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.
ἀγχοῦ δὲ κρήνη καλλίρροος, ἔνθα δράκαινανκτεῖνεν ἄναξ, Διὸς υἱός, ἀπὸ κρατεροῖο βιοῖο,ζατρεφέα, μεγάλην, τέρας ἄγριον, ἣ κακὰ πολλὰἀνθρώπους ἔρδεσκεν ἐπὶ χθονί, πολλὰ μὲν αὐτούς,πολλὰ δὲ μῆλα ταναύποδʼ, ἐπεὶ πέλε πῆμα δαφοινόν.
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 angryand spoke thus among the assembled gods: “Hear from me, all gods and goddesses, how cloud-gathering Zeus begins to dishonor me wantonly, when he has made me his true-hearted wife. See now, apart from me he has given birth to bright-eyed Athenawho is foremost among all the blessed gods. But my son Hephaestus whom I barewas weakly among all the blessed gods and shrivelled of foot, a shame and a 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 Nereustook 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 wifeamong 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.” 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:“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.”
καί ποτε δεξαμένη χρυσοθρόνου ἔτρεφεν Ἥρηςδεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε Τυφάονα, πῆμα βροτοῖσιν·ὅν ποτʼ ἄρʼ Ἥρη ἔτικτε χολωσαμένη Διὶ πατρί,ἥνικʼ ἄρα Κρονίδης ἐρικυδέα γείνατʼ Ἀθήνηνἐν κορυφῇ· ἣ δʼ αἶψα χολώσατο πότνια Ἥρηἠδὲ καὶ ἀγρομένοισι μετʼ ἀθανάτοισιν ἔειπε·κέκλυτέ μευ, πάντες τε θεοὶ πᾶσαί τε θέαιναι,ὡς ἔμʼ ἀτιμάζειν ἄρχει νεφεληγερέτα Ζεὺςπρῶτος, ἐπεί μʼ ἄλοχον ποιήσατο κέδνʼ εἰδυῖαν·καὶ νῦν νόσφιν ἐμεῖο τέκε γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην,ἣ πᾶσιν μακάρεσσι μεταπρέπει ἀθανάτοισιν·αὐτὰρ ὅ γʼ ἠπεδανὸς γέγονεν μετὰ πᾶσι θεοῖσιπαῖς ἐμὸς Ἥφαιστος, ῥικνὸς πόδας, ὃν τέκον αὐτή·[αἶσχος ἐμοὶ καὶ ὄνειδος ἐν οὐρανῷ ὅντε καὶ αὐτή ]ῥῖψʼ ἀνὰ χερσὶν ἑλοῦσα καὶ ἔμβαλον εὐρέι πόντῳ·ἀλλά ἑ Νηρῆος θυγάτηρ Θέτις ἀργυρόπεζαδέξατο καὶ μετὰ ᾗσι κασιγνήτῃσι κόμισσεν.ὡς ὄφελʼ ἄλλο θεοῖσι χαρίζεσθαι μακάρεσσι.σχέτλιε, ποικιλομῆτα, τί νῦν μητίσεαι ἄλλο;πῶς ἔτλης οἶος τεκέειν γλαυκῶπιν Ἀθήνην;οὐκ ἂν ἐγὼ τεκόμην; καὶ σὴ κεκλημένη ἔμπηςἦα ῥʼ ἐν ἀθανάτοισιν, οἳ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσι.φράζεο νῦν μή τοί τι κακὸν μητίσομʼ ὀπίσσω.καὶ νῦν μέντοι ἐγὼ τεχνήσομαι, ὥς κε γένηταιπαῖς ἐμός, ὅς κε θεοῖσι μεταπρέποι ἀθανάτοισιν,οὔτε σὸν αἰσχύνασʼ ἱερὸν λέχος οὔτʼ ἐμὸν αὐτῆς.οὐδέ τοι εἰς εὐνὴν πωλήσομαι, ἀλλʼ ἀπὸ σεῖοτηλόθʼ ἐοῦσα θεοῖσι μετέσσομαι ἀθανάτοισιν.ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἀπὸ νόσφι θεῶν κίε χωομένη κῆρ.αὐτίκʼ ἔπειτʼ ἠρᾶτο βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη,χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ δʼ ἔλασε χθόνα καὶ φάτο μῦθον·κέκλυτε νῦν μευ, Γαῖα καὶ Οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθενΤιτῆνές τε θεοί, τοὶ ὑπὸ χθονὶ ναιετάοντεςΤάρταρον ἀμφὶ μέγαν, τῶν ἒξ ἄνδρες τε θεοί τε·αὐτοὶ νῦν μευ πάντες ἀκούσατε καὶ δότε παῖδανόσφι Διός, μηδέν τι βίην ἐπιδευέα κείνου·ἀλλʼ ὅ γε φέρτερος ἔστω, ὅσον Κρόνου εὐρύοπα Ζεύς.
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,nor 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 fulfilledand 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.
ὣς ἄρα φωνήσασʼ ἵμασε χθόνα χειρὶ παχείῃ·κινήθη δʼ ἄρα Γαῖα φερέσβιος· ἣ δὲ ἰδοῦσατέρπετο ὃν κατὰ θυμόν· ὀίετο γὰρ τελέεσθαι.ἐκ τούτου δὴ ἔπειτα τελεσφόρον εἰς ἐνιαυτὸνοὔτε πότʼ εἰς εὐνὴν Διὸς ἤλυθε μητιόεντος,οὔτε πότʼ ἐς θῶκον πολυδαίδαλον, ὡς τὸ πάρος περαὐτῷ ἐφεζομένη πυκινὰς φραζέσκετο βουλάς·ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἐν νηοῖσι πολυλλίστοισι μένουσατέρπετο οἷς ἱεροῖσι βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη.ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ μῆνές τε καὶ ἡμέραι ἐξετελεῦντοἂψ περιτελλομένου ἔτεος καὶ ἐπήλυθον ὧραι,ἣ δʼ ἔτεκʼ οὔτε θεοῖς ἐναλίγκιον οὔτε βροτοῖσι,δεινόν τʼ ἀργαλέον τε Τυφάονα, πῆμα βροτοῖσιν.αὐτίκα τόνδε λαβοῦσα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρηδῶκεν ἔπειτα φέρουσα κακῷ κακόν· ἣ δʼ ὑπέδεκτο.
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.
ὃς κακὰ πόλλʼ ἔρδεσκεν ἀγακλυτὰ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων·ὃς τῇ γʼ ἀντιάσειε, φέρεσκέ μιν αἴσιμον ἦμαρ,πρίν γέ οἱ ἰὸν ἐφῆκε ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλωνκαρτερόν· ἣ δʼ ὀδύνῃσιν ἐρεχθομένη χαλεπῇσικεῖτο μέγʼ ἀσθμαίνουσα κυλινδομένη κατὰ χῶρον.
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: “Now rot here upon the soil that feeds man' You at least shall live no more to be a fell bane to menwho 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.”
θεσπεσίη δʼ ἐνοπὴ γένετʼ ἄσπετος· ἣ δὲ καθʼ ὕληνπυκνὰ μάλʼ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ἑλίσσετο, λεῖπε δὲ θυμὸνφοινὸν ἀποπνείουσʼ· ὃ δʼ ἐπηύξατο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·ἐνταυθοῖ νῦν πύθευ ἐπὶ χθονὶ βωτιανείρῃ·οὐδὲ σύ γε ζώουσα κακὸν δήλημα βροτοῖσινἔσσεαι, οἳ γαίης πολυφόρβου καρπὸν ἔδοντεςἐνθάδʼ ἀγινήσουσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας·οὐδέ τί τοι θάνατόν γε δυσηλεγέʼ οὔτε Τυφωεὺςἀρκέσει οὔτε Χίμαιρα δυσώνυμος, ἀλλά σέ γʼ αὐτοῦπύσει Γαῖα μέλαινα καὶ ἠλέκτωρ Ὑπερίων.
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.
ὣς φάτʼ ἐπευχόμενος· τὴν δὲ σκότος ὄσσε κάλυψε.τὴν δʼ αὐτοῦ κατέπυσʼ ἱερὸν μένος Ἠελίοιο,ἐξ οὗ νῦν Πυθὼ κικλήσκεται· οἳ δὲ ἄνακταΠύθιον ἀγκαλέουσιν ἐπώνυμον, οὕνεκα κεῖθιαὐτοῦ πῦσε πέλωρ μένος ὀξέος Ἠελίοιο.
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: “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?” 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 grovevery 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. Then Phoebus Apollo pondered in his heart what men he should bring into 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, 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:
καὶ τότʼ ἄρʼ ἔγνω ᾗσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων,οὕνεκά μιν κρήνη καλλίρροος ἐξαπάφησε·βῆ δʼ ἐπὶ Τελφούσῃ κεχολωμένος, αἶψα δʼ ἵκανε·στῆ δὲ μάλʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτῆς καί μιν πρὸς μῦθον ἔειπε·Τελφοῦσʼ, οὐκ ἄρʼ ἔμελλες ἐμὸν νόον ἐξαπαφοῦσαχῶρον ἔχουσʼ ἐρατὸν προρέειν καλλίρροον ὕδωρ.ἐνθάδε δὴ καὶ ἐμὸν κλέος ἔσσεται, οὐδὲ σὸν οἴης.ἦ καὶ ἐπὶ ῥίον ὦσε ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλωνπετραίῃς προχυτῇσιν, ἀπέκρυψεν δὲ ῥέεθρακαὶ βωμὸν ποιήσατʼ ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι,ἄγχι μάλα κρήνης καλλιρρόου· ἔνθαδʼ ἄνακτιπάντες ἐπίκλησιν Τελφουσίῳ εὐχετόωνται,οὕνεκα Τελφούσης ἱερῆς ᾔσχυνε ῥέεθρα.καὶ τότε δὴ κατὰ θυμὸν ἐφράζετο Φοῖβος Απόλλων,οὕστινας ἀνθρώπους ὀργείονας εἰσαγάγοιτο,οἳ θεραπεύσονται Πυθοῖ ἔνι πετρηέσσῃ·ταῦτʼ ἄρα ὁρμαίνων ἐνόησʼ ἐπὶ οἴνοπι πόντῳνῆα θοήν· ἐν δʼ ἄνδρες ἔσαν πολέες τε καὶ ἐσθλοί,Κρῆτες ἀπὸ Κνωσοῦ Μινωίου, οἵ ῥα ἄνακτιἱερά τε ῥέζουσι καὶ ἀγγέλλουσι θέμισταςφοίβου Ἀπόλλωνος χρυσαόρου, ὅττι κεν εἴπῃχρείων ἐκ δάφνης γυάλων ὕπο Παρνησοῖο.οἳ μὲν ἐπὶ πρῆξιν καὶ χρήματα νηὶ μελαίνῃἐς Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα Πυλοιγενέας τʼ ἀνθρώπουςἔπλεον· αὐτὰρ ὃ τοῖσι συνήντετο Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων·
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;but they sought to cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the black ship every way and making 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 gladsome country. There they wished to put their ship to shore, and landand 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;
ἐν πόντῳ δʼ ἐπόρουσε δέμας δελφῖνι ἐοικὼςνηὶ θοῇ καὶ κεῖτο πέλωρ μέγα τε δεινόν τε·τῶν δʼ οὔτις κατὰ θυμὸν ἐπεφράσαθʼ ὥστε νοῆσαι[ἐκβάλλειν δʼ ἔθελον δελφῖνʼ· ὁ δὲ νῆα μέλαιναν ]πάντοσʼ ἀνασσείσασκε, τίνασσε δὲ νήια δοῦρα.οἳ δʼ ἀκέων ἐνὶ νηὶ καθήατο δειμαίνοντες·οὐδʼ οἵ γʼ ὅπλʼ ἔλυον κοίλην ἀνὰ νῆα μέλαιναν,οὐδʼ ἔλυον λαῖφος νηὸς κυανοπρώροιο,ἀλλʼ ὡς τὰ πρώτιστα κατεστήσαντο βοεῦσιν,ὣς ἔπλεον· κραιπνὸς δὲ Νότος κατόπισθεν ἔπειγενῆα θοήν· πρῶτον δὲ παρημείβοντο Μάλειαν,πὰρ δὲ Λακωνίδα γαῖαν ἁλιστέφανον πτολίεθρονἷξον καὶ χῶρον τερψιμβρότου Ἠελίοιο,Ταίναρον, ἔνθα τε μῆλα βαθύτριχα βόσκεται αἰεὶἨελίοιο ἄνακτος, ἔχει δʼ ἐπιτερπέα χῶρον.οἳ μὲν ἄρʼ ἔνθʼ ἔθελον νῆα σχεῖν ἠδʼ ἀποβάντεςφράσσασθαι μέγα θαῦμα καὶ ὀφθαλμοῖσιν ἰδέσθαι,εἰ μενέει νηὸς γλαφυρῆς δαπέδοισι πέλωρονἢ εἰς οἶδμʼ ἅλιον πολυΐχθυον αὖτις ὀρούσει.ἀλλʼ οὐ πηδαλίοισιν ἐπείθετο νηῦς εὐεργής,ἀλλὰ παρὲκ Πελοπόννησον πίειραν ἔχουσαἤιʼ ὁδόν· πνοιῇ δὲ ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλωνῥηιδίως ἴθυνʼ· ἣ δὲ πρήσσουσα κέλευθονἈρήνην ἵκανε καὶ Ἀργυφέην ἐρατεινὴνκαὶ Θρύον, Ἀλφειοῖο πόρον, καὶ ἐύκτιτον Αἶπυκαὶ Πύλον ἠμαθόεντα Πυλοιγενέας τʼ ἀνθρώπους.
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.
βῆ δὲ παρὰ Κρουνοὺς καὶ Χαλκίδα καὶ παρὰ Δύμηνἠδὲ παρʼ Ἤλιδα δῖαν, ὅθι κρατέουσιν Ἐπειοί.εὖτε Φερὰς ἐπέβαλλεν, ἀγαλλομένη Διὸς οὔρῳ,καί σφιν ὑπὲκ νεφέων Ἰθάκης τʼ ὄρος αἰπὺ πέφαντοΔουλίχιόν τε Σάμη τε καὶ ὑλήεσσα Ζάκυνθος.
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 speedthe 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.
ἀλλʼ ὅτε δὴ Πελοπόννησον παρενίσατο πᾶσανκαὶ δὴ ἐπὶ Κρίσης κατεφαίνετο κόλπος ἀπείρων,ὅστε διὲκ Πελοπόννησον πίειραν ἐέργει·ἦλθʼ ἄνεμος Ζέφυρος μέγας, αἴθριος, ἐκ Διὸς αἴσης,λάβρος ἐπαιγίζων ἐξ αἰθέρος, ὄφρα τάχιστανηῦς ἀνύσειε θέουσα θαλάσσης ἁλμυρὸν ὕδωρ.ἄψορροι δὴ ἔπειτα πρὸς ἠῶ τʼ ἠέλιόν τεἔπλεον· ἡγεμόνευε δʼ ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·ἷξον δʼ ἐς Κρίσην εὐδείελον, ἀμπελόεσσαν,ἐς λιμένʼ· ἣ δʼ ἀμάθοισιν ἐχρίμψατο ποντοπόρος νηῦς.
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 splendor of his shafts, so that their radiancefilled 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: “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 puttheir 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.” 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 menin 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 seato 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.” Then far-working Apollo answered them and said:
ἔνθʼ ἐκ νηὸς ὄρουσε ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων,ἀστέρι εἰδόμενος μέσῳ ἤματι· τοῦ δʼ ἀπὸ πολλαὶσπινθαρίδες πωτῶντο, σέλας δʼ εἰς οὐρανὸν ἷκεν·ἐς δʼ ἄδυτον κατέδυσε διὰ τριπόδων ἐριτίμων.ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ὅ γε φλόγα δαῖε πιφαυσκόμενος τὰ ἃ κῆλα·πᾶσαν δὲ Κρίσην κάτεχεν σέλας· αἳ δʼ ὀλόλυξανΚρισαίων ἄλοχοι καλλίζωνοί τε θύγατρεςΦοίβου ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς· μέγα γὰρ δέος ἔμβαλʼ ἑκάστῳ.ἔνθεν δʼ αὖτʼ ἐπὶ νῆα νόημʼ ὣς ἆλτο πέτεσθαι,ἀνέρι εἰδόμενος αἰζηῷ τε κρατερῷ τε,πρωθήβῃ, χαίτῃς εἰλυμένος εὐρέας ὤμους·καί σφεας φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·ὦ ξεῖνοι, τίνες ἐστέ; πόθεν πλεῖθʼ ὑγρὰ κέλευθα;ἤ τι κατὰ πρῆξιν ἢ μαψιδίως ἀλάλησθεοἷά τε ληιστῆρες ὑπεὶρ ἅλα, τοί τʼ ἀλόωνταιψυχὰς παρθέμενοι, κακὸν ἀλλοδαποῖσι φέροντες;τίφθʼ οὕτως ἧσθον τετιηότες, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ γαῖανἐκβῆτʼ, οὐδὲ καθʼ ὅπλα μελαίνης νηὸς ἔθεσθε;αὕτη μέν γε δίκη πέλει ἀνδρῶν ἀλφηστάων,ὁππότʼ ἂν ἐκ πόντοιο ποτὶ χθονὶ νηὶ μελαίνῃἔλθωσιν καμάτῳ ἀδηκότες, αὐτίκα δέ σφεαςσίτοιο γλυκεροῖο περὶ φρένας ἵμερος αἱρεῖ.ὣς φάτο καί σφιν θάρσος ἐνὶ στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε.τὸν καὶ ἀμειβόμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν γάρ τι καταθνητοῖσι ἔοικας,οὐ δέμας οὐδὲ φυήν, ἀλλʼ ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσιν,οὖλέ τε καὶ μέγα χαῖρε, θεοὶ δέ τοι ὄλβια δοῖεν.καί μοι τοῦτʼ ἀγόρευσον ἐτήτυμον, ὄφρʼ εὖ εἰδῶ·τίς δῆμος; τίς γαῖα; τίνες βροτοὶ ἐγγεγάασιν;ἄλλῃ γὰρ φρονέοντες ἐπεπλέομεν μέγα λαῖτμαἐς Πύλον ἐκ Κρήτης, ἔνθεν γένος εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι·νῦν δʼ ὧδε ξὺν νηὶ κατήλθομεν οὔ τι ἑκόντες,νόστου ἱέμενοι, ἄλλην ὁδόν, ἄλλα κέλευθα·ἀλλά τις ἀθανάτων δεῦρʼ ἤγαγεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντας.τοὺς δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων·
“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 honored by many men.
ξεῖνοι, τοὶ Κνωσὸν πολυδένδρεον ἀμφενέμεσθετὸ πρίν, ἀτὰρ νῦν οὐκ ἔθʼ ὑπότροποι αὖτις ἔσεσθεἔς τε πόλιν ἐρατὴν καὶ δώματα καλὰ ἕκαστοςἔς τε φίλας ἀλόχους· ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πίονα νηὸνἕξετʼ ἐμὸν πολλοῖσι τετιμένον ἀνθρώποισιν.
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 honored among men, and you shall know the plans of the deathless gods, and by their willyou shall be honored 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 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.” 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.
εἰμὶ δʼ ἐγὼ Διὸς υἱός, Ἀπόλλων δʼ εὔχομαι εἶναι·ὑμέας δʼ ἤγαγον ἐνθάδʼ ὑπὲρ μέγα λαῖτμα θαλάσσης,οὔ τι κακὰ φρονέων, ἀλλʼ ἐνθάδε πίονα νηὸνἕξετʼ ἐμὸν πᾶσιν μάλα τίμιον ἀνθρώποισι,βουλάς τʼ ἀθανάτων εἰδήσετε, τῶν ἰότητιαἰεὶ τιμήσεσθε διαμπερὲς ἤματα πάντα.ἀλλʼ ἄγεθʼ, ὡς ἂν ἐγὼ εἴπω, πείθεσθε τάχιστα·ἱστία μὲν πρῶτον κάθετον λύσαντε βοείας,νῆα δʼ ἔπειτα θοὴν μὲν ἐπʼ ἠπείρου ἐρύσασθε,ἐκ δὲ κτήμαθʼ ἕλεσθε καὶ ἔντεα νηὸς ἐίσηςκαὶ βωμὸν ποιήσατʼ ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·πῦρ δʼ ἐπικαίοντες ἐπί τʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ θύοντεςεὔχεσθαι δὴ ἔπειτα παριστάμενοι περὶ βωμόν.ὡς μὲν ἐγὼ τὸ πρῶτον ἐν ἠεροειδέι πόντῳεἰδόμενος δελφῖνι θοῆς ἐπὶ νηὸς ὄρουσα,ὣς ἐμοὶ εὔχεσθαι Δελφινίῳ· αὐτὰρ ὁ βωμὸςαὐτὸς Δελφίνιος καὶ ἐπόψιος ἔσσεται αἰεί.δειπνῆσαί τʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃκαὶ σπεῖσαι μακάρεσσι θεοῖς, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν σίτοιο μελίφρονος ἐξ ἔρον ἧσθε,ἔρχεσθαί θʼ ἅμʼ ἐμοὶ καὶ ἰηπαιήονʼ ἀείδειν,εἰς ὅ κε χῶρον ἵκησθον, ἵνʼ ἕξετε πίονα νηόν.ὣς ἔφαθʼ· οἳ δʼ ἄρα τοῦ μάλα μὲν κλύον ἠδʼ ἐπίθοντο.ἱστία μὲν πρῶτον κάθεσαν, λῦσαν δὲ βοείας,ἱστὸν δʼ ἱστοδόκῃ πέλασαν προτόνοισιν ὑφέντες·
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.
ἐκ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ βαῖνον ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης.ἐκ δʼ ἁλὸς ἤπειρόνδε θοὴν ἀνὰ νῆʼ ἐρύσαντοὑψοῦ ἐπὶ ψαμάθοις, ὑπὸ δʼ ἕρματα μακρὰ τάνυσσαν·καὶ βωμὸν ποίησαν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι θαλάσσης·πῦρ δʼ ἐπικαίοντες ἐπί τʼ ἄλφιτα λευκὰ θύοντεςεὔχονθʼ, ὡς ἐκέλευε, παριστάμενοι περὶ βωμόν.δόρπον ἔπειθʼ εἵλοντο θοῇ παρὰ νηὶ μελαίνῃκαὶ σπεῖσαν μακάρεσσι θεοῖς, οἳ Ὄλυμπον ἔχουσιν.αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο,βάν ῥʼ ἴμεν· ἦρχε δʼ ἄρα σφιν ἄναξ Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων,φόρμιγγʼ ἐν χείρεσσιν ἔχων, ἐρατὸν κιθαρίζων,καλὰ καὶ ὕψι βιβάς· οἳ δὲ ῥήσσοντες ἕποντοΚρῆτες πρὸς Πυθὼ καὶ ἰηπαιήονʼ ἄειδον,οἷοί τε Κρητῶν παιήονες, οἷσί τε Μοῦσαἐν στήθεσσιν ἔθηκε θεὰ μελίγηρυν ἀοιδήν.
With tireless feet they approached the ridge and straightway came to Parnassus and the lovely place where they were to dwell honored by many men. There Apollo brought them and showed them his most holy sanctuary and rich temple. But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts,and the master of the Cretans asked him, saying: “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 pasturesso that we can live well thereon and also minister to men.” 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.”
ἄκμητοι δὲ λόφον προσέβαν ποσίν, αἶψα δʼ ἵκοντοΠαρνησὸν καὶ χῶρον ἐπήρατον, ἔνθʼ ἄρʼ ἔμελλονοἰκήσειν πολλοῖσι τετιμένοι ἀνθρώποισι·δεῖξε δʼ ἄγων ἄδυτον ζάθεον καὶ πίονα νηόν.τῶν δʼ ὠρίνετο θυμὸς ἐνὶ στήθεσσι φίλοισι·τὸν καὶ ἀνειρόμενος Κρητῶν ἀγὸς ἀντίον ηὔδα·ὦ ἄνα, εἰ δὴ τῆλε φίλων καὶ πατρίδος αἴηςἤγαγες· οὕτω που τῷ σῷ φίλον ἔπλετο θυμῷ·πῶς καὶ νῦν βιόμεσθα; τό σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγμεν.οὔτε τρυγηφόρος ἥδε γʼ ἐπήρατος οὔτʼ εὐλείμων,ὥστʼ ἀπό τʼ εὖ ζώειν καὶ ἅμʼ ἀνθρώποισιν ὀπάζειν.τοὺς δʼ ἐπιμειδήσας προσέφη Διὸς υἱὸς Ἀπόλλων·νήπιοι ἄνθρωποι, δυστλήμονες, οἳ μελεδῶναςβούλεσθʼ ἀργαλέους τε πόνους καὶ στείνεα θυμῷ·ῥηίδιον ἔπος ὔμμʼ ἐρέω καὶ ἐπὶ φρεσὶ θήσω,δεξιτερῇ μάλʼ ἕκαστος ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μάχαιραν,σφάζειν αἰεὶ μῆλα· τὰ δʼ ἄφθονα πάντα παρέσται,ὅσσα τʼ ἐμοί κʼ ἀγάγωσι περικλυτὰ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπων·νηὸν δὲ προφύλαχθε, δέδεχθε δὲ φῦλʼ ἀνθρώπωνἐνθάδʼ ἀγειρομένων καὶ ἐμὴν ἰθύν τε μάλιστα.[δείκνυσθε θνητοῖσι· σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ δέξο θέμιστα.εἰ δέ τις ἀφραδίῃς οὐ πείσεται, ἀλλʼ ἀλογήσει ]ἠέ τι τηΰσιον ἔπος ἔσσεται ἠέ τι ἔργονὕβρις θʼ, ἣ θέμις ἐστὶ καταθνητῶν ἀνθρώπων,ἄλλοι ἔπειθʼ ὑμῖν σημάντορες ἄνδρες ἔσονται,τῶν ὑπʼ ἀναγκαίῃ δεδμήσεσθʼ ἤματα πάντα.εἴρηταί τοι πάντα· σὺ δὲ φρεσὶ σῇσι φύλαξαι.
And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will remember you and another hymn also.
καὶ σὺ μὲν οὕτω χαῖρε, Διὸς καὶ Λητοῦς υἱέ·αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ σεῖο καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομʼ ἀοιδῆς.