rainer Papyri L.P. 21-29 (4th cent.). +Q Berlin Papyri, 9774 (1st cent.). +B Paris, Bibl. Nat., Suppl. Graec. 663 (12th cent.). +C Paris, Bibl. Nat., Suppl. Graec. 663 (12th cent.). +D Milan, Ambros. C 222 (13th cent.). +E Florence, Laur. xxxii 16 (13th cent.). +F Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2773 (14th cent.). +G Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2772 (14th cent.). +H Florence, Laur. xxxi 32 (15th cent.). +I London, British Museaum Harleianus (14th cent.). +K Rome, Bibl. Casanat. 356 (14th cent.) +L Florence, Laur. Conv. suppr. 158 (14th cent.). +M Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2833 (15th cent.). + +These MSS. belong to two families: + +<Omega>a = B,C,D,F +<Omega>b = G,H,I +<Psi>a = E +<Psi>b = K,L,M + +To these must be added two MSS. of mixed family: + +N Venice, Marc. ix 6 (14th cent.). +O Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2708 (15th cent.). + + +Editions of Hesiod: -- + +Demetrius Chalcondyles, Milan (?) 1493 (?) ("editio princeps", + containing, however, only the "Works and Days"). +Aldus Manutius (Aldine edition), Venice, 1495 (complete works). +Juntine Editions, 1515 and 1540. +Trincavelli, Venice, 1537 (with scholia). + +Of modern editions, the following may be noticed: -- + +Gaisford, Oxford, 1814-1820; Leipzig, 1823 (with scholia: in + Poett. Graec. Minn II). +Goettling, Gotha, 1831 (3rd edition. Leipzig, 1878). +Didot Edition, Paris, 1840. +Schomann, 1869. +Koechly and Kinkel, Leipzig, 1870. +Flach, Leipzig, 1874-8. +Rzach, Leipzig, 1902 (larger edition), 1913 (smaller edition). + +On the Hesiodic poems generally the ordinary Histories of Greek +Literature may be consulted, but especially the "Hist. de la +Litterature Grecque" I pp. 459 ff. of MM. Croiset. The summary +account in Prof. Murray's "Anc. Gk. Lit." is written with a +strong sceptical bias. Very valuable is the appendix to Mair's +translation (Oxford, 1908) on "The Farmer's Year in Hesiod". +Recent work on the Hesiodic poems is reviewed in full by Rzach in +Bursian's "Jahresberichte" vols. 100 (1899) and 152 (1911). + +For the "Fragments" of Hesiodic poems the work of Markscheffel, +"Hesiodi Fragmenta" (Leipzig, 1840), is most valuable: important +also is Kinkel's "Epicorum Graecorum Fragmenta" I (Leipzig, 1877) +and the editions of Rzach noticed above. For recently discovered +papyrus fragments see Wilamowitz, "Neue Bruchstucke d. Hesiod +Katalog" (Sitzungsb. der k. preuss. Akad. fur Wissenschaft, 1900, +pp. 839-851). A list of papyri belonging to lost Hesiodic works +may here be added: all are the "Catalogues". + +1) Berlin Papyri 7497 (1) (2nd cent.). -- Frag. 7. +2) Oxyrhynchus Papyri 421 (2nd cent.). -- Frag. 7. +3) "Petrie Papyri" iii 3. -- Frag. 14. +4) "Papiri greci e latine", No. 130 (2nd-3rd cent.). -- Frag. + 14. +5) Strassburg Papyri, 55 (2nd cent.). -- Frag. 58. +6) Berlin Papyri 9739 (2nd cent.). -- Frag. 58. +7) Berlin Papyri 10560 (3rd cent.). -- Frag. 58. +8) Berlin Papyri 9777 (4th cent.). -- Frag. 98. +9) "Papiri greci e latine", No. 131 (2nd-3rd cent.). -- Frag. + 99. +10) Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1358-9. + + +The Homeric Hymns: -- +The text of the Homeric hymns is distinctly bad in condition, a +fact which may be attributed to the general neglect under which +they seem to have laboured at all periods previously to the +Revival of Learning. Very many defects have been corrected by +the various editions of the Hymns, but a considerable number +still defy all efforts; and especially an abnormal number of +undoubted lacuna disfigure the text. Unfortunately no papyrus +fragment of the Hymns has yet emerged, though one such fragment +("Berl. Klassikertexte" v.1. pp. 7 ff.) contains a paraphrase of +a poem very closely parallel to the "Hymn to Demeter". + +The mediaeval MSS. (2) are thus enumerated by Dr. T.W. Allen: -- + +A Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2763. +At Athos, Vatopedi 587. +B Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2765. +C Paris, Bibl. Nat. 2833. +<Gamma> Brussels, Bibl. Royale 11377-11380 (16th cent.). +D Milan, Amrbos. B 98 sup. +E Modena, Estense iii E 11. +G Rome, Vatican, Regina 91 (16th cent.). +H London, British Mus. Harley 1752. +J Modena, Estense, ii B 14. +K Florence, Laur. 31, 32. +L Florence, Laur. 32, 45. +L2 Florence, Laur. 70, 35. +L3 Florence, Laur. 32, 4. +M Leyden (the Moscow MS.) 33 H (14th cent.). +Mon. Munich, Royal Lib. 333 c. +N Leyden, 74 c. +O Milan, Ambros. C 10 inf. +P Rome, Vatican Pal. graec. 179. +<Pi> Paris, Bibl. Nat. Suppl. graec. 1095. +Q Milan, Ambros. S 31 sup. +R1 Florence, Bibl. Riccard. 53 K ii 13. +R2 Florence, Bibl. Riccard. 52 K ii 14. +S Rome, Vatican, Vaticani graec. 1880. +T Madrid, Public Library 24. +V Venice, Marc. 456. + +The same scholar has traced all the MSS. back to a common parent +from which three main families are derived (M had a separate +descent and is not included in any family): -- + +x1 = E,T +x2 = L,<Pi>,(and more remotely) At,D,S,H,J,K. +y = E,L,<Pi>,T (marginal readings). +p = A,B,C,<Gamma>,G,L2,L3,N,O,P,Q,R1,R2,V,Mon. + + +Editions of the Homeric Hymns, & c.: -- + +Demetrius Chalcondyles, Florence, 1488 (with the "Epigrams" and + the "Battle of the Frogs and Mice" in the "ed. pr." of + Homer). +Aldine Edition, Venice, 1504. +Juntine Edition, 1537. +Stephanus, Paris, 1566 and 1588. + +More modern editions or critical works of value are: + +Martin (Variarum Lectionum libb. iv), Paris, 1605. +Barnes, Cambridge, 1711. +Ruhnken, Leyden, 1782 (Epist. Crit. and "Hymn to Demeter"). +Ilgen, Halle, 1796 (with "Epigrams" and the "Battle of the Frogs + and Mice"). +Matthiae, Leipzig, 1806 (with the "Battle of the Frogs and + Mice"). +Hermann, Berling, 1806 (with "Epigrams"). +Franke, Leipzig, 1828 (with "Epigrams" and the "Battle of the + Frogs and Mice"). +Dindorff (Didot edition), Paris, 1837. +Baumeister ("Battle of the Frogs and Mice"), Gottingen, 1852. +Baumeister ("Hymns"), Leipzig, 1860. +Gemoll, Leipzig, 1886. +Goodwin, Oxford, 1893. +Ludwich ("Battle of the Frogs and Mice"), 1896. +Allen and Sikes, London, 1904. +Allen (Homeri Opera v), Oxford, 1912. + +Of these editions that of Messrs Allen and Sikes is by far the +best: not only is the text purged of the load of conjectures for +which the frequent obscurities of the Hymns offer a special +opening, but the Introduction and the Notes throughout are of the +highest value. For a full discussion of the MSS. and textual +problems, reference must be made to this edition, as also to Dr. +T.W. Allen's series of articles in the "Journal of Hellenic +Studies" vols. xv ff. Among translations those of J. Edgar +(Edinburgh), 1891) and of Andrew Lang (London, 1899) may be +mentioned. + + +The Epic Cycle: -- + +The fragments of the Epic Cycle, being drawn from a variety of +authors, no list of MSS. can be given. The following collections +and editions may be mentioned: -- + +Muller, Leipzig, 1829. +Dindorff (Didot edition of Homer), Paris, 1837-56. +Kinkel (Epicorum Graecorum Fragmenta i), Leipzig, 1877. +Allen (Homeri Opera v), Oxford, 1912. + +The fullest discussion of the problems and fragments of the epic +cycle is F.G. Welcker's "der epische Cyclus" (Bonn, vol. i, 1835: +vol. ii, 1849: vol. i, 2nd edition, 1865). The Appendix to +Monro's "Homer's Odyssey" xii-xxiv (pp. 340 ff.) deals with the +Cyclic poets in relation to Homer, and a clear and reasonable +discussion of the subject is to be found in Croiset's "Hist. de +la Litterature Grecque", vol. i. + + +On Hesiod, the Hesiodic poems and the problems which these offer +see Rzach's most important article "Hesiodos" in Pauly-Wissowa, +"Real-Encyclopadie" xv (1912). + +A discussion of the evidence for the date of Hesiod is to be +found in "Journ. Hell. Stud." xxxv, 85 ff. (T.W. Allen). + +Of translations of Hesiod the following may be noticed: -- "The +Georgicks of Hesiod", by George Chapman, London, 1618; "The Works +of Hesiod translated from the Greek", by Thomas Coocke, London, +1728; "The Remains of Hesiod translated from the Greek into +English Verse", by Charles Abraham Elton; "The Works of Hesiod, +Callimachus, and Theognis", by the Rev. J. Banks, M.A.; "Hesiod", +by Prof. James Mair, Oxford, 1908 (3). + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) See Schubert, "Berl. Klassikertexte" v. 1.22 ff.; the other + papyri may be found in the publications whose name they + bear. +(2) Unless otherwise noted, all MSS. are of the 15th century. +(3) To this list I would also add the following: "Hesiod and + Theognis", translated by Dorothea Wender (Penguin Classics, + London, 1973). -- DBK. + + + +THE WORKS OF HESIOD + + +WORKS AND DAYS (832 lines) + +(ll. 1-10) Muses of Pieria who give glory through song, come +hither, tell of Zeus your father and chant his praise. Through +him mortal men are famed or un-famed, sung or unsung alike, as +great Zeus wills. For easily he makes strong, and easily he +brings the strong man low; easily he humbles the proud and raises +the obscure, and easily he straightens the crooked and blasts the +proud, -- Zeus who thunders aloft and has his dwelling most high. + +Attend thou with eye and ear, and make judgements straight with +righteousness. And I, Perses, would tell of true things. + +(ll. 11-24) So, after all, there was not one kind of Strife +alone, but all over the earth there are two. As for the one, a +man would praise her when he came to understand her; but the +other is blameworthy: and they are wholly different in nature. +For one fosters evil war and battle, being cruel: her no man +loves; but perforce, through the will of the deathless gods, men +pay harsh Strife her honour due. But the other is the elder +daughter of dark Night, and the son of Cronos who sits above and +dwells in the aether, set her in the roots of the earth: and she +is far kinder to men. She stirs up even the shiftless to toil; +for a man grows eager to work when he considers his neighbour, a +rich man who hastens to plough and plant and put his house in +good order; and neighbour vies with his neighbour as he hurries +after wealth. This Strife is wholesome for men. And potter is +angry with potter, and craftsman with craftsman, and beggar is +jealous of beggar, and minstrel of minstrel. + +(ll. 25-41) Perses, lay up these things in your heart, and do not +let that Strife who delights in mischief hold your heart back +from work, while you peep and peer and listen to the wrangles of +the court-house. Little concern has he with quarrels and courts +who has not a year's victuals laid up betimes, even that which +the earth bears, Demeter's grain. When you have got plenty of +that, you can raise disputes and strive to get another's goods. +But you shall have no second chance to deal so again: nay, let us +settle our dispute here with true judgement divided our +inheritance, but you seized the greater share and carried it off, +greatly swelling the glory of our bribe-swallowing lords who love +to judge such a cause as this. Fools! They know not how much +more the half is than the whole, nor what great advantage there +is in mallow and asphodel (1). + +(ll. 42-53) For the gods keep hidden from men the means of life. +Else you would easily do work enough in a day to supply you for a +full year even without working; soon would you put away your +rudder over the smoke, and the fields worked by ox and sturdy +mule would run to waste. But Zeus in the anger of his heart hid +it, because Prometheus the crafty deceived him; therefore he +planned sorrow and mischief against men. He hid fire; but that +the noble son of Iapetus stole again for men from Zeus the +counsellor in a hollow fennel-stalk, so that Zeus who delights in +thunder did not see it. But afterwards Zeus who gathers the +clouds said to him in anger: + +(ll. 54-59) `Son of Iapetus, surpassing all in cunning, you are +glad that you have outwitted me and stolen fire -- a great plague +to you yourself and to men that shall be. But I will give men as +the price for fire an evil thing in which they may all be glad of +heart while they embrace their own destruction.' + +(ll. 60-68) So said the father of men and gods, and laughed +aloud. And he bade famous Hephaestus make haste and mix earth +with water and to put in it the voice and strength of human kind, +and fashion a sweet, lovely maiden-shape, like to the immortal +goddesses in face; and Athene to teach her needlework and the +weaving of the varied web; and golden Aphrodite to shed grace +upon her head and cruel longing and cares that weary the limbs. +And he charged Hermes the guide, the Slayer of Argus, to put in +her a shameless mind and a deceitful nature. + +(ll. 69-82) So he ordered. And they obeyed the lord Zeus the son +of Cronos. Forthwith the famous Lame God moulded clay in the +likeness of a modest maid, as the son of Cronos purposed. And +the goddess bright-eyed Athene girded and clothed her, and the +divine Graces and queenly Persuasion put necklaces of gold upon +her, and the rich-haired Hours crowned her head with spring +flowers. And Pallas Athene bedecked her form with all manners of +finery. Also the Guide, the Slayer of Argus, contrived within +her lies and crafty words and a deceitful nature at the will of +loud thundering Zeus, and the Herald of the gods put speech in +her. And he called this woman Pandora (2), because all they who +dwelt on Olympus gave each a gift, a plague to men who eat bread. + +(ll. 83-89) But when he had finished the sheer, hopeless snare, +the Father sent glorious Argos-Slayer, the swift messenger of the +gods, to take it to Epimetheus as a gift. And Epimetheus did not +think on what Prometheus had said to him, bidding him never take +a gift of Olympian Zeus, but to send it back for fear it might +prove to be something harmful to men. But he took the gift, and +afterwards, when the evil thing was already his, he understood. + +(ll. 90-105) For ere this the tribes of men lived on earth remote +and free from ills and hard toil and heavy sickness which bring +the Fates upon men; for in misery men grow old quickly. But the +woman took off the great lid of the jar (3) with her hands and +scattered all these and her thought caused sorrow and mischief to +men. Only Hope remained there in an unbreakable home within +under the rim of the great jar, and did not fly out at the door; +for ere that, the lid of the jar stopped her, by the will of +Aegis-holding Zeus who gathers the clouds. But the rest, +countless plagues, wander amongst men; for earth is full of evils +and the sea is full. Of themselves diseases come upon men +continually by day and by night, bringing mischief to mortals +silently; for wise Zeus took away speech from them. So is there +no way to escape the will of Zeus. + +(ll. 106-108) Or if you will, I will sum you up another tale well +and skilfully -- and do you lay it up in your heart, -- how the +gods and mortal men sprang from one source. + +(ll. 109-120) First of all the deathless gods who dwell on +Olympus made a golden race of mortal men who lived in the time of +Cronos when he was reigning in heaven. And they lived like gods +without sorrow of heart, remote and free from toil and grief: +miserable age rested not on them; but with legs and arms never +failing they made merry with feasting beyond the reach of all +evils. When they died, it was as though they were overcome with +sleep, and they had all good things; for the fruitful earth +unforced bare them fruit abundantly and without stint. They +dwelt in ease and peace upon their lands with many good things, +rich in flocks and loved by the blessed gods. + +(ll. 121-139) But after earth had covered this generation -- they +are called pure spirits dwelling on the earth, and are kindly, +delivering from harm, and guardians of mortal men; for they roam +everywhere over the earth, clothed in mist and keep watch on +judgements and cruel deeds, givers of wealth; for this royal +right also they received; -- then they who dwell on Olympus made +a second generation which was of silver and less noble by far. +It was like the golden race neither in body nor in spirit. A +child was brought up at his good mother's side an hundred years, +an utter simpleton, playing childishly in his own home. But when +they were full grown and were come to the full measure of their +prime, they lived only a little time in sorrow because of their +foolishness, for they could not keep from sinning and from +wronging one another, nor would they serve the immortals, nor +sacrifice on the holy altars of the blessed ones as it is right +for men to do wherever they dwell. Then Zeus the son of Cronos +was angry and put them away, because they would not give honour +to the blessed gods who live on Olympus. + +(ll. 140-155) But when earth had covered this generation also -- +they are called blessed spirits of the underworld by men, and, +though they are of second order, yet honour attends them also -- +Zeus the Father made a third generation of mortal men, a brazen +race, sprung from ash-trees (4); and it was in no way equal to +the silver age, but was terrible and strong. They loved the +lamentable works of Ares and deeds of violence; they ate no +bread, but were hard of heart like adamant, fearful men. Great +was their strength and unconquerable the arms which grew from +their shoulders on their strong limbs. Their armour was of +bronze, and their houses of bronze, and of bronze were their +implements: there was no black iron. These were destroyed by +their own hands and passed to the dank house of chill Hades, and +left no name: terrible though they were, black Death seized them, +and they left the bright light of the sun. + +(ll. 156-169b) But when earth had covered this generation also, +Zeus the son of Cronos made yet another, the fourth, upon the +fruitful earth, which was nobler and more righteous, a god-like +race of hero-men who are called demi-gods, the race before our +own, throughout the boundless earth. Grim war and dread battle +destroyed a part of them, some in the land of Cadmus at seven- +gated Thebe when they fought for the flocks of Oedipus, and some, +when it had brought them in ships over the great sea gulf to Troy +for rich-haired Helen's sake: there death's end enshrouded a part +of them. But to the others father Zeus the son of Cronos gave a +living and an abode apart from men, and made them dwell at the +ends of earth. And they live untouched by sorrow in the islands +of the blessed along the shore of deep swirling Ocean, happy +heroes for whom the grain-giving earth bears honey-sweet fruit +flourishing thrice a year, far from the deathless gods, and +Cronos rules over them (5); for the father of men and gods +released him from his bonds. And these last equally have honour +and glory. + +(ll. 169c-169d) And again far-seeing Zeus made yet another +generation, the fifth, of men who are upon the bounteous earth. + +(ll. 170-201) Thereafter, would that I were not among the men of +the fifth generation, but either had died before or been born +afterwards. For now truly is a race of iron, and men never rest +from labour and sorrow by day, and from perishing by night; and +the gods shall lay sore trouble upon them. But, notwithstanding, +even these shall have some good mingled with their evils. And +Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men also when they come to +have grey hair on the temples at their birth (6). The father +will not agree with his children, nor the children with their +father, nor guest with his host, nor comrade with comrade; nor +will brother be dear to brother as aforetime. Men will dishonour +their parents as they grow quickly old, and will carp at them, +chiding them with bitter words, hard-hearted they, not knowing +the fear of the gods. They will not repay their aged parents the +cost their nurture, for might shall be their right: and one man +will sack another's city. There will be no favour for the man +who keeps his oath or for the just or for the good; but rather +men will praise the evil-doer and his violent dealing. Strength +will be right and reverence will cease to be; and the wicked will +hurt the worthy man, speaking false words against him, and will +swear an oath upon them. Envy, foul-mouthed, delighting in evil, +with scowling face, will go along with wretched men one and all. +And then Aidos and Nemesis (7), with their sweet forms wrapped in +white robes, will go from the wide-pathed earth and forsake +mankind to join the company of the deathless gods: and bitter +sorrows will be left for mortal men, and there will be no help +against evil. + +(ll. 202-211) And now I will tell a fable for princes who +themselves understand. Thus said the hawk to the nightingale +with speckled neck, while he carried her high up among the +clouds, gripped fast in his talons, and she, pierced by his +crooked talons, cried pitifully. To her he spoke disdainfully: +`Miserable thing, why do you cry out? One far stronger than you +now holds you fast, and you must go wherever I take you, +songstress as you are. And if I please I will make my meal of +you, or let you go. He is a fool who tries to withstand the +stronger, for he does not get the mastery and suffers pain +besides his shame.' So said the swiftly flying hawk, the long- +winged bird. + +(ll. 212-224) But you, Perses, listen to right and do not foster +violence; for violence is bad for a poor man. Even the +prosperous cannot easily bear its burden, but is weighed down +under it when he has fallen into delusion. The better path is to +go by on the other side towards justice; for Justice beats +Outrage when she comes at length to the end of the race. But +only when he has suffered does the fool learn this. For Oath +keeps pace with wrong judgements. There is a noise when Justice +is being dragged in the way where those who devour bribes and +give sentence with crooked judgements, take her. And she, +wrapped in mist, follows to the city and haunts of the people, +weeping, and bringing mischief to men, even to such as have +driven her forth in that they did not deal straightly with her. + +(ll. 225-237) But they who give straight judgements to strangers +and to the men of the land, and go not aside from what is just, +their city flourishes, and the people prosper in it: Peace, the +nurse of children, is abroad in their land, and all-seeing Zeus +never decrees cruel war against them. Neither famine nor +disaster ever haunt men who do true justice; but light-heartedly +they tend the fields which are all their care. The earth bears +them victual in plenty, and on the mountains the oak bears acorns +upon the top and bees in the midst. Their woolly sheep are laden +with fleeces; their women bear children like their parents. They +flourish continually with good things, and do not travel on +ships, for the grain-giving earth bears them fruit. + +(ll. 238-247) But for those who practise violence and cruel deeds +far-seeing Zeus, the son of Cronos, ordains a punishment. Often +even a whole city suffers for a bad man who sins and devises +presumptuous deeds, and the son of Cronos lays great trouble upon +the people, famine and plague together, so that the men perish +away, and their women do not bear children, and their houses +become few, through the contriving of Olympian Zeus. And again, +at another time, the son of Cronos either destroys their wide +army, or their walls, or else makes an end of their ships on the +sea. + +(ll. 248-264) You princes, mark well this punishment you also; +for the deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who +oppress their fellows with crooked judgements, and reck not the +anger of the gods. For upon the bounteous earth Zeus has thrice +ten thousand spirits, watchers of mortal men, and these keep +watch on judgements and deeds of wrong as they roam, clothed in +mist, all over the earth. And there is virgin Justice, the +daughter of Zeus, who is honoured and reverenced among the gods +who dwell on Olympus, and whenever anyone hurts her with lying +slander, she sits beside her father, Zeus the son of Cronos, and +tells him of men's wicked heart, until the people pay for the mad +folly of their princes who, evilly minded, pervert judgement and +give sentence crookedly. Keep watch against this, you princes, +and make straight your judgements, you who devour bribes; put +crooked judgements altogether from your thoughts. + +(ll. 265-266) He does mischief to himself who does mischief to +another, and evil planned harms the plotter most. + +(ll. 267-273) The eye of Zeus, seeing all and understanding all, +beholds these things too, if so he will, and fails not to mark +what sort of justice is this that the city keeps within it. Now, +therefore, may neither I myself be righteous among men, nor my +son -- for then it is a bad thing to be righteous -- if indeed +the unrighteous shall have the greater right. But I think that +all-wise Zeus will not yet bring that to pass. + +(ll. 274-285) But you, Perses, lay up these things within your +heart and listen now to right, ceasing altogether to think of +violence. For the son of Cronos has ordained this law for men, +that fishes and beasts and winged fowls should devour one +another, for right is not in them; but to mankind he gave right +which proves far the best. For whoever knows the right and is +ready to speak it, far-seeing Zeus gives him prosperity; but +whoever deliberately lies in his witness and forswears himself, +and so hurts Justice and sins beyond repair, that man's +generation is left obscure thereafter. But the generation of the +man who swears truly is better thenceforward. + +(ll. 286-292) To you, foolish Perses, I will speak good sense. +Badness can be got easily and in shoals: the road to her is +smooth, and she lives very near us. But between us and Goodness +the gods have placed the sweat of our brows: long and steep is +the path that leads to her, and it is rough at the first; but +when a man has reached the top, then is she easy to reach, though +before that she was hard. + +(ll. 293-319) That man is altogether best who considers all +things himself and marks what will be better afterwards and at +the end; and he, again, is good who listens to a good adviser; +but whoever neither thinks for himself nor keeps in mind what +another tells him, he is an unprofitable man. But do you at any +rate, always remembering my charge, work, high-born Perses, that +Hunger may hate you, and venerable Demeter richly crowned may +love you and fill your barn with food; for Hunger is altogether a +meet comrade for the sluggard. Both gods and men are angry with +a man who lives idle, for in nature he is like the stingless +drones who waste the labour of the bees, eating without working; +but let it be your care to order your work properly, that in the +right season your barns may be full of victual. Through work men +grow rich in flocks and substance, and working they are much +better loved by the immortals (8). Work is no disgrace: it is +idleness which is a disgrace. But if you work, the idle will +soon envy you as you grow rich, for fame and renown attend on +wealth. And whatever be your lot, work is best for you, if you +turn your misguided mind away from other men's property to your +work and attend to your livelihood as I bid you. An evil shame +is the needy man's companion, shame which both greatly harms and +prospers men: shame is with poverty, but confidence with wealth. + +(ll. 320-341) Wealth should not be seized: god-given wealth is +much better; for if a man take great wealth violently and +perforce, or if he steal it through his tongue, as often happens +when gain deceives men's sense and dishonour tramples down +honour, the gods soon blot him out and make that man's house low, +and wealth attends him only for a little time. Alike with him +who does wrong to a suppliant or a guest, or who goes up to his +brother's bed and commits unnatural sin in lying with his wife, +or who infatuately offends against fatherless children, or who +abuses his old father at the cheerless threshold of old age and +attacks him with harsh words, truly Zeus himself is angry, and at +the last lays on him a heavy requittal for his evil doing. But +do you turn your foolish heart altogether away from these things, +and, as far as you are able, sacrifice to the deathless gods +purely and cleanly, and burn rich meats also, and at other times +propitiate them with libations and incense, both when you go to +bed and when the holy light has come back, that they may be +gracious to you in heart and spirit, and so you may buy another's +holding and not another yours. + +(ll. 342-351) Call your friend to a feast; but leave your enemy +alone; and especially call him who lives near you: for if any +mischief happen in the place, neighbours come ungirt, but kinsmen +stay to gird themselves (9). A bad neighbour is as great a +plague as a good one is a great blessing; he who enjoys a good +neighbour has a precious possession. Not even an ox would die +but for a bad neighbour. Take fair measure from your neighbour +and pay him back fairly with the same measure, or better, if you +can; so that if you are in need afterwards, you may find him +sure. + +(ll. 352-369) Do not get base gain: base gain is as bad as ruin. +Be friends with the friendly, and visit him who visits you. Give +to one who gives, but do not give to one who does not give. A +man gives to the free-handed, but no one gives to the close- +fisted. Give is a good girl, but Take is bad and she brings +death. For the man who gives willingly, even though he gives a +great thing, rejoices in his gift and is glad in heart; but +whoever gives way to shamelessness and takes something himself, +even though it be a small thing, it freezes his heart. He who +adds to what he has, will keep off bright-eyed hunger; for if you +add only a little to a little and do this often, soon that little +will become great. What a man has by him at home does not +trouble him: it is better to have your stuff at home, for +whatever is abroad may mean loss. It is a good thing to draw on +what you have; but it grieves your heart to need something and +not to have it, and I bid you mark this. Take your fill when the +cask is first opened and when it is nearly spent, but midways be +sparing: it is poor saving when you come to the lees. + +(ll. 370-372) Let the wage promised to a friend be fixed; even +with your brother smile -- and get a witness; for trust and +mistrust, alike ruin men. + +(ll. 373-375) Do not let a flaunting woman coax and cozen and +deceive you: she is after your barn. The man who trusts +womankind trusts deceivers. + +(ll. 376-380) There should be an only son, to feed his father's +house, for so wealth will increase in the home; but if you leave +a second son you should die old. Yet Zeus can easily give great +wealth to a greater number. More hands mean more work and more +increase. + +(ll. 381-382) If your heart within you desires wealth, do these +things and work with work upon work. + +(ll. 383-404) When the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, are rising +(10), begin your harvest, and your ploughing when they are going +to set (11). Forty nights and days they are hidden and appear +again as the year moves round, when first you sharpen your +sickle. This is the law of the plains, and of those who live +near the sea, and who inhabit rich country, the glens and dingles +far from the tossing sea, -- strip to sow and strip to plough and +strip to reap, if you wish to get in all Demeter's fruits in due +season, and that each kind may grow in its season. Else, +afterwards, you may chance to be in want, and go begging to other +men's houses, but without avail; as you have already come to me. +But I will give you no more nor give you further measure. +Foolish Perses! Work the work which the gods ordained for men, +lest in bitter anguish of spirit you with your wife and children +seek your livelihood amongst your neighbours, and they do not +heed you. Two or three times, may be, you will succeed, but if +you trouble them further, it will not avail you, and all your +talk will be in vain, and your word-play unprofitable. Nay, I +bid you find a way to pay your debts and avoid hunger. + +(ll. 405-413) First of all, get a house, and a woman and an ox +for the plough -- a slave woman and not a wife, to follow the +oxen as well -- and make everything ready at home, so that you +may not have to ask of another, and he refuses you, and so, +because you are in lack, the season pass by and your work come to +nothing. Do not put your work off till to-morrow and the day +after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who +puts off his work: industry makes work go well, but a man who +puts off work is always at hand-grips with ruin. + +(ll. 414-447) When the piercing power and sultry heat of the sun +abate, and almighty Zeus sends the autumn rains (12), and men's +flesh comes to feel far easier, -- for then the star Sirius +passes over the heads of men, who are born to misery, only a +little while by day and takes greater share of night, -- then, +when it showers its leaves to the ground and stops sprouting, the +wood you cut with your axe is least liable to worm. Then +remember to hew your timber: it is the season for that work. Cut +a mortar (13) three feet wide and a pestle three cubits long, and +an axle of seven feet, for it will do very well so; but if you +make it eight feet long, you can cut a beetle (14) from it as +well. Cut a felloe three spans across for a waggon of ten +palms' width. Hew also many bent timbers, and bring home a +plough-tree when you have found it, and look out on the mountain +or in the field for one of holm-oak; for this is the strongest +for oxen to plough with when one of Athena's handmen has fixed in +the share-beam and fastened it to the pole with dowels. Get two +ploughs ready work on them at home, one all of a piece, and the +other jointed. It is far better to do this, for if you should +break one of them, you can put the oxen to the other. Poles of +laurel or elm are most free from worms, and a share-beam of oak +and a plough-tree of holm-oak. Get two oxen, bulls of nine +years; for their strength is unspent and they are in the prime of +their age: they are best for work. They will not fight in the +furrow and break the plough and then leave the work undone. Let +a brisk fellow of forty years follow them, with a loaf of four +quarters (15) and eight slices (16) for his dinner, one who will +attend to his work and drive a straight furrow and is past the +age for gaping after his fellows, but will keep his mind on his +work. No younger man will be better than he at scattering the +seed and avoiding double-sowing; for a man less staid gets +disturbed, hankering after his fellows. + +(ll. 448-457) Mark, when you hear the voice of the crane (17) who +cries year by year from the clouds above, for she give the signal +for ploughing and shows the season of rainy winter; but she vexes +the heart of the man who has no oxen. Then is the time to feed +up your horned oxen in the byre; for it is easy to say: `Give me +a yoke of oxen and a waggon,' and it is easy to refuse: `I have +work for my oxen.' The man who is rich in fancy thinks his +waggon as good as built already -- the fool! He does not know +that there are a hundred timbers to a waggon. Take care to lay +these up beforehand at home. + +(ll. 458-464) So soon as the time for ploughing is proclaimed to +men, then make haste, you and your slaves alike, in wet and in +dry, to plough in the season for ploughing, and bestir yourself +early in the morning so that your fields may be full. Plough in +the spring; but fallow broken up in the summer will not belie +your hopes. Sow fallow land when the soil is still getting +light: fallow land is a defender from harm and a soother of +children. + +(ll. 465-478) Pray to Zeus of the Earth and to pure Demeter to +make Demeter's holy grain sound and heavy, when first you begin +ploughing, when you hold in your hand the end of the plough-tail +and bring down your stick on the backs of the oxen as they draw +on the pole-bar by the yoke-straps. Let a slave follow a little +behind with a mattock and make trouble for the birds by hiding +the seed; for good management is the best for mortal men as bad +management is the worst. In this way your corn-ears will bow to +the ground with fullness if the Olympian himself gives a good +result at the last, and you will sweep the cobwebs from your bins +and you will be glad, I ween, as you take of your garnered +substance. And so you will have plenty till you come to grey +(18) springtime, and will not look wistfully to others, but +another shall be in need of your help. + +(ll. 479-492) But if you plough the good ground at the solstice +(19), you will reap sitting, grasping a thin crop in your hand, +binding the sheaves awry, dust-covered, not glad at all; so you +will bring all home in a basket and not many will admire you. +Yet the will of Zeus who holds the aegis is different at +different times; and it is hard for mortal men to tell it; for if +you should plough late, you may find this remedy -- when the +cuckoo first calls (20) in the leaves of the oak and makes men +glad all over the boundless earth, if Zeus should send rain on +the third day and not cease until it rises neither above an ox's +hoof nor falls short of it, then the late-plougher will vie with +the early. Keep all this well in mind, and fail not to mark grey +spring as it comes and the season of rain. + +(ll 493-501) Pass by the smithy and its crowded lounge in winter +time when the cold keeps men from field work, -- for then an +industrious man can greatly prosper his house -- lest bitter +winter catch you helpless and poor and you chafe a swollen foot +with a shrunk hand. The idle man who waits on empty hope, +lacking a livelihood, lays to heart mischief-making; it is not an +wholesome hope that accompanies a need man who lolls at ease +while he has no sure livelihood. + +(ll. 502-503) While it is yet midsummer command your slaves: `It +will not always be summer, build barns.' + +(ll. 504-535) Avoid the month Lenaeon (21), wretched days, all of +them fit to skin an ox, and the frosts which are cruel when +Boreas blows over the earth. He blows across horse-breeding +Thrace upon the wide sea and stirs it up, while earth and the +forest howl. On many a high-leafed oak and thick pine he falls +and brings them to the bounteous earth in mountain glens: then +all the immense wood roars and the beasts shudder and put their +tails between their legs, even those whose hide is covered with +fur; for with his bitter blast he blows even through them +although they are shaggy-breasted. He goes even through an ox's +hide; it does not stop him. Also he blows through the goat's +fine hair. But through the fleeces of sheep, because their wool +is abundant, the keen wind Boreas pierces not at all; but it +makes the old man curved as a wheel. And it does not blow +through the tender maiden who stays indoors with her dear mother, +unlearned as yet in the works of golden Aphrodite, and who washes +her soft body and anoints herself with oil and lies down in an +inner room within the house, on a winter's day when the Boneless +One (22) gnaws his foot in his fireless house and wretched home; +for the sun shows him no pastures to make for, but goes to and +fro over the land and city of dusky men (23), and shines more +sluggishly upon the whole race of the Hellenes. Then the horned +and unhorned denizens of the wood, with teeth chattering +pitifully, flee through the copses and glades, and all, as they +seek shelter, have this one care, to gain thick coverts or some +hollow rock. Then, like the Three-legged One (24) whose back is +broken and whose head looks down upon the ground, like him, I +say, they wander to escape the white snow. + +(ll. 536-563) Then put on, as I bid you, a soft coat and a tunic +to the feet to shield your body, -- and you should weave thick +woof on thin warp. In this clothe yourself so that your hair may +keep still and not bristle and stand upon end all over your body. + +Lace on your feet close-fitting boots of the hide of a +slaughtered ox, thickly lined with felt inside. And when the +season of frost comes on, stitch together skins of firstling kids +with ox-sinew, to put over your back and to keep off the rain. +On your head above wear a shaped cap of felt to keep your ears +from getting wet, for the dawn is chill when Boreas has once made +his onslaught, and at dawn a fruitful mist is spread over the +earth from starry heaven upon the fields of blessed men: it is +drawn from the ever flowing rivers and is raised high above the +earth by windstorm, and sometimes it turns to rain towards +evening, and sometimes to wind when Thracian Boreas huddles the +thick clouds. Finish your work and return home ahead of him, and +do not let the dark cloud from heaven wrap round you and make +your body clammy and soak your clothes. Avoid it; for this is +the hardest month, wintry, hard for sheep and hard for men. In +this season let your oxen have half their usual food, but let +your man have more; for the helpful nights are long. Observe all +this until the year is ended and you have nights and days of +equal length, and Earth, the mother of all, bears again her +various fruit. + +(ll. 564-570) When Zeus has finished sixty wintry days after the +solstice, then the star Arcturus (25) leaves the holy stream of +Ocean and first rises brilliant at dusk. After him the shrilly +wailing daughter of Pandion, the swallow, appears to men when +spring is just beginning. Before she comes, prune the vines, for +it is best so. + +(ll. 571-581) But when the House-carrier (26) climbs up the +plants from the earth to escape the Pleiades, then it is no +longer the season for digging vineyards, but to whet your sickles +and rouse up your slaves. Avoid shady seats and sleeping until +dawn in the harvest season, when the sun scorches the body. Then +be busy, and bring home your fruits, getting up early to make +your livelihood sure. For dawn takes away a third part of your +work, dawn advances a man on his journey and advances him in his +work, -- dawn which appears and sets many men on their road, and +puts yokes on many oxen. + +(ll. 582-596) But when the artichoke flowers (27), and the +chirping grass-hopper sits in a tree and pours down his shrill +song continually from under his wings in the season of wearisome +heat, then goats are plumpest and wine sweetest; women are most +wanton, but men are feeblest, because Sirius parches head and +knees and the skin is dry through heat. But at that time let me +have a shady rock and wine of Biblis, a clot of curds and milk of +drained goats with the flesh of an heifer fed in the woods, that +has never calved, and of firstling kids; then also let me drink +bright wine, sitting in the shade, when my heart is satisfied +with food, and so, turning my head to face the fresh Zephyr, from +the everflowing spring which pours down unfouled thrice pour an +offering of water, but make a fourth libation of wine. + +(ll. 597-608) Set your slaves to winnow Demeter's holy grain, +when strong Orion (28) first appears, on a smooth threshing-floor +in an airy place. Then measure it and store it in jars. And so +soon as you have safely stored all your stuff indoors, I bid you +put your bondman out of doors and look out for a servant-girl +with no children; -- for a servant with a child to nurse is +troublesome. And look after the dog with jagged teeth; do not +grudge him his food, or some time the Day-sleeper (29) may take +your stuff. Bring in fodder and litter so as to have enough for +your oxen and mules. After that, let your men rest their poor +knees and unyoke your pair of oxen. + +(ll. 609-617) But when Orion and Sirius are come into mid-heaven, +and rosy-fingered Dawn sees Arcturus (30), then cut off all the +grape-clusters, Perses, and bring them home. Show them to the +sun ten days and ten nights: then cover them over for five, and +on the sixth day draw off into vessels the gifts of joyful +Dionysus. But when the Pleiades and Hyades and strong Orion +begin to set (31), then remember to plough in season: and so the +completed year (32) will fitly pass beneath the earth. + +(ll. 618-640) But if desire for uncomfortable sea-faring seize +you; when the Pleiades plunge into the misty sea (33) to escape +Orion's rude strength, then truly gales of all kinds rage. Then +keep ships no longer on the sparkling sea, but bethink you to +till the land as I bid you. Haul up your ship upon the land and +pack it closely with stones all round to keep off the power of +the winds which blow damply, and draw out the bilge-plug so that +the rain of heaven may not rot it. Put away all the tackle and +fittings in your house, and stow the wings of the sea-going ship +neatly, and hang up the well-shaped rudder over the smoke. You +yourself wait until the season for sailing is come, and then haul +your swift ship down to the sea and stow a convenient cargo in +it, so that you may bring home profit, even as your father and +mine, foolish Perses, used to sail on shipboard because he lacked +sufficient livelihood. And one day he came to this very place +crossing over a great stretch of sea; he left Aeolian Cyme and +fled, not from riches and substance, but from wretched poverty +which Zeus lays upon men, and he settled near Helicon in a +miserable hamlet, Ascra, which is bad in winter, sultry in +summer, and good at no time. + +(ll. 641-645) But you, Perses, remember all works in their season +but sailing especially. Admire a small ship, but put your +freight in a large one; for the greater the lading, the greater +will be your piled gain, if only the winds will keep back their +harmful gales. + +(ll. 646-662) If ever you turn your misguided heart to trading +and with to escape from debt and joyless hunger, I will show you +the measures of the loud-roaring sea, though I have no skill in +sea-faring nor in ships; for never yet have I sailed by ship over +the wide sea, but only to Euboea from Aulis where the Achaeans +once stayed through much storm when they had gathered a great +host from divine Hellas for Troy, the land of fair women. Then I +crossed over to Chalcis, to the games of wise Amphidamas where +the sons of the great-hearted hero proclaimed and appointed +prizes. And there I boast that I gained the victory with a song +and carried off an handled tripod which I dedicated to the Muses +of Helicon, in the place where they first set me in the way of +clear song. Such is all my experience of many-pegged ships; +nevertheless I will tell you the will of Zeus who holds the +aegis; for the Muses have taught me to sing in marvellous song. + +(ll. 663-677) Fifty days after the solstice (34), when the season +of wearisome heat is come to an end, is the right time for me to +go sailing. Then you will not wreck your ship, nor will the sea +destroy the sailors, unless Poseidon the Earth-Shaker be set upon +it, or Zeus, the king of the deathless gods, wish to slay them; +for the issues of good and evil alike are with them. At that +time the winds are steady, and the sea is harmless. Then trust +in the winds without care, and haul your swift ship down to the +sea and put all the freight on board; but make all haste you can +to return home again and do not wait till the time of the new +wine and autumn rain and oncoming storms with the fierce gales of +Notus who accompanies the heavy autumn rain of Zeus and stirs up +the sea and makes the deep dangerous. + +(ll. 678-694) Another time for men to go sailing is in spring +when a man first sees leaves on the topmost shoot of a fig-tree +as large as the foot-print that a cow makes; then the sea is +passable, and this is the spring sailing time. For my part I do +not praise it, for my heart does not like it. Such a sailing is +snatched, and you will hardly avoid mischief. Yet in their +ignorance men do even this, for wealth means life to poor +mortals; but it is fearful to die among the waves. But I bid you +consider all these things in your heart as I say. Do not put all +your goods in hallow ships; leave the greater part behind, and +put the lesser part on board; for it is a bad business to meet +with disaster among the waves of the sea, as it is bad if you put +too great a load on your waggon and break the axle, and your +goods are spoiled. Observe due measure: and proportion is best +in all things. + +(ll. 695-705) Bring home a wife to your house when you are of the +right age, while you are not far short of thirty years nor much +above; this is the right age for marriage. Let your wife have +been grown up four years, and marry her in the fifth. Marry a +maiden, so that you can teach her careful ways, and especially +marry one who lives near you, but look well about you and see +that your marriage will not be a joke to your neighbours. For a +man wins nothing better than a good wife, and, again, nothing +worse than a bad one, a greedy soul who roasts her man without +fire, strong though he may be, and brings him to a raw (35) old +age. + +(ll. 706-714) Be careful to avoid the anger of the deathless +gods. Do not make a friend equal to a brother; but if you do, do +not wrong him first, and do not lie to please the tongue. But if +he wrongs you first, offending either in word or in deed, +remember to repay him double; but if he ask you to be his friend +again and be ready to give you satisfaction, welcome him. He is +a worthless man who makes now one and now another his friend; but +as for you, do not let your face put your heart to shame (36). + +(ll. 715-716) Do not get a name either as lavish or as churlish; +as a friend of rogues or as a slanderer of good men. + +(ll. 717-721) Never dare to taunt a man with deadly poverty which +eats out the heart; it is sent by the deathless gods. The best +treasure a man can have is a sparing tongue, and the greatest +pleasure, one that moves orderly; for if you speak evil, you +yourself will soon be worse spoken of. + +(ll. 722-723) Do not be boorish at a common feast where there are +many guests; the pleasure is greatest and the expense is least +(37). + +(ll. 724-726) Never pour a libation of sparkling wine to Zeus +after dawn with unwashen hands, nor to others of the deathless +gods; else they do not hear your prayers but spit them back. + +(ll. 727-732) Do not stand upright facing the sun when you make +water, but remember to do this when he has set towards his +rising. And do not make water as you go, whether on the road or +off the road, and do not uncover yourself: the nights belong to +the blessed gods. A scrupulous man who has a wise heart sits +down or goes to the wall of an enclosed court. + +(ll. 733-736) Do not expose yourself befouled by the fireside in +your house, but avoid this. Do not beget children when you are +come back from ill-omened burial, but after a festival of the +gods. + +(ll. 737-741) Never cross the sweet-flowing water of ever-rolling +rivers afoot until you have prayed, gazing into the soft flood, +and washed your hands in the clear, lovely water. Whoever +crosses a river with hands unwashed of wickedness, the gods are +angry with him and bring trouble upon him afterwards. + +(ll. 742-743) At a cheerful festival of the gods do not cut the +withered from the quick upon that which has five branches (38) +with bright steel. + +(ll. 744-745) Never put the ladle upon the mixing-bowl at a wine +party, for malignant ill-luck is attached to that. + +(ll. 746-747) When you are building a house, do not leave it +rough-hewn, or a cawing crow may settle on it and croak. + +(ll. 748-749) Take nothing to eat or to wash with from uncharmed +pots, for in them there is mischief. + +(ll. 750-759) Do not let a boy of twelve years sit on things +which may not be moved (39), for that is bad, and makes a man +unmanly; nor yet a child of twelve months, for that has the same +effect. A man should not clean his body with water in which a +woman has washed, for there is bitter mischief in that also for a +time. When you come upon a burning sacrifice, do not make a mock +of mysteries, for Heaven is angry at this also. Never make water +in the mouths of rivers which flow to the sea, nor yet in +springs; but be careful to avoid this. And do not ease yourself +in them: it is not well to do this. + +(ll. 760-763) So do: and avoid the talk of men. For Talk is +mischievous, light, and easily raised, but hard to bear and +difficult to be rid of. Talk never wholly dies away when many +people voice her: even Talk is in some ways divine. + +(ll. 765-767) Mark the days which come from Zeus, duly telling +your slaves of them, and that the thirtieth day of the month is +best for one to look over the work and to deal out supplies. + +(ll. 769-768) (40) For these are days which come from Zeus the +all-wise, when men discern aright. + +(ll. 770-779) To begin with, the first, the fourth, and the +seventh -- on which Leto bare Apollo with the blade of gold -- +each is a holy day. The eighth and the ninth, two days at least +of the waxing month (41), are specially good for the works of +man. Also the eleventh and twelfth are both excellent, alike for +shearing sheep and for reaping the kindly fruits; but the twelfth +is much better than the eleventh, for on it the airy-swinging +spider spins its web in full day, and then the Wise One (42), +gathers her pile. On that day woman should set up her loom and +get forward with her work. + +(ll. 780-781) Avoid the thirteenth of the waxing month for +beginning to sow: yet it is the best day for setting plants. + +(ll. 782-789) The sixth of the mid-month is very unfavourable for +plants, but is good for the birth of males, though unfavourable +for a girl either to be born at all or to be married. Nor is the +first sixth a fit day for a girl to be born, but a kindly for +gelding kids and sheep and for fencing in a sheep-cote. It is +favourable for the birth of a boy, but such will be fond of sharp +speech, lies, and cunning words, and stealthy converse. + +(ll. 790-791) On the eighth of the month geld the boar and loud- +bellowing bull, but hard-working mules on the twelfth. + +(ll. 792-799) On the great twentieth, in full day, a wise man +should be born. Such an one is very sound-witted. The tenth is +favourable for a male to be born; but, for a girl, the fourth day +of the mid-month. On that day tame sheep and shambling, horned +oxen, and the sharp-fanged dog and hardy mules to the touch of +the hand. But take care to avoid troubles which eat out the +heart on the fourth of the beginning and ending of the month; it +is a day very fraught with fate. + +(ll. 800-801) On the fourth of the month bring home your bride, +but choose the omens which are best for this business. + +(ll. 802-804) Avoid fifth days: they are unkindly and terrible. +On a fifth day, they say, the Erinyes assisted at the birth of +Horcus (Oath) whom Eris (Strife) bare to trouble the forsworn. + +(ll. 805-809) Look about you very carefully and throw out +Demeter's holy grain upon the well-rolled (43) threshing floor on +the seventh of the mid-month. Let the woodman cut beams for +house building and plenty of ships' timbers, such as are suitable +for ships. On the fourth day begin to build narrow ships. + +(ll. 810-813) The ninth of the mid-month improves towards +evening; but the first ninth of all is quite harmless for men. +It is a good day on which to beget or to be born both for a male +and a female: it is never an wholly evil day. + +(ll. 814-818) Again, few know that the twenty-seventh of the +month is best for opening a wine-jar, and putting yokes on the +necks of oxen and mules and swift-footed horses, and for hauling +a swift ship of many thwarts down to the sparkling sea; few call +it by its right name. + +(ll. 819-821) On the fourth day open a jar. The fourth of the +mid-month is a day holy above all. And again, few men know that +the fourth day after the twentieth is best while it is morning: +towards evening it is less good. + +(ll. 822-828) These days are a great blessing to men on earth; +but the rest are changeable, luckless, and bring nothing. +Everyone praises a different day but few know their nature. +Sometimes a day is a stepmother, sometimes a mother. That man is +happy and lucky in them who knows all these things and does his +work without offending the deathless gods, who discerns the omens +of birds and avoids transgressions. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) That is, the poor man's fare, like `bread and cheese'. +(2) The All-endowed. +(3) The jar or casket contained the gifts of the gods mentioned + in l.82. +(4) Eustathius refers to Hesiod as stating that men sprung `from + oaks and stones and ashtrees'. Proclus believed that the + Nymphs called Meliae ("Theogony", 187) are intended. + Goettling would render: `A race terrible because of their + (ashen) spears.' +(5) Preserved only by Proclus, from whom some inferior MSS. have + copied the verse. The four following lines occur only in + Geneva Papyri No. 94. For the restoration of ll. 169b-c see + "Class. Quart." vii. 219-220. (NOTE: Mr. Evelyn-White means + that the version quoted by Proclus stops at this point, then + picks up at l. 170. -- DBK). +(6) i.e. the race will so degenerate that at the last even a + new-born child will show the marks of old age. +(7) Aidos, as a quality, is that feeling of reverence or shame + which restrains men from wrong: Nemesis is the feeling of + righteous indignation aroused especially by the sight of the + wicked in undeserved prosperity (cf. "Psalms", lxxii. 1-19). +(8) The alternative version is: `and, working, you will be much + better loved both by gods and men; for they greatly dislike + the idle.' +(9) i.e. neighbours come at once and without making + preparations, but kinsmen by marriage (who live at a + distance) have to prepare, and so are long in coming. +(10) Early in May. +(11) In November. +(12) In October. +(13) For pounding corn. +(14) A mallet for breaking clods after ploughing. +(15) The loaf is a flattish cake with two intersecting lines + scored on its upper surface which divide it into four equal + parts. +(16) The meaning is obscure. A scholiast renders `giving eight + mouthfulls'; but the elder Philostratus uses the word in + contrast to `leavened'. +(17) About the middle of November. +(18) Spring is so described because the buds have not yet cast + their iron-grey husks. +(19) In December. +(20) In March. +(21) The latter part of January and earlier part of February. +(22) i.e. the octopus or cuttle. +(23) i.e. the darker-skinned people of Africa, the Egyptians or + Aethiopians. +(24) i.e. an old man walking with a staff (the `third leg' -- as + in the riddle of the Sphinx). +(25) February to March. +(26) i.e. the snail. The season is the middle of May. +(27) In June. +(28) July. +(29) i.e. a robber. +(30) September. +(31) The end of October. +(32) That is, the succession of stars which make up the full + year. +(33) The end of October or beginning of November. +(34) July-August. +(35) i.e. untimely, premature. Juvenal similarly speaks of + `cruda senectus' (caused by gluttony). +(36) The thought is parallel to that of `O, what a goodly outside + falsehood hath.' +(37) The `common feast' is one to which all present subscribe. + Theognis (line 495) says that one of the chief pleasures of + a banquet is the general conversation. Hence the present + passage means that such a feast naturally costs little, + while the many present will make pleasurable conversation. +(38) i.e. `do not cut your finger-nails'. +(39) i.e. things which it would be sacrilege to disturb, such as + tombs. +(40) H.G. Evelyn-White prefers to switch ll. 768 and 769, reading + l. 769 first then l. 768. -- DBK +(41) The month is divided into three periods, the waxing, the + mid-month, and the waning, which answer to the phases of the + moon. +(42) i.e. the ant. +(43) Such seems to be the meaning here, though the epithet is + otherwise rendered `well-rounded'. Corn was threshed by + means of a sleigh with two runners having three or four + rollers between them, like the modern Egyptian "nurag". + + + +THE DIVINATION BY BIRDS (fragments) + +Proclus on Works and Days, 828: +Some make the "Divination by Birds", which Apollonius of Rhodes +rejects as spurious, follow this verse ("Works and Days", 828). + + + +THE ASTRONOMY (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Athenaeus xi, p. 491 d: +And the author of "The Astronomy", which is attributed forsooth +to Hesiod, always calls them (the Pleiades) Peleiades: `but +mortals call them Peleiades'; and again, `the stormy Peleiades go +down'; and again, `then the Peleiades hide away....' + +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. ii. 16: +The Pleiades.... whose stars are these: -- `Lovely Teygata, and +dark-faced Electra, and Alcyone, and bright Asterope, and +Celaeno, and Maia, and Merope, whom glorious Atlas begot....' +((LACUNA)) +`In the mountains of Cyllene she (Maia) bare Hermes, the herald +of the gods.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Scholiast on Aratus 254: +But Zeus made them (the sisters of Hyas) into the stars which are +called Hyades. Hesiod in his Book about Stars tells us their +names as follows: `Nymphs like the Graces (1), Phaesyle and +Coronis and rich-crowned Cleeia and lovely Phaco and long-robed +Eudora, whom the tribes of men upon the earth call Hyades.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Pseudo-Eratosthenes Catast. frag. 1: (2) +The Great Bear.] -- Hesiod says she (Callisto) was the daughter +of Lycaon and lived in Arcadia. She chose to occupy herself with +wild-beasts in the mountains together with Artemis, and, when she +was seduced by Zeus, continued some time undetected by the +goddess, but afterwards, when she was already with child, was +seen by her bathing and so discovered. Upon this, the goddess +was enraged and changed her into a beast. Thus she became a bear +and gave birth to a son called Arcas. But while she was in the +mountains, she was hunted by some goat-herds and given up with +her babe to Lycaon. Some while after, she thought fit to go into +the forbidden precinct of Zeus, not knowing the law, and being +pursued by her own son and the Arcadians, was about to be killed +because of the said law; but Zeus delivered her because of her +connection with him and put her among the stars, giving her the +name Bear because of the misfortune which had befallen her. + +Comm. Supplem. on Aratus, p. 547 M. 8: +Of Bootes, also called the Bear-warden. The story goes that he +is Arcas the son of Callisto and Zeus, and he lived in the +country about Lycaeum. After Zeus had seduced Callisto, Lycaon, +pretending not to know of the matter, entertained Zeus, as Hesiod +says, and set before him on the table the babe which he had cut +up. + + +Fragment #4 -- +Pseudo-Eratosthenes, Catast. fr. xxxii: +Orion.] -- Hesiod says that he was the son of Euryale, the +daughter of Minos, and of Poseidon, and that there was given him +as a gift the power of walking upon the waves as though upon +land. When he was come to Chios, he outraged Merope, the +daughter of Oenopion, being drunken; but Oenopion when he learned +of it was greatly vexed at the outrage and blinded him and cast +him out of the country. Then he came to Lemnos as a beggar and +there met Hephaestus who took pity on him and gave him Cedalion +his own servant to guide him. So Orion took Cedalion upon his +shoulders and used to carry him about while he pointed out the +roads. Then he came to the east and appears to have met Helius +(the Sun) and to have been healed, and so returned back again to +Oenopion to punish him; but Oenopion was hidden away by his +people underground. Being disappointed, then, in his search for +the king, Orion went away to Crete and spent his time hunting in +company with Artemis and Leto. It seems that he threatened to +kill every beast there was on earth; whereupon, in her anger, +Earth sent up against him a scorpion of very great size by which +he was stung and so perished. After this Zeus, at one prayer of +Artemis and Leto, put him among the stars, because of his +manliness, and the scorpion also as a memorial of him and of what +had occurred. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Diodorus iv. 85: +Some say that great earthquakes occurred, which broke through the +neck of land and formed the straits (3), the sea parting the +mainland from the island. But Hesiod, the poet, says just the +opposite: that the sea was open, but Orion piled up the +promontory by Peloris, and founded the close of Poseidon which is +especially esteemed by the people thereabouts. When he had +finished this, he went away to Euboea and settled there, and +because of his renown was taken into the number of the stars in +heaven, and won undying remembrance. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) This halt verse is added by the Scholiast on Aratus, 172. +(2) The "Catasterismi" ("Placings among the Stars") is a + collection of legends relating to the various + constellations. +(3) The Straits of Messina. + + + +THE PRECEPTS OF CHIRON (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. vi. 19: +`And now, pray, mark all these things well in a wise heart. +First, whenever you come to your house, offer good sacrifices to +the eternal gods.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Plutarch Mor. 1034 E: +`Decide no suit until you have heard both sides speak.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Plutarch de Orac. defectu ii. 415 C: +`A chattering crow lives out nine generations of aged men, but a +stag's life is four times a crow's, and a raven's life makes +three stags old, while the phoenix outlives nine ravens, but we, +the rich-haired Nymphs, daughters of Zeus the aegis-holder, +outlive ten phoenixes.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Quintilian, i. 15: +Some consider that children under the age of seven should not +receive a literary education... That Hesiod was of this opinion +very many writers affirm who were earlier than the critic +Aristophanes; for he was the first to reject the "Precepts", in +which book this maxim occurs, as a work of that poet. + + + +THE GREAT WORKS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Comm. on Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics. v. 8: +The verse, however (the slaying of Rhadamanthys), is in Hesiod in +the "Great Works" and is as follows: `If a man sow evil, he shall +reap evil increase; if men do to him as he has done, it will be +true justice.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Proclus on Hesiod, Works and Days, 126: +Some believe that the Silver Race (is to be attributed to) the +earth, declaring that in the "Great Works" Hesiod makes silver to +be of the family of Earth. + + + +THE IDAEAN DACTYLS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Pliny, Natural History vii. 56, 197: +Hesiod says that those who are called the Idaean Dactyls taught +the smelting and tempering of iron in Crete. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Clement, Stromateis i. 16. 75: +Celmis, again, and Damnameneus, the first of the Idaean Dactyls, +discovered iron in Cyprus; but bronze smelting was discovered by +Delas, another Idaean, though Hesiod calls him Scythes (1). + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) Or perhaps `a Scythian'. + + + +THE THEOGONY (1,041 lines) + +(ll. 1-25) From the Heliconian Muses let us begin to sing, who +hold the great and holy mount of Helicon, and dance on soft feet +about the deep-blue spring and the altar of the almighty son of +Cronos, and, when they have washed their tender bodies in +Permessus or in the Horse's Spring or Olmeius, make their fair, +lovely dances upon highest Helicon and move with vigorous feet. +Thence they arise and go abroad by night, veiled in thick mist, +and utter their song with lovely voice, praising Zeus the aegis- +holder and queenly Hera of Argos who walks on golden sandals and +the daughter of Zeus the aegis-holder bright-eyed Athene, and +Phoebus Apollo, and Artemis who delights in arrows, and Poseidon +the earth-holder who shakes the earth, and reverend Themis and +quick-glancing (1) Aphrodite, and Hebe with the crown of gold, +and fair Dione, Leto, Iapetus, and Cronos the crafty counsellor, +Eos and great Helius and bright Selene, Earth too, and great +Oceanus, and dark Night, and the holy race of all the other +deathless ones that are for ever. And one day they taught Hesiod +glorious song while he was shepherding his lambs under holy +Helicon, and this word first the goddesses said to me -- the +Muses of Olympus, daughters of Zeus who holds the aegis: + +(ll. 26-28) `Shepherds of the wilderness, wretched things of +shame, mere bellies, we know how to speak many false things as +though they were true; but we know, when we will, to utter true +things.' + +(ll. 29-35) So said the ready-voiced daughters of great Zeus, and +they plucked and gave me a rod, a shoot of sturdy laurel, a +marvellous thing, and breathed into me a divine voice to +celebrate things that shall be and things there were aforetime; +and they bade me sing of the race of the blessed gods that are +eternally, but ever to sing of themselves both first and last. +But why all this about oak or stone? (2) + +(ll. 36-52) Come thou, let us begin with the Muses who gladden +the great spirit of their father Zeus in Olympus with their +songs, telling of things that are and that shall be and that were +aforetime with consenting voice. Unwearying flows the sweet +sound from their lips, and the house of their father Zeus the +loud-thunderer is glad at the lily-like voice of the goddesses as +it spread abroad, and the peaks of snowy Olympus resound, and the +homes of the immortals. And they uttering their immortal voice, +celebrate in song first of all the reverend race of the gods from +the beginning, those whom Earth and wide Heaven begot, and the +gods sprung of these, givers of good things. Then, next, the +goddesses sing of Zeus, the father of gods and men, as they begin +and end their strain, how much he is the most excellent among the +gods and supreme in power. And again, they chant the race of men +and strong giants, and gladden the heart of Zeus within Olympus, +-- the Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus the aegis-holder. + +(ll. 53-74) Them in Pieria did Mnemosyne (Memory), who reigns +over the hills of Eleuther, bear of union with the father, the +son of Cronos, a forgetting of ills and a rest from sorrow. For +nine nights did wise Zeus lie with her, entering her holy bed +remote from the immortals. And when a year was passed and the +seasons came round as the months waned, and many days were +accomplished, she bare nine daughters, all of one mind, whose +hearts are set upon song and their spirit free from care, a +little way from the topmost peak of snowy Olympus. There are +their bright dancing-places and beautiful homes, and beside them +the Graces and Himerus (Desire) live in delight. And they, +uttering through their lips a lovely voice, sing the laws of all +and the goodly ways of the immortals, uttering their lovely +voice. Then went they to Olympus, delighting in their sweet +voice, with heavenly song, and the dark earth resounded about +them as they chanted, and a lovely sound rose up beneath their +feet as they went to their father. And he was reigning in +heaven, himself holding the lightning and glowing thunderbolt, +when he had overcome by might his father Cronos; and he +distributed fairly to the immortals their portions and declared +their privileges. + +(ll. 75-103) These things, then, the Muses sang who dwell on +Olympus, nine daughters begotten by great Zeus, Cleio and +Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene and Terpsichore, and Erato and +Polyhymnia and Urania and Calliope (3), who is the chiefest of +them all, for she attends on worshipful princes: whomsoever of +heaven-nourished princes the daughters of great Zeus honour, and +behold him at his birth, they pour sweet dew upon his tongue, and +from his lips flow gracious words. All the people look towards +him while he settles causes with true judgements: and he, +speaking surely, would soon make wise end even of a great +quarrel; for therefore are there princes wise in heart, because +when the people are being misguided in their assembly, they set +right the matter again with ease, persuading them with gentle +words. And when he passes through a gathering, they greet him as +a god with gentle reverence, and he is conspicuous amongst the +assembled: such is the holy gift of the Muses to men. For it is +through the Muses and far-shooting Apollo that there are singers +and harpers upon the earth; but princes are of Zeus, and happy is +he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from his mouth. For +though a man have sorrow and grief in his newly-troubled soul and +live in dread because his heart is distressed, yet, when a +singer, the servant of the Muses, chants the glorious deeds of +men of old and the blessed gods who inhabit Olympus, at once he +forgets his heaviness and remembers not his sorrows at all; but +the gifts of the goddesses soon turn him away from these. + +(ll. 104-115) Hail, children of Zeus! Grant lovely song and +celebrate the holy race of the deathless gods who are for ever, +those that were born of Earth and starry Heaven and gloomy Night +and them that briny Sea did rear. Tell how at the first gods and +earth came to be, and rivers, and the boundless sea with its +raging swell, and the gleaming stars, and the wide heaven above, +and the gods who were born of them, givers of good things, and +how they divided their wealth, and how they shared their honours +amongst them, and also how at the first they took many-folded +Olympus. These things declare to me from the beginning, ye Muses +who dwell in the house of Olympus, and tell me which of them +first came to be. + +(ll. 116-138) Verily at the first Chaos came to be, but next +wide-bosomed Earth, the ever-sure foundations of all (4) the +deathless ones who hold the peaks of snowy Olympus, and dim +Tartarus in the depth of the wide-pathed Earth, and Eros (Love), +fairest among the deathless gods, who unnerves the limbs and +overcomes the mind and wise counsels of all gods and all men +within them. From Chaos came forth Erebus and black Night; but +of Night were born Aether (5) and Day, whom she conceived and +bare from union in love with Erebus. And Earth first bare starry +Heaven, equal to herself, to cover her on every side, and to be +an ever-sure abiding-place for the blessed gods. And she brought +forth long Hills, graceful haunts of the goddess-Nymphs who dwell +amongst the glens of the hills. She bare also the fruitless deep +with his raging swell, Pontus, without sweet union of love. But +afterwards she lay with Heaven and bare deep-swirling Oceanus, +Coeus and Crius and Hyperion and Iapetus, Theia and Rhea, Themis +and Mnemosyne and gold-crowned Phoebe and lovely Tethys. After +them was born Cronos the wily, youngest and most terrible of her +children, and he hated his lusty sire. + +(ll. 139-146) And again, she bare the Cyclopes, overbearing in +spirit, Brontes, and Steropes and stubborn-hearted Arges (6), who +gave Zeus the thunder and made the thunderbolt: in all else they +were like the gods, but one eye only was set in the midst of +their fore-heads. And they were surnamed Cyclopes (Orb-eyed) +because one orbed eye was set in their foreheads. Strength and +might and craft were in their works. + +(ll. 147-163) And again, three other sons were born of Earth and +Heaven, great and doughty beyond telling, Cottus and Briareos and +Gyes, presumptuous children. From their shoulders sprang an +hundred arms, not to be approached, and each had fifty heads upon +his shoulders on their strong limbs, and irresistible was the +stubborn strength that was in their great forms. For of all the +children that were born of Earth and Heaven, these were the most +terrible, and they were hated by their own father from the first. + +And he used to hide them all away in a secret place of Earth so +soon as each was born, and would not suffer them to come up into +the light: and Heaven rejoiced in his evil doing. But vast Earth +groaned within, being straitened, and she made the element of +grey flint and shaped a great sickle, and told her plan to her +dear sons. And she spoke, cheering them, while she was vexed in +her dear heart: + +(ll. 164-166) `My children, gotten of a sinful father, if you +will obey me, we should punish the vile outrage of your father; +for he first thought of doing shameful things.' + +(ll. 167-169) So she said; but fear seized them all, and none of +them uttered a word. But great Cronos the wily took courage and +answered his dear mother: + +(ll. 170-172) `Mother, I will undertake to do this deed, for I +reverence not our father of evil name, for he first thought of +doing shameful things.' + +(ll. 173-175) So he said: and vast Earth rejoiced greatly in +spirit, and set and hid him in an ambush, and put in his hands a +jagged sickle, and revealed to him the whole plot. + +(ll. 176-206) And Heaven came, bringing on night and longing for +love, and he lay about Earth spreading himself full upon her (7). + +Then the son from his ambush stretched forth his left hand and in +his right took the great long sickle with jagged teeth, and +swiftly lopped off his own father's members and cast them away to +fall behind him. And not vainly did they fall from his hand; for +all the bloody drops that gushed forth Earth received, and as the +seasons moved round she bare the strong Erinyes and the great +Giants with gleaming armour, holding long spears in their hands +and the Nymphs whom they call Meliae (8) all over the boundless +earth. And so soon as he had cut off the members with flint and +cast them from the land into the surging sea, they were swept +away over the main a long time: and a white foam spread around +them from the immortal flesh, and in it there grew a maiden. +First she drew near holy Cythera, and from there, afterwards, she +came to sea-girt Cyprus, and came forth an awful and lovely +goddess, and grass grew up about her beneath her shapely feet. +Her gods and men call Aphrodite, and the foam-born goddess and +rich-crowned Cytherea, because she grew amid the foam, and +Cytherea because she reached Cythera, and Cyprogenes because she +was born in billowy Cyprus, and Philommedes (9) because sprang +from the members. And with her went Eros, and comely Desire +followed her at her birth at the first and as she went into the +assembly of the gods. This honour she has from the beginning, +and this is the portion allotted to her amongst men and undying +gods, -- the whisperings of maidens and smiles and deceits with +sweet delight and love and graciousness. + +(ll. 207-210) But these sons whom he begot himself great Heaven +used to call Titans (Strainers) in reproach, for he said that +they strained and did presumptuously a fearful deed, and that +vengeance for it would come afterwards. + +(ll. 211-225) And Night bare hateful Doom and black Fate and +Death, and she bare Sleep and the tribe of Dreams. And again the +goddess murky Night, though she lay with none, bare Blame and +painful Woe, and the Hesperides who guard the rich, golden apples +and the trees bearing fruit beyond glorious Ocean. Also she bare +the Destinies and ruthless avenging Fates, Clotho and Lachesis +and Atropos (10), who give men at their birth both evil and good +to have, and they pursue the transgressions of men and of gods: +and these goddesses never cease from their dread anger until they +punish the sinner with a sore penalty. Also deadly Night bare +Nemesis (Indignation) to afflict mortal men, and after her, +Deceit and Friendship and hateful Age and hard-hearted Strife. + +(ll. 226-232) But abhorred Strife bare painful Toil and +Forgetfulness and Famine and tearful Sorrows, Fightings also, +Battles, Murders, Manslaughters, Quarrels, Lying Words, Disputes, +Lawlessness and Ruin, all of one nature, and Oath who most +troubles men upon earth when anyone wilfully swears a false oath. + +(ll. 233-239) And Sea begat Nereus, the eldest of his children, +who is true and lies not: and men call him the Old Man because he +is trusty and gentle and does not forget the laws of +righteousness, but thinks just and kindly thoughts. And yet +again he got great Thaumas and proud Phorcys, being mated with +Earth, and fair-cheeked Ceto and Eurybia who has a heart of flint +within her. + +(ll. 240-264) And of Nereus and rich-haired Doris, daughter of +Ocean the perfect river, were born children (11), passing lovely +amongst goddesses, Ploto, Eucrante, Sao, and Amphitrite, and +Eudora, and Thetis, Galene and Glauce, Cymothoe, Speo, Thoe and +lovely Halie, and Pasithea, and Erato, and rosy-armed Eunice, and +gracious Melite, and Eulimene, and Agaue, Doto, Proto, Pherusa, +and Dynamene, and Nisaea, and Actaea, and Protomedea, Doris, +Panopea, and comely Galatea, and lovely Hippothoe, and rosy-armed +Hipponoe, and Cymodoce who with Cymatolege (12) and Amphitrite +easily calms the waves upon the misty sea and the blasts of +raging winds, and Cymo, and Eione, and rich-crowned Alimede, and +Glauconome, fond of laughter, and Pontoporea, Leagore, Euagore, +and Laomedea, and Polynoe, and Autonoe, and Lysianassa, and +Euarne, lovely of shape and without blemish of form, and Psamathe +of charming figure and divine Menippe, Neso, Eupompe, Themisto, +Pronoe, and Nemertes (13) who has the nature of her deathless +father. These fifty daughters sprang from blameless Nereus, +skilled in excellent crafts. + +(ll. 265-269) And Thaumas wedded Electra the daughter of deep- +flowing Ocean, and she bare him swift Iris and the long-haired +Harpies, Aello (Storm-swift) and Ocypetes (Swift-flier) who on +their swift wings keep pace with the blasts of the winds and the +birds; for quick as time they dart along. + +(ll 270-294) And again, Ceto bare to Phorcys the fair-cheeked +Graiae, sisters grey from their birth: and both deathless gods +and men who walk on earth call them Graiae, Pemphredo well-clad, +and saffron-robed Enyo, and the Gorgons who dwell beyond glorious +Ocean in the frontier land towards Night where are the clear- +voiced Hesperides, Sthenno, and Euryale, and Medusa who suffered +a woeful fate: she was mortal, but the two were undying and grew +not old. With her lay the Dark-haired One (14) in a soft meadow +amid spring flowers. And when Perseus cut off her head, there +sprang forth great Chrysaor and the horse Pegasus who is so +called because he was born near the springs (pegae) of Ocean; and +that other, because he held a golden blade (aor) in his hands. +Now Pegasus flew away and left the earth, the mother of flocks, +and came to the deathless gods: and he dwells in the house of +Zeus and brings to wise Zeus the thunder and lightning. But +Chrysaor was joined in love to Callirrhoe, the daughter of +glorious Ocean, and begot three-headed Geryones. Him mighty +Heracles slew in sea-girt Erythea by his shambling oxen on that +day when he drove the wide-browed oxen to holy Tiryns, and had +crossed the ford of Ocean and killed Orthus and Eurytion the +herdsman in the dim stead out beyond glorious Ocean. + +(ll. 295-305) And in a hollow cave she bare another monster, +irresistible, in no wise like either to mortal men or to the +undying gods, even the goddess fierce Echidna who is half a nymph +with glancing eyes and fair cheeks, and half again a huge snake, +great and awful, with speckled skin, eating raw flesh beneath the +secret parts of the holy earth. And there she has a cave deep +down under a hollow rock far from the deathless gods and mortal +men. There, then, did the gods appoint her a glorious house to +dwell in: and she keeps guard in Arima beneath the earth, grim +Echidna, a nymph who dies not nor grows old all her days. + +(ll. 306-332) Men say that Typhaon the terrible, outrageous and +lawless, was joined in love to her, the maid with glancing eyes. +So she conceived and brought forth fierce offspring; first she +bare Orthus the hound of Geryones, and then again she bare a +second, a monster not to be overcome and that may not be +described, Cerberus who eats raw flesh, the brazen-voiced hound +of Hades, fifty-headed, relentless and strong. And again she +bore a third, the evil-minded Hydra of Lerna, whom the goddess, +white-armed Hera nourished, being angry beyond measure with the +mighty Heracles. And her Heracles, the son of Zeus, of the house +of Amphitryon, together with warlike Iolaus, destroyed with the +unpitying sword through the plans of Athene the spoil-driver. +She was the mother of Chimaera who breathed raging fire, a +creature fearful, great, swift-footed and strong, who had three +heads, one of a grim-eyed lion; in her hinderpart, a dragon; and +in her middle, a goat, breathing forth a fearful blast of blazing +fire. Her did Pegasus and noble Bellerophon slay; but Echidna +was subject in love to Orthus and brought forth the deadly Sphinx +which destroyed the Cadmeans, and the Nemean lion, which Hera, +the good wife of Zeus, brought up and made to haunt the hills of +Nemea, a plague to men. There he preyed upon the tribes of her +own people and had power over Tretus of Nemea and Apesas: yet the +strength of stout Heracles overcame him. + +(ll. 333-336) And Ceto was joined in love to Phorcys and bare her +youngest, the awful snake who guards the apples all of gold in +the secret places of the dark earth at its great bounds. This is +the offspring of Ceto and Phorcys. + +(ll. 334-345) And Tethys bare to Ocean eddying rivers, Nilus, and +Alpheus, and deep-swirling Eridanus, Strymon, and Meander, and +the fair stream of Ister, and Phasis, and Rhesus, and the silver +eddies of Achelous, Nessus, and Rhodius, Haliacmon, and +Heptaporus, Granicus, and Aesepus, and holy Simois, and Peneus, +and Hermus, and Caicus fair stream, and great Sangarius, Ladon, +Parthenius, Euenus, Ardescus, and divine Scamander. + +(ll. 346-370) Also she brought forth a holy company of daughters +(15) who with the lord Apollo and the Rivers have youths in their +keeping -- to this charge Zeus appointed them -- Peitho, and +Admete, and Ianthe, and Electra, and Doris, and Prymno, and +Urania divine in form, Hippo, Clymene, Rhodea, and Callirrhoe, +Zeuxo and Clytie, and Idyia, and Pasithoe, Plexaura, and +Galaxaura, and lovely Dione, Melobosis and Thoe and handsome +Polydora, Cerceis lovely of form, and soft eyed Pluto, Perseis, +Ianeira, Acaste, Xanthe, Petraea the fair, Menestho, and Europa, +Metis, and Eurynome, and Telesto saffron-clad, Chryseis and Asia +and charming Calypso, Eudora, and Tyche, Amphirho, and Ocyrrhoe, +and Styx who is the chiefest of them all. These are the eldest +daughters that sprang from Ocean and Tethys; but there are many +besides. For there are three thousand neat-ankled daughters of +Ocean who are dispersed far and wide, and in every place alike +serve the earth and the deep waters, children who are glorious +among goddesses. And as many other rivers are there, babbling as +they flow, sons of Ocean, whom queenly Tethys bare, but their +names it is hard for a mortal man to tell, but people know those +by which they severally dwell. + +(ll. 371-374) And Theia was subject in love to Hyperion and bare +great Helius (Sun) and clear Selene (Moon) and Eos (Dawn) who +shines upon all that are on earth and upon the deathless Gods who +live in the wide heaven. + +(ll. 375-377) And Eurybia, bright goddess, was joined in love to +Crius and bare great Astraeus, and Pallas, and Perses who also +was eminent among all men in wisdom. + +(ll. 378-382) And Eos bare to Astraeus the strong-hearted winds, +brightening Zephyrus, and Boreas, headlong in his course, and +Notus, -- a goddess mating in love with a god. And after these +Erigenia (16) bare the star Eosphorus (Dawn-bringer), and the +gleaming stars with which heaven is crowned. + +(ll. 383-403) And Styx the daughter of Ocean was joined to Pallas +and bare Zelus (Emulation) and trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the +house. Also she brought forth Cratos (Strength) and Bia (Force), +wonderful children. These have no house apart from Zeus, nor any +dwelling nor path except that wherein God leads them, but they +dwell always with Zeus the loud-thunderer. For so did Styx the +deathless daughter of Ocean plan on that day when the Olympian +Lightener called all the deathless gods to great Olympus, and +said that whosoever of the gods would fight with him against the +Titans, he would not cast him out from his rights, but each +should have the office which he had before amongst the deathless +gods. And he declared that he who was without office and rights +as is just. So deathless Styx came first to Olympus with her +children through the wit of her dear father. And Zeus honoured +her, and gave her very great gifts, for her he appointed to be +the great oath of the gods, and her children to live with him +always. And as he promised, so he performed fully unto them all. +But he himself mightily reigns and rules. + +(ll. 404-452) Again, Phoebe came to the desired embrace of Coeus. + +Then the goddess through the love of the god conceived and +brought forth dark-gowned Leto, always mild, kind to men and to +the deathless gods, mild from the beginning, gentlest in all +Olympus. Also she bare Asteria of happy name, whom Perses once +led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she +conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Cronos honoured +above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the +earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry +heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For +to this day, whenever any one of men on earth offers rich +sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls +upon Hecate. Great honour comes full easily to him whose prayers +the goddess receives favourably, and she bestows wealth upon him; +for the power surely is with her. For as many as were born of +Earth and Ocean amongst all these she has her due portion. The +son of Cronos did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that +was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as +the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both +in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an +only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more +still, for Zeus honours her. Whom she will she greatly aids and +advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the +assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. And +when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then +the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to +whom she will. Good is she also when men contend at the games, +for there too the goddess is with them and profits them: and he +who by might and strength gets the victory wins the rich prize +easily with joy, and brings glory to his parents. And she is +good to stand by horsemen, whom she will: and to those whose +business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to +Hecate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, easily the glorious +goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon +as seen, if so she will. She is good in the byre with Hermes to +increase the stock. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats +and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a +few, or makes many to be less. So, then. albeit her mother's +only child (17), she is honoured amongst all the deathless gods. +And the son of Cronos made her a nurse of the young who after +that day saw with their eyes the light of all-seeing Dawn. So +from the beginning she is a nurse of the young, and these are her +honours. + +(ll. 453-491) But Rhea was subject in love to Cronos and bare +splendid children, Hestia (18), Demeter, and gold-shod Hera and +strong Hades, pitiless in heart, who dwells under the earth, and +the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, and wise Zeus, father of gods and +men, by whose thunder the wide earth is shaken. These great +Cronos swallowed as each came forth from the womb to his mother's +knees with this intent, that no other of the proud sons of Heaven +should hold the kingly office amongst the deathless gods. For he +learned from Earth and starry Heaven that he was destined to be +overcome by his own son, strong though he was, through the +contriving of great Zeus (19). Therefore he kept no blind +outlook, but watched and swallowed down his children: and +unceasing grief seized Rhea. But when she was about to bear +Zeus, the father of gods and men, then she besought her own dear +parents, Earth and starry Heaven, to devise some plan with her +that the birth of her dear child might be concealed, and that +retribution might overtake great, crafty Cronos for his own +father and also for the children whom he had swallowed down. And +they readily heard and obeyed their dear daughter, and told her +all that was destined to happen touching Cronos the king and his +stout-hearted son. So they sent her to Lyetus, to the rich land +of Crete, when she was ready to bear great Zeus, the youngest of +her children. Him did vast Earth receive from Rhea in wide Crete +to nourish and to bring up. Thither came Earth carrying him +swiftly through the black night to Lyctus first, and took him in +her arms and hid him in a remote cave beneath the secret places +of the holy earth on thick-wooded Mount Aegeum; but to the +mightily ruling son of Heaven, the earlier king of the gods, she +gave a great stone wrapped in swaddling clothes. Then he took it +in his hands and thrust it down into his belly: wretch! he knew +not in his heart that in place of the stone his son was left +behind, unconquered and untroubled, and that he was soon to +overcome him by force and might and drive him from his honours, +himself to reign over the deathless gods. + +(ll. 492-506) After that, the strength and glorious limbs of the +prince increased quickly, and as the years rolled on, great +Cronos the wily was beguiled by the deep suggestions of Earth, +and brought up again his offspring, vanquished by the arts and +might of his own son, and he vomited up first the stone which he +had swallowed last. And Zeus set it fast in the wide-pathed +earth at goodly Pytho under the glens of Parnassus, to be a sign +thenceforth and a marvel to mortal men (20). And he set free +from their deadly bonds the brothers of his father, sons of +Heaven whom his father in his foolishness had bound. And they +remembered to be grateful to him for his kindness, and gave him +thunder and the glowing thunderbolt and lightening: for before +that, huge Earth had hidden these. In them he trusts and rules +over mortals and immortals. + +(ll. 507-543) Now Iapetus took to wife the neat-ankled mad +Clymene, daughter of Ocean, and went up with her into one bed. +And she bare him a stout-hearted son, Atlas: also she bare very +glorious Menoetius and clever Prometheus, full of various wiles, +and scatter-brained Epimetheus who from the first was a mischief +to men who eat bread; for it was he who first took of Zeus the +woman, the maiden whom he had formed. But Menoetius was +outrageous, and far-seeing Zeus struck him with a lurid +thunderbolt and sent him down to Erebus because of his mad +presumption and exceeding pride. And Atlas through hard +constraint upholds the wide heaven with unwearying head and arms, +standing at the borders of the earth before the clear-voiced +Hesperides; for this lot wise Zeus assigned to him. And ready- +witted Prometheus he bound with inextricable bonds, cruel chains, +and drove a shaft through his middle, and set on him a long- +winged eagle, which used to eat his immortal liver; but by night +the liver grew as much again everyway as the long-winged bird +devoured in the whole day. That bird Heracles, the valiant son +of shapely-ankled Alcmene, slew; and delivered the son of Iapetus +from the cruel plague, and released him from his affliction -- +not without the will of Olympian Zeus who reigns on high, that +the glory of Heracles the Theban-born might be yet greater than +it was before over the plenteous earth. This, then, he regarded, +and honoured his famous son; though he was angry, he ceased from +the wrath which he had before because Prometheus matched himself +in wit with the almighty son of Cronos. For when the gods and +mortal men had a dispute at Mecone, even then Prometheus was +forward to cut up a great ox and set portions before them, trying +to befool the mind of Zeus. Before the rest he set flesh and +inner parts thick with fat upon the hide, covering them with an +ox paunch; but for Zeus he put the white bones dressed up with +cunning art and covered with shining fat. Then the father of men +and of gods said to him: + +(ll. 543-544) `Son of Iapetus, most glorious of all lords, good +sir, how unfairly you have divided the portions!' + +(ll. 545-547) So said Zeus whose wisdom is everlasting, rebuking +him. But wily Prometheus answered him, smiling softly and not +forgetting his cunning trick: + +(ll. 548-558) `Zeus, most glorious and greatest of the eternal +gods, take which ever of these portions your heart within you +bids.' So he said, thinking trickery. But Zeus, whose wisdom is +everlasting, saw and failed not to perceive the trick, and in his +heart he thought mischief against mortal men which also was to be +fulfilled. With both hands he took up the white fat and was +angry at heart, and wrath came to his spirit when he saw the +white ox-bones craftily tricked out: and because of this the +tribes of men upon earth burn white bones to the deathless gods +upon fragrant altars. But Zeus who drives the clouds was greatly +vexed and said to him: + +(ll. 559-560) `Son of Iapetus, clever above all! So, sir, you +have not yet forgotten your cunning arts!' + +(ll. 561-584) So spake Zeus in anger, whose wisdom is +everlasting; and from that time he was always mindful of the +trick, and would not give the power of unwearying fire to the +Melian (21) race of mortal men who live on the earth. But the +noble son of Iapetus outwitted him and stole the far-seen gleam +of unwearying fire in a hollow fennel stalk. And Zeus who +thunders on high was stung in spirit, and his dear heart was +angered when he saw amongst men the far-seen ray of fire. +Forthwith he made an evil thing for men as the price of fire; for +the very famous Limping God formed of earth the likeness of a shy +maiden as the son of Cronos willed. And the goddess bright-eyed +Athene girded and clothed her with silvery raiment, and down from +her head she spread with her hands a broidered veil, a wonder to +see; and she, Pallas Athene, put about her head lovely garlands, +flowers of new-grown herbs. Also she put upon her head a crown +of gold which the very famous Limping God made himself and worked +with his own hands as a favour to Zeus his father. On it was +much curious work, wonderful to see; for of the many creatures +which the land and sea rear up, he put most upon it, wonderful +things, like living beings with voices: and great beauty shone +out from it. + +(ll. 585-589) But when he had made the beautiful evil to be the +price for the blessing, he brought her out, delighting in the +finery which the bright-eyed daughter of a mighty father had +given her, to the place where the other gods and men were. And +wonder took hold of the deathless gods and mortal men when they +saw that which was sheer guile, not to be withstood by men. + +(ll. 590-612) For from her is the race of women and female kind: +of her is the deadly race and tribe of women who live amongst +mortal men to their great trouble, no helpmeets in hateful +poverty, but only in wealth. And as in thatched hives bees feed +the drones whose nature is to do mischief -- by day and +throughout the day until the sun goes down the bees are busy and +lay the white combs, while the drones stay at home in the covered +skeps and reap the toil of others into their own bellies -- even +so Zeus who thunders on high made women to be an evil to mortal +men, with a nature to do evil. And he gave them a second evil to +be the price for the good they had: whoever avoids marriage and +the sorrows that women cause, and will not wed, reaches deadly +old age without anyone to tend his years, and though he at least +has no lack of livelihood while he lives, yet, when he is dead, +his kinsfolk divide his possessions amongst them. And as for the +man who chooses the lot of marriage and takes a good wife suited +to his mind, evil continually contends with good; for whoever +happens to have mischievous children, lives always with unceasing +grief in his spirit and heart within him; and this evil cannot be +healed. + +(ll. 613-616) So it is not possible to deceive or go beyond the +will of Zeus; for not even the son of Iapetus, kindly Prometheus, +escaped his heavy anger, but of necessity strong bands confined +him, although he knew many a wile. + +(ll. 617-643) But when first their father was vexed in his heart +with Obriareus and Cottus and Gyes, he bound them in cruel bonds, +because he was jealous of their exceeding manhood and comeliness +and great size: and he made them live beneath the wide-pathed +earth, where they were afflicted, being set to dwell under the +ground, at the end of the earth, at its great borders, in bitter +anguish for a long time and with great grief at heart. But the +son of Cronos and the other deathless gods whom rich-haired Rhea +bare from union with Cronos, brought them up again to the light +at Earth's advising. For she herself recounted all things to the +gods fully, how that with these they would gain victory and a +glorious cause to vaunt themselves. For the Titan gods and as +many as sprang from Cronos had long been fighting together in +stubborn war with heart-grieving toil, the lordly Titans from +high Othyrs, but the gods, givers of good, whom rich-haired Rhea +bare in union with Cronos, from Olympus. So they, with bitter +wrath, were fighting continually with one another at that time +for ten full years, and the hard strife had no close or end for +either side, and the issue of the war hung evenly balanced. But +when he had provided those three with all things fitting, nectar +and ambrosia which the gods themselves eat, and when their proud +spirit revived within them all after they had fed on nectar and +delicious ambrosia, then it was that the father of men and gods +spoke amongst them: + +(ll. 644-653) `Hear me, bright children of Earth and Heaven, that +I may say what my heart within me bids. A long while now have +we, who are sprung from Cronos and the Titan gods, fought with +each other every day to get victory and to prevail. But do you +show your great might and unconquerable strength, and face the +Titans in bitter strife; for remember our friendly kindness, and +from what sufferings you are come back to the light from your +cruel bondage under misty gloom through our counsels.' + +(ll. 654-663) So he said. And blameless Cottus answered him +again: `Divine one, you speak that which we know well: nay, even +of ourselves we know that your wisdom and understanding is +exceeding, and that you became a defender of the deathless ones +from chill doom. And through your devising we are come back +again from the murky gloom and from our merciless bonds, enjoying +what we looked not for, O lord, son of Cronos. And so now with +fixed purpose and deliberate counsel we will aid your power in +dreadful strife and will fight against the Titans in hard +battle.' + +(ll. 664-686) So he said: and the gods, givers of good things, +applauded when they heard his word, and their spirit longed for +war even more than before, and they all, both male and female, +stirred up hated battle that day, the Titan gods, and all that +were born of Cronos together with those dread, mighty ones of +overwhelming strength whom Zeus brought up to the light from +Erebus beneath the earth. An hundred arms sprang from the +shoulders of all alike, and each had fifty heads growing upon his +shoulders upon stout limbs. These, then, stood against the +Titans in grim strife, holding huge rocks in their strong hands. +And on the other part the Titans eagerly strengthened their +ranks, and both sides at one time showed the work of their hands +and their might. The boundless sea rang terribly around, and the +earth crashed loudly: wide Heaven was shaken and groaned, and +high Olympus reeled from its foundation under the charge of the +undying gods, and a heavy quaking reached dim Tartarus and the +deep sound of their feet in the fearful onset and of their hard +missiles. So, then, they launched their grievous shafts upon one +another, and the cry of both armies as they shouted reached to +starry heaven; and they met together with a great battle-cry. + +(ll. 687-712) Then Zeus no longer held back his might; but +straight his heart was filled with fury and he showed forth all +his strength. From Heaven and from Olympus he came forthwith, +hurling his lightning: the bolts flew thick and fast from his +strong hand together with thunder and lightning, whirling an +awesome flame. The life-giving earth crashed around in burning, +and the vast wood crackled loud with fire all about. All the +land seethed, and Ocean's streams and the unfruitful sea. The +hot vapour lapped round the earthborn Titans: flame unspeakable +rose to the bright upper air: the flashing glare of the thunder- +stone and lightning blinded their eyes for all that there were +strong. Astounding heat seized Chaos: and to see with eyes and +to hear the sound with ears it seemed even as if Earth and wide +Heaven above came together; for such a mighty crash would have +arisen if Earth were being hurled to ruin, and Heaven from on +high were hurling her down; so great a crash was there while the +gods were meeting together in strife. Also the winds brought +rumbling earthquake and duststorm, thunder and lightning and the +lurid thunderbolt, which are the shafts of great Zeus, and +carried the clangour and the warcry into the midst of the two +hosts. An horrible uproar of terrible strife arose: mighty deeds +were shown and the battle inclined. But until then, they kept at +one another and fought continually in cruel war. + +(ll. 713-735) And amongst the foremost Cottus and Briareos and +Gyes insatiate for war raised fierce fighting: three hundred +rocks, one upon another, they launched from their strong hands +and overshadowed the Titans with their missiles, and buried them +beneath the wide-pathed earth, and bound them in bitter chains +when they had conquered them by their strength for all their +great spirit, as far beneath the earth to Tartarus. For a brazen +anvil falling down from heaven nine nights and days would reach +the earth upon the tenth: and again, a brazen anvil falling from +earth nine nights and days would reach Tartarus upon the tenth. +Round it runs a fence of bronze, and night spreads in triple line +all about it like a neck-circlet, while above grow the roots of +the earth and unfruitful sea. There by the counsel of Zeus who +drives the clouds the Titan gods are hidden under misty gloom, in +a dank place where are the ends of the huge earth. And they may +not go out; for Poseidon fixed gates of bronze upon it, and a +wall runs all round it on every side. There Gyes and Cottus and +great-souled Obriareus live, trusty warders of Zeus who holds the +aegis. + +(ll. 736-744) And there, all in their order, are the sources and +ends of gloomy earth and misty Tartarus and the unfruitful sea +and starry heaven, loathsome and dank, which even the gods abhor. + +It is a great gulf, and if once a man were within the gates, he +would not reach the floor until a whole year had reached its end, +but cruel blast upon blast would carry him this way and that. +And this marvel is awful even to the deathless gods. + +(ll. 744-757) There stands the awful home of murky Night wrapped +in dark clouds. In front of it the son of Iapetus (22) stands +immovably upholding the wide heaven upon his head and unwearying +hands, where Night and Day draw near and greet one another as +they pass the great threshold of bronze: and while the one is +about to go down into the house, the other comes out at the door. + +And the house never holds them both within; but always one is +without the house passing over the earth, while the other stays +at home and waits until the time for her journeying come; and the +one holds all-seeing light for them on earth, but the other holds +in her arms Sleep the brother of Death, even evil Night, wrapped +in a vaporous cloud. + +(ll. 758-766) And there the children of dark Night have their +dwellings, Sleep and Death, awful gods. The glowing Sun never +looks upon them with his beams, neither as he goes up into +heaven, nor as he comes down from heaven. And the former of them +roams peacefully over the earth and the sea's broad back and is +kindly to men; but the other has a heart of iron, and his spirit +within him is pitiless as bronze: whomsoever of men he has once +seized he holds fast: and he is hateful even to the deathless +gods. + +(ll. 767-774) There, in front, stand the echoing halls of the god +of the lower-world, strong Hades, and of awful Persephone. A +fearful hound guards the house in front, pitiless, and he has a +cruel trick. On those who go in he fawns with his tail and both +his ears, but suffers them not to go out back again, but keeps +watch and devours whomsoever he catches going out of the gates of +strong Hades and awful Persephone. + +(ll. 775-806) And there dwells the goddess loathed by the +deathless gods, terrible Styx, eldest daughter of back-flowing +(23) Ocean. She lives apart from the gods in her glorious house +vaulted over with great rocks and propped up to heaven all round +with silver pillars. Rarely does the daughter of Thaumas, swift- +footed Iris, come to her with a message over the sea's wide back. + +But when strife and quarrel arise among the deathless gods, and +when any of them who live in the house of Olympus lies, then Zeus +sends Iris to bring in a golden jug the great oath of the gods +from far away, the famous cold water which trickles down from a +high and beetling rock. Far under the wide-pathed earth a branch +of Oceanus flows through the dark night out of the holy stream, +and a tenth part of his water is allotted to her. With nine +silver-swirling streams he winds about the earth and the sea's +wide back, and then falls into the main (24); but the tenth flows +out from a rock, a sore trouble to the gods. For whoever of the +deathless gods that hold the peaks of snowy Olympus pours a +libation of her water is forsworn, lies breathless until a full +year is completed, and never comes near to taste ambrosia and +nectar, but lies spiritless and voiceless on a strewn bed: and a +heavy trance overshadows him. But when he has spent a long year +in his sickness, another penance and an harder follows after the +first. For nine years he is cut off from the eternal gods and +never joins their councils of their feasts, nine full years. But +in the tenth year he comes again to join the assemblies of the +deathless gods who live in the house of Olympus. Such an oath, +then, did the gods appoint the eternal and primaeval water of +Styx to be: and it spouts through a rugged place. + +(ll. 807-819) And there, all in their order, are the sources and +ends of the dark earth and misty Tartarus and the unfruitful sea +and starry heaven, loathsome and dank, which even the gods abhor. + +And there are shining gates and an immoveable threshold of bronze +having unending roots and it is grown of itself (25). And +beyond, away from all the gods, live the Titans, beyond gloomy +Chaos. But the glorious allies of loud-crashing Zeus have their +dwelling upon Ocean's foundations, even Cottus and Gyes; but +Briareos, being goodly, the deep-roaring Earth-Shaker made his +son-in-law, giving him Cymopolea his daughter to wed. + +(ll. 820-868) But when Zeus had driven the Titans from heaven, +huge Earth bare her youngest child Typhoeus of the love of +Tartarus, by the aid of golden Aphrodite. Strength was with his +hands in all that he did and the feet of the strong god were +untiring. From his shoulders grew an hundred heads of a snake, a +fearful dragon, with dark, flickering tongues, and from under the +brows of his eyes in his marvellous heads flashed fire, and fire +burned from his heads as he glared. And there were voices in all +his dreadful heads which uttered every kind of sound unspeakable; +for at one time they made sounds such that the gods understood, +but at another, the noise of a bull bellowing aloud in proud +ungovernable fury; and at another, the sound of a lion, +relentless of heart; and at another, sounds like whelps, +wonderful to hear; and again, at another, he would hiss, so that +the high mountains re-echoed. And truly a thing past help would +have happened on that day, and he would have come to reign over +mortals and immortals, had not the father of men and gods been +quick to perceive it. But he thundered hard and mightily: and +the earth around resounded terribly and the wide heaven above, +and the sea and Ocean's streams and the nether parts of the earth. +Great Olympus reeled beneath the divine feet of the king as he +arose and earth groaned thereat. And through the two of them +heat took hold on the dark-blue sea, through the thunder and +lightning, and through the fire from the monster, and the +scorching winds and blazing thunderbolt. The whole earth +seethed, and sky and sea: and the long waves raged along the +beaches round and about, at the rush of the deathless gods: and +there arose an endless shaking. Hades trembled where he rules +over the dead below, and the Titans under Tartarus who live with +Cronos, because of the unending clamour and the fearful strife. +So when Zeus had raised up his might and seized his arms, thunder +and lightning and lurid thunderbolt, he leaped from Olympus and +struck him, and burned all the marvellous heads of the monster +about him. But when Zeus had conquered him and lashed him with +strokes, Typhoeus was hurled down, a maimed wreck, so that the +huge earth groaned. And flame shot forth from the thunder- +stricken lord in the dim rugged glens of the mount (26), when he +was smitten. A great part of huge earth was scorched by the +terrible vapour and melted as tin melts when heated by men's art +in channelled (27) crucibles; or as iron, which is hardest of all +things, is softened by glowing fire in mountain glens and melts +in the divine earth through the strength of Hephaestus (28). +Even so, then, the earth melted in the glow of the blazing fire. +And in the bitterness of his anger Zeus cast him into wide +Tartarus. + +(ll. 869-880) And from Typhoeus come boisterous winds which blow +damply, except Notus and Boreas and clear Zephyr. These are a +god-sent kind, and a great blessing to men; but the others blow +fitfully upon the seas. Some rush upon the misty sea and work +great havoc among men with their evil, raging blasts; for varying +with the season they blow, scattering ships and destroying +sailors. And men who meet these upon the sea have no help +against the mischief. Others again over the boundless, flowering +earth spoil the fair fields of men who dwell below, filling them +with dust and cruel uproar. + +(ll. 881-885) But when the blessed gods had finished their toil, +and settled by force their struggle for honours with the Titans, +they pressed far-seeing Olympian Zeus to reign and to rule over +them, by Earth's prompting. So he divided their dignities +amongst them. + +(ll. 886-900) Now Zeus, king of the gods, made Metis his wife +first, and she was wisest among gods and mortal men. But when +she was about to bring forth the goddess bright-eyed Athene, Zeus +craftily deceived her with cunning words and put her in his own +belly, as Earth and starry Heaven advised. For they advised him +so, to the end that no other should hold royal sway over the +eternal gods in place of Zeus; for very wise children were +destined to be born of her, first the maiden bright-eyed +Tritogeneia, equal to her father in strength and in wise +understanding; but afterwards she was to bear a son of +overbearing spirit, king of gods and men. But Zeus put her into +his own belly first, that the goddess might devise for him both +good and evil. + +(ll. 901-906) Next he married bright Themis who bare the Horae +(Hours), and Eunomia (Order), Dike (Justice), and blooming Eirene +(Peace), who mind the works of mortal men, and the Moerae (Fates) +to whom wise Zeus gave the greatest honour, Clotho, and Lachesis, +and Atropos who give mortal men evil and good to have. + +(ll. 907-911) And Eurynome, the daughter of Ocean, beautiful in +form, bare him three fair-cheeked Charites (Graces), Aglaea, and +Euphrosyne, and lovely Thaleia, from whose eyes as they glanced +flowed love that unnerves the limbs: and beautiful is their +glance beneath their brows. + +(ll. 912-914) Also he came to the bed of all-nourishing Demeter, +and she bare white-armed Persephone whom Aidoneus carried off +from her mother; but wise Zeus gave her to him. + +(ll. 915-917) And again, he loved Mnemosyne with the beautiful +hair: and of her the nine gold-crowned Muses were born who +delight in feasts and the pleasures of song. + +(ll. 918-920) And Leto was joined in love with Zeus who holds the +aegis, and bare Apollo and Artemis delighting in arrows, children +lovely above all the sons of Heaven. + +(ll. 921-923) Lastly, he made Hera his blooming wife: and she was +joined in love with the king of gods and men, and brought forth +Hebe and Ares and Eileithyia. + +(ll. 924-929) But Zeus himself gave birth from his own head to +bright-eyed Tritogeneia (29), the awful, the strife-stirring, the +host-leader, the unwearying, the queen, who delights in tumults +and wars and battles. But Hera without union with Zeus -- for +she was very angry and quarrelled with her mate -- bare famous +Hephaestus, who is skilled in crafts more than all the sons of +Heaven. + +(ll. 929a-929t) (30) But Hera was very angry and quarrelled with +her mate. And because of this strife she bare without union with +Zeus who holds the aegis a glorious son, Hephaestus, who excelled +all the sons of Heaven in crafts. But Zeus lay with the fair- +cheeked daughter of Ocean and Tethys apart from Hera.... +((LACUNA)) +....deceiving Metis (Thought) although she was full wise. But he +seized her with his hands and put her in his belly, for fear that +she might bring forth something stronger than his thunderbolt: +therefore did Zeus, who sits on high and dwells in the aether, +swallow her down suddenly. But she straightway conceived Pallas +Athene: and the father of men and gods gave her birth by way of +his head on the banks of the river Trito. And she remained +hidden beneath the inward parts of Zeus, even Metis, Athena's +mother, worker of righteousness, who was wiser than gods and +mortal men. There the goddess (Athena) received that (31) +whereby she excelled in strength all the deathless ones who dwell +in Olympus, she who made the host-scaring weapon of Athena. And +with it (Zeus) gave her birth, arrayed in arms of war. + +(ll. 930-933) And of Amphitrite and the loud-roaring Earth-Shaker +was born great, wide-ruling Triton, and he owns the depths of the +sea, living with his dear mother and the lord his father in their +golden house, an awful god. + +(ll. 933-937) Also Cytherea bare to Ares the shield-piercer Panic +and Fear, terrible gods who drive in disorder the close ranks of +men in numbing war, with the help of Ares, sacker of towns: and +Harmonia whom high-spirited Cadmus made his wife. + +(ll. 938-939) And Maia, the daughter of Atlas, bare to Zeus +glorious Hermes, the herald of the deathless gods, for she went +up into his holy bed. + +(ll. 940-942) And Semele, daughter of Cadmus was joined with him +in love and bare him a splendid son, joyous Dionysus, -- a mortal +woman an immortal son. And now they both are gods. + +(ll. 943-944) And Alcmena was joined in love with Zeus who drives +the clouds and bare mighty Heracles. + +(ll. 945-946) And Hephaestus, the famous Lame One, made Aglaea, +youngest of the Graces, his buxom wife. + +(ll. 947-949) And golden-haired Dionysus made brown-haired +Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, his buxom wife: and the son of +Cronos made her deathless and unageing for him. + +(ll. 950-955) And mighty Heracles, the valiant son of neat-ankled +Alcmena, when he had finished his grievous toils, made Hebe the +child of great Zeus and gold-shod Hera his shy wife in snowy +Olympus. Happy he! For he has finished his great works and +lives amongst the undying gods, untroubled and unageing all his +days. + +(ll. 956-962) And Perseis, the daughter of Ocean, bare to +unwearying Helios Circe and Aeetes the king. And Aeetes, the son +of Helios who shows light to men, took to wife fair-cheeked +Idyia, daughter of Ocean the perfect stream, by the will of the +gods: and she was subject to him in love through golden Aphrodite +and bare him neat-ankled Medea. + +(ll. 963-968) And now farewell, you dwellers on Olympus and you +islands and continents and thou briny sea within. Now sing the +company of goddesses, sweet-voiced Muses of Olympus, daughter of +Zeus who holds the aegis, -- even those deathless one who lay +with mortal men and bare children like unto gods. + +(ll. 969-974) Demeter, bright goddess, was joined in sweet love +with the hero Iasion in a thrice-ploughed fallow in the rich land +of Crete, and bare Plutus, a kindly god who goes everywhere over +land and the sea's wide back, and him who finds him and into +whose hands he comes he makes rich, bestowing great wealth upon +him. + +(ll. 975-978) And Harmonia, the daughter of golden Aphrodite, +bare to Cadmus Ino and Semele and fair-cheeked Agave and Autonoe +whom long haired Aristaeus wedded, and Polydorus also in rich- +crowned Thebe. + +(ll. 979-983) And the daughter of Ocean, Callirrhoe was joined in +the love of rich Aphrodite with stout hearted Chrysaor and bare a +son who was the strongest of all men, Geryones, whom mighty +Heracles killed in sea-girt Erythea for the sake of his shambling +oxen. + +(ll. 984-991) And Eos bare to Tithonus brazen-crested Memnon, +king of the Ethiopians, and the Lord Emathion. And to Cephalus +she bare a splendid son, strong Phaethon, a man like the gods, +whom, when he was a young boy in the tender flower of glorious +youth with childish thoughts, laughter-loving Aphrodite seized +and caught up and made a keeper of her shrine by night, a divine +spirit. + +(ll. 993-1002) And the son of Aeson by the will of the gods led +away from Aeetes the daughter of Aeetes the heaven-nurtured king, +when he had finished the many grievous labours which the great +king, over bearing Pelias, that outrageous and presumptuous doer +of violence, put upon him. But when the son of Aeson had +finished them, he came to Iolcus after long toil bringing the +coy-eyed girl with him on his swift ship, and made her his buxom +wife. And she was subject to Iason, shepherd of the people, and +bare a son Medeus whom Cheiron the son of Philyra brought up in +the mountains. And the will of great Zeus was fulfilled. + +(ll. 1003-1007) But of the daughters of Nereus, the Old man of +the Sea, Psamathe the fair goddess, was loved by Aeacus through +golden Aphrodite and bare Phocus. And the silver-shod goddess +Thetis was subject to Peleus and brought forth lion-hearted +Achilles, the destroyer of men. + +(ll. 1008-1010) And Cytherea with the beautiful crown was joined +in sweet love with the hero Anchises and bare Aeneas on the peaks +of Ida with its many wooded glens. + +(ll. 1011-1016) And Circe the daughter of Helius, Hyperion's son, +loved steadfast Odysseus and bare Agrius and Latinus who was +faultless and strong: also she brought forth Telegonus by the +will of golden Aphrodite. And they ruled over the famous +Tyrenians, very far off in a recess of the holy islands. + +(ll. 1017-1018) And the bright goddess Calypso was joined to +Odysseus in sweet love, and bare him Nausithous and Nausinous. + +(ll. 1019-1020) These are the immortal goddesses who lay with +mortal men and bare them children like unto gods. + +(ll. 1021-1022) But now, sweet-voiced Muses of Olympus, daughters +of Zeus who holds the aegis, sing of the company of women. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) The epithet probably indicates coquettishness. +(2) A proverbial saying meaning, `why enlarge on irrelevant + topics?' +(3) `She of the noble voice': Calliope is queen of Epic poetry. +(4) Earth, in the cosmology of Hesiod, is a disk surrounded by + the river Oceanus and floating upon a waste of waters. It + is called the foundation of all (the qualification `the + deathless ones...' etc. is an interpolation), because not + only trees, men, and animals, but even the hills and seas + (ll. 129, 131) are supported by it. +(5) Aether is the bright, untainted upper atmosphere, as + distinguished from Aer, the lower atmosphere of the earth. +(6) Brontes is the Thunderer; Steropes, the Lightener; and + Arges, the Vivid One. +(7) The myth accounts for the separation of Heaven and Earth. + In Egyptian cosmology Nut (the Sky) is thrust and held apart + from her brother Geb (the Earth) by their father Shu, who + corresponds to the Greek Atlas. +(8) Nymphs of the ash-trees, as Dryads are nymphs of the oak- + trees. Cp. note on "Works and Days", l. 145. +(9) `Member-loving': the title is perhaps only a perversion of + the regular PHILOMEIDES (laughter-loving). +(10) Cletho (the Spinner) is she who spins the thread of man's + life; Lachesis (the Disposer of Lots) assigns to each man + his destiny; Atropos (She who cannot be turned) is the `Fury + with the abhorred shears.' +(11) Many of the names which follow express various qualities or + aspects of the sea: thus Galene is `Calm', Cymothoe is the + `Wave-swift', Pherusa and Dynamene are `She who speeds + (ships)' and `She who has power'. +(12) The `Wave-receiver' and the `Wave-stiller'. +(13) `The Unerring' or `Truthful'; cp. l. 235. +(14) i.e. Poseidon. +(15) Goettling notes that some of these nymphs derive their names + from lands over which they preside, as Europa, Asia, Doris, + Ianeira (`Lady of the Ionians'), but that most are called + after some quality which their streams possessed: thus + Xanthe is the `Brown' or `Turbid', Amphirho is the + `Surrounding' river, Ianthe is `She who delights', and + Ocyrrhoe is the `Swift-flowing'. +(16) i.e. Eos, the `Early-born'. +(17) Van Lennep explains that Hecate, having no brothers to + support her claim, might have been slighted. +(18) The goddess of the hearth (the Roman "Vesta"), and so of the + house. Cp. "Homeric Hymns" v.22 ff.; xxxix.1 ff. +(19) The variant reading `of his father' (sc. Heaven) rests on + inferior MS. authority and is probably an alteration due to + the difficulty stated by a Scholiast: `How could Zeus, being + not yet begotten, plot against his father?' The phrase is, + however, part of the prophecy. The whole line may well be + spurious, and is rejected by Heyne, Wolf, Gaisford and + Guyet. +(20) Pausanias (x. 24.6) saw near the tomb of Neoptolemus `a + stone of no great size', which the Delphians anointed every + day with oil, and which he says was supposed to be the stone + given to Cronos. +(21) A Scholiast explains: `Either because they (men) sprang from + the Melian nymphs (cp. l. 187); or because, when they were + born (?), they cast themselves under the ash-trees, that is, + the trees.' The reference may be to the origin of men from + ash-trees: cp. "Works and Days", l. 145 and note. +(22) sc. Atlas, the Shu of Egyptian mythology: cp. note on line + 177. +(23) Oceanus is here regarded as a continuous stream enclosing + the earth and the seas, and so as flowing back upon himself. +(24) The conception of Oceanus is here different: he has nine + streams which encircle the earth and then flow out into the + `main' which appears to be the waste of waters on which, + according to early Greek and Hebrew cosmology, the disk-like + earth floated. +(25) i.e. the threshold is of `native' metal, and not artificial. +(26) According to Homer Typhoeus was overwhelmed by Zeus amongst + the Arimi in Cilicia. Pindar represents him as buried under + Aetna, and Tzetzes reads Aetna in this passage. +(27) The epithet (which means literally `well-bored') seems to + refer to the spout of the crucible. +(28) The fire god. There is no reference to volcanic action: + iron was smelted on Mount Ida; cp. "Epigrams of Homer", ix. + 2-4. +(29) i.e. Athena, who was born `on the banks of the river Trito' + (cp. l. 929l) +(30) Restored by Peppmuller. The nineteen following lines from + another recension of lines 889-900, 924-9 are quoted by + Chrysippus (in Galen). +(31) sc. the aegis. Line 929s is probably spurious, since it + disagrees with l. 929q and contains a suspicious reference + to Athens. + + + +THE CATALOGUES OF WOMEN AND EOIAE (fragments) (1) + +Fragment #1 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 1086: +That Deucalion was the son of Prometheus and Pronoea, Hesiod +states in the first "Catalogue", as also that Hellen was the son +of Deucalion and Pyrrha. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Ioannes Lydus (2), de Mens. i. 13: +They came to call those who followed local manners Latins, but +those who followed Hellenic customs Greeks, after the brothers +Latinus and Graecus; as Hesiod says: `And in the palace Pandora +the daughter of noble Deucalion was joined in love with father +Zeus, leader of all the gods, and bare Graecus, staunch in +battle.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Constantinus Porphyrogenitus (3), de Them. 2 p. 48B: +The district Macedonia took its name from Macedon the son of Zeus +and Thyia, Deucalion's daughter, as Hesiod says: +`And she conceived and bare to Zeus who delights in the +thunderbolt two sons, Magnes and Macedon, rejoicing in horses, +who dwell round about Pieria and Olympus.... +((LACUNA)) +....And Magnes again (begot) Dictys and godlike Polydectes.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Plutarch, Mor. p. 747; Schol. on Pindar Pyth. iv. 263: +`And from Hellen the war-loving king sprang Dorus and Xuthus and +Aeolus delighting in horses. And the sons of Aeolus, kings +dealing justice, were Cretheus, and Athamas, and clever Sisyphus, +and wicked Salmoneus and overbold Perieres.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 266: +Those who were descended from Deucalion used to rule over +Thessaly as Hecataeus and Hesiod say. + + +Fragment #6 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 482: +Aloiadae. Hesiod said that they were sons of Aloeus, -- called +so after him, -- and of Iphimedea, but in reality sons of +Poseidon and Iphimedea, and that Alus a city of Aetolia was +founded by their father. + + +Fragment #7 -- +Berlin Papyri, No. 7497; Oxyrhynchus Papyri, 421 (4): +(ll. 1-24) `....Eurynome the daughter of Nisus, Pandion's son, to +whom Pallas Athene taught all her art, both wit and wisdom too; +for she was as wise as the gods. A marvellous scent rose from +her silvern raiment as she moved, and beauty was wafted from her +eyes. Her, then, Glaucus sought to win by Athena's advising, and +he drove oxen (5) for her. But he knew not at all the intent of +Zeus who holds the aegis. So Glaucus came seeking her to wife +with gifts; but cloud-driving Zeus, king of the deathless gods, +bent his head in oath that the.... son of Sisyphus should never +have children born of one father (6). So she lay in the arms of +Poseidon and bare in the house of Glaucus blameless Bellerophon, +surpassing all men in.... over the boundless sea. And when he +began to roam, his father gave him Pegasus who would bear him +most swiftly on his wings, and flew unwearying everywhere over +the earth, for like the gales he would course along. With him +Bellerophon caught and slew the fire-breathing Chimera. And he +wedded the dear child of the great-hearted Iobates, the +worshipful king.... +lord (of).... +and she bare....' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodes, Arg. iv. 57: +Hesiod says that Endymion was the son of Aethlius the son of Zeus +and Calyee, and received the gift from Zeus: `(To be) keeper of +death for his own self when he was ready to die.' + + +Fragment #9 -- +Scholiast Ven. on Homer, Il. xi. 750: +The two sons of Actor and Molione... Hesiod has given their +descent by calling them after Actor and Molione; but their father +was Poseidon. + +Porphyrius (7), Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pert., 265: +But Aristarchus is informed that they were twins, not.... such as +were the Dioscuri, but, on Hesiod's testimony, double in form and +with two bodies and joined to one another. + + +Fragment #10 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 156: +But Hesiod says that he changed himself in one of his wonted +shapes and perched on the yoke-boss of Heracles' horses, meaning +to fight with the hero; but that Heracles, secretly instructed by +Athena, wounded him mortally with an arrow. And he says as +follows: `...and lordly Periclymenus. Happy he! For +earth-shaking Poseidon gave him all manner of gifts. At one time +he would appear among birds, an eagle; and again at another he +would be an ant, a marvel to see; and then a shining swarm of +bees; and again at another time a dread relentless snake. And he +possessed all manner of gifts which cannot be told, and these +then ensnared him through the devising of Athene.' + + +Fragment #11 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium (8), s.v.: +`(Heracles) slew the noble sons of steadfast Neleus, eleven of +them; but the twelfth, the horsemen Gerenian Nestor chanced to be +staying with the horse-taming Gerenians. +((LACUNA)) +Nestor alone escaped in flowery Gerenon.' + + +Fragment #12 -- +Eustathius (9), Hom. 1796.39: +`So well-girded Polycaste, the youngest daughter of Nestor, +Neleus' son, was joined in love with Telemachus through golden +Aphrodite and bare Persepolis.' + + +Fragment #13 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Od. xii. 69: +Tyro the daughter of Salmoneus, having two sons by Poseidon, +Neleus and Pelias, married Cretheus, and had by him three sons, +Aeson, Pheres and Amythaon. And of Aeson and Polymede, according +to Hesiod, Iason was born: `Aeson, who begot a son Iason, +shepherd of the people, whom Chiron brought up in woody Pelion.' + + +Fragment #14 -- +Petrie Papyri (ed. Mahaffy), Pl. III. 3: +`....of the glorious lord +....fair Atalanta, swift of foot, the daughter of Schoeneus, who +had the beaming eyes of the Graces, though she was ripe for +wedlock rejected the company of her equals and sought to avoid +marriage with men who eat bread.' + +Scholiast on Homer, Iliad xxiii. 683: +Hesiod is therefore later in date than Homer since he represents +Hippomenes as stripped when contending with Atalanta (10). + +Papiri greci e latini, ii. No. 130 (2nd-3rd century) (11): +(ll. 1-7) `Then straightway there rose up against him the trim- +ankled maiden (Atalanta), peerless in beauty: a great throng +stood round about her as she gazed fiercely, and wonder held all +men as they looked upon her. As she moved, the breath of the +west wind stirred the shining garment about her tender bosom; but +Hippomenes stood where he was: and much people was gathered +together. All these kept silence; but Schoeneus cried and said: + +(ll. 8-20) `"Hear me all, both young and old, while I speak as my +spirit within my breast bids me. Hippomenes seeks my coy-eyed +daughter to wife; but let him now hear my wholesome speech. He +shall not win her without contest; yet, if he be victorious and +escape death, and if the deathless gods who dwell on Olympus +grant him to win renown, verily he shall return to his dear +native land, and I will give him my dear child and strong, swift- +footed horses besides which he shall lead home to be cherished +possessions; and may he rejoice in heart possessing these, and +ever remember with gladness the painful contest. May the father +of men and of gods (grant that splendid children may be born to +him)' (12) + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 21-27) `on the right.... +and he, rushing upon her,.... +drawing back slightly towards the left. And on them was laid an +unenviable struggle: for she, even fair, swift-footed Atalanta, +ran scorning the gifts of golden Aphrodite; but with him the race +was for his life, either to find his doom, or to escape it. +Therefore with thoughts of guile he said to her: + +(ll. 28-29) `"O daughter of Schoeneus, pitiless in heart, receive +these glorious gifts of the goddess, golden Aphrodite...' + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 30-36) `But he, following lightly on his feet, cast the +first apple (13): and, swiftly as a Harpy, she turned back and +snatched it. Then he cast the second to the ground with his +hand. And now fair, swift-footed Atalanta had two apples and was +near the goal; but Hippomenes cast the third apple to the ground, +and therewith escaped death and black fate. And he stood panting +and...' + + +Fragment #15 -- +Strabo (14), i. p. 42: +`And the daughter of Arabus, whom worthy Hermaon begat with +Thronia, daughter of the lord Belus.' + + +Fragment #16 -- +Eustathius, Hom. 461. 2: +`Argos which was waterless Danaus made well-watered.' + + +Fragment #17 -- +Hecataeus (15) in Scholiast on Euripides, Orestes, 872: +Aegyptus himself did not go to Argos, but sent his sons, fifty in +number, as Hesiod represented. + + +Fragment #18 -- (16) +Strabo, viii. p. 370: +And Apollodorus says that Hesiod already knew that the whole +people were called both Hellenes and Panhellenes, as when he says +of the daughters of Proetus that the Panhellenes sought them in +marriage. + +Apollodorus, ii. 2.1.4: +Acrisius was king of Argos and Proetus of Tiryns. And Acrisius +had by Eurydice the daughter of Lacedemon, Danae; and Proetus by +Stheneboea `Lysippe and Iphinoe and Iphianassa'. And these fell +mad, as Hesiod states, because they would not receive the rites +of Dionysus. + +Probus (17) on Vergil, Eclogue vi. 48: +These (the daughters of Proetus), because they had scorned the +divinity of Juno, were overcome with madness, such that they +believed they had been turned into cows, and left Argos their own +country. Afterwards they were cured by Melampus, the son of +Amythaon. + +Suidas, s.v.: (18) +`Because of their hideous wantonness they lost their tender +beauty....' + +Eustathius, Hom. 1746.7: +`....For he shed upon their heads a fearful itch: and leprosy +covered all their flesh, and their hair dropped from their heads, +and their fair scalps were made bare.' + + +Fragment #19A -- (19) +Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1358 fr. 1 (3rd cent. A.D.): (20) +(ll. 1-32) `....So she (Europa) crossed the briny water from afar +to Crete, beguiled by the wiles of Zeus. Secretly did the Father +snatch her away and gave her a gift, the golden necklace, the toy +which Hephaestus the famed craftsman once made by his cunning +skill and brought and gave it to his father for a possession. +And Zeus received the gift, and gave it in turn to the daughter +of proud Phoenix. But when the Father of men and of gods had +mated so far off with trim-ankled Europa, then he departed back +again from the rich-haired girl. So she bare sons to the +almighty Son of Cronos, glorious leaders of wealthy men -- Minos +the ruler, and just Rhadamanthys and noble Sarpedon the blameless +and strong. To these did wise Zeus give each a share of his +honour. Verily Sarpedon reigned mightily over wide Lycia and +ruled very many cities filled with people, wielding the sceptre +of Zeus: and great honour followed him, which his father gave +him, the great-hearted shepherd of the people. For wise Zeus +ordained that he should live for three generations of mortal men +and not waste away with old age. He sent him to Troy; and +Sarpedon gathered a great host, men chosen out of Lycia to be +allies to the Trojans. These men did Sarpedon lead, skilled in +bitter war. And Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, sent him +forth from heaven a star, showing tokens for the return of his +dear son.... ....for well he (Sarpedon) knew in his heart that +the sign was indeed from Zeus. Very greatly did he excel in war +together with man-slaying Hector and brake down the wall, +bringing woes upon the Danaans. But so soon as Patroclus had +inspired the Argives with hard courage....' + + +Fragment #19 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xii. 292: +Zeus saw Europa the daughter of Phoenix gathering flowers in a +meadow with some nymphs and fell in love with her. So he came +down and changed himself into a bull and breathed from his mouth +a crocus (21). In this way he deceived Europa, carried her off +and crossed the sea to Crete where he had intercourse with her. +Then in this condition he made her live with Asterion the king of +the Cretans. There she conceived and bore three sons, Minos, +Sarpedon and Rhadamanthys. The tale is in Hesiod and +Bacchylides. + + +Fragment #20 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 178: +But according to Hesiod (Phineus) was the son of Phoenix, +Agenor's son and Cassiopea. + + +Fragment #21 -- +Apollodorus (22), iii. 14.4.1: +But Hesiod says that he (Adonis) was the son of Phoenix and +Alphesiboea. + + +Fragment #22 -- +Porphyrius, Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pert. p. 189: +As it is said in Hesiod in the "Catalogue of Women" concerning +Demodoce the daughter of Agenor: `Demodoce whom very many of men +on earth, mighty princes, wooed, promising splendid gifts, +because of her exceeding beauty.' + + +Fragment #23 -- +Apollodorus, iii. 5.6.2: +Hesiod says that (the children of Amphion and Niobe) were ten +sons and ten daughters. + +Aelian (23), Var. Hist. xii. 36: +But Hesiod says they were nine boys and ten girls; -- unless +after all the verses are not Hesiod but are falsely ascribed to +him as are many others. + + +Fragment #24 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiii. 679: +And Hesiod says that when Oedipus had died at Thebes, Argea the +daughter of Adrastus came with others to the funeral of Oedipus. + + +Fragment #25 -- +Herodian (24) in Etymologicum Magnum, p. 60, 40: +Tityos the son of Elara. + + +Fragment #26 -- (25) +Argument: Pindar, Ol. xiv: +Cephisus is a river in Orchomenus where also the Graces are +worshipped. Eteoclus the son of the river Cephisus first +sacrificed to them, as Hesiod says. + +Scholiast on Homer, Il. ii. 522: +`which from Lilaea spouts forth its sweet flowing water....' + +Strabo, ix. 424: +`....And which flows on by Panopeus and through fenced Glechon +and through Orchomenus, winding like a snake.' + + +Fragment #27 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. vii. 9: +For the father of Menesthius, Areithous was a Boeotian living at +Arnae; and this is in Boeotia, as also Hesiod says. + + +Fragment #28 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium: +Onchestus: a grove (26). It is situate in the country of +Haliartus and was founded by Onchestus the Boeotian, as Hesiod +says. + + +Fragment #29 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium: +There is also a plain of Aega bordering on Cirrha, according to +Hesiod. + + +Fragment #30 -- +Apollodorus, ii. 1.1.5: +But Hesiod says that Pelasgus was autochthonous. + + +Fragment #31 -- +Strabo, v. p. 221: +That this tribe (the Pelasgi) were from Arcadia, Ephorus states +on the authority of Hesiod; for he says: `Sons were born to god- +like Lycaon whom Pelasgus once begot.' + + +Fragment #32 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium: +Pallantium. A city of Arcadia, so named after Pallas, one of +Lycaon's sons, according to Hesiod. + + +Fragment #33 -- +(Unknown): +`Famous Meliboea bare Phellus the good spear-man.' + + +Fragment #34 -- +Herodian, On Peculiar Diction, p. 18: +In Hesiod in the second Catalogue: `Who once hid the torch (27) +within.' + + +Fragment #35 -- +Herodian, On Peculiar Diction, p. 42: +Hesiod in the third Catalogue writes: `And a resounding thud of +feet rose up.' + + +Fragment #36 -- +Apollonius Dyscolus (28), On the Pronoun, p. 125: +`And a great trouble to themselves.' + + +Fragment #37 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 45: +Neither Homer nor Hesiod speak of Iphiclus as amongst the +Argonauts. + + +Fragment #38 -- +`Eratosthenes' (29), Catast. xix. p. 124: +The Ram.] -- This it was that transported Phrixus and Helle. It +was immortal and was given them by their mother Nephele, and had +a golden fleece, as Hesiod and Pherecydes say. + + +Fragment #39 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 181: +Hesiod in the "Great Eoiae" says that Phineus was blinded because +he revealed to Phrixus the road; but in the third "Catalogue", +because he preferred long life to sight. + +Hesiod says he had two sons, Thynus and Mariandynus. + +Ephorus (30) in Strabo, vii. 302: +Hesiod, in the so-called Journey round the Earth, says that +Phineus was brought by the Harpies `to the land of milk-feeders +(31) who have waggons for houses.' + + +Fragment #40A -- (Cp. Fr. 43 and 44) +Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1358 fr. 2 (3rd cent. A.D.): (32) +((LACUNA -- Slight remains of 7 lines)) + +(ll. 8-35) `(The Sons of Boreas pursued the Harpies) to the lands +of the Massagetae and of the proud Half-Dog men, of the +Underground-folk and of the feeble Pygmies; and to the tribes of +the boundless Black-skins and the Libyans. Huge Earth bare these +to Epaphus -- soothsaying people, knowing seercraft by the will +of Zeus the lord of oracles, but deceivers, to the end that men +whose thought passes their utterance (33) might be subject to the +gods and suffer harm -- Aethiopians and Libyans and mare-milking +Scythians. For verily Epaphus was the child of the almighty Son +of Cronos, and from him sprang the dark Libyans, and high-souled +Aethiopians, and the Underground-folk and feeble Pygmies. All +these are the offspring of the lord, the Loud-thunderer. Round +about all these (the Sons of Boreas) sped in darting flight.... +....of the well-horsed Hyperboreans -- whom Earth the all- +nourishing bare far off by the tumbling streams of deep-flowing +Eridanus.... ....of amber, feeding her wide-scattered offspring +-- and about the steep Fawn mountain and rugged Etna to the isle +Ortygia and the people sprung from Laestrygon who was the son of +wide-reigning Poseidon. Twice ranged the Sons of Boreas along +this coast and wheeled round and about yearning to catch the +Harpies, while they strove to escape and avoid them. And they +sped to the tribe of the haughty Cephallenians, the people of +patient-souled Odysseus whom in aftertime Calypso the queenly +nymph detained for Poseidon. Then they came to the land of the +lord the son of Ares.... ....they heard. Yet still (the Sons of +Boreas) ever pursued them with instant feet. So they (the +Harpies) sped over the sea and through the fruitless air...' + + +Fragment #40 -- +Strabo, vii. p. 300: +`The Aethiopians and Ligurians and mare-milking Scythians.' + + +Fragment #41 -- +Apollodorus, i. 9.21.6: +As they were being pursued, one of the Harpies fell into the +river Tigris, in Peloponnesus which is now called Harpys after +her. Some call this one Nicothoe, and others Aellopus. The +other who was called Ocypete, or as some say Ocythoe (though +Hesiod calls her Ocypus), fled down the Propontis and reached as +far as to the Echinades islands which are now called because of +her, Strophades (Turning Islands). + + +Fragment #42 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 297: +Hesiod also says that those with Zetes (34) turned and prayed to +Zeus: `There they prayed to the lord of Aenos who reigns on +high.' + +Apollonius indeed says it was Iris who made Zetes and his +following turn away, but Hesiod says Hermes. + +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 296: +Others say (the islands) were called Strophades, because they +turned there and prayed Zeus to seize the Harpies. But according +to Hesiod... they were not killed. + + +Fragment #43 -- +Philodemus (35), On Piety, 10: +Nor let anyone mock at Hesiod who mentions.... or even the +Troglodytes and the Pygmies. + + +Fragment #44 -- +Strabo, i. p. 43: +No one would accuse Hesiod of ignorance though he speaks of the +Half-dog people and the Great-Headed people and the Pygmies. + + +Fragment #45 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 284: +But Hesiod says they (the Argonauts) had sailed in through the +Phasis. + +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 259: +But Hesiod (says).... they came through the Ocean to Libya, and +so, carrying the Argo, reached our sea. + + +Fragment #46 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 311: +Apollonius, following Hesiod, says that Circe came to the island +over against Tyrrhenia on the chariot of the Sun. And he called +it Hesperian, because it lies toward the west. + + +Fragment #47 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 892: +He (Apollonius) followed Hesiod who thus names the island of the +Sirens: `To the island Anthemoessa (Flowery) which the son of +Cronos gave them.' + +And their names are Thelxiope or Thelxinoe, Molpe and Aglaophonus +(36). + +Scholiast on Homer, Od. xii. 168: +Hence Hesiod said that they charmed even the winds. + + +Fragment #48 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Od. i. 85: +Hesiod says that Ogygia is within towards the west, but Ogygia +lies over against Crete: `...the Ogygian sea and... ...the island +Ogygia.' + + +Fragment #49 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Od. vii. 54: +Hesiod regarded Arete as the sister of Alcinous. + + +Fragment #50 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Ol. x. 46: +Her Hippostratus (did wed), a scion of Ares, the splendid son of +Phyetes, of the line of Amarynces, leader of the Epeians. + + +Fragment #51 -- +Apollodorus, i. 8.4.1: +When Althea was dead, Oeneus married Periboea, the daughter of +Hipponous. Hesiod says that she was seduced by Hippostratus the +son of Amarynces and that her father Hipponous sent her from +Olenus in Achaea to Oeneus because he was far away from Hellas, +bidding him kill her. + +`She used to dwell on the cliff of Olenus by the banks of wide +Peirus.' + + +Fragment #52 -- +Diodorus (37) v. 81: +Macareus was a son of Crinacus the son of Zeus as Hesiod says... +and dwelt in Olenus in the country then called Ionian, but now +Achaean. + + +Fragment #53 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. ii. 21: +Concerning the Myrmidons Hesiod speaks thus: `And she conceived +and bare Aeacus, delighting in horses. Now when he came to the +full measure of desired youth, he chafed at being alone. And the +father of men and gods made all the ants that were in the lovely +isle into men and wide-girdled women. These were the first who +fitted with thwarts ships with curved sides, and the first who +used sails, the wings of a sea-going ship.' + + +Fragment #54 -- +Polybius, v. 2: +`The sons of Aeacus who rejoiced in battle as though a feast.' + + +Fragment #55 -- +Porphyrius, Quaest. Hom. ad Iliad. pertin. p. 93: +He has indicated the shameful deed briefly by the phrase `to lie +with her against her will', and not like Hesiod who recounts at +length the story of Peleus and the wife of Acastus. + + +Fragment #56 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. iv. 95: +`And this seemed to him (Acastus) in his mind the best plan; to +keep back himself, but to hide beyond guessing the beautiful +knife which the very famous Lame One had made for him, that in +seeking it alone over steep Pelion, he (Peleus) might be slain +forthwith by the mountain-bred Centaurs.' + + +Fragment #57 -- +Voll. Herculan. (Papyri from Herculaneum), 2nd Collection, viii. +105: +The author of the "Cypria" (38) says that Thetis avoided wedlock +with Zeus to please Hera; but that Zeus was angry and swore that +she should mate with a mortal. Hesiod also has the like account. + + +Fragment #58 -- +Strassburg Greek Papyri 55 (2nd century A.D.): +(ll. 1-13) `Peleus the son of Aeacus, dear to the deathless +gods, came to Phthia the mother of flocks, bringing great +possessions from spacious Iolcus. And all the people envied him +in their hearts seeing how he had sacked the well-built city, and +accomplished his joyous marriage; and they all spake this word: +"Thrice, yea, four times blessed son of Aeacus, happy Peleus! +For far-seeing Olympian Zeus has given you a wife with many gifts +and the blessed gods have brought your marriage fully to pass, +and in these halls you go up to the holy bed of a daughter of +Nereus. Truly the father, the son of Cronos, made you very pre- +eminent among heroes and honoured above other men who eat bread +and consume the fruit of the ground."' + + +Fragment #59 -- (39) +Origen, Against Celsus, iv. 79: +`For in common then were the banquets, and in common the seats of +deathless gods and mortal men.' + + +Fragment #60 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xvi. 175: +...whereas Hesiod and the rest call her (Peleus' daughter) +Polydora. + + +Fragment #61 -- +Eustathius, Hom. 112. 44 sq: +It should be observed that the ancient narrative hands down the +account that Patroclus was even a kinsman of Achilles; for Hesiod +says that Menoethius the father of Patroclus, was a brother of +Peleus, so that in that case they were first cousins. + + +Fragment #62 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Ol. x. 83: +Some write `Serus the son of Halirrhothius', whom Hesiod +mentions: `He (begot) Serus and Alazygus, goodly sons.' And +Serus was the son of Halirrhothius Perieres' son, and of Alcyone. + + +Fragment #63 -- +Pausanias (40), ii. 26. 7: +This oracle most clearly proves that Asclepius was not the son of +Arsinoe, but that Hesiod or one of Hesiod's interpolators +composed the verses to please the Messenians. + +Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iii. 14: +Some say (Asclepius) was the son of Arsinoe, others of Coronis. +But Asclepiades says that Arsinoe was the daughter of Leucippus, +Perieres' son, and that to her and Apollo Asclepius and a +daughter, Eriopis, were born: `And she bare in the palace +Asclepius, leader of men, and Eriopis with the lovely hair, being +subject in love to Phoebus.' + +And of Arsinoe likewise: `And Arsinoe was joined with the son of +Zeus and Leto and bare a son Asclepius, blameless and strong.' +(41) + + +Fragment #67 -- +Scholiast on Euripides, Orestes 249: +Steischorus says that while sacrificing to the gods Tyndareus +forgot Aphrodite and that the goddess was angry and made his +daughters twice and thrice wed and deserters of their +husbands.... And Hesiod also says: + +(ll. 1-7) `And laughter-loving Aphrodite felt jealous when she +looked on them and cast them into evil report. Then Timandra +deserted Echemus and went and came to Phyleus, dear to the +deathless gods; and even so Clytaemnestra deserted god-like +Agamemnon and lay with Aegisthus and chose a worse mate; and even +so Helen dishonoured the couch of golden-haired Menelaus.' + + +Fragment #68 -- (42) +Berlin Papyri, No. 9739: +(ll. 1-10) `....Philoctetes sought her, a leader of spearmen, +.... most famous of all men at shooting from afar and with the +sharp spear. And he came to Tyndareus' bright city for the sake +of the Argive maid who had the beauty of golden Aphrodite, and +the sparkling eyes of the Graces; and the dark-faced daughter of +Ocean, very lovely of form, bare her when she had shared the +embraces of Zeus and the king Tyndareus in the bright palace.... +(And.... sought her to wife offering as gifts) + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 11-15) ....and as many women skilled in blameless arts, each +holding a golden bowl in her hands. And truly Castor and strong +Polydeuces would have made him (43) their brother perforce, but +Agamemnon, being son-in-law to Tyndareus, wooed her for his +brother Menelaus. + +(ll. 16-19) And the two sons of Amphiaraus the lord, Oecleus' +son, sought her to wife from Argos very near at hand; yet.... +fear of the blessed gods and the indignation of men caused them +also to fail. + +((LACUNA)) + +(l. 20) ...but there was no deceitful dealing in the sons of +Tyndareus. + +(ll. 21-27) And from Ithaca the sacred might of Odysseus, Laertes +son, who knew many-fashioned wiles, sought her to wife. He never +sent gifts for the sake of the neat-ankled maid, for he knew in +his heart that golden-haired Menelaus would win, since he was +greatest of the Achaeans in possessions and was ever sending +messages (44) to horse-taming Castor and prize-winning +Polydeuces. + +(ll. 28-30) And....on's son sought her to wife (and brought) +....bridal-gifts.... +....cauldrons.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 31-33) ...to horse-taming Castor and prize-winning +Polydeuces, desiring to be the husband of rich-haired Helen, +though he had never seen her beauty, but because he heard the +report of others. + +(ll. 34-41) And from Phylace two men of exceeding worth sought +her to wife, Podarces son of Iphiclus, Phylacus' son, and Actor's +noble son, overbearing Protesilaus. Both of them kept sending +messages to Lacedaemon, to the house of wise Tyndareus, Oebalus' +son, and they offered many bridal-gifts, for great was the girl's +renown, brazen.... +....golden.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(l. 42) ...(desiring) to be the husband of rich-haired Helen. + +(ll. 43-49) From Athens the son of Peteous, Menestheus, sought +her to wife, and offered many bridal-gifts; for he possessed very +many stored treasures, gold and cauldrons and tripods, fine +things which lay hid in the house of the lord Peteous, and with +them his heart urged him to win his bride by giving more gifts +than any other; for he thought that no one of all the heroes +would surpass him in possessions and gifts. + +(ll. 50-51) There came also by ship from Crete to the house of +the son of Oebalus strong Lycomedes for rich-haired Helen's sake. + +Berlin Papyri, No. 10560: +(ll. 52-54) ...sought her to wife. And after golden-haired +Menelaus he offered the greatest gifts of all the suitors, and +very much he desired in his heart to be the husband of Argive +Helen with the rich hair. + +(ll. 55-62) And from Salamis Aias, blameless warrior, sought her +to wife, and offered fitting gifts, even wonderful deeds; for he +said that he would drive together and give the shambling oxen and +strong sheep of all those who lived in Troezen and Epidaurus near +the sea, and in the island of Aegina and in Mases, sons of the +Achaeans, and shadowy Megara and frowning Corinthus, and Hermione +and Asine which lie along the sea; for he was famous with the +long spear. + +(ll. 63-66) But from Euboea Elephenor, leader of men, the son of +Chalcodon, prince of the bold Abantes, sought her to wife. And +he offered very many gifts, and greatly he desired in his heart +to be the husband of rich-haired Helen. + +(ll. 67-74) And from Crete the mighty Idomeneus sought her to +wife, Deucalion's son, offspring of renowned Minos. He sent no +one to woo her in his place, but came himself in his black ship +of many thwarts over the Ogygian sea across the dark wave to the +home of wise Tyndareus, to see Argive Helen and that no one else +should bring back for him the girl whose renown spread all over +the holy earth. + +(l. 75) And at the prompting of Zeus the all-wise came. + +((LACUNA -- Thirteen lines lost.)) + +(ll. 89-100) But of all who came for the maid's sake, the lord +Tyndareus sent none away, nor yet received the gift of any, but +asked of all the suitors sure oaths, and bade them swear and vow +with unmixed libations that no one else henceforth should do +aught apart from him as touching the marriage of the maid with +shapely arms; but if any man should cast off fear and reverence +and take her by force, he bade all the others together follow +after and make him pay the penalty. And they, each of them +hoping to accomplish his marriage, obeyed him without wavering. +But warlike Menelaus, the son of Atreus, prevailed against them +all together, because he gave the greatest gifts. + +(ll. 100-106) But Chiron was tending the son of Peleus, swift- +footed Achilles, pre-eminent among men, on woody Pelion; for he +was still a boy. For neither warlike Menelaus nor any other of +men on earth would have prevailed in suit for Helen, if fleet +Achilles had found her unwed. But, as it was, warlike Menelaus +won her before. + +II. (45) + +(ll. 1-2) And she (Helen) bare neat-ankled Hermione in the +palace, a child unlooked for. + +(ll. 2-13) Now all the gods were divided through strife; for at +that very time Zeus who thunders on high was meditating +marvellous deeds, even to mingle storm and tempest over the +boundless earth, and already he was hastening to make an utter +end of the race of mortal men, declaring that he would destroy +the lives of the demi-gods, that the children of the gods should +not mate with wretched mortals, seeing their fate with their own +eyes; but that the blessed gods henceforth even as aforetime +should have their living and their habitations apart from men. +But on those who were born of immortals and of mankind verily +Zeus laid toil and sorrow upon sorrow. + +((LACUNA -- Two lines missing.)) + +(ll. 16-30) ....nor any one of men.... +....should go upon black ships.... +....to be strongest in the might of his hands.... +....of mortal men declaring to all those things that were, and +those that are, and those that shall be, he brings to pass and +glorifies the counsels of his father Zeus who drives the clouds. +For no one, either of the blessed gods or of mortal men, knew +surely that he would contrive through the sword to send to Hades +full many a one of heroes fallen in strife. But at that time he +knew not as yet the intent of his father's mind, and how men +delight in protecting their children from doom. And he delighted +in the desire of his mighty father's heart who rules powerfully +over men. + +(ll. 31-43) From stately trees the fair leaves fell in abundance +fluttering down to the ground, and the fruit fell to the ground +because Boreas blew very fiercely at the behest of Zeus; the deep +seethed and all things trembled at his blast: the strength of +mankind consumed away and the fruit failed in the season of spring, +at that time when the Hairless One (46) in a secret place in the +mountains gets three young every three years. In spring he dwells +upon the mountain among tangled thickets and brushwood, keeping afar +from and hating the path of men, in the glens and wooded glades. +But when winter comes on, he lies in a close cave beneath the earth +and covers himself with piles of luxuriant leaves, a dread +serpent whose back is speckled with awful spots. + +(ll. 44-50) But when he becomes violent and fierce unspeakably, +the arrows of Zeus lay him low.... Only his soul is left on the +holy earth, and that fits gibbering about a small unformed den. +And it comes enfeebled to sacrifices beneath the broad-pathed +earth.... +and it lies....' + +((LACUNA -- Traces of 37 following lines.)) + + +Fragment #69 -- +Tzetzes (47), Exeg. Iliad. 68. 19H: +Agamemnon and Menelaus likewise according to Hesiod and Aeschylus +are regarded as the sons of Pleisthenes, Atreus' son. And +according to Hesiod, Pleisthenes was a son of Atreus and Aerope, +and Agamemnon, Menelaus and Anaxibia were the children of +Pleisthenes and Cleolla the daughter of Dias. + + +Fragment #70 -- +Laurentian Scholiast on Sophocles' Electra, 539: +`And she (Helen) bare to Menelaus, famous with the spear, +Hermione and her youngest-born, Nicostratus, a scion of Ares.' + + +Fragment #71 -- +Pausanias, i. 43. 1: +I know that Hesiod in the "Catalogue of Women" represented that +Iphigeneia was not killed but, by the will of Artemis, became +Hecate (48). + + +Fragment #72 -- +Eustathius, Hom. 13. 44. sq: +Butes, it is said, was a son of Poseidon: so Hesiod in the +"Catalogue". + + +Fragment #73 -- +Pausanias, ii. 6. 5: +Hesiod represented Sicyon as the son of Erechtheus. + + +Fragment #74 -- +Plato, Minos, p. 320. D: +`(Minos) who was most kingly of mortal kings and reigned over +very many people dwelling round about, holding the sceptre of +Zeus wherewith he ruled many.' + + +Fragment #75 -- +Hesychius (49): +The athletic contest in memory of Eurygyes Melesagorus says that +Androgeos the son of Minos was called Eurygyes, and that a +contest in his honour is held near his tomb at Athens in the +Ceramicus. And Hesiod writes: `And Eurygyes (50), while yet a +lad in holy Athens...' + + +Fragment #76 -- +Plutarch, Theseus 20: +There are many tales.... about Ariadne...., how that she was +deserted by Theseua for love of another woman: `For strong love +for Aegle the daughter of Panopeus overpowered him.' For Hereas +of Megara says that Peisistratus removed this verse from the +works of Hesiod. + +Athenaeus (51), xiii. 557 A: +But Hesiod says that Theseus wedded both Hippe and Aegle +lawfully. + + +Fragment #77 -- +Strabo, ix. p. 393: +The snake of Cychreus: Hesiod says that it was brought up by +Cychreus, and was driven out by Eurylochus as defiling the +island, but that Demeter received it into Eleusis, and that it +became her attendant. + + +Fragment #78 -- +Argument I. to the Shield of Heracles: +But Apollonius of Rhodes says that it (the "Shield of Heracles") +is Hesiod's both from the general character of the work and from +the fact that in the "Catalogue" we again find Iolaus as +charioteer of Heracles. + + +Fragment #79 -- +Scholiast on Soph. Trach., 266: +(ll. 1-6) `And fair-girdled Stratonica conceived and bare in the +palace Eurytus her well-loved son. Of him sprang sons, Didaeon +and Clytius and god-like Toxeus and Iphitus, a scion of Ares. +And after these Antiope the queen, daughter of the aged son of +Nauboius, bare her youngest child, golden-haired Iolea.' + + +Fragment #80 -- +Herodian in Etymologicum Magnum: +`Who bare Autolycus and Philammon, famous in speech.... All +things that he (Autolyeus) took in his hands, he made to +disappear.' + + +Fragment #81 -- +Apollonius, Hom. Lexicon: +`Aepytus again, begot Tlesenor and Peirithous.' + + +Fragment #82 -- +Strabo, vii. p. 322: +`For Locrus truly was leader of the Lelegian people, whom Zeus +the Son of Cronos, whose wisdom is unfailing, gave to Deucalion, +stones gathered out of the earth. So out of stones mortal men +were made, and they were called people.' (52) + + +Fragment #83 -- +Tzetzes, Schol. in Exeg. Iliad. 126: +`...Ileus whom the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, loved. And he named +him by his name, because he found a nymph complaisant (53) and +was joined with her in sweet love, on that day when Poseidon and +Apollo raised high the wall of the well-built city.' + + +Fragment #84 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Od. xi. 326: +Clymene the daughter of Minyas the son of Poseidon and of +Euryanassa, Hyperphas' daughter, was wedded to Phylacus the son +of Deion, and bare Iphiclus, a boy fleet of foot. It is said of +him that through his power of running he could race the winds and +could move along upon the ears of corn (54).... The tale is in +Hesiod: `He would run over the fruit of the asphodel and not +break it; nay, he would run with his feet upon wheaten ears and +not hurt the fruit.' + + +Fragment #85 -- +Choeroboscus (55), i. 123, 22H: +`And she bare a son Thoas.' + + +Fragment #86 -- +Eustathius, Hom. 1623. 44: +Maro (56), whose father, it is said, Hesiod relates to have been +Euanthes the son of Oenopion, the son of Dionysus. + + +Fragment #87 -- +Athenaeus, x. 428 B, C: +`Such gifts as Dionysus gave to men, a joy and a sorrow both. +Who ever drinks to fullness, in him wine becomes violent and +binds together his hands and feet, his tongue also and his wits +with fetters unspeakable: and soft sleep embraces him.' + + +Fragment #88 -- +Strabo, ix. p. 442: +`Or like her (Coronis) who lived by the holy Twin Hills in the +plain of Dotium over against Amyrus rich in grapes, and washed +her feet in the Boebian lake, a maid unwed.' + + +Fragment #89 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iii. 48: +`To him, then, there came a messenger from the sacred feast to +goodly Pytho, a crow (57), and he told unshorn Phoebus of secret +deeds, that Ischys son of Elatus had wedded Coronis the daughter +of Phlegyas of birth divine. + + +Fragment #90 -- +Athenagoras (58), Petition for the Christians, 29: +Concerning Asclepius Hesiod says: `And the father of men and gods +was wrath, and from Olympus he smote the son of Leto with a lurid +thunderbolt and killed him, arousing the anger of Phoebus.' + + +Fragment #91 -- +Philodemus, On Piety, 34: +But Hesiod (says that Apollo) would have been cast by Zeus into +Tartarus (59); but Leto interceded for him, and he became bondman +to a mortal. + + +Fragment #92 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. ix. 6: +`Or like her, beautiful Cyrene, who dwelt in Phthia by the water +of Peneus and had the beauty of the Graces.' + + +Fragment #93 -- +Servius on Vergil, Georg. i. 14: +He invoked Aristaeus, that is, the son of Apollo and Cyrene, whom +Hesiod calls `the shepherd Apollo.' (60) + + +Fragment #94 -- +Scholiast on Vergil, Georg. iv. 361: +`But the water stood all round him, bowed into the semblance of a +mountain.' This verse he has taken over from Hesiod's "Catalogue +of Women". + + +Fragment #95 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Iliad ii. 469: +`Or like her (Antiope) whom Boeotian Hyria nurtured as a maid.' + + +Fragment #96 -- +Palaephatus (61), c. 42: +Of Zethus and Amphion. Hesiod and some others relate that they +built the walls of Thebes by playing on the lyre. + + +Fragment #97 -- +Scholiast on Soph. Trach., 1167: +(ll. 1-11) `There is a land Ellopia with much glebe and rich +meadows, and rich in flocks and shambling kine. There dwell men +who have many sheep and many oxen, and they are in number past +telling, tribes of mortal men. And there upon its border is +built a city, Dodona (62); and Zeus loved it and (appointed) it +to be his oracle, reverenced by men.... ....And they (the doves) +lived in the hollow of an oak. From them men of earth carry away +all kinds of prophecy, -- whosoever fares to that spot and +questions the deathless god, and comes bringing gifts with good +omens.' + + +Fragment #98 -- +Berlin Papyri, No. 9777: (63) +(ll. 1-22) `....strife.... Of mortals who would have dared to +fight him with the spear and charge against him, save only +Heracles, the great-hearted offspring of Alcaeus? Such an one +was (?) strong Meleager loved of Ares, the golden-haired, dear +son of Oeneus and Althaea. From his fierce eyes there shone +forth portentous fire: and once in high Calydon he slew the +destroying beast, the fierce wild boar with gleaming tusks. In +war and in dread strife no man of the heroes dared to face him +and to approach and fight with him when he appeared in the +forefront. But he was slain by the hands and arrows of Apollo +(64), while he was fighting with the Curetes for pleasant +Calydon. And these others (Althaea) bare to Oeneus, Porthaon's +son; horse-taming Pheres, and Agelaus surpassing all others, +Toxeus and Clymenus and godlike Periphas, and rich-haired Gorga +and wise Deianeira, who was subject in love to mighty Heracles +and bare him Hyllus and Glenus and Ctesippus and Odites. These +she bare and in ignorance she did a fearful thing: when (she had +received).... +the poisoned robe that held black doom....' + + +Fragment #99A -- +Scholiast on Homer, Iliad. xxiii. 679: +And yet Hesiod says that after he had died in Thebes, Argeia the +daughter of Adrastus together with others (cp. frag. 99) came to +the lamentation over Oedipus. + + +Fragment #99 -- (65) +Papyri greci e latine, No. 131 (2nd-3rd century): (66) +(ll. 1-10) `And (Eriphyle) bare in the palace Alcmaon (67), +shepherd of the people, to Amphiaraus. Him (Amphiaraus) did the +Cadmean (Theban) women with trailing robes admire when they saw +face to face his eyes and well-grown frame, as he was busied +about the burying of Oedipus, the man of many woes. ....Once the +Danai, servants of Ares, followed him to Thebes, to win +renown.... ....for Polynices. But, though well he knew from Zeus +all things ordained, the earth yawned and swallowed him up with +his horses and jointed chariot, far from deep-eddying Alpheus. + +(ll. 11-20) But Electyron married the all-beauteous daughter of +Pelops and, going up into one bed with her, the son of Perses +begat.... ....and Phylonomus and Celaeneus and Amphimachus +and.... ....and Eurybius and famous.... All these the Taphians, +famous shipmen, slew in fight for oxen with shambling hoofs,.... +....in ships across the sea's wide back. So Alcmena alone was +left to delight her parents.... ....and the daughter of +Electryon.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(l. 21) ....who was subject in love to the dark-clouded son of +Cronos and bare (famous Heracles).' + + +Fragment #100 -- +Argument to the Shield of Heracles, i: +The beginning of the "Shield" as far as the 56th verse is current +in the fourth "Catalogue". + + +Fragment #101 (UNCERTAIN POSITION) -- +Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 1 (early 3rd cent. A.D.): +((LACUNA -- Slight remains of 3 lines)) + +(ll. 4-17) `...if indeed he (Teuthras) delayed, and if he feared +to obey the word of the immortals who then appeared plainly to +them. But her (Auge) he received and brought up well, and +cherished in the palace, honouring her even as his own daughters. + +And Auge bare Telephus of the stock of Areas, king of the +Mysians, being joined in love with the mighty Heracles when he +was journeying in quest of the horses of proud Laomedon -- horses +the fleetest of foot that the Asian land nourished, -- and +destroyed in battle the tribe of the dauntless Amazons and drove +them forth from all that land. But Telephus routed the spearmen +of the bronze-clad Achaeans and made them embark upon their black +ships. Yet when he had brought down many to the ground which +nourishes men, his own might and deadliness were brought low....' + + +Fragment #102 (UNCERTAIN POSITION) -- +Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 2 (early 3rd cent. A.D.): +((LACUNA -- Remains of 4 lines)) + +(ll. 5-16) `....Electra.... +was subject to the dark-clouded Son of Cronos and bare +Dardanus.... +and Eetion.... +who once greatly loved rich-haired Demeter. And cloud-gathering +Zeus was wroth and smote him, Eetion, and laid him low with a +flaming thunderbolt, because he sought to lay hands upon rich- +haired Demeter. But Dardanus came to the coast of the mainland +-- from him Erichthonius and thereafter Tros were sprung, and +Ilus, and Assaracus, and godlike Ganymede, -- when he had left +holy Samothrace in his many-benched ship. + +((LACUNA)) + +Oxyrhynchus Papyri 1359 fr. 3 (early 3rd cent. A.D.): +(ll. 17-24) (68) ....Cleopatra +....the daughter of.... +....But an eagle caught up Ganymede for Zeus because he vied with +the immortals in beauty.... ....rich-tressed Diomede; and she +bare Hyacinthus, the blameless one and strong.... ....whom, on a +time Phoebus himself slew unwittingly with a ruthless disk.... + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) A catalogue of heroines each of whom was introduced with the + words E OIE, `Or like her'. +(2) An antiquarian writer of Byzantium, c. 490-570 A.D. +(3) Constantine VII. `Born in the Porphyry Chamber', 905-959 + A.D. +(4) "Berlin Papyri", 7497 (left-hand fragment) and "Oxyrhynchus + Papyri", 421 (right-hand fragment). For the restoration see + "Class. Quart." vii. 217-8. +(5) As the price to be given to her father for her: so in + "Iliad" xviii. 593 maidens are called `earners of oxen'. + Possibly Glaucus, like Aias (fr. 68, ll. 55 ff.), raided the + cattle of others. +(6) i.e. Glaucus should father the children of others. The + curse of Aphrodite on the daughters of Tyndareus (fr. 67) + may be compared. +(7) Porphyry, scholar, mathematician, philosopher and historian, + lived 233-305 (?) A.D. He was a pupil of the neo-Platonist + Plotinus. +(8) Author of a geographical lexicon, produced after 400 A.D., + and abridged under Justinian. +(9) Archbishop of Thessalonica 1175-1192 (?) A.D., author of + commentaries on Pindar and on the "Iliad" and "Odyssey". +(10) In the earliest times a loin-cloth was worn by athletes, but + was discarded after the 14th Olympiad. +(11) Slight remains of five lines precede line 1 in the original: + after line 20 an unknown number of lines have been lost, and + traces of a verse preceding line 21 are here omitted. + Between lines 29 and 30 are fragments of six verses which do + not suggest any definite restoration. (NOTE: Line + enumeration is that according to Evelyn-White; a slightly + different line numbering system is adopted in the original + publication of this fragment. -- DBK) +(12) The end of Schoeneus' speech, the preparations and the + beginning of the race are lost. +(13) Of the three which Aphrodite gave him to enable him to + overcome Atalanta. +(14) The geographer; fl. c.24 B.C. +(15) Of Miletus, flourished about 520 B.C. His work, a mixture + of history and geography, was used by Herodotus. +(16) The Hesiodic story of the daughters of Proetus can be + reconstructed from these sources. They were sought in + marriage by all the Greeks (Pauhellenes), but having + offended Dionysus (or, according to Servius, Juno), were + afflicted with a disease which destroyed their beauty (or + were turned into cows). They were finally healed by + Melampus. +(17) Fl. 56-88 A.D.: he is best known for his work on Vergil. +(18) This and the following fragment segment are meant to be + read together. -- DBK. +(19) This fragment as well as fragments #40A, #101, and #102 were + added by Mr. Evelyn-White in an appendix to the second + edition (1919). They are here moved to the "Catalogues" + proper for easier use by the reader. -- DBK. +(20) For the restoration of ll. 1-16 see "Ox. Pap." pt. xi. pp. + 46-7: the supplements of ll. 17-31 are by the Translator + (cp. "Class. Quart." x. (1916), pp. 65-67). +(21) The crocus was to attract Europa, as in the very similar + story of Persephone: cp. "Homeric Hymns" ii. lines 8 ff. +(22) Apollodorus of Athens (fl. 144 B.C.) was a pupil of + Aristarchus. He wrote a Handbook of Mythology, from which + the extant work bearing his name is derived. +(23) Priest at Praeneste. He lived c. 170-230 A.D. +(24) Son of Apollonius Dyscolus, lived in Rome under Marcus + Aurelius. His chief work was on accentuation. +(25) This and the next two fragment segments are meant to be + read together. -- DBK. +(26) Sacred to Poseidon. For the custom observed there, cp. + "Homeric Hymns" iii. 231 ff. +(27) The allusion is obscure. +(28) Apollonius `the Crabbed' was a grammarian of Alexandria + under Hadrian. He wrote largely on Grammar and Syntax. +(29) 275-195 (?) B.C., mathematician, astronomer, scholar, and + head of the Library of Alexandria. +(30) Of Cyme. He wrote a universal history covering the period + between the Dorian Migration and 340 B.C. +(31) i.e. the nomad Scythians, who are described by Herodotus as + feeding on mares' milk and living in caravans. +(32) The restorations are mainly those adopted or suggested in + "Ox. Pap." pt. xi. pp. 48 ff.: for those of ll. 8-14 see + "Class. Quart." x. (1916) pp. 67-69. +(33) i.e. those who seek to outwit the oracle, or to ask of it + more than they ought, will be deceived by it and be led to + ruin: cp. "Hymn to Hermes", 541 ff. +(34) Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas, who were amongst the + Argonauts, delivered Phineus from the Harpies. The + Strophades (`Islands of Turning') are here supposed to have + been so called because the sons of Boreas were there turned + back by Iris from pursuing the Harpies. +(35) An Epicurean philosopher, fl. 50 B.C. +(36) `Charming-with-her-voice' (or `Charming-the-mind'), `Song', + and `Lovely-sounding'. +(37) Diodorus Siculus, fl. 8 B.C., author of an universal history + ending with Caesar's Gallic Wars. +(38) The first epic in the "Trojan Cycle"; like all ancient epics + it was ascribed to Homer, but also, with more probability, + to Stasinus of Cyprus. +(39) This fragment is placed by Spohn after "Works and Days" l. + 120. +(40) A Greek of Asia Minor, author of the "Description of Greece" + (on which he was still engaged in 173 A.D.). +(41) Wilamowitz thinks one or other of these citations belongs to + the Catalogue. +(42) Lines 1-51 are from Berlin Papyri, 9739; lines 52-106 with + B. 1-50 (and following fragments) are from Berlin Papyri, + 10560. A reference by Pausanias (iii. 24. 10) to ll. 100 + ff. proves that the two fragments together come from the + "Catalogue of Women". The second book (the beginning of + which is indicated after l. 106) can hardly be the second + book of the "Catalogues" proper: possibly it should be + assigned to the EOIAI, which were sometimes treated as part + of the "Catalogues", and sometimes separated from it. The + remains of thirty-seven lines following B. 50 in the Papyrus + are too slight to admit of restoration. +(43) sc. the Suitor whose name is lost. +(44) Wooing was by proxy; so Agamemnon wooed Helen for his + brother Menelaus (ll. 14-15), and Idomeneus, who came in + person and sent no deputy, is specially mentioned as an + exception, and the reasons for this -- if the restoration + printed in the text be right -- is stated (ll. 69 ff.). +(45) The Papyrus here marks the beginning of a second book ("B"), + possibly of the EOIAE. The passage (ll. 2-50) probably led + up to an account of the Trojan (and Theban?) war, in which, + according to "Works and Days" ll. 161-166, the Race of + Heroes perished. The opening of the "Cypria" is somewhat + similar. Somewhere in the fragmentary lines 13-19 a son of + Zeus -- almost certainly Apollo -- was introduced, though + for what purpose is not clear. With l. 31 the destruction + of man (cp. ll. 4-5) by storms which spoil his crops begins: + the remaining verses are parenthetical, describing the snake + `which bears its young in the spring season'. +(46) i.e. the snake; as in "Works and Days" l. 524, the "Boneless + One" is the cuttle-fish. +(47) c. 1110-1180 A.D. His chief work was a poem, "Chiliades", + in accentual verse of nearly 13,000 lines. +(48) According to this account Iphigeneia was carried by Artemis + to the Taurie Chersonnese (the Crimea). The Tauri + (Herodotus iv. 103) identified their maiden-goddess with + Iphigeneia; but Euripides ("Iphigeneia in Tauris") makes her + merely priestess of the goddess. +(49) Of Alexandria. He lived in the 5th century, and compiled a + Greek Lexicon. +(50) For his murder Minos exacted a yearly tribute of boys and + girls, to be devoured by the Minotaur, from the Athenians. +(51) Of Naucratis. His "Deipnosophistae" ("Dons at Dinner") is + an encyclopaedia of miscellaneous topics in the form of a + dialogue. His date is c. 230 A.D. +(52) There is a fancied connection between LAAS (`stone') and + LAOS (`people'). The reference is to the stones which + Deucalion and Pyrrha transformed into men and women after + the Flood. +(53) Eustathius identifies Ileus with Oileus, father of Aias. + Here again is fanciful etymology, ILEUS being similar to + ILEOS (complaisant, gracious). +(54) Imitated by Vergil, "Aeneid" vii. 808, describing Camilla. +(55) c. 600 A.D., a lecturer and grammarian of Constantinople. +(56) Priest of Apollo, and, according to Homer, discoverer of + wine. Maronea in Thrace is said to have been called after + him. +(57) The crow was originally white, but was turned black by + Apollo in his anger at the news brought by the bird. +(58) A philosopher of Athens under Hadrian and Antonius. He + became a Christian and wrote a defence of the Christians + addressed to Antoninus Pius. +(59) Zeus slew Asclepus (fr. 90) because of his success as a + healer, and Apollo in revenge killed the Cyclopes (fr. 64). + In punishment Apollo was forced to serve Admetus as + herdsman. (Cp. Euripides, "Alcestis", 1-8) +(60) For Cyrene and Aristaeus, cp. Vergil, "Georgics", iv. 315 + ff. +(61) A writer on mythology of uncertain date. +(62) In Epirus. The oracle was first consulted by Deucalion and + Pyrrha after the Flood. Later writers say that the god + responded in the rustling of leaves in the oaks for which + the place was famous. +(63) The fragment is part of a leaf from a papyrus book of the + 4th century A.D. +(64) According to Homer and later writers Meleager wasted away + when his mother Althea burned the brand on which his life + depended, because he had slain her brothers in the dispute + for the hide of the Calydonian boar. (Cp. Bacchylides, + "Ode" v. 136 ff.) +(65) The fragment probably belongs to the "Catalogues" proper + rather than to the Eoiae; but, as its position is uncertain, + it may conveniently be associated with Frags. 99A and the + "Shield of Heracles". +(66) Most of the smaller restorations appear in the original + publication, but the larger are new: these last are highly + conjectual, there being no definite clue to the general + sense. +(67) Alcmaon (who took part in the second of the two heroic + Theban expeditions) is perhaps mentioned only incidentally + as the son of Amphiaraus, who seems to be clearly indicated + in ll. 7-8, and whose story occupies ll. 5-10. At l. 11 the + subject changes and Electryon is introduced as father of + Alcmena. +(68) The association of ll. 1-16 with ll. 17-24 is presumed from + the apparent mention of Erichthonius in l. 19. A new + section must then begin at l. 21. See "Ox. Pap." pt. xi. p. + 55 (and for restoration of ll. 5-16, ib. p. 53). ll. 19-20 + are restored by the Translator. + + + +THE SHIELD OF HERACLES (480 lines) + +(ll. 1-27) Or like her who left home and country and came to +Thebes, following warlike Amphitryon, -- even Alcmena, the +daughter of Electyron, gatherer of the people. She surpassed the +tribe of womankind in beauty and in height; and in wisdom none +vied with her of those whom mortal women bare of union with +mortal men. Her face and her dark eyes wafted such charm as +comes from golden Aphrodite. And she so honoured her husband in +her heart as none of womankind did before her. Verily he had +slain her noble father violently when he was angry about oxen; so +he left his own country and came to Thebes and was suppliant to +the shield-carrying men of Cadmus. There he dwelt with his +modest wife without the joys of love, nor might he go in unto the +neat-ankled daughter of Electyron until he had avenged the death +of his wife's great-hearted brothers and utterly burned with +blazing fire the villages of the heroes, the Taphians and +Teleboans; for this thing was laid upon him, and the gods were +witnesses to it. And he feared their anger, and hastened to +perform the great task to which Zeus had bound him. With him +went the horse-driving Boeotians, breathing above their shields, +and the Locrians who fight hand to hand, and the gallant Phocians +eager for war and battle. And the noble son of Alcaeus led them, +rejoicing in his host. + +(ll. 27-55) But the father of men and gods was forming another +scheme in his heart, to beget one to defend against destruction +gods and men who eat bread. So he arose from Olympus by night +pondering guile in the deep of his heart, and yearned for the +love of the well-girded woman. Quickly he came to Typhaonium, +and from there again wise Zeus went on and trod the highest peak +of Phicium (1): there he sat and planned marvellous things in his +heart. So in one night Zeus shared the bed and love of the neat- +ankled daughter of Electyron and fulfilled his desire; and in the +same night Amphitryon, gatherer of the people, the glorious hero, +came to his house when he had ended his great task. He hastened +not to go to his bondmen and shepherds afield, but first went in +unto his wife: such desire took hold on the shepherd of the +people. And as a man who has escaped joyfully from misery, +whether of sore disease or cruel bondage, so then did Amphitryon, +when he had wound up all his heavy task, come glad and welcome to +his home. And all night long he lay with his modest wife, +delighting in the gifts of golden Aphrodite. And she, being +subject in love to a god and to a man exceeding goodly, brought +forth twin sons in seven-gated Thebe. Though they were brothers, +these were not of one spirit; for one was weaker but the other a +far better man, one terrible and strong, the mighty Heracles. +Him she bare through the embrace of the son of Cronos lord of +dark clouds and the other, Iphiclus, of Amphitryon the spear- +wielder -- offspring distinct, this one of union with a mortal +man, but that other of union with Zeus, leader of all the gods. + +(ll. 57-77) And he slew Cycnus, the gallant son of Ares. For he +found him in the close of far-shooting Apollo, him and his father +Ares, never sated with war. Their armour shone like a flame of +blazing fire as they two stood in their car: their swift horses +struck the earth and pawed it with their hoofs, and the dust rose +like smoke about them, pounded by the chariot wheels and the +horses' hoofs, while the well-made chariot and its rails rattled +around them as the horses plunged. And blameless Cycnus was +glad, for he looked to slay the warlike son of Zeus and his +charioteer with the sword, and to strip off their splendid +armour. But Phoebus Apollo would not listen to his vaunts, for +he himself had stirred up mighty Heracles against him. And all +the grove and altar of Pagasaean Apollo flamed because of the +dread god and because of his arms; for his eyes flashed as with +fire. What mortal men would have dared to meet him face to face +save Heracles and glorious Iolaus? For great was their strength +and unconquerable were the arms which grew from their shoulders +on their strong limbs. Then Heracles spake to his charioteer +strong Iolaus: + +(ll. 78-94) `O hero Iolaus, best beloved of all men, truly +Amphitryon sinned deeply against the blessed gods who dwell on +Olympus when he came to sweet-crowned Thebe and left Tiryns, the +well-built citadel, because he slew Electryon for the sake of his +wide-browned oxen. Then he came to Creon and long-robed Eniocha, +who received him kindly and gave him all fitting things, as is +due to suppliants, and honoured him in their hearts even more. +And he lived joyfully with his wife the neat-ankled daughter of +Electyron: and presently, while the years rolled on, we were +born, unlike in body as in mind, even your father and I. From +him Zeus took away sense, so that he left his home and his +parents and went to do honour to the wicked Eurystheus -- unhappy +man! Deeply indeed did he grieve afterwards in bearing the +burden of his own mad folly; but that cannot be taken back. But +on me fate laid heavy tasks. + +(ll. 95-101) `Yet, come, friend, quickly take the red-dyed reins +of the swift horses and raise high courage in your heart and +guide the swift chariot and strong fleet-footed horses straight +on. Have no secret fear at the noise of man-slaying Ares who now +rages shouting about the holy grove of Phoebus Apollo, the lord +who shoots form afar. Surely, strong though he be, he shall have +enough of war.' + +(ll. 102-114) And blameless Iolaus answered him again: `Good +friend, truly the father of men and gods greatly honours your +head and the bull-like Earth-Shaker also, who keeps Thebe's veil +of walls and guards the city, -- so great and strong is this +fellow they bring into your hands that you may win great glory. +But come, put on your arms of war that with all speed we may +bring the car of Ares and our own together and fight; for he +shall not frighten the dauntless son of Zeus, nor yet the son of +Iphiclus: rather, I think he will flee before the two sons of +blameless Alcides who are near him and eager to raise the war cry +for battle; for this they love better than a feast.' + +(ll. 115-117) So he said. And mighty Heracles was glad in heart +and smiled, for the other's words pleased him well, and he +answered him with winged words: + +(ll. 118-121) `O hero Iolaus, heaven-sprung, now is rough battle +hard at hand. But, as you have shown your skill at other-times, +so now also wheel the great black-maned horse Arion about every +way, and help me as you may be able.' + +(ll. 122-138) So he said, and put upon his legs greaves of +shining bronze, the splendid gift of Hephaestus. Next he +fastened about his breast a fine golden breast-plate, curiously +wrought, which Pallas Athene the daughter of Zeus had given him +when first he was about to set out upon his grievous labours. +Over his shoulders the fierce warrior put the steel that saves +men from doom, and across his breast he slung behind him a hollow +quiver. Within it were many chilling arrows, dealers of death +which makes speech forgotten: in front they had death, and +trickled with tears; their shafts were smooth and very long; and +their butts were covered with feathers of a brown eagle. And he +took his strong spear, pointed with shining bronze, and on his +valiant head set a well-made helm of adamant, cunningly wrought, +which fitted closely on the temples; and that guarded the head of +god-like Heracles. + +(ll. 139-153) In his hands he took his shield, all glittering: no +one ever broke it with a blow or crushed it. And a wonder it was +to see; for its whole orb was a-shimmer with enamel and white +ivory and electrum, and it glowed with shining gold; and there +were zones of cyanus (2) drawn upon it. In the centre was Fear +worked in adamant, unspeakable, staring backwards with eyes that +glowed with fire. His mouth was full of teeth in a white row, +fearful and daunting, and upon his grim brow hovered frightful +Strife who arrays the throng of men: pitiless she, for she took +away the mind and senses of poor wretches who made war against +the son of Zeus. Their souls passed beneath the earth and went +down into the house of Hades; but their bones, when the skin is +rotted about them, crumble away on the dark earth under parching +Sirius. + +(ll. 154-160) Upon the shield Pursuit and Flight were wrought, +and Tumult, and Panic, and Slaughter. Strife also, and Uproar +were hurrying about, and deadly Fate was there holding one man +newly wounded, and another unwounded; and one, who was dead, she +was dragging by the feet through the tumult. She had on her +shoulders a garment red with the blood of men, and terribly she +glared and gnashed her teeth. + +(ll. 160-167) And there were heads of snakes unspeakably +frightful, twelve of them; and they used to frighten the tribes +of men on earth whosoever made war against the son of Zeus; for +they would clash their teeth when Amphitryon's son was fighting: +and brightly shone these wonderful works. And it was as though +there were spots upon the frightful snakes: and their backs were +dark blue and their jaws were black. + +(ll. 168-177) Also there were upon the shield droves of boars and +lions who glared at each other, being furious and eager: the rows +of them moved on together, and neither side trembled but both +bristled up their manes. For already a great lion lay between +them and two boars, one on either side, bereft of life, and their +dark blood was dripping down upon the ground; they lay dead with +necks outstretched beneath the grim lions. And both sides were +roused still more to fight because they were angry, the fierce +boars and the bright-eyed lions. + +(ll. 178-190) And there was the strife of the Lapith spearmen +gathered round the prince Caeneus and Dryas and Peirithous, with +Hopleus, Exadius, Phalereus, and Prolochus, Mopsus the son of +Ampyce of Titaresia, a scion of Ares, and Theseus, the son of +Aegeus, like unto the deathless gods. These were of silver, and +had armour of gold upon their bodies. And the Centaurs were +gathered against them on the other side with Petraeus and Asbolus +the diviner, Arctus, and Ureus, and black-haired Mimas, and the +two sons of silver, and they had pinetrees of gold in their +hands, and they were rushing together as though they were alive +and striking at one another hand to hand with spears and with +pines. + +(ll. 191-196) And on the shield stood the fleet-footed horses of +grim Ares made gold, and deadly Ares the spoil-winner himself. +He held a spear in his hands and was urging on the footmen: he +was red with blood as if he were slaying living men, and he stood +in his chariot. Beside him stood Fear and Flight, eager to +plunge amidst the fighting men. + +(ll. 197-200) There, too, was the daughter of Zeus, Tritogeneia +who drives the spoil (3). She was like as if she would array a +battle, with a spear in her hand, and a golden helmet, and the +aegis about her shoulders. And she was going towards the awful +strife. + +(ll. 201-206) And there was the holy company of the deathless +gods: and in the midst the son of Zeus and Leto played sweetly on +a golden lyre. There also was the abode of the gods, pure +Olympus, and their assembly, and infinite riches were spread +around in the gathering, the Muses of Pieria were beginning a +song like clear-voiced singers. + +(ll. 207-215) And on the shield was a harbour with a safe haven +from the irresistible sea, made of refined tin wrought in a +circle, and it seemed to heave with waves. In the middle of it +were many dolphins rushing this way and that, fishing: and they +seemed to be swimming. Two dolphins of silver were spouting and +devouring the mute fishes. And beneath them fishes of bronze +were trembling. And on the shore sat a fisherman watching: in +his hands he held a casting net for fish, and seemed as if about +to cast it forth. + +(ll. 216-237) There, too, was the son of rich-haired Danae, the +horseman Perseus: his feet did not touch the shield and yet were +not far from it -- very marvellous to remark, since he was not +supported anywhere; for so did the famous Lame One fashion him of +gold with his hands. On his feet he had winged sandals, and his +black-sheathed sword was slung across his shoulders by a cross- +belt of bronze. He was flying swift as thought. The head of a +dreadful monster, the Gorgon, covered the broad of his back, and +a bag of silver -- a marvel to see -- contained it: and from the +bag bright tassels of gold hung down. Upon the head of the hero +lay the dread cap (4) of Hades which had the awful gloom of +night. Perseus himself, the son of Danae, was at full stretch, +like one who hurries and shudders with horror. And after him +rushed the Gorgons, unapproachable and unspeakable, longing to +seize him: as they trod upon the pale adamant, the shield rang +sharp and clear with a loud clanging. Two serpents hung down at +their girdles with heads curved forward: their tongues were +flickering, and their teeth gnashing with fury, and their eyes +glaring fiercely. And upon the awful heads of the Gorgons great +Fear was quaking. + +(ll. 237-270) And beyond these there were men fighting in warlike +harness, some defending their own town and parents from +destruction, and others eager to sack it; many lay dead, but the +greater number still strove and fought. The women on well-built +towers of bronze were crying shrilly and tearing their cheeks +like living beings -- the work of famous Hephaestus. And the men +who were elders and on whom age had laid hold were all together +outside the gates, and were holding up their hands to the blessed +gods, fearing for their own sons. But these again were engaged +in battle: and behind them the dusky Fates, gnashing their white +fangs, lowering, grim, bloody, and unapproachable, struggled for +those who were falling, for they all were longing to drink dark +blood. So soon as they caught a man overthrown or falling newly +wounded, one of them would clasp her great claws about him, and +his soul would go down to Hades to chilly Tartarus. And when +they had satisfied their souls with human blood, they would cast +that one behind them, and rush back again into the tumult and the +fray. Clotho and Lachesis were over them and Atropos less tall +than they, a goddess of no great frame, yet superior to the +others and the eldest of them. And they all made a fierce fight +over one poor wretch, glaring evilly at one another with furious +eyes and fighting equally with claws and hands. By them stood +Darkness of Death, mournful and fearful, pale, shrivelled, shrunk +with hunger, swollen-kneed. Long nails tipped her hands, and she +dribbled at the nose, and from her cheeks blood dripped down to +the ground. She stood leering hideously, and much dust sodden +with tears lay upon her shoulders. + +(ll. 270-285) Next, there was a city of men with goodly towers; +and seven gates of gold, fitted to the lintels, guarded it. The +men were making merry with festivities and dances; some were +bringing home a bride to her husband on a well-wheeled car, while +the bridal-song swelled high, and the glow of blazing torches +held by handmaidens rolled in waves afar. And these maidens went +before, delighting in the festival; and after them came +frolicsome choirs, the youths singing soft-mouthed to the sound +of shrill pipes, while the echo was shivered around them, and the +girls led on the lovely dance to the sound of lyres. Then again +on the other side was a rout of young men revelling, with flutes +playing; some frolicking with dance and song, and others were +going forward in time with a flute player and laughing. The +whole town was filled with mirth and dance and festivity. + +(ll. 285-304) Others again were mounted on horseback and +galloping before the town. And there were ploughmen breaking up +the good soil, clothed in tunics girt up. Also there was a wide +cornland and some men were reaping with sharp hooks the stalks +which bended with the weight of the cars -- as if they were +reaping Demeter's grain: others were binding the sheaves with +bands and were spreading the threshing floor. And some held +reaping hooks and were gathering the vintage, while others were +taking from the reapers into baskets white and black clusters +from the long rows of vines which were heavy with leaves and +tendrils of silver. Others again were gathering them into +baskets. Beside them was a row of vines in gold, the splendid +work of cunning Hephaestus: it had shivering leaves and stakes of +silver and was laden with grapes which turned black (5). And +there were men treading out the grapes and others drawing off +liquor. Also there were men boxing and wrestling, and huntsmen +chasing swift hares with a leash of sharp-toothed dogs before +them, they eager to catch the hares, and the hares eager to +escape. + +(ll 305-313) Next to them were horsemen hard set, and they +contended and laboured for a prize. The charioteers standing on +their well-woven cars, urged on their swift horses with loose +rein; the jointed cars flew along clattering and the naves of the +wheels shrieked loudly. So they were engaged in an unending +toil, and the end with victory came never to them, and the +contest was ever unwon. And there was set out for them within +the course a great tripod of gold, the splendid work of cunning +Hephaestus. + +(ll. 314-317) And round the rim Ocean was flowing, with a full +stream as it seemed, and enclosed all the cunning work of the +shield. Over it swans were soaring and calling loudly, and many +others were swimming upon the surface of the water; and near them +were shoals of fish. + +(ll. 318-326) A wonderful thing the great strong shield was to +see -- even for Zeus the loud-thunderer, by whose will Hephaestus +made it and fitted it with his hands. This shield the valiant +son of Zeus wielded masterly, and leaped upon his horse-chariot +like the lightning of his father Zeus who holds the aegis, moving +lithely. And his charioteer, strong Iolaus, standing upon the +car, guided the curved chariot. + +(ll. 327-337) Then the goddess grey-eyed Athene came near them +and spoke winged words, encouraging them: `Hail, offspring of +far-famed Lynceus! Even now Zeus who reigns over the blessed +gods gives you power to slay Cycnus and to strip off his splendid +armour. Yet I will tell you something besides, mightiest of the +people. When you have robbed Cycnus of sweet life, then leave +him there and his armour also, and you yourself watch man-slaying +Ares narrowly as he attacks, and wherever you shall see him +uncovered below his cunningly-wrought shield, there wound him +with your sharp spear. Then draw back; for it is not ordained +that you should take his horses or his splendid armour.' + +(ll. 338-349) So said the bright-eyed goddess and swiftly got up +into the car with victory and renown in her hands. Then heaven- +nurtured Iolaus called terribly to the horses, and at his cry +they swiftly whirled the fleet chariot along, raising dust from +the plain; for the goddess bright-eyed Athene put mettle into +them by shaking her aegis. And the earth groaned all round them. + +And they, horse-taming Cycnus and Ares, insatiable in war, came +on together like fire or whirlwind. Then their horses neighed +shrilly, face to face; and the echo was shivered all round them. +And mighty Heracles spoke first and said to that other: + +(ll. 350-367) `Cycnus, good sir! Why, pray, do you set your +swift horses at us, men who are tried in labour and pain? Nay, +guide your fleet car aside and yield and go out of the path. It +is to Trachis I am driving on, to Ceyx the king, who is the first +in Trachis for power and for honour, and that you yourself know +well, for you have his daughter dark-eyed Themistinoe to wife. +Fool! For Ares shall not deliver you from the end of death, if +we two meet together in battle. Another time ere this I declare +he has made trial of my spear, when he defended sandy Pylos and +stood against me, fiercely longing for fight. Thrice was he +stricken by my spear and dashed to earth, and his shield was +pierced; but the fourth time I struck his thigh, laying on with +all my strength, and tare deep into his flesh. And he fell +headlong in the dust upon the ground through the force of my +spear-thrust; then truly he would have been disgraced among the +deathless gods, if by my hands he had left behind his bloody +spoils.' + +(ll. 368-385) So said he. But Cycnus the stout spearman cared +not to obey him and to pull up the horses that drew his chariot. +Then it was that from their well-woven cars they both leaped +straight to the ground, the son of Zeus and the son of the Lord +of War. The charioteers drove near by their horses with +beautiful manes, and the wide earth rang with the beat of their +hoofs as they rushed along. As when rocks leap forth from the +high peak of a great mountain, and fall on one another, and many +towering oaks and pines and long-rooted poplars are broken by +them as they whirl swiftly down until they reach the plain; so +did they fall on one another with a great shout: and all the town +of the Myrmidons, and famous Iolcus, and Arne, and Helice, and +grassy Anthea echoed loudly at the voice of the two. With an +awful cry they closed: and wise Zeus thundered loudly and rained +down drops of blood, giving the signal for battle to his +dauntless son. + +(ll. 386-401) As a tusked boar, that is fearful for a man to see +before him in the glens of a mountain, resolves to fight with the +huntsmen and white tusks, turning sideways, while foam flows all +round his mouth as he gnashes, and his eyes are like glowing +fire, and he bristles the hair on his mane and around his neck -- +like him the son of Zeus leaped from his horse-chariot. And when +the dark-winged whirring grasshopper, perched on a green shoot, +begins to sing of summer to men -- his food and drink is the +dainty dew -- and all day long from dawn pours forth his voice in +the deadliest heat, when Sirius scorches the flesh (then the +beard grows upon the millet which men sow in summer), when the +crude grapes which Dionysus gave to men -- a joy and a sorrow +both -- begin to colour, in that season they fought and loud rose +the clamour. + +(ll. 402-412) As two lions (6) on either side of a slain deer +spring at one another in fury, and there is a fearful snarling +and a clashing also of teeth -- like vultures with crooked talons +and hooked beak that fight and scream aloud on a high rock over a +mountain goat or fat wild-deer which some active man has shot +with an arrow from the string, and himself has wandered away +elsewhere, not knowing the place; but they quickly mark it and +vehemently do keen battle about it -- like these they two rushed +upon one another with a shout. + +(ll. 413-423) Then Cycnus, eager to kill the son of almighty +Zeus, struck upon his shield with a brazen spear, but did not +break the bronze; and the gift of the god saved his foe. But the +son of Amphitryon, mighty Heracles, with his long spear struck +Cycnus violently in the neck beneath the chin, where it was +unguarded between helm and shield. And the deadly spear cut +through the two sinews; for the hero's full strength lighted on +his foe. And Cycnus fell as an oak falls or a lofty pine that is +stricken by the lurid thunderbolt of Zeus; even so he fell, and +his armour adorned with bronze clashed about him. + +(ll. 424-442) Then the stout hearted son of Zeus let him be, and +himself watched for the onset of manslaying Ares: fiercely he +stared, like a lion who has come upon a body and full eagerly +rips the hide with his strong claws and takes away the sweet life +with all speed: his dark heart is filled with rage and his eyes +glare fiercely, while he tears up the earth with his paws and +lashes his flanks and shoulders with his tail so that no one +dares to face him and go near to give battle. Even so, the son +of Amphitryon, unsated of battle, stood eagerly face to face with +Ares, nursing courage in his heart. And Ares drew near him with +grief in his heart; and they both sprang at one another with a +cry. As it is when a rock shoots out from a great cliff and +whirls down with long bounds, careering eagerly with a roar, and +a high crag clashes with it and keeps it there where they strike +together; with no less clamour did deadly Ares, the chariot- +borne, rush shouting at Heracles. And he quickly received the +attack. + +(ll. 443-449) But Athene the daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus came +to meet Ares, wearing the dark aegis, and she looked at him with +an angry frown and spoke winged words to him. `Ares, check your +fierce anger and matchless hands; for it is not ordained that you +should kill Heracles, the bold-hearted son of Zeus, and strip off +his rich armour. Come, then, cease fighting and do not withstand +me.' + +(ll. 450-466) So said she, but did not move the courageous spirit +of Ares. But he uttered a great shout and waving his spears like +fire, he rushed headlong at strong Heracles, longing to kill him, +and hurled a brazen spear upon the great shield, for he was +furiously angry because of his dead son; but bright-eyed Athene +reached out from the car and turned aside the force of the spear. + +Then bitter grief seized Ares and he drew his keen sword and +leaped upon bold-hearted Heracles. But as he came on, the son of +Amphitryon, unsated of fierce battle, shrewdly wounded his thigh +where it was exposed under his richly-wrought shield, and tare +deep into his flesh with the spear-thrust and cast him flat upon +the ground. And Panic and Dread quickly drove his smooth-wheeled +chariot and horses near him and lifted him from the wide-pathed +earth into his richly-wrought car, and then straight lashed the +horses and came to high Olympus. + +(ll. 467-471) But the son of Alcmena and glorious Iolaus stripped +the fine armour off Cycnus' shoulders and went, and their swift +horses carried them straight to the city of Trachis. And bright- +eyed Athene went thence to great Olympus and her father's house. + +(ll. 472-480) As for Cycnus, Ceyx buried him and the countless +people who lived near the city of the glorious king, in Anthe and +the city of the Myrmidons, and famous Iolcus, and Arne, and +Helice: and much people were gathered doing honour to Ceyx, the +friend of the blessed gods. But Anaurus, swelled by a rain- +storm, blotted out the grave and memorial of Cycnus; for so +Apollo, Leto's son, commanded him, because he used to watch for +and violently despoil the rich hecatombs that any might bring to +Pytho. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) A mountain peak near Thebes which took its name from the + Sphinx (called in "Theogony" l. 326 PHIX). +(2) Cyanus was a glass-paste of deep blue colour: the `zones' + were concentric bands in which were the scenes described by + the poet. The figure of Fear (l. 44) occupied the centre of + the shield, and Oceanus (l. 314) enclosed the whole. +(3) `She who drives herds,' i.e. `The Victorious', since herds + were the chief spoil gained by the victor in ancient + warfare. +(4) The cap of darkness which made its wearer invisible. +(5) The existing text of the vineyard scene is a compound of two + different versions, clumsily adapted, and eked out with some + makeshift additions. +(6) The conception is similar to that of the sculptured group at + Athens of Two Lions devouring a Bull (Dickens, "Cat. of the + Acropolis Museaum", No. 3). + + + +THE MARRIAGE OF CEYX (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 128: +Hesiod in the "Marriage of Ceyx" says that he (Heracles) landed +(from the Argo) to look for water and was left behind in Magnesia +near the place called Aphetae because of his desertion there. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Zenobius (1), ii. 19: +Hesiod used the proverb in the following way: Heracles is +represented as having constantly visited the house of Ceyx of +Trachis and spoken thus: `Of their own selves the good make for +the feasts of good.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xiv. 119: +`And horse-driving Ceyx beholding...' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Athenaeus, ii. p. 49b: +Hesiod in the "Marriage of Ceyx" -- for though grammar-school +boys alienate it from the poet, yet I consider the poem ancient + -- calls the tables tripods. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Gregory of Corinth, On Forms of Speech (Rhett. Gr. vii. 776): +`But when they had done with desire for the equal-shared feast, +even then they brought from the forest the mother of a mother +(sc. wood), dry and parched, to be slain by her own children' +(sc. to be burnt in the flames). + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) A Greek sophist who taught rhetoric at Rome in the time of + Hadrian. He is the author of a collection of proverbs in + three books. + + + +THE GREAT EOIAE (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Pausanius, ii. 26. 3: +Epidaurus. According to the opinion of the Argives and the epic +poem, the "Great Eoiae", Argos the son of Zeus was father of +Epidaurus. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Anonymous Comment. on Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, iii. 7: +And, they say, Hesiod is sufficient to prove that the word +PONEROS (bad) has the same sense as `laborious' or `ill-fated'; +for in the "Great Eoiae" he represents Alcmene as saying to +Heracles: `My son, truly Zeus your father begot you to be the +most toilful as the most excellent...'; and again: `The Fates +(made) you the most toilful and the most excellent...' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Isthm. v. 53: +The story has been taken from the "Great Eoiae"; for there we +find Heracles entertained by Telamon, standing dressed in his +lion-skin and praying, and there also we find the eagle sent by +Zeus, from which Aias took his name (1). + + +Fragment #4 -- +Pausanias, iv. 2. 1: +But I know that the so-called "Great Eoiae" say that Polycaon the +son of Butes married Euaechme, daughter of Hyllus, Heracles' son. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Pausanias, ix. 40. 6: +`And Phylas wedded Leipephile the daughter of famous Iolaus: and +she was like the Olympians in beauty. She bare him a son +Hippotades in the palace, and comely Thero who was like the beams +of the moon. And Thero lay in the embrace of Apollo and bare +horse-taming Chaeron of hardy strength.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Pyth. iv. 35: +`Or like her in Hyria, careful-minded Mecionice, who was joined +in the love of golden Aphrodite with the Earth-holder and Earth- +Shaker, and bare Euphemus.' + + +Fragment #7 -- +Pausanias, ix. 36. 7: +`And Hyettus killed Molurus the dear son of Aristas in his house +because he lay with his wife. Then he left his home and fled +from horse-rearing Argos and came to Minyan Orchomenus. And the +hero received him and gave him a portion of his goods, as was +fitting.' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Pausanias, ii. 2. 3: +But in the "Great Eoiae" Peirene is represented to be the +daughter of Oebalius. + + +Fragment #9 -- +Pausanias, ii. 16. 4: +The epic poem, which the Greek call the "Great Eoiae", says that +she (Mycene) was the daughter of Inachus and wife of Arestor: +from her, then, it is said, the city received its name. + + +Fragment #10 -- +Pausanias, vi. 21. 10: +According to the poem the "Great Eoiae", these were killed by +Oenomaus (2): Alcathous the son of Porthaon next after Marmax, +and after Alcathous, Euryalus, Eurymachus and Crotalus. The man +killed next after them, Aerias, we should judge to have been a +Lacedemonian and founder of Aeria. And after Acrias, they say, +Capetus was done to death by Oenomaus, and Lycurgus, Lasius, +Chalcodon and Tricolonus.... And after Tricolonus fate overtook +Aristomachus and Prias on the course, as also Pelagon and Aeolius +and Cronius. + + +Fragment #11 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 57: +In the "Great Eoiae" it is said that Endymion was transported by +Zeus into heaven, but when he fell in love with Hera, was +befooled with a shape of cloud, and was cast out and went down +into Hades. + + +Fragment #12 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 118: +In the "Great Eoiae" it is related that Melampus, who was very +dear to Apollo, went abroad and stayed with Polyphantes. But +when the king had sacrificed an ox, a serpent crept up to the +sacrifice and destroyed his servants. At this the king was angry +and killed the serpent, but Melampus took and buried it. And its +offspring, brought up by him, used to lick his ears and inspire +him with prophecy. And so, when he was caught while trying to +steal the cows of Iphiclus and taken bound to the city of Aegina, +and when the house, in which Iphiclus was, was about to fall, he +told an old woman, one of the servants of Iphiclus, and in return +was released. + + +Fragment #13 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 828: +In the "Great Eoiae" Scylla is the daughter of Phoebus and +Hecate. + + +Fragment #14 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 181: +Hesiod in the "Great Eoiae" says that Phineus was blinded because +he told Phrixus the way (3). + + +Fragment #15 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. ii. 1122: +Argus. This is one of the children of Phrixus. These.... +....Hesiod in the "Great Eoiae" says were born of Iophossa the +daughter of Aeetes. And he says there were four of them, Argus, +Phrontis, Melas, and Cytisorus. + + +Fragment #16 -- +Antoninus Liberalis, xxiii: +Battus. Hesiod tells the story in the "Great Eoiae".... +....Magnes was the son of Argus, the son of Phrixus and Perimele, +Admetus' daughter, and lived in the region of Thessaly, in the +land which men called after him Magnesia. He had a son of +remarkable beauty, Hymenaeus. And when Apollo saw the boy, he +was seized with love for him, and would not leave the house of +Magnes. Then Hermes made designs on Apollo's herd of cattle +which were grazing in the same place as the cattle of Admetus. +First he cast upon the dogs which were guarding them a stupor and +strangles, so that the dogs forgot the cows and lost the power of +barking. Then he drove away twelve heifers and a hundred cows +never yoked, and the bull who mounted the cows, fastening to the +tail of each one brushwood to wipe out the footmarks of the cows. + +He drove them through the country of the Pelasgi, and Achaea in +the land of Phthia, and through Locris, and Boeotia and Megaris, +and thence into Peloponnesus by way of Corinth and Larissa, until +he brought them to Tegea. From there he went on by the Lycaean +mountains, and past Maenalus and what are called the watch-posts +of Battus. Now this Battus used to live on the top of the rock +and when he heard the voice of the heifers as they were being +driven past, he came out from his own place, and knew that the +cattle were stolen. So he asked for a reward to tell no one +about them. Hermes promised to give it him on these terms, and +Battus swore to say nothing to anyone about the cattle. But when +Hermes had hidden them in the cliff by Coryphasium, and had +driven them into a cave facing towards Italy and Sicily, he +changed himself and came again to Battus and tried whether he +would be true to him as he had vowed. So, offering him a robe as +a reward, he asked of him whether he had noticed stolen cattle +being driven past. And Battus took the robe and told him about +the cattle. But Hermes was angry because he was double-tongued, +and struck him with his staff and changed him into a rock. And +either frost or heat never leaves him (4). + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) When Heracles prayed that a son might be born to Telamon and + Eriboea, Zeus sent forth an eagle in token that the prayer + would be granted. Heracles then bade the parents call their + son Aias after the eagle (`aietos'). +(2) Oenomaus, king of Pisa in Elis, warned by an oracle that he + should be killed by his son-in-law, offered his daughter + Hippodamia to the man who could defeat him in a chariot + race, on condition that the defeated suitors should be slain + by him. Ultimately Pelops, through the treachery of the + charioteer of Oenomaus, became victorious. +(3) sc. to Scythia. +(4) In the Homeric "Hymn to Hermes" Battus almost disappears + from the story, and a somewhat different account of the + stealing of the cattle is given. + + + +THE MELAMPODIA (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Strabo, xiv. p. 642: +It is said that Calchis the seer returned from Troy with +Amphilochus the son of Amphiaraus and came on foot to this place +(1). But happening to find near Clarus a seer greater than +himself, Mopsus, the son of Manto, Teiresias' daughter, he died +of vexation. Hesiod, indeed, works up the story in some form as +this: Calchas set Mopsus the following problem: + +`I am filled with wonder at the quantity of figs this wild fig- +tree bears though it is so small. Can you tell their number?' + +And Mopsus answered: `Ten thousand is their number, and their +measure is a bushel: one fig is left over, which you would not be +able to put into the measure.' + +So said he; and they found the reckoning of the measure true. +Then did the end of death shroud Calchas. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Tzetzes on Lycophron, 682: +But now he is speaking of Teiresias, since it is said that he +lived seven generations -- though others say nine. He lived from +the times of Cadmus down to those of Eteocles and Polyneices, as +the author of "Melampodia" also says: for he introduces Teiresias +speaking thus: + +`Father Zeus, would that you had given me a shorter span of life +to be mine and wisdom of heart like that of mortal men! But now +you have honoured me not even a little, though you ordained me to +have a long span of life, and to live through seven generations +of mortal kind.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey, x. 494: +They say that Teiresias saw two snakes mating on Cithaeron and +that, when he killed the female, he was changed into a woman, and +again, when he killed the male, took again his own nature. This +same Teiresias was chosen by Zeus and Hera to decide the question +whether the male or the female has most pleasure in intercourse. +And he said: + +`Of ten parts a man enjoys only one; but a woman's sense enjoys +all ten in full.' + +For this Hera was angry and blinded him, but Zeus gave him the +seer's power. + + +Fragment #4 -- (2) +Athenaeus, ii. p. 40: +`For pleasant it is at a feast and rich banquet to tell +delightful tales, when men have had enough of feasting;...' + +Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis vi. 2 26: +`...and pleasant also it is to know a clear token of ill or good +amid all the signs that the deathless ones have given to mortal +men.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Athenaeus, xi. 498. A: +`And Mares, swift messenger, came to him through the house and +brought a silver goblet which he had filled, and gave it to the +lord.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Athenaeus, xi. 498. B: +`And then Mantes took in his hands the ox's halter and Iphiclus +lashed him upon the back. And behind him, with a cup in one hand +and a raised sceptre in the other, walked Phylacus and spake +amongst the bondmen.' + + +Fragment #7 -- +Athenaeus, xiii. p. 609 e: +Hesiod in the third book of the "Melampodia" called Chalcis in +Euboea `the land of fair women'. + + +Fragment #8 -- +Strabo, xiv. p. 676: +But Hesiod says that Amphilochus was killed by Apollo at Soli. + + +Fragment #9 -- +Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis, v. p. 259: +`And now there is no seer among mortal men such as would know the +mind of Zeus who holds the aegis.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. Colophon. Proclus in his abstract of the "Returns" (sc. + of the heroes from Troy) says Calchas and his party were + present at the death of Teiresias at Colophon, perhaps + indicating another version of this story. +(2) ll. 1-2 are quoted by Athenaeus, ii. p. 40; ll. 3-4 by + Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis vi. 2. 26. Buttman saw + that the two fragments should be joined. (NOTE: These two + fragments should be read together. -- DBK) + + + +AEGIMIUS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iii. 587: +But the author of the "Aegimius" says that he (Phrixus) was +received without intermediary because of the fleece (1). He says +that after the sacrifice he purified the fleece and so: `Holding +the fleece he walked into the halls of Aeetes.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. iv. 816: +The author of the "Aegimius" says in the second book that Thetis +used to throw the children she had by Peleus into a cauldron of +water, because she wished to learn where they were mortal.... +....And that after many had perished Peleus was annoyed, and +prevented her from throwing Achilles into the cauldron. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Apollodorus, ii. 1.3.1: +Hesiod and Acusilaus say that she (Io) was the daughter of +Peiren. While she was holding the office of priestess of Hera, +Zeus seduced her, and being discovered by Hera, touched the girl +and changed her into a white cow, while he swore that he had no +intercourse with her. And so Hesiod says that oaths touching the +matter of love do not draw down anger from the gods: `And +thereafter he ordained that an oath concerning the secret deeds +of the Cyprian should be without penalty for men.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Herodian in Stephanus of Byzantium: +`(Zeus changed Io) in the fair island Abantis, which the gods, +who are eternally, used to call Abantis aforetime, but Zeus then +called it Euboea after the cow.' (2) + + +Fragment #5 -- +Scholiast on Euripides, Phoen. 1116: +`And (Hera) set a watcher upon her (Io), great and strong Argus, +who with four eyes looks every way. And the goddess stirred in +him unwearying strength: sleep never fell upon his eyes; but he +kept sure watch always.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiv. 24: +`Slayer of Argus'. According to Hesiod's tale he (Hermes) slew +(Argus) the herdsman of Io. + + +Fragment #7 -- +Athenaeus, xi. p. 503: +And the author of the "Aegimius", whether he is Hesiod or Cercops +of Miletus (says): `There, some day, shall be my place of +refreshment, O leader of the people.' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Etym. Gen.: +Hesiod (says there were so called) because they settled in three +groups: `And they all were called the Three-fold people, because +they divided in three the land far from their country.' For (he +says) that three Hellenic tribes settled in Crete, the Pelasgi, +Achaeans and Dorians. And these have been called Three-fold +People. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. the golden fleece of the ram which carried Phrixus and + Helle away from Athamas and Ino. When he reached Colchis + Phrixus sacrificed the ram to Zeus. +(2) Euboea properly means the `Island of fine Cattle (or Cows)'. + + + +FRAGMENTS OF UNKNOWN POSITION + +Fragment #1 -- +Diogenes Laertius, viii. 1. 26: (1) +`So Urania bare Linus, a very lovely son: and him all men who are +singers and harpers do bewail at feasts and dances, and as they +begin and as they end they call on Linus....' + +Clement of Alexandria, Strom. i. p. 121: +`....who was skilled in all manner of wisdom.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Odyssey, iv. 232: +`Unless Phoebus Apollo should save him from death, or Paean +himself who knows the remedies for all things.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Clement of Alexandria, Protrept, c. vii. p. 21: +`For he alone is king and lord of all the undying gods, and no +other vies with him in power.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Anecd. Oxon (Cramer), i. p. 148: +`(To cause?) the gifts of the blessed gods to come near to +earth.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Clement of Alexandria, Strom. i. p. 123: +`Of the Muses who make a man very wise, marvellous in utterance.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Strabo, x. p. 471: +`But of them (sc. the daughters of Hecaterus) were born the +divine mountain Nymphs and the tribe of worthless, helpless +Satyrs, and the divine Curetes, sportive dancers.' + + +Fragment #7 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 824: +`Beseeching the offspring of glorious Cleodaeus.' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Suidas, s.v.: +`For the Olympian gave might to the sons of Aeacus, and wisdom to +the sons of Amythaon, and wealth to the sons of Atreus.' + + +Fragment #9 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Iliad, xiii. 155: +`For through his lack of wood the timber of the ships rotted.' + + +Fragment #10 -- +Etymologicum Magnum: +`No longer do they walk with delicate feet.' + + +Fragment #11 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Iliad, xxiv. 624: +`First of all they roasted (pieces of meat), and drew them +carefully off the spits.' + + +Fragment #12 -- +Chrysippus, Fragg. ii. 254. 11: +`For his spirit increased in his dear breast.' + + +Fragment #13 -- +Chrysippus, Fragg. ii. 254. 15: +`With such heart grieving anger in her breast.' + + +Fragment #14 -- +Strabo, vii. p. 327: +`He went to Dodona and the oak-grove, the dwelling place of the +Pelasgi.' + + +Fragment #15 -- +Anecd. Oxon (Cramer), iii. p. 318. not.: +`With the pitiless smoke of black pitch and of cedar.' + + +Fragment #16 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 757: +`But he himself in the swelling tide of the rain-swollen river.' + + +Fragment #17 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium: +(The river) Parthenius, `Flowing as softly as a dainty maiden +goes.' + + +Fragment #18 -- +Scholiast on Theocritus, xi. 75: +`Foolish the man who leaves what he has, and follows after what +he has not.' + + +Fragment #19 -- +Harpocration: +`The deeds of the young, the counsels of the middle-aged, and the +prayers of the aged.' + + +Fragment #20 -- +Porphyr, On Abstinence, ii. 18. p. 134: +`Howsoever the city does sacrifice, the ancient custom is best.' + + +Fragment #21 -- +Scholiast on Nicander, Theriaca, 452: +`But you should be gentle towards your father.' + + +Fragment #22 -- +Plato, Epist. xi. 358: +`And if I said this, it would seem a poor thing and hard to +understand.' + + +Fragment #23 -- +Bacchylides, v. 191-3: +Thus spake the Boeotian, even Hesiod (2), servant of the sweet +Muses: `whomsoever the immortals honour, the good report of +mortals also followeth him.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) This and the following fragment are meant to be read + together. -- DBK +(2) cp. Hesiod "Theogony" 81 ff. But Theognis 169, `Whomso the + god honour, even a man inclined to blame praiseth him', is + much nearer. + + + +DOUBTFUL FRAGMENTS + +Fragment #1 -- +Galen, de plac. Hipp. et Plat. i. 266: +`And then it was Zeus took away sense from the heart of Athamas.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Od. vii. 104: +`They grind the yellow grain at the mill.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. ii. 1: +`Then first in Delos did I and Homer, singers both, raise our +strain -- stitching song in new hymns -- Phoebus Apollo with the +golden sword, whom Leto bare.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Julian, Misopogon, p. 369: +`But starvation on a handful is a cruel thing.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Servius on Vergil, Aen. iv. 484: +Hesiod says that these Hesperides.... ....daughters of Night, +guarded the golden apples beyond Ocean: `Aegle and Erythea and +ox-eyed Hesperethusa.' (1) + + +Fragment #6 -- +Plato, Republic, iii. 390 E: +`Gifts move the gods, gifts move worshipful princes.' + + +Fragment #7 -- (2) +Clement of Alexandria, Strom. v. p. 256: +`On the seventh day again the bright light of the sun....' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Apollonius, Lex. Hom.: +`He brought pure water and mixed it with Ocean's streams.' + + +Fragment #9 -- +Stephanus of Byzantium: +`Aspledon and Clymenus and god-like Amphidocus.' (sons of +Orchomenus). + + +Fragment #10 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. iii. 64: +`Telemon never sated with battle first brought light to our +comrades by slaying blameless Melanippe, destroyer of men, own +sister of the golden-girdled queen.' + + +ENDNOTES: +(1) Cf. Scholion on Clement, "Protrept." i. p. 302. +(2) This line may once have been read in the text of "Works and + Days" after l. 771. + + + + +WORKS ATTRIBUTED TO HOMER + + + +THE HOMERIC HYMNS + +I. TO DIONYSUS (21 lines) (1) + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 1-9) For some say, at Dracanum; and some, on windy Icarus; +and some, in Naxos, O Heaven-born, Insewn (2); and others by the +deep-eddying river Alpheus that pregnant Semele bare you to Zeus +the thunder-lover. And others yet, lord, say you were born in +Thebes; but all these lie. The Father of men and gods gave you +birth remote from men and secretly from white-armed Hera. There +is a certain Nysa, a mountain most high and richly grown with +woods, far off in Phoenice, near the streams of Aegyptus. + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 10-12) `...and men will lay up for her (3) many offerings in +her shrines. And as these things are three (4), so shall mortals +ever sacrifice perfect hecatombs to you at your feasts each three +years.' + +(ll. 13-16) The Son of Cronos spoke and nodded with his dark +brows. And the divine locks of the king flowed forward from his +immortal head, and he made great Olympus reel. So spake wise +Zeus and ordained it with a nod. + +(ll. 17-21) Be favourable, O Insewn, Inspirer of frenzied women! +we singers sing of you as we begin and as we end a strain, and +none forgetting you may call holy song to mind. And so, +farewell, Dionysus, Insewn, with your mother Semele whom men call +Thyone. + + +II. TO DEMETER (495 lines) + +(ll. 1-3) I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess +-- of her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away, +given to him by all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer. + +(ll. 4-18) Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and +glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters +of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and +crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the +narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to +please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl -- +a marvellous, radiant flower. It was a thing of awe whether for +deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its root grew a hundred +blooms, and it smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above +and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy. +And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands to take +the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there in the +plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal +horses sprang out upon her -- the Son of Cronos, He who has many +names (5). + +(ll. 19-32) He caught her up reluctant on his golden car and bare +her away lamenting. Then she cried out shrilly with her voice, +calling upon her father, the Son of Cronos, who is most high and +excellent. But no one, either of the deathless gods or of mortal +men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: +only tender-hearted Hecate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of +Persaeus, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios, +Hyperion's bright son, as she cried to her father, the Son of +Cronos. But he was sitting aloof, apart from the gods, in his +temple where many pray, and receiving sweet offerings from mortal +men. So he, that Son of Cronos, of many names, who is Ruler of +Many and Host of Many, was bearing her away by leave of Zeus on +his immortal chariot -- his own brother's child and all +unwilling. + +(ll. 33-39) And so long as she, the goddess, yet beheld earth and +starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and +the rays of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and +the tribes of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great +heart for all her trouble.... +((LACUNA)) +....and the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea +rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her. + +(ll. 40-53) Bitter pain seized her heart, and she rent the +covering upon her divine hair with her dear hands: her dark cloak +she cast down from both her shoulders and sped, like a wild-bird, +over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child. But no +one would tell her the truth, neither god nor mortal men; and of +the birds of omen none came with true news for her. Then for +nine days queenly Deo wandered over the earth with flaming +torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia +and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with +water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, +with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her +news: + +(ll. 54-58) `Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of +good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away +Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard +her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you +truly and shortly all I know.' + +(ll. 59-73) So, then, said Hecate. And the daughter of rich- +haired Rhea answered her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding +flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios, who is +watchman of both gods and men, and stood in front of his horses: +and the bright goddess enquired of him: `Helios, do you at least +regard me, goddess as I am, if ever by word or deed of mine I +have cheered your heart and spirit. Through the fruitless air I +heard the thrilling cry of my daughter whom I bare, sweet scion +of my body and lovely in form, as of one seized violently; though +with my eyes I saw nothing. But you -- for with your beams you +look down from the bright upper air Over all the earth and sea -- +tell me truly of my dear child, if you have seen her anywhere, +what god or mortal man has violently seized her against her will +and mine, and so made off.' + +(ll. 74-87) So said she. And the Son of Hyperion answered her: +`Queen Demeter, daughter of rich-haired Rhea, I will tell you the +truth; for I greatly reverence and pity you in your grief for +your trim-ankled daughter. None other of the deathless gods is +to blame, but only cloud-gathering Zeus who gave her to Hades, +her father's brother, to be called his buxom wife. And Hades +seized her and took her loudly crying in his chariot down to his +realm of mist and gloom. Yet, goddess, cease your loud lament +and keep not vain anger unrelentingly: Aidoneus, the Ruler of +Many, is no unfitting husband among the deathless gods for your +child, being your own brother and born of the same stock: also, +for honour, he has that third share which he received when +division was made at the first, and is appointed lord of those +among whom he dwells.' + +(ll. 88-89) So he spake, and called to his horses: and at his +chiding they quickly whirled the swift chariot along, like long- +winged birds. + +(ll. 90-112) But grief yet more terrible and savage came into the +heart of Demeter, and thereafter she was so angered with the +dark-clouded Son of Cronos that she avoided the gathering of the +gods and high Olympus, and went to the towns and rich fields of +men, disfiguring her form a long while. And no one of men or +deep-bosomed women knew her when they saw her, until she came to +the house of wise Celeus who then was lord of fragrant Eleusis. +Vexed in her dear heart, she sat near the wayside by the Maiden +Well, from which the women of the place were used to draw water, +in a shady place over which grew an olive shrub. And she was +like an ancient woman who is cut off from childbearing and the +gifts of garland-loving Aphrodite, like the nurses of king's +children who deal justice, or like the house-keepers in their +echoing halls. There the daughters of Celeus, son of Eleusis, +saw her, as they were coming for easy-drawn water, to carry it in +pitchers of bronze to their dear father's house: four were they +and like goddesses in the flower of their girlhood, Callidice and +Cleisidice and lovely Demo and Callithoe who was the eldest of +them all. They knew her not, -- for the gods are not easily +discerned by mortals -- but standing near by her spoke winged +words: + +(ll. 113-117) `Old mother, whence and who are you of folk born +long ago? Why are you gone away from the city and do not draw +near the houses? For there in the shady halls are women of just +such age as you, and others younger; and they would welcome you +both by word and by deed.' + +(ll. 118-144) Thus they said. And she, that queen among +goddesses answered them saying: `Hail, dear children, whosoever +you are of woman-kind. I will tell you my story; for it is not +unseemly that I should tell you truly what you ask. Doso is my +name, for my stately mother gave it me. And now I am come from +Crete over the sea's wide back, -- not willingly; but pirates +brought me thence by force of strength against my liking. +Afterwards they put in with their swift craft to Thoricus, and +there the women landed on the shore in full throng and the men +likewise, and they began to make ready a meal by the stern-cables +of the ship. But my heart craved not pleasant food, and I fled +secretly across the dark country and escaped my masters, that +they should not take me unpurchased across the sea, there to win +a price for me. And so I wandered and am come here: and I know +not at all what land this is or what people are in it. But may +all those who dwell on Olympus give you husbands and birth of +children as parents desire, so you take pity on me, maidens, and +show me this clearly that I may learn, dear children, to the +house of what man and woman I may go, to work for them cheerfully +at such tasks as belong to a woman of my age. Well could I nurse +a new born child, holding him in my arms, or keep house, or +spread my masters' bed in a recess of the well-built chamber, or +teach the women their work.' + +(ll. 145-146) So said the goddess. And straightway the unwed +maiden Callidice, goodliest in form of the daughters of Celeus, +answered her and said: + +(ll. 147-168) `Mother, what the gods send us, we mortals bear +perforce, although we suffer; for they are much stronger than we. +But now I will teach you clearly, telling you the names of men +who have great power and honour here and are chief among the +people, guarding our city's coif of towers by their wisdom and +true judgements: there is wise Triptolemus and Dioclus and +Polyxeinus and blameless Eumolpus and Dolichus and our own brave +father. All these have wives who manage in the house, and no one +of them, so soon as she has seen you, would dishonour you and +turn you from the house, but they will welcome you; for indeed +you are godlike. But if you will, stay here; and we will go to +our father's house and tell Metaneira, our deep-bosomed mother, +all this matter fully, that she may bid you rather come to our +home than search after the houses of others. She has an only +son, late-born, who is being nursed in our well-built house, a +child of many prayers and welcome: if you could bring him up +until he reached the full measure of youth, any one of womankind +who should see you would straightway envy you, such gifts would +our mother give for his upbringing.' + +(ll. 169-183) So she spake: and the goddess bowed her head in +assent. And they filled their shining vessels with water and +carried them off rejoicing. Quickly they came to their father's +great house and straightway told their mother according as they +had heard and seen. Then she bade them go with all speed and +invite the stranger to come for a measureless hire. As hinds or +heifers in spring time, when sated with pasture, bound about a +meadow, so they, holding up the folds of their lovely garments, +darted down the hollow path, and their hair like a crocus flower +streamed about their shoulders. And they found the good goddess +near the wayside where they had left her before, and led her to +the house of their dear father. And she walked behind, +distressed in her dear heart, with her head veiled and wearing a +dark cloak which waved about the slender feet of the goddess. + +(ll. 184-211) Soon they came to the house of heaven-nurtured +Celeus and went through the portico to where their queenly mother +sat by a pillar of the close-fitted roof, holding her son, a +tender scion, in her bosom. And the girls ran to her. But the +goddess walked to the threshold: and her head reached the roof +and she filled the doorway with a heavenly radiance. Then awe +and reverence and pale fear took hold of Metaneira, and she rose +up from her couch before Demeter, and bade her be seated. But +Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of perfect gifts, would not +sit upon the bright couch, but stayed silent with lovely eyes +cast down until careful Iambe placed a jointed seat for her and +threw over it a silvery fleece. Then she sat down and held her +veil in her hands before her face. A long time she sat upon the +stool (6) without speaking because of her sorrow, and greeted no +one by word or by sign, but rested, never smiling, and tasting +neither food nor drink, because she pined with longing for her +deep-bosomed daughter, until careful Iambe -- who pleased her +moods in aftertime also -- moved the holy lady with many a quip +and jest to smile and laugh and cheer her heart. Then Metaneira +filled a cup with sweet wine and offered it to her; but she +refused it, for she said it was not lawful for her to drink red +wine, but bade them mix meal and water with soft mint and give +her to drink. And Metaneira mixed the draught and gave it to the +goddess as she bade. So the great queen Deo received it to +observe the sacrament.... (7) + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 212-223) And of them all, well-girded Metaneira first began +to speak: `Hail, lady! For I think you are not meanly but nobly +born; truly dignity and grace are conspicuous upon your eyes as +in the eyes of kings that deal justice. Yet we mortals bear +perforce what the gods send us, though we be grieved; for a yoke +is set upon our necks. But now, since you are come here, you +shall have what I can bestow: and nurse me this child whom the +gods gave me in my old age and beyond my hope, a son much prayed +for. If you should bring him up until he reach the full measure +of youth, any one of womankind that sees you will straightway +envy you, so great reward would I give for his upbringing.' + +(ll. 224-230) Then rich-haired Demeter answered her: `And to you, +also, lady, all hail, and may the gods give you good! Gladly +will I take the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse +him. Never, I ween, through any heedlessness of his nurse shall +witchcraft hurt him nor yet the Undercutter (8): for I know a +charm far stronger than the Woodcutter, and I know an excellent +safeguard against woeful witchcraft.' + +(ll. 231-247) When she had so spoken, she took the child in her +fragrant bosom with her divine hands: and his mother was glad in +her heart. So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise +Celeus' goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare. And the +child grew like some immortal being, not fed with food nor +nourished at the breast: for by day rich-crowned Demeter would +anoint him with ambrosia as if he were the offspring of a god and +breathe sweetly upon him as she held him in her bosom. But at +night she would hide him like a brand in the heart of the fire, +unknown to his dear parents. And it wrought great wonder in +these that he grew beyond his age; for he was like the gods face +to face. And she would have made him deathless and unageing, had +not well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness kept watch by night +from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied. But she wailed and +smote her two hips, because she feared for her son and was +greatly distraught in her heart; so she lamented and uttered +winged words: + +(ll. 248-249) `Demophoon, my son, the strange woman buries you +deep in fire and works grief and bitter sorrow for me.' + +(ll. 250-255) Thus she spoke, mourning. And the bright goddess, +lovely-crowned Demeter, heard her, and was wroth with her. So +with her divine hands she snatched from the fire the dear son +whom Metaneira had born unhoped-for in the palace, and cast him +from her to the ground; for she was terribly angry in her heart. +Forthwith she said to well-girded Metaneira: + +(ll. 256-274) `Witless are you mortals and dull to foresee your +lot, whether of good or evil, that comes upon you. For now in +your heedlessness you have wrought folly past healing; for -- be +witness the oath of the gods, the relentless water of Styx -- I +would have made your dear son deathless and unageing all his days +and would have bestowed on him everlasting honour, but now he can +in no way escape death and the fates. Yet shall unfailing honour +always rest upon him, because he lay upon my knees and slept in +my arms. But, as the years move round and when he is in his +prime, the sons of the Eleusinians shall ever wage war and dread +strife with one another continually. Lo! I am that Demeter who +has share of honour and is the greatest help and cause of joy to +the undying gods and mortal men. But now, let all the people +build me a great temple and an altar below it and beneath the +city and its sheer wall upon a rising hillock above Callichorus. +And I myself will teach my rites, that hereafter you may +reverently perform them and so win the favour of my heart.' + +(ll. 275-281) When she had so said, the goddess changed her +stature and her looks, thrusting old age away from her: beauty +spread round about her and a lovely fragrance was wafted from her +sweet-smelling robes, and from the divine body of the goddess a +light shone afar, while golden tresses spread down over her +shoulders, so that the strong house was filled with brightness as +with lightning. And so she went out from the palace. + +(ll. 281-291) And straightway Metaneira's knees were loosed and +she remained speechless for a long while and did not remember to +take up her late-born son from the ground. But his sisters heard +his pitiful wailing and sprang down from their well-spread beds: +one of them took up the child in her arms and laid him in her +bosom, while another revived the fire, and a third rushed with +soft feet to bring their mother from her fragrant chamber. And +they gathered about the struggling child and washed him, +embracing him lovingly; but he was not comforted, because nurses +and handmaids much less skilful were holding him now. + +(ll. 292-300) All night long they sought to appease the glorious +goddess, quaking with fear. But, as soon as dawn began to show, +they told powerful Celeus all things without fail, as the lovely- +crowned goddess Demeter charged them. So Celeus called the +countless people to an assembly and bade them make a goodly +temple for rich-haired Demeter and an altar upon the rising +hillock. And they obeyed him right speedily and harkened to his +voice, doing as he commanded. As for the child, he grew like an +immortal being. + +(ll. 301-320) Now when they had finished building and had drawn +back from their toil, they went every man to his house. But +golden-haired Demeter sat there apart from all the blessed gods +and stayed, wasting with yearning for her deep-bosomed daughter. +Then she caused a most dreadful and cruel year for mankind over +the all-nourishing earth: the ground would not make the seed +sprout, for rich-crowned Demeter kept it hid. In the fields the +oxen drew many a curved plough in vain, and much white barley was +cast upon the land without avail. So she would have destroyed +the whole race of man with cruel famine and have robbed them who +dwell on Olympus of their glorious right of gifts and sacrifices, +had not Zeus perceived and marked this in his heart. First he +sent golden-winged Iris to call rich-haired Demeter, lovely in +form. So he commanded. And she obeyed the dark-clouded Son of +Cronos, and sped with swift feet across the space between. She +came to the stronghold of fragrant Eleusis, and there finding +dark-cloaked Demeter in her temple, spake to her and uttered +winged words: + +(ll. 321-323) `Demeter, father Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, +calls you to come join the tribes of the eternal gods: come +therefore, and let not the message I bring from Zeus pass +unobeyed.' + +(ll. 324-333) Thus said Iris imploring her. But Demeter's heart +was not moved. Then again the father sent forth all the blessed +and eternal gods besides: and they came, one after the other, and +kept calling her and offering many very beautiful gifts and +whatever right she might be pleased to choose among the deathless +gods. Yet no one was able to persuade her mind and will, so +wrath was she in her heart; but she stubbornly rejected all their +words: for she vowed that she would never set foot on fragrant +Olympus nor let fruit spring out of the ground, until she beheld +with her eyes her own fair-faced daughter. + +(ll. 334-346) Now when all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer heard +this, he sent the Slayer of Argus whose wand is of gold to +Erebus, so that having won over Hades with soft words, he might +lead forth chaste Persephone to the light from the misty gloom to +join the gods, and that her mother might see her with her eyes +and cease from her anger. And Hermes obeyed, and leaving the +house of Olympus, straightway sprang down with speed to the +hidden places of the earth. And he found the lord Hades in his +house seated upon a couch, and his shy mate with him, much +reluctant, because she yearned for her mother. But she was afar +off, brooding on her fell design because of the deeds of the +blessed gods. And the strong Slayer of Argus drew near and said: + +(ll. 347-356) `Dark-haired Hades, ruler over the departed, father +Zeus bids me bring noble Persephone forth from Erebus unto the +gods, that her mother may see her with her eyes and cease from +her dread anger with the immortals; for now she plans an awful +deed, to destroy the weakly tribes of earthborn men by keeping +seed hidden beneath the earth, and so she makes an end of the +honours of the undying gods. For she keeps fearful anger and +does not consort with the gods, but sits aloof in her fragrant +temple, dwelling in the rocky hold of Eleusis.' + +(ll. 357-359) So he said. And Aidoneus, ruler over the dead, +smiled grimly and obeyed the behest of Zeus the king. For he +straightway urged wise Persephone, saying: + +(ll. 360-369) `Go now, Persephone, to your dark-robed mother, go, +and feel kindly in your heart towards me: be not so exceedingly +cast down; for I shall be no unfitting husband for you among the +deathless gods, that am own brother to father Zeus. And while +you are here, you shall rule all that lives and moves and shall +have the greatest rights among the deathless gods: those who +defraud you and do not appease your power with offerings, +reverently performing rites and paying fit gifts, shall be +punished for evermore.' + +(ll. 370-383) When he said this, wise Persephone was filled with +joy and hastily sprang up for gladness. But he on his part +secretly gave her sweet pomegranate seed to eat, taking care for +himself that she might not remain continually with grave, dark- +robed Demeter. Then Aidoneus the Ruler of Many openly got ready +his deathless horses beneath the golden chariot. And she mounted +on the chariot, and the strong Slayer of Argos took reins and +whip in his dear hands and drove forth from the hall, the horses +speeding readily. Swiftly they traversed their long course, and +neither the sea nor river-waters nor grassy glens nor mountain- +peaks checked the career of the immortal horses, but they clave +the deep air above them as they went. And Hermes brought them to +the place where rich-crowned Demeter was staying and checked them +before her fragrant temple. + +(ll. 384-404) And when Demeter saw them, she rushed forth as does +a Maenad down some thick-wooded mountain, while Persephone on the +other side, when she saw her mother's sweet eyes, left the +chariot and horses, and leaped down to run to her, and falling +upon her neck, embraced her. But while Demeter was still holding +her dear child in her arms, her heart suddenly misgave her for +some snare, so that she feared greatly and ceased fondling her +daughter and asked of her at once: `My child, tell me, surely +you have not tasted any food while you were below? Speak out and +hide nothing, but let us both know. For if you have not, you +shall come back from loathly Hades and live with me and your +father, the dark-clouded Son of Cronos and be honoured by all the +deathless gods; but if you have tasted food, you must go back +again beneath the secret places of the earth, there to dwell a +third part of the seasons every year: yet for the two parts you +shall be with me and the other deathless gods. But when the +earth shall bloom with the fragrant flowers of spring in every +kind, then from the realm of darkness and gloom thou shalt come +up once more to be a wonder for gods and mortal men. And now +tell me how he rapt you away to the realm of darkness and gloom, +and by what trick did the strong Host of Many beguile you?' + +(ll. 405-433) Then beautiful Persephone answered her thus: +'Mother, I will tell you all without error. When luck-bringing +Hermes came, swift messenger from my father the Son of Cronos and +the other Sons of Heaven, bidding me come back from Erebus that +you might see me with your eyes and so cease from your anger and +fearful wrath against the gods, I sprang up at once for joy; but +he secretly put in my mouth sweet food, a pomegranate seed, and +forced me to taste against my will. Also I will tell how he rapt +me away by the deep plan of my father the Son of Cronos and +carried me off beneath the depths of the earth, and will relate +the whole matter as you ask. All we were playing in a lovely +meadow, Leucippe (9) and Phaeno and Electra and Ianthe, Melita +also and Iache with Rhodea and Callirhoe and Melobosis and Tyche +and Ocyrhoe, fair as a flower, Chryseis, Ianeira, Acaste and +Admete and Rhodope and Pluto and charming Calypso; Styx too was +there and Urania and lovely Galaxaura with Pallas who rouses +battles and Artemis delighting in arrows: we were playing and +gathering sweet flowers in our hands, soft crocuses mingled with +irises and hyacinths, and rose-blooms and lilies, marvellous to +see, and the narcissus which the wide earth caused to grow yellow +as a crocus. That I plucked in my joy; but the earth parted +beneath, and there the strong lord, the Host of Many, sprang +forth and in his golden chariot he bore me away, all unwilling, +beneath the earth: then I cried with a shrill cry. All this is +true, sore though it grieves me to tell the tale.' + +(ll. 434-437) So did they turn, with hearts at one, greatly cheer +each the other's soul and spirit with many an embrace: their +heart had relief from their griefs while each took and gave back +joyousness. + +(ll. 438-440) Then bright-coiffed Hecate came near to them, and +often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that +time the lady Hecate was minister and companion to Persephone. + +(ll. 441-459) And all-seeing Zeus sent a messenger to them, rich- +haired Rhea, to bring dark-cloaked Demeter to join the families +of the gods: and he promised to give her what right she should +choose among the deathless gods and agreed that her daughter +should go down for the third part of the circling year to +darkness and gloom, but for the two parts should live with her +mother and the other deathless gods. Thus he commanded. And the +goddess did not disobey the message of Zeus; swiftly she rushed +down from the peaks of Olympus and came to the plain of Rharus, +rich, fertile corn-land once, but then in nowise fruitful, for it +lay idle and utterly leafless, because the white grain was +hidden by design of trim-ankled Demeter. But afterwards, as +springtime waxed, it was soon to be waving with long ears of +corn, and its rich furrows to be loaded with grain upon the +ground, while others would already be bound in sheaves. There +first she landed from the fruitless upper air: and glad were the +goddesses to see each other and cheered in heart. Then bright- +coiffed Rhea said to Demeter: + +(ll. 460-469) `Come, my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus the loud- +thunderer calls you to join the families of the gods, and has +promised to give you what rights you please among the deathless +gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year +your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the +two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods: so has +he declared it shall be and has bowed his head in token. But +come, my child, obey, and be not too angry unrelentingly with the +dark-clouded Son of Cronos; but rather increase forthwith for men +the fruit that gives them life.' + +(ll. 470-482) So spake Rhea. And rich-crowned Demeter did not +refuse but straightway made fruit to spring up from the rich +lands, so that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and +flowers. Then she went, and to the kings who deal justice, +Triptolemus and Diocles, the horse-driver, and to doughty +Eumolpus and Celeus, leader of the people, she showed the conduct +of her rites and taught them all her mysteries, to Triptolemus +and Polyxeinus and Diocles also, -- awful mysteries which no one +may in any way transgress or pry into or utter, for deep awe of +the gods checks the voice. Happy is he among men upon earth who +has seen these mysteries; but he who is uninitiate and who has no +part in them, never has lot of like good things once he is dead, +down in the darkness and gloom. + +(ll. 483-489) But when the bright goddess had taught them all, +they went to Olympus to the gathering of the other gods. And +there they dwell beside Zeus who delights in thunder, awful and +reverend goddesses. Right blessed is he among men on earth whom +they freely love: soon they do send Plutus as guest to his great +house, Plutus who gives wealth to mortal men. + +(ll. 490-495) And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and +sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, lady, giver of good gifts, +bringer of seasons, queen Deo, be gracious, you and your daughter +all beauteous Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering +substance. And now I will remember you and another song also. + + +III. TO APOLLO (546 lines) + +TO DELIAN APOLLO -- + +(ll. 1-18) I will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who +shoots afar. As he goes through the house of Zeus, the gods +tremble before him and all spring up from their seats when he +draws near, as he bends his bright bow. But Leto alone stays by +the side of Zeus who delights in thunder; and then she unstrings +his bow, and closes his quiver, and takes his archery from his +strong shoulders in her hands and hangs them on a golden peg +against a pillar of his father's house. Then she leads him to a +seat and makes him sit: and the Father gives him nectar in a +golden cup welcoming his dear son, while the other gods make him +sit down there, and queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a +mighty son and an archer. Rejoice, blessed Leto, for you bare +glorious children, the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in +arrows; her in Ortygia, and him in rocky Delos, as you rested +against the great mass of the Cynthian hill hard by a palm-tree +by the streams of Inopus. + +(ll. 19-29) How, then, shall I sing of you who in all ways are a +worthy theme of song? For everywhere, O Phoebus, the whole range +of song is fallen to you, both over the mainland that rears +heifers and over the isles. All mountain-peaks and high +headlands of lofty hills and rivers flowing out to the deep and +beaches sloping seawards and havens of the sea are your delight. +Shall I sing how at the first Leto bare you to be the joy of men, +as she rested against Mount Cynthus in that rocky isle, in sea- +girt Delos -- while on either hand a dark wave rolled on +landwards driven by shrill winds -- whence arising you rule over +all mortal men? + +(ll. 30-50) Among those who are in Crete, and in the township of +Athens, and in the isle of Aegina and Euboea, famous for ships, +in Aegae and Eiresiae and Peparethus near the sea, in Thracian +Athos and Pelion's towering heights and Thracian Samos and the +shady hills of Ida, in Scyros and Phocaea and the high hill of +Autocane and fair-lying Imbros and smouldering Lemnos and rich +Lesbos, home of Macar, the son of Aeolus, and Chios, brightest of +all the isles that lie in the sea, and craggy Mimas and the +heights of Corycus and gleaming Claros and the sheer hill of +Aesagea and watered Samos and the steep heights of Mycale, in +Miletus and Cos, the city of Meropian men, and steep Cnidos and +windy Carpathos, in Naxos and Paros and rocky Rhenaea -- so far +roamed Leto in travail with the god who shoots afar, to see if +any land would be willing to make a dwelling for her son. But +they greatly trembled and feared, and none, not even the richest +of them, dared receive Phoebus, until queenly Leto set foot on +Delos and uttered winged words and asked her: + +(ll. 51-61) `Delos, if you would be willing to be the abode of my +son Phoebus Apollo and make him a rich temple --; for no other +will touch you, as you will find: and I think you will never be +rich in oxen and sheep, nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants +abundantly. But if you have the temple of far-shooting Apollo, +all men will bring you hecatombs and gather here, and incessant +savour of rich sacrifice will always arise, and you will feed +those who dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your +own soil is not rich.' + +(ll. 62-82) So spake Leto. And Delos rejoiced and answered and +said: `Leto, most glorious daughter of great Coeus, joyfully +would I receive your child the far-shooting lord; for it is all +too true that I am ill-spoken of among men, whereas thus I should +become very greatly honoured. But this saying I fear, and I will +not hide it from you, Leto. They say that Apollo will be one +that is very haughty and will greatly lord it among gods and men +all over the fruitful earth. Therefore, I greatly fear in heart +and spirit that as soon as he sets the light of the sun, he will +scorn this island -- for truly I have but a hard, rocky soil -- +and overturn me and thrust me down with his feet in the depths of +the sea; then will the great ocean wash deep above my head for +ever, and he will go to another land such as will please him, +there to make his temple and wooded groves. So, many-footed +creatures of the sea will make their lairs in me and black seals +their dwellings undisturbed, because I lack people. Yet if you +will but dare to sware a great oath, goddess, that here first he +will build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, then let +him afterwards make temples and wooded groves amongst all men; +for surely he will be greatly renowned.' + +(ll. 83-88) So said Delos. And Leto sware the great oath of the +gods: `Now hear this, Earth and wide Heaven above, and dropping +water of Styx (this is the strongest and most awful oath for the +blessed gods), surely Phoebus shall have here his fragrant altar +and precinct, and you he shall honour above all.' + +(ll. 89-101) Now when Leto had sworn and ended her oath, Delos +was very glad at the birth of the far-shooting lord. But Leto +was racked nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont. And +there were with her all the chiefest of the goddesses, Dione and +Rhea and Ichnaea and Themis and loud-moaning Amphitrite and the +other deathless goddesses save white-armed Hera, who sat in the +halls of cloud-gathering Zeus. Only Eilithyia, goddess of sore +travail, had not heard of Leto's trouble, for she sat on the top +of Olympus beneath golden clouds by white-armed Hera's +contriving, who kept her close through envy, because Leto with +the lovely tresses was soon to bear a son faultless and strong. + +(ll. 102-114) But the goddesses sent out Iris from the well-set +isle to bring Eilithyia, promising her a great necklace strung +with golden threads, nine cubits long. And they bade Iris call +her aside from white-armed Hera, lest she might afterwards turn +her from coming with her words. When swift Iris, fleet of foot +as the wind, had heard all this, she set to run; and quickly +finishing all the distance she came to the home of the gods, +sheer Olympus, and forthwith called Eilithyia out from the hall +to the door and spoke winged words to her, telling her all as the +goddesses who dwell on Olympus had bidden her. So she moved the +heart of Eilithyia in her dear breast; and they went their way, +like shy wild-doves in their going. + +(ll. 115-122) And as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore +travail set foot on Delos, the pains of birth seized Leto, and +she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree +and kneeled on the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy +beneath. Then the child leaped forth to the light, and all the +goddesses washed you purely and cleanly with sweet water, and +swathed you in a white garment of fine texture, new-woven, and +fastened a golden band about you. + +(ll. 123-130) Now Leto did not give Apollo, bearer of the golden +blade, her breast; but Themis duly poured nectar and ambrosia +with her divine hands: and Leto was glad because she had borne a +strong son and an archer. But as soon as you had tasted that +divine heavenly food, O Phoebus, you could no longer then be held +by golden cords nor confined with bands, but all their ends were +undone. Forthwith Phoebus Apollo spoke out among the deathless +goddesses: + +(ll. 131-132) `The lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to +me, and I will declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus.' + +(ll. 133-139) So said Phoebus, the long-haired god who shoots +afar and began to walk upon the wide-pathed earth; and all +goddesses were amazed at him. Then with gold all Delos was +laden, beholding the child of Zeus and Leto, for joy because the +god chose her above the islands and shore to make his dwelling in +her: and she loved him yet more in her heart, and blossomed as +does a mountain-top with woodland flowers. + +(ll. 140-164) And you, O lord Apollo, god of the silver bow, +shooting afar, now walked on craggy Cynthus, and now kept +wandering about the island and the people in them. Many are your +temples and wooded groves, and all peaks and towering bluffs of +lofty mountains and rivers flowing to the sea are dear to you, +Phoebus, yet in Delos do you most delight your heart; for there +the long robed Ionians gather in your honour with their children +and shy wives: mindful, they delight you with boxing and dancing +and song, so often as they hold their gathering. A man would say +that they were deathless and unageing if he should then come upon +the Ionians so met together. For he would see the graces of them +all, and would be pleased in heart gazing at the men and well- +girded women with their swift ships and great wealth. And there +is this great wonder besides -- and its renown shall never perish +-- the girls of Delos, hand-maidens of the Far-shooter; for when +they have praised Apollo first, and also Leto and Artemis who +delights in arrows, they sing a strain telling of men and women +of past days, and charm the tribes of men. Also they can imitate +the tongues of all men and their clattering speech: each would +say that he himself were singing, so close to truth is their +sweet song. + +(ll. 165-178) And now may Apollo be favourable and Artemis; and +farewell all you maidens. Remember me in after time whenever any +one of men on earth, a stranger who has seen and suffered much, +comes here and asks of you: `Whom think ye, girls, is the +sweetest singer that comes here, and in whom do you most +delight?' Then answer, each and all, with one voice: `He is a +blind man, and dwells in rocky Chios: his lays are evermore +supreme.' As for me, I will carry your renown as far as I roam +over the earth to the well-placed this thing is true. And I will +never cease to praise far-shooting Apollo, god of the silver bow, +whom rich-haired Leto bare. + +TO PYTHIAN APOLLO -- + +(ll. 179-181) O Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeonia and +Miletus, charming city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you +greatly reign your own self. + +(ll. 182-206) Leto's all-glorious son goes to rocky Pytho, +playing upon his hollow lyre, clad in divine, perfumed garments; +and at the touch of the golden key his lyre sings sweet. Thence, +swift as thought, he speeds from earth to Olympus, to the house +of Zeus, to join the gathering of the other gods: then +straightway the undying gods think only of the lyre and song, and +all the Muses together, voice sweetly answering voice, hymn the +unending gifts the gods enjoy and the sufferings of men, all that +they endure at the hands of the deathless gods, and how they live +witless and helpless and cannot find healing for death or defence +against old age. Meanwhile the rich-tressed Graces and cheerful +Seasons dance with Harmonia and Hebe and Aphrodite, daughter of +Zeus, holding each other by the wrist. And among them sings one, +not mean nor puny, but tall to look upon and enviable in mien, +Artemis who delights in arrows, sister of Apollo. Among them +sport Ares and the keen-eyed Slayer of Argus, while Apollo plays +his lyre stepping high and featly and a radiance shines around +him, the gleaming of his feet and close-woven vest. And they, +even gold-tressed Leto and wise Zeus, rejoice in their great +hearts as they watch their dear son playing among the undying +gods. + +(ll. 207-228) How then shall I sing of you -- though in all ways +you are a worthy theme for song? Shall I sing of you as wooer +and in the fields of love, how you went wooing the daughter of +Azan along with god-like Ischys the son of well-horsed Elatius, +or with Phorbas sprung from Triops, or with Ereutheus, or with +Leucippus and the wife of Leucippus.... +((LACUNA)) +....you on foot, he with his chariot, yet he fell not short of +Triops. Or shall I sing how at the first you went about the +earth seeking a place of oracle for men, O far-shooting Apollo? +To Pieria first you went down from Olympus and passed by sandy +Lectus and Enienae and through the land of the Perrhaebi. Soon +you came to Iolcus and set foot on Cenaeum in Euboea, famed for +ships: you stood in the Lelantine plain, but it pleased not your +heart to make a temple there and wooded groves. From there you +crossed the Euripus, far-shooting Apollo, and went up the green, +holy hills, going on to Mycalessus and grassy-bedded Teumessus, +and so came to the wood-clad abode of Thebe; for as yet no man +lived in holy Thebe, nor were there tracks or ways about Thebe's +wheat-bearing plain as yet. + +(ll. 229-238) And further still you went, O far-shooting Apollo, +and came to Onchestus, Poseidon's bright grove: there the new- +broken colt distressed with drawing the trim chariot gets spirit +again, and the skilled driver springs from his car and goes on +his way. Then the horses for a while rattle the empty car, being +rid of guidance; and if they break the chariot in the woody +grove, men look after the horses, but tilt the chariot and leave +it there; for this was the rite from the very first. And the +drivers pray to the lord of the shrine; but the chariot falls to +the lot of the god. + +(ll. 239-243) Further yet you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and +reached next Cephissus' sweet stream which pours forth its sweet- +flowing water from Lilaea, and crossing over it, O worker from +afar, you passed many-towered Ocalea and reached grassy +Haliartus. + +(ll. 244-253) Then you went towards Telphusa: and there the +pleasant place seemed fit for making a temple and wooded grove. +You came very near and spoke to her: `Telphusa, here I am minded +to make a glorious temple, an oracle for men, and hither they +will always bring perfect hecatombs, both those who live in rich +Peloponnesus and those of Europe and all the wave-washed isles, +coming to seek oracles. And I will deliver to them all counsel +that cannot fail, giving answer in my rich temple.' + +(ll. 254-276) So said Phoebus Apollo, and laid out all the +foundations throughout, wide and very long. But when Telphusa +saw this, she was angry in heart and spoke, saying: `Lord +Phoebus, worker from afar, I will speak a word of counsel to your +heart, since you are minded to make here a glorious temple to be +an oracle for men who will always bring hither perfect hecatombs +for you; yet I will speak out, and do you lay up my words in your +heart. The trampling of swift horses and the sound of mules +watering at my sacred springs will always irk you, and men will +like better to gaze at the well-made chariots and stamping, +swift-footed horses than at your great temple and the many +treasures that are within. But if you will be moved by me -- for +you, lord, are stronger and mightier than I, and your strength is +very great -- build at Crisa below the glades of Parnassus: there +no bright chariot will clash, and there will be no noise of +swift-footed horses near your well-built altar. But so the +glorious tribes of men will bring gifts to you as Iepaeon (`Hail- +Healer'), and you will receive with delight rich sacrifices from +the people dwelling round about.' So said Telphusa, that she +alone, and not the Far-Shooter, should have renown there; and she +persuaded the Far-Shooter. + +(ll. 277-286) Further yet you went, far-shooting Apollo, until +you came to the town of the presumptuous Phlegyae who dwell on +this earth in a lovely glade near the Cephisian lake, caring not +for Zeus. And thence you went speeding swiftly to the mountain +ridge, and came to Crisa beneath snowy Parnassus, a foothill +turned towards the west: a cliff hangs over it from above, and a +hollow, rugged glade runs under. There the lord Phoebus Apollo +resolved to make his lovely temple, and thus he said: + +(ll. 287-293) `In this place I am minded to build a glorious +temple to be an oracle for men, and here they will always bring +perfect hecatombs, both they who dwell in rich Peloponnesus and +the men of Europe and from all the wave-washed isles, coming to +question me. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot +fail, answering them in my rich temple.' + +(ll. 294-299) When he had said this, Phoebus Apollo laid out all +the foundations throughout, wide and very long; and upon these +the sons of Erginus, Trophonius and Agamedes, dear to the +deathless gods, laid a footing of stone. And the countless +tribes of men built the whole temple of wrought stones, to be +sung of for ever. + +(ll. 300-310) But near by was a sweet flowing spring, and there +with his strong bow the lord, the son of Zeus, killed the +bloated, great she-dragon, a fierce monster wont to do great +mischief to men upon earth, to men themselves and to their thin- +shanked sheep; for she was a very bloody plague. She it was who +once received from gold-throned Hera and brought up fell, cruel +Typhaon to be a plague to men. Once on a time Hera bare him +because she was angry with father Zeus, when the Son of Cronos +bare all-glorious Athena in his head. Thereupon queenly Hera was +angry and spoke thus among the assembled gods: + +(ll. 311-330) `Hear from me, all gods and goddesses, how cloud- +gathering Zeus begins to dishonour me wantonly, when he has made +me his true-hearted wife. See now, apart from me he has given +birth to bright-eyed Athena who is foremost among all the blessed +gods. But my son Hephaestus whom I bare was weakly among all the +blessed gods and shrivelled of foot, a shame and disgrace to me +in heaven, whom I myself took in my hands and cast out so that he +fell in the great sea. But silver-shod Thetis the daughter of +Nereus took and cared for him with her sisters: would that she +had done other service to the blessed gods! O wicked one and +crafty! What else will you now devise? How dared you by +yourself give birth to bright-eyed Athena? Would not I have +borne you a child -- I, who was at least called your wife among +the undying gods who hold wide heaven. Beware now lest I devise +some evil thing for you hereafter: yes, now I will contrive that +a son be born me to be foremost among the undying gods -- and +that without casting shame on the holy bond of wedlock between +you and me. And I will not come to your bed, but will consort +with the blessed gods far off from you.' + +(ll. 331-333) When she had so spoken, she went apart from the +gods, being very angry. Then straightway large-eyed queenly Hera +prayed, striking the ground flatwise with her hand, and speaking +thus: + +(ll. 334-362) `Hear now, I pray, Earth and wide Heaven above, and +you Titan gods who dwell beneath the earth about great Tartarus, +and from whom are sprung both gods and men! Harken you now to +me, one and all, and grant that I may bear a child apart from +Zeus, no wit lesser than him in strength -- nay, let him be as +much stronger than Zeus as all-seeing Zeus than Cronos.' Thus +she cried and lashed the earth with her strong hand. Then the +life-giving earth was moved: and when Hera saw it she was glad in +heart, for she thought her prayer would be fulfilled. And +thereafter she never came to the bed of wise Zeus for a full +year, not to sit in her carved chair as aforetime to plan wise +counsel for him, but stayed in her temples where many pray, and +delighted in her offerings, large-eyed queenly Hera. But when +the months and days were fulfilled and the seasons duly came on +as the earth moved round, she bare one neither like the gods nor +mortal men, fell, cruel Typhaon, to be a plague to men. +Straightway large-eyed queenly Hera took him and bringing one +evil thing to another such, gave him to the dragoness; and she +received him. And this Typhaon used to work great mischief among +the famous tribes of men. Whosoever met the dragoness, the day +of doom would sweep him away, until the lord Apollo, who deals +death from afar, shot a strong arrow at her. Then she, rent with +bitter pangs, lay drawing great gasps for breath and rolling +about that place. An awful noise swelled up unspeakable as she +writhed continually this way and that amid the wood: and so she +left her life, breathing it forth in blood. Then Phoebus Apollo +boasted over her: + +(ll. 363-369) `Now rot here upon the soil that feeds man! You at +least shall live no more to be a fell bane to men who eat the +fruit of the all-nourishing earth, and who will bring hither +perfect hecatombs. Against cruel death neither Typhoeus shall +avail you nor ill-famed Chimera, but here shall the Earth and +shining Hyperion make you rot.' + +(ll. 370-374) Thus said Phoebus, exulting over her: and darkness +covered her eyes. And the holy strength of Helios made her rot +away there; wherefore the place is now called Pytho, and men call +the lord Apollo by another name, Pythian; because on that spot +the power of piercing Helios made the monster rot away. + +(ll. 375-378) Then Phoebus Apollo saw that the sweet-flowing +spring had beguiled him, and he started out in anger against +Telphusa; and soon coming to her, he stood close by and spoke to +her: + +(ll. 379-381) `Telphusa, you were not, after all, to keep to +yourself this lovely place by deceiving my mind, and pour forth +your clear flowing water: here my renown shall also be and not +yours alone?' + +(ll. 382-387) Thus spoke the lord, far-working Apollo, and pushed +over upon her a crag with a shower of rocks, hiding her streams: +and he made himself an altar in a wooded grove very near the +clear-flowing stream. In that place all men pray to the great +one by the name Telphusian, because he humbled the stream of holy +Telphusa. + +(ll. 388-439) Then Phoebus Apollo pondered in his heart what men +he should bring in to be his ministers in sacrifice and to serve +him in rocky Pytho. And while he considered this, he became +aware of a swift ship upon the wine-like sea in which were many +men and goodly, Cretans from Cnossos (10), the city of Minos, +they who do sacrifice to the prince and announce his decrees, +whatsoever Phoebus Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, speaks in +answer from his laurel tree below the dells of Parnassus. These +men were sailing in their black ship for traffic and for profit +to sandy Pylos and to the men of Pylos. But Phoebus Apollo met +them: in the open sea he sprang upon their swift ship, like a +dolphin in shape, and lay there, a great and awesome monster, and +none of them gave heed so as to understand (11); but they sought +to cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the black +ship every way and make the timbers quiver. So they sat silent +in their craft for fear, and did not loose the sheets throughout +the black, hollow ship, nor lowered the sail of their dark-prowed +vessel, but as they had set it first of all with oxhide ropes, so +they kept sailing on; for a rushing south wind hurried on the +swift ship from behind. First they passed by Malea, and then +along the Laconian coast they came to Taenarum, sea-garlanded +town and country of Helios who gladdens men, where the thick- +fleeced sheep of the lord Helios feed continually and occupy a +glad-some country. There they wished to put their ship to shore, +and land and comprehend the great marvel and see with their eyes +whether the monster would remain upon the deck of the hollow +ship, or spring back into the briny deep where fishes shoal. But +the well-built ship would not obey the helm, but went on its way +all along Peloponnesus: and the lord, far-working Apollo, guided +it easily with the breath of the breeze. So the ship ran on its +course and came to Arena and lovely Argyphea and Thryon, the ford +of Alpheus, and well-placed Aepy and sandy Pylos and the men of +Pylos; past Cruni it went and Chalcis and past Dyme and fair +Elis, where the Epei rule. And at the time when she was making +for Pherae, exulting in the breeze from Zeus, there appeared to +them below the clouds the steep mountain of Ithaca, and Dulichium +and Same and wooded Zacynthus. But when they were passed by all +the coast of Peloponnesus, then, towards Crisa, that vast gulf +began to heave in sight which through all its length cuts off the +rich isle of Pelops. There came on them a strong, clear west- +wind by ordinance of Zeus and blew from heaven vehemently, that +with all speed the ship might finish coursing over the briny +water of the sea. So they began again to voyage back towards the +dawn and the sun: and the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, led them on +until they reached far-seen Crisa, land of vines, and into haven: +there the sea-coursing ship grounded on the sands. + +(ll. 440-451) Then, like a star at noonday, the lord, far-working +Apollo, leaped from the ship: flashes of fire flew from him thick +and their brightness reached to heaven. He entered into his +shrine between priceless tripods, and there made a flame to flare +up bright, showing forth the splendour of his shafts, so that +their radiance filled all Crisa, and the wives and well-girded +daughters of the Crisaeans raised a cry at that outburst of +Phoebus; for he cast great fear upon them all. From his shrine +he sprang forth again, swift as a thought, to speed again to the +ship, bearing the form of a man, brisk and sturdy, in the prime +of his youth, while his broad shoulders were covered with his +hair: and he spoke to the Cretans, uttering winged words: + +(ll. 452-461) `Strangers, who are you? Whence come you sailing +along the paths of the sea? Are you for traffic, or do you +wander at random over the sea as pirates do who put their own +lives to hazard and bring mischief to men of foreign parts as +they roam? Why rest you so and are afraid, and do not go ashore +nor stow the gear of your black ship? For that is the custom of +men who live by bread, whenever they come to land in their dark +ships from the main, spent with toil; at once desire for sweet +food catches them about the heart.' + +(ll. 462-473) So speaking, he put courage in their hearts, and +the master of the Cretans answered him and said: `Stranger -- +though you are nothing like mortal men in shape or stature, but +are as the deathless gods -- hail and all happiness to you, and +may the gods give you good. Now tell me truly that I may surely +know it: what country is this, and what land, and what men live +herein? As for us, with thoughts set otherwards, we were sailing +over the great sea to Pylos from Crete (for from there we declare +that we are sprung), but now are come on shipboard to this place +by no means willingly -- another way and other paths -- and +gladly would we return. But one of the deathless gods brought us +here against our will.' + +(ll. 474-501) Then far-working Apollo answered then and said: +`Strangers who once dwelt about wooded Cnossos but now shall +return no more each to his loved city and fair house and dear +wife; here shall you keep my rich temple that is honoured by many +men. I am the son of Zeus; Apollo is my name: but you I brought +here over the wide gulf of the sea, meaning you no hurt; nay, +here you shall keep my rich temple that is greatly honoured among +men, and you shall know the plans of the deathless gods, and by +their will you shall be honoured continually for all time. And +now come, make haste and do as I say. First loose the sheets and +lower the sail, and then draw the swift ship up upon the land. +Take out your goods and the gear of the straight ship, and make +an altar upon the beach of the sea: light fire upon it and make +an offering of white meal. Next, stand side by side around the +altar and pray: and in as much as at the first on the hazy sea I +sprang upon the swift ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me +as Apollo Delphinius; also the altar itself shall be called +Delphinius and overlooking (12) for ever. Afterwards, sup beside +your dark ship and pour an offering to the blessed gods who dwell +on Olympus. But when you have put away craving for sweet food, +come with me singing the hymn Ie Paean (Hail, Healer!), until you +come to the place where you shall keep my rich temple.' + +(ll. 502-523) So said Apollo. And they readily harkened to him +and obeyed him. First they unfastened the sheets and let down +the sail and lowered the mast by the forestays upon the mast- +rest. Then, landing upon the beach of the sea, they hauled up +the ship from the water to dry land and fixed long stays under +it. Also they made an altar upon the beach of the sea, and when +they had lit a fire, made an offering of white meal, and prayed +standing around the altar as Apollo had bidden them. Then they +took their meal by the swift, black ship, and poured an offering +to the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. And when they had put +away craving for drink and food, they started out with the lord +Apollo, the son of Zeus, to lead them, holding a lyre in his +hands, and playing sweetly as he stepped high and featly. So the +Cretans followed him to Pytho, marching in time as they chanted +the Ie Paean after the manner of the Cretan paean-singers and of +those in whose hearts the heavenly Muse has put sweet-voiced +song. With tireless feet they approached the ridge and +straightway came to Parnassus and the lovely place where they +were to dwell honoured by many men. There Apollo brought them +and showed them his most holy sanctuary and rich temple. + +(ll. 524-525) But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts, +and the master of the Cretans asked him, saying: + +(ll. 526-530) `Lord, since you have brought us here far from our +dear ones and our fatherland, -- for so it seemed good to your +heart, -- tell us now how we shall live. That we would know of +you. This land is not to be desired either for vineyards or for +pastures so that we can live well thereon and also minister to +men.' + +(ll. 531-544) Then Apollo, the son of Zeus, smiled upon them and +said: `Foolish mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek +cares and hard toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word +and set it in your hearts. Though each one of you with knife in +hand should slaughter sheep continually, yet would you always +have abundant store, even all that the glorious tribes of men +bring here for me. But guard you my temple and receive the +tribes of men that gather to this place, and especially show +mortal men my will, and do you keep righteousness in your heart. +But if any shall be disobedient and pay no heed to my warning, or +if there shall be any idle word or deed and outrage as is common +among mortal men, then other men shall be your masters and with a +strong hand shall make you subject for ever. All has been told +you: do you keep it in your heart.' + +(ll. 545-546) And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will +remember you and another hymn also. + + +IV. TO HERMES (582 lines) + +(ll. 1-29) Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord +of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, the luck-bringing +messenger of the immortals whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed +nymph, when she was joined in love with Zeus, -- a shy goddess, +for she avoided the company of the blessed gods, and lived within +a deep, shady cave. There the son of Cronos used to lie with the +rich-tressed nymph, unseen by deathless gods and mortal men, at +dead of night while sweet sleep should hold white-armed Hera +fast. And when the purpose of great Zeus was fixed in heaven, +she was delivered and a notable thing was come to pass. For then +she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a +cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief +at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds +among the deathless gods. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he +played on the lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of +far-shooting Apollo on the fourth day of the month; for on that +day queenly Maia bare him. So soon as he had leaped from his +mother's heavenly womb, he lay not long waiting in his holy +cradle, but he sprang up and sought the oxen of Apollo. But as +he stepped over the threshold of the high-roofed cave, he found a +tortoise there and gained endless delight. For it was Hermes who +first made the tortoise a singer. The creature fell in his way +at the courtyard gate, where it was feeding on the rich grass +before the dwelling, waddling along. When he saw it, the luck- +bringing son of Zeus laughed and said: + +(ll. 30-38) `An omen of great luck for me so soon! I do not +slight it. Hail, comrade of the feast, lovely in shape, sounding +at the dance! With joy I meet you! Where got you that rich gaud +for covering, that spangled shell -- a tortoise living in the +mountains? But I will take and carry you within: you shall help +me and I will do you no disgrace, though first of all you must +profit me. It is better to be at home: harm may come out of +doors. Living, you shall be a spell against mischievous +witchcraft (13); but if you die, then you shall make sweetest +song. + +(ll. 39-61) Thus speaking, he took up the tortoise in both hands +and went back into the house carrying his charming toy. Then he +cut off its limbs and scooped out the marrow of the mountain- +tortoise with a scoop of grey iron. As a swift thought darts +through the heart of a man when thronging cares haunt him, or as +bright glances flash from the eye, so glorious Hermes planned +both thought and deed at once. He cut stalks of reed to measure +and fixed them, fastening their ends across the back and through +the shell of the tortoise, and then stretched ox hide all over it +by his skill. Also he put in the horns and fitted a cross-piece +upon the two of them, and stretched seven strings of sheep-gut. +But when he had made it he proved each string in turn with the +key, as he held the lovely thing. At the touch of his hand it +sounded marvellously; and, as he tried it, the god sang sweet +random snatches, even as youths bandy taunts at festivals. He +sang of Zeus the son of Cronos and neat-shod Maia, the converse +which they had before in the comradeship of love, telling all the +glorious tale of his own begetting. He celebrated, too, the +handmaids of the nymph, and her bright home, and the tripods all +about the house, and the abundant cauldrons. + +(ll. 62-67) But while he was singing of all these, his heart was +bent on other matters. And he took the hollow lyre and laid it +in his sacred cradle, and sprang from the sweet-smelling hall to +a watch-place, pondering sheer trickery in his heart -- deeds +such as knavish folk pursue in the dark night-time; for he longed +to taste flesh. + +(ll. 68-86) The Sun was going down beneath the earth towards +Ocean with his horses and chariot when Hermes came hurrying to +the shadowy mountains of Pieria, where the divine cattle of the +blessed gods had their steads and grazed the pleasant, unmown +meadows. Of these the Son of Maia, the sharp-eyed slayer of +Argus then cut off from the herd fifty loud-lowing kine, and +drove them straggling-wise across a sandy place, turning their +hoof-prints aside. Also, he bethought him of a crafty ruse and +reversed the marks of their hoofs, making the front behind and +the hind before, while he himself walked the other way (14). +Then he wove sandals with wicker-work by the sand of the sea, +wonderful things, unthought of, unimagined; for he mixed together +tamarisk and myrtle-twigs, fastening together an armful of their +fresh, young wood, and tied them, leaves and all securely under +his feet as light sandals. The brushwood the glorious Slayer of +Argus plucked in Pieria as he was preparing for his journey, +making shift (15) as one making haste for a long journey. + +(ll. 87-89) But an old man tilling his flowering vineyard saw him +as he was hurrying down the plain through grassy Onchestus. So +the Son of Maia began and said to him: + +(ll. 90-93) `Old man, digging about your vines with bowed +shoulders, surely you shall have much wine when all these bear +fruit, if you obey me and strictly remember not to have seen what +you have seen, and not to have heard what you have heard, and to +keep silent when nothing of your own is harmed.' + +(ll. 94-114) When he had said this much, he hurried the strong +cattle on together: through many shadowy mountains and echoing +gorges and flowery plains glorious Hermes drove them. And now +the divine night, his dark ally, was mostly passed, and dawn that +sets folk to work was quickly coming on, while bright Selene, +daughter of the lord Pallas, Megamedes' son, had just climbed her +watch-post, when the strong Son of Zeus drove the wide-browed +cattle of Phoebus Apollo to the river Alpheus. And they came +unwearied to the high-roofed byres and the drinking-troughs that +were before the noble meadow. Then, after he had well-fed the +loud-bellowing cattle with fodder and driven them into the byre, +close-packed and chewing lotus and began to seek the art of fire. + +He chose a stout laurel branch and trimmed it with the knife.... +((LACUNA)) (16) +....held firmly in his hand: and the hot smoke rose up. For it +was Hermes who first invented fire-sticks and fire. Next he took +many dried sticks and piled them thick and plenty in a sunken +trench: and flame began to glow, spreading afar the blast of +fierce-burning fire. + +(ll. 115-137) And while the strength of glorious Hephaestus was +beginning to kindle the fire, he dragged out two lowing, horned +cows close to the fire; for great strength was with him. He +threw them both panting upon their backs on the ground, and +rolled them on their sides, bending their necks over (17), and +pierced their vital chord. Then he went on from task to task: +first he cut up the rich, fatted meat, and pierced it with wooden +spits, and roasted flesh and the honourable chine and the paunch +full of dark blood all together. He laid them there upon the +ground, and spread out the hides on a rugged rock: and so they +are still there many ages afterwards, a long, long time after all +this, and are continually (18). Next glad-hearted Hermes dragged +the rich meats he had prepared and put them on a smooth, flat +stone, and divided them into twelve portions distributed by lot, +making each portion wholly honourable. Then glorious Hermes +longed for the sacrificial meat, for the sweet savour wearied +him, god though he was; nevertheless his proud heart was not +prevailed upon to devour the flesh, although he greatly desired +(19). But he put away the fat and all the flesh in the high- +roofed byre, placing them high up to be a token of his youthful +theft. And after that he gathered dry sticks and utterly +destroyed with fire all the hoofs and all the heads. + +(ll. 138-154) And when the god had duly finished all, he threw +his sandals into deep-eddying Alpheus, and quenched the embers, +covering the black ashes with sand, and so spent the night while +Selene's soft light shone down. Then the god went straight back +again at dawn to the bright crests of Cyllene, and no one met him +on the long journey either of the blessed gods or mortal men, nor +did any dog bark. And luck-bringing Hermes, the son of Zeus, +passed edgeways through the key-hole of the hall like the autumn +breeze, even as mist: straight through the cave he went and came +to the rich inner chamber, walking softly, and making no noise as +one might upon the floor. Then glorious Hermes went hurriedly to +his cradle, wrapping his swaddling clothes about his shoulders as +though he were a feeble babe, and lay playing with the covering +about his knees; but at his left hand he kept close his sweet +lyre. + +(ll. 155-161) But the god did not pass unseen by the goddess his +mother; but she said to him: `How now, you rogue! Whence come +you back so at night-time, you that wear shamelessness as a +garment? And now I surely believe the son of Leto will soon have +you forth out of doors with unbreakable cords about your ribs, or +you will live a rogue's life in the glens robbing by whiles. Go +to, then; your father got you to be a great worry to mortal men +and deathless gods.' + +(ll. 162-181) Then Hermes answered her with crafty words: +`Mother, why do you seek to frighten me like a feeble child whose +heart knows few words of blame, a fearful babe that fears its +mother's scolding? Nay, but I will try whatever plan is best, +and so feed myself and you continually. We will not be content +to remain here, as you bid, alone of all the gods unfee'd with +offerings and prayers. Better to live in fellowship with the +deathless gods continually, rich, wealthy, and enjoying stories +of grain, than to sit always in a gloomy cave: and, as regards +honour, I too will enter upon the rite that Apollo has. If my +father will not give it to me, I will seek -- and I am able -- to +be a prince of robbers. And if Leto's most glorious son shall +seek me out, I think another and a greater loss will befall him. +For I will go to Pytho to break into his great house, and will +plunder therefrom splendid tripods, and cauldrons, and gold, and +plenty of bright iron, and much apparel; and you shall see it if +you will.' + +(ll. 182-189) With such words they spoke together, the son of +Zeus who holds the aegis, and the lady Maia. Now Eros the early +born was rising from deep-flowing Ocean, bringing light to men, +when Apollo, as he went, came to Onchestus, the lovely grove and +sacred place of the loud-roaring Holder of the Earth. There he +found an old man grazing his beast along the pathway from his +court-yard fence, and the all-glorious Son of Leto began and said +to him. + +(ll. 190-200) `Old man, weeder (20) of grassy Onchestus, I am +come here from Pieria seeking cattle, cows all of them, all with +curving horns, from my herd. The black bull was grazing alone +away from the rest, but fierce-eyed hounds followed the cows, +four of them, all of one mind, like men. These were left behind, +the dogs and the bull -- which is great marvel; but the cows +strayed out of the soft meadow, away from the pasture when the +sun was just going down. Now tell me this, old man born long +ago: have you seen one passing along behind those cows?' + +(ll. 201-211) Then the old man answered him and said: `My son, it +is hard to tell all that one's eyes see; for many wayfarers pass +to and fro this way, some bent on much evil, and some on good: it +is difficult to know each one. However, I was digging about my +plot of vineyard all day long until the sun went down, and I +thought, good sir, but I do not know for certain, that I marked a +child, whoever the child was, that followed long-horned cattle -- +an infant who had a staff and kept walking from side to side: he +was driving them backwards way, with their heads toward him.' + +(ll. 212-218) So said the old man. And when Apollo heard this +report, he went yet more quickly on his way, and presently, +seeing a long-winged bird, he knew at once by that omen that +thief was the child of Zeus the son of Cronos. So the lord +Apollo, son of Zeus, hurried on to goodly Pylos seeking his +shambling oxen, and he had his broad shoulders covered with a +dark cloud. But when the Far-Shooter perceived the tracks, he +cried: + +(ll. 219-226) `Oh, oh! Truly this is a great marvel that my eyes +behold! These are indeed the tracks of straight-horned oxen, but +they are turned backwards towards the flowery meadow. But these +others are not the footprints of man or woman or grey wolves or +bears or lions, nor do I think they are the tracks of a rough- +maned Centaur -- whoever it be that with swift feet makes such +monstrous footprints; wonderful are the tracks on this side of +the way, but yet more wonderfully are those on that.' + +(ll. 227-234) When he had so said, the lord Apollo, the Son of +Zeus hastened on and came to the forest-clad mountain of Cyllene +and the deep-shadowed cave in the rock where the divine nymph +brought forth the child of Zeus who is the son of Cronos. A +sweet odour spread over the lovely hill, and many thin-shanked +sheep were grazing on the grass. Then far-shooting Apollo +himself stepped down in haste over the stone threshold into the +dusky cave. + +(ll. 235-253) Now when the Son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo in a +rage about his cattle, he snuggled down in his fragrant +swaddling-clothes; and as wood-ash covers over the deep embers of +tree-stumps, so Hermes cuddled himself up when he saw the Far- +Shooter. He squeezed head and hands and feet together in a small +space, like a new born child seeking sweet sleep, though in truth +he was wide awake, and he kept his lyre under his armpit. But +the Son of Leto was aware and failed not to perceive the +beautiful mountain-nymph and her dear son, albeit a little child +and swathed so craftily. He peered in every corner of the great +dwelling and, taking a bright key, he opened three closets full +of nectar and lovely ambrosia. And much gold and silver was +stored in them, and many garments of the nymph, some purple and +some silvery white, such as are kept in the sacred houses of the +blessed gods. Then, after the Son of Leto had searched out the +recesses of the great house, he spake to glorious Hermes: + +(ll. 254-259) `Child, lying in the cradle, make haste and tell me +of my cattle, or we two will soon fall out angrily. For I will +take and cast you into dusty Tartarus and awful hopeless +darkness, and neither your mother nor your father shall free you +or bring you up again to the light, but you will wander under the +earth and be the leader amongst little folk.' (21) + +(ll. 260-277) Then Hermes answered him with crafty words: `Son of +Leto, what harsh words are these you have spoken? And is it +cattle of the field you are come here to seek? I have not seen +them: I have not heard of them: no one has told me of them. I +cannot give news of them, nor win the reward for news. Am I like +a cattle-lifter, a stalwart person? This is no task for me: +rather I care for other things: I care for sleep, and milk of my +mother's breast, and wrappings round my shoulders, and warm +baths. Let no one hear the cause of this dispute; for this would +be a great marvel indeed among the deathless gods, that a child +newly born should pass in through the forepart of the house with +cattle of the field: herein you speak extravagantly. I was born +yesterday, and my feet are soft and the ground beneath is rough; +nevertheless, if you will have it so, I will swear a great oath +by my father's head and vow that neither am I guilty myself, +neither have I seen any other who stole your cows -- whatever +cows may be; for I know them only by hearsay.' + +(ll. 278-280) So, then, said Hermes, shooting quick glances from +his eyes: and he kept raising his brows and looking this way and +that, whistling long and listening to Apollo's story as to an +idle tale. + +(ll. 281-292) But far-working Apollo laughed softly and said to +him: `O rogue, deceiver, crafty in heart, you talk so innocently +that I most surely believe that you have broken into many a well- +built house and stripped more than one poor wretch bare this +night (22), gathering his goods together all over the house +without noise. You will plague many a lonely herdsman in +mountain glades, when you come on herds and thick-fleeced sheep, +and have a hankering after flesh. But come now, if you would not +sleep your last and latest sleep, get out of your cradle, you +comrade of dark night. Surely hereafter this shall be your title +amongst the deathless gods, to be called the prince of robbers +continually.' + +(ll. 293-300) So said Phoebus Apollo, and took the child and +began to carry him. But at that moment the strong Slayer of +Argus had his plan, and, while Apollo held him in his hands, sent +forth an omen, a hard-worked belly-serf, a rude messenger, and +sneezed directly after. And when Apollo heard it, he dropped +glorious Hermes out of his hands on the ground: then sitting down +before him, though he was eager to go on his way, he spoke +mockingly to Hermes: + +(ll. 301-303) `Fear not, little swaddling baby, son of Zeus and +Maia. I shall find the strong cattle presently by these omens, +and you shall lead the way.' + +(ll. 304-306) When Apollo had so said, Cyllenian Hermes sprang up +quickly, starting in haste. With both hands he pushed up to his +ears the covering that he had wrapped about his shoulders, and +said: + +(ll. 307-312) `Where are you carrying me, Far-Worker, hastiest of +all the gods? Is it because of your cattle that you are so angry +and harass me? O dear, would that all the sort of oxen might +perish; for it is not I who stole your cows, nor did I see +another steal them -- whatever cows may be, and of that I have +only heard report. Nay, give right and take it before Zeus, the +Son of Cronos.' + +(ll. 313-326) So Hermes the shepherd and Leto's glorious son kept +stubbornly disputing each article of their quarrel: Apollo, +speaking truly.... +((LACUNA)) +....not fairly sought to seize glorious Hermes because of the +cows; but he, the Cyllenian, tried to deceive the God of the +Silver Bow with tricks and cunning words. But when, though he +had many wiles, he found the other had as many shifts, he began +to walk across the sand, himself in front, while the Son of Zeus +and Leto came behind. Soon they came, these lovely children of +Zeus, to the top of fragrant Olympus, to their father, the Son of +Cronos; for there were the scales of judgement set for them both. + +There was an assembly on snowy Olympus, and the immortals who +perish not were gathering after the hour of gold-throned Dawn. + +(ll. 327-329) Then Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow stood at +the knees of Zeus: and Zeus who thunders on high spoke to his +glorious son and asked him: + +(ll. 330-332) `Phoebus, whence come you driving this great spoil, +a child new born that has the look of a herald? This is a +weighty matter that is come before the council of the gods.' + +(ll. 333-364) Then the lord, far-working Apollo, answered him: `O +my father, you shall soon hear no trifling tale though you +reproach me that I alone am fond of spoil. Here is a child, a +burgling robber, whom I found after a long journey in the hills +of Cyllene: for my part I have never seen one so pert either +among the gods or all men that catch folk unawares throughout the +world. He stole away my cows from their meadow and drove them +off in the evening along the shore of the loud-roaring sea, +making straight for Pylos. There were double tracks, and +wonderful they were, such as one might marvel at, the doing of a +clever sprite; for as for the cows, the dark dust kept and showed +their footprints leading towards the flowery meadow; but he +himself -- bewildering creature -- crossed the sandy ground +outside the path, not on his feet nor yet on his hands; but, +furnished with some other means he trudged his way -- wonder of +wonders! -- as though one walked on slender oak-trees. Now while +he followed the cattle across sandy ground, all the tracks showed +quite clearly in the dust; but when he had finished the long way +across the sand, presently the cows' track and his own could not +be traced over the hard ground. But a mortal man noticed him as +he drove the wide-browed kine straight towards Pylos. And as +soon as he had shut them up quietly, and had gone home by crafty +turns and twists, he lay down in his cradle in the gloom of a dim +cave, as still as dark night, so that not even an eagle keenly +gazing would have spied him. Much he rubbed his eyes with his +hands as he prepared falsehood, and himself straightway said +roundly: "I have not seen them: I have not heard of them: no man +has told me of them. I could not tell you of them, nor win the +reward of telling."' + +(ll. 365-367) When he had so spoken, Phoebus Apollo sat down. +But Hermes on his part answered and said, pointing at the Son of +Cronos, the lord of all the gods: + +(ll. 368-386) `Zeus, my father, indeed I will speak truth to you; +for I am truthful and I cannot tell a lie. He came to our house +to-day looking for his shambling cows, as the sun was newly +rising. He brought no witnesses with him nor any of the blessed +gods who had seen the theft, but with great violence ordered me +to confess, threatening much to throw me into wide Tartarus. For +he has the rich bloom of glorious youth, while I was born but +yesterday -- as he too knows -- nor am I like a cattle-lifter, a +sturdy fellow. Believe my tale (for you claim to be my own +father), that I did not drive his cows to my house -- so may I +prosper -- nor crossed the threshold: this I say truly. I +reverence Helios greatly and the other gods, and you I love and +him I dread. You yourself know that I am not guilty: and I will +swear a great oath upon it: -- No! by these rich-decked porticoes +of the gods. And some day I will punish him, strong as he is, +for this pitiless inquisition; but now do you help the younger.' + +(ll. 387-396) So spake the Cyllenian, the Slayer of Argus, while +he kept shooting sidelong glances and kept his swaddling-clothes +upon his arm, and did not cast them away. But Zeus laughed out +loud to see his evil-plotting child well and cunningly denying +guilt about the cattle. And he bade them both to be of one mind +and search for the cattle, and guiding Hermes to lead the way +and, without mischievousness of heart, to show the place where +now he had hidden the strong cattle. Then the Son of Cronos +bowed his head: and goodly Hermes obeyed him; for the will of +Zeus who holds the aegis easily prevailed with him. + +(ll. 397-404) Then the two all-glorious children of Zeus hastened +both to sandy Pylos, and reached the ford of Alpheus, and came to +the fields and the high-roofed byre where the beasts were +cherished at night-time. Now while Hermes went to the cave in +the rock and began to drive out the strong cattle, the son of +Leto, looking aside, saw the cowhides on the sheer rock. And he +asked glorious Hermes at once: + +(ll. 405-408) `How were you able, you crafty rogue, to flay two +cows, new-born and babyish as you are? For my part, I dread the +strength that will be yours: there is no need you should keep +growing long, Cyllenian, son of Maia!' + +(ll. 409-414) So saying, Apollo twisted strong withes with his +hands meaning to bind Hermes with firm bands; but the bands would +not hold him, and the withes of osier fell far from him and began +to grow at once from the ground beneath their feet in that very +place. And intertwining with one another, they quickly grew and +covered all the wild-roving cattle by the will of thievish +Hermes, so that Apollo was astonished as he gazed. + +(ll. 414-435) Then the strong slayer of Argus looked furtively +upon the ground with eyes flashing fire.... desiring to hide.... +((LACUNA)) +....Very easily he softened the son of all-glorious Leto as he +would, stern though the Far-shooter was. He took the lyre upon +his left arm and tried each string in turn with the key, so that +it sounded awesomely at his touch. And Phoebus Apollo laughed +for joy; for the sweet throb of the marvellous music went to his +heart, and a soft longing took hold on his soul as he listened. +Then the son of Maia, harping sweetly upon his lyre, took courage +and stood at the left hand of Phoebus Apollo; and soon, while he +played shrilly on his lyre, he lifted up his voice and sang, and +lovely was the sound of his voice that followed. He sang the +story of the deathless gods and of the dark earth, how at the +first they came to be, and how each one received his portion. +First among the gods he honoured Mnemosyne, mother of the Muses, +in his song; for the son of Maia was of her following. And next +the goodly son of Zeus hymned the rest of the immortals according +to their order in age, and told how each was born, mentioning all +in order as he struck the lyre upon his arm. But Apollo was +seized with a longing not to be allayed, and he opened his mouth +and spoke winged words to Hermes: + +(ll. 436-462) `Slayer of oxen, trickster, busy one, comrade of +the feast, this song of yours is worth fifty cows, and I believe +that presently we shall settle our quarrel peacefully. But come +now, tell me this, resourceful son of Maia: has this marvellous +thing been with you from your birth, or did some god or mortal +man give it you -- a noble gift -- and teach you heavenly song? +For wonderful is this new-uttered sound I hear, the like of which +I vow that no man nor god dwelling on Olympus ever yet has known +but you, O thievish son of Maia. What skill is this? What song +for desperate cares? What way of song? For verily here are +three things to hand all at once from which to choose, -- mirth, +and love, and sweet sleep. And though I am a follower of the +Olympian Muses who love dances and the bright path of song -- the +full-toned chant and ravishing thrill of flutes -- yet I never +cared for any of those feats of skill at young men's revels, as I +do now for this: I am filled with wonder, O son of Zeus, at your +sweet playing. But now, since you, though little, have such +glorious skill, sit down, dear boy, and respect the words of your +elders. For now you shall have renown among the deathless gods, +you and your mother also. This I will declare to you exactly: by +this shaft of cornel wood I will surely make you a leader +renowned among the deathless gods, and fortunate, and will give +you glorious gifts and will not deceive you from first to last.' + +(ll. 463-495) Then Hermes answered him with artful words: `You +question me carefully, O Far-worker; yet I am not jealous that +you should enter upon my art: this day you shall know it. For I +seek to be friendly with you both in thought and word. Now you +well know all things in your heart, since you sit foremost among +the deathless gods, O son of Zeus, and are goodly and strong. +And wise Zeus loves you as all right is, and has given you +splendid gifts. And they say that from the utterance of Zeus you +have learned both the honours due to the gods, O Far-worker, and +oracles from Zeus, even all his ordinances. Of all these I +myself have already learned that you have great wealth. Now, you +are free to learn whatever you please; but since, as it seems, +your heart is so strongly set on playing the lyre, chant, and +play upon it, and give yourself to merriment, taking this as a +gift from me, and do you, my friend, bestow glory on me. Sing +well with this clear-voiced companion in your hands; for you are +skilled in good, well-ordered utterance. From now on bring it +confidently to the rich feast and lovely dance and glorious +revel, a joy by night and by day. Whoso with wit and wisdom +enquires of it cunningly, him it teaches through its sound all +manner of things that delight the mind, being easily played with +gentle familiarities, for it abhors toilsome drudgery; but whoso +in ignorance enquires of it violently, to him it chatters mere +vanity and foolishness. But you are able to learn whatever you +please. So then, I will give you this lyre, glorious son of +Zeus, while I for my part will graze down with wild-roving cattle +the pastures on hill and horse-feeding plain: so shall the cows +covered by the bulls calve abundantly both males and females. +And now there is no need for you, bargainer though you are, to be +furiously angry.' + +(ll. 496-502) When Hermes had said this, he held out the lyre: +and Phoebus Apollo took it, and readily put his shining whip in +Hermes' hand, and ordained him keeper of herds. The son of Maia +received it joyfully, while the glorious son of Leto, the lord +far-working Apollo, took the lyre upon his left arm and tried +each string with the key. Awesomely it sounded at the touch of +the god, while he sang sweetly to its note. + +(ll. 503-512) Afterwards they two, the all-glorious sons of Zeus +turned the cows back towards the sacred meadow, but themselves +hastened back to snowy Olympus, delighting in the lyre. Then +wise Zeus was glad and made them both friends. And Hermes loved +the son of Leto continually, even as he does now, when he had +given the lyre as token to the Far-shooter, who played it +skilfully, holding it upon his arm. But for himself Hermes found +out another cunning art and made himself the pipes whose sound is +heard afar. + +(ll. 513-520) Then the son of Leto said to Hermes: `Son of Maia, +guide and cunning one, I fear you may steal form me the lyre and +my curved bow together; for you have an office from Zeus, to +establish deeds of barter amongst men throughout the fruitful +earth. Now if you would only swear me the great oath of the +gods, either by nodding your head, or by the potent water of +Styx, you would do all that can please and ease my heart.' + +(ll. 521-549) Then Maia's son nodded his head and promised that +he would never steal anything of all the Far-shooter possessed, +and would never go near his strong house; but Apollo, son of +Leto, swore to be fellow and friend to Hermes, vowing that he +would love no other among the immortals, neither god nor man +sprung from Zeus, better than Hermes: and the Father sent forth +an eagle in confirmation. And Apollo sware also: `Verily I will +make you only to be an omen for the immortals and all alike, +trusted and honoured by my heart. Moreover, I will give you a +splendid staff of riches and wealth: it is of gold, with three +branches, and will keep you scatheless, accomplishing every task, +whether of words or deeds that are good, which I claim to know +through the utterance of Zeus. But as for sooth-saying, noble, +heaven-born child, of which you ask, it is not lawful for you to +learn it, nor for any other of the deathless gods: only the mind +of Zeus knows that. I am pledged and have vowed and sworn a +strong oath that no other of the eternal gods save I should know +the wise-hearted counsel of Zeus. And do not you, my brother, +bearer of the golden wand, bid me tell those decrees which all- +seeing Zeus intends. As for men, I will harm one and profit +another, sorely perplexing the tribes of unenviable men. +Whosoever shall come guided by the call and flight of birds of +sure omen, that man shall have advantage through my voice, and I +will not deceive him. But whoso shall trust to idly-chattering +birds and shall seek to invoke my prophetic art contrary to my +will, and to understand more than the eternal gods, I declare +that he shall come on an idle journey; yet his gifts I would +take. + +(ll. 550-568) `But I will tell you another thing, Son of all- +glorious Maia and Zeus who holds the aegis, luck-bringing genius +of the gods. There are certain holy ones, sisters born -- three +virgins (23) gifted with wings: their heads are besprinkled with +white meal, and they dwell under a ridge of Parnassus. These are +teachers of divination apart from me, the art which I practised +while yet a boy following herds, though my father paid no heed to +it. From their home they fly now here, now there, feeding on +honey-comb and bringing all things to pass. And when they are +inspired through eating yellow honey, they are willing to speak +truth; but if they be deprived of the gods' sweet food, then they +speak falsely, as they swarm in and out together. These, then, I +give you; enquire of them strictly and delight your heart: and if +you should teach any mortal so to do, often will he hear your +response -- if he have good fortune. Take these, Son of Maia, +and tend the wild roving, horned oxen and horses and patient +mules.' + +(ll. 568a-573) So he spake. And from heaven father Zeus himself +gave confirmation to his words, and commanded that glorious +Hermes should be lord over all birds of omen and grim-eyed lions, +and boars with gleaming tusks, and over dogs and all flocks that +the wide earth nourishes, and over all sheep; also that he only +should be the appointed messenger to Hades, who, though he takes +no gift, shall give him no mean prize. + +(ll. 574-578) Thus the lord Apollo showed his kindness for the +Son of Maia by all manner of friendship: and the Son of Cronos +gave him grace besides. He consorts with all mortals and +immortals: a little he profits, but continually throughout the +dark night he cozens the tribes of mortal men. + +(ll. 579-580) And so, farewell, Son of Zeus and Maia; but I will +remember you and another song also. + + +V. TO APHRODITE (293 lines) + +(ll. 1-6) Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the +Cyprian, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the +tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many +creatures that the dry land rears, and all the sea: all these +love the deeds of rich-crowned Cytherea. + +(ll. 7-32) Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor +yet ensnare. First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, +bright-eyed Athene; for she has no pleasure in the deeds of +golden Aphrodite, but delights in wars and in the work of Ares, +in strifes and battles and in preparing famous crafts. She first +taught earthly craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars +variously wrought with bronze, and she, too, teaches tender +maidens in the house and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each +one's mind. Nor does laughter-loving Aphrodite ever tame in love +Artemis, the huntress with shafts of gold; for she loves archery +and the slaying of wild beasts in the mountains, the lyre also +and dancing and thrilling cries and shady woods and the cities of +upright men. Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love +Aphrodite's works. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos +and youngest too (24), by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, -- a +queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. But +she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching +the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair +goddess, sware a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, +that she would be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave +her an high honour instead of marriage, and she has her place in +the midst of the house and has the richest portion. In all the +temples of the gods she has a share of honour, and among all +mortal men she is chief of the goddesses. + +(ll. 33-44) Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the +hearts. But of all others there is nothing among the blessed +gods or among mortal men that has escaped Aphrodite. Even the +heart of Zeus, who delights in thunder, is led astray by her; +though he is greatest of all and has the lot of highest majesty, +she beguiles even his wise heart whensoever she pleases, and +mates him with mortal women, unknown to Hera, his sister and his +wife, the grandest far in beauty among the deathless goddesses -- +most glorious is she whom wily Cronos with her mother Rhea did +beget: and Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, made her his chaste +and careful wife. + +(ll. 45-52) But upon Aphrodite herself Zeus cast sweet desire to +be joined in love with a mortal man, to the end that, very soon, +not even she should be innocent of a mortal's love; lest +laughter-loving Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say +mockingly among all the gods that she had joined the gods in love +with mortal women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods, +and had mated the goddesses with mortal men. + +(ll. 53-74) And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises +who was tending cattle at that time among the steep hills of +many-fountained Ida, and in shape was like the immortal gods. +Therefore, when laughter-loving Aphrodite saw him, she loved him, +and terribly desire seized her in her heart. She went to Cyprus, +to Paphos, where her precinct is and fragrant altar, and passed +into her sweet-smelling temple. There she went in and put to the +glittering doors, and there the Graces bathed her with heavenly +oil such as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods -- oil +divinely sweet, which she had by her, filled with fragrance. And +laughter-loving Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes, and when +she had decked herself with gold, she left sweet-smelling Cyprus +and went in haste towards Troy, swiftly travelling high up among +the clouds. So she came to many-fountained Ida, the mother of +wild creatures and went straight to the homestead across the +mountains. After her came grey wolves, fawning on her, and grim- +eyed lions, and bears, and fleet leopards, ravenous for deer: and +she was glad in heart to see them, and put desire in their +breasts, so that they all mated, two together, about the shadowy +coombes. + +(ll. 75-88) (25) But she herself came to the neat-built shelters, +and him she found left quite alone in the homestead -- the hero +Anchises who was comely as the gods. All the others were +following the herds over the grassy pastures, and he, left quite +alone in the homestead, was roaming hither and thither and +playing thrillingly upon the lyre. And Aphrodite, the daughter +of Zeus stood before him, being like a pure maiden in height and +mien, that he should not be frightened when he took heed of her +with his eyes. Now when Anchises saw her, he marked her well and +wondered at her mien and height and shining garments. For she +was clad in a robe out-shining the brightness of fire, a splendid +robe of gold, enriched with all manner of needlework, which +shimmered like the moon over her tender breasts, a marvel to see. + +Also she wore twisted brooches and shining earrings in the form +of flowers; and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces. + +(ll. 91-105) And Anchises was seized with love, and said to her: +`Hail, lady, whoever of the blessed ones you are that are come to +this house, whether Artemis, or Leto, or golden Aphrodite, or +high-born Themis, or bright-eyed Athene. Or, maybe, you are one +of the Graces come hither, who bear the gods company and are +called immortal, or else one of those who inhabit this lovely +mountain and the springs of rivers and grassy meads. I will make +you an altar upon a high peak in a far seen place, and will +sacrifice rich offerings to you at all seasons. And do you feel +kindly towards me and grant that I may become a man very eminent +among the Trojans, and give me strong offspring for the time to +come. As for my own self, let me live long and happily, seeing +the light of the sun, and come to the threshold of old age, a man +prosperous among the people.' + +(ll. 106-142) Thereupon Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered +him: `Anchises, most glorious of all men born on earth, know that +I am no goddess: why do you liken me to the deathless ones? Nay, +I am but a mortal, and a woman was the mother that bare me. +Otreus of famous name is my father, if so be you have heard of +him, and he reigns over all Phrygia rich in fortresses. But I +know your speech well beside my own, for a Trojan nurse brought +me up at home: she took me from my dear mother and reared me +thenceforth when I was a little child. So comes it, then, that I +well know your tongue also. And now the Slayer of Argus with the +golden wand has caught me up from the dance of huntress Artemis, +her with the golden arrows. For there were many of us, nymphs +and marriageable (26) maidens, playing together; and an +innumerable company encircled us: from these the Slayer of Argus +with the golden wand rapt me away. He carried me over many +fields of mortal men and over much land untilled and unpossessed, +where savage wild-beasts roam through shady coombes, until I +thought never again to touch the life-giving earth with my feet. +And he said that I should be called the wedded wife of Anchises, +and should bear you goodly children. But when he had told and +advised me, he, the strong Slayer of Argos, went back to the +families of the deathless gods, while I am now come to you: for +unbending necessity is upon me. But I beseech you by Zeus and by +your noble parents -- for no base folk could get such a son as +you -- take me now, stainless and unproved in love, and show me +to your father and careful mother and to your brothers sprung +from the same stock. I shall be no ill-liking daughter for them, +but a likely. Moreover, send a messenger quickly to the swift- +horsed Phrygians, to tell my father and my sorrowing mother; and +they will send you gold in plenty and woven stuffs, many splendid +gifts; take these as bride-piece. So do, and then prepare the +sweet marriage that is honourable in the eyes of men and +deathless gods.' + +(ll. 143-144) When she had so spoken, the goddess put sweet +desire in his heart. And Anchises was seized with love, so that +he opened his mouth and said: + +(ll. 145-154) `If you are a mortal and a woman was the mother who +bare you, and Otreus of famous name is your father as you say, +and if you are come here by the will of Hermes the immortal +Guide, and are to be called my wife always, then neither god nor +mortal man shall here restrain me till I have lain with you in +love right now; no, not even if far-shooting Apollo himself +should launch grievous shafts from his silver bow. Willingly +would I go down into the house of Hades, O lady, beautiful as the +goddesses, once I had gone up to your bed.' + +(ll. 155-167) So speaking, he caught her by the hand. And +laughter-loving Aphrodite, with face turned away and lovely eyes +downcast, crept to the well-spread couch which was already laid +with soft coverings for the hero; and upon it lay skins of bears +and deep-roaring lions which he himself had slain in the high +mountains. And when they had gone up upon the well-fitted bed, +first Anchises took off her bright jewelry of pins and twisted +brooches and earrings and necklaces, and loosed her girdle and +stripped off her bright garments and laid them down upon a +silver-studded seat. Then by the will of the gods and destiny he +lay with her, a mortal man with an immortal goddess, not clearly +knowing what he did. + +(ll. 168-176) But at the time when the herdsmen drive their oxen +and hardy sheep back to the fold from the flowery pastures, even +then Aphrodite poured soft sleep upon Anchises, but herself put +on her rich raiment. And when the bright goddess had fully +clothed herself, she stood by the couch, and her head reached to +the well-hewn roof-tree; from her cheeks shone unearthly beauty +such as belongs to rich-crowned Cytherea. Then she aroused him +from sleep and opened her mouth and said: + +(ll. 177-179) `Up, son of Dardanus! -- why sleep you so heavily? +-- and consider whether I look as I did when first you saw me +with your eyes.' + +(ll. 180-184) So she spake. And he awoke in a moment and obeyed +her. But when he saw the neck and lovely eyes of Aphrodite, he +was afraid and turned his eyes aside another way, hiding his +comely face with his cloak. Then he uttered winged words and +entreated her: + +(ll. 185-190) `So soon as ever I saw you with my eyes, goddess, I +knew that you were divine; but you did not tell me truly. Yet by +Zeus who holds the aegis I beseech you, leave me not to lead a +palsied life among men, but have pity on me; for he who lies with +a deathless goddess is no hale man afterwards.' + +(ll. 191-201) Then Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him: +`Anchises, most glorious of mortal men, take courage and be not +too fearful in your heart. You need fear no harm from me nor +from the other blessed ones, for you are dear to the gods: and +you shall have a dear son who shall reign among the Trojans, and +children's children after him, springing up continually. His +name shall be Aeneas (27), because I felt awful grief in that I +laid me in the bed of mortal man: yet are those of your race +always the most like to gods of all mortal men in beauty and in +stature (28). + +(ll. 202-217) `Verily wise Zeus carried off golden-haired +Ganymedes because of his beauty, to be amongst the Deathless Ones +and pour drink for the gods in the house of Zeus -- a wonder to +see -- honoured by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar +from the golden bowl. But grief that could not be soothed filled +the heart of Tros; for he knew not whither the heaven-sent +whirlwind had caught up his dear son, so that he mourned him +always, unceasingly, until Zeus pitied him and gave him high- +stepping horses such as carry the immortals as recompense for his +son. These he gave him as a gift. And at the command of Zeus, +the Guide, the slayer of Argus, told him all, and how his son +would be deathless and unageing, even as the gods. So when Tros +heard these tidings from Zeus, he no longer kept mourning but +rejoiced in his heart and rode joyfully with his storm-footed +horses. + +(ll. 218-238) `So also golden-throned Eos rapt away Tithonus who +was of your race and like the deathless gods. And she went to +ask the dark-clouded Son of Cronos that he should be deathless +and live eternally; and Zeus bowed his head to her prayer and +fulfilled her desire. Too simply was queenly Eos: she thought +not in her heart to ask youth for him and to strip him of the +slough of deadly age. So while he enjoyed the sweet flower of +life he lived rapturously with golden-throned Eos, the early- +born, by the streams of Ocean, at the ends of the earth; but when +the first grey hairs began to ripple from his comely head and +noble chin, queenly Eos kept away from his bed, though she +cherished him in her house and nourished him with food and +ambrosia and gave him rich clothing. But when loathsome old age +pressed full upon him, and he could not move nor lift his limbs, +this seemed to her in her heart the best counsel: she laid him in +a room and put to the shining doors. There he babbles endlessly, +and no more has strength at all, such as once he had in his +supple limbs. + +(ll. 239-246) `I would not have you be deathless among the +deathless gods and live continually after such sort. Yet if you +could live on such as now you are in look and in form, and be +called my husband, sorrow would not then enfold my careful heart. +But, as it is, harsh (29) old age will soon enshroud you -- +ruthless age which stands someday at the side of every man, +deadly, wearying, dreaded even by the gods. + +(ll. 247-290) `And now because of you I shall have great shame +among the deathless gods henceforth, continually. For until now +they feared my jibes and the wiles by which, or soon or late, I +mated all the immortals with mortal women, making them all +subject to my will. But now my mouth shall no more have this +power among the gods; for very great has been my madness, my +miserable and dreadful madness, and I went astray out of my mind +who have gotten a child beneath my girdle, mating with a mortal +man. As for the child, as soon as he sees the light of the sun, +the deep-breasted mountain Nymphs who inhabit this great and holy +mountain shall bring him up. They rank neither with mortals nor +with immortals: long indeed do they live, eating heavenly food +and treading the lovely dance among the immortals, and with them +the Sileni and the sharp-eyed Slayer of Argus mate in the depths +of pleasant caves; but at their birth pines or high-topped oaks +spring up with them upon the fruitful earth, beautiful, +flourishing trees, towering high upon the lofty mountains (and +men call them holy places of the immortals, and never mortal lops +them with the axe); but when the fate of death is near at hand, +first those lovely trees wither where they stand, and the bark +shrivels away about them, and the twigs fall down, and at last +the life of the Nymph and of the tree leave the light of the sun +together. These Nymphs shall keep my son with them and rear him, +and as soon as he is come to lovely boyhood, the goddesses will +bring him here to you and show you your child. But, that I may +tell you all that I have in mind, I will come here again towards +the fifth year and bring you my son. So soon as ever you have +seen him -- a scion to delight the eyes -- you will rejoice in +beholding him; for he shall be most godlike: then bring him at +once to windy Ilion. And if any mortal man ask you who got your +dear son beneath her girdle, remember to tell him as I bid you: +say he is the offspring of one of the flower-like Nymphs who +inhabit this forest-clad hill. But if you tell all and foolishly +boast that you lay with rich-crowned Aphrodite, Zeus will smite +you in his anger with a smoking thunderbolt. Now I have told you +all. Take heed: refrain and name me not, but have regard to the +anger of the gods.' + +(l. 291) When the goddess had so spoken, she soared up to windy +heaven. + +(ll. 292-293) Hail, goddess, queen of well-builded Cyprus! With +you have I begun; now I will turn me to another hymn. + + +VI. TO APHRODITE (21 lines) + +(ll. 1-18) I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and +beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set +Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her +over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there +the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her +with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought +crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of +orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces +over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold- +filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father's +house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had +fully decked her, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her +when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them +prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so +greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned +Cytherea. + +(ll. 19-21) Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess! Grant that +I may gain the victory in this contest, and order you my song. +And now I will remember you and another song also. + + +VII. TO DIONYSUS (59 lines) + +(ll. 1-16) I will tell of Dionysus, the son of glorious Semele, +how he appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the +fruitless sea, seeming like a stripling in the first flush of +manhood: his rich, dark hair was waving about him, and on his +strong shoulders he wore a purple robe. Presently there came +swiftly over the sparkling sea Tyrsenian (30) pirates on a well- +decked ship -- a miserable doom led them on. When they saw him +they made signs to one another and sprang out quickly, and +seizing him straightway, put him on board their ship exultingly; +for they thought him the son of heaven-nurtured kings. They +sought to bind him with rude bonds, but the bonds would not hold +him, and the withes fell far away from his hands and feet: and he +sat with a smile in his dark eyes. Then the helmsman understood +all and cried out at once to his fellows and said: + +(ll. 17-24) `Madmen! What god is this whom you have taken and +bind, strong that he is? Not even the well-built ship can carry +him. Surely this is either Zeus or Apollo who has the silver +bow, or Poseidon, for he looks not like mortal men but like the +gods who dwell on Olympus. Come, then, let us set him free upon +the dark shore at once: do not lay hands on him, lest he grow +angry and stir up dangerous winds and heavy squalls.' + +(ll. 25-31) So said he: but the master chid him with taunting +words: `Madman, mark the wind and help hoist sail on the ship: +catch all the sheets. As for this fellow we men will see to him: +I reckon he is bound for Egypt or for Cyprus or to the +Hyperboreans or further still. But in the end he will speak out +and tell us his friends and all his wealth and his brothers, now +that providence has thrown him in our way.' + +(ll. 32-54) When he had said this, he had mast and sail hoisted +on the ship, and the wind filled the sail and the crew hauled +taut the sheets on either side. But soon strange things were +seen among them. First of all sweet, fragrant wine ran streaming +throughout all the black ship and a heavenly smell arose, so that +all the seamen were seized with amazement when they saw it. And +all at once a vine spread out both ways along the top of the sail +with many clusters hanging down from it, and a dark ivy-plant +twined about the mast, blossoming with flowers, and with rich +berries growing on it; and all the thole-pins were covered with +garlands. When the pirates saw all this, then at last they bade +the helmsman to put the ship to land. But the god changed into a +dreadful lion there on the ship, in the bows, and roared loudly: +amidships also he showed his wonders and created a shaggy bear +which stood up ravening, while on the forepeak was the lion +glaring fiercely with scowling brows. And so the sailors fled +into the stern and crowded bemused about the right-minded +helmsman, until suddenly the lion sprang upon the master and +seized him; and when the sailors saw it they leapt out overboard +one and all into the bright sea, escaping from a miserable fate, +and were changed into dolphins. But on the helmsman Dionysus had +mercy and held him back and made him altogether happy, saying to +him: + +(ll. 55-57) `Take courage, good...; you have found favour with my +heart. I am loud-crying Dionysus whom Cadmus' daughter Semele +bare of union with Zeus.' + +(ll. 58-59) Hail, child of fair-faced Semele! He who forgets you +can in no wise order sweet song. + + +VIII. TO ARES (17 lines) + +(ll. 1-17) Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden- +helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, +harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the +spear, O defence of Olympus, father of warlike Victory, ally of +Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous +men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere +among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aether +wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third +firmament of heaven; hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless +youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and +strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter +cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of +my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes +me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed +one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of +peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of +death. + + +IX. TO ARTEMIS (9 lines) + +(ll. 1-6) Muse, sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the +virgin who delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollo. She +waters her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives +her all-golden chariot through Smyrna to vine-clad Claros where +Apollo, god of the silver bow, sits waiting for the far-shooting +goddess who delights in arrows. + +(ll. 7-9) And so hail to you, Artemis, in my song and to all +goddesses as well. Of you first I sing and with you I begin; now +that I have begun with you, I will turn to another song. + + +X. TO APHRODITE (6 lines) + +(ll. 1-3) Of Cytherea, born in Cyprus, I will sing. She gives +kindly gifts to men: smiles are ever on her lovely face, and +lovely is the brightness that plays over it. + +(ll. 4-6) Hail, goddess, queen of well-built Salamis and sea-girt +Cyprus; grant me a cheerful song. And now I will remember you +and another song also. + + +XI. TO ATHENA (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-4) Of Pallas Athene, guardian of the city, I begin to +sing. Dread is she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the +sack of cities and the shouting and the battle. It is she who +saves the people as they go out to war and come back. + +(l. 5) Hail, goddess, and give us good fortune with happiness! + + +XII. TO HERA (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-5) I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of +the immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister +and the wife of loud-thundering Zeus, -- the glorious one whom +all the blessed throughout high Olympus reverence and honour even +as Zeus who delights in thunder. + + +XIII. TO DEMETER (3 lines) + +(ll. 1-2) I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess, +of her and of her daughter lovely Persephone. + +(l. 3) Hail, goddess! Keep this city safe, and govern my song. + + +XIV. TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS (6 lines) + +(ll. 1-5) I prithee, clear-voiced Muse, daughter of mighty Zeus, +sing of the mother of all gods and men. She is well-pleased with +the sound of rattles and of timbrels, with the voice of flutes +and the outcry of wolves and bright-eyed lions, with echoing +hills and wooded coombes. + +(l. 6) And so hail to you in my song and to all goddesses as +well! + + +XV. TO HERACLES THE LION-HEARTED (9 lines) + +(ll. 1-8) I will sing of Heracles, the son of Zeus and much the +mightiest of men on earth. Alcmena bare him in Thebes, the city +of lovely dances, when the dark-clouded Son of Cronos had lain +with her. Once he used to wander over unmeasured tracts of land +and sea at the bidding of King Eurystheus, and himself did many +deeds of violence and endured many; but now he lives happily in +the glorious home of snowy Olympus, and has neat-ankled Hebe for +his wife. + +(l. 9) Hail, lord, son of Zeus! Give me success and prosperity. + + +XVI. TO ASCLEPIUS (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-4) I begin to sing of Asclepius, son of Apollo and healer +of sicknesses. In the Dotian plain fair Coronis, daughter of +King Phlegyas, bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel +pangs. + +(l. 5) And so hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to +thee! + + +XVII. TO THE DIOSCURI (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-4) Sing, clear-voiced Muse, of Castor and Polydeuces, the +Tyndaridae, who sprang from Olympian Zeus. Beneath the heights +of Taygetus stately Leda bare them, when the dark-clouded Son of +Cronos had privily bent her to his will. + +(l. 5) Hail, children of Tyndareus, riders upon swift horses! + + +XVIII. TO HERMES (12 lines) + +(ll. 1-9) I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord +of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of +the deathless gods. He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, +when she had made with Zeus, -- a shy goddess she. Ever she +avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a shadowy +cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with the rich- +tressed nymph at dead of night, while white-armed Hera lay bound +in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it. + +(ll. 10-11) And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I +have begun: now I will turn to another song! + +(l. 12) Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good +things! (31) + + +XIX. TO PAN (49 lines) + +(ll. 1-26) Muse, tell me about Pan, the dear son of Hermes, with +his goat's feet and two horns -- a lover of merry noise. Through +wooded glades he wanders with dancing nymphs who foot it on some +sheer cliff's edge, calling upon Pan, the shepherd-god, long- +haired, unkempt. He has every snowy crest and the mountain peaks +and rocky crests for his domain; hither and thither he goes +through the close thickets, now lured by soft streams, and now he +presses on amongst towering crags and climbs up to the highest +peak that overlooks the flocks. Often he courses through the +glistening high mountains, and often on the shouldered hills he +speeds along slaying wild beasts, this keen-eyed god. Only at +evening, as he returns from the chase, he sounds his note, +playing sweet and low on his pipes of reed: not even she could +excel him in melody -- that bird who in flower-laden spring +pouring forth her lament utters honey-voiced song amid the +leaves. At that hour the clear-voiced nymphs are with him and +move with nimble feet, singing by some spring of dark water, +while Echo wails about the mountain-top, and the god on this side +or on that of the choirs, or at times sidling into the midst, +plies it nimbly with his feet. On his back he wears a spotted +lynx-pelt, and he delights in high-pitched songs in a soft meadow +where crocuses and sweet-smelling hyacinths bloom at random in +the grass. + +(ll. 27-47) They sing of the blessed gods and high Olympus and +choose to tell of such an one as luck-bringing Hermes above the +rest, how he is the swift messenger of all the gods, and how he +came to Arcadia, the land of many springs and mother of flocks, +there where his sacred place is as god of Cyllene. For there, +though a god, he used to tend curly-fleeced sheep in the service +of a mortal man, because there fell on him and waxed strong +melting desire to wed the rich-tressed daughter of Dryops, and +there he brought about the merry marriage. And in the house she +bare Hermes a dear son who from his birth was marvellous to look +upon, with goat's feet and two horns -- a noisy, merry-laughing +child. But when the nurse saw his uncouth face and full beard, +she was afraid and sprang up and fled and left the child. Then +luck-bringing Hermes received him and took him in his arms: very +glad in his heart was the god. And he went quickly to the abodes +of the deathless gods, carrying the son wrapped in warm skins of +mountain hares, and set him down beside Zeus and showed him to +the rest of the gods. Then all the immortals were glad in heart +and Bacchie Dionysus in especial; and they called the boy Pan +(32) because he delighted all their hearts. + +(ll. 48-49) And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with a +song. And now I will remember you and another song also. + + +XX. TO HEPHAESTUS (8 lines) + +(ll. 1-7) Sing, clear-voiced Muses, of Hephaestus famed for +inventions. With bright-eyed Athene he taught men glorious gifts +throughout the world, -- men who before used to dwell in caves in +the mountains like wild beasts. But now that they have learned +crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a +peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round. + +(l. 8) Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and +prosperity! + + +XXI. TO APOLLO (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-4) Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to +the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the +eddying river Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, +holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. + +(l. 5) And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with my +song. + + +XXII. TO POSEIDON (7 lines) + +(ll. 1-5) I begin to sing about Poseidon, the great god, mover of +the earth and fruitless sea, god of the deep who is also lord of +Helicon and wide Aegae. A two-fold office the gods allotted you, +O Shaker of the Earth, to be a tamer of horses and a saviour of +ships! + +(ll. 6-7) Hail, Poseidon, Holder of the Earth, dark-haired lord! +O blessed one, be kindly in heart and help those who voyage in +ships! + + +XXIII. TO THE SON OF CRONOS, MOST HIGH (4 lines) + +(ll. 1-3) I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and +greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers +words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. + +(l. 4) Be gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and +great! + + +XXIV. TO HESTIA (5 lines) + +(ll. 1-5) Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, +the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from +your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with +Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my +song. + + +XXV. TO THE MUSES AND APOLLO (7 lines) + +(ll. 1-5) I will begin with the Muses and Apollo and Zeus. For +it is through the Muses and Apollo that there are singers upon +the earth and players upon the lyre; but kings are from Zeus. +Happy is he whom the Muses love: sweet flows speech from his +lips. + +(ll. 6-7) Hail, children of Zeus! Give honour to my song! And +now I will remember you and another song also. + + +XXVI. TO DIONYSUS (13 lines) + +(ll. 1-9) I begin to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud- +crying god, splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich- +haired Nymphs received him in their bosoms from the lord his +father and fostered and nurtured him carefully in the dells of +Nysa, where by the will of his father he grew up in a sweet- +smelling cave, being reckoned among the immortals. But when the +goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to +wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed +with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train with +him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with +their outcry. + +(ll. 10-13) And so hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant +clusters! Grant that we may come again rejoicing to this season, +and from that season onwards for many a year. + + +XXVII. TO ARTEMIS (22 lines) + +(ll. 1-20) I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who +cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who +delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. +Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, +rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops +of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes +awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earthquakes and the sea also +where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns +every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is +satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights +in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of +her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, +there to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There +she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads +the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their +heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children +supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed. + +(ll. 21-22) Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! +And now I will remember you and another song also. + + +XXVIII. TO ATHENA (18 lines) + +(ll. 1-16) I begin to sing of Pallas Athene, the glorious +goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, +saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. From his awful head +wise Zeus himself bare her arrayed in warlike arms of flashing +gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena +sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who +holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great Olympus began to +reel horribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth +round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed +with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son +of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until +the maiden Pallas Athene had stripped the heavenly armour from +her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad. + +(ll. 17-18) And so hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the +aegis! Now I will remember you and another song as well. + + +XXIX. TO HESTIA (13 lines) + +(ll. 1-6) Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless +gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting +abode and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your +right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, -- where one +does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first +and last. + +(ll. 7-10) (33) And you, slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, +messenger of the blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod, giver of +good, be favourable and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful +and dear. Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship +together; for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid +on their wisdom and their strength. + +(ll. 12-13) Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, +bearer of the golden rod! Now I will remember you and another +song also. + + +XXX. TO EARTH THE MOTHER OF ALL (19 lines) + +(ll. 1-16) I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, +eldest of all beings. She feeds all creatures that are in the +world, all that go upon the goodly land, and all that are in the +paths of the seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her +store. Through you, O queen, men are blessed in their children +and blessed in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give +means of life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the +man whom you delight to honour! He has all things abundantly: +his fruitful land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered +with cattle, and his house is filled with good things. Such men +rule orderly in their cities of fair women: great riches and +wealth follow them: their sons exult with ever-fresh delight, and +their daughters in flower-laden bands play and skip merrily over +the soft flowers of the field. Thus is it with those whom you +honour O holy goddess, bountiful spirit. + +(ll. 17-19) Hail, Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven; +freely bestow upon me for this my song substance that cheers the +heart! And now I will remember you and another song also. + + +XXXI. TO HELIOS (20 lines) + +(ll. 1-16) (34) And now, O Muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin +to sing of glowing Helios whom mild-eyed Euryphaessa, the far- +shining one, bare to the Son of Earth and starry Heaven. For +Hyperion wedded glorious Euryphaessa, his own sister, who bare +him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and +tireless Helios who is like the deathless gods. As he rides in +his chariot, he shines upon men and deathless gods, and +piercingly he gazes with his eyes from his golden helmet. Bright +rays beam dazzlingly from him, and his bright locks streaming +from the temples of his head gracefully enclose his far-seen +face: a rich, fine-spun garment glows upon his body and flutters +in the wind: and stallions carry him. Then, when he has stayed +his golden-yoked chariot and horses, he rests there upon the +highest point of heaven, until he marvellously drives them down +again through heaven to Ocean. + +(ll. 17-19) Hail to you, lord! Freely bestow on me substance +that cheers the heart. And now that I have begun with you, I +will celebrate the race of mortal men half-divine whose deeds the +Muses have showed to mankind. + + +XXXII. TO SELENE (20 lines) + +(ll. 1-13) And next, sweet voiced Muses, daughters of Zeus, well- +skilled in song, tell of the long-winged (35) Moon. From her +immortal head a radiance is shown from heaven and embraces earth; +and great is the beauty that ariseth from her shining light. The +air, unlit before, glows with the light of her golden crown, and +her rays beam clear, whensoever bright Selene having bathed her +lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming, +shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at +eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then +her beams shine brightest as she increases. So she is a sure +token and a sign to mortal men. + +(ll. 14-16) Once the Son of Cronos was joined with her in love; +and she conceived and bare a daughter Pandia, exceeding lovely +amongst the deathless gods. + +(ll. 17-20) Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, +bright-tressed queen! And now I will leave you and sing the +glories of men half-divine, whose deeds minstrels, the servants +of the Muses, celebrate with lovely lips. + + +XXXIII. TO THE DIOSCURI (19 lines) + +(ll. 1-17) Bright-eyed Muses, tell of the Tyndaridae, the Sons of +Zeus, glorious children of neat-ankled Leda, Castor the tamer of +horses, and blameless Polydeuces. When Leda had lain with the +dark-clouded Son of Cronos, she bare them beneath the peak of the +great hill Taygetus, -- children who are delivers of men on earth +and of swift-going ships when stormy gales rage over the ruthless +sea. Then the shipmen call upon the sons of great Zeus with vows +of white lambs, going to the forepart of the prow; but the strong +wind and the waves of the sea lay the ship under water, until +suddenly these two are seen darting through the air on tawny +wings. Forthwith they allay the blasts of the cruel winds and +still the waves upon the surface of the white sea: fair signs are +they and deliverance from toil. And when the shipmen see them +they are glad and have rest from their pain and labour. + +(ll. 18-19) Hail, Tyndaridae, riders upon swift horses! Now I +will remember you and another song also. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) ll. 1-9 are preserved by Diodorus Siculus iii. 66. 3; ll. + 10-21 are extant only in M. +(2) Dionysus, after his untimely birth from Semele, was sewn + into the thigh of Zeus. +(3) sc. Semele. Zeus is here speaking. +(4) The reference is apparently to something in the body of the + hymn, now lost. +(5) The Greeks feared to name Pluto directly and mentioned him + by one of many descriptive titles, such as `Host of Many': + compare the Christian use of O DIABOLOS or our `Evil One'. +(6) Demeter chooses the lowlier seat, supposedly as being more + suitable to her assumed condition, but really because in her + sorrow she refuses all comforts. +(7) An act of communion -- the drinking of the potion here + described -- was one of the most important pieces of ritual + in the Eleusinian mysteries, as commemorating the sorrows of + the goddess. +(8) Undercutter and Woodcutter are probably popular names (after + the style of Hesiod's `Boneless One') for the worm thought + to be the cause of teething and toothache. +(9) The list of names is taken -- with five additions -- from + Hesiod, "Theogony" 349 ff.: for their general significance + see note on that passage. +(10) Inscriptions show that there was a temple of Apollo + Delphinius (cp. ii. 495-6) at Cnossus and a Cretan month + bearing the same name. +(11) sc. that the dolphin was really Apollo. +(12) The epithets are transferred from the god to his altar + `Overlooking' is especially an epithet of Zeus, as in + Apollonius Rhodius ii. 1124. +(13) Pliny notices the efficacy of the flesh of a tortoise + against withcraft. In "Geoponica" i. 14. 8 the living + tortoise is prescribed as a charm to preserve vineyards from + hail. +(14) Hermes makes the cattle walk backwards way, so that they + seem to be going towards the meadow instead of leaving it + (cp. l. 345); he himself walks in the normal manner, relying + on his sandals as a disguise. +(15) Such seems to be the meaning indicated by the context, + though the verb is taken by Allen and Sikes to mean, `to be + like oneself', and so `to be original'. +(16) Kuhn points out that there is a lacuna here. In l. 109 the + borer is described, but the friction of this upon the + fireblock (to which the phrase `held firmly' clearly + belongs) must also have been mentioned. +(17) The cows being on their sides on the ground, Hermes bends + their heads back towards their flanks and so can reach their + backbones. +(18) O. Muller thinks the `hides' were a stalactite formation in + the `Cave of Nestor' near Messenian Pylos, -- though the + cave of Hermes is near the Alpheus (l. 139). Others suggest + that actual skins were shown as relics before some cave near + Triphylian Pylos. +(19) Gemoll explains that Hermes, having offered all the meat as + sacrifice to the Twelve Gods, remembers that he himself as + one of them must be content with the savour instead of the + substance of the sacrifice. Can it be that by eating he + would have forfeited the position he claimed as one of the + Twelve Gods? +(20) Lit. `thorn-plucker'. +(21) Hermes is ambitious (l. 175), but if he is cast into Hades + he will have to be content with the leadership of mere + babies like himself, since those in Hades retain the state + of growth -- whether childhood or manhood -- in which they + are at the moment of leaving the upper world. +(22) Literally, `you have made him sit on the floor', i.e. `you + have stolen everything down to his last chair.' +(23) The Thriae, who practised divination by means of pebbles + (also called THRIAE). In this hymn they are represented as + aged maidens (ll. 553-4), but are closely associated with + bees (ll. 559-563) and possibly are here conceived as having + human heads and breasts with the bodies and wings of bees. + See the edition of Allen and Sikes, Appendix III. +(24) Cronos swallowed each of his children the moment that they + were born, but ultimately was forced to disgorge them. + Hestia, being the first to be swallowed, was the last to be + disgorged, and so was at once the first and latest born of + the children of Cronos. Cp. Hesiod "Theogony", ll. 495-7. +(25) Mr. Evelyn-White prefers a different order for lines #87-90 + than that preserved in the MSS. This translation is based + upon the following sequence: ll. 89,90,87,88. -- DBK. +(26) `Cattle-earning', because an accepted suitor paid for his + bride in cattle. +(27) The name Aeneas is here connected with the epithet AIEOS + (awful): similarly the name Odysseus is derived (in + "Odyssey" i.62) from ODYSSMAI (I grieve). +(28) Aphrodite extenuates her disgrace by claiming that the race + of Anchises is almost divine, as is shown in the persons of + Ganymedes and Tithonus. +(29) So Christ connecting the word with OMOS. L. and S. give = + OMOIOS, `common to all'. +(30) Probably not Etruscans, but the non-Hellenic peoples of + Thrace and (according to Thucydides) of Lemnos and Athens. + Cp. Herodotus i. 57; Thucydides iv. 109. +(31) This line appears to be an alternative to ll. 10-11. +(32) The name Pan is here derived from PANTES, `all'. Cp. + Hesiod, "Works and Days" ll. 80-82, "Hymn to Aphrodite" (v) + l. 198. for the significance of personal names. +(33) Mr. Evelyn-White prefers to switch l. 10 and 11, reading 11 + first then 10. -- DBK. +(34) An extra line is inserted in some MSS. after l. 15. -- DBK. +(35) The epithet is a usual one for birds, cp. Hesiod, "Works and + Days", l. 210; as applied to Selene it may merely indicate + her passage, like a bird, through the air, or mean `far + flying'. + + + +HOMER'S EPIGRAMS (1) + + +I. (5 lines) +(ll. 1-5) Have reverence for him who needs a home and stranger's +dole, all ye who dwell in the high city of Cyme, the lovely +maiden, hard by the foothills of lofty Sardene, ye who drink the +heavenly water of the divine stream, eddying Hermus, whom +deathless Zeus begot. + + +II. (2 lines) +(ll. 1-2) Speedily may my feet bear me to some town of righteous +men; for their hearts are generous and their wit is best. + + +III. (6 lines) +(ll. 1-6) I am a maiden of bronze and am set upon the tomb of +Midas. While the waters flow and tall trees flourish, and the +sun rises and shines and the bright moon also; while rivers run +and the sea breaks on the shore, ever remaining on this mournful +tomb, I tell the passer-by that Midas here lies buried. + + +IV. (17 lines) +(ll. 1-17) To what a fate did Zeus the Father give me a prey even +while he made me to grow, a babe at my mother's knee! By the +will of Zeus who holds the aegis the people of Phricon, riders on +wanton horses, more active than raging fire in the test of war, +once built the towers of Aeolian Smyrna, wave-shaken neighbour to +the sea, through which glides the pleasant stream of sacred +Meles; thence (2) arose the daughters of Zeus, glorious children, +and would fain have made famous that fair country and the city of +its people. But in their folly those men scorned the divine +voice and renown of song, and in trouble shall one of them +remember this hereafter -- he who with scornful words to them (3) +contrived my fate. Yet I will endure the lot which heaven gave +me even at my birth, bearing my disappointment with a patient +heart. My dear limbs yearn not to stay in the sacred streets of +Cyme, but rather my great heart urges me to go unto another +country, small though I am. + + +V. (2 lines) +(ll. 1-2) Thestorides, full many things there are that mortals +cannot sound; but there is nothing more unfathomable than the +heart of man. + + +VI. (8 lines) +(ll. 1-8) Hear me, Poseidon, strong shaker of the earth, ruler of +wide-spread, tawny Helicon! Give a fair wind and sight of safe +return to the shipmen who speed and govern this ship. And grant +that when I come to the nether slopes of towering Mimas I may +find honourable, god-fearing men. Also may I avenge me on the +wretch who deceived me and grieved Zeus the lord of guests and +his own guest-table. + + +VII. (3 lines) +(ll. 1-3) Queen Earth, all bounteous giver of honey-hearted +wealth, how kindly, it seems, you are to some, and how +intractable and rough for those with whom you are angry. + + +VIII. (4 lines) +(ll. 1-4) Sailors, who rove the seas and whom a hateful fate has +made as the shy sea-fowl, living an unenviable life, observe the +reverence due to Zeus who rules on high, the god of strangers; +for terrible is the vengeance of this god afterwards for +whosoever has sinned. + + +IX. (2 lines) +(ll. 1-2) Strangers, a contrary wind has caught you: but even now +take me aboard and you shall make your voyage. + + +X. (4 lines) +(ll. 1-4) Another sort of pine shall bear a better fruit (4) than +you upon the heights of furrowed, windy Ida. For there shall +mortal men get the iron that Ares loves so soon as the Cebrenians +shall hold the land. + + +XI. (4 lines) +(ll. 1-4) Glaucus, watchman of flocks, a word will I put in your +heart. First give the dogs their dinner at the courtyard gate, +for this is well. The dog first hears a man approaching and the +wild-beast coming to the fence. + + +XII. (4 lines) +(ll. 1-4) Goddess-nurse of the young (5), give ear to my prayer, +and grant that this woman may reject the love-embraces of youth +and dote on grey-haired old men whose powers are dulled, but +whose hearts still desire. + + +XIII. (6 lines) +(ll. 1-6) Children are a man's crown, towers of a city; horses +are the glory of a plain, and so are ships of the sea; wealth +will make a house great, and reverend princes seated in assembly +are a goodly sight for the folk to see. But a blazing fire makes +a house look more comely upon a winter's day, when the Son of +Cronos sends down snow. + + +XIV. (23 lines) +(ll. 1-23) Potters, if you will give me a reward, I will sing for +you. Come, then, Athena, with hand upraised (6) over the kiln. +Let the pots and all the dishes turn out well and be well fired: +let them fetch good prices and be sold in plenty in the market, +and plenty in the streets. Grant that the potters may get great +gain and grant me so to sing to them. But if you turn shameless +and make false promises, then I call together the destroyers of +kilns, Shatter and Smash and Charr and Crash and Crudebake who +can work this craft much mischief. Come all of you and sack the +kiln-yard and the buildings: let the whole kiln be shaken up to +the potter's loud lament. As a horse's jaw grinds, so let the +kiln grind to powder all the pots inside. And you, too, daughter +of the Sun, Circe the witch, come and cast cruel spells; hurt +both these men and their handiwork. Let Chiron also come and +bring many Centaurs -- all that escaped the hands of Heracles and +all that were destroyed: let them make sad havoc of the pots and +overthrow the kiln, and let the potters see the mischief and be +grieved; but I will gloat as I behold their luckless craft. And +if anyone of them stoops to peer in, let all his face be burned +up, that all men may learn to deal honestly. + + +XV. (13 lines) (7) +(ll. 1-7) Let us betake us to the house of some man of great +power, -- one who bears great power and is greatly prosperous +always. Open of yourselves, you doors, for mighty Wealth will +enter in, and with Wealth comes jolly Mirth and gentle Peace. +May all the corn-bins be full and the mass of dough always +overflow the kneading-trough. Now (set before us) cheerful +barley-pottage, full of sesame.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 8-10) Your son's wife, driving to this house with strong- +hoofed mules, shall dismount from her carriage to greet you; may +she be shod with golden shoes as she stands weaving at the loom. + +(ll. 11-13) I come, and I come yearly, like the swallow that +perches light-footed in the fore-part of your house. But quickly +bring.... + + +XVI. (2 lines) +(ll. 1-2) If you will give us anything (well). But if not, we +will not wait, for we are not come here to dwell with you. + + +XVII. +HOMER: Hunters of deep sea prey, have we caught anything? + +FISHERMAN: All that we caught we left behind, and all that we did +not catch we carry home. (8) + +HOMER: Ay, for of such fathers you are sprung as neither hold +rich lands nor tend countless sheep. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) "The Epigrams" are preserved in the pseudo-Herodotean "Life + of Homer". Nos. III, XIII, and XVII are also found in the + "Contest of Homer and Hesiod", and No. I is also extant at + the end of some MSS. of the "Homeric Hymns". +(2) sc. from Smyrna, Homer's reputed birth-place. +(3) The councillors at Cyme who refused to support Homer at the + public expense. +(4) The `better fruit' is apparently the iron smelted out in + fires of pine-wood. +(5) Hecate: cp. Hesiod, "Theogony", l. 450. +(6) i.e. in protection. +(7) This song is called by pseudo-Herodotus EIRESIONE. The word + properly indicates a garland wound with wool which was worn + at harvest-festivals, but came to be applied first to the + harvest song and then to any begging song. The present is + akin the Swallow-Song (XELIDONISMA), sung at the beginning + of spring, and answered to the still surviving English May- + Day songs. Cp. Athenaeus, viii. 360 B. +(8) The lice which they caught in their clothes they left + behind, but carried home in their clothes those which they + could not catch. + + + +FRAGMENTS OF THE EPIC CYCLE + + + +THE WAR OF THE TITANS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Photius, Epitome of the Chrestomathy of Proclus: +The Epic Cycle begins with the fabled union of Heaven and Earth, +by which they make three hundred-handed sons and three Cyclopes +to be born to him. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Anecdota Oxon. (Cramer) i. 75: +According to the writer of the "War of the Titans" Heaven was the +son of Aether. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 1165: +Eumelus says that Aegaeon was the son of Earth and Sea and, +having his dwelling in the sea, was an ally of the Titans. + + +Fragment #4 -- +Athenaeus, vii. 277 D: +The poet of the "War of the Titans", whether Eumelus of Corinth +or Arctinus, writes thus in his second book: `Upon the shield +were dumb fish afloat, with golden faces, swimming and sporting +through the heavenly water.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Athenaeus, i. 22 C: +Eumelus somewhere introduces Zeus dancing: he says -- `In the +midst of them danced the Father of men and gods.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 554: +The author of the "War of the Giants" says that Cronos took the +shape of a horse and lay with Philyra, the daughter of Ocean. +Through this cause Cheiron was born a centaur: his wife was +Chariclo. + + +Fragment #7 -- +Athenaeus, xi. 470 B: +Theolytus says that he (Heracles) sailed across the sea in a +cauldron (1); but the first to give this story is the author of +the "War of the Titans". + + +Fragment #8 -- +Philodemus, On Piety: +The author of the "War of the Titans" says that the apples (of +the Hesperides) were guarded. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) See the cylix reproduced by Gerhard, Abhandlungen, taf. 5,4. + + Cp. Stesichorus, Frag. 3 (Smyth). + + + +THE STORY OF OEDIPUS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +C.I.G. Ital. et Sic. 1292. ii. 11: +....the "Story of Oedipus" by Cinaethon in six thousand six +hundred verses. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Pausanias, ix. 5.10: +Judging by Homer I do not believe that Oedipus had children by +Iocasta: his sons were born of Euryganeia as the writer of the +Epic called the "Story of Oedipus" clearly shows. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Euripides Phoen., 1750: +The authors of the "Story of Oedipus" (say) of the Sphinx: `But +furthermore (she killed) noble Haemon, the dear son of blameless +Creon, the comeliest and loveliest of boys.' + + + +THE THEBAID (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Contest of Homer and Hesiod: +Homer travelled about reciting his epics, first the "Thebaid", in +seven thousand verses, which begins: `Sing, goddess, of parched +Argos, whence lords...' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Athenaeus, xi. 465 E: +`Then the heaven-born hero, golden-haired Polyneices, first set +beside Oedipus a rich table of silver which once belonged to +Cadmus the divinely wise: next he filled a fine golden cup with +sweet wine. But when Oedipus perceived these treasures of his +father, great misery fell on his heart, and he straight-way +called down bitter curses there in the presence of both his sons. +And the avenging Fury of the gods failed not to hear him as he +prayed that they might never divide their father's goods in +loving brotherhood, but that war and fighting might be ever the +portion of them both.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Laurentian Scholiast on Sophocles, O.C. 1375: +`And when Oedipus noticed the haunch (1) he threw it on the +ground and said: "Oh! Oh! my sons have sent this mocking me..." +So he prayed to Zeus the king and the other deathless gods that +each might fall by his brother's hand and go down into the house +of Hades.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Pausanias, viii. 25.8: +Adrastus fled from Thebes `wearing miserable garments, and took +black-maned Areion (2) with him.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Pindar, Ol. vi. 15: (3) +`But when the seven dead had received their last rites in Thebes, +the Son of Talaus lamented and spoke thus among them: "Woe is me, +for I miss the bright eye of my host, a good seer and a stout +spearman alike."' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Apollodorus, i. 74: +Oeneus married Periboea the daughter of Hipponous. The author of +the "Thebais" says that when Olenus had been stormed, Oeneus +received her as a prize. + + +Fragment #7 -- +Pausanias, ix. 18.6: +Near the spring is the tomb of Asphodicus. This Asphodicus +killed Parthenopaeus the son of Talaus in the battle against the +Argives, as the Thebans say; though that part of the "Thebais" +which tells of the death of Parthenopaeus says that it was +Periclymenus who killed him. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) The haunch was regarded as a dishonourable portion. +(2) The horse of Adrastus, offspring of Poseidon and Demeter, + who had changed herself into a mare to escape Poseidon. +(3) Restored from Pindar Ol. vi. 15 who, according to + Asclepiades, derives the passage from the "Thebais". + + + +THE EPIGONI (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Contest of Homer and Hesiod: +Next (Homer composed) the "Epigoni" in seven thousand verses, +beginning, `And now, Muses, let us begin to sing of younger men.' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Photius, Lexicon: +Teumesia. Those who have written on Theban affairs have given a +full account of the Teumesian fox. (1) They relate that the +creature was sent by the gods to punish the descendants of +Cadmus, and that the Thebans therefore excluded those of the +house of Cadmus from kingship. But (they say) a certain +Cephalus, the son of Deion, an Athenian, who owned a hound which +no beast ever escaped, had accidentally killed his wife Procris, +and being purified of the homicide by the Cadmeans, hunted the +fox with his hound, and when they had overtaken it both hound and +fox were turned into stones near Teumessus. These writers have +taken the story from the Epic Cycle. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. i. 308: +The authors of the "Thebais" say that Manto the daughter of +Teiresias was sent to Delphi by the Epigoni as a first fruit of +their spoil, and that in accordance with an oracle of Apollo she +went out and met Rhacius, the son of Lebes, a Mycenaean by race. +This man she married -- for the oracle also contained the command +that she should marry whomsoever she might meet -- and coming to +Colophon, was there much cast down and wept over the destruction +of her country. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) So called from Teumessus, a hill in Boeotia. For the + derivation of Teumessus cp. Antimachus "Thebais" fr. 3 + (Kinkel). + + + +THE CYPRIA (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, i: +This (1) is continued by the epic called "Cypria" which is +current is eleven books. Its contents are as follows. + +Zeus plans with Themis to bring about the Trojan war. Strife +arrives while the gods are feasting at the marriage of Peleus and +starts a dispute between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite as to which +of them is fairest. The three are led by Hermes at the command +of Zeus to Alexandrus (2) on Mount Ida for his decision, and +Alexandrus, lured by his promised marriage with Helen, decides in +favour of Aphrodite. + +Then Alexandrus builds his ships at Aphrodite's suggestion, and +Helenus foretells the future to him, and Aphrodite order Aeneas +to sail with him, while Cassandra prophesies as to what will +happen afterwards. Alexandrus next lands in Lacedaemon and is +entertained by the sons of Tyndareus, and afterwards by Menelaus +in Sparta, where in the course of a feast he gives gifts to +Helen. + +After this, Menelaus sets sail for Crete, ordering Helen to +furnish the guests with all they require until they depart. +Meanwhile, Aphrodite brings Helen and Alexandrus together, and +they, after their union, put very great treasures on board and +sail away by night. Hera stirs up a storm against them and they +are carried to Sidon, where Alexandrus takes the city. From +there he sailed to Troy and celebrated his marriage with Helen. + +In the meantime Castor and Polydeuces, while stealing the cattle +of Idas and Lynceus, were caught in the act, and Castor was +killed by Idas, and Lynceus and Idas by Polydeuces. Zeus gave +them immortality every other day. + +Iris next informs Menelaus of what has happened at his home. +Menelaus returns and plans an expedition against Ilium with his +brother, and then goes on to Nestor. Nestor in a digression +tells him how Epopeus was utterly destroyed after seducing the +daughter of Lycus, and the story of Oedipus, the madness of +Heracles, and the story of Theseus and Ariadne. Then they travel +over Hellas and gather the leaders, detecting Odysseus when he +pretends to be mad, not wishing to join the expedition, by +seizing his son Telemachus for punishment at the suggestion of +Palamedes. + +All the leaders then meet together at Aulis and sacrifice. The +incident of the serpent and the sparrows (2) takes place before +them, and Calchas foretells what is going to befall. After this, +they put out to sea, and reach Teuthrania and sack it, taking it +for Ilium. Telephus comes out to the rescue and kills +Thersander and son of Polyneices, and is himself wounded by +Achilles. As they put out from Mysia a storm comes on them and +scatters them, and Achilles first puts in at Scyros and married +Deidameia, the daughter of Lycomedes, and then heals Telephus, +who had been led by an oracle to go to Argos, so that he might be +their guide on the voyage to Ilium. + +When the expedition had mustered a second time at Aulis, +Agamemnon, while at the chase, shot a stag and boasted that he +surpassed even Artemis. At this the goddess was so angry that +she sent stormy winds and prevented them from sailing. Calchas +then told them of the anger of the goddess and bade them +sacrifice Iphigeneia to Artemis. This they attempt to do, +sending to fetch Iphigeneia as though for marriage with Achilles. + +Artemis, however, snatched her away and transported her to the +Tauri, making her immortal, and putting a stag in place of the +girl upon the altar. + +Next they sail as far as Tenedos: and while they are feasting, +Philoctetes is bitten by a snake and is left behind in Lemnos +because of the stench of his sore. Here, too, Achilles quarrels +with Agamemnon because he is invited late. Then the Greeks tried +to land at Ilium, but the Trojans prevent them, and Protesilaus +is killed by Hector. Achilles then kills Cycnus, the son of +Poseidon, and drives the Trojans back. The Greeks take up their +dead and send envoys to the Trojans demanding the surrender of +Helen and the treasure with her. The Trojans refusing, they +first assault the city, and then go out and lay waste the country +and cities round about. After this, Achilles desires to see +Helen, and Aphrodite and Thetis contrive a meeting between them. +The Achaeans next desire to return home, but are restrained by +Achilles, who afterwards drives off the cattle of Aeneas, and +sacks Lyrnessus and Pedasus and many of the neighbouring cities, +and kills Troilus. Patroclus carries away Lycaon to Lemnos and +sells him as a slave, and out of the spoils Achilles receives +Briseis as a prize, and Agamemnon Chryseis. Then follows the +death of Palamedes, the plan of Zeus to relieve the Trojans by +detaching Achilles from the Hellenic confederacy, and a catalogue +of the Trojan allies. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Tzetzes, Chil. xiii. 638: +Stasinus composed the "Cypria" which the more part say was +Homer's work and by him given to Stasinus as a dowry with money +besides. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. i. 5: +`There was a time when the countless tribes of men, though wide- +dispersed, oppressed the surface of the deep-bosomed earth, and +Zeus saw it and had pity and in his wise heart resolved to +relieve the all-nurturing earth of men by causing the great +struggle of the Ilian war, that the load of death might empty the +world. And so the heroes were slain in Troy, and the plan of +Zeus came to pass.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Volumina Herculan, II. viii. 105: +The author of the "Cypria" says that Thetis, to please Hera, +avoided union with Zeus, at which he was enraged and swore that +she should be the wife of a mortal. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xvii. 140: +For at the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, the gods gathered +together on Pelion to feast and brought Peleus gifts. Cheiron +gave him a stout ashen shaft which he had cut for a spear, and +Athena, it is said, polished it, and Hephaestus fitted it with a +head. The story is given by the author of the "Cypria". + + +Fragment #6 -- +Athenaeus, xv. 682 D, F: +The author of the "Cypria", whether Hegesias or Stasinus, +mentions flowers used for garlands. The poet, whoever he was, +writes as follows in his first book: + +(ll. 1-7) `She clothed herself with garments which the Graces and +Hours had made for her and dyed in flowers of spring -- such +flowers as the Seasons wear -- in crocus and hyacinth and +flourishing violet and the rose's lovely bloom, so sweet and +delicious, and heavenly buds, the flowers of the narcissus and +lily. In such perfumed garments is Aphrodite clothed at all +seasons. + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 8-12) Then laughter-loving Aphrodite and her handmaidens +wove sweet-smelling crowns of flowers of the earth and put them +upon their heads -- the bright-coiffed goddesses, the Nymphs and +Graces, and golden Aphrodite too, while they sang sweetly on the +mount of many-fountained Ida.' + + +Fragment #7 -- +Clement of Alexandria, Protrept ii. 30. 5: +`Castor was mortal, and the fate of death was destined for him; +but Polydeuces, scion of Ares, was immortal.' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Athenaeus, viii. 334 B: +`And after them she bare a third child, Helen, a marvel to men. +Rich-tressed Nemesis once gave her birth when she had been joined +in love with Zeus the king of the gods by harsh violence. For +Nemesis tried to escape him and liked not to lie in love with her +father Zeus the Son of Cronos; for shame and indignation vexed +her heart: therefore she fled him over the land and fruitless +dark water. But Zeus ever pursued and longed in his heart to +catch her. Now she took the form of a fish and sped over the +waves of the loud-roaring sea, and now over Ocean's stream and +the furthest bounds of Earth, and now she sped over the furrowed +land, always turning into such dread creatures as the dry land +nurtures, that she might escape him.' + + +Fragment #9 -- +Scholiast on Euripides, Andr. 898: +The writer (3) of the Cyprian histories says that (Helen's third +child was) Pleisthenes and that she took him with her to Cyprus, +and that the child she bore Alexandrus was Aganus. + + +Fragment #10 -- +Herodotus, ii. 117: +For it is said in the "Cypria" that Alexandrus came with Helen to +Ilium from Sparta in three days, enjoying a favourable wind and +calm sea. + + +Fragment #11 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. iii. 242: +For Helen had been previously carried off by Theseus, and it was +in consequence of this earlier rape that Aphidna, a town in +Attica, was sacked and Castor was wounded in the right thigh by +Aphidnus who was king at that time. Then the Dioscuri, failing +to find Theseus, sacked Athens. The story is in the Cyclic +writers. + +Plutarch, Thes. 32: +Hereas relates that Alycus was killed by Theseus himself near +Aphidna, and quotes the following verses in evidence: `In +spacious Aphidna Theseus slew him in battle long ago for rich- +haired Helen's sake.' (4) + + +Fragment #12 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. x. 114: +(ll. 1-6) `Straightway Lynceus, trusting in his swift feet, made +for Taygetus. He climbed its highest peak and looked throughout +the whole isle of Pelops, son of Tantalus; and soon the glorious +hero with his dread eyes saw horse-taming Castor and athlete +Polydeuces both hidden within a hollow oak.' + +Philodemus, On Piety: +(Stasinus?) writes that Castor was killed with a spear shot by +Idas the son of Aphareus. + + +Fragment #13 -- +Athenaeus, 35 C: +`Menelaus, know that the gods made wine the best thing for mortal +man to scatter cares.' + + +Fragment #14 -- +Laurentian Scholiast on Sophocles, Elect. 157: +Either he follows Homer who spoke of the three daughters of +Agamemnon, or -- like the writer of the "Cypria" -- he makes them +four, (distinguishing) Iphigeneia and Iphianassa. + + +Fragment #15 -- (5) +Contest of Homer and Hesiod: +`So they feasted all day long, taking nothing from their own +houses; for Agamemnon, king of men, provided for them.' + + +Fragment #16 -- +Louvre Papyrus: +`I never thought to enrage so terribly the stout heart of +Achilles, for very well I loved him.' + + +Fragment #17 -- +Pausanias, iv. 2. 7: +The poet of the "Cypria" says that the wife of Protesilaus -- +who, when the Hellenes reached the Trojan shore, first dared to +land -- was called Polydora, and was the daughter of Meleager, +the son of Oeneus. + + +Fragment #18 -- +Eustathius, 119. 4: +Some relate that Chryseis was taken from Hypoplacian (6) Thebes, +and that she had not taken refuge there nor gone there to +sacrifice to Artemis, as the author of the "Cypria" states, but +was simply a fellow townswoman of Andromache. + + +Fragment #19 -- +Pausanias, x. 31. 2: +I know, because I have read it in the epic "Cypria", that +Palamedes was drowned when he had gone out fishing, and that it +was Diomedes and Odysseus who caused his death. + + +Fragment #20 -- +Plato, Euthyphron, 12 A: +`That it is Zeus who has done this, and brought all these things +to pass, you do not like to say; for where fear is, there too is +shame.' + + +Fragment #21 -- +Herodian, On Peculiar Diction: +`By him she conceived and bare the Gorgons, fearful monsters who +lived in Sarpedon, a rocky island in deep-eddying Oceanus.' + + +Fragment #22 -- +Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis vii. 2. 19: +Again, Stasinus says: `He is a simple man who kills the father +and lets the children live.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) The preceding part of the Epic Cycle (?). +(2) While the Greeks were sacrificing at Aulis, a serpent + appeared and devoured eight young birds from their nest and + lastly the mother of the brood. This was interpreted by + Calchas to mean that the war would swallow up nine full + years. Cp. "Iliad" ii, 299 ff. +(3) i.e. Stasinus (or Hegesias: cp. fr. 6): the phrase `Cyprian + histories' is equivalent to "The Cypria". +(4) Cp. Allen "C.R." xxvii. 190. +(5) These two lines possibly belong to the account of the feast + given by Agamemnon at Lemnos. +(6) sc. the Asiatic Thebes at the foot of Mt. Placius. + + + +THE AETHIOPIS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: +The "Cypria", described in the preceding book, has its sequel in +the "Iliad" of Homer, which is followed in turn by the five books +of the "Aethiopis", the work of Arctinus of Miletus. Their +contents are as follows. The Amazon Penthesileia, the daughter +of Ares and of Thracian race, comes to aid the Trojans, and after +showing great prowess, is killed by Achilles and buried by the +Trojans. Achilles then slays Thersites for abusing and reviling +him for his supposed love for Penthesileia. As a result a +dispute arises amongst the Achaeans over the killing of +Thersites, and Achilles sails to Lesbos and after sacrificing to +Apollo, Artemis, and Leto, is purified by Odysseus from +bloodshed. + +Then Memnon, the son of Eos, wearing armour made by Hephaestus, +comes to help the Trojans, and Thetis tells her son about Memnon. + +A battle takes place in which Antilochus is slain by Memnon and +Memnon by Achilles. Eos then obtains of Zeus and bestows upon +her son immortality; but Achilles routs the Trojans, and, rushing +into the city with them, is killed by Paris and Apollo. A great +struggle for the body then follows, Aias taking up the body and +carrying it to the ships, while Odysseus drives off the Trojans +behind. The Achaeans then bury Antilochus and lay out the body +of Achilles, while Thetis, arriving with the Muses and her +sisters, bewails her son, whom she afterwards catches away from +the pyre and transports to the White Island. After this, the +Achaeans pile him a cairn and hold games in his honour. Lastly a +dispute arises between Odysseus and Aias over the arms of +Achilles. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Scholiast on Homer, Il. xxiv. 804: +Some read: `Thus they performed the burial of Hector. Then came +the Amazon, the daughter of great-souled Ares the slayer of men.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Isth. iii. 53: +The author of the "Aethiopis" says that Aias killed himself about +dawn. + + + +THE LITTLE ILIAD (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: +Next comes the "Little Iliad" in four books by Lesches of +Mitylene: its contents are as follows. The adjudging of the arms +of Achilles takes place, and Odysseus, by the contriving of +Athena, gains them. Aias then becomes mad and destroys the herd +of the Achaeans and kills himself. Next Odysseus lies in wait +and catches Helenus, who prophesies as to the taking of Troy, and +Diomede accordingly brings Philoctetes from Lemnos. Philoctetes +is healed by Machaon, fights in single combat with Alexandrus and +kills him: the dead body is outraged by Menelaus, but the Trojans +recover and bury it. After this Deiphobus marries Helen, +Odysseus brings Neoptolemus from Scyros and gives him his +father's arms, and the ghost of Achilles appears to him. + +Eurypylus the son of Telephus arrives to aid the Trojans, shows +his prowess and is killed by Neoptolemus. The Trojans are now +closely besieged, and Epeius, by Athena's instruction, builds the +wooden horse. Odysseus disfigures himself and goes in to Ilium +as a spy, and there being recognized by Helen, plots with her for +the taking of the city; after killing certain of the Trojans, he +returns to the ships. Next he carries the Palladium out of Troy +with help of Diomedes. Then after putting their best men in the +wooden horse and burning their huts, the main body of the +Hellenes sail to Tenedos. The Trojans, supposing their troubles +over, destroy a part of their city wall and take the wooden horse +into their city and feast as though they had conquered the +Hellenes. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: +`I sing of Ilium and Dardania, the land of fine horses, wherein +the Danai, followers of Ares, suffered many things.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Aristophanes, Knights 1056 and Aristophanes ib: +The story runs as follows: Aias and Odysseus were quarrelling as +to their achievements, says the poet of the "Little Iliad", and +Nestor advised the Hellenes to send some of their number to go to +the foot of the walls and overhear what was said about the valour +of the heroes named above. The eavesdroppers heard certain girls +disputing, one of them saying that Aias was by far a better man +than Odysseus and continuing as follows: + +`For Aias took up and carried out of the strife the hero, Peleus' +son: this great Odysseus cared not to do.' + +To this another replied by Athena's contrivance: + +`Why, what is this you say? A thing against reason and untrue! +Even a woman could carry a load once a man had put it on her +shoulder; but she could not fight. For she would fail with fear +if she should fight.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Eustathius, 285. 34: +The writer of the "Little Iliad" says that Aias was not buried in +the usual way (1), but was simply buried in a coffin, because of +the king's anger. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Eustathius on Homer, Il. 326: +The author of the "Little Iliad" says that Achilles after putting +out to sea from the country of Telephus came to land there: `The +storm carried Achilles the son of Peleus to Scyros, and he came +into an uneasy harbour there in that same night.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Scholiast on Pindar, Nem. vi. 85: +`About the spear-shaft was a hoop of flashing gold, and a point +was fitted to it at either end.' + + +Fragment #7 -- +Scholiast on Euripides Troades, 822: +`...the vine which the son of Cronos gave him as a recompense for +his son. It bloomed richly with soft leaves of gold and grape +clusters; Hephaestus wrought it and gave it to his father Zeus: +and he bestowed it on Laomedon as a price for Ganymedes.' + + +Fragment #8 -- +Pausanias, iii. 26. 9: +The writer of the epic "Little Iliad" says that Machaon was +killed by Eurypylus, the son of Telephus. + + +Fragment #9 -- +Homer, Odyssey iv. 247 and Scholiast: +`He disguised himself, and made himself like another person, a +beggar, the like of whom was not by the ships of the Achaeans.' + +The Cyclic poet uses `beggar' as a substantive, and so means to +say that when Odysseus had changed his clothes and put on rags, +there was no one so good for nothing at the ships as Odysseus. + + +Fragment #10 -- (2) +Plutarch, Moralia, p. 153 F: +And Homer put forward the following verses as Lesches gives them: +`Muse, tell me of those things which neither happened before nor +shall be hereafter.' + +And Hesiod answered: + +`But when horses with rattling hoofs wreck chariots, striving for +victory about the tomb of Zeus.' + +And it is said that, because this reply was specially admired, +Hesiod won the tripod (at the funeral games of Amphidamas). + + +Fragment #11 -- +Scholiast on Lycophr., 344: +Sinon, as it had been arranged with him, secretly showed a +signal-light to the Hellenes. Thus Lesches writes: -- `It was +midnight, and the clear moon was rising.' + + +Fragment #12 -- +Pausanias, x. 25. 5: +Meges is represented (3) wounded in the arm just as Lescheos the +son of Aeschylinus of Pyrrha describes in his "Sack of Ilium" +where it is said that he was wounded in the battle which the +Trojans fought in the night by Admetus, son of Augeias. +Lycomedes too is in the picture with a wound in the wrist, and +Lescheos says he was so wounded by Agenor... + +Pausanias, x. 26. 4: +Lescheos also mentions Astynous, and here he is, fallen on one +knee, while Neoptolemus strikes him with his sword... + +Pausanias, x. 26. 8: +The same writer says that Helicaon was wounded in the night- +battle, but was recognised by Odysseus and by him conducted alive +out of the fight... + +Pausanias, x. 27. 1: +Of them (4), Lescheos says that Eion was killed by Neoptolemus, +and Admetus by Philoctetes... He also says that Priam was not +killed at the heart of Zeus Herceius, but was dragged away from +the altar and destroyed off hand by Neoptolemus at the doors of +the house... Lescheos says that Axion was the son of Priam and +was slain by Eurypylus, the son of Euaemon. Agenor -- according +to the same poet -- was butchered by Neoptolemus. + + +Fragment #13 -- +Aristophanes, Lysistrata 155 and Scholiast: +`Menelaus at least, when he caught a glimpse somehow of the +breasts of Helen unclad, cast away his sword, methinks.' Lesches +the Pyrrhaean also has the same account in his "Little Iliad". + +Pausanias, x. 25. 8: +Concerning Aethra Lesches relates that when Ilium was taken she +stole out of the city and came to the Hellenic camp, where she +was recognised by the sons of Theseus; and that Demophon asked +her of Agamemnon. Agamemnon wished to grant him this favour, but +he would not do so until Helen consented. And when he sent a +herald, Helen granted his request. + + +Fragment #14 -- +Scholiast on Lycophr. Alex., 1268: +`Then the bright son of bold Achilles led the wife of Hector to +the hollow ships; but her son he snatched from the bosom of his +rich-haired nurse and seized him by the foot and cast him from a +tower. So when he had fallen bloody death and hard fate seized +on Astyanax. And Neoptolemus chose out Andromache, Hector's +well-girded wife, and the chiefs of all the Achaeans gave her to +him to hold requiting him with a welcome prize. And he put +Aeneas(5), the famous son of horse-taming Anchises, on board his +sea-faring ships, a prize surpassing those of all the Danaans.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. after cremation. +(2) This fragment comes from a version of the "Contest of Homer + and Hesiod" widely different from that now extant. The + words `as Lesches gives them (says)' seem to indicate that + the verse and a half assigned to Homer came from the "Little + Iliad". It is possible they may have introduced some + unusually striking incident, such as the actual Fall of + Troy. +(3) i.e. in the paintings by Polygnotus at Delphi. +(4) i.e. the dead bodies in the picture. +(5) According to this version Aeneas was taken to Pharsalia. + Better known are the Homeric account (according to which + Aeneas founded a new dynasty at Troy), and the legends which + make him seek a new home in Italy. + + + +THE SACK OF ILIUM (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: +Next come two books of the "Sack of Ilium", by Arctinus of +Miletus with the following contents. The Trojans were suspicious +of the wooden horse and standing round it debated what they ought +to do. Some thought they ought to hurl it down from the rocks, +others to burn it up, while others said they ought to dedicate it +to Athena. At last this third opinion prevailed. Then they +turned to mirth and feasting believing the war was at an end. +But at this very time two serpents appeared and destroyed Laocoon +and one of his two sons, a portent which so alarmed the followers +of Aeneas that they withdrew to Ida. Sinon then raised the fire- +signal to the Achaeans, having previously got into the city by +pretence. The Greeks then sailed in from Tenedos, and those in +the wooden horse came out and fell upon their enemies, killing +many and storming the city. Neoptolemus kills Priam who had fled +to the altar of Zeus Herceius (1); Menelaus finds Helen and takes +her to the ships, after killing Deiphobus; and Aias the son of +Ileus, while trying to drag Cassandra away by force, tears away +with her the image of Athena. At this the Greeks are so enraged +that they determine to stone Aias, who only escapes from the +danger threatening him by taking refuge at the altar of Athena. +The Greeks, after burning the city, sacrifice Polyxena at the +tomb of Achilles: Odysseus murders Astyanax; Neoptolemus takes +Andromache as his prize, and the remaining spoils are divided. +Demophon and Acamas find Aethra and take her with them. Lastly +the Greeks sail away and Athena plans to destroy them on the high +seas. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Dionysus Halicarn, Rom. Antiq. i. 68: +According to Arctinus, one Palladium was given to Dardanus by +Zeus, and this was in Ilium until the city was taken. It was +hidden in a secret place, and a copy was made resembling the +original in all points and set up for all to see, in order to +deceive those who might have designs against it. This copy the +Achaeans took as a result of their plots. + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholiast on Euripedes, Andromache 10: +The Cyclic poet who composed the "Sack" says that Astyanax was +also hurled from the city wall. + + +Fragment #4 -- +Scholiast on Euripedes, Troades 31: +For the followers of Acamus and Demophon took no share -- it is +said -- of the spoils, but only Aethra, for whose sake, indeed, +they came to Ilium with Menestheus to lead them. Lysimachus, +however, says that the author of the "Sack" writes as follows: +`The lord Agamemnon gave gifts to the Sons of Theseus and to bold +Menestheus, shepherd of hosts.' + + +Fragment #5 -- +Eustathius on Iliad, xiii. 515: +Some say that such praise as this (1) does not apply to +physicians generally, but only to Machaon: and some say that he +only practised surgery, while Podaleirius treated sicknesses. +Arctinus in the "Sack of Ilium" seems to be of this opinion when +he says: + +(ll. 1-8) `For their father the famous Earth-Shaker gave both of +them gifts, making each more glorious than the other. To the one +he gave hands more light to draw or cut out missiles from the +flesh and to heal all kinds of wounds; but in the heart of the +other he put full and perfect knowledge to tell hidden diseases +and cure desperate sicknesses. It was he who first noticed Aias' +flashing eyes and clouded mind when he was enraged.' + + +Fragment #6 -- +Diomedes in Gramm., Lat. i. 477: +`Iambus stood a little while astride with foot advanced, that so +his strained limbs might get power and have a show of ready +strength.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. knowledge of both surgery and of drugs. + + + +THE RETURNS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: +After the "Sack of Ilium" follow the "Returns" in five books by +Agias of Troezen. Their contents are as follows. Athena causes +a quarrel between Agamemnon and Menelaus about the voyage from +Troy. Agamemnon then stays on to appease the anger of Athena. +Diomedes and Nestor put out to sea and get safely home. After +them Menelaus sets out and reaches Egypt with five ships, the +rest having been destroyed on the high seas. Those with Calchas, +Leontes, and Polypoetes go by land to Colophon and bury Teiresias +who died there. When Agamemnon and his followers were sailing +away, the ghost of Achilles appeared and tried to prevent them by +foretelling what should befall them. The storm at the rocks +called Capherides is then described, with the end of Locrian +Aias. Neoptolemus, warned by Thetis, journeys overland and, +coming into Thrace, meets Odysseus at Maronea, and then finishes +the rest of his journey after burying Phoenix who dies on the +way. He himself is recognized by Peleus on reaching the Molossi. + +Then comes the murder of Agamemnon by Aegisthus and +Clytaemnestra, followed by the vengeance of Orestes and Pylades. +Finally, Menelaus returns home. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Argument to Euripides Medea: +`Forthwith Medea made Aeson a sweet young boy and stripped his +old age from him by her cunning skill, when she had made a brew +of many herbs in her golden cauldrons.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Pausanias, i. 2: +The story goes that Heracles was besieging Themiscyra on the +Thermodon and could not take it; but Antiope, being in love with +Theseus who was with Heracles on this expedition, betrayed the +place. Hegias gives this account in his poem. + + +Fragment #4 -- +Eustathius, 1796. 45: +The Colophonian author of the "Returns" says that Telemachus +afterwards married Circe, while Telegonus the son of Circe +correspondingly married Penelope. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Clement of Alex. Strom., vi. 2. 12. 8: +`For gifts beguile men's minds and their deeds as well.' (1) + + +Fragment #6 -- +Pausanias, x. 28. 7: +The poetry of Homer and the "Returns" -- for here too there is an +account of Hades and the terrors there -- know of no spirit named +Eurynomus. + +Athenaeus, 281 B: +The writer of the "Return of the Atreidae" (2) says that Tantalus +came and lived with the gods, and was permitted to ask for +whatever he desired. But the man was so immoderately given to +pleasures that he asked for these and for a life like that of the +gods. At this Zeus was annoyed, but fulfilled his prayer because +of his own promise; but to prevent him from enjoying any of the +pleasures provided, and to keep him continually harassed, he hung +a stone over his head which prevents him from ever reaching any +of the pleasant things near by. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) Clement attributes this line to Augias: probably Agias is + intended. +(2) Identical with the "Returns", in which the Sons of Atreus + occupy the most prominent parts. + + + +THE TELEGONY (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Proclus, Chrestomathia, ii: +After the "Returns" comes the "Odyssey" of Homer, and then the +"Telegony" in two books by Eugammon of Cyrene, which contain the +following matters. The suitors of Penelope are buried by their +kinsmen, and Odysseus, after sacrificing to the Nymphs, sails to +Elis to inspect his herds. He is entertained there by Polyxenus +and receives a mixing bowl as a gift; the story of Trophonius and +Agamedes and Augeas then follows. He next sails back to Ithaca +and performs the sacrifices ordered by Teiresias, and then goes +to Thesprotis where he marries Callidice, queen of the +Thesprotians. A war then breaks out between the Thesprotians, +led by Odysseus, and the Brygi. Ares routs the army of Odysseus +and Athena engages with Ares, until Apollo separates them. After +the death of Callidice Polypoetes, the son of Odysseus, succeeds +to the kingdom, while Odysseus himself returns to Ithaca. In the +meantime Telegonus, while travelling in search of his father, +lands on Ithaca and ravages the island: Odysseus comes out to +defend his country, but is killed by his son unwittingly. +Telegonus, on learning his mistake, transports his father's body +with Penelope and Telemachus to his mother's island, where Circe +makes them immortal, and Telegonus marries Penelope, and +Telemachus Circe. + + +Fragment #2 -- +Eustathias, 1796. 35: +The author of the "Telegony", a Cyrenaean, relates that Odysseus +had by Calypso a son Telegonus or Teledamus, and by Penelope +Telemachus and Acusilaus. + + + +NON-CYCLIC POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO HOMER + + +THE EXPEDITION OF AMPHIARAUS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: +Sitting there in the tanner's yard, Homer recited his poetry to +them, the "Expedition of Amphiarus to Thebes" and the "Hymns to +the Gods" composed by him. + + + +THE TAKING OF OECHALIA (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Eustathius, 330. 41: +An account has there been given of Eurytus and his daughter Iole, +for whose sake Heracles sacked Oechalia. Homer also seems to +have written on this subject, as that historian shows who relates +that Creophylus of Samos once had Homer for his guest and for a +reward received the attribution of the poem which they call the +"Taking of Oechalia". Some, however, assert the opposite; that +Creophylus wrote the poem, and that Homer lent his name in return +for his entertainment. And so Callimachus writes: `I am the work +of that Samian who once received divine Homer in his house. I +sing of Eurytus and all his woes and of golden-haired Ioleia, and +am reputed one of Homer's works. Dear Heaven! how great an +honour this for Creophylus!' + + +Fragment #2 -- +Cramer, Anec. Oxon. i. 327: +`Ragged garments, even those which now you see.' This verse +("Odyssey" xiv. 343) we shall also find in the "Taking of +Oechalia". + + +Fragment #3 -- +Scholaist on Sophocles Trach., 266: +There is a disagreement as to the number of the sons of Eurytus. +For Hesiod says Eurytus and Antioche had as many as four sons; +but Creophylus says two. + + +Fragment #4 -- +Scholiast on Euripides Medea, 273: +Didymus contrasts the following account given by Creophylus, +which is as follows: while Medea was living in Corinth, she +poisoned Creon, who was ruler of the city at that time, and +because she feared his friends and kinsfolk, fled to Athens. +However, since her sons were too young to go along with her, she +left them at the altar of Hera Acraea, thinking that their father +would see to their safety. But the relatives of Creon killed +them and spread the story that Medea had killed her own children +as well as Creon. + + + +THE PHOCAIS (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Pseudo-Herodotus, Life of Homer: +While living with Thestorides, Homer composed the "Lesser Iliad" +and the "Phocais"; though the Phocaeans say that he composed the +latter among them. + + + +THE MARGITES (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Suidas, s.v.: +Pigres. A Carian of Halicarnassus and brother of Artemisia, wife +of Mausolus, who distinguished herself in war... (1) He also +wrote the "Margites" attributed to Homer and the "Battle of the +Frogs and Mice". + + +Fragment #2 -- +Atilius Fortunatianus, p. 286, Keil: +`There came to Colophon an old man and divine singer, a servant +of the Muses and of far-shooting Apollo. In his dear hands he +held a sweet-toned lyre.' + + +Fragment #3 -- +Plato, Alcib. ii. p. 147 A: +`He knew many things but knew all badly...' + +Aristotle, Nic. Eth. vi. 7, 1141: +`The gods had taught him neither to dig nor to plough, nor any +other skill; he failed in every craft.' + + +Fragment #4 -- +Scholiast on Aeschines in Ctes., sec. 160: +He refers to Margites, a man who, though well grown up, did not +know whether it was his father or his mother who gave him birth, +and would not lie with his wife, saying that he was afraid she +might give a bad account of him to her mother. + + +Fragment #5 -- +Zenobius, v. 68: +`The fox knows many a wile; but the hedge-hog's one trick (2) can +beat them all.' (3) + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) This Artemisia, who distinguished herself at the battle of + Salamis (Herodotus, vii. 99) is here confused with the later + Artemisia, the wife of Mausolus, who died 350 B.C. +(2) i.e. the fox knows many ways to baffle its foes, while the + hedge-hog knows one only which is far more effectual. +(3) Attributed to Homer by Zenobius, and by Bergk to the + "Margites". + + + +THE CERCOPES (fragments) + +Fragment #1 -- +Suidas, s.v.: +Cercopes. These were two brothers living upon the earth who +practised every kind of knavery. They were called Cercopes (1) +because of their cunning doings: one of them was named Passalus +and the other Acmon. Their mother, a daughter of Memnon, seeing +their tricks, told them to keep clear of Black-bottom, that is, +of Heracles. These Cercopes were sons of Theia and Ocean, and +are said to have been turned to stone for trying to deceive Zeus. + +`Liars and cheats, skilled in deeds irremediable, accomplished +knaves. Far over the world they roamed deceiving men as they +wandered continually.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) i.e. `monkey-men'. + + + +THE BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE (303 lines) + +(ll. 1-8) Here I begin: and first I pray the choir of the Muses +to come down from Helicon into my heart to aid the lay which I +have newly written in tablets upon my knee. Fain would I sound +in all men's ears that awful strife, that clamorous deed of war, +and tell how the Mice proved their valour on the Frogs and +rivalled the exploits of the Giants, those earth-born men, as the +tale was told among mortals. Thus did the war begin. + +(ll. 9-12) One day a thirsty Mouse who had escaped the ferret, +dangerous foe, set his soft muzzle to the lake's brink and +revelled in the sweet water. There a loud-voiced pond-larker +spied him: and uttered such words as these. + +(ll. 13-23) `Stranger, who are you? Whence come you to this +shore, and who is he who begot you? Tell me all this truly and +let me not find you lying. For if I find you worthy to be my +friend, I will take you to my house and give you many noble gifts +such as men give to their guests. I am the king Puff-jaw, and am +honoured in all the pond, being ruler of the Frogs continually. +The father that brought me up was Mud-man who mated with +Waterlady by the banks of Eridanus. I see, indeed, that you are +well-looking and stouter than the ordinary, a sceptred king and a +warrior in fight; but, come, make haste and tell me your +descent.' + +(ll. 24-55) Then Crumb-snatcher answered him and said: `Why do +you ask my race, which is well-known amongst all, both men and +gods and the birds of heaven? Crumb-snatcher am I called, and I +am the son of Bread-nibbler -- he was my stout-hearted father -- +and my mother was Quern-licker, the daughter of Ham-gnawer the +king: she bare me in the mouse-hole and nourished me with food, +figs and nuts and dainties of all kinds. But how are you to make +me your friend, who am altogether different in nature? For you +get your living in the water, but I am used to each such foods as +men have: I never miss the thrice-kneaded loaf in its neat, round +basket, or the thin-wrapped cake full of sesame and cheese, or +the slice of ham, or liver vested in white fat, or cheese just +curdled from sweet milk, or delicious honey-cake which even the +blessed gods long for, or any of all those cates which cooks make +for the feasts of mortal men, larding their pots and pans with +spices of all kinds. In battle I have never flinched from the +cruel onset, but plunged straight into the fray and fought among +the foremost. I fear not man though he has a big body, but run +along his bed and bite the tip of his toe and nibble at his heel; +and the man feels no hurt and his sweet sleep is not broken by my +biting. But there are two things I fear above all else the whole +world over, the hawk and the ferret -- for these bring great +grief on me -- and the piteous trap wherein is treacherous death. +Most of all I fear the ferret of the keener sort which follows +you still even when you dive down your hole. (1) I gnaw no +radishes and cabbages and pumpkins, nor feed on green leeks and +parsley; for these are food for you who live in the lake.' + +(ll. 56-64) Then Puff-jaw answered him with a smile: `Stranger +you boast too much of belly-matters: we too have many marvels to +be seen both in the lake and on the shore. For the Son of +Chronos has given us Frogs the power to lead a double life, +dwelling at will in two separate elements; and so we both leap on +land and plunge beneath the water. If you would learn of all +these things, 'tis easy done: just mount upon my back and hold me +tight lest you be lost, and so you shall come rejoicing to my +house.' + +(ll. 65-81) So said he, and offered his back. And the Mouse +mounted at once, putting his paws upon the other's sleek neck and +vaulting nimbly. Now at first, while he still saw the land near +by, he was pleased, and was delighted with Puff-jaw's swimming; +but when dark waves began to wash over him, he wept loudly and +blamed his unlucky change of mind: he tore his fur and tucked his +paws in against his belly, while within him his heart quaked by +reason of the strangeness: and he longed to get to land, groaning +terribly through the stress of chilling fear. He put out his +tail upon the water and worked it like a steering oar, and prayed +to heaven that he might get to land. But when the dark waves +washed over him he cried aloud and said: `Not in such wise did +the bull bear on his back the beloved load, when he brought +Europa across the sea to Crete, as this Frog carries me over the +water to his house, raising his yellow back in the pale water.' + +(ll. 82-92) Then suddenly a water-snake appeared, a horrid sight +for both alike, and held his neck upright above the water. And +when he saw it, Puff-jaw dived at once, and never thought how +helpless a friend he would leave perishing; but down to the +bottom of the lake he went, and escaped black death. But the +Mouse, so deserted, at once fell on his back, in the water. He +wrung his paws and squeaked in agony of death: many times he sank +beneath the water and many times he rose up again kicking. But +he could not escape his doom, for his wet fur weighed him down +heavily. Then at the last, as he was dying, he uttered these +words. + +(ll. 93-98) `Ah, Puff-jaw, you shall not go unpunished for this +treachery! You threw me, a castaway, off your body as from a +rock. Vile coward! On land you would not have been the better +man, boxing, or wrestling, or running; but now you have tricked +me and cast me in the water. Heaven has an avenging eye, and +surely the host of Mice will punish you and not let you escape.' + +(ll. 99-109) With these words he breathed out his soul upon the +water. But Lick-platter as he sat upon the soft bank saw him die +and, raising a dreadful cry, ran and told the Mice. And when +they heard of his fate, all the Mice were seized with fierce +anger, and bade their heralds summon the people to assemble +towards dawn at the house of Bread-nibbler, the father of hapless +Crumb-snatcher who lay outstretched on the water face up, a +lifeless corpse, and no longer near the bank, poor wretch, but +floating in the midst of the deep. And when the Mice came in +haste at dawn, Bread-nibbler stood up first, enraged at his son's +death, and thus he spoke. + +(ll. 110-121) `Friends, even if I alone had suffered great wrong +from the Frogs, assuredly this is a first essay at mischief for +you all. And now I am pitiable, for I have lost three sons. +First the abhorred ferret seized and killed one of them, catching +him outside the hole; then ruthless men dragged another to his +doom when by unheard-of arts they had contrived a wooden snare, a +destroyer of Mice, which they call a trap. There was a third +whom I and his dear mother loved well, and him Puff-jaw has +carried out into the deep and drowned. Come, then, and let us +arm ourselves and go out against them when we have arrayed +ourselves in rich-wrought arms.' + +(ll. 122-131) With such words he persuaded them all to gird +themselves. And Ares who has charge of war equipped them. First +they fastened on greaves and covered their shins with green bean- +pods broken into two parts which they had gnawed out, standing +over them all night. Their breast plates were of skin stretched +on reeds, skilfully made from a ferret they had flayed. For +shields each had the centre-piece of a lamp, and their spears +were long needles all of bronze, the work of Ares, and the +helmets upon their temples were pea-nut shells. + +(ll. 132-138) So the Mice armed themselves. But when the Frogs +were aware of it, they rose up out of the water and coming +together to one place gathered a council of grievous war. And +while they were asking whence the quarrel arose, and what the +cause of this anger, a herald drew near bearing a wand in his +paws, Pot-visitor the son of great-hearted Cheese-carver. He +brought the grim message of war, speaking thus: + +(ll. 139-143) `Frogs, the Mice have sent me with their threats +against you, and bid you arm yourselves for war and battle; for +they have seen Crumb-snatcher in the water whom your king Puff- +jaw slew. Fight, then, as many of you as are warriors among the +Frogs.' + +(ll. 144-146) With these words he explained the matter. So when +this blameless speech came to their ears, the proud Frogs were +disturbed in their hearts and began to blame Puff-jaw. But he +rose up and said: + +(ll. 147-159) `Friends, I killed no Mouse, nor did I see one +perishing. Surely he was drowned while playing by the lake and +imitating the swimming of the Frogs, and now these wretches blame +me who am guiltless. Come then; let us take counsel how we may +utterly destroy the wily Mice. Moreover, I will tell you what I +think to be the best. Let us all gird on our armour and take our +stand on the very brink of the lake, where the ground breaks down +sheer: then when they come out and charge upon us, let each seize +by the crest the Mouse who attacks him, and cast them with their +helmets into the lake; for so we shall drown these dry-hobs (2) +in the water, and merrily set up here a trophy of victory over +the slaughtered Mice.' + +(ll. 160-167) By this speech he persuaded them to arm themselves. + +They covered their shins with leaves of mallows, and had +breastplates made of fine green beet-leaves, and cabbage-leaves, +skilfully fashioned, for shields. Each one was equipped with a +long, pointed rush for a spear, and smooth snail-shells to cover +their heads. Then they stood in close-locked ranks upon the high +bank, waving their spears, and were filled, each of them, with +courage. + +(ll. 168-173) Now Zeus called the gods to starry heaven and +showed them the martial throng and the stout warriors so many and +so great, all bearing long spears; for they were as the host of +the Centaurs and the Giants. Then he asked with a sly smile; +`Who of the deathless gods will help the Frogs and who the Mice?' + +And he said to Athena; + +(ll. 174-176) `My daughter, will you go aid the Mice? For they +all frolic about your temple continually, delighting in the fat +of sacrifice and in all kinds of food.' + +(ll. 177-196) So then said the son of Cronos. But Athena +answered him: `I would never go to help the Mice when they are +hard pressed, for they have done me much mischief, spoiling my +garlands and my lamps too, to get the oil. And this thing that +they have done vexes my heart exceedingly: they have eaten holes +in my sacred robe, which I wove painfully spinning a fine woof on +a fine warp, and made it full of holes. And now the money-lender +is at me and charges me interest which is a bitter thing for +immortals. For I borrowed to do my weaving, and have nothing +with which to repay. Yet even so I will not help the Frogs; for +they also are not considerable: once, when I was returning early +from war, I was very tired, and though I wanted to sleep, they +would not let me even doze a little for their outcry; and so I +lay sleepless with a headache until cock-crow. No, gods, let us +refrain from helping these hosts, or one of us may get wounded +with a sharp spear; for they fight hand to hand, even if a god +comes against them. Let us rather all amuse ourselves watching +the fight from heaven.' + +(ll. 197-198) So said Athena. And the other gods agreed with +her, and all went in a body to one place. + +(ll. 199-201) Then gnats with great trumpets sounded the fell +note of war, and Zeus the son of Cronos thundered from heaven, a +sign of grievous battle. + +(ll. 202-223) First Loud-croaker wounded Lickman in the belly, +right through the midriff. Down fell he on his face and soiled +his soft fur in the dust: he fell with a thud and his armour +clashed about him. Next Troglodyte shot at the son of Mudman, +and drove the strong spear deep into his breast; so he fell, and +black death seized him and his spirit flitted forth from his +mouth. Then Beety struck Pot-visitor to the heart and killed +him, and Bread-nibbler hit Loud-crier in the belly, so that he +fell on his face and his spirit flitted forth from his limbs. +Now when Pond-larker saw Loud-crier perishing, he struck in +quickly and wounded Troglodyte in his soft neck with a rock like +a mill-stone, so that darkness veiled his eyes. Thereat Ocimides +was seized with grief, and struck out with his sharp reed and did +not draw his spear back to him again, but felled his enemy there +and then. And Lickman shot at him with a bright spear and hit +him unerringly in the midriff. And as he marked Cabbage-eater +running away, he fell on the steep bank, yet even so did not +cease fighting but smote that other so that he fell and did not +rise again; and the lake was dyed with red blood as he lay +outstretched along the shore, pierced through the guts and +shining flanks. Also he slew Cheese-eater on the very brink.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 224-251) But Reedy took to flight when he saw Ham-nibbler, +and fled, plunging into the lake and throwing away his shield. +Then blameless Pot-visitor killed Brewer and Water-larked killed +the lord Ham-nibbler, striking him on the head with a pebble, so +that his brains flowed out at his nostrils and the earth was +bespattered with blood. Faultless Muck-coucher sprang upon Lick- +platter and killed him with his spear and brought darkness upon +his eyes: and Leeky saw it, and dragged Lick-platter by the foot, +though he was dead, and choked him in the lake. But Crumb- +snatcher was fighting to avenge his dead comrades, and hit Leeky +before he reached the land; and he fell forward at the blow and +his soul went down to Hades. And seeing this, the Cabbage- +climber took a clod of mud and hurled it at the Mouse, plastering +all his forehead and nearly blinding him. Thereat Crumb-snatcher +was enraged and caught up in his strong hand a huge stone that +lay upon the ground, a heavy burden for the soil: with that he +hit Cabbage-climber below the knee and splintered his whole right +shin, hurling him on his back in the dust. But Croakperson kept +him off, and rushing at the Mouse in turn, hit him in the middle +of the belly and drove the whole reed-spear into him, and as he +drew the spear back to him with his strong hand, all his foe's +bowels gushed out upon the ground. And when Troglodyte saw the +deed, as he was limping away from the fight on the river bank, he +shrank back sorely moved, and leaped into a trench to escape +sheer death. Then Bread-nibbler hit Puff-jaw on the toes -- he +came up at the last from the lake and was greatly distressed.... + +((LACUNA)) + +(ll. 252-259) And when Leeky saw him fallen forward, but still +half alive, he pressed through those who fought in front and +hurled a sharp reed at him; but the point of the spear was stayed +and did not break his shield. Then noble Rueful, like Ares +himself, struck his flawless head-piece made of four pots -- he +only among the Frogs showed prowess in the throng. But when he +saw the other rush at him, he did not stay to meet the stout- +hearted hero but dived down to the depths of the lake. + +(ll. 260-271) Now there was one among the Mice, Slice-snatcher, +who excelled the rest, dear son of Gnawer the son of blameless +Bread-stealer. He went to his house and bade his son take part +in the war. This warrior threatened to destroy the race of Frogs +utterly (3), and splitting a chestnut-husk into two parts along +the joint, put the two hollow pieces as armour on his paws: then +straightway the Frogs were dismayed and all rushed down to the +lake, and he would have made good his boast -- for he had great +strength -- had not the Son of Cronos, the Father of men and +gods, been quick to mark the thing and pitied the Frogs as they +were perishing. He shook his head, and uttered this word: + +(ll. 272-276) `Dear, dear, how fearful a deed do my eyes behold! +Slice-snatcher makes no small panic rushing to and fro among the +Frogs by the lake. Let us then make all haste and send warlike +Pallas or even Ares, for they will stop his fighting, strong +though he is.' + +(ll. 277-284) So said the Son of Cronos; but Hera answered him: +`Son of Cronos, neither the might of Athena nor of Ares can avail +to deliver the Frogs from utter destruction. Rather, come and +let us all go to help them, or else let loose your weapon, the +great and formidable Titan-killer with which you killed Capaneus, +that doughty man, and great Enceladus and the wild tribes of +Giants; ay, let it loose, for so the most valiant will be slain.' + +(ll. 285-293) So said Hera: and the Son of Cronos cast a lurid +thunderbolt: first he thundered and made great Olympus shake, and +the cast the thunderbolt, the awful weapon of Zeus, tossing it +lightly forth. Thus he frightened them all, Frogs and Mice +alike, hurling his bolt upon them. Yet even so the army of the +Mice did not relax, but hoped still more to destroy the brood of +warrior Frogs. Only, the Son of Cronos, on Olympus, pitied the +Frogs and then straightway sent them helpers. + +(ll. 294-303) So there came suddenly warriors with mailed backs +and curving claws, crooked beasts that walked sideways, nut- +cracker-jawed, shell-hided: bony they were, flat-backed, with +glistening shoulders and bandy legs and stretching arms and eyes +that looked behind them. They had also eight legs and two +feelers -- persistent creatures who are called crabs. These +nipped off the tails and paws and feet of the Mice with their +jaws, while spears only beat on them. Of these the Mice were all +afraid and no longer stood up to them, but turned and fled. +Already the sun was set, and so came the end of the one-day war. + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) Lines 42-52 are intrusive; the list of vegetables which the + Mouse cannot eat must follow immediately after the various + dishes of which he does eat. +(2) lit. `those unable to swim'. +(3) This may be a parody of Orion's threat in Hesiod, + "Astronomy", frag. 4. + + + +OF THE ORIGIN OF HOMER AND HESIOD, AND OF THEIR CONTEST +(aka "The Contest of Homer and Hesiod") + +Everyone boasts that the most divine of poets, Homer and Hesiod, +are said to be his particular countrymen. Hesiod, indeed, has +put a name to his native place and so prevented any rivalry, for +he said that his father `settled near Helicon in a wretched +hamlet, Ascra, which is miserable in winter, sultry in summer, +and good at no season.' But, as for Homer, you might almost say +that every city with its inhabitants claims him as her son. +Foremost are the men of Smyrna who say that he was the Son of +Meles, the river of their town, by a nymph Cretheis, and that he +was at first called Melesigenes. He was named Homer later, when +he became blind, this being their usual epithet for such people. +The Chians, on the other hand, bring forward evidence to show +that he was their countryman, saying that there actually remain +some of his descendants among them who are called Homeridae. The +Colophonians even show the place where they declare that he began +to compose when a schoolmaster, and say that his first work was +the "Margites". + +As to his parents also, there is on all hands great disagreement. + +Hellanicus and Cleanthes say his father was Maeon, but Eugaeon +says Meles; Callicles is for Mnesagoras, Democritus of Troezen +for Daemon, a merchant-trader. Some, again, say he was the son +of Thamyras, but the Egyptians say of Menemachus, a priest- +scribe, and there are even those who father him on Telemachus, +the son of Odysseus. As for his mother, she is variously called +Metis, Cretheis, Themista, and Eugnetho. Others say she was an +Ithacan woman sold as a slave by the Phoenicians; other, Calliope +the Muse; others again Polycasta, the daughter of Nestor. + +Homer himself was called Meles or, according to different +accounts, Melesigenes or Altes. Some authorities say he was +called Homer, because his father was given as a hostage to the +Persians by the men of Cyprus; others, because of his blindness; +for amongst the Aeolians the blind are so called. We will set +down, however, what we have heard to have been said by the Pythia +concerning Homer in the time of the most sacred Emperor Hadrian. +When the monarch inquired from what city Homer came, and whose +son he was, the priestess delivered a response in hexameters +after this fashion: + +`Do you ask me of the obscure race and country of the heavenly +siren? Ithaca is his country, Telemachus his father, and +Epicasta, Nestor's daughter, the mother that bare him, a man by +far the wisest of mortal kind.' This we must most implicitly +believe, the inquirer and the answerer being who they are -- +especially since the poet has so greatly glorified his +grandfather in his works. + +Now some say that he was earlier than Hesiod, others that he was +younger and akin to him. They give his descent thus: Apollo and +Aethusa, daughter of Poseidon, had a son Linus, to whom was born +Pierus. From Pierus and the nymph Methone sprang Oeager; and +from Oeager and Calliope Orpheus; from Orpheus, Dres; and from +him, Eucles. The descent is continued through Iadmonides, +Philoterpes, Euphemus, Epiphrades and Melanopus who had sons Dius +and Apelles. Dius by Pycimede, the daughter of Apollo had two +sons Hesiod and Perses; while Apelles begot Maeon who was the +father of Homer by a daughter of the River Meles. + +According to one account they flourished at the same time and +even had a contest of skill at Chalcis in Euboea. For, they say, +after Homer had composed the "Margites", he went about from city +to city as a minstrel, and coming to Delphi, inquired who he was +and of what country? The Pythia answered: + +`The Isle of Ios is your mother's country and it shall receive +you dead; but beware of the riddle of the young children.' (1) + +Hearing this, it is said, he hesitated to go to Ios, and remained +in the region where he was. Now about the same time Ganyctor was +celebrating the funeral rites of his father Amphidamas, king of +Euboea, and invited to the gathering not only all those who were +famous for bodily strength and fleetness of foot, but also those +who excelled in wit, promising them great rewards. And so, as +the story goes, the two went to Chalcis and met by chance. The +leading Chalcidians were judges together with Paneides, the +brother of the dead king; and it is said that after a wonderful +contest between the two poets, Hesiod won in the following +manner: he came forward into the midst and put Homer one question +after another, which Homer answered. Hesiod, then, began: + +`Homer, son of Meles, inspired with wisdom from heaven, come, +tell me first what is best for mortal man?' + +HOMER: `For men on earth 'tis best never to be born at all; or +being born, to pass through the gates of Hades with all speed.' + +Hesiod then asked again: + +`Come, tell me now this also, godlike Homer: what think you in +your heart is most delightsome to men?' + +Homer answered: + +`When mirth reigns throughout the town, and feasters about the +house, sitting in order, listen to a minstrel; when the tables +beside them are laden with bread and meat, and a wine-bearer +draws sweet drink from the mixing-bowl and fills the cups: this I +think in my heart to be most delightsome.' + +It is said that when Homer had recited these verses, they were so +admired by the Greeks as to be called golden by them, and that +even now at public sacrifices all the guests solemnly recite them +before feasts and libations. Hesiod, however, was annoyed by +Homer's felicity and hurried on to pose him with hard questions. +He therefore began with the following lines: + +`Come, Muse; sing not to me of things that are, or that shall be, +or that were of old; but think of another song.' + +Then Homer, wishing to escape from the impasse by an apt answer, +replied: -- + +`Never shall horses with clattering hoofs break chariots, +striving for victory about the tomb of Zeus.' + +Here again Homer had fairly met Hesiod, and so the latter turned +to sentences of doubtful meaning (2): he recited many lines and +required Homer to complete the sense of each appropriately. The +first of the following verses is Hesiod's and the next Homer's: +but sometimes Hesiod puts his question in two lines. + +HESIOD: `Then they dined on the flesh of oxen and their horses' +necks --' + +HOMER: `They unyoked dripping with sweat, when they had had +enough of war.' + +HESIOD: `And the Phrygians, who of all men are handiest at ships +--' + +HOMER: `To filch their dinner from pirates on the beach.' + +HESIOD: `To shoot forth arrows against the tribes of cursed +giants with his hands --' + +HOMER: `Heracles unslung his curved bow from his shoulders.' + +HESIOD: `This man is the son of a brave father and a weakling --' + +HOMER: `Mother; for war is too stern for any woman.' + +HESIOD: `But for you, your father and lady mother lay in love --' + +HOMER: `When they begot you by the aid of golden Aphrodite.' + +HESIOD: `But when she had been made subject in love, Artemis, who +delights in arrows --' + +HOMER: `Slew Callisto with a shot of her silver bow.' + +HESIOD: `So they feasted all day long, taking nothing --' + +HOMER: `From their own houses; for Agamemnon, king of men, +supplied them.' + +HESIOD: `When they had feasted, they gathered among the glowing +ashes the bones of the dead Zeus --' + +HOMER: `Born Sarpedon, that bold and godlike man.' + +HESIOD: `Now we have lingered thus about the plain of Simois, +forth from the ships let us go our way, upon our shoulders --' + +HOMER: `Having our hilted swords and long-helved spears.' + +HESIOD: `Then the young heroes with their hands from the sea --' + +HOMER: `Gladly and swiftly hauled out their fleet ship.' + +HESIOD: `Then they came to Colchis and king Aeetes --' + +HOMER: `They avoided; for they knew he was inhospitable and +lawless.' + +HESIOD: `Now when they had poured libations and deeply drunk, the +surging sea --' + +HOMER: `They were minded to traverse on well-built ships.' + +HESIOD: `The Son of Atreus prayed greatly for them that they all +might perish --' + +HOMER: `At no time in the sea: and he opened his mouth said:' + +HESIOD: `Eat, my guests, and drink, and may no one of you return +home to his dear country --' + +HOMER: `Distressed; but may you all reach home again unscathed.' + +When Homer had met him fairly on every point Hesiod said: + +`Only tell me this thing that I ask: How many Achaeans went to +Ilium with the sons of Atreus?' + +Homer answered in a mathematical problem, thus: + +`There were fifty hearths, and at each hearth were fifty spits, +and on each spit were fifty carcases, and there were thrice three +hundred Achaeans to each joint.' + +This is found to be an incredible number; for as there were fifty +hearths, the number of spits is two thousand five hundred; and of +carcasses, one hundred and twenty thousand... + +Homer, then, having the advantage on every point, Hesiod was +jealous and began again: + +`Homer, son of Meles, if indeed the Muses, daughters of great +Zeus the most high, honour you as it is said, tell me a standard +that is both best and worst for mortal-men; for I long to know +it.' Homer replied: `Hesiod, son of Dius, I am willing to tell +you what you command, and very readily will I answer you. For +each man to be a standard will I answer you. For each man to be +a standard to himself is most excellent for the good, but for the +bad it is the worst of all things. And now ask me whatever else +your heart desires.' + +HESIOD: `How would men best dwell in cities, and with what +observances?' + +HOMER: `By scorning to get unclean gain and if the good were +honoured, but justice fell upon the unjust.' + +HESIOD: `What is the best thing of all for a man to ask of the +gods in prayer?' + +HOMER: `That he may be always at peace with himself continually.' + +HESIOD: `Can you tell me in briefest space what is best of all?' + +HOMER: `A sound mind in a manly body, as I believe.' + +HESIOD: `Of what effect are righteousness and courage?' + +HOMER: `To advance the common good by private pains.' + +HESIOD: `What is the mark of wisdom among men?' + +HOMER: `To read aright the present, and to march with the +occasion.' + +HESIOD: `In what kind of matter is it right to trust in men?' + +HOMER: `Where danger itself follows the action close.' + +HESIOD: `What do men mean by happiness?' + +HOMER: `Death after a life of least pain and greatest pleasure.' + +After these verses had been spoken, all the Hellenes called for +Homer to be crowned. But King Paneides bade each of them recite +the finest passage from his own poems. Hesiod, therefore, began +as follows: + +`When the Pleiads, the daughters of Atlas, begin to rise begin +the harvest, and begin ploughing ere they set. For forty nights +and days they are hidden, but appear again as the year wears +round, when first the sickle is sharpened. This is the law of +the plains and for those who dwell near the sea or live in the +rich-soiled valleys, far from the wave-tossed deep: strip to sow, +and strip to plough, and strip to reap when all things are in +season.' (3) + +Then Homer: + +`The ranks stood firm about the two Aiantes, such that not even +Ares would have scorned them had he met them, nor yet Athena who +saves armies. For there the chosen best awaited the charge of +the Trojans and noble Hector, making a fence of spears and +serried shields. Shield closed with shield, and helm with helm, +and each man with his fellow, and the peaks of their head-pieces +with crests of horse-hair touched as they bent their heads: so +close they stood together. The murderous battle bristled with +the long, flesh-rending spears they held, and the flash of bronze +from polished helms and new-burnished breast-plates and gleaming +shields blinded the eyes. Very hard of heart would he have been, +who could then have seen that strife with joy and felt no pang.' +(4) + +Here, again, the Hellenes applauded Homer admiringly, so far did +the verses exceed the ordinary level; and demanded that he should +be adjudged the winner. But the king gave the crown to Hesiod, +declaring that it was right that he who called upon men to follow +peace and husbandry should have the prize rather than one who +dwelt on war and slaughter. In this way, then, we are told, +Hesiod gained the victory and received a brazen tripod which he +dedicated to the Muses with this inscription: + +`Hesiod dedicated this tripod to the Muses of Helicon after he +had conquered divine Homer at Chalcis in a contest of song.' + +After the gathering was dispersed, Hesiod crossed to the mainland +and went to Delphi to consult the oracle and to dedicate the +first fruits of his victory to the god. They say that as he was +approaching the temple, the prophetess became inspired and said: + +`Blessed is this man who serves my house, -- Hesiod, who is +honoured by the deathless Muses: surely his renown shall be as +wide as the light of dawn is spread. But beware of the pleasant +grove of Nemean Zeus; for there death's end is destined to befall +you.' + +When Hesiod heard this oracle, he kept away from the +Peloponnesus, supposing that the god meant the Nemea there; and +coming to Oenoe in Locris, he stayed with Amphiphanes and +Ganyetor the sons of Phegeus, thus unconsciously fulfilling the +oracle; for all that region was called the sacred place of Nemean +Zeus. He continued to stay a somewhat long time at Oenoe, until +the young men, suspecting Hesiod of seducing their sister, killed +him and cast his body into the sea which separates Achaea and +Locris. On the third day, however, his body was brought to land +by dolphins while some local feast of Ariadne was being held. +Thereupon, all the people hurried to the shore, and recognized +the body, lamented over it and buried it, and then began to look +for the assassins. But these, fearing the anger of their +countrymen, launched a fishing boat, and put out to sea for +Crete: they had finished half their voyage when Zeus sank them +with a thunderbolt, as Alcidamas states in his "Museum". +Eratosthenes, however, says in his "Hesiod" that Ctimenus and +Antiphus, sons of Ganyetor, killed him for the reason already +stated, and were sacrificed by Eurycles the seer to the gods of +hospitality. He adds that the girl, sister of the above-named, +hanged herself after she had been seduced, and that she was +seduced by some stranger, Demodes by name, who was travelling +with Hesiod, and who was also killed by the brothers. At a later +time the men of Orchomenus removed his body as they were directed +by an oracle, and buried him in their own country where they +placed this inscription on his tomb: + +`Ascra with its many cornfields was his native land; but in death +the land of the horse-driving Minyans holds the bones of Hesiod, +whose renown is greatest among men of all who are judged by the +test of wit.' + +So much for Hesiod. But Homer, after losing the victory, went +from place to place reciting his poems, and first of all the +"Thebais" in seven thousand verses which begins: `Goddess, sing +of parched Argos whence kings...', and then the "Epigoni" in +seven thousand verses beginning: `And now, Muses, let us begin to +sing of men of later days'; for some say that these poems also +are by Homer. Now Xanthus and Gorgus, son of Midas the king, +heard his epics and invited him to compose a epitaph for the tomb +of their father on which was a bronze figure of a maiden +bewailing the death of Midas. He wrote the following lines: -- + +`I am a maiden of bronze and sit upon the tomb of Midas. While +water flows, and tall trees put forth leaves, and rivers swell, +and the sea breaks on the shore; while the sun rises and shines +and the bright moon also, ever remaining on this mournful tomb I +tell the passer-by that Midas here lies buried.' + +For these verses they gave him a silver bowl which he dedicated +to Apollo at Delphi with this inscription: `Lord Phoebus, I, +Homer, have given you a noble gift for the wisdom I have of you: +do you ever grant me renown.' + +After this he composed the "Odyssey" in twelve thousand verses, +having previously written the "Iliad" in fifteen thousand five +hundred verses (5). From Delphi, as we are told, he went to +Athens and was entertained by Medon, king of the Athenians. And +being one day in the council hall when it was cold and a fire was +burning there, he drew off the following lines: + +`Children are a man's crown, and towers of a city, horses are the +ornament of a plain, and ships of the sea; and good it is to see +a people seated in assembly. But with a blazing fire a house +looks worthier upon a wintry day when the Son of Cronos sends +down snow.' + +From Athens he went on to Corinth, where he sang snatches of his +poems and was received with distinction. Next he went to Argos +and there recited these verses from the "Iliad": + +`The sons of the Achaeans who held Argos and walled Tiryns, and +Hermione and Asine which lie along a deep bay, and Troezen, and +Eiones, and vine-clad Epidaurus, and the island of Aegina, and +Mases, -- these followed strong-voiced Diomedes, son of Tydeus, +who had the spirit of his father the son of Oeneus, and +Sthenelus, dear son of famous Capaneus. And with these two there +went a third leader, Eurypylus, a godlike man, son of the lord +Mecisteus, sprung of Talaus; but strong-voiced Diomedes was their +chief leader. These men had eighty dark ships wherein were +ranged men skilled in war, Argives with linen jerkins, very goads +of war.' (6) + +This praise of their race by the most famous of all poets so +exceedingly delighted the leading Argives, that they rewarded him +with costly gifts and set up a brazen statue to him, decreeing +that sacrifice should be offered to Homer daily, monthly, and +yearly; and that another sacrifice should be sent to Chios every +five years. This is the inscription they cut upon his statue: + +`This is divine Homer who by his sweet-voiced art honoured all +proud Hellas, but especially the Argives who threw down the god- +built walls of Troy to avenge rich-haired Helen. For this cause +the people of a great city set his statue here and serve him with +the honours of the deathless gods.' + +After he had stayed for some time in Argos, he crossed over to +Delos, to the great assembly, and there, standing on the altar of +horns, he recited the "Hymn to Apollo" (7) which begins: `I will +remember and not forget Apollo the far-shooter.' When the hymn +was ended, the Ionians made him a citizen of each one of their +states, and the Delians wrote the poem on a whitened tablet and +dedicated it in the temple of Artemis. The poet sailed to Ios, +after the assembly was broken up, to join Creophylus, and stayed +there some time, being now an old man. And, it is said, as he +was sitting by the sea he asked some boys who were returning from +fishing: + +`Sirs, hunters of deep-sea prey, have we caught anything?' + +To this replied: + +`All that we caught, we left behind, and carry away all that we +did not catch.' + +Homer did not understand this reply and asked what they meant. +They then explained that they had caught nothing in fishing, but +had been catching their lice, and those of the lice which they +caught, they left behind; but carried away in their clothes those +which they did not catch. Hereupon Homer remembered the oracle +and, perceiving that the end of his life had come composed his +own epitaph. And while he was retiring from that place, he +slipped in a clayey place and fell upon his side, and died, it is +said, the third day after. He was buried in Ios, and this is his +epitaph: + +`Here the earth covers the sacred head of divine Homer, the +glorifier of hero-men.' + + +ENDNOTES: + +(1) sc. the riddle of the fisher-boys which comes at the end of + this work. +(2) The verses of Hesiod are called doubtful in meaning because + they are, if taken alone, either incomplete or absurd. +(3) "Works and Days", ll. 383-392. +(4) "Iliad" xiii, ll. 126-133, 339-344. +(5) The accepted text of the "Iliad" contains 15,693 verses; + that of the "Odyssey", 12,110. +(6) "Iliad" ii, ll. 559-568 (with two additional verses). +(7) "Homeric Hymns", iii. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, +and Homerica + + diff --git a/old/homer10.zip b/old/homer10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0515355 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/homer10.zip |