The Tracking Satyrs is a substantial fragment of a satyr play by Sophocles, discovered at Oxyrhynchus in Egypt in 1907. We have some 400 lines of a play that was probably about 800 lines long. The plot is the same as that of the: Apollo’s cows have been stolen, and the culprit turns out to be his newborn brother Hermes. This translation is adapted from. Walker established his own text for the fragment, filling in many of the gap reason="lost"s. I have occasionally adopted his supplements, but have basically translated the text of the first publication of the play,The scene is outdoors. There is a cave upstage center (represented by the skene door). Enter Apollo, right.Apollo:I, Apollo, proclaim to all gods and all mortal men: I shall give a golden basin to whoever can bring back my cattle from far away.It is quite unpleasant to me that they are gone, all of them: cows, calves, heifers. They are all gone, and I look in vain for their tracks, while they wander far from their own mangers. I never thought that any of the gods or of men, whose lives are like a single day, would dare do such a thing. Since I found out about this, shocked as I was, I have been seeking them, and I have proclaimed the deedso that no god or mortal men could be unaware of it. I am beside myself. I have gone to visit the whole nation of the Locrians, those who inhabit Opus, those in Ozolis, those in Knemis by the Cephisus. I have gone to Aetolia and to Acarnanian Argos. From there I came to the grove of Zeus at Dodona, shaded by leaves of prophecy. I then hastened to the fruitful plains of Thessalyand the wealthy cities of Boeotia. And then I came to Attica, to holy Athens, but I see my cows nowhere. Then I came to Dorian Argos and the nearby hill. From there I came, in one leap, to the Stymphalian Lake and Mount Cyllene, hard to climb. I speak to the forest: if any shepherd or any rustic or any charcoal-burner is here,or any saytr from the mountains, child of the river-nymphs, I announce these things to one and all. Whoever can capture the one who stole the cattle of Apollo Paean, his is the reward that stands here.Enter Silenus, left.
Ἀπόλλων:]κιο[]πειτα[]ἐπεσσύθ[ην]γ[… ]λ[]ω[[πᾶσιν θεοῖς καὶ πᾶσι]ν ἀγγέλλω [β]ροτο[ῖς[καὶ … δῶρʼ ὑπις]χνοῦμαι τελεῖ[ν[ἀ]πόπροθεν·… ον[… δύς]λοφον φρενὶ… τα[… βο]ῦς ἀμολγάδας[μός]χους [τε καὶ νέων νόμευμ]α πορτίδων[ἅπα]ντα φρ[οῦδα καὶ μάτη]ν ἰχνοσκοπῶ[λαθ]ραῖʼ ἰόν[τα τῆλε βου]στάθμου κάπης[ἀφα]νῶς τέχνα[ισιν· ὡς ἐ]γὼ οὐκ ἂν ᾠόμην[οὔτʼ ἂ]ν θεῶν τιν[ʼ οὔτʼ ἐφημ]έρων βροτῶν[δρᾶς]αι τόδʼ ἔργ[ον ὧδερσθβ; πρὸς τόλμαν πεσεῖν.[ταῦτ]ʼ οὖν ἐπείπερ [ἔμα]θον ἐκπλαγεὶς ὄκνῳ[στείχ]ῶ, ματεύω, παντελὲς κήρυγμʼ ἔχων[θεοῖ]ς βροτοῖς τε μηδένʼ ἀγνοεῖν τάδε.[ἀκολο]υθίᾳ γὰρ ἐμμανὴς κυνηγετῶ·[Θρᾳκ]ῶν δʼ ἐπῆλθ[ο]ν φ[ῦ]λα τ[οῦ] παντὸς στρατ[οῦ[ἀλλʼ οὔ]τις[… ]… ς …… λ … κιο …… ις … ἔπειτα [δὲ[τ]ὰ Θεσσαλῶν [τʼ ἔγκαρπα πεδίʼ ἐ]πεσσύθ[ηνΒοιωτίας τε γ[ῆς πολυκτήτου]ς [πό]λ]εις,[ἔπει]τα δʼ[… ς Δωρικο[[… γεί]τονʼ ἐνθ[εν[… ]ήκω ξυν[]α[[… Κυλ]λήνης τε δύ[σβατον[… ]τε χῶρον, ἐς δʼ ὑλ[[ὡς εἴτε ποι]μὴν εἴτʼ ἀγρωστή[ρων τις ἢ[μαριλοκαυ]τῶν ἐν λόγῳ παρ[ίσταται[ἢ τῶν ὀρ]είων νυμφογεννή[του γένους[θηρῶ]ν τίς ἐστι, πᾶσιν ἀγγέλ[λω τάδε,[τὸν φ]ῶρα τῶν Παιῶνος ὅστις ἂ[ν λάβῃ,[τῷδʼ α]ὐτόχρημα μισθός ἐσθʼ ὁ κε[ίμενος.
Silenus:As soon as I heard you shouting your proclamation, I came as fast as an old man can, because I want to help you out, Phoebus Apollo,and perhaps I can hunt up your cattle. Then a messenger will announce my golden reward. I will tell my children to look carefully, if you really do mean to do what you’ve promised.
Σιληνός:[ὦ Φοῖβε,] σοῦ φώνημαθʼ ὡς ἐπέκλυον[βοῶ]ντος ὀρθίοισι σὺν κηρύγμας[ι,[ς]πουδῇ τάδʼ, ἣ πάρεστι πρεσβύτῃ [μαθών[ς]οί, Φοῖβʼ Ἄπολλον, προσφιλὴς εὐε[ργέτηςθέλων γενέσθαι τῷδʼ ἐπεσσύθην δρ[ό]μ[ῳ,ἄν πως τὸ χρῆμα τοῦτό σοι κυνηγ[έ]σω.τ[ὸ]τʼ αγγε[λό]ς μοι κείμενον χρ[υ]σο[ν ς]τέφεμά[λι]στʼ ἐπ … αις[ι π]ρόσθε ς … ν,παῖδας δʼ εμ[οὺ]ς ὄσσοισι … αυε … βα …[… ιμ]ʼ [ἂ]ν εἴπερ ἐκτε[λ]εῖς ἅπερ λέγεις
Apollo:I will indeed; only confirm your promise.
Ἀπόλλων:[… ]ώσω· μοῦνον ἐμπ[έδου τ]άδε.
Silenus:I will bring you back your cattle; but you confirm the reward.
Σιληνός:τα[ς βοῦς ἀπάξω ς]οι· σὺ δʼ ἐμπέδου [δόσι]ν.
Apollo:Whoever finds them will have it; it is ready at hand.
Ἀπόλλων:[ἕξει σφʼ ὁ γʼ εὑ]ρὼν ὅστι[ς] ἔ[ς]θʼ· ἑτ[οῖμ]α δ[έ.
Silenus:… seek …
Σιληνός:[… ]ις … ε … ζητ … [
Apollo:…Silenus:
Ἀπόλλων:[… ]εσο[
Silenus:What? What are you saying?
Σιληνός:τί τοῦτο; πο[ι … λέγ]εις;
Apollo:I say that you, and all the race of your children, will be free.Exit Apollo, right. Enter the chorus of satyrs, by the left parodos. They sing excitedly.Chorus:Come, come here, see if you can find the footprints of the lost cattle. Apapapay! Oh, oh, listen, I tell you! Get the thief! … underground …finish the job … my old father. How can we find out the secret thefts in the night? … if I did meet … free life for my father. … So may the dear god bring an end to my labors, as he has shown us the extraordinary excellence of his gold.Silenus: (Speaking.)
Ἀπόλλων:ἐλεύθερος σὺ [πᾶν τε γένος ἔσται τέκν]ων.Χορὸς Σατύρων:ἴθʼ ἄγε δ[… ]πόδα βά[σιν τε … ]νἀπαπαπ[αῖ … ]ὢ ὤ, σέ τοι [… ]ἔπιθι κλωπ[… ]ὑπόνομα κ[… ]διανύτων ό[… ]πατρικὰν γῆρ[υν … ]πῶς πᾷ τὰ λάθρι[α νύχια … ]κλέμματα ποσσὶ[… ]εἴ πως, ἂν τύχω, πο[… ]πατρί τʼ ἐλεύθερον β[… ] … μετ[… ]ξυνάμα θεὸς ὁ φίλος ἀνέτωπόνους, προφήνας ἀρίζηλαχρυσοῦ παραδείγματα.
Oh gods, Fortune and the god who leads in the straight way, grant me success as I race out to seek out the prey, the spoil, and the booty: the cattle stolen from Phoebus. If there is anyone who has seen them, or heard about them, he would become my friend by telling me, and he would help me to help lord Phoebus. But if someone does not tell what he knows, his reward will be the god’s disapproval.Chorus:Hey, …,, and not …
Σιληνός:θεὸς Τύχη [κ]αὶ δαῖμον ἰθυντήριε,τυχ[ε]ῖν με πράγους οὗ δράμημʼ ἐπείγεται,λείαν ἄγραν σύλησιν ἐκκυνηγέσαιΦ[ο]ίβου κλ[ο]παίας βοῦς ἀπεστερημένο[υ.[τ]ῶν εἴ τις ὀπτήρ ἐστι[ν] ἢ κατήκοος,[ἐ]μοί τʼ [ἂ]ν [ε]ἴη προσφιλὴ[ς] φράσας τόδε[Φοίβῳ τ]ʼ ἄνακτι συντελὴς εὐεργ[έ]της.[… ]α[… ]τ[… ]ς τοῦ λό[γου … ]θʼ ἅμα[μήνυ[τραΧορός:ἰὼ ς[ϋηο[δʼ οὐδ[
Silenus:Does anyone say, or does anyone know, where the cattle are? It seems that I must begin the search. Come, all of you, track them by their scent, if there is any trace left anywhere. Bent over, crouching to the ground, be guided by the scent. Carry out your search this way and bring it to a worthy fulfilment.Exit Silenus. The satyrs divide into two groups and begin sniffing around the stage.
Σιληνός:φησίν τις; ἢ[ἔοικεν ἤδη κ[ἄγʼ εἷα δὴ πᾶς ς[ῥινηλατῶν ὀσμ[αῖσιαὔρας ἐάν πῃ πρ[… ]διπλοῦς ὀκλάζω[ν … ]νὕποσμος ἐν χρῷ [… ]οὕτως ἔρευναν καὶ π[… ]ἅπαντα χρηστὰ κα[ὶ … τε]λεῖν.
Semi-chorus A:Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god: aha! We seem to have it. Stand still, don’t move.
Ἡμιχορὸς α:θεὸς θεὸς θεὸς θεός· ἔα [ἔα·ἔχειν ἔοιγμεν· ἴσχε, μὴ συρ … τει.
Semi-chorus B:There they are: the marks of the cattle.
Ἡμιχορὸς β:ταῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνα· τῶν βοῶν τ[ὰ] σήματα.
Semi-chorus A:Quiet! Some god is taking them to a new home.
Ἡμιχορὸς α:σίγ[α]· θεός τις τὴν ἀποι[κία]ν ἄγει.
Semi-chorus B:What should we do, my friend? Do we have to get them out?
Ἡμιχορὸς β:τί δρῶμεν, ὦ τᾶν; ἦ τὸ δέον [ἐξ]ήνομεν;
Semi-chorus A:Why? Do you think they’re in here?
Ἡμιχορὸς α:τί; τοῖς[ι] ταύτῃ πῶς δοκεῖ;
Semi-chorus B:Definitely. All the signs say so clearly.
Ἡμιχορὸς β:δοκεῖ πάνυ.σαφῆ [γ]ὰρ αὔθʼ ἕκαστα σημαίνει τάδε.
Semi-chorus A:Look! Here’s the same hoof mark again.
Ἡμιχορὸς α:ἰδοὺ ἰδού·καὶ τοὐπίσημον αὐτὸ τῶν ὁπλῶν πάλι[ν.
Semi-chorus B:Look at that!
Ἡμιχορὸς β:ἄθρει μάλα.
They measure out to exactly the same size.
αὔτʼ ἐστι τοῦτο μέτρον [ἐ]κμε … [τρού]μ[ε]νον.
Semi-chorus A:Make way, and … if you hear any sound from the cattle.
Ἡμιχορὸς α:χ[ώ]ρει δρόμῳ καὶ τα[… ]ν ἔχου… οπ[… ][… ]μενοςῥοίβδημʼ ἐάν τι τῶν [βοῶν δ]ιʼ οὖς [λάβῃ
Semi-chorus B:I don’t yet hear their voices clearly. But these tracks and footprints are obviously those of the cattle.
Ἡμιχορὸς β:οὐκ εἰσακούω πω [τορῶ]ς τοῦ φθ[έγ]ματος.ἀλλʼ αὐτὰ μὴν ἴχ[νη τε] χὠ στίβος τάδεκείνων ἐναργῆ τῶν β[ο]ῶν μαθεῖν πάρα.
Semi-chorus A:Hey! As Zeus is my witness, the tracks turn around and go backward. Look at them.
Ἡμιχορὸς α:ἔα μάλα·παλινστραφῆ τοι ναὶ μὰ Δία τὰ βήματαεἰς τοὔμπαλιν δέδορκεν αὐ· τάδʼ εἴσιδε.
Why is that? Why would their line wheel around? The front is turned to the back, and they’re all tangled up together. The cowherd must have been awfully confused.
τί ἐστὶ τουτί; τίς ὁ τρόχος τοῦ τάγματ[ος;εἰς τοὐπίσω τὰ πρόσθεν ἤλλακται, τὰ δʼ αὖἐναντίʼ ἀλλήλοισι συμπ[επλεγ]μένα·δεινὸς κυκησμὸς εἶχ[ε τὸν βοη]λάτην.
Silenus:What kind of a way to hunt is that, bent over and leaning down to the ground? Where are you going? I don’t understand. You’re lying there like a hedgehog fallen on the ground, or an ape sticking his head forward and having a temper tantrum. What’s this? Where on earth did you learn this, and how?
Σιληνός:τίνʼ αὖ τέχνην σὺ τήν[δʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ]ῆυρες, τίνʼ αὖ,πρόσπαιον ὧδε κεκλιμ[ένον] κυνηγετεῖνπρὸς γῇ; τίς ὑμῶν ὁ τρόπος; οὐχὶ μανθάνω·[ἐ]χῖνος ὥς τις ἐν λόχμῃ κεῖσαι πεσών,[ἤ] τις πίθηκος κύβδα θυμαίνεις τινί.[τ]ί ταῦτα; ποῦ γῆς ἐμάθετʼ ἐν πο[ί]ῳ τόπῳ;
Tell me, because I certainly don’t understand what you’re doing.
ς[η]μήνατʼ, οὐ γὰρ ἴδρις εἰμὶ τοῦ τρόπου.
Chorus:Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!The chorus are still squealing as he starts to speak.
Χορός:ὕ [ὗ] ὕ ὗ.
Silenus:What are you “ooh-ooh”-ing for? What are you afraid of? What do you see? What frightful thing are you looking at? Why are you carrying on like bacchantes? Is there a hawk nearby? From offstage, we hear a lyre being tuned. Since the player is in fact Hermes, it sounds divine, but no mortal has ever heard this instrument before, and the satyrs are terrified. They abruptly stop squealing. Do you want to know what it was? Why are you so quiet, when you were just now babbling away?
Σιληνός:τ[ί τοῦτʼ ἰύζεις;] τίνα φοβῇ; τίνʼ εἰσορᾷς;τ[ί δεῖμʼ ὄπωπ]ας; τί ποτε βακχεύεις ἔχων;α[γχοῦ τις ἤχε]ι κέρχνος· ἱμείρει[ς] μαθεῖντ[ίς ἦν; τί σιγ]ᾶτʼ, ὦ πρ[ὸ τοῦ λαλίστ]ατοι;
Chorus:Be quiet!
Χορός:ς[ίγα μὲν οὖν.]
Silenus:What is it over there that you’re trying to get away from?
Σιληνός:τ[ίνʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖθε]ν ἁπονος[φίζ]εις ἔχων;
Chorus:Listen!
Χορός:ἄ[κουε δή.
Silenus:I’ll listen. He pauses for a moment, listening. But I don’t hear any sound.
Σιληνός:καλῶς ἀκούς[ω μηδεν]ὸς φωνὴν κλύων;
Chorus:Do what I say!
Χορός:ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ.
Silenus:No one is helping me with this hunt.
Σιληνός:ἐμ[ὸν] δίω[γμά γʼ οὐδα]μῶς ὀνήσετε.
Chorus:Listen just a moment, will you? When we went over there we were assaulted by a noise like no one ever heard before.
Χορός:ἄκουσον αὖ τ[ο]ῦ χρ[ήμα]τ[ο]ς χρόνον τινά,[ο]ἵῳ ʼκπ[λ]αγέντες ἐν[θάδʼ] ἐξενίσμεθαψόφῳ, τὸν οὐδε[ὶ]ς π[ώπο]τʼ ἤκουσεν βροτῶν.
Silenus:Why are you running away, afraid of a noise? You wretched beasts, with your filthy bodies all smeared with wax, seeing terrors in every shadow, scared of everything! You’re gutless, and careless,and servile. You’re nothing but body and tongue and voice. You trust to words and flee from actions. Worst of animals, how did you ever come to have a father like me? There are lots of monuments to my courage, when I was young, songs sung at every household’s wedding feast. I was never put to flight, never afraid, and I didn’t quiver at noises made by animals up on the mountains. Instead, I accomplished great things with my spear. That brilliant spear is now besmirched by you,because some new sound from the shepherds has frightened you, like the babies you are, and you’ve given up on the golden wealth that Phoebus said he was offering to you, to say nothing of freedom, which he also offered to you and to me. You’ve put all that away and gone to sleep. Unless you get back to work tracking those cows and their cowherd, wherever they are, you’ll be making noises of your own for your cowardice.
Σιληνός:τί μοι ψ[ό]φον; φοβ[εῖσθε] κα[ὶ] δειμαίνετε,μάλθης ἄναγνα σώ[μα]τʼ ἐκμεμαγμένακάκιστα θηρῶν ὀντ[ες, ἐ]ν [π]άσῃ σκιᾷφόβον βλέποντες, πάν[τα] δειματούμενοι,ἄνευρα κἀκόμιστα κἀνε[λε]ύθεραδιακονοῦντες, σώματʼ εἰ[ς]ιδ[ε]ῖν μόνονκα[ὶ γ]λῶσσα κα[ὶ] φάλητες. εἰ δέ που δέῃ,πιστοὶ λόγοισιν ὄντες ἔργα φεύγετε.τοιοῦ[δ]ε πατρός, ὦ κάκιστα θηρίων,οὗ πόλλʼ ἐφʼ ἥβης μνήματʼ ἀνδρείας ὕποκ[ε]ῖται παρʼ οἴκοις νυμφικοῖς ἠσκημένα,οὐκ εἰς φυγὴν κλίνοντος, οὐ δουλ[ο]υμένου,οὐδὲ ψόφοισι τῶν ὀρειτρόφων βοτῶν[π]τήσσοντος, ἀλλʼ α[κ]μαῖσιν ἐξει[ρ]γασμένου[ἃ] νῦν ὑφʼ ὑμῶν λάμ[πρʼ ὑ]πορρυπαίνεται[ψ]όφῳ νεώρει κόλακ[ι] ποιμένων π[ο]θέν,[ὃν] δὴ φοβεῖσθε παῖδες ὣς πρὶν εἰσιδεῖν,πλοῦτον δὲ χ[ρ]υσόφαντον ἐξαφίετε,ὃν Φοῖβος ὑμῖν εἶπε κ[ἀ]νεδέξατο,καὶ τὴν ἐλευθέρωσιν ἣν κατῄνεσενὑμῖν τε κἀμοί· ταῦτʼ ἀφέντες εὕδετε.εἰ μὴ ʼνανοστήσαντες ἐξιχνεύσε[τετὰς βοῦς ὅπῃ βεβᾶσι καὶ τὸν βουκόλο[ν,κλαίοντες αὐτῇ δειλίᾳ ψοφή[ς]ετε.
Chorus:Father, walk beside me,so you’ll know whether I’m really a coward. If you’re here, you’ll know first hand, not through rumors.
Χορός:πάτερ, παρὼν αὐτός με συμποδηγέτε[ι,ἵνʼ εὖ κατείδῃς εἴ τίς ἐστι δειλία·γνώση[ι] γὰρ αὐτός, ἂν παρῇς, οὐδὲν λέγω[ν.
Silenus:I will approach this sound with you, and I will call out and whistle as I’d call a dog. You, line up three by three, and I will go beside you and get you straightened out again.
Σιληνός:ἐγὼ πα[ρ]ὼν αὐτός σε προσβιβῶ λόγῳ,κυνορτικὸν σύριγμα διακαλούμεν[ος.ἀλλʼ εἷʼ [ἐ]φίστω τριζύγης οἵμου βάσιν·ἐγὼ δʼ ἐν [ἔ]ργοις παρμένων σʼ ἀπευθυνῶ.
Chorus:Perhaps separate satyrs sing the various lines of this song. With Silenus, they approach the cave, upstage, jostling, confused, and squabbling. The lyre-noises resume. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ssh, ssh, aah, aah! Say what you’re working on. Why did you shout and scream? It’s pointless. And why were you suspicious of me? Who’s holding back in our first task?You are. He came, he came. You are mine; lead the way. This way, ho! Who is the …? The dragon, the wrinkled one … Goddess of fair winds, … you were beside me, drunk … Whatever bring … set on top of it … the way which … warlikeFollow me, this way! To the cows, to the task … … so he doesn’t drop the saffron … You see something beautiful … and the good … lawful … Follow me … Oppopopoy! Hey, filthy polluted one! … As soon as you get away from here, you’ll be set free and …But don’t get lost … Come on, straight ahead, this way. Now we’ve got the crook.Father, why are you quiet? Isn’t what we’re saying true? Aren’t you listening? Or are you deafened by the noise?
Χορός:ὗ ὗ ὗ, ψ ψ, ἆ ἆ. λέγʼ ὅ τι πονεῖς.τί μάτην ὑπέκλαγες, ὑπέκριγεςὑπό μʼ ἴδες; ἔχεταιἐν πρώτῳ τίς ὅδε τροπ[ῳ;ἔχει. ἐλήλυθεν, ἐλήλ[υθεν.ἐμὸς εἶ, ἀνάγου.δεῦτʼ ὤ, τίς ὅδε [… ]τηςὁ δράκις, ὁ γράπις, [… ][Ο]ὐρίας Οὐρίας, αδ[… ]κειςπαρέβης· μεθυ[… ]ὅ τι ποτε φερε[… ]ι[… ]νἔποχον ἔχει τι[… ]στίβος ὁδενες[… ]στράτιος, στράτ[ιος … ]υ[… ]δεῦρʼ ἕπου· τ[… ]δρ[… ]ἔνι β[ο]ῦς ἔνι πονο[μὴ μεθῇ κρ[ο]κι [σὺ τί καλ[ὸ]ν ἐπιδ[ὅδε γʼ ἀγαθὸς ὁ τρε[κατὰ νόμον ἕπετα[ιἐφέπου, ἐφέπου μ[ὀπποποῖ· ἆ μιαρέ, γε[ἦ τάχʼ ὁπόταν ἀπίη[ιςἀπελεύθερος ὢν ολ [ἀλλὰ μὴ παραπλακ[ἔπ[ι]θʼ [ἔ]πεχʼ εἴσιθʼ ἴθι[τ[ὸ] δὲ πλάγιον ἔχομ[ενπάτερ, τί σιγᾷς; μῶν ἀληθ[ὲς εἴπομεν;οὐ[κ ε]ἰσακο[ύε]ις; ἦ κεκώφη[σαι, ψόφον;
Silenus:Shush! What is it?
Σιληνός:σί[γα·] τί ἔστιν;
Chorus:I’m getting out of here!
Χορός:οὐ μενῶ.
Silenus:Stay, if you can.
Σιληνός:μένʼ, ε[ἰ] ⟨δύνᾳ.⟩
Chorus:No way. But you go ahead: you keep looking and track down the cows, any way you want to, and take the gold … unless the biggest … time.
Χορός:οὐκ ἔστιν. ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς σὺ ταῦθ[ʼ ὅπῃ θέλεις]ζήτει τε κἀξίχνευε καὶ πλού[τει λαβὼντὰς βοῦς τε κα[ὶ] τὸν χρυσὸν [… ]ε[μὴ πλεῖστ[ον] ἔτι ς[… ]ν [… ] χρόνον.
Silenus:No, I won’t leave you, nor sneak away from the work, before we know for sure what’s going on in there.
Σιληνός:ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μ[ή σοί] μ[ʼ ἐκλιπεῖν ἐφήσομαι]οὐδʼ ἐξυπελθ[εῖ]ν τ[οῦ πόνου πρίν γʼ ἂν σα]φῶςεἰδῶμεν ὅν[τινʼ] ἔ[νδον ἥδʼ ἔχει στέγη.]
Chorus:Addressing the source of the noise Hey! You in there! … voice … reward … you will be happy at home. To Silenus He’s not coming out. To the noise-maker again. But I’ll force you out, making the ground rumble with my swift leaps and kicks,so you’ll listen, even if you’re altogether deaf.Cyllene emerges from the cave.
Χορός:ἶὼ γ[φθέγ[μα … ]ου[… ]ηδ[… μισ-]θο[ν δ]όμοισιν ὀλβίσῃς.ὁ [δʼ ο]ὐ φαν[εῖτ]αι τοῖσιν. ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τάχαφ[έρ]ων κτύ[π]ον πέδορτον ἐξαναγκάσωπ[η]δήμασιν κραιπνοῖσι καὶ λακτίσμασινὥ[ς]τʼ εἰσακοῦσαι κεἰ λίαν κωφός τις ᾖ.
Cyllene:Satyrs, why have you rushed up here making all this noise, on this mountain covered with green woods full of animals? Have you got yourselves a new job? You used to bring joy to your master, who would put on a fawn skin and carry a thyrsus in his hands. You would dance around the god shouting “Evoe,” along with the nymphs, who are his family, and a crowd of children. But now I don’t know what you’re doing. Where is this whirlwindof new craziness taking you? I heard something odd: first, nearby, orders like you’d give to hunting dogs when they get near a wild animal’s den in a thicket; then, at the same time, … stretched out from the mouth to the thief …. Then … announcement …. After that they went away, feet stomping, and a confused sound came from nearby. It would be different if …So I heard the sounds of wrong notes … you sick … you did to a nymph that had nothing to do with it?Chorus: They sing.
Κυλλήνη:θῆρες, τί [τό]νδε χλοερὸν ὑλώδη πάγονἔν[θ]ηρον ὡρμήθητε σὺν πολλῇ βοῇ;τίς ἥδε τέχνη; τίς μετάστασις πόνων,οὓς πρόσθεν εἶχες δεσπότῃ χάριν φέρων,ὑμεῖν ὃς αἰεὶ νεβρίνῃ καθημμέν[ο]ςδορᾷ χερ[ο]ῖν τε θύρς[ο]ν εὐπαλῆ φέρωνὄπισθεν εὐίαζετʼ ἀμφὶ τὸν θεὸνσὺν ἐγγόνοις νύμφαισι καὶ π⟨αί⟩δων ὄχλῳ;νῦν δʼ ἀγνοῶ τὸ χρῆμα· ποῖ στροφαὶ νέωνμανιῶν στρέφουσι; θαῦμα γὰρ κατέκλ[υ]ονὁμοῦ πρέπον κέλευμά πως κυνηγετ[ῶ]νἐγγὺς μολόντων θηρὸς εὐναί[ου] τρο[φ]ῆς,ὁμοῦ δʼ ἂν αὖτι[ς … ] … αι φωρ[…γλώσσης ἐτεινε[τʼ ε]ἰς κλοπὴν [… ]έναι·αὖτις δʼ α[… ]τ[… ] … μενων [… ]ακηρυκ[… ] … ι[… ] κηρυγμα [καὶ τ[α]ῦτʼ ἀφεῖσα σὺν ποδῶν λακ[τίσμασι[κ]ληδὼν ὁμοῦ πάμφυρ[τ]ʼ ἐγειτν[ία στέγῃ][καὶ] ταῦτʼ ἂν ἄλλως ἢ κλ[… ]μ[[φων]ῶν ἀκο[ύ]σασʼ ὧδε παραπεπαισμέν[ων… φ[… ]η[… ] νων ὑμᾶς νοσεῖννο[ς … τί νύμφη]ν ἔτι ποε͂ιτʼ ἀναιτίαν;
Deep-girdled nymph, don’t be angry. No one’s starting a war with you, nor has any unfriendly or trifling word touched my tongue. Please don’t threaten me, but graciously tell me what I need: who is itwho seems to speak in a wonderful, inspired voice from below the earth?Cyllene: Speaking.
Χορός:νύμφη βαθύζωνε π[αῦσαι χόλου ]τοῦδʼ, οὔτε γὰρ νεῖκος ἥ[κει σέ τοιδᾴ[ο]υ μάχας οὐδʼ ἀξενό[ς που σέθενγλ[ῶ]σσαν μάταιός τ[ʼ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν θίγοι.μή με μὴ προψαλ[άξῃς κακοῖς,ἀλλʼ [εὐ]πετῶς μοι πρ[όφανον τὸ πρᾶγ-μʼ, ἐν [τ]όποις τοῖς[δε τίς νέρθε γᾶς ὧδʼ ἀγα-στῶς ἐγάρυσε θέσπιν αὐδά[ν.
That’s better: you sound gentler now. You would learn more by hunting rather than from a coward’s great deeds or a nymph’s ordeal. I won’t put up with your loud, quarrelsome words. But calm down and tell me what it is you need.
Κυλλήνη:ταῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνων νῦν [τρόπων πεπαίτερα,καὶ τοῖσδε θηρῶν ἐκπύ[θοιο μᾶλλον ἂνἀλκασμάτων δ[ειλῆ]ς [τε πειρατηρίωννύμφης· ἐμοὶ γὰ[ρ οὐ]κ [ἀρεστόν ἐστʼ ἔρινὀρθοψάλακτον εν [λ]όγο[ις]ιν [ἱστάναι.ἀλλʼ ἥσυχος πρόφαινε καὶ μ[ή]νυ[έ μοιὅτου μάλιστα πράγματος χρείαν ἔχεις.
Chorus:Mighty Cyllene, lady of this land, I’ll tell you in a moment why I’ve come.
Χορός:τόπων ἄνασσα τῶν[δ]ε, Κυλλήνης σθένος,ὅτου μὲν οὕνεκʼ ἦλθ[ο]ν, ὕστερον φράσω·
But first tell us about that scraping noise and who’s making it.
τὸ φθέγμα δʼ ἡμῖν τοῦ[θʼ] ὅπερ φωνεῖ φράσονκαὶ τίς ποτʼ αὐτῷ δι[α]χαράσσεται βροτῶν.
Cyllene:First of all, understand this: if you say one word of what I’m about to tell you, you’ll be in trouble. This business is a secret even among the gods, so that no news of it may come to Hera. You see, Zeus came secretly to Atlas’s house… to the deep-girdled goddess … and in a cave begot a single son. I am bringing him up myself, for his mother’s strength is shaken by sickness as if by a storm. So I stay by his crib and take care of his food and drink and rest, all day and all night. He grows, day by day, in a very unusual way, and I’m astounded and afraid. It’s not even six days since he was born,and he already stands as tall as a young man. His growth spurt hasn’t wasted any time coming. That’s the kind of child that’s in my treasure-house. His father has ensured he would be difficult to find. He has a hidden machine that makes the sound you’re asking about, that so surprised you. It’s a box full of pleasure that he made in just one day from a dead animal he found, and he’s down there shaking it.Chorus: Singing.
Κυλλήνη:ὑμᾶς μὲν αὐτοὺς χρὴ τάδʼ εἰδέναι σαφῶςὡς εἰ φανεῖτε τὸν λ[ό]γον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,αὐτοῖσιν ὑμῖ[ν ζ]ημία πορίζεται·καὶ γὰρ κέκρυπτ[αι] τοὖργον ἐν [θ]ε[ῶ]ν ἕδραις,Ἥραν ὅπως μ[ὴ πύ]στ[ι]ς ἵξετα[ι] λόγου.Ζ[εὺ]ς γ[ὰρ] κρυφ[αίαν ἐς στέ]γην Ἀτλαντίδος[… ]εύσατο·[… ]υ [… ]φιλας[… ] λήθῃ τῆς βαθυζώνου θεᾶς[κατὰ σπέ]ος δὲ παῖδʼ ἐφίτυσεν μόνον·[τοῦτον δὲ] χερσὶ ταῖς ἐμαῖς ἐγὼ τρέφω·[μητρὸς γ]ὰρ ἰσχὺς ἐν νόσῳ χειμάζεται·[κἀδεστ]ὰ καὶ ποτῆτα καὶ κοιμήματα[πρὸς σπ]αργάνοις μένουσα λικνῖτιν τροφὴν[ἐξευθ]ετίζω νύκτα καὶ καθʼ ἡμέραν.[ὁ δʼ α]ὔξεται κατʼ ἦμαρ οὐκ ἐπεικότα[μέγι]στος, ὥστε θαῦμα καὶ φόβος μʼ ἔχει.[οὔπω γ]ὰρ ἑκτὸν ἦμαρ ἐκπεφασμέν[ο]ς[γυίοι]ς ἐρείδει παιδὸς εἰς ἥβης ἀκμήν,[κἀξορ]μενίζει κοὐκέτι σχολάζεται[βλάστη·] τοιόνδε παῖδα θησαυρὸς στέγει.[δυσεύρε]τός [τʼ ἔτʼ] ἐστι τοῦ πατρὸς θέσει.[ἀφανεῖ δʼ ὃ πεύθῃ φ]θέγμα μηχανῇ βρέμ[ονκαὶ π[όλ]λʼ ἐθά]μβεις αὐτὸ]ς, ἡμέρᾳ μιᾳἐξ ὑπτίας κ[ίστη γʼ ἐμηχ]ανήσατο·τοιόνδε θη[ρὸς ἐκ θανόντ]ος ἡδονῆςἔμμεστον α[γγος εὗρε κ]αὶ κάτω δ[ονεῖ.]
… unspeakable … child … of a cow … amazed … prey … speaking voice … to make such sounds from a dead animal.
Χορός:ἄφραστ[ο … ] παῖς βοῆςπαιδο[… ]μαζεις[θηρευμ[α … ]λέγειςφώνημ[α … ]σεθου[τόνδʼ αφ[… ]ον[τως ἐξεφ[… ]ροντʼ ἄπα[… ] ἐ[κ θανόν-τος πορίζειν τοιάνδε γῆρυν.
Cyllene:Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you.
Κυλλήνη:μὴ νῦν ἀπίστει· πιστὰ γάρ σε προσγελᾷ θεᾶς ἔπη.
Chorus:How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that?
Χορός:καὶ πῶς πίθωμαι τοῦ θανόντος φθέγμα τοιοῦτον βρέμειν;
Cyllene:Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.
Κυλλήνη:πιθοῦ· θανὼν γὰρ ἔσχε φωνήν, ζῶν δʼ ἄναυδος ἦν ὁ θήρ.
Chorus:What did it look like? Long, curved, short?
Χορός:ποῖός τις ἦν εἶδος; πρ[ο]μήκης, ἢ ʼπίκυρτος, ἢ βραχύς;
Cyllene:Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.
Κυλλήνη:βραχύς, χυτρώδης, πο[ι]κίλῃ δορᾷ κατερρικνωμένος.
Chorus:Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?
Χορός:ὡς αἰέλουρος εἰκάσαι πέφυκεν ἢ τὼς πόρδαλις;
Cyllene:In between, really: it’s round with short legs.
Κυλλήνη:πλεῖστον με[τ]αξύ· γογγύλον γάρ ἐστι καὶ βραχυσκελές.
Chorus:Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?
Χορός:οὐδʼ ὡς ἰχνευμ⟨ων⟩ προσφερὲς πέφυκεν οὐδʼ ὡς καρκίν⟨ος⟩;
Cyllene:No, that’s not it; try something else.
Κυλλήνη:οὐδʼ αὖ τοιοῦτ[ό]ν ἐστιν· ἀλλʼ ἄλλον τινʼ ἐξευροῦ τρόπον.
Chorus:Is it like one of the horned beetles that live on Aetna?
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὡς κεράστ[η]ς κάνθαρος δῆτʼ ἐστὶν Αἰτναῖος φυήν;
Cyllene:Now you’re getting closer to the beast
Κυλλήνη:νῦν ἐγγὺς ἔγν[ως] ᾧ μάλιστα προσφερὲς τὸ κνώδαλον.
Chorus:And which part makes the sound, the inside or the outside?
Χορός:τ[ί δʼ αὖ τὸ ] φων[οῦ]ν ἐστιν αὐτοῦ, τοὐντὸς ἢ τοὔξω, φράσον.
Cyllene:… first cousin to a potsherd.
Κυλλήνη:[… ]λο[… φ]ορίνη σύγγονος τῶν ὀστράκων.
Chorus:What name do you call it? Tell me, if you know any more.
Χορός:[ποῖον δὲ τοὔνομʼ ἐν]νέ[πει]ς; πόρσυνον, εἴ τι πλέον ἔχεις.
Cyllene:The boy calls the animal a “tortoise” and the instrument a “lyre.”
Κυλλήνη:[τὸν θῆρα μὲν χέλυν, τὸ φωνο]ῦν δʼ αὖ λύραν ὁ παῖς καλεῖ.
Chorus:… property …
Χορός:[… ] κτέανον ησύ[… ] τινι;
Cyllene:… and this is his only consolation or cure for sorrow. He enjoys idly singing along; he coaxes Aeolian tunes from the lyre. Thus the boy made himself a voice from a dead animal.Chorus: Singing; this strophe has an antistrophe at 371.
Κυλλήνη:[… ] δέρμα κ[… ]στ [[… ]ον ὧδ[ε] κλαγγάνει [[… ]όρως ἐρείδεται[… ]πλεκτα [[… ]λάδος κ[[… κόλ]λοπες δε[[… ]αμματω [[… ]ον[καὶ τοῦτο λύπη[ς] ἔστʼ ἄκεστρον καὶ παραψυκ[τ]ήρ[ιο]νκείνῳ μόνον, χα[ί]ρει δʼ ἀλύων καί τι προσφων[ῶν μέλοςξύμφωνον· ἐξα[ί]ρει γὰρ αὐτὸν αἰόλισμα τῆς λ[ύ]ρας.οὕτως ὁ παῖς θανόντι θηρὶ φθέγμʼ ἐμηχανήσατ[ο.
A loud voice extends over the place,flitting around like a bee over the flowers. As for the other matter, I am getting closer. Know this, goddess: whoever contrived this is none other than the thief. But don’t be angry or upset that I say this.
Χορός:ὀ⟨ρθ⟩οψάλακτός τις ὀμφὴ κατοιχνεῖ τόπου,πρεπτὰ ⟨δʼ αὖ⟩ διὰ τόνου φάσματʼ ἔγ-χωρʼ ἐπανθεμίζει.τὸ πρᾶγμα δʼ οὗπερ πορεύω βάδην,ἴσθι τὸν δα[ί]μονʼ, ὅστις ποθʼ ὃςταῦτʼ ἐτεχνήσατʼ, οὐκ ἄλλος ἐστὶν κλ[οπεὺςἀντʼ ἐκείνου, γύναι, σάφʼ ἴσθι.σὺ δʼ ἀντὶ τῶνδε μὴ χαλε-φθῇς μ⟨η⟩δὲ δυσφορηθῇς.
Cyllene:What delusion has come over you? Who are you blaming as a thief?
Κυλλήνη:[τίς ἔχει πλά]νη σε; τίνα κλοπὴν ὠνείδις[ας;
Chorus:Not you, by Zeus; I don’t want to upset you, my lady.
Χορός:[οὐ μὰ Δία σʼ, ὦ πρές]βειρα χειμάζειν [θέλω.
Cyllene:Surely you’re not calling the son of Zeus a thief?
Κυλλήνη:[μῶν τὸν Διὸς παῖδʼ ὄ]ντα φ⟨η⟩λήτην κα[λεῖς;
Chorus:… this very theft.
Χορός:[… ]αν αὐτῇ τῇ κλο[πῇ.
Cyllene:… if what you say is true.
Κυλλήνη:[… ε]ἴ γε τἀληθῆ λέ[γεις.
Chorus:… I speak truth. … stolen … the cattle … it fits … cut
Χορός:[… τ]ἀληθῆ λέγ[ω.[… κεκλο]φεναισαφ[[… ]δε βοῦς πάνυ[… ]ᾳ καθήρ[μ]ο[σε[… ]λου τεμὼν[… ]φο … δ[ο]ρα[
Cyllene:… I understand finally … laughing at my foolishness … nothing, delight for the child. You can be reassured about me from now on, and laugh at me if you get some joy or profit from it. But do not mock the son of Zeus, making childish remarks about the child.
Κυλλήνη:[… ] ἄρτι μανθάνω χρόνῳ[… ἐγχ]άσκοντα τῇ ʼμῇ μωρίᾳ[… ο]ὐδέν, ἀλλὰ παιδιᾶς χάριν.[σὺ δʼ οὖν τὸ λοιπ̀ο]ν εἰς ἔμʼ εὐδίαν ἔχων,[εἴ σοι φέρει χάρ]μʼ ἤ τι κερδαίνειν δοκεῖς[ὄπως θέλεις κά]χαζε καὶ τέρπου φρένα·[τὸν παῖδα δʼ ὄ]ντα τοῦ Διὸς σαφεῖ λόγῳ[μὴ σκῶπτε ποι]ῶν ἐν νέῳ νέον λόγον·
For he did not inherit a thief’s nature from his father, nor does thievery hold sway in his mother’s family. If there is any theft here, look for a poor man as your thief; but this boy’s house is hardly poor. Consider his family, and fit bad deeds to bad men; it’s hardly appropriate to him. But you are always a child, even though you’re a young man and your beard grows on your face like a goat’s. Stop stretching up your smooth bald head for caresses. I tell you this: if you think the gods are foolish or laughable,you will soon be crying.Chorus: Singing; this is the antistrophe corresponding to the strophe at 329.
[οὗτος γὰρ οὔτε] πρὸς πατρὸς κλέπτης ἔφυ[οὔτʼ αὖτις ἐν μ]ήτρωσιν ἡ κλοπὴ κρατεῖ.[εἰ δὴ κλοπή τ]ίς ἐστι, τὸν κλέπτην σκόπει[ἄπορον ἄ]καρπον· τοῦδε δʼ οὐ π⟨ει⟩ν⟨ῇ⟩ δόμος.[ἄθρ]ει γένος πρόσαπτε τὴν πονηρίαν[πρὸ]ς ὅντινʼ ἥκει· τῷδε δʼ οὐχ οὕτω πρέπει.ἀ[λλʼ] αἰὲν εἶ σὺ παῖς· νέος γὰρ ὢν ἀνὴρπ[ώγ]ωνι θάλλων ὡς τράγος κνήκῳ χλιδᾷς.παύου τὸ λεῖον φαλακρὸν ἡδονῇ πιτνάς.[ο]ὐκ ἐκ θεῶν τὰ μῶρα καὶ γέλοια χρὴ[χ]ανόντα κλαίειν ὕστερʼ; ὡς ἐγὼ ⟨λ⟩έ⟨γ⟩ω.
Turn and twist the words however you want, to find a clever story. You won’t convince me that the sewn-together hides are any others than the ones from the stolen cows of Loxias. Don’t try to turn me aside.
Χορός:στρέφου λυγίζου τε μύθοις, ὁποι-´άν θέλεις βάξιν εὕρισκʼ ἀπό-ψηκτον· οὐ γάρ με ταῦτα πείσεις,⟨ὅ⟩πως τὸ χρῆμʼ οὗτος εἰργασμένοςῥινοκόλλητον ἄλλων ἔκλεψεν βοῶνπου δοράς [ἢ] ʼπὸ τῶν Λοξίου.[μ]ή με τᾶ[σδʼ ἐ]ξ ὁδοῦ βίβαζε.
Chorus:Because Zeus …
Χορός:[ὁ Ζ]εὺς γὰρ ]
Cyllene:The child is no thief.
Κυλλήνη:[ὁ] παῖς κλο[π
Chorus:If he does bad things, then he is bad.
Χορός:[εἰ] τοι πονη[ρὰ δρᾷ, πονηρὸς ὢν κυρεῖ.
Cyllene:I don’t like to hear bad things about Zeus’s son.
Κυλλήνη:[κ]ακῶς ἀκού[ειν οὐ πρέπει Διὸς γόνῳ.
Chorus:But if it’s the truth, then I have to say it.
Χορός:[ε]ἰ δʼ ἔστʼ ἀλη[θῆ, χρή με καὶ λέγειν τάδε.
Cyllene:Don’t say …
Κυλλήνη:[ο]ὐ μὴ ταδʼ [εἴπῃς
Cyllene:Where are the cattle pastured?
Κυλλήνη:ποῦ καὶ βόες νέμουσι τ[
Chorus:Most of them now …
Χορός:π[λ]είους δέ γʼ ἤδη νῦν [
Cyllene:Who has them, wretch? Who …
Κυλλήνη:τ[ί]ς, ὦ πόνηρʼ, ἔχει; τί πλε[
Chorus:The boy has closed them up inside.
Χορός:ὁ παῖς ὃς ἔνδον ἐστὶν ἐγκεκλη[ιμένος.
Cyllene:Stop saying bad things about Zeus’s son!
Κυλλήνη:[τὸ]ν παῖδα παῦσαι τοῦ Διὸς [κακῶς λέγων.
Chorus:I would stop, if someone would bring out the cattle.
Χορός:π[α]ύοιμ[ʼ ἄ]ν [, εἰ] τὰς βοῦς τις ἐ[ξελᾶν θέλοι.
Cyllene:You’re choking me, you and those cows of yours.
Κυλλήνη:ἤδη με πνίγεις καὶ σὺ χα[ἰ βόες σέθεν.
Chorus:… left … drive them out …
Χορός:[… ]λεισεπ[… ]υ[… ἐ]ξελαυν[
Chorus:Hey! Oh! … what she said … he didn’t …
Χορός:ἰοὺ ἰοὺ [ἥν τʼ ἔφη π[οὗτος οὐ φ[
Silenus: Silenus has come back, and Cyllene has presumably left.Hey! …
Σιληνός:ω Λ[οξίαιω δ[
Chorus:Oh Loxias, … of the cows …
Χορός:ὦ Λοξία, δε[καὶ παρη[τῶν [β]οῶ[ν
Apollo: Apollo probably enters in response to the chorus’s calls.… cows … reward … free …
Ἀπόλλων:[… ]νυ[ε[… ]ει[βο[οπο[πρ[μισθ̀ς [ἐλεύθερο[Σιληνός:τὸν ἐγ[