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.
μνήσομαι οὐδὲ λάθωμαι Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο,ὅντε θεοὶ κατὰ δῶμα Διὸς τρομέουσιν ἰόντα·καί ῥά τʼ ἀναΐσσουσιν ἐπὶ σχεδὸν ἐρχομένοιοπάντες ἀφʼ ἑδράων, ὅτε φαίδιμα τόξα τιταίνει.
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:
Λητὼ δʼ οἴη μίμνε παραὶ Διὶ τερπικεραύνῳ,ἥ ῥα βιόν τʼ ἐχάλασσε καὶ ἐκλήισσε φαρέτρην,καί οἱ ἀπʼ ἰφθίμων ὤμων χείρεσσιν ἑλοῦσατόξα κατεκρέμασε πρὸς κίονα πατρὸς ἑοῖοπασσάλου ἐκ χρυσέου· τὸν δʼ ἐς θρόνον εἷσεν ἄγουσα.
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. How, then, shall I sing of you who in all ways are a worthy theme of song?
τῷ δʼ ἄρα νέκταρ ἔδωκε πατὴρ δέπαϊ χρυσείῳδεικνύμενος φίλον υἱόν· ἔπειτα δὲ δαίμονες ἄλλοιἔνθα καθίζουσιν· χαίρει δέ τε πότνια Λητώ,οὕνεκα τοξοφόρον καὶ καρτερὸν υἱὸν ἔτικτε.χαῖρε, μάκαιρʼ ὦ Λητοῖ, ἐπεὶ τέκες ἀγλαὰ τέκνα,Ἀπόλλωνά τʼ ἄνακτα καὶ Ἄρτεμιν ἰοχέαιραν,τὴν μὲν ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ, τὸν δὲ κραναῇ ἐνὶ Δήλῳ,κεκλιμένη πρὸς μακρὸν ὄρος καὶ Κύνθιον ὄχθον,ἀγχοτάτω φοίνικος, ἐπʼ Ἰνωποῖο ῥεέθροις.πῶς τʼ ἄρ σʼ ὑμνήσω πάντως εὔυμνον ἐόντα;
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.
πάντη γάρ τοι, Φοῖβε, νόμοι βεβλήατʼ ἀοιδοῖς,ἠμὲν ἀνʼ ἤπειρον πορτιτρόφον ἠδʼ ἀνὰ νήσους·πᾶσαι δὲ σκοπιαί τοι ἅδον καὶ πρώονες ἄκροιὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ποταμοί θʼ ἅλαδε προρέοντεςἀκταί τʼ εἰς ἅλα κεκλιμέναι λιμένες τε θαλάσσης.
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?
ἦ ὥς σε πρῶτον Λητὼ τέκε, χάρμα βροτοῖσι,κλινθεῖσα πρὸς Κύνθου ὄρος κραναῇ ἐνὶ νήσῳ,Δήλῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ; ἑκάτερθε δὲ κῦμα κελαινὸνἐξῄει χέρσονδε λιγυπνοίοις ἀνέμοισιν,ἔνθεν ἀπορνύμενος πᾶσι θνητοῖσιν ἀνάσσεις.
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 Corycusand 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: “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 youfrom the hand of strangers; for truly your own soil is not rich.” 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 ofamong men, whereas thus I should become very greatly honored. 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.
ὅσσους Κρήτη τʼ ἐντὸς ἔχει καὶ δῆμος Ἀθηνῶννῆσός τʼ Αἰγίνη ναυσικλειτή τʼ Εὔβοια,Αἰγαί, Πειρεσίαι τε καὶ ἀγχιάλη ΠεπάρηθοςΘρηίκιός τʼ Ἀθόως καὶ Πηλίου ἄκρα κάρηναΘρηικίη τε Σάμος Ἴδης τʼ ὄρεα σκιόεντα,Σκῦρος καὶ Φώκαια καὶ Αὐτοκάνης ὄρος αἰπύ,Ἴμβρος τʼ εὐκτιμένη καὶ Λῆμνος ἀμιχθαλόεσσαΛέσβος τʼ ἠγαθέη, Μάκαρος ἕδος Αἰολίωνος,καὶ Χίος, ἣ νήσων λιπαρωτάτη εἰν ἁλὶ κεῖται,παιπαλόεις τε Μίμας καὶ Κωρύκου ἄκρα κάρηνακαὶ Κλάρος αἰγλήεσσα καὶ Αἰσαγέης ὄρος αἰπὺκαὶ Σάμος ὑδρηλὴ Μυκάλης τʼ αἰπεινὰ κάρηναΜίλητός τε Κόως τε, πόλις Μερόπων ἀνθρώπων,καὶ Κνίδος αἰπεινὴ καὶ Κάρπαθος ἠνεμόεσσαΝάξος τʼ ἠδὲ Πάρος Ῥήναιά τε πετρήεσσα,τόσσον ἔπʼ ὠδίνουσα Ἑκηβόλον ἵκετο Λητώ,εἴ τίς οἱ γαιέων υἱεῖ θέλοι οἰκία θέσθαι.αἳ δὲ μάλʼ ἐτρόμεον καὶ ἐδείδισαν, οὐδέ τις ἔτληΦοῖβον δέξασθαι, καὶ πιοτέρη περ ἐοῦσα·πρίν γʼ ὅτε δή ῥʼ ἐπὶ Δήλου ἐβήσατο πότνια Λητὼκαί μιν ἀνειρομένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·δῆλʼ, εἰ γάρ κʼ ἐθέλοις ἕδος ἔμμεναι υἷος ἐμοῖο,Φοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος, θέσθαι τʼ ἔνι πίονα νηόν, —ἄλλος δʼ οὔτις σεῖό ποθʼ ἅψεται, οὐδέ σε λήσει·οὐδʼ εὔβων σέ γʼ ἔσεσθαι ὀίομαι οὔτʼ εὔμηλον,οὐδὲ τρύγην οἴσεις οὔτʼ ἂρ φυτὰ μυρία φύσεις.εἰ δέ κʼ Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκαέργου νηὸν ἔχῃσθα,ἄνθρωποί τοι πάντες ἀγινήσουσʼ ἑκατόμβαςἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρόμενοι, κνίσση δέ τοι ἄσπετος αἰεὶδημοῦ ἀναΐξει βοσκήσεις θʼ οἵ κέ σʼ ἔχωσιχειρὸς ἀπʼ ἀλλοτρίης, ἐπεὶ οὔ τοι πῖαρ ὑπʼ οὖδας.ὣς φάτο· χαῖρε δὲ Δῆλος, ἀμειβομένη δὲ προσηύδα·Λητοῖ, κυδίστη θύγατερ μεγάλου Κοίοιο,ἀσπασίη κεν ἐγώ γε γονὴν ἑκάτοιο ἄνακτοςδεξαίμην· αἰνῶς γὰρ ἐτήτυμόν εἰμι δυσηχὴςἀνδράσιν· ὧδε δέ κεν περιτιμήεσσα γενοίμην.ἀλλὰ τόδε τρομέω, Λητοῖ, ἔπος, οὐδέ σε κεύσω·λίην γάρ τινά φασιν ἀτάσθαλον Ἀπόλλωναἔσσεσθαι, μέγα δὲ πρυτανευσέμεν ἀθανάτοισικαὶ θνητοῖσι βροτοῖσιν ἐπὶ ζείδωρον ἄρουραν.
Therefore, I greatly fear in heart and spirit that as soon as he sees 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 swear a great oath, goddess,that here first he will build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, then let him afterwardsmake temples and wooded groves amongst all men; for surely he will be greatly renowned. So said Delos. And Leto swear 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 honor above all.” 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'scontriving, who kept her close through envy, because Leto with the lovely tresses was soon to bear a son faultless and strong. 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.
τῷ ῥʼ αἰνῶς δείδοικα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν,μή, ὁπότʼ ἂν τὸ πρῶτον ἴδῃ φάος ἠελίοιο,νῆσον ἀτιμήσας, ἐπεὶ ἦ κραναήπεδός εἰμι,ποσσὶ καταστρέψας ὤσῃ ἁλὸς ἐν πελάγεσσιν,ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν μέγα κῦμα κατὰ κρατὸς ἅλις αἰεὶκλύσσει· ὃ δʼ ἄλλην γαῖαν ἀφίξεται, ἥ κεν ἅδῃ οἱ,τεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα·πουλύποδες δʼ ἐν ἐμοὶ θαλάμας φῶκαί τε μέλαιναιοἰκία ποιήσονται ἀκηδέα, χήτεϊ λαῶν.ἀλλʼ εἴ μοι τλαίης γε, θεά, μέγαν ὅρκον ὀμόσσαι,ἐνθάδε μιν πρῶτον τεύξειν περικαλλέα νηὸνἔμμεναι ἀνθρώπων χρηστήριον, αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα[τεύξασθαι νηούς τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρηέντα ]πάντας ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπους, ἐπεὶ ἦ πολυώνυμος ἔσται.ὣς ἄρ ἔφη· Λητὼ δὲ θεῶν μέγαν ὅρκον ὄμοσσε·ἴστω νῦν τάδε Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθενκαὶ τὸ κατειβόμενον Στυγὸς ὕδωρ, ὅστε μέγιστοςὅρκος δεινότατός τε πέλει μακάρεσσι θεοῖσιν·ἦ μὴν Φοίβου τῇδε θυώδης ἔσσεται αἰεὶβωμὸς καὶ τέμενος, τίσει δέ σέ γʼ ἔξοχα πάντων.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ὄμοσέν τε τελεύτησέν τε τὸν ὅρκον,Δῆλος μὲν μάλα χαῖρε γονῇ ἑκάτοιο ἄνακτος·Λητὼ δʼ ἐννῆμάρ τε καὶ ἐννέα νύκτας ἀέλπτοιςὠδίνεσσι πέπαρτο. θεαὶ δʼ ἔσαν ἔνδοθι πᾶσαι,ὅσσαι ἄρισται ἔασι, Διώνη τε Ῥείη τεἸχναίη τε Θέμις καὶ ἀγάστονος Ἀμφιτρίτηἄλλαι τʼ ἀθάναται νόσφιν λευκωλένου Ἥρης·ἧστο γὰρ ἐν μεγάροισι Διὸς νεφεληγερέταο·μούνη δʼ οὐκ ἐπέπυστο μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια·ἧστο γὰρ ἄκρῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑπὸ χρυσέοισι νέφεσσιν,Ἥρης φραδμοσύνης λευκωλένου, ἥ μιν ἔρυκεζηλοσύνῃ, ὅτʼ ἄρʼ υἱὸν ἀμύμονά τε κρατερόν τεΛητὼ τέξεσθαι καλλιπλόκαμος τότʼ ἔμελλεν.αἳ δʼ Ἶριν προὔπεμψαν ἐυκτιμένης ἀπὸ νήσου,ἀξέμεν Εἰλείθυιαν, ὑποσχόμεναι μέγαν ὅρμον,χρυσείοισι λίνοισιν ἐερμένον, ἐννεάπηχυν·
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.
νόσφιν δʼ ἤνωγον καλέειν λευκωλένου Ἥρης,μή μιν ἔπειτʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀποστρέψειεν ἰοῦσαν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τό γʼ ἄκουσε ποδήνεμος ὠκέα Ἶρις,βῆ ῥα θέειν, ταχέως δὲ διήνυσε πᾶν τὸ μεσηγύ.αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥʼ ἵκανε θεῶν ἕδος, αἰπὺν Ὄλυμπον,αὐτίκʼ ἄρʼ Εἰλείθυιαν ἀπὲκ μεγάροιο θύραζεἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα,πάντα μάλʼ, ὡς ἐπέτελλον Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχουσαι.τῇ δʼ ἄρα θυμὸν ἔπειθεν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·βὰν δὲ ποσὶ τρήρωσι πελειάσιν ἴθμαθʼ ὁμοῖαι.
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 raised a cry.
εὖτʼ ἐπὶ Δήλου ἔβαινε μογοστόκος Εἰλείθυια,δὴ τότε τὴν τόκος εἷλε, μενοίνησεν δὲ τεκέσθαι.ἀμφὶ δὲ φοίνικι βάλε πήχεε, γοῦνα δʼ ἔρεισελειμῶνι μαλακῷ· μείδησε δὲ γαῖʼ ὑπένερθεν·ἐκ δʼ ἔθορε πρὸ φόωσδε· θεαὶ δʼ ὀλόλυξαν ἅπασαι.
Straightway, great Phoebus, 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. Now Leto did not give Apollo, bearer of the golden blade, her breast; but Themis duly poured nectar and ambrosiawith 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.
ἔνθα σέ, ἤιε Φοῖβε, θεαὶ λόον ὕδατι καλῷἁγνῶς καὶ καθαρῶς, σπάρξαν δʼ ἐν φάρεϊ λευκῷ,λεπτῷ, νηγατέῳ· περὶ δὲ χρύσεον στρόφον ἧκαν.οὐδʼ ἄρʼ Ἀπόλλωνα χρυσάορα θήσατο μήτηρ,ἀλλὰ Θέμις νέκταρ τε καὶ ἀμβροσίην ἐρατεινὴνἀθανάτῃσιν χερσὶν ἐπήρξατο· χαῖρε δὲ Λητώ,οὕνεκα τοξοφόρον καὶ καρτερὸν υἱὸν ἔτικτεν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δή, Φοῖβε, κατέβρως ἄμβροτον εἶδαρ,οὔ σέ γʼ ἔπειτʼ ἴσχον χρύσεοι στρόφοι ἀσπαίροντα,οὐδʼ ἔτι δέσματʼ ἔρυκε, λύοντο δὲ πείρατα πάντα.
Forth-with Phoebus Apollo spoke out among the deathless goddesses: “The lyre and the curved bow shall ever be dear to me, and I will declare to men the unfailing will of Zeus.” So said Phoebus, the long-haired god who shoots afar and began to walk upon the wide-pathed earth;and all the 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.] blossomed as does a mountain-top with woodland flowers.
αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτῃσι μετηύδα Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·εἴη μοι κίθαρίς τε φίλη καὶ καμπύλα τόξα,χρήσω δʼ ἀνθρώποισι Διὸς νημερτέα βουλήν.ὣς εἰπὼν ἐβίβασκεν ἐπὶ χθονὸς εὐρυοδείηςΦοῖβος ἀκερσεκόμης, ἑκατηβόλος· αἳ δʼ ἄρα πᾶσαιθάμβεον ἀθάναται· χρυσῷ δʼ ἄρα Δῆλος ἅπασα[βεβρίθει, καθορῶσα Διὸς Λητοὺς τε γενέθλην,γηθοσύνῃ, ὅτι μιν θεὸς εἵλετο οἰκία θέσθαινήσων ἠπείρου τε, φίλησε δὲ κηρόθι μᾶλλον. ]ἤνθησʼ, ὡς ὅτε τε ῥίον οὔρεος ἄνθεσιν ὕλης.
And you, O lord Apollo, god of the silver bow, shooting afar, now walked on craggy Cynthus, and now kept wandering about the islands and the people in them. Many are your temples and wooded groves, and all peaks and towering bluffsof 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 honor with their children and shy wives: with boxing and dancing and song,mindful, they delight you 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 womenwith 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.
αὐτὸς δʼ, ἀργυρότοξε, ἄναξ ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον,ἄλλοτε μέν τʼ ἐπὶ Κύνθου ἐβήσαο παιπαλόεντος,ἄλλοτε δʼ ἂν νήσους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἠλάσκαζες.πολλοί τοι νηοί τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα·πᾶσαι δὲ σκοπιαί τε φίλαι καὶ πρώονες ἄκροιὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ποταμοί θʼ ἅλαδε προρέοντες·ἀλλὰ σὺ Δήλῳ, Φοῖβε, μάλιστʼ ἐπιτέρπεαι ἦτορ,ἔνθα τοι ἑλκεχίτωνες Ἰάονες ἠγερέθονταιαὐτοῖς σὺν παίδεσσι καὶ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν.οἱ δέ σε πυγμαχίῃ τε καὶ ὀρχηθμῷ καὶ ἀοιδῇμνησάμενοι τέρπουσιν, ὅτʼ ἂν στήσωνται ἀγῶνα.φαίη κʼ ἀθανάτους καὶ ἀγήρως ἔμμεναι αἰεί,ὃς τόθʼ ὑπαντιάσειʼ, ὅτʼ Ἰάονες ἀθρόοι εἶεν·πάντων γάρ κεν ἴδοιτο χάριν, τέρψαιτο δὲ θυμὸνἄνδρας τʼ εἰσορόων καλλιζώνους τε γυναῖκαςνῆάς τʼ ὠκείας ἠδʼ αὐτῶν κτήματα πολλά.πρὸς δὲ τόδε μέγα θαῦμα, ὅου κλέος οὔποτʼ ὀλεῖται,κοῦραι Δηλιάδες, ἑκατηβελέταο θεράπναι·αἵ τʼ ἐπεὶ ἂρ πρῶτον μὲν Ἀπόλλωνʼ ὑμνήσωσιν,αὖτις δʼ αὖ Λητώ τε καὶ Ἄρτεμιν ἰοχέαιραν,μνησάμεναι ἀνδρῶν τε παλαιῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶνὕμνον ἀείδουσιν, θέλγουσι δὲ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων.πάντων δʼ ἀνθρώπων φωνὰς καὶ βαμβαλιαστὺνμιμεῖσθʼ ἴσασιν· φαίη δέ κεν αὐτὸς ἕκαστοςφθέγγεσθʼ· οὕτω σφιν καλὴ συνάρηρεν ἀοιδή.
And now may Apollo be favorable 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 earthto the well-placed cities of man, and they will believe also; for indeed this thing is true. And I will never cease to praise far-shooting Apollo, god of the silver bow, whom rich-haired Leto bare.
ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ ἱλήκοι μὲν Ἀπόλλων Ἀρτέμιδι ξύν,χαίρετε δʼ ὑμεῖς πᾶσαι· ἐμεῖο δὲ καὶ μετόπισθενμνήσασθʼ, ὁππότε κέν τις ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπωνἐνθάδ’ ἀνείρηται ξεῖνος ταλαπείριος ἐλθών·ὦ κοῦραι, τίς δʼ ὔμμιν ἀνὴρ ἥδιστος ἀοιδῶνἐνθάδε πωλεῖται, καὶ τέῳ τέρπεσθε μάλιστα;ὑμεῖς δʼ εὖ μάλα πᾶσαι ὑποκρίνασθαι ἀφήμως·τυφλὸς ἀνήρ, οἰκεῖ δὲ Χίῳ ἔνι παιπαλοέσσῃτοῦ πᾶσαι μετόπισθεν ἀριστεύσουσιν ἀοιδαί.ἡμεῖς δʼ ὑμέτερον κλέος οἴσομεν, ὅσσον ἐπʼ αἶανἀνθρώπων στρεφόμεσθα πόλεις εὖ ναιεταώσας·οἳ δʼ ἐπὶ δὴ πείσονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐτήτυμόν ἐστιν.αὐτὰρ ἐγὼν οὐ λήξω ἑκηβόλον Ἀπόλλωναὑμνέων ἀργυρότοξον, ὃν ἠύκομος τέκε Λητώ.
O Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeoniaand Miletus, charming city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you greatly reign your own self. Leto's all-glorious son goes to rocky Pytho, playing upon his hollow lyre, clad in divine, perfumed garments; and his lyre,at the touch of the golden key, 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 withHarmonia 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.
ὦ ἄνα, καὶ Λυκίην καὶ Μῃονίην ἐρατεινὴνκαὶ Μίλητον ἔχεις, ἔναλον πόλιν ἱμερόεσσαν,αὐτὸς δʼ αὖ Δήλοιο περικλύστης περικλύστοιο μέγʼ ἀνάσσεις.εἶσι δὲ φορμίζων Λητοῦς ἐρικυδέος υἱὸςφόρμιγγι γλαφυρῇ πρὸς Πυθὼ πετρήεσσαν,ἄμβροτα εἵματʼ ἔχων τεθυωμένα· τοῖο δὲ φόρμιγξχρυσέου ὑπὸ πλήκτρου καναχὴν ἔχει ἱμερόεσσαν.ἔνθεν δὲ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον ἀπὸ χθονός, ὥστε νόημα,εἶσι Διὸς πρὸς δῶμα θεῶν μεθʼ ὁμήγυριν ἄλλων.αὐτίκα δʼ ἀθανάτοισι μέλει κίθαρις καὶ ἀοιδή·Μοῦσαι μέν θʼ ἅμα πᾶσαι ἀμειβόμεναι ὀπὶ καλῇὑμνεῦσίν ῥα θεῶν δῶρʼ ἄμβροτα ἠδʼ ἀνθρώπωντλημοσύνας, ὅσʼ ἔχοντες ὑπʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιζώουσʼ ἀφραδέες καὶ ἀμήχανοι, οὐδὲ δύνανταιεὑρέμεναι θανάτοιό τʼ ἄκος καὶ γήραος ἄλκαρ·αὐτὰρ ἐυπλόκαμοι Χάριτες καὶ ἐύφρονες ὯραιἉρμονίη θʼ Ἥβη τε Διὸς θυγάτηρ τʼ Ἀφροδίτηὀρχεῦντʼ ἀλλήλων ἐπὶ καρπῷ χεῖρας ἔχουσαι·τῇσι μὲν οὔτʼ αἰσχρὴ μεταμέλπεται οὔτʼ ἐλάχεια,ἀλλὰ μάλα μεγάλη τε ἰδεῖν καὶ εἶδος ἀγητή,Ἄρτεμις ἰοχέαιρα ὁμότροφος Ἀπόλλωνι.
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. 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 Azanalong 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 … you on foot, he with his chariot, yet he fell not short of Triops. Or shall I sing how at the firstyou 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:
ἐν δʼ αὖ τῇσιν Ἄρης καὶ ἐύσκοπος Ἀργειφόντηςπαίζουσʼ· αὐτὰρ ὁ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων ἐγκιθαρίζεικαλὰ καὶ ὕψι βιβάς· αἴγλη δέ μιν ἀμφιφαείνειμαρμαρυγαί τε ποδῶν καὶ ἐυκλώστοιο χιτῶνος.οἳ δʼ ἐπιτέρπονται θυμὸν μέγαν εἰσορόωντεςΛητώ τε χρυσοπλόκαμος καὶ μητίετα Ζεὺςυἷα φίλον παίζοντα μετʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι.πῶς τʼ ἄρ σʼ ὑμνήσω πάντως εὔυμνον ἐόντα;ἠέ σʼ ἐνὶ μνηστῆρσιν ἀείδω καὶ φιλότητι,ὅππως μνωόμενος ἔκιες Ἀζαντίδα κούρηνἼσχυʼ ἅμʼ ἀντιθέῳ Ἐλατιονίδῃ εὐίππῳ;ἢ ἅμα Φόρβαντι Τριοπέῳ γένος, ἢ ἅμʼ Ἐρευθεῖ;ἢ ἅμα Λευκίππῳ καὶ Λευκίπποιο δάμαρτι… πεζός, ὃ δʼ ἵπποισιν· οὐ μὴν Τρίοπός γʼ ἐνέλειπεν.ἢ ὡς τὸ πρῶτον χρηστήριον ἀνθρώποισιζητεύων κατὰ γαῖαν ἔβης, ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον;Πιερίην μὲν πρῶτον ἀπʼ Οὐλύμποιο κατῆλθες·Λέκτον τʼ ἠμαθοέντα παρέστιχες ἠδʼ Ἐνιῆναςκαὶ διὰ Περραιβούς· τάχα δʼ εἰς Ἰαωλκὸν ἵκανες,Κηναίου τʼ ἐπέβης ναυσικλειτῆς Εὐβοίης.
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. 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;
στῆς δʼ ἐπὶ Ληλάντῳ πεδίῳ· τό τοι οὐχ ἅδε θυμῷτεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα.ἔνθεν δʼ Εὔριπον διαβάς, ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον,βῆς ἄνʼ ὄρος ζάθεον, χλωρόν· τάχα δʼ ἷξες ἀπʼ αὐτοῦἐς Μυκαλησσὸν ἰὼν καὶ Τευμησσὸν λεχεποίην.Θήβης δʼ εἰσαφίκανες ἕδος καταειμένον ὕλῃ·οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἔναιε βροτῶν ἱερῇ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ,οὐδʼ ἄρα πω τότε γʼ ἦσαν ἀταρπιτοὶ οὐδὲ κέλευθοιΘήβης ἂμ πεδίον πυρηφόρον, ἀλλʼ ἔχεν ὕλη.ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον,Ὀγχηστὸν δʼ ἷξες, Ποσιδήιον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος·ἔνθα νεοδμὴς πῶλος ἀναπνέει ἀχθόμενός περἕλκων ἅρματα καλά· χαμαὶ δʼ ἐλατὴρ ἀγαθός περἐκ δίφροιο θορὼν ὁδὸν ἔρχεται· οἳ δὲ τέως μὲνκείνʼ ὄχεα κροτέουσι ἀνακτορίην ἀφιέντες.
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. 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. Then you went towards Telphusa: and there the pleasant place seemed fit formaking 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.” So said Phoebus Apollo, and laid out all the foundationsthroughout, 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 alwaysbring 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 atthe 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:
εἰ δέ κεν ἅρματʼ ἀγῇσιν ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι,ἵππους μὲν κομέουσι, τὰ δὲ κλίναντες ἐῶσιν·ὣς γὰρ τὰ πρώτισθʼ ὁσίη γένεθʼ· οἳ δὲ ἄνακτιεὔχονται, δίφρον δὲ θεοῦ τότε μοῖρα φυλάσσει.ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον·Κηφισσὸν δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κιχήσαο καλλιρέεθρον,ὅς τε Λιλαίηθεν προχέει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ.τὸν διαβάς, Ἑκάεργε, καὶ Ὠκαλέην πολύπυργονἔνθεν ἄρʼ εἰς Ἁλίαρτον ἀφίκεο ποιήεντα.βῆς δʼ ἐπὶ Τελφούσης· τόθι τοι ἅδε χῶρος ἀπήμωντεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα·στῆς δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπες·Τελφοῦσʼ, ἐνθάδε δὴ φρονέω περικαλλέα νηὸνἀνθρώπων τεῦξαι χρηστήριον, οἵτε μοι αἰεὶἐνθάδʼ ἀγινήσουσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας,ἠμὲν ὅσοι Πελοπόννησον πίειραν ἔχουσινἠδʼ ὅσοι Εὐρώπην τε καὶ ἀμφιρύτας κατὰ νήσους,χρησόμενοι· τοῖσιν δέ κʼ ἐγὼ νημερτέα βουλὴνπᾶσι θεμιστεύοιμι χρέων ἐνὶ πίονι νηῷ.ὣς εἰπὼν διέθηκε θεμείλια Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνεὐρέα καὶ μάλα μακρὰ διηνεκές· ἣ δὲ ἰδοῦσαΤελφοῦσα κραδίην ἐχολώσατο εἶπέ τε μῦθον·φοῖβε ἄναξ ἑκάεργε, ἔπος τί τοι ἐν φρεσὶ θήσω.ἐνθάδʼ ἐπεὶ φρονέεις τεῦξαι περικαλλέα νηὸνἔμμεναι ἀνθρώποις χρηστήριον, οἵτε τοι αἰεὶἐνθάδʼ ἀγινήσουσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·ἀλλʼ ἔκ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δʼ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσι,πημανέει σʼ αἰεὶ κτύπος ἵππων ὠκειάωνἀρδόμενοί τʼ οὐρῆες ἐμῶν ἱερῶν ἀπὸ πηγέων·ἔνθα τις ἀνθρώπων βουλήσεται εἰσοράασθαιἅρματά τʼ εὐποίητα καὶ ὠκυπόδων κτύπον ἵππωνἢ νηόν τε μέγαν καὶ κτήματα πόλλʼ ἐνεόντα.ἀλλʼ εἰ δή τι πίθοιο, σὺ δὲ κρείσσων καὶ ἀρείωνἐσσί, ἄναξ, ἐμέθεν, σεῦ δὲ σθένος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,ἐν Κρίσῃ ποίησαι ὑπὸ πτυχὶ Παρνησοῖο.
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.”
ἔνθʼ οὔθʼ ἅρματα καλὰ δονήσεται οὔτε τοι ἵππωνὠκυπόδων κτύπος ἔσται ἐύδμητον περὶ βωμόν,ἀλλά τοι ὣς προσάγοιεν Ἰηπαιήονι δῶραἀνθρώπων κλυτὰ φῦλα· σὺ δὲ φρένας ἀμφιγεγηθὼςδέξαιʼ ἱερὰ καλὰ περικτιόνων ἀνθρώπων.
So said Telphusa, that she alone, and not the Far-Shooter, should have renown there; and she persuaded the Far-Shooter. Further yet you went, far-shooting Apollo, until you came to the town of the presumptuous Phlegyae who dwell on this earthin 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: “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.” When he had said this, Phoebus Apollo laid out all the foundationsthroughout, 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.
ὣς εἰποῦσʼ Ἑκάτου πέπιθε φρένας, ὄφρα οἱ αὐτῇΤελφούσῃ κλέος εἴη ἐπὶ χθονί, μηδʼ Ἑκάτοιο.ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλʼ Ἄπολλον·ἷξες δʼ ἐς Φλεγύων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ὑβριστάων,οἳ Διὸς οὐκ ἀλέγοντες ἐπὶ χθονὶ ναιετάασκονἐν καλῇ βήσσῃ Κηφισίδος ἐγγύθι λίμνης.ἔνθεν καρπαλίμως προσέβης πρὸς δειράδα θύωνἵκεο δʼ ἐς Κρίσην ὑπὸ Παρνησὸν νιφόεντα,κνημὸν πρὸς Ζέφυρον τετραμμένον, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθενπέτρη ἐπικρέμαται, κοίλη δʼ ὑποδέδρομε βῆσσα,τρηχεῖʼ· ἔνθα ἄναξ τεκμήρατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωννηὸν ποιήσασθαι ἐπήρατον εἶπέ τε μῦθον·ἐνθάδε δὴ φρονέω τεῦξαι περικαλλέα νηὸνἔμμεναι ἀνθρώποις χρηστήριον, οἵτε μοι αἰεὶἐνθάδʼ ἀγινήσουσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας,ἠμὲν ὅσοι Πελοπόννησον πίειραν ἔχουσιν,ἠδʼ ὅσοι Εὐρώπην τε καὶ ἀμφιρύτας κατὰ νήσους,χρησόμενοι· τοῖσιν δʼ ἄρʼ ἐγὼ νημερτέα βουλὴνπᾶσι θεμιστεύοιμι χρέων ἐνὶ πίονι νηῷ.ὣς εἰπὼν διέθηκε θεμείλια Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλωνεὐρέα καὶ μάλα μακρὰ διηνεκές· αὐτὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖςλάινον οὐδὸν ἔθηκε Τροφώνιος ἠδʼ Ἀγαμήδης,υἱέες Ἐργίνου, φίλοι ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν·ἀμφὶ δὲ νηὸν ἔνασσαν ἀθέσφατα φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπωνξεστοῖσιν λάεσσιν, ἀοίδιμον ἔμμεναι αἰεί.