Golden lyre, rightful joint possession of Apollo and the violet-haired Muses, to which the dance-step listens, the beginning of splendid festivity; and singers obey your notes, whenever, with your quivering strings, you prepare to strike up chorus-leading preludes.You quench even the warlike thunderbolt of everlasting fire. And the eagle sleeps on the scepter of Zeus, relaxing his swift wings on either side,the king of birds; and you pour down a dark mist over his curved head, a sweet seal on his eyelids. Slumbering, he ripples his liquid back,under the spell of your pulsing notes. Even powerful Ares, setting aside the rough spear-point, warms his heart in repose; your shafts charm the minds even of the gods, by virtue of the skill of Leto’s son and the deep-bosomed Muses.But those whom Zeus does not love are stunned with terror when they hear the cry of the Pierian Muses, on earth or on the irresistible sea;among them is he who lies in dread Tartarus, that enemy of the gods, Typhon with his hundred heads. Once the famous Cilician cave nurtured him, but now the sea-girt cliffs above Cumae, and Sicily too, lie heavy on his shaggy chest. And the pillar of the sky holds him down,snow-covered Aetna, year-round nurse of bitter frost,from whose inmost caves belch forth the purest streams of unapproachable fire. In the daytime her rivers roll out a fiery flood of smoke, while in the darkness of night the crimson flame hurls rocks down to the deep plain of the sea with a crashing roar.That monster shoots up the most terrible jets of fire; it is a marvellous wonder to see, and a marvel even to hear about when men are present.Such a creature is bound beneath the dark and leafy heights of Aetna and beneath the plain, and his bed scratches and goads the whole length of his back stretched out against it. Grant that we may be pleasing to you, Zeus,you who frequent this mountain, this brow of the fruitful earth, whose namesake city near at hand was glorified by its renowned founder, when the herald at the Pythian racecourse proclaimed the name of Aetna, announcing Hieron’s triumphwith the chariot. For seafaring men, the first blessing at the outset of their voyage is a favorable wind; for then it is likely thatat the end as well they will win a more prosperous homecoming. And that saying, in these fortunate circumstances, brings the belief that from now on this city will be renowned for garlands and horses, and its name will be spoken amid harmonious festivities. Phoebus, lord of Lycia and Delos, you who love the Castalian spring of Parnassus,may you willingly put these wishes in your thoughts, and make this a land of fine men.All the resources for the achievements of mortal excellence come from the gods; for being skillful, or having powerful arms, or an eloquent tongue. As for me, in my eagerness to praise that man, I hope that I may not be like one who hurls the bronze-cheeked javelin, which I brandish in my hand, outside the course,but that I may make a long cast, and surpass my rivals. Would that all of time may, in this way, keep his prosperity and the gift of wealth on a straight course, and bring forgetfulness of troubles.Indeed he might remember in what kind of battles of war he stood his ground with an enduring soul, when, by the gods’ devising, they found honor such as no other Greek can pluck,a proud garland of wealth. But now he has gone to battle in the manner of Philoctetes; and under compulsion even a haughty man fawned on him for his friendship. They say that the god-like heroes went to bring from Lemnos that man afflicted with a wound,the archer son of Poeas, who sacked the city of Priam and brought an end to the toils of the Danaans;he went with a weak body, but it was fated. In such a way may a god be the preserver of Hieron for the time that is still to come, giving him the opportunity for all he desires. Muse, hear me, and beside Deinomenes sing loud praises for the reward of the four-horse chariot. The joy of his father’s victory is not alien to him.Come, let us devise a friendly song for the king of Aetna,for whom Hieron founded that city with god-built freedom, in accordance with the laws of the rule of Hyllus. The descendants of Pamphylus, and, truly, of the Heracleidae also, dwelling beneath the cliffs of Taÿgetus, are willing to abide forever as Dorians under the ordinances of Aegimius.Setting out from Pindus they took Amyclae and prospered, highly renowned neighbors of the Tyndaridae with their white horses, and the fame of their spear burst into bloom.Zeus the Accomplisher, grant that beside the waters of Amenas the true report of men may always assign such good fortune to citizens and kings alike; with your blessing the man who is himself the leader,and who instructs his son, may bring honor to the people and turn them towards harmonious peace. I entreat you, son of Cronus, grant that the battle-shouts of the Carthaginians and Etruscans stay quietly at home, now that they have seen their arrogance bring lamentation to their ships off Cumae.Such were their sufferings, when they were conquered by the leader of the Syracusans—a fate which flung their young men from their swift ships into the sea,delivering Hellas from grievous bondage. From Salamis I will win as my reward the gratitude of the Athenians, and in Sparta from the battles before Cithaeron —those battles in which the Medes with their curved bows suffered sorely; but beside the well-watered bank of the river Himeras I shall win my reward by paying my tribute of song to the sons of Deinomenes,the song which they earned by their excellence, when their enemies were suffering.If you speak in due proportion, twisting the strands of many themes into a brief compass, less blame follows from men. For wearying satiety blunts the edge of short-lived expectations, and what the citizens hear secretly weighs heavy on their spirits, especially concerning the merits of others.Nevertheless, since envy is better than pity, do not abandon fine deeds! Steer your men with the rudder of justice; forge your tongue on the anvil of truth:if even a small spark flies, it is carried along as a great thing when it comes from you. You are the guardian of an ample store. You have many faithful witnesses of both good and bad. But abide in a blossoming temper,and if you are fond of always hearing sweet things spoken of you, do not be too distressed by expenses, but, like a steersman, let your sail out to the wind. Do not be deceived, my friend, by glib profit-seeking. The loud acclaim of renown that survives a manis all that reveals the way of life of departed men to storytellers and singers alike. The kindly excellence of Croesus does not perish,but Phalaris, with his pitiless mind, who burned his victims in a bronze bull, is surrounded on all sides by a hateful reputation; lyres that resound beneath the roof do not welcome him as a theme in gentle partnership with the voices of boys. The first of prizes is good fortune; the second is to be well spoken of; but a manwho encounters and wins both has received the highest garland.
χρυσέα φόρμιγξ, Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ ἰοπλοκάμωνσύνδικον Μοισᾶν κτέανον· τᾶς ἀκούει μὲν βάσις, ἀγλαΐας ἀρχά,πείθονται δʼ ἀοιδοὶ σάμασιν,ἁγησιχόρων ὁπόταν προοιμίων ἀμβολὰς τεύχῃς ἐλελιζομένα.καὶ τὸν αἰχματὰν κεραυνὸν σβεννύειςἀενάου πυρός. εὕδει δʼ ἀνὰ σκάπτῳ Διὸς αἰετός, ὠκεῖαν πτέρυγʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν χαλάξαις,ἀρχὸς οἰωνῶν, κελαινῶπιν δʼ ἐπί οἱ νεφέλανἀγκύλῳ κρατί, γλεφάρων ἁδὺ κλαΐστρον, κατέχευας· ὁ δὲ κνώσσωνὑγρὸν νῶτον αἰωρεῖ, τεαῖςῥιπαῖσι κατασχόμενος. καὶ γὰρ βιατὰς Ἄρης, τραχεῖαν ἄνευθε λιπὼνἐγχέων ἀκμάν, ἰαίνει καρδίανκώματι, κῆλα δὲ καὶ δαιμόνων θέλγει φρένας, ἀμφί τε Λατοίδα σοφίᾳ βαθυκόλπων τε Μοισᾶν.ὅσσα δὲ μὴ πεφίληκε Ζεύς, ἀτύζονται βοὰνΠιερίδων ἀΐοντα, γᾶν τε καὶ πόντον κατʼ ἀμαιμάκετον,ὅς τʼ ἐν αἰνᾷ Ταρτάρῳ κεῖται, θεῶν πολέμιος,Τυφὼς ἑκατοντακάρανος· τόν ποτεΚιλίκιον θρέψεν πολυώνυμον ἄντρον· νῦν γε μὰνταί θʼ ὑπὲρ Κύμας ἁλιερκέες ὄχθαιΣικελία τʼ αὐτοῦ πιέζει στέρνα λαχνάεντα· κίων δʼ οὐρανία συνέχει,νιφόεσσʼ Αἴτνα, πάνετες χιόνος ὀξείας τιθήνα·τᾶς ἐρεύγονται μὲν ἀπλάτου πυρὸς ἁγνόταταιἐκ μυχῶν παγαί· ποταμοὶ δʼ ἁμέραισιν μὲν προχέοντι ῥόον καπνοῦαἴθωνʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐν ὄρφναισιν πέτραςφοίνισσα κυλινδομένα φλὸξ ἐς βαθεῖαν φέρει πόντου πλάκα σὺν πατάγῳ.κεῖνο δʼ Ἁφαίστοιο κρουνοὺς ἑρπετὸνδεινοτάτους ἀναπέμπει· τέρας μὲν θαυμάσιον προσιδέσθαι, θαῦμα δὲ καὶ παρεόντων ἀκοῦσαι,οἷον Αἴτνας ἐν μελαμφύλλοις δέδεται κορυφαῖςκαὶ πέδῳ, στρωμνὰ δὲ χαράσσοισʼ ἅπαν νῶτον ποτικεκλιμένον κεντεῖ.εἴη, Ζεῦ, τὶν εἴη ἁνδάνειν,ὃς τοῦτʼ ἐφέπεις ὄρος, εὐκάρποιο γαίας μέτωπον, τοῦ μὲν ἐπωνυμίανκλεινὸς οἰκιστὴρ ἐκύδανεν πόλινγείτονα, Πυθιάδος δʼ ἐν δρόμῳ κάρυξ ἀνέειπέ νιν ἀγγέλλων Ἱέρωνος ὑπὲρ καλλινίκουἅρμασι. ναυσιφορήτοις δʼ ἀνδράσι πρώτα χάριςἐς πλόον ἀρχομένοις πομπαῖον ἐλθεῖν οὖρον· ἐοικότα γὰρκαὶ τελευτᾷ φερτέρου νόστου τυχεῖν. ὁ δὲ λόγοςταύταις ἐπὶ συντυχίαις δόξαν φέρειλοιπὸν ἔσσεσθαι στεφάνοισί ⟨νιν⟩ ἵπποις τε κλυτὰνκαὶ σὺν εὐφώνοις θαλίαις ὀνυμαστάν.Λύκιε καὶ Δάλου ἀνάσσων Φοῖβε, Παρνασσοῦ τε κράναν Κασταλίαν φιλέων,ἐθελήσαις ταῦτα νόῳ τιθέμεν εὔανδρόν τε χώραν.ἐκ θεῶν γὰρ μαχαναὶ πᾶσαι βροτέαις ἀρεταῖς,καὶ σοφοὶ καὶ χερσὶ βιαταὶ περίγλωσσοί τʼ ἔφυν. ἄνδρα δʼ ἐγὼ κεῖνοναἰνῆσαι μενοινῶν ἔλπομαιμὴ χαλκοπάρᾳον ἄκονθʼ ὡσείτʼ ἀγῶνος βαλεῖν ἔξω παλάμᾳ δονέων,μακρὰ δὲ ῥίψαις ἀμεύσασθʼ ἀντίους·εἰ γὰρ ὁ πᾶς χρόνος ὄλβον μὲν οὕτω καὶ κτεάνων δόσιν εὐθύνοι, καμάτων δʼ ἐπίλασιν παράσχοι.ἦ κεν ἀμνάσειεν, οἵαις ἐν πολέμοισι μάχαιςτλάμονι ψυχᾷ παρέμεινʼ, ἁνίχʼ εὑρίσκοντο θεῶν παλάμαις τιμάν,οἵαν οὔτις Ἑλλάνων δρέπει,πλούτου στεφάνωμʼ ἀγέρωχον. νῦν γε μὰν τὰν Φιλοκτήταο δίκαν ἐφέπωνἐστρατεύθη· σὺν δʼ ἀνάγκᾳ νιν φίλονκαί τις ἐὼν μεγαλάνωρ ἔσανεν. φαντὶ δὲ Λαμνόθεν ἕλκει τειρόμενον μεταβάσοντας ἐλθεῖνἥρωας ἀντιθέους Ποίαντος υἱὸν τοξόταν·ὃς Πριάμοιο πόλιν πέρσεν, τελεύτασέν τε πόνους Δαναοῖς,ἀσθενεῖ μὲν χρωτὶ βαίνων, ἀλλὰ μοιρίδιον ἦν.οὕτω δʼ Ἱέρωνι θεὸς ὀρθωτὴρ πέλοιτὸν προσέρποντα χρόνον, ὧν ἔραται καιρὸν διδούς.Μοῖσα, καὶ πὰρ Δεινομένει κελαδῆσαιπίθεό μοι ποινὰν τεθρίππων. χάρμα δʼ οὐκ ἀλλότριον νικαφορία πατέρος.ἄγʼ ἔπειτʼ Αἴτνας βασιλεῖ φίλιον ἐξεύρωμεν ὕμνον·τῷ πόλιν κείναν θεοδμάτῳ σὺν ἐλευθερίᾳὙλλίδος στάθμας Ἱέρων ἐν νόμοις ἔκτισσʼ. ἐθέλοντι δὲ Παμφύλουκαὶ μὰν Ἡρακλειδᾶν ἔκγονοιὄχθαις ὕπο Ταϋγέτου ναίοντες αἰεὶ μένειν τεθμοῖσιν ἐν ΑἰγιμιοῦΔωριεῖς. ἔσχον δʼ Ἀμύκλας ὄλβιοι,Πινδόθεν ὀρνύμενοι, λευκοπώλων Τυνδαριδᾶν βαθύδοξοι γείτονες, ὧν κλέος ἄνθησεν αἰχμᾶς.Ζεῦ τέλειʼ, αἰεὶ δὲ τοιαύταν Ἀμένα παρʼ ὕδωραἶσαν ἀστοῖς καὶ βασιλεῦσιν διακρίνειν ἔτυμον λόγον ἀνθρώπων,σύν τοι τίν κεν ἁγητὴρ ἀνήρ,υἱῷ τʼ ἐπιτελλόμενος, δᾶμον γεραίρων τράποι σύμφωνον ἐς ἁσυχίαν.λίσσομαι νεῦσον, Κρονίων, ἅμερονὄφρα κατʼ οἶκον ὁ Φοίνιξ ὁ Τυρσανῶν τʼ ἀλαλατὸς ἔχῃ, ναυσίστονον ὕβριν ἰδὼν τὰν πρὸ Κύμας·οἷα Συρακοσίων ἀρχῷ δαμασθέντες πάθον,ὠκυπόρων ἀπὸ ναῶν ὅ σφιν ἐν πόντῳ βάλεθʼ ἁλικίαν,Ἑλλάδʼ ἐξέλκων βαρείας δουλίας. ἀρέομαιπὰρ μὲν Σαλαμῖνος, Ἀθαναίων χάριν,μισθόν, ἐν Σπάρτᾳ δʼ ⟨ἀπὸ⟩ τᾶν πρὸ Κιθαιρῶνος μαχᾶν,ταῖσι Μήδειοι κάμον ἀγκυλότοξοι,παρὰ δὲ τὰν εὔυδρον ἀκτὰν Ἱμέρα παίδεσσιν ὕμνον Δεινομένευς τελέσαις,τὸν ἐδέξαντʼ ἀμφʼ ἀρετᾷ, πολεμίων ἀνδρῶν καμόντων.καιρὸν εἰ φθέγξαιο, πολλῶν πείρατα συντανύσαιςἐν βραχεῖ, μείων ἕπεται μῶμος ἀνθρώπων. ἀπὸ γὰρ κόρος ἀμβλύνειαἰανὴς ταχείας ἐλπίδας·ἀστῶν δʼ ἀκοὰ κρύφιον θυμὸν βαρύνει μάλιστʼ ἐσλοῖσιν ἐπʼ ἀλλοτρίοις.ἀλλʼ ὅμως, κρέσσων γὰρ οἰκτιρμοῦ φθόνος,μὴ παρίει καλά. νώμα δικαίῳ πηδαλίῳ στρατόν· ἀψευδεῖ δὲ πρὸς ἄκμονι χάλκευε γλῶσσαν.εἴ τι καὶ φλαῦρον παραιθύσσει, μέγα τοι φέρεταιπὰρ σέθεν. πολλῶν ταμίας ἐσσί· πολλοὶ μάρτυρες ἀμφοτέροις πιστοί.εὐανθεῖ δʼ ἐν ὀργᾷ παρμένων,εἴπερ τι φιλεῖς ἀκοὰν ἁδεῖαν αἰεὶ κλύειν, μὴ κάμνε λίαν δαπάναις·ἐξίει δʼ ὥσπερ κυβερνάτας ἀνὴρἱστίον ἀνεμόεν. μὴ δολωθῇς, ὦ φίλος, κέρδεσιν εὐτράπλοις· ὀπιθόμβροτον αὔχημα δόξαςοἶον ἀποιχομένων ἀνδρῶν δίαιταν μανύεικαὶ λογίοις καὶ ἀοιδοῖς· οὐ φθίνει Κροίσου φιλόφρων ἀρετά·τὸν δὲ ταύρῳ χαλκέῳ καυτῆρα νηλέα νόονἐχθρὰ Φάλαριν κατέχει παντᾷ φάτις,οὐδέ νιν φόρμιγγες ὑπωρόφιαι κοινωνίανμαλθακὰν παίδων ὀάροισι δέκονται.τὸ δὲ παθεῖν εὖ πρῶτον ἄθλων· εὖ δʼ ἀκούειν δευτέρα μοῖρʼ· ἀμφοτέροισι δʼ ἀνὴρὃς ἂν ἐγκύρσῃ, καὶ ἕλῃ, στέφανον ὕψιστον δέδεκται.
Great city of Syracuse! Sacred precinct of Ares, plunged deep in war! Divine nurse of men and horses who rejoice in steel! For you I come from splendid Thebes bringing this song, a message of the earth-shaking four-horse racein which Hieron with his fine chariot won the victory, and so crowned Ortygia with far-shining garlands—Ortygia, home of Artemis the river-goddess: not without her help did Hieron master with his gentle hands the horses with embroidered reins.For the virgin goddess who showers arrowsand Hermes the god of contests present the gleaming reins to him with both hands when he yokes the strength of his horses to the polished car, to the chariot that obeys the bit, and calls on the wide-ruling god who wields the trident. Other kings have other men to pay them the tribute of melodious song, the recompense for excellence.The voices of the men of Cyprus often shout the name of Cinyras, whom golden-haired Apollo gladly loved,Cinyras, the obedient priest of Aphrodite. Reverent gratitude is a recompense for friendly deeds. And you, son of Deinomenes, the West Locrian girl invokes you, standing outside her door: out of the helpless troubles of war,through your power she looks at the world in security. They say that by the commands of the gods Ixion spins round and round on his feathered wheel, saying this to mortals: “Repay your benefactor frequently with gentle favors in return.”He learned a clear lesson. For although he received a sweet life among the gracious children of Cronus, he did not abide his prosperity for long, when in his madness of spirit he desired Hera, who was allotted to the joyful bed of Zeus. But his arrogance drove him to extreme delusion; and soon the man suffered a suitableexquisite punishment. Both of his crimes brought him toil in the end. First, he was the hero who, not without guile, was the first to stain mortal men with kindred blood;second, in the vast recesses of that bridal chamber he once made an attempt on the wife of Zeus. A man must always measure all things according to his own place.Unnatural lust throws men into dense trouble; it befell even him, since the man in his ignorance chased a sweet fake and lay with a cloud, for its form was like the supreme celestial goddess, the daughter of Cronus. The hands of Zeus set it as a trap for him,a beautiful misery. Ixion brought upon himself the four-spoked fetter,his own ruin. He fell into inescapable bonds, and received the message that warns the whole world. She bore to him, without the blessing of the Graces, a monstrous offspring—there was never a mother or a son like this—honored neither by men nor by the laws of the gods. She raised him and named him Centaurus,and he mated with the Magnesian mares in the foothills of Pelion, and from them was born a marvelous horde, which resembled both its parents: like the mother below, the father above.The gods accomplish everything according to their wishes;the gods, who overtake even the flying eagle and outstrip the dolphin in the sea, and bend down many a man who is overly ambitious, while to others they give unaging glory. For my part, I must avoid the aggressive bite of slander. For I have seen, long before me,abusive Archilochus often in a helpless state, fattening himself with strong words and hatred. But to be rich by the grace of fortune is the best part of skillful wisdom.And you clearly have this blessing, and can display it with a generous mind, ruler and leader of many garland-crowned streets and a great army. When wealth and influence are in question,anyone who says that any man in Greece of earlier times surpassed you has a soft mind that flails around in vain. But I shall ascend a ship covered with flowers, and sing the praises of excellence. Boldness helps youth in terrible wars; and so I say that you too have found boundless fameby fighting among both horsemen and foot soldiers. And your wisdom beyond your years provides me with praise of you that cannot be challenged in any detail. Greetings! This song, like Phoenician merchandise, is sent to you over the gray sea: look kindly on the Castor-song, composed in Aeolian strains;come and greet the gracious offering of the seven-toned lyre. Learn and become who you are. To children, you know, an ape is pretty, alwayspretty. But Rhadamanthys has prospered, because his allotted portion was the blameless fruit of intelligence, and he does not delight his inner spirit with deceptions,the kind that always follow a man because of the schemes of whisperers. Those who mutter slander are an evil that makes both sides helpless; they are utterly like foxes in their temper. But what does the fox really gain by outfoxing? For while the rest of the tackle labors in the depths,I am unsinkable, like a cork above the surface of the salt sea.A crafty citizen is unable to speak a compelling word among noble men; and yet he fawns on everyone, weaving complete destruction. I do not share his boldness. Let me be a friend to my friend; but I will be an enemy to my enemy, and pounce on him like a wolf,treading every crooked path. Under every type of law the man who speaks straightforwardly prospers: in a tyranny, and where the raucous masses oversee the state, and where men of skill do. One must not fight against a god,who raises up some men’s fortunes at one time, and at another gives great glory to others. But even thisdoes not comfort the minds of the envious; they pull the line too tight and plant a painful wound in their own heart before they get what they are scheming for. It is best to take the yoke on one’s neck and bear it lightly; kicking against the goadmakes the path treacherous. I hope that I may associate with noble men and please them.
μεγαλοπόλιες ὦ Συράκοσαι, βαθυπολέμουτέμενος Ἄρεος, ἀνδρῶν ἵππων τε σιδαροχαρμᾶν δαιμόνιαι τροφοί,ὔμμιν τόδε τᾶν λιπαρᾶν ἀπὸ Θηβᾶν φέρωνμέλος ἔρχομαι ἀγγελίαν τετραορίας ἐλελίχθονος,εὐάρματος Ἱέρων ἐν ᾇ κρατέωντηλαυγέσιν ἀνέδησεν Ὀρτυγίαν στεφάνοις,ποταμίας ἕδος Ἀρτέμιδος, ἇς οὐκ ἄτερκείνας ἀγαναῖσιν ἐν χερσὶ ποικιλανίους ἐδάμασσε πώλους.ἐπὶ γὰρ ἰοχέαιρα παρθένος χερὶ διδύμᾳὅ τʼ ἐναγώνιος Ἑρμᾶς αἰγλᾶντα τίθησι κόσμον, ξεστὸν ὅταν δίφρονἔν θʼ ἅρματα πεισιχάλινα καταζευγνύῃσθένος ἵππιον, ὀρσοτρίαιναν εὐρυβίαν καλέων θεόν.ἄλλοις δέ τις ἐτέλεσσεν ἄλλος ἀνὴρεὐαχέα βασιλεῦσιν ὕμνον, ἄποινʼ ἀρετᾶς.κελαδέοντι μὲν ἀμφὶ Κινύραν πολλάκιςφᾶμαι Κυπρίων, τὸν ὁ χρυσοχαῖτα προφρόνως ἐφίλασ᾽ Ἀπόλλων,ἱερέα κτίλον Ἀφροδίτας· ἄγει δὲ χάρις φίλων ποίνιμος ἀντὶ ἔργων ὀπιζομένα·σὲ δʼ, ὦ Δεινομένειε παῖ, Ζεφυρία πρὸ δόμωνΛοκρὶς παρθένος ἀπύει, πολεμίων καμάτων ἐξ ἀμαχάνωνδιὰ τεὰν δύναμιν δρακεῖσʼ ἀσφαλές.θεῶν δʼ ἐφετμαῖς Ἰξίονα φαντὶ ταῦτα βροτοῖςλέγειν ἐν πτερόεντι τροχῷπαντᾷ κυλινδόμενον·τὸν εὐεργέταν ἀγαναῖς ἀμοιβαῖς ἐποιχομένους τίνεσθαι.ἔμαθε δὲ σαφές. εὐμενέσσι γὰρ παρὰ Κρονίδαιςγλυκὺν ἑλὼν βίοτον, μακρὸν οὐχ ὑπέμεινεν ὄλβον, μαινομέναις φρασὶνἭρας ὅτʼ ἐράσσατο, τὰν Διὸς εὐναὶ λάχονπολυγαθέες· ἀλλά νιν ὕβρις εἰς ἀυάταν ὑπεράφανονὦρσεν· τάχα δὲ παθὼν ἐοικότʼ ἀνὴρἐξαίρετον ἕλε μόχθον. αἱ δύο δʼ ἀμπλακίαιφερέπονοι τελέθοντι· τὸ μὲν ἥρως ὅτιἐμφύλιον αἷμα πρώτιστος οὐκ ἄτερ τέχνας ἐπέμιξε θνατοῖς,ὅτι τε μεγαλοκευθέεσσιν ἔν ποτε θαλάμοιςΔιὸς ἄκοιτιν ἐπειρᾶτο. χρὴ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὸν αἰεὶ παντὸς ὁρᾶν μέτρον.εὐναὶ δὲ παράτροποι ἐς κακότατʼ ἀθρόανἔβαλον· ποτὶ καὶ τὸν ἵκοντʼ· ἐπεὶ νεφέλᾳ παρελέξατο,ψεῦδος γλυκὺ μεθέπων, ἄϊδρις ἀνήρ·εἶδος γὰρ ὑπεροχωτάτᾳ πρέπεν οὐρανιᾶνθυγατέρι Κρόνου· ἅντε δόλον αὐτῷ θέσανΖηνὸς παλάμαι, καλὸν πῆμα. τὸν δὲ τετράκναμον ἔπραξε δεσμόν,ἑὸν ὄλεθρον ὅγʼ· ἐν δʼ ἀφύκτοισι γυιοπέδαις πεσὼν τὰν πολύκοινον ἀνδέξατʼ ἀγγελίαν.ἄνευ οἱ Χαρίτων τέκεν γόνον ὑπερφίαλον,μόνα καὶ μόνον, οὔτʼ ἐν ἀνδράσι γερασφόρον οὔτʼ ἐν θεῶν νόμοις·τὸν ὀνύμαξε τράφοισα Κένταυρον, ὃςἵπποισι Μαγνητίδεσσι ἐμίγνυτʼ ἐν Παλίουσφυροῖς, ἐκ δʼ ἐγένοντο στρατὸςθαυμαστός, ἀμφοτέροιςὁμοῖοι τοκεῦσι, τὰ ματρόθεν μὲν κάτω, τὰ δʼ ὕπερθε πατρός.θεὸς ἅπαν ἐπὶ ἐλπίδεσσι τέκμαρ ἀνύεται,θεός, ὃ καὶ πτερόεντʼ αἰετὸν κίχε, καὶ θαλασσαῖον παραμείβεταιδελφῖνα, καὶ ὑψιφρόνων τινʼ ἔκαμψε βροτῶν,ἑτέροισι δὲ κῦδος ἀγήραον παρέδωκʼ. ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼνφεύγειν δάκος ἀδινὸν κακαγοριᾶν.εἶδον γὰρ ἑκὰς ἐὼν τὰ πόλλʼ ἐν ἀμαχανίᾳψογερὸν Ἀρχίλοχον βαρυλόγοις ἔχθεσινπιαινόμενον· τὸ πλουτεῖν δὲ σὺν τύχᾳ πότμου σοφίας ἄριστον.τὺ δὲ σάφα νιν ἔχεις, ἐλευθέρᾳ φρενὶ πεπαρεῖν,πρύτανι κύριε πολλᾶν μὲν εὐστεφάνων ἀγυιᾶν καὶ στρατοῦ. εἰ δέ τιςἤδη κτεάτεσσί τε καὶ περὶ τιμᾷ λέγειἕτερόν τινʼ ἀνʼ Ἑλλάδα τῶν πάροιθε γενέσθαι ὑπέρτερον,χαύνα πραπίδι παλαιμονεῖ κενεά.εὐανθέα δʼ ἀναβάσομαι στόλον ἀμφʼ ἀρετᾷκελαδέων. νεότατι μὲν ἀρήγει θράσοςδεινῶν πολέμων· ὅθεν φαμὶ καὶ σὲ τὰν ἀπείρονα δόξαν εὑρεῖν,τὰ μὲν ἐν ἱπποσόαισιν ἄνδρεσσι μαρνάμενον, τὰ δʼ ἐν πεζομάχαισι· βουλαὶ δὲ πρεσβύτεραιἀκίνδυνον ἐμοὶ ἔπος ⟨σὲ⟩ ποτὶ πάντα λόγονἐπαινεῖν παρέχοντι. χαῖρε. τόδε μὲν κατὰ Φοίνισσαν ἐμπολὰνμέλος ὑπὲρ πολιᾶς ἁλὸς πέμπεται·τὸ Καστόρειον δʼ ἐν Αἰολίδεσσι χορδαῖς ἑκὼνἄθρησον χάριν ἑπτακτύπουφόρμιγγος ἀντόμενος.γένοιʼ οἷος ἐσσὶ μαθών· καλός τοι πίθων παρὰ παισίν, αἰεὶκαλός. ὁ δὲ Ῥαδάμανθυς εὖ πέπραγεν, ὅτι φρενῶνἔλαχε καρπὸν ἀμώμητον, οὐδʼ ἀπάταισι θυμὸν τέρπεται ἔνδοθεν·οἷα ψιθύρων παλάμαις ἕπετʼ αἰεὶ βροτῷ.ἄμαχον κακὸν ἀμφοτέροις διαβολιᾶν ὑποφάτιες,ὀργαῖς ἀτενὲς ἀλωπέκων ἴκελοι.κερδοῖ δὲ τί μάλα τοῦτο κερδαλέον τελέθει;ἅτε γὰρ εἰνάλιον πόνον ἐχοίσας βαθὺνσκευᾶς ἑτέρας, ἀβάπτιστός εἰμι, φελλὸς ὣς ὑπὲρ ἕρκος, ἅλμας.ἀδύνατα δʼ ἔπος ἐκβαλεῖν κραταιὸν ἐν ἀγαθοῖςδόλιον ἀστόν· ὅμως μὰν σαίνων ποτὶ πάντας, ἀγὰν πάγχυ διαπλέκει.οὔ οἱ μετέχω θράσεος· φίλον εἴη φιλεῖν·ποτὶ δʼ ἐχθρὸν ἅτʼ ἐχθρὸς ἐὼν λύκοιο δίκαν ὑποθεύσομαι,ἄλλʼ ἄλλοτε πατέων ὁδοῖς σκολιαῖς.ἐν πάντα δὲ νόμον εὐθύγλωσσος ἀνὴρ προφέρει,παρὰ τυραννίδι, χὠπόταν ὁ λάβρος στρατός,χὤταν πόλιν οἱ σοφοὶ τηρέωντι. χρὴ δὲ πρὸς θεὸν οὐκ ἐρίζειν,ὃς ἀνέχει τοτὲ μὲν τὰ κείνων, τότʼ αὖθʼ ἑτέροις ἔδωκεν μέγα κῦδος. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ταῦτα νόονἰαίνει φθονερῶν· στάθμας δέ τινος ἑλκόμενοιπερισσᾶς ἐνέπαξαν ἕλκος ὀδυναρὸν ἑᾷ πρόσθε καρδίᾳ,πρὶν ὅσα φροντίδι μητίονται τυχεῖν.φέρειν δʼ ἐλαφρῶς ἐπαυχένιον λαβόντα ζυγὸνἀρήγει· ποτὶ κέντρον δέ τοιλακτιζέμεν τελέθειὀλισθηρὸς οἶμος· ἁδόντα δʼ εἴη με τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς ὁμιλεῖν.
If it were proper for this commonplace prayer to be made by my tongue, I would want Cheiron the son of Philyra to be alive again, he who has departed, the wide-ruling son of Cronus son of Uranus; and I would want him to reign again in the glens of Pelion, the beast of the wildswhose mind was friendly to men; just as he was when once he reared Asclepius, that gentle craftsman who drove pain from the limbs that he healed, that hero who cured all types of diseases.His mother, the daughter of Phlegyas with his fine horses, before she could bring him to term with the help of Eleithuia who attends on childbirth, was stricken by the goldenarrows of Artemis in her bedroom and descended to the house of Hades, by the skills of Apollo. The anger of the children of Zeus is not in vain. But she made light of Apollo, in the error of her mind, and consented to another marriage without her father’s knowledge, although she had before lain with Phoebus of the unshorn hair,and was bearing within her the pure seed of the god. She did not wait for the marriage-feast to come, nor for the full-voiced cry of the hymenaeal chorus, such things as unmarried girls her own age love to murmur in evening songs to their companion. Instead,she was in love with what was distant; many others have felt that passion. There is a worthless tribe among men which dishonors what is at home and looks far away, hunting down empty air with hopes that cannot be fulfilled.Such was the strong infatuationthat the spirit of lovely-robed Coronis had caught. For she lay in the bed of a stranger who came from Arcadia; but she did not elude the watcher. Even in Pytho where sheep are sacrificed, the king of the temple happened to perceive it, Loxias, persuading his thoughts with his unerring counsellor: his mind, which knows all things. He does not grasp falsehood, and he is deceivedby neither god nor man, neither in deeds nor in thoughts.Knowing even then of her sleeping with Ischys, son of Elatus, and of her lawless deceit, he sent his sister, raging with irresistible force, to Lacereia, since the girl lived by the banks of Lake Boebias.A contrary fortune turned her to evil and overcame her. And many neighbors shared her fate and perished with her; fire leaps from a single spark on a mountain, and destroys a great forest.But when her kinsmen had placed the girl in the wooden walls of the pyre, andthe ravening flame of Hephaestus ran around it, then Apollo spoke: “I can no longer endure in my soul to destroy my own child by a most pitiful death, together with his mother’s grievous suffering.” So he spoke. In one step he reached the child and snatched it from the corpse; the burning fire divided its blaze for him,and he bore the child away and gave him to the Magnesian Centaur to teach him to heal many painful diseases for men.And those who came to him afflicted with congenital sores, or with their limbs wounded by gray bronze or by a far-hurled stone,or with their bodies wasting away from summer’s fire or winter’s cold, he released and delivered all of them from their different pains, tending some of them with gentle incantations, others with soothing potions, or by wrapping remedies all around their limbs, and others he set right with surgery.But even skill is enthralled by the love of gain.Gold shining in his hand turned even that man, for a handsome price, to bring back from death a man who was already caught. And so the son of Cronus hurled his shaft with his hands through both of them, and swiftly tore the breath out of their chests; the burning thunderbolt brought death crashing down on them. We must seek from the gods what is appropriate for mortal minds,knowing what lies before our feet, and what kind of destiny we have.Do not crave immortal life, my soul, but use to the full the resources of what is possible. But if wise Cheiron were still living in his cave, and if our honey-voiced odeshad cast a spell on his spirit, I would have persuaded him to send even now a healer to cure noble men of their feverish diseases, someone called a son of Apollo or of his father Zeus. And I would have gone on a ship, cleaving the Ionian waters, to the fountain of Arethusa and the presence of my Aetnaean host,the king who rules Syracuse, gentle to his citizens, bearing no envious grudge against good men, a marvellous father to his guests. If I had reached his shores bringing a double blessing, golden health and a victory-song to add brilliance to his garlands from the Pythian games, which once Pherenicus took when he was the best at Cirrha,I say that I would have come across the deep sea to him as a light that shines farther than a star of the sky.But I, for my part, want to offer a prayer to the Mother, the revered goddess whose praises, with those of Pan, girls often sing at night beside my doorway.Hieron, if you are skilled in understanding the true essence of words, you have learned and know the saying of former times: “The immortals dispense to men two pains for every blessing.” Fools cannot bear their pain with grace, but noble men can, by turning the good side outwards.It is your lot to be attended by good fortune.For great destiny watches over the leader of the people, the tyrant, if over any man. But a secure life was not granted either to Peleus son of Aeacus or to godlike Cadmus; yet they are said to have attained the highest prosperity of all mortal men, sincethey heard the Muses of the golden headbands singing on the mountain and in seven-gated Thebes, when Cadmus married ox-eyed Harmonia, and Peleus married the famous daughter of wise Nereus.And the gods held feasts for both of them, and they saw the royal sons of Cronus on their golden seats, and they receivedwedding gifts. By the grace of Zeus, they set their hearts right again from their former troubles. But in time Cadmus’ three daughters, by their bitter suffering, took from him his share of joy; even though father Zeus had visited the desirable bed of white-armed Thyone.And Peleus’ son, the only child whom immortal Thetis bore in Phthia, had his life taken in battle by the bow, and roused the wailing of the Danaans while his body was burning on the pyre. But if any mortal has the path of truth in his mind, he must fare well at the hands of the gods as he has the opportunity. But the winds are changeablethat blow on high. The prosperity of men does not stay secure for long, when it follows weighing upon them in abundance.I will be small when my fortunes are small, great when they are great. I will honor in my mind the fortune that attends me from day to day, tending it to the best of my ability.But if a god were to give me luxurious wealth, I hope that I would find lofty fame in the future. We know of Nestor and Lycian Sarpedon, whom men speak of, from melodious words which skilled craftsmen join together. Through renowned songs excellencegains a long life. But few find that easy to accomplish.
ἤθελον Χείρωνά κε Φιλλυρίδαν,εἰ χρεὼν τοῦθʼ ἁμετέρας ἀπὸ γλώσσας κοινὸν εὔξασθαι ἔπος,ζώειν τὸν ἀποιχόμενον,Οὐρανίδα γόνον εὐρυμέδοντα Κρόνου, βάσσαισί τʼ ἄρχειν Παλίου Φῆρʼ ἀγρότερον,νοῦν ἔχοντʼ ἀνδρῶν φίλον· οἷος ἐὼν θρέψεν ποτὲτέκτονα νωδυνίας ἅμερον γυιαρκέος Ἀσκλήπιον,ἥρωα παντοδαπᾶν ἀλκτῆρα νούσων.τὸν μὲν εὐΐππου Φλεγύα θυγάτηρπρὶν τελέσσαι ματροπόλῳ σὺν Ἐλειθυίᾳ, δαμεῖσα χρυσέοιςτόξοισιν ὕπʼ Ἀρτέμιδος,εἰς Ἀΐδα δόμον ἐν θαλάμῳ κατέβα τέχναις Ἀπόλλωνος. χόλος δʼ οὐκ ἀλίθιοςγίνεται παίδων Διός. ἁ δʼ ἀποφλαυρίξαισά νινἀμπλακίαισι φρενῶν, ἄλλον αἴνησεν γάμον κρύβδαν πατρός,πρόσθεν ἀκειρεκόμᾳ μιχθεῖσα Φοίβῳ,καὶ φέροισα σπέρμα θεοῦ καθαρόν.οὐδʼ ἔμεινʼ ἐλθεῖν τράπεζαν νυμφίανοὐδὲ παμφώνων ἰαχὰν ὑμεναίων, ἅλικεςοἷα παρθένοι φιλέοισιν ἑταίρᾳἑσπερίαις ὑποκουρίζεσθʼ ἀοιδαῖς· ἀλλά τοιἤρατο τῶν ἀπεόντων· οἷα καὶ πολλοὶ πάθον.ἔστι δὲ φῦλον ἐν ἀνθρώποισι ματαιότατον,ὅστις αἰσχύνων ἐπιχώρια παπταίνει τὰ πόρσω,μεταμώνια θηρεύων ἀκράντοις ἐλπίσιν.ἔσχε τοιαύταν μεγάλαν ἀυάτανκαλλιπέπλου λῆμα Κορωνίδος. ἐλθόντος γὰρ εὐνάσθη ξένουλέκτροισιν ἀπʼ Ἀρκαδίας.οὐδʼ ἔλαθε σκοπόν· ἐν δʼ ἄρα μηλοδόκῳ Πυθῶνι τόσσαις ἄϊεν ναοῦ βασιλεὺςΛοξίας, κοινᾶνι παρʼ εὐθυτάτῳ γνώμαν πιθών,πάντα ἰσάντι νόῳ· ψευδέων δʼ οὐχ ἅπτεται· κλέπτει τέ νινοὐ θεὸς οὐ βροτὸς ἔργοις οὔτε βουλαῖς.καὶ τότε γνοὺς Ἴσχυος Εἰλατίδαξεινίαν κοίταν ἄθεμίν τε δόλον, πέμψεν κασιγνήταν μένειθύοισαν ἀμαιμακέτῳἐς Λακέρειαν. ἐπεὶ παρὰ Βοιβιάδος κρημνοῖσιν ᾤκει παρθένος. δαίμων δʼ ἕτεροςἐς κακὸν τρέψαις ἐδαμάσσατό νιν· καὶ γειτόνωνπολλοὶ ἐπαῦρον, ἁμᾷ δʼ ἔφθαρεν, πολλὰν δʼ ὄρει πῦρ ἐξ ἑνὸςσπέρματος ἐνθορὸν ἀΐστωσεν ὕλαν.ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ τείχει θέσαν ἐν ξυλίνῳσύγγονοι κούραν, σέλας δʼ ἀμφέδραμενλάβρον Ἁφαίστου, τότʼ ἔειπεν Ἀπόλλων· οὐκέτιτλάσομαι ψυχᾷ γένος ἀμὸν ὀλέσσαιοἰκτροτάτῳ θανάτῳ ματρὸς βαρείᾳ σὺν πάθᾳ.ὣς φάτο· βάματι δʼ ἐν πρώτῳ κιχὼν παῖδʼ ἐκ νεκροῦἅρπασε· καιομένα δʼ αὐτῷ διέφαινε πυρά·καί ῥά νιν Μάγνητι φέρων πόρε Κενταύρῳ διδάξαιπολυπήμονας ἀνθρώποισιν ἰᾶσθαι νόσους.τοὺς μὲν ὦν, ὅσσοι μόλον αὐτοφύτωνἑλκέων ξυνάονες, ἢ πολιῷ χαλκῷ μέλη τετρωμένοιἢ χερμάδι τηλεβόλῳ,ἢ θερινῷ πυρὶ περθόμενοι δέμας ἢ χειμῶνι, λύσαις ἄλλον ἀλλοίων ἀχέωνἔξαγεν, τοὺς μὲν μαλακαῖς ἐπαοιδαῖς ἀμφέπων,τοὺς δὲ προσανέα πίνοντας, ἢ γυίοις περάπτων πάντοθενφάρμακα, τοὺς δὲ τομαῖς ἔστασεν ὀρθούς.ἀλλὰ κέρδει καὶ σοφία δέδεται.ἔτραπεν καὶ κεῖνον ἀγάνορι μισθῷ χρυσὸς ἐν χερσὶν φανεὶςἄνδρʼ ἐκ θανάτου κομίσαιἤδη ἁλωκότα· χερσὶ δʼ ἄρα Κρονίων ῥίψαις διʼ ἀμφοῖν ἀμπνοὰν στέρνων κάθελενὠκέως, αἴθων δὲ κεραυνὸς ἐνέσκιμψεν μόρον.χρὴ τὰ ἐοικότα πὰρ δαιμόνων μαστευέμεν θναταῖς φρασίν,γνόντα τὸ πὰρ ποδός, οἵας εἰμὲν αἴσας.μή, φίλα ψυχά, βίον ἀθάνατονσπεῦδε, τὰν δʼ ἔμπρακτον ἄντλει μαχανάν.εἰ δὲ σώφρων ἄντρον ἔναιʼ ἔτι Χείρων, καί τί οἱφίλτρον ἐν θυμῷ μελιγάρυες ὕμνοιἁμέτεροι τίθεν· ἰατῆρά τοί κέν νιν πίθονκαί νυν ἐσλοῖσι παρασχεῖν ἀνδράσιν θερμᾶν νόσωνἤ τινα Λατοΐδα κεκλημένον ἢ πατέρος.καί κεν ἐν ναυσὶν μόλον Ἰονίαν τάμνων θάλασσανἈρέθοισαν ἐπὶ κράναν παρʼ Αἰτναῖον ξένον,ὃς Συρακόσσαισι νέμει βασιλεὺςπραῢς ἀστοῖς, οὐ φθονέων ἀγαθοῖς, ξείνοις δὲ θαυμαστὸς πατήρ.τῷ μὲν διδύμας χάριτας,εἰ κατέβαν ὑγίειαν ἄγων χρυσέαν κῶμόν τʼ ἀέθλων Πυθίων αἴγλαν στεφάνοις.τοὺς ἀριστεύων Φερένικος ἕλʼ ἐν Κίρρᾳ ποτέ,ἀστέρος οὐρανίου φαμὶ τηλαυγέστερον κείνῳ φάοςἐξικόμαν κε βαθὺν πόντον περάσαις.ἀλλʼ ἐπεύξασθαι μὲν ἐγὼν ἐθέλωΜατρί, τὰν κοῦραι παρʼ ἐμὸν πρόθυρον σὺν Πανὶ μέλπονται θαμὰσεμνὰν θεὸν ἐννύχιαι.εἰ δὲ λόγων συνέμεν κορυφάν, Ἱέρων, ὀρθὰν ἐπίστᾳ, μανθάνων οἶσθα προτέρων·ἓν παρʼ ἐσλὸν πήματα σύνδυο δαίονται βροτοῖςἀθάνατοι. τὰ μὲν ὦν οὐ δύνανται νήπιοι κόσμῳ φέρειν,ἀλλʼ ἀγαθοί, τὰ καλὰ τρέψαντες ἔξω.τὶν δὲ μοῖρʼ εὐδαιμονίας ἕπεται.λαγέταν γάρ τοι τύραννον δέρκεται,εἴ τινʼ ἀνθρώπων, ὁ μέγας πότμος. αἰὼν δʼ ἀσφαλὴςοὐκ ἔγεντʼ οὔτʼ Αἰακίδᾳ παρὰ Πηλεῖοὔτε παρʼ ἀντιθέῳ Κάδμῳ· λέγονται μὰν βροτῶνὄλβον ὑπέρτατον οἳ σχεῖν, οἵτε καὶ χρυσαμπύκωνμελπομενᾶν ἐν ὄρει Μοισᾶν καὶ ἐν ἑπταπύλοιςἄϊον Θήβαις, ὁπόθʼ Ἁρμονίαν γᾶμεν βοῶπιν,ὁ δὲ Νηρέος εὐβούλου Θέτιν παῖδα κλυτάν.καὶ θεοὶ δαίσαντο παρʼ ἀμφοτέροις,καὶ Κρόνου παῖδας βασιλῆας ἴδον χρυσέαις ἐν ἕδραις, ἕδνα τεδέξαντο· Διὸς δὲ χάρινἐκ προτέρων μεταμειψάμενοι καμάτων ἔστασαν ὀρθὰν καρδίαν. ἐν δʼ αὖτε χρόνῳτὸν μὲν ὀξείαισι θύγατρες ἐρήμωσαν πάθαιςεὐφροσύνας μέρος αἱ τρεῖς· ἀτὰρ λευκωλένῳ γε Ζεὺς πατὴρἤλυθεν ἐς λέχος ἱμερτὸν Θυώνᾳ.τοῦ δὲ παῖς, ὅνπερ μόνον ἀθανάτατίκτεν ἐν Φθίᾳ Θέτις, ἐν πολέμῳ τόξοις ἀπὸ ψυχὰν λιπὼνὦρσεν πυρὶ καιόμενοςἐκ Δαναῶν γόον. εἰ δὲ νόῳ τις ἔχει θνατῶν ἀλαθείας ὁδόν, χρὴ πρὸς μακάρωντυγχάνοντʼ εὖ πασχέμεν. ἄλλοτε δʼ ἀλλοῖαι πνοαὶὑψιπετᾶν ἀνέμων. ὄλβος οὐκ ἐς μακρὸν ἀνδρῶν ἔρχεται⟨σάος ⟩, πολὺς εὖτʼ ἂν ἐπιβρίσαις ἕπηται.σμικρὸς ἐν σμικροῖς, μέγας ἐν μεγάλοιςἔσσομαι· τὸν ἀμφέποντʼ αἰεὶ φρασὶνδαίμονʼ ἀσκήσω κατʼ ἐμὰν θεραπεύων μαχανάν.εἰ δέ μοι πλοῦτον θεὸς ἁβρὸν ὀρέξαι,ἐλπίδʼ ἔχω κλέος εὑρέσθαι κεν ὑψηλὸν πρόσω.Νέστορα καὶ Λύκιον Σαρπηδόνʼ, ἀνθρώπων φάτις,ἐξ ἐπέων κελαδεννῶν, τέκτονες οἷα σοφοὶἅρμοσαν, γιγνώσκομεν. ἁ δʼ ἀρετὰ κλειναῖς ἀοιδαῖςχρονία τελέθει. παύροις δὲ πράξασθʼ εὐμαρές.
Today you must stand beside a beloved man, Muse, the king of Cyrene with its fine horses, so that while Arcesilas celebrates his triumph you may swell the fair wind of song that is due to the children of Leto and to Pytho, where once the priestess seated beside the golden eagles of Zeus,on a day when Apollo happened to be present, gave an oracle naming Battus as the colonizer of fruitful Libya, and telling how he would at once leave the holy island and found a city of fine chariots on a shining white breast of the earth,and carry outin the seventeenth generation the word spoken at Thera by Medea, which once the inspired daughter of Aeetes, the queen of the Colchians, breathed forth from her immortal mouth. She spoke in this way to the heroes who sailed with the warrior Jason: “Hear me, sons of high-spirited men and of gods. For I say that from this wave-washed land one day the daughter of Epaphuswill have planted in her a root of cities that are dear to men, in the temple of Zeus Ammon.Instead of short-finned dolphins they will have swift horses, and reins instead of oars, and they will drive storm-footed chariot teams. That token shall makeThera the mother-city of great cities, the token which once, beside the out-flowing waters of lake Tritonis, Euphemus received as he descended from the prow, a clod of earth as a gift of friendship from a god in the likeness of a man. And as a sign of favor, Zeus the son of Cronus sounded a peal of thunder,when the stranger found us hanging the bronze-jawed anchor, the bridle of the swift Argo, against the ship. Before that we had been dragging our seafaring ship for twelve days from the Ocean over the deserted back of the land, having drawn it ashore by my counsels. And then the solitary god approached, who had assumed the splendid appearance of an honored man. He began to speak friendly words,such as beneficent hosts use when they first invite arriving strangers to a meal.But we could not stay, for the plea of our sweet homecoming prevented us from lingering. He said that he was Eurypylus, the son of the holder of the earth, the immortal earth-shaker Poseidon. He realized that we were hurrying on our way, and straightaway with his right hand he snatched up a piece of earth,the first thing to come to hand, and sought to present it as a gift of hospitality. He did not fail to persuade Euphemus; the hero leapt down onto the shore, and, pressing his hand in the hand of the stranger, received the divine clod of earth. But now I learn that it was washed out of the ship into the sea by a waveat evening, following the watery tide. Truly, I often urged the sailors who relieve their masters from toil to guard it; but their minds were forgetful, and now on this island the immortal seed of spacious Libya is washed ashore before the proper time. For if only Euphemus had gone to his home in holy Taenarus and cast the clod beside the earthly mouth of Hades—Euphemus the son of lord Poseidon, ruler of horses, whom once Europa the daughter of Tityus bore beside the banks of the Cephisus—the blood of the fourth generation descended from him would have taken possession of that broad continent together with the Danaans; for then they will be uprooted from Lacedaemon and the Argive gulf and Mycenae.As it is, Euphemus shall find in the beds of foreign women a chosen race, who, with the honor of the gods, will come to this island and beget a man who will be master of the dark-clouded plains; whom one day Phoebus, in his home rich in gold, will mention in his oracleswhen he goes into the Pythian shrine at a later time; Phoebus will tell him to carry cities in his ships to the fertile precinct of the son of Cronus beside the Nile.” Indeed, these were the oracular verses of Medea. And the godlike heroes bowed down motionless and in silence, listening to her shrewd words of wisdom. Battus, blessed son of Polymnestus, it was you that, in accord with this word of prophecy,the oracle glorified by the spontaneous cry of the Delphic Bee, who three times loudly bid you hail, and declared that you were the destined king of Cyrene,when you came to ask the oracle what relief the gods would grant you for your stammering voice. And even now, in later days, as in the prime of red-blossoming spring,eighth in the line of Battus’ descendants flourishes Arcesilas. To him Apollo and Pytho gave glory in the chariot race above those that live around. I will offer him, and the all-golden fleece of the ram, to the Muses as a theme for song. For when the Minyans sailed after that fleece, divinely-sent honors were planted for his race.What beginning of their seafaring welcomed them? What danger bound them with strong bolts of adamant? There was a divine prophecy that Pelias would be killed by the illustrious descendants of Aeolus, either at their hands or through their unflinching counsels; and an oracle came to him that chilled his shrewd spirit, spoken beside the central navel of well-wooded mother earth:to be on careful guard in every way against a man with one sandal, whenever he should come from the homesteads in the steep mountains to the sunny land of famous Iolcus,whether he be stranger or citizen. And in time he arrived: an awesome man armed with two spears. He wore two different types of clothing:his native Magnesian dress fitted to his marvellous limbs, and a leopard-skin wrapped around him protected him from shivering showers. His splendid locks of hair had not been cut away, but flowed shining down his back. He quickly went straight ahead, making trial of his dauntless spirit, and stoodin the marketplace crowded with people.They did not recognize him. Nevertheless, one of the awed onlookers said even this: “Surely this is not Apollo, nor Ares, the husband of Aphrodite, with his bronze chariot. And they say that the sons of Iphimedeia—Otus and you, bold lord Ephialtes—died in splendid Naxos.And indeed Tityus was hunted down by the swift arrow of Artemis, which she sped from her unconquerable quiver, so that men might desire to touch only the loves that are within their reach.”They said such things among themselves; and Pelias arrived, rushing headlong with his mule team and his polished chariot.He was instantly astonished, looking at the single sandal, plain to see on the stranger’s right foot. But he hid his fear in his heart and said: “What country, stranger, do you claim as your fatherland? And what woman, of mortals on earth, bore you from her aged womb? Do not befoul your story with most hateful lies,but tell me of your birth.”And the stranger boldly answered him with gentle words, in this way: “I say that I am going to bring the teaching of Cheiron; for I come from his cave, from the presence of Chariclo and Philyra, where the holy daughters of the Centaur raised me. Living twenty years withouthaving said or done anything shameful in their house, I have come to my home to recover the ancient honor of my father, now held improperly, which once Zeus granted to Aeolus, the leader of the people, and to his sons.For I hear that lawless Pelias, yielding to his empty mind,violently robbed it from my parents, who were the rulers by right. When I first saw the light, they feared the arrogance of the monstrous ruler, and made a show of dark mourning in the home, with the wailing of women as if someone had died, and sent me away secretly, in purple swaddling clothes,making the night my escort on the journey, and gave me to Cheiron the son of Cronus to rear.But you know the chief points of this story. Good citizens, show me clearly the home of my ancestors, who rode on white horses. For I am the son of Aeson, and a native; I do not arrive in a strange foreign land. The divine centaur called me by the name Jason.”So he spoke; and as he entered his father’s eyes recognized him, and tears burst forth from his aged eyelids, for his soul rejoiced when he saw his son, the choicest and most handsome of men.And both his father’s brotherscame when they heard the report of Jason. Pheres was near by; he came from the Hypereian spring, and Amythaon came from Messene. Admetus and Melampus came quickly, showing kindness to their cousin. And while they joined in the banquet, Jason, welcoming them with gentle words and offering them fitting hospitality, extended every kind of joyfulness,reaping the sacred bloom of good living for five full nights and as many days.But on the sixth day, speaking in earnest, Jason confided the entire story from the beginning to his kinsmen; and they took his side. At once he hurried from the camp with them, and they came to the hall of Pelias.They rushed in, and took their stand. And when Pelias heard them he came to meet them himself, the son of Tyro with beautiful hair. And Jason, with his soothing voice distilling gentle language, laid the foundation of skillful words: “Son of Poseidon, Cleaver of the Rock,the minds of mortals are all too swiftto praise crafty gain rather than justice, although they are moving towards a harsh reckoning. But you and I must govern our tempers rightly and weave our future prosperity. You know what I am going to say. A single cow was mother to Cretheus and to bold-thinking Salmoneus. And now we, sprung from them in the third generation, look on the golden strength of the sun.May the Fates withdraw if there is any hatred between members of the same family, which blots out reverence.It is not right for us to resort to swords of sharp bronze or spears in dividing the great honors of our ancestors. I leave you the flocks, and the golden herds of cattle, and all the fields, which you keep, having stolen themfrom my ancestors, feeding fat your wealth; and it does not grieve me that they provide for your household beyond all measure. But as for the royal scepter and the throne, in which Aeson son of Cretheus once sat, and dispensed straight justice for a nation of horsemen: without any distress between us,release these to me, lest some more disturbing evil arise from them.” So he spoke. And Pelias answered softly: “I will be such a man as you ask. But already old age attends me, while the flower of your youth is now swelling. You have it in your power to remove the anger of the gods below. For Phrixus asks us to bring his soul home,going to the halls of Aeetes, and to recover the deep-fleeced hide of the ram, on which he was once saved from the seaand from the impious weapons of his stepmother. A marvellous dream came and told me these things, and I have asked the oracle at Castalia whether it must be pursued; and the oracle urges me to make ready as soon as possible a ship to escort him home.Willingly fulfill this quest, and I swear that I will deliver up to you the royal power and the kingdom. And, as a mighty oath, may Zeus, who is ancestor to us both, be our witness.” They approved this agreement, and they parted. And Jason himself at oncesent messengers everywhere to announce the voyage. Soon there came the three sons, untiring in battle, whom dark-eyed Alcmena and Leda bore to Zeus son of Cronus; and two high-haired men, sons of the earth-shaker, obeying their innate valor, one from Pylos and the other from the headland of Taenarus; you both achievednoble fame, Euphemus and wide-ruling Periclymenus. And from Apollo the lyre-player came, the father of songs, much-praised Orpheus.And Hermes of the golden wand sent two sons to take part in the unabating toil, Echion and Erytus, bursting with youth. Swiftlycame those that dwell around the foothills of Mount Pangaeon, for with a smiling spirit their father Boreas, king of the winds, quickly and willingly equipped Zetes and Calais with purple wings bristling down their backs. And Hera kindled in the demigods an all-persuasive sweet longingfor the ship Argo, so that no one would be left behind to stay by his mother’s side, nursing a life without danger, but even at the risk of death would find the finest elixir of excellence together with his other companions. When the choicest seamen came down to Iolcus, Jason reviewed and praised them all; andthe seer Mopsus, making his prophecy from birds and the casting of sacred lots, gladly gave the men the signal to set out. And when they hung the anchor over the ship’s ram,the leader, standing at the stern, took in his hands a golden goblet and called on the father of Uranus’ descendants, Zeus whose spear is the thunderbolt; and he called on theswift-rushing waves and winds, and on the nights, and the paths of the sea, and the propitious days, and on the kindly fortune of their homecoming.. And from the clouds there answered an auspicious peal of thunder, and bright flashes of lightning came bursting forth, and the heroes drew a breath of relief, trusting in the sign of the god.The seer shouted to themto throw themselves into the oars, announcing that their hopes were sweet; and the rowing sped on under their swift hands, insatiably. Escorted by the breezes of the South wind, they reached the mouth of the Inhospitable Sea, and there they set up a holy precinct to Poseidon, god of the sea;there was a herd of red Thracian bulls, and a newly-built hollow of altar stones. And as they rushed into deep danger, they entreated the lord of shipsthat they might escape the irresistible onset of the clashing rocks. There was a pair of them; they were alive, and they rolled onward more swiftlythan the battle-lines of the loud-thundering winds. But that voyage of the demigods put an end to them. And then the Argonauts came to Phasis, where they clashed with the dark-faced Colchians in the realm of Aeetes himself. And the queen of sharpest arrows brought the dappled wryneck from Olympus, bound to the four spokesof the indissoluble wheel:Aphrodite of Cyprus brought the maddening bird to men for the first time, and she taught the son of Aeson skill in prayerful incantations, so that he could rob Medea of reverence for her parents, and a longing for Greece would lash her, her mind on fire, with the whip of Persuasion.And she quickly revealed the means of performing the labors set by her father; and she mixed drugs with olive oil as a remedy for hard pains, and gave it to him to anoint himself. They agreed to be united with each other in sweet wedlock.But when Aeetes placed in their midst the adamantine ploughand the oxen, who breathed the flame of burning fire from their golden jaws and stamped at the earth in turn with their bronze hoofs, he led them along and single-handedly brought them under the yoke. And he drove them, stretching the furrows straight, and split the back of the clodded earth, a fathom deep. Then he spoke in this way: “Let your king,whoever commands the ship, complete this work for me; then let him carry off the immortal coverlet,the fleece gleaming with its golden fringe.” When he had spoken thus, Jason threw off his saffron cloak and, trusting in the god, set his hand to the task. The fire did not touch him; he followed the advice of the foreign woman who knew every kind of remedy. He grasped the plough, and bound the necks of the oxen in the irresistibleharness, and prodding their strong-ribbed bulk with the unceasing goad the powerful man accomplished the allotted measure of his task. And Aeetes wailed, though his cry was silent, amazed at Jason’s strength.His companions stretched their friendly hands towards the mighty man,and crowned him with garlands of laurel, and greeted him with gentle words. But at once the marvellous son of Helios spoke of the shining fleece, telling where the sword of Phrixus had stretched it out. He expected that Jason would not be able to accomplish this further labor. For the fleece lay in a thicket, held in the ravening jaws of a serpent,which in thickness and length surpassed a ship with fifty oars, built by the blows of a hammer.It is too long a way for me to go by the beaten track; for time presses, and I know a shortcut. In poetic skill I am a guide to many others. Jason killed the gray-eyed serpent with its dappled back by cunning,Arcesilas, and stole away Medea, with her own help, to be the death of Pelias. And they reached the expanses of Ocean, and the Red Sea, and the race of the Lemnian women, who killed their husbands. There they displayed their prowess of limbs in athletic contests with a cloak for a prize,and they went to bed with the women. In foreignfields then the fated day, or night, received the seed of your shining prosperity; for there the race of Euphemus was planted, to continue forever. And having gone to share the home of the Lacedaemonians, in time they left to settle the island once called Calliste. From there the son of Leto granted that your race should bring prosperity to the plain of Libya, with the honor of the gods, and govern the divine city of golden-throned Cyrene,having discovered the wisdom of right counsel. Now, learn the skill of Oedipus: if a man, with a sharp-cutting axe, cuts the branches from a great oak, and spoils its marvellous beauty,even with its fruit destroyed it votes for its own worth, if it comes at last to the winter fire; or if it is placed with upright columns belonging to a ruler, performing a slavish service among foreign walls, having deserted its native place.But you are a most opportune healer, and Apollo Paean honors your light. One must apply a gentle hand to tend a sore wound: it is easy even for weak men to shake a city to its foundations, but to set it in its place again is indeed a difficult struggle, unless a god suddenly comes to guide its rulers.These blessings are woven out for you: be bold, and apply all earnestness for the sake of fortunate Cyrene.Of the sayings of Homer, take to heart and heed this one: “a noble messenger,” he said, “brings the greatest honor to every business.” Even the Muse is exalted by a correct message. Cyreneand the most renowned hall of Battus recognized the just mind of Damophilus; a young man among boys, and in counsels like an elder who has lived a hundred years, he robs the evil tongue of its brash voice, and he has learned to hate the arrogant;he does not struggle against good men, or postpone any decisive action, for the right moment has a brief measure in the eyes of men. He recognizes it well, and he serves it as an attendant, not a slave. But they say that this is the most grievous thing of all, to recognize what is good and to be debarred from it by compulsion. And truly he, like Atlas,now strains against the weight of the sky, far from his ancestral land and his possessions. But immortal Zeus freed the Titans; and in time, when the wind ceases, there are changesof sails. But he prays that at some time, when he has drained to the dregs his cup of ruinous affliction, he will see his home, and, joining the symposium near the spring of Apollo,yield his spirit often to the joys of youth, and attain peace, holding the well-made lyre among his skillful fellow citizens, bringing no pain to anyone, and himself unharmed by his townsmen. Then he would tell you, Arcesilas, what a fountain of immortal song he found, when he was recently entertained by his host at Thebes.
σάμερον μὲν χρή σε παρʼ ἀνδρὶ φίλῳστᾶμεν, εὐΐππου βασιλῆϊ Κυράνας, ὄφρα κωμάζοντι σὺν Ἀρκεσίλᾳ,Μοῖσα, Λατοίδαισιν ὀφειλόμενον Πυθῶνί τʼ αὔξῃς οὖρον ὕμνων,ἔνθα ποτὲ χρυσέων Διὸς αἰητῶν πάρεδρος,οὐκ ἀποδάμου Ἀπόλλωνος τυχόντος, ἱέ ρεαχρῆσεν οἰκιστῆρα Βάττον καρποφόρου Λιβύας, ἱερὰννᾶσον ὡς ἤδη λιπὼν κτίσσειεν εὐάρματονπόλιν ἐν ἀργενν όε ντι μαστῷ,καὶ τὸ Μηδείας ἔπος ἀγκομίσαιἑβδόμᾳ καὶ σὺν δεκάτᾳ γενεᾷ Θήραιον, Αἰήτα τό ποτε ζαμενὴςπαῖς ἀπέπνευσʼ ἀθανάτου στόματος, δέσποινα Κόλχων. εἶπε δʼ οὕτωςἡμιθέοισιν Ἰάσονος αἰχματᾶο ναύταις·κέκλυτε, παῖδες ὑπερθύμων τε φωτῶν καὶ θεῶν·φαμὶ γὰρ τᾶσδʼ ἐξ ἁλιπλάκτου ποτὲ γᾶς Ἐπάφοιο κόρανἀστέων ῥίζαν φυτεύσεσθαι μελησιμβρότωνΔιὸς ἐν Ἄμμωνος θεμέθλοις.ἀντὶ δελφίνων δʼ ἐλαχυπτερύγων ἵππους ἀμείψαντες θοάς,ἁνία τʼ ἀντʼ ἐρετμῶν δίφρους τε νωμάσοισιν ἀελλόποδας.κεῖνος ὄρνις ἐκτελευτάσει μεγαλᾶν πολίωνματρόπολιν Θήραν γενέσθαι, τόν ποτε Τριτωνίδος ἐν προχοαῖςλίμνας θεῷ ἀνέρι εἰδομένῳ γαῖαν διδόντιξείνια πρῴραθεν Εὔφαμος καταβὰςδέξατʼ· αἴσιον δʼ ἐπί οἱ Κρονίων Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἔκλαγξε βροντάν·ἁνίκʼ ἄγκυραν ποτὶ χαλκόγενυνναῒ κρημνάντων ἐπέτοσσε, θοᾶς Ἀργοῦς χαλινόν. δώδεκα δὲ πρότερονἁμέρας ἐξ Ωκεανοῦ φέρομεν νώτων ὕπερ γαίας ἐρήμωνεἰνάλιον δόρυ, μήδεσιν ἀνσπάσσαντες ἀμοῖς.τουτάκι δʼ οἰοπόλος δαίμων ἐπῆλθεν, φαιδίμανἀνδρὸς αἰδοίου πρόσοψιν θηκάμενος· φιλίων δʼ ἐπέωνἄρχετο, ξείνοις ἅτʼ ἐλθόντεσσιν εὐεργέταιδεῖπνʼ ἐπαγγέλλοντι πρῶτον.ἀλλὰ γὰρ νόστου πρόφασις γλυκεροῦκώλυεν μεῖναι. φάτο δʼ Εὐρύπυλος Γαιαόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδαἔμμεναι· γίγνωσκε δʼ ἐπειγομένους· ἂν δʼ εὐθὺς ἁρπάξαις ἀρούραςδεξιτερᾷ προτυχὸν ξένιον μάστευσε δοῦναι.οὐδʼ ἀπίθησέ νιν, ἀλλʼ ἥρως ἐπʼ ἀκταῖσιν θορὼνχειρί οἱ χεῖρʼ ἀντερείσαις δέξατο βώλακα δαιμονίαν.πεύθομαι δʼ αὐτὰν κατακλυσθεῖσαν ἐκ δούρατοςἐναλίαν βᾶμεν σὺν ἅλμᾳἑσπέρας, ὑγρῷ πελάγει σπομέναν. ἦ μάν νιν ὤτρυνον θαμὰλυσιπόνοις θεραπόντεσσιν φυλάξαι· τῶν δʼ ἐλάθοντο φρένες·καί νυν ἐν τᾷδʼ ἄφθιτον νάσῳ κέχυται Λιβύαςεὐρυχόρου σπέρμα πρὶν ὥρας· εἰ γὰρ οἴκοι νιν βάλε πὰρ χθόνιονἌιδα στόμα, Ταίναρον εἰς ἱερὰν Εὔφαμος ἐλθών,υἱὸς ἱππάρχου Ποσειδάωνος ἄναξ,τόν ποτʼ Εὐρώπα Τιτυοῦ θυγάτηρ τίκτε Καφισοῦ παρʼ ὄχθαις·τετράτων παίδων κʼ ἐπιγινομένωναἷμά οἱ κείναν λάβε σὺν Δαναοῖς εὐρεῖαν ἄπειρον. τότε γὰρ μεγάλαςἐξανίστανται Λακεδαίμονος Ἀργείου τε κόλπου καὶ Μυκηνᾶν.νῦν γε μὲν ἀλλοδαπᾶν κριτὸν εὑρήσει γυναικῶνἐν λέχεσιν γένος, οἵ κεν τάνδε σὺν τιμᾷ θεῶννᾶσον ἐλθόντες τέκωνται φῶτα κελαινεφέων πεδίωνδεσπόταν· τὸν μὲν πολυχρύσῳ ποτʼ ἐν δώματιΦοῖβος ἀμνάσει θέμισσινΠύθιον ναὸν καταβάντα χρόνῳὑστέρῳ, νάεσσι πολεῖς ἀγαγὲν Νείλοιο πρὸς πῖον τέμενος Κρονίδα.ἦ ῥα Μηδείας ἐπέων στίχες. ἔπταξαν δʼ ἀκίνητοι σιωπᾷἥρωες ἀντίθεοι πυκινὰν μῆτιν κλύοντες.ὦ μάκαρ υἱὲ Πολυμνάστου, σὲ δʼ ἐν τούτῳ λόγῳχρησμὸς ὤρθωσεν μελίσσας Δελφίδος αὐτομάτῳ κελάδῳ·ἅ σε χαίρειν ἐς τρὶς αὐδάσαισα πεπρωμένονβασιλέʼ ἄμφανεν Κυράνᾳ,δυσθρόου φωνᾶς ἀνακρινόμενον ποινὰ τίς ἔσται πρὸς θεῶν.ἦ μάλα δὴ μετὰ καὶ νῦν, ὥστε φοινικανθέμου ἦρος ἀκμᾷ,παισὶ τούτοις ὄγδοον θάλλει μέρος Ἀρκεσίλας·τῷ μὲν Ἀπόλλων ἅ τε Πυθὼ κῦδος ἐξ ἀμφικτιόνων ἔπορενἱπποδρομίας. ἀπὸ δʼ αὐτὸν ἐγὼ Μοίσαισι δώσωκαὶ τὸ πάγχρυσον νάκος κριοῦ· μετὰ γὰρκεῖνο πλευσάντων Μινυᾶν, θεόπομποί σφισιν τιμαὶ φύτευθεν.τίς γὰρ ἀρχὰ δέξατο ναυτιλίας;τίς δὲ κίνδυνος κρατεροῖς ἀδάμαντος δῆσεν ἅλοις; θέσφατον ἦν Πελίανἐξ ἀγαυῶν Αἰολιδᾶν θανέμεν χείρεσσιν ἢ βουλαῖς ἀκάμπτοις.ἦλθε δέ οἱ κρυόεν πυκινῷ μάντευμα θυμῷ,πὰρ μέσον ὀμφαλὸν εὐδένδροιο ῥηθὲν ματέρος·τὸν μονοκρήπιδα πάντως ἐν φυλακᾷ σχεθέμεν μεγάλᾳ,εὖτʼ ἂν αἰπεινῶν ἀπὸ σταθμῶν ἐς εὐδείελονχθόνα μόλῃ κλειτᾶς Ἰωλκοῦ,ξεῖνος αἴτʼ ὦν ἀστός. ὁ δʼ ἆρα χρόνῳἵκετʼ αἰχμαῖσιν διδύμαισιν ἀνὴρ ἔκπαγλος· ἐσθὰς δʼ ἀμφοτέρα νιν ἔχεν,ἅ τε Μαγνήτων ἐπιχώριος ἁρμόζοισα θαητοῖσι γυίοις,ἀμφὶ δὲ παρδαλέᾳ στέγετο φρίσσοντας ὄμβρους·οὐδὲ κομᾶν πλόκαμοι κερθέντες ᾤχοντʼ ἀγλαοί,ἀλλʼ ἅπαν νῶτον καταίθυσσον. τάχα δʼ εὐθὺς ἰὼν σφετέραςἐστάθη γνώμας ἀταρμύκτοιο πειρώμενοςἐν ἀγορᾷ πλήθοντος ὄχλου.τὸν μὲν οὐ γίγνωσκον· ὀπιζομένων δʼ ἔμπας τις εἶπεν καὶ τόδε·οὔτι που οὗτος Ἀπόλλων, οὐδὲ μὰν χαλκάρματός ἐστι πόσιςἈφροδίτας· ἐν δὲ Νάξῳ φαντὶ θανεῖν λιπαρᾷἸφιμεδείας παῖδας, Ὦτον καὶ σέ, τολμάεις Ἐφιάλτα ἄναξ.καὶ μὰν Τιτυὸν βέλος Ἀρτέμιδος θήρευσε κραιπνόνἐξ ἀνικάτου φαρέτρας ὀρνύμενον,ὄφρα τις τᾶν ἐν δυνατῷ φιλοτάτων ἐπιψαύειν ἔραται.τοὶ μὲν ἀλλάλοισιν ἀμειβόμενοιγάρυον τοιαῦτʼ· ἀνὰ δʼ ἡμιόνοις ξεστᾷ τʼ ἀπήνᾳ προτροπάδαν Πελίαςἵκετο σπεύδων· τάφε δʼ αὐτίκα παπτάναις ἀρίγνωτον πέδιλονδεξιτερῷ μόνον ἀμφὶ ποδί. κλέπτων δὲ θυμῷδεῖμα προσέννεπε· ποίαν γαῖαν, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, εὔχεαιπατρίδʼ ἔμμεν; καὶ τίς ἀνθρώπων σε χαμαιγενέων πολιᾶςἐξανῆκεν γαστρός; ἐχθίστοισι μὴ ψεύδεσινκαταμιάναις εἰπὲ γένναν.τὸν δὲ θαρσήσαις ἀγανοῖσι λόγοιςὧδʼ ἀμείφθη· φαμὶ διδασκαλίαν Χείρωνος οἴσειν. ἀντρόθε γὰρ νέομαιπὰρ Χαρικλοῦς καὶ Φιλύρας, ἵνα Κενταύρου με κοῦραι θρέψαν ἁγναί.εἴκοσι δʼ ἐκτελέσαις ἐνιαυτοὺς οὔτε ἔργονοὔτʼ ἔπος ἐντράπελον κείνοισιν εἰπὼν ἱκόμανοἴκαδʼ, ἀρχαίαν κομίζων πατρὸς ἐμοῦ βασιλευομένανοὐ κατʼ αἶσαν, τάν ποτε Ζεὺς ὤπασεν λαγέτᾳΑἰόλῳ καὶ παισί, τιμάν.πεύθομαι γάρ νιν Πελίαν ἄθεμιν λευκαῖς πιθήσαντα φρασὶνἁμετέρων ἀποσυλᾶσαι βιαίως ἀρχεδικᾶν τοκέων·τοί μʼ, ἐπεὶ πάμπρωτον εἶδον φέγγος, ὑπερφιάλουἁγεμόνος δείσαντες ὕβριν, κᾶδος ὡσείτε φθιμένου δνοφερὸνἐν δώμασι θηκάμενοι, μίγα κωκυτῷ γυναικῶνκρύβδα πέμπον σπαργάνοις ἐν πορφυρέοις,νυκτὶ κοινάσαντες ὁδόν, Κρονίδᾳ δὲ τράφεν Χείρωνι δῶκαν.ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν κεφάλαια λόγωνἴστε. λευκίππων δὲ δόμους πατέρων, κεδνοὶ πολῖται, φράσσατέ μοι σαφέως·Αἴσονος γὰρ παῖς ἐπιχώριος οὐ ξείναν ἱκάνω γαῖαν ἄλλων.Φὴρ δέ με θεῖος Ἰάσονα κικλήσκων προσηύδα.ὣς φάτο. τὸν μὲν ἐσελθόντʼ ἔγνον ὀφθαλμοὶ πατρός.ἐκ δʼ ἄρʼ αὐτοῦ πομφόλυξαν δάκρυα γηραλέων γλεφάρων,ἃν περὶ ψυχὰν ἐπεὶ γάθησεν ἐξαίρετονγόνον ἰδὼν κάλλιστον ἀνδρῶν.καὶ κασίγνητοί σφισιν ἀμφότεροιἤλυθον κείνου γε κατὰ κλέος· ἐγγὺς μὲν Φέρης κράναν Υπερῇδα λιπών,ἐκ δὲ Μεσσάνας Ἀμυθάν· ταχέως δʼ Ἄδματος ἷκεν καὶ Μέλαμπος,εὐμενέοντες ἀνεψιόν. ἐν δαιτὸς δὲ μοίρᾳμειλιχίοισι λόγοις αὐτοὺς Ἰάσων δέγμενος,ξείνιʼ ἁρμόζοντα τεύχων, πᾶσαν ἐυφροσύναν τάνυεν,ἀθρόαις πέντε δραπὼν νύκτεσσιν ἔν θʼ ἁμέραιςἱερὸν εὐζοίας ἄωτον.ἀλλʼ ἐν ἕκτᾳ πάντα, λόγον θέμενος σπουδαῖον, ἐξ ἀρχᾶς ἀνὴρσυγγενέσιν παρεκοινᾶθʼ· οἱ δʼ ἐπέσποντʼ· αἶψα δʼ ἀπὸ κλισιᾶνὦρτο σὺν κείνοισι. καί ῥʼ ἦλθον Πελία μέγαρον·ἐσσύμενοι δʼ εἴσω κατέσταν. τῶν δʼ ἀκούσαις αὐτὸς ὑπαντίασενΤυροῦς ἐρασιπλοκάμου γενεά· πραῢν δʼ Ἰάσωνμαλθακᾷ φωνᾷ ποτιστάζων ὄαρονβάλλετο κρηπῖδα σοφῶν ἐπέων· παῖ Ποσειδᾶνος Πετραίου,ἐντὶ μὲν θνατῶν φρένες ὠκύτεραικέρδος αἰνῆσαι πρὸ δίκας δόλιον, τραχεῖαν ἑρπόντων πρὸς ἔπιβδαν ὅμως·ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ χρὴ καὶ σὲ θεμισσαμένους ὀργὰς ὑφαίνειν λοιπὸν ὄλβον.εἰδότι τοι ἐρέω· μία βοῦς Κρηθεῖ τε μάτηρκαὶ θρασυμήδεϊ Σαλμωνεῖ· τρίταισιν δʼ ἐν γοναῖςἄμμες αὖ κείνων φυτευθέντες σθένος ἀελίου χρύσεονλεύσσομεν. Μοῖραι δʼ ἀφίσταντʼ, εἴ τις ἔχθρα πέλειὁμογόνοις, αἰδῶ καλύψαι.οὐ πρέπει νῷν χαλκοτόροις ξίφεσινοὐδʼ ἀκόντεσσιν μεγάλαν προγόνων τιμὰν δάσασθαι. μῆλά τε γάρ τοι ἐγὼκαὶ βοῶν ξανθὰς ἀγέλας ἀφίημʼ ἀγρούς τε πάντας, τοὺς ἀπούραιςἁμετέρων τοκέων νέμεαι, πλοῦτον πιαίνων·κοὔ με πονεῖ τεὸν οἶκον ταῦτα πορσύνοντʼ ἄγαν·ἀλλὰ καὶ σκᾶπτον μόναρχον καὶ θρόνος, ᾧ ποτε Κρηθεΐδαςἐγκαθίζων ἱππόταις εὔθυνε λαοῖς δίκας,τὰ μὲν ἄνευ ξυνᾶς ἀνίαςλῦσον ἄμμιν, μή τι νεώτερον ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀναστάῃ κακόν.ὣς ἄρʼ ἔειπεν. ἀκᾷ δʼ ἀνταγόρευσεν καὶ Πελίας· ἔσομαιτοῖος· ἀλλʼ ἤδη με γηραιὸν μέρος ἁλικίαςἀμφιπολεῖ· σὸν δʼ ἄνθος ἥβας ἄρτι κυμαίνει· δύνασαι δʼ ἀφελεῖνμᾶνιν χθονίων. κέλεται γὰρ ἑὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαιΦρίξος ἐλθόντας πρὸς Αἰήτα θαλάμους,δέρμα τε κριοῦ βαθύμαλλον ἄγειν, τῷ ποτʼ ἐκ πόντου σαώθηἔκ τε ματρυιᾶς ἀθέων βελέων.ταῦτά μοι θαυμαστὸς ὄνειρος ἰὼν φωνεῖ. μεμάντευμαι δʼ ἐπὶ Κασταλίᾳ,εἰ μετάλλατόν τι. καὶ ὡς τάχος ὀτρύνει με τεύχειν ναὶ πομπάν.τοῦτον ἄεθλον ἑκὼν τέλεσον· καί τοι μοναρχεῖνκαὶ βασιλευέμεν ὄμνυμι προήσειν. καρτερὸςὅρκος ἄμμιν μάρτυς ἔστω Ζεὺς ὁ γενέθλιος ἀμφοτέροις.σύνθεσιν ταύταν ἐπαινήσαντες οἱ μὲν κρίθεν·ἀτὰρ Ἰάσων αὐτὸς ἤδηὤρνυεν κάρυκας ἐόντα πλόονφαινέμεν παντᾷ. τάχα δὲ Κρονίδαο Ζηνὸς υἱοὶ τρεῖς ἀκαμαντομάχαιἦλθον Ἀλκμήνας θʼ ἑλικοβλεφάρου Λήδας τε, δοιοὶ δʼ ὑψιχαῖταιἀνέρες, Ἐννοσίδα γένος, αἰδεσθέντες ἀλκάν,ἔκ τε Πύλου καὶ ἀπʼ ἄκρας Ταινάρου· τῶν μὲν κλέοςἐσλὸν Εὐφάμου τʼ ἐκράνθη σόν τε, Περικλύμενʼ εὐρυβία.ἐξ Ἀπόλλωνος δὲ φορμικτὰς ἀοιδᾶν πατὴρἔμολεν, εὐαίνητος, Ὀρφεύς.πέμπε δʼ Ἑρμᾶς χρυσόραπις διδύμους υἱοὺς ἐπʼ ἄτρυτον πόνον,τὸν μὲν Ἐχίονα, κεχλάδοντας ἥβᾳ, τὸν δʼ Ἔρυτον. ταχέεςἀμφὶ Παγγαίου θεμέθλοις ναιετάοντες ἔβαν·καὶ γὰρ ἑκὼν θυμῷ γελανεῖ θᾶσσον ἔντυνεν βασιλεὺς ἀνέμωνΖήταν Κάλαΐν τε πατὴρ Βορέας, ἄνδρας πτεροῖσιννῶτα πεφρίκοντας ἄμφω πορφυρέοις.τὸν δὲ παμπειθῆ γλυκὺν ἡμιθέοισιν πόθον ἔνδαιεν Ἥραναὸς Ἀργοῦς, μή τινα λειπόμενοντὰν ἀκίνδυνον παρὰ ματρὶ μένειν αἰῶνα πέσσοντʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ καὶ θανάτῳφάρμακον κάλλιστον ἑᾶς ἀρετᾶς ἅλιξιν εὑρέσθαι σὺν ἄλλοις.ἐς δʼ Ἰαωλκὸν ἐπεὶ κατέβα ναυτᾶν ἄωτος,λέξατο πάντας ἐπαινήσαις Ἰάσων. καί ῥά οἱμάντις ὀρνίχεσσι καὶ κλάροισι θεοπροπέων ἱεροῖςΜόψος ἄμβασε στρατὸν πρόφρων. ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐμβόλουκρέμασαν ἀγκύρας ὕπερθεν,χρυσέαν χείρεσσι λαβὼν φιάλανἀρχὸς ἐν πρύμνᾳ πατέρʼ Οὐρανιδᾶν ἐγχεικέραυνον Ζῆνα, καὶ ὠκυπόρουςκυμάτων ῥιπὰς ἀνέμων τʼ ἐκάλει, νύκτας τε καὶ πόντου κελεύθουςἄματά τʼ εὔφρονα καὶ φιλίαν νόστοιο μοῖραν·ἐκ νεφέων δέ οἱ ἀντάϋσε βροντᾶς αἴσιονφθέγμα· λαμπραὶ δʼ ἦλθον ἀκτῖνες στεροπᾶς ἀπορηγνύμεναι·ἀμπνοὰν δʼ ἥρωες ἔστασαν θεοῦ σάμασινπιθόμενοι· κάρυξε δʼ αὐτοῖςἐμβαλεῖν κώπαισι τερασκόπος ἁδείας ἐνίπτων ἐλπίδας·εἰρεσία δʼ ὑπεχώρησεν ταχειᾶν ἐκ παλαμᾶν ἄκορος.σὺν Νότου δʼ αὔραις ἐπʼ Ἀξείνου στόμα πεμπόμενοιἤλυθον· ἔνθʼ ἁγνὸν Ποσειδάωνος ἕσσαντʼ εἰναλίου τέμενος,φοίνισσα δὲ Θρηϊκίων ἀγέλα ταύρων ὑπᾶρχενκαὶ νεόκτιστον λίθων βωμοῖο θέναρ.ἐς δὲ κίνδυνον βαθὺν ἱέμενοι δεσπόταν λίσσοντο ναῶν,συνδρόμων κινηθμὸν ἀμαιμάκετονἐκφυγεῖν πετρᾶν. δίδυμαι γὰρ ἔσαν ζωαί, κυλινδέσκοντό τε κραιπνότεραιἢ βαρυγδούπων ἀνέμων στίχες· ἀλλʼ ἤδη τελευτὰν κεῖνος αὐταῖςἡμιθέων πλόος ἄγαγεν. ἐς Φᾶσιν δʼ ἔπειτενἤλυθον· ἔνθα κελαινώπεσσι Κόλχοισιν βίανμῖξαν Αἰήτᾳ παρʼ αὐτῷ. πότνια δʼ ὀξυτάτων βελέωνποικίλαν ἴϋγγα τετράκναμον Οὐλυμπόθενἐν ἀλύτῳ ζεύξαισα κύκλῳμαινάδʼ ὄρνιν Κυπρογένεια φέρενπρῶτον ἀνθρώποισι, λιτάς τʼ ἐπαοιδὰς ἐκδιδάσκησεν σοφὸν Αἰσονίδαν·ὄφρα Μηδείας τοκέων ἀφέλοιτʼ αἰδῶ, ποθεινὰ δʼ Ἑλλὰς αὐτὰνἐν φρασὶ καιομέναν δονέοι μάστιγι Πειθοῦς.καὶ τάχα πείρατʼ ἀέθλων δείκνυεν πατρωΐων·σὺν δʼ ἐλαίῳ φαρμακώσαισʼ ἀντίτομα στερεᾶν ὀδυνᾶνδῶκε χρίεσθαι. καταίνησαν τε κοινὸν γάμονγλυκὺν ἐν ἀλλάλοισι μῖξαι.ἀλλʼ ὅτʼ Αἰήτας ἀδαμάντινον ἐν μέσσοις ἄροτρον σκίμψατοκαὶ βόας, οἳ φλόγʼ ἀπὸ ξανθᾶν γεν ύω ν πν έο ν καιομένοιο πυρός,χαλκέαις δʼ ὁπλαῖς ἀράσσεσκον χθόνʼ ἀμειβόμενοι,τοὺς ἀγαγὼν ζεύγλᾳ πέλασσεν μοῦνος. ὀρθὰς δʼ αὔλακας ἐντανύσαιςἤλαυνʼ, ἀνὰ βωλακίας δʼ ὀρόγυιαν σχίζε νῶτονγᾶς. ἔειπεν δʼ ὧδε· τοῦτʼ ἔργον βασιλεύς,ὅστις ἄρχει ναός, ἐμοὶ τελέσαις ἄφθιτον στρωμνὰν ἀγέσθω,κῶας αἰγλᾶεν χρυσέῳ θυσάνῳ.ὣς ἄρʼ αὐδάσαντος ἀπὸ κροκόεν ῥίψαις Ἰάσων εἷμα θεῷ πίσυνοςεἴχετʼ ἔργου· πῦρ δέ νιν οὐκ ἐόλει παμφαρμάκου ξείνας ἐφετμαῖς.σπασσάμενος δʼ ἄροτρον, βοέους δήσαις ἀνάγκαςἔντεσιν αὐχένας ἐμβάλλων τʼ ἐριπλεύρῳ φυᾷκέντρον αἰανὲς βιατὰς ἐξεπόνησʼ ἐπιτακτὸν ἀνὴρμέτρον. ἴϋξεν δʼ ἀφωνήτῳ περ ἔμπας ἄχειδύνασιν Αἰήτας ἀγασθείς.πρὸς δʼ ἑταῖροι καρτερὸν ἄνδρα φίλαςὤρεγον χεῖρας, στεφάνοισί τέ νιν ποίας ἔρεπτον, μειλιχίοις τε λόγοιςἀγαπάζοντʼ. αὐτίκα δʼ Ἀελίου θαυμαστὸς υἱὸς δέρμα λαμπρὸνἔννεπεν, ἔνθα νιν ἐκτάνυσαν Φρίξου μάχαιραι·ἤλπετο δʼ οὐκέτι οἱ κεῖνόν γε πράξεσθαι πόνον.κεῖτο γὰρ λόχμᾳ, δράκοντος δʼ εἴχετο λαβροτατᾶν γενύων,ὃς πάχει μάκει τε πεντηκόντορον ναῦν κράτει,τέλεσαν ἃν πλαγαὶ σιδάρου.μακρά μοι νεῖσθαι κατʼ ἀμαξιτόν· ὥρα γὰρ συνάπτει· καί τιναοἶμον ἴσαμι βραχύν· πολλοῖσι δʼ ἅγημαι σοφίας ἑτέροις.κτεῖνε μὲν γλαυκῶπα τέχναις ποικιλόνωτον ὄφιν,ὦ Ἀρκεσίλα, κλέψεν τε Μήδειαν σὺν αὐτᾷ, τὰν Πελίαο φόνον·ἔν τʼ Ὠκεανοῦ πελάγεσσι μίγεν πόντῳ τʼ ἐρυθρῷΛαμνιᾶν τʼ ἔθνει γυναικῶν ἀνδροφόνων·ἔνθα καὶ γυίων ἀέθλοις ἐπέδειξαν κρίσιν ἐσθᾶτος ἀμφίς,καὶ συνεύνασθεν. καὶ ἐν ἀλλοδαπαῖςσπέρμʼ ἀρούραις τουτάκις ὑμετέρας ἀκτῖνος ὄλβου δέξατο μοιρίδιονἆμαρ ἢ νύκτες. τόθι γὰρ γένος Εὐφάμου φυτευθὲν λοιπὸν αἰεὶτέλλετο· καὶ Λακεδαιμονίων μιχθέντες ἀνδρῶνἤθεσι τάν ποτε Καλλίσταν ἀπῴκησαν χρόνῳνᾶσον· ἔνθεν δʼ ὔμμι Λατοίδας ἔπορεν Λιβύας πεδίονσὺν θεῶν τιμαῖς ὀφέλλειν, ἄστυ χρυσοθρόνουδιανέμειν θεῖον Κυράναςὀρθόβουλον μῆτιν ἐφευρομένοις.γνῶθι νῦν τὰν Οἰδιπόδα σοφίαν. εἰ γάρ τις ὄζους ὀξυτόμῳ πελέκειἐξερείψειεν μεγάλας δρυός, αἰσχύνοι δέ οἱ θαητὸν εἶδος·καὶ φθινόκαρπος ἐοῖσα διδοῖ ψᾶφον περʼ αὐτᾶς,εἴ ποτε χειμέριον πῦρ ἐξίκηται λοίσθιον·ἢ σὺν ὀρθαῖς κιόνεσσιν δεσποσύναισιν ἐρειδομέναμόχθον ἄλλοις ἀμφέπει δύστανον ἐν τείχεσιν,ἑὸν ἐρημώσαισα χῶρον.ἐσσὶ δʼ ἰατὴρ ἐπικαιρότατος, Παιάν τέ σοι τιμᾷ φάος·χρὴ μαλακὰν χέρα προσβάλλοντα τρώμαν ἕλκεος ἀμφιπολεῖν.ῥᾴδιον μὲν γὰρ πόλιν σεῖσαι καὶ ἀφαυροτέροις·ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ χώρας αὖτις ἕσσαι δυσπαλὲς δὴ γίγνεται, ἐξαπίναςεἰ μὴ θεὸς ἁγεμόνεσσι κυβερνατὴρ γένηται.τὶν δὲ τούτων ἐξυφαίνονται χάριτες.τλᾶθι τᾶς εὐδαίμονος ἀμφὶ Κυράνας θέμεν σπουδὰν ἅπασαν.τῶν δʼ Ὁμήρου καὶ τόδε συνθέμενοςῥῆμα πόρσυνʼ· ἄγγελον ἐσλὸν ἔφα τιμὰν μεγίσταν πράγματι παντὶ φέρειν·αὔξεται καὶ Μοῖσα διʼ ἀγγελίας ὀρθᾶς. ἐπέγνω μὲν Κυράνακαὶ τὸ κλεεννότατον μέγαρον Βάττου δικαιᾶνΔαμοφίλου πραπίδων. κεῖνος γὰρ ἐν παισὶν νέος,ἐν δὲ βουλαῖς πρέσβυς ἐγκύρσαις ἑκατονταετεῖ βιοτᾷ,ὀρφανίζει μὲν κακὰν γλῶσσαν φαεννᾶς ὀπός,ἔμαθε δʼ ὑβρίζοντα μισεῖν,οὐκ ἐρίζων ἀντία τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς,οὐδὲ μακύνων τέλος οὐδέν. ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς πρὸς ἀνθρώπων βραχὺ μέτρον ἔχει.εὖ νιν ἔγνωκεν· θεράπων δέ οἱ, οὐ δράστας ὀπαδεῖ. φαντὶ δʼ ἔμμεντοῦτʼ ἀνιαρότατον, καλὰ γιγνώσκοντʼ ἀνάγκᾳἐκτὸς ἔχειν πόδα. καὶ μὰν κεῖνος Ἄτλας οὐρανῷπροσπαλαίει νῦν γε πατρῴας ἀπὸ γᾶς ἀπό τε κτεάνων·λῦσε δὲ Ζεὺς ἄφθιτος Τιτᾶνας. ἐν δὲ χρόνῳμεταβολαὶ λήξαντος οὔρουἱστίων. ἀλλʼ εὔχεται οὐλομέναν νοῦσον διαντλήσαις ποτὲοἶκον ἰδεῖν, ἐπʼ Ἀπόλλωνός τε κράνᾳ συμποσίας ἐφέπωνθυμὸν ἐκδόσθαι πρὸς ἥβαν πολλάκις, ἔν τε σοφοῖςδαιδαλέαν φόρμιγγα βαστάζων πολίταις ἡσυχίᾳ θιγέμεν,μήτʼ ὦν τινι πῆμα πορών, ἀπαθὴς δʼ αὐτὸς πρὸς ἀστῶν.καί κε μυθήσαιθʼ ὁποίαν, Ἀρκεσίλα,εὗρε παγὰν ἀμβροσίων ἐπέων, πρόσφατον Θήβᾳ ξενωθείς.