Pindar Pythian 4: the divine clod

ΑΡΚΕΣΙΛΑΩΙ ΚΥΡΗΝΑΙΩΙ

ΑΡΜΑΤΙ

Α΄Σάμερον μὲν χρή σε παρ᾿ ἀνδρὶ φίλῳ

στᾶμεν, εὐίππου βασιλῆι Κυράνας,

ὄφρα κωμάζοντι σὺν Ἀρκεσίλᾳ,

Μοῖσα, Λατοίδαισιν ὀφειλόμενον Πυ-

θῶνί τ᾿ αὔξῃς οὖρον ὕμνων,

ἔνθα ποτὲ χρυσέων Διὸς αἰετῶν πάρεδρος

5 οὐκ ἀποδάμου Ἀπόλλωνος τυχόντος ἱέρεα

χρῆσεν οἰκιστῆρα Βάττον

καρποφόρου Λιβύας, ἱεράν

νᾶσον ὡς ἤδη λιπὼν κτίσσειεν εὐάρματον

πόλιν ἐν ἀργινόεντι μαστῷ,

καὶ τὸ Μηδείας ἔπος ἀγκομίσαι

10ἑβδόμᾳ καὶ σὺν δεκάτᾳ γενεᾷ Θή-

ραιον, Αἰήτα τό ποτε ζαμενής

παῖς ἀπέπνευσ᾿ ἀθανάτου στόματος, δέσ-

ποινα Κόλχων. εἶπε δ᾿ οὕτως

ἡμιθέοισιν Ἰάσονος αἰχματᾶο ναύταις·

“Κέκλυτε, παῖδες ὑπερθύμων τε φωτῶν καὶ θεῶν·

φαμὶ γὰρ τᾶσδ᾿ ἐξ ἁλιπλά-

κτου ποτὲ γᾶς Ἐπάφοιο κόραν

15ἀστέων ῥίζαν φυτεύσεσθαι μελησιμβρότων

Διὸς ἐν Ἄμμωνος θεμέθλοις.

ἀντὶ δελφίνων δ᾿ ἐλαχυπτερύγων ἵπ-

πους ἀμείψαντες θοάς,

ἁνία τ᾿ ἀντ᾿ ἐρετμῶν δί-

φρους τε νωμάσοισιν ἀελλόποδας.

κεῖνος ὄρνις ἐκτελευτάσει μεγαλᾶν πολίων

20ματρόπολιν Θήραν γενέσθαι, τόν ποτε

Τριτωνίδος ἐν προχοαῖς

λίμνας θεῷ ἀνέρι εἰδομένῳ γαῖαν διδόντι

ξείνια πρῴραθεν Εὔφαμος καταβαίς

δέξατ᾿—αἰσίαν δ᾿ ἐπί οἱ Κρονίων

Ζεὺς πατὴρ ἔκλαγξε βροντάν—

Β΄ἁνίκ᾿ ἄγκυραν ποτὶ χαλκόγενυν

25ναῒ κριμνάντων ἐπέτοσσε, θοᾶς Ἀρ-

γοῦς χαλινόν· δώδεκα δὲ πρότερον

ἁμέρας ἐξ Ὠκεανοῦ φέρομεν νώ-

των ὕπερ γαίας ἐρήμων

ἐννάλιον δόρυ, μήδεσιν ἀνσπάσσαντες ἁμοῖς.

τουτάκι δ᾿ οἰοπόλος δαίμων ἐπῆλθεν, φαιδίμαν

ἀνδρὸς αἰδοίου πρόσοψιν

θηκάμενος· φιλίων δ᾿ ἐπέων

30ἄρχετο, ξείνοις ἅτ᾿ ἐλθόντεσσιν εὐεργέται

δεῖπν᾿ ἐπαγγέλλοντι πρῶτον.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ νόστου πρόφασις γλυκεροῦ

κώλυεν μεῖναι. φάτο δ᾿ Εὐρύπυλος Γαι-

αόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα

ἔμμεναι· γίνωσκε δ᾿ ἐπειγομένους· ἂν

δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἁρπάξαις ἀρούρας

35δεξιτερᾷ προτυχὸν ξένιον μάστευσε δοῦναι.

οὐδ᾿ ἀπίθησέ νιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἥρως ἐπ᾿ ἀκταῖσιν θορών,

χειρί οἱ χεῖρ᾿ ἀντερείσαις

δέξατο βώλακα δαιμονίαν.

πεύθομαι δ᾿ αὐτὰν κατακλυσθεῖσαν ἐκ δούρατος

ἐναλίαν βᾶμεν σὺν ἅλμᾳ

Β΄ἁνίκ᾿ ἄγκυραν ποτὶ χαλκόγενυν

25ναῒ κριμνάντων ἐπέτοσσε, θοᾶς Ἀρ-

γοῦς χαλινόν· δώδεκα δὲ πρότερον

ἁμέρας ἐξ Ὠκεανοῦ φέρομεν νώ-

των ὕπερ γαίας ἐρήμων

ἐννάλιον δόρυ, μήδεσιν ἀνσπάσσαντες ἁμοῖς.

τουτάκι δ᾿ οἰοπόλος δαίμων ἐπῆλθεν, φαιδίμαν

ἀνδρὸς αἰδοίου πρόσοψιν

θηκάμενος· φιλίων δ᾿ ἐπέων

30ἄρχετο, ξείνοις ἅτ᾿ ἐλθόντεσσιν εὐεργέται

δεῖπν᾿ ἐπαγγέλλοντι πρῶτον.

ἀλλὰ γὰρ νόστου πρόφασις γλυκεροῦ

κώλυεν μεῖναι. φάτο δ᾿ Εὐρύπυλος Γαι-

αόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα

ἔμμεναι· γίνωσκε δ᾿ ἐπειγομένους· ἂν

δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἁρπάξαις ἀρούρας

35δεξιτερᾷ προτυχὸν ξένιον μάστευσε δοῦναι.

οὐδ᾿ ἀπίθησέ νιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἥρως ἐπ᾿ ἀκταῖσιν θορών,

χειρί οἱ χεῖρ᾿ ἀντερείσαις

δέξατο βώλακα δαιμονίαν.

πεύθομαι δ᾿ αὐτὰν κατακλυσθεῖσαν ἐκ δούρατος

ἐναλίαν βᾶμεν σὺν ἅλμᾳ

40ἑσπέρας ὑγρῷ πελάγει σπομέναν. ἦ

μάν νιν ὤτρυνον θαμά

λυσιπόνοις θεραπόντεσ-

σιν φυλάξαι· τῶν δ᾿ ἐλάθοντο φρένες·

καί νυν ἐν τᾷδ᾿ ἄφθιτον νάσῳ κέχυται Λιβύας

εὐρυχόρου σπέρμα πρὶν ὥρας. εἰ γὰρ οἴ-

κοι νιν βάλε πὰρ χθόνιον

Ἀίδα στόμα, Ταίναρον εἰς ἱερὰν Εὔφαμος ἐλθών,

45υἱὸς ἱππάρχου Ποσειδάωνος ἄναξ,

τόν ποτ᾿ Εὐρώπα Τιτυοῦ θυγάτηρ

τίκτε Καφισοῦ παρ᾿ ὄχθαις,

Γ΄τετράτων παίδων κ᾿ ἐπιγεινομένων

αἷμά οἱ κείναν λάβε σὺν Δαναοῖς εὐ-

ρεῖαν ἄπειρον· τότε γὰρ μεγάλας

ἐξανίστανται Λακεδαίμονος Ἀργεί-

ου τε κόλπου καὶ Μυκηνᾶν.

50νῦν γε μὲν ἀλλοδαπᾶν κριτὸν εὑρήσει γυναικῶν

ἐν λέχεσιν γένος, οἵ κεν τάνδε σὺν τιμᾷ θεῶν

νᾶσον ἐλθόντες τέκωνται

φῶτα κελαινεφέων πεδίων

δεσπόταν· τὸν μὲν πολυχρύσῳ ποτ᾿ ἐν δώματι

Φοῖβος ἀμνάσει θέμισσιν

55Πύθιον ναὸν καταβάντα χρόνῳ

ὑστέρῳ, νάεσσι πολεῖς ἀγαγὲν Νεί-

λοιο πρὸς πῖον τέμενος Κρονίδα.”

ἦ ῥα Μηδείας ἐπέων στίχες· ἔπτα-

ξαν δ᾿ ἀκίνητοι σιωπᾷ

ἥροες ἀντίθεοι πυκινὰν μῆτιν κλύοντες.

ὦ μάκαρ υἱὲ Πολυμνάστου, σὲ δ᾿ ἐν τούτῳ λόγῳ

60χρησμὸς ὤρθωσεν μελίσσας

Δελφίδος αὐτομάτῳ κελάδῳ·

ἅ σε χαίρειν ἐστρὶς αὐδάσαισα πεπρωμένον

βασιλέ᾿ ἄμφανεν Κυράνᾳ,

δυσθρόου φωνᾶς ἀνακρινόμενον ποι-

νὰ τίς ἔσται πρὸς θεῶν.

ἦ μάλα δὴ μετὰ καὶ νῦν,

ὥτε φοινικανθέμου ἦρος ἀκμᾷ,

65παισὶ τούτοις ὄγδοον θάλλει μέρος Ἀρκεσίλας·

τῷ μὲν Ἀπόλλων ἅ τε Πυθὼ κῦδος ἐξ

Ἀμφικτιόνων ἔπορεν

ἱπποδρομίας. ἀπὸ δ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐγὼ Μοίσαισι δώσω

καὶ τὸ πάγχρυσον νάκος κριοῦ· μετὰ γάρ

κεῖνο πλευσάντων Μινυᾶν, θεόπομ-

ποί σφισιν τιμαὶ φύτευθεν.

Δ΄τίς γὰρ ἀρχὰ δέξατο ναυτιλίας,

71τίς δὲ κίνδυνος κρατεροῖς ἀδάμαντος

δῆσεν ἅλοις; θέσφατον ἦν Πελίαν

ἐξ ἀγαυῶν Αἰολιδᾶν θανέμεν χεί-

ρεσσιν ἢ βουλαῖς ἀκνάμπτοις.

ἦλθε δέ οἱ κρυόεν πυκινῷ μάντευμα θυμῷ,

πὰρ μέσον ὀμφαλὸν εὐδένδροιο ῥηθὲν ματέρος

75τὸν μονοκρήπιδα πάντως

ἐν φυλακᾷ σχεθέμεν μεγάλᾳ,

εὖτ᾿ ἂν αἰπεινῶν ἀπὸ σταθμῶν ἐς εὐδείελον

χθόνα μόλῃ κλειτᾶς Ἰαολκοῦ,

ξεῖνος αἴτ᾿ ὦν ἀστός. ὁ δ᾿ ἦρα χρόνῳ

ἵκετ᾿ αἰχμαῖσιν διδύμαισιν ἀνὴρ ἔκ-

παγλος· ἐσθὰς δ᾿ ἀμφοτέρα νιν ἔχεν,

80ἅ τε Μαγνήτων ἐπιχώριος ἁρμό-

ζοισα θαητοῖσι γυίοις,

ἀμφὶ δὲ παρδαλέᾳ στέγετο φρίσσοντας ὄμβρους·

οὐδὲ κομᾶν πλόκαμοι κερθέντες ᾤχοντ᾿ ἀγλαοί,

ἀλλ᾿ ἅπαν νῶτον καταίθυσ-

σον. τάχα δ᾿ εὐθὺς ἰὼν σφετέρας

ἐστάθη γνώμας ἀταρβάκτοιο πειρώμενος

85ἐν ἀγορᾷ πλήθοντος ὄχλου.

τὸν μὲν οὐ γίνωσκον· ὀπιζομένων δ᾿ ἔμ-

πας τις εἶπεν καὶ τόδε·

“Οὔ τί που οὗτος Ἀπόλλων,

οὐδὲ μὰν χαλκάρματός ἐστι πόσις

Ἀφροδίτας· ἐν δὲ Νάξῳ φαντὶ θανεῖν λιπαρᾷ

Ἰφιμεδείας παῖδας, Ὦτον καὶ σέ, τολ-

μάεις Ἐπιάλτα ἄναξ.

90καὶ μὰν Τιτυὸν βέλος Ἀρτέμιδος θήρευσε κραιπνόν,

ἐξ ἀνικάτου φαρέτρας ὀρνύμενον,

ὄφρα τις τᾶν ἐν δυνατῷ φιλοτά-

των ἐπιψαύειν ἔραται.”

Ε΄τοὶ μὲν ἀλλάλοισιν ἀμειβόμενοι

γάρυον τοιαῦτ᾿· ἀνὰ δ᾿ ἡμιόνοις ξε-

στᾷ τ᾿ ἀπήνᾳ προτροπάδαν Πελίας

95ἵκετο σπεύδων· τάφε δ᾿ αὐτίκα παπτά-

ναις ἀρίγνωτον πέδιλον

δεξιτερῷ μόνον ἀμφὶ ποδί. κλέπτων δὲ θυμῷ

δεῖμα προσήνεπε· “Ποίαν γαῖαν, ὦ ξεῖν᾿, εὔχεαι

πατρίδ᾿ ἔμμεν; καὶ τίς ἀνθρώ-

πων σε χαμαιγενέων πολιᾶς

ἐξανῆκεν γαστρός; ἐχθίστοισι μὴ ψεύδεσιν

100καταμιάναις εἰπὲ γένναν.”

τὸν δὲ θαρσήσαις ἀγανοῖσι λόγοις

ὧδ᾿ ἀμείφθη· “Φαμὶ διδασκαλίαν Χεί-

ρωνος οἴσειν. ἀντρόθε γὰρ νέομαι

πὰρ Χαρικλοῦς καὶ Φιλύρας, ἵνα Κενταύ-

ρου με κοῦραι θρέψαν ἁγναί.

εἴκοσι δ᾿ ἐκτελέσαις ἐνιαυτοὺς οὔτε ἔργον

105οὔτ᾿ ἔπος ἐκτράπελον κείνοισιν εἰπὼν ἱκόμαν

οἴκαδ᾿, ἀρχαίαν κομίζων

πατρὸς ἐμοῦ, βασιλευομέναν

οὐ κατ᾿ αἶσαν, τάν ποτε Ζεὺς ὤπασεν λαγέτᾳ

Αἰόλῳ καὶ παισὶ τιμάν.

πεύθομαι γάρ νιν Πελίαν ἄθεμιν λευ-

καῖς πιθήσαντα φρασίν

110ἁμετέρων ἀποσυλᾶ-

σαι βιαίως ἀρχεδικᾶν τοκέων·

τοί μ᾿, ἐπεὶ πάμπρωτον εἶδον φέγγος, ὑπερφιάλου

ἁγεμόνος δείσαντες ὕβριν, κᾶδος ὡσ-

είτε φθιμένου δνοφερόν

ἐν δώμασι θηκάμενοι μίγα κωκυτῷ γυναικῶν,

κρύβδα πέμπον σπαργάνοις ἐν πορφυρέοις,

115νυκτὶ κοινάσαντες ὁδόν, Κρονίδᾳ

δὲ τράφεν Χείρωνι δῶκαν.

Ϝ´

ἀλλὰ τούτων μὲν κεφάλαια λόγων

ἴστε. λευκίππων δὲ δόμους πατέρων, κε-

δνοὶ πολῖται, φράσσατέ μοι σαφέως·

Αἴσονος γὰρ παῖς ἐπιχώριος οὐ ξεί-

ναν ἱκάνω γαῖαν ἄλλων.

φὴρ δέ με θεῖος Ἰάσονα κικλῄσκων προσαύδα.”

120ὣς φάτο· τὸν μὲν ἐσελθόντ᾿ ἔγνον ὀφθαλμοὶ πατρός·

ἐκ δ᾿ ἄρ᾿ αὐτοῦ πομφόλυξαν

δάκρυα γηραλέων γλεφάρων,

ἃν περὶ ψυχὰν ἐπεὶ γάθησεν ἐξαίρετον

γόνον ἰδὼν κάλλιστον ἀνδρῶν.

καὶ κασίγνητοί σφισιν ἀμφότεροι

125ἤλυθον κείνου γε κατὰ κλέος· ἐγγὺς

μὲν Φέρης κράναν Ὑπερῇδα λιπών,

ἐκ δὲ Μεσσάνας Ἀμυθάν· ταχέως δ᾿ Ἄ-

δματος ἷκεν καὶ Μέλαμπος

εὐμενέοντες ἀνεψιόν. ἐν δαιτὸς δὲ μοίρᾳ

μειλιχίοισι λόγοις αὐτοὺς Ἰάσων δέγμενος

ξείνι᾿ ἁρμόζοντα τεύχων

πᾶσαν ἐυφροσύναν τάνυεν

130ἀθρόαις πέντε δραπὼν νύκτεσσιν ἔν θ᾿ ἁμέραις

ἱερὸν εὐζοίας ἄωτον.

ἀλλ᾿ ἐν ἕκτᾳ πάντα λόγον θέμενος σπου-

δαῖον ἐξ ἀρχᾶς ἀνήρ

συγγενέσιν παρεκοινᾶθ᾿

οἱ δ᾿ ἐπέσποντ᾿. αἶψα δ᾿ ἀπὸ κλισιᾶν

ὦρτο σὺν κείνοισι· καί ῥ᾿ ἦλθον Πελία μέγαρον·

135ἐσσύμενοι δ᾿ εἴσω κατέσταν· τῶν δ᾿ ἀκού-

σαις αὐτὸς ὑπαντίασεν

Τυροῦς ἐρασιπλοκάμου γενεά· πραῢν δ᾿ Ἰάσων

μαλθακᾷ φωνᾷ ποτιστάζων ὄαρον

βάλλετο κρηπῖδα σοφῶν ἐπέων·

“Παῖ Ποσειδᾶνος Πετραίου,

Ζ΄ἐντὶ μὲν θνατῶν φρένες ὠκύτεραι

140κέρδος αἰνῆσαι πρὸ δίκας δόλιον τρα-

χεῖαν ἑρπόντων πρὸς ἔπιβδαν ὅμως·

ἀλλ᾿ ἐμὲ χρὴ καὶ σὲ θεμισσαμένους ὀρ-

γὰς ὑφαίνειν λοιπὸν ὄλβον.

εἰδότι τοι ἐρέω· μία βοῦς Κρηθεῖ τε μάτηρ

καὶ θρασυμήδεϊ Σαλμωνεῖ· τρίταισιν δ᾿ ἐν γοναῖς

ἄμμες αὖ κείνων φυτευθέν-

τες σθένος ἀελίου χρύσεον

145λεύσσομεν. Μοῖραι δ᾿ ἀφίσταντ᾿, εἴ τις ἔχθρα πέλει

ὁμογόνοις αἰδῶ καλύψαι.

οὐ πρέπει νῷν χαλκοτόροις ξίφεσιν

οὐδ᾿ ἀκόντεσσιν μεγάλαν προγόνων τι-

μὰν δάσασθαι. μῆλά τε γάρ τοι ἐγώ

καὶ βοῶν ξανθὰς ἀγέλας ἀφίημ᾿ ἀ-

γρούς τε πάντας, τοὺς ἀπούρας

150ἁμετέρων τοκέων νέμεαι πλοῦτον πιαίνων·

κοὔ με πονεῖ τεὸν οἶκον ταῦτα πορσύνοντ᾿ ἄγαν·

ἀλλὰ καὶ σκᾶπτον μόναρχον

καὶ θρόνος, ᾧ ποτε Κρηθεΐδας

ἐγκαθίζων ἱππόταις εὔθυνε λαοῖς δίκας—

τὰ μὲν ἄνευ ξυνᾶς ἀνίας

155λῦσον, ἄμμιν μή τι νεώτερον ἐξ αὐ-

τῶν ἀναστάῃ κακόν.”

ὣς ἄρ᾿ ἔειπεν, ἀκᾷ δ᾿ ἀντ-

αγόρευσεν καὶ Πελίας· “Ἔσομαι

τοῖος· ἀλλ᾿ ἤδη με γηραιὸν μέρος ἁλικίας

ἀμφιπολεῖ· σὸν δ᾿ ἄνθος ἥβας ἄρτι κυ-

μαίνει· δύνασαι δ᾿ ἀφελεῖν

μᾶνιν χθονίων. κέλεται γὰρ ἑὰν ψυχὰν κομίξαι

160Φρίξος ἐλθόντας πρὸς Αἰήτα θαλάμους

δέρμα τε κριοῦ βαθύμαλλον ἄγειν,

τῷ ποτ᾿ ἐκ πόντου σαώθη

Η΄ἔκ τε ματρυιᾶς ἀθέων βελέων.

ταῦτά μοι θαυμαστὸς ὄνειρος ἰὼν φω-

νεῖ. μεμάντευμαι δ᾿ ἐπὶ Κασταλίᾳ,

εἰ μετάλλατόν τι· καὶ ὡς τάχος ὀτρύ-

νει με τεύχειν ναῒ πομπάν.

165τοῦτον ἄεθλον ἑκὼν τέλεσον· καί τοι μοναρχεῖν

καὶ βασιλευέμεν ὄμνυμι προήσειν. καρτερός

ὅρκος ἄμμιν μάρτυς ἔστω

Ζεὺς ὁ γενέθλιος ἀμφοτέροις.”

σύνθεσιν ταύταν ἐπαινήσαντες οἱ μὲν κρίθεν·

ἀτὰρ Ἰάσων αὐτὸς ἤδη

170ὤρνυεν κάρυκας ἐόντα πλόον

φαινέμεν παντᾷ. τάχα δὲ Κρονίδαο

Ζηνὸς υἱοὶ τρεῖς ἀκαμαντομάχαι

ἦλθον Ἀλκμήνας θ᾿ ἑλικογλεφάρου Λή-

δας τε, δοιοὶ δ᾿ ὑψιχαῖται

ἀνέρες, Ἐννοσίδα γένος, αἰδεσθέντες ἀλκάν,

ἔκ τε Πύλου καὶ ἀπ᾿ ἄκρας Ταινάρου· τῶν μὲν κλέος

175ἐσλὸν Εὐφάμου τ᾿ ἐκράνθη

σόν τε, Περικλύμεν᾿ εὐρυβία.

ἐξ Ἀπόλλωνος δὲ φορμιγκτὰς ἀοιδᾶν πατήρ

ἔμολεν, εὐαίνητος Ὀρφεύς.

πέμπε δ᾿ Ἑρμᾶς χρυσόραπις διδύμους υἱ-

οὺς ἐπ᾿ ἄτρυτον πόνον,

τὸν μὲν Ἐχίονα, κεχλά-

δοντας ἥβᾳ, τὸν δ᾿ Ἔρυτον. ταχέες

180ἀμφὶ Παγγαίου θεμέθλοις ναιετάοντες ἔβαν,

καὶ γὰρ ἑκὼν θυμῷ γελανεῖ θᾶσσον ἔν-

τυνεν βασιλεὺς ἀνέμων

Ζήταν Κάλαΐν τε πατὴρ Βορέας, ἄνδρας πτεροῖσιν

νῶτα πεφρίκοντας ἄμφω πορφυρέοις.

τὸν δὲ παμπειθῆ γλυκὺν ἡμιθέοι-

σιν πόθον ἔνδαιεν Ἥρα

Θ΄ναὸς Ἀργοῦς, μή τινα λειπόμενον

186τὰν ἀκίνδυνον παρὰ ματρὶ μένειν αἰ-

ῶνα πέσσοντ᾿, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ καὶ θανάτῳ

φάρμακον κάλλιστον ἑᾶς ἀρετᾶς ἅ-

λιξιν εὑρέσθαι σὺν ἄλλοις.

ἐς δ᾿ Ἰαολκὸν ἐπεὶ κατέβα ναυτᾶν ἄωτος,

λέξατο πάντας ἐπαινήσαις Ἰάσων. καί ῥά οἱ

190μάντις ὀρνίχεσσι καὶ κλά-

ροισι θεοπροπέων ἱεροῖς

Μόψος ἄμβασε στρατὸν πρόφρων· ἐπεὶ δ᾿ ἐμβόλου

κρέμασαν ἀγκύρας ὕπερθεν,

χρυσέαν χείρεσσι λαβὼν φιάλαν

ἀρχὸς ἐν πρύμνᾳ πατέρ᾿ Οὐρανιδᾶν ἐγ-

χεικέραυνον Ζῆνα, καὶ ὠκυπόρους

195κυμάτων ῥιπὰς ἀνέμους τ᾿ ἐκάλει νύ-

κτας τε καὶ πόντου κελεύθους

ἄματά τ᾿ εὔφρονα καὶ φιλίαν νόστοιο μοῖραν·

ἐκ νεφέων δέ οἱ ἀντάυσε βροντᾶς αἴσιον

φθέγμα· λαμπραὶ δ᾿ ἦλθον ἀκτῖ-

νες στεροπᾶς ἀπορηγνύμεναι.

ἀμπνοὰν δ᾿ ἥρωες ἔστασαν θεοῦ σάμασιν

200πιθόμενοι· κάρυξε δ᾿ αὐτοῖς

ἐμβαλεῖν κώπαισι τερασκόπος ἁδεί-

ας ἐνίπτων ἐλπίδας·

εἰρεσία δ᾿ ὑπεχώρη-

σεν ταχειᾶν ἐκ παλαμᾶν ἄκορος.

σὺν Νότου δ᾿ αὔραις ἐπ᾿ Ἀξείνου στόμα πεμπόμενοι

ἤλυθον· ἔνθ᾿ ἁγνὸν Ποσειδάωνος ἕσ-

σαντ᾿ ἐνναλίου τέμενος,

205φοίνισσα δὲ Θρηϊκίων ἀγέλα ταύρων ὑπᾶρχεν,

καὶ νεόκτιστον λίθων βωμοῖο θέναρ.

ἐς δὲ κίνδυνον βαθὺν ἱέμενοι

δεσπόταν λίσσοντο ναῶν,

Ι΄συνδρόμων κινηθμὸν ἀμαιμάκετον

ἐκφυγεῖν πετρᾶν. δίδυμαι γὰρ ἔσαν ζω-

αί, κυλινδέσκοντό τε κραιπνότεραι

210ἢ βαρυγδούπων ἀνέμων στίχες· ἀλλ᾿ ἤ-

δη τελευτὰν κεῖνος αὐταῖς

ἡμιθέων πλόος ἄγαγεν. ἐς Φᾶσιν δ᾿ ἔπειτεν

ἤλυθον, ἔνθα κελαινώπεσσι Κόλχοισιν βίαν

μεῖξαν Αἰήτᾳ παρ᾿ αὐτῷ.

πότνια δ᾿ ὀξυτάτων βελέων

ποικίλαν ἴυγγα τετράκναμον Οὐλυμπόθεν

215ἐν ἀλύτῳ ζεύξαισα κύκλῳ

μαινάδ᾿ ὄρνιν Κυπρογένεια φέρεν

πρῶτον ἀνθρώποισι λιτάς τ᾿ ἐπαοιδὰς

ἐκδιδάσκησεν σοφὸν Αἰσονίδαν,

ὄφρα Μηδείας τοκέων ἀφέλοιτ᾿ αἰ-

δῶ, ποθεινὰ δ᾿ Ἑλλὰς αὐτάν

ἐν φρασὶ καιομέναν δονέοι μάστιγι Πειθοῦς,

220καὶ τάχα πείρατ᾿ ἀέθλων δείκνυεν πατρωίων·

σὺν δ᾿ ἐλαίῳ φαρμακώσαισ᾿

ἀντίτομα στερεᾶν ὀδυνᾶν

δῶκε χρίεσθαι, καταίνησάν τε κοινὸν γάμον

γλυκὺν ἐν ἀλλάλοισι μεῖξαι.

ἀλλ᾿ ὅτ᾿ Αἰήτας ἀδαμάντινον ἐν μέσ-

σοις ἄροτρον σκίμψατο

225καὶ βόας, οἱ φλόγ᾿ ἀπὸ ξαν-

θᾶν γενύων πνέον καιομένοιο πυρός,

χαλκέαις δ᾿ ὁπλαῖς ἀράσσεσκον χθόν᾿ ἀμειβόμενοι·

τοὺς ἀγαγὼν ζεύγλᾳ πέλασσεν μοῦνος. ὀρ-

θὰς δ᾿ αὔλακας ἐντανύσαις

ἤλαυν᾿, ἀνὰ βωλακίας δ᾿ ὀρόγυιαν σχίζε νῶτον

γᾶς. ἔειπεν δ᾿ ὧδε· “Τοῦτ᾿ ἔργον βασιλεύς,

230ὅστις ἄρχει ναός, ἐμοὶ τελέσαις

ἄφθιτον στρωμνὰν ἀγέσθω,

ΙΑ΄ κῶας αἰγλᾶεν χρυσέῳ θυσάνῳ.”

ὣς ἄρ᾿ αὐδάσαντος ἀπὸ κρόκεον ῥί-

ψαις Ἰάσων εἷμα θεῷ πίσυνος

εἴχετ᾿ ἔργου· πῦρ δέ νιν οὐκ ἐόλει παμ-

φαρμάκου ξείνας ἐφετμαῖς.

σπασσάμενος δ᾿ ἄροτρον, βοέους δήσαις ἀνάγκᾳ

235ἔντεσιν αὐχένας ἐμβάλλων τ᾿ ἐριπλεύρῳ φυᾷ

κέντρον αἰανὲς βιατὰς

ἐξεπόνησ᾿ ἐπιτακτὸν ἀνήρ

μέτρον. ἴυξεν δ᾿ ἀφωνήτῳ περ ἔμπας ἄχει

δύνασιν Αἰήτας ἀγασθείς.

πρὸς δ᾿ ἑταῖροι καρτερὸν ἄνδρα φίλας

240ὤρεγον χεῖρας, στεφάνοισί τέ νιν ποί-

ας ἔρεπτον, μειλιχίοις τε λόγοις

ἀγαπάζοντ᾿. αὐτίκα δ᾿ Ἀελίου θαυ-

μαστὸς υἱὸς δέρμα λαμπρόν

ἔννεπεν, ἔνθα νιν ἐκτάνυσαν Φρίξου μάχαιραι·

ἔλπετο δ᾿ οὐκέτι οἱ κεῖνόν γε πράξασθαι πόνον.

κεῖτο γὰρ λόχμᾳ, δράκοντος

δ᾿ εἴχετο λαβροτατᾶν γενύων,

245ὃς πάχει μάκει τε πεντηκόντερον ναῦν κράτει,

τέλεσεν ἃν πλαγαὶ σιδάρου.

μακρά μοι νεῖσθαι κατ᾿ ἀμαξιτόν· ὥρα

γὰρ συνάπτει· καί τινα

οἶμον ἴσαμι βραχύν· πολ-

λοῖσι δ᾿ ἄγημαι σοφίας ἑτέροις.

κτεῖνε μὲν γλαυκῶπα τέχναις ποικιλόνωτον ὄφιν,

250ὦ Ἀρκεσίλα, κλέψεν τε Μήδειαν σὺν αὐ-

τᾳ, τὰν Πελιαοφόνον·

ἔν τ᾿ Ὠκεανοῦ πελάγεσσι μίγεν πόντῳ τ᾿ ἐρυθρῷ

Λαμνιᾶν τ᾿ ἔθνει γυναικῶν ἀνδροφόνων·

ἔνθα καὶ γυίων ἀέθλοις ἐπεδεί-

ξαντο ἶν᾿ ἐσθᾶτος ἀμφίς,

ΙΒ΄καὶ συνεύνασθεν. καὶ ἐν ἀλλοδαπαῖς

255σπέρμ᾿ ἀρούραις τουτάκις ὑμετέρας ἀ-

κτῖνος ὄλβου δέξατο μοιρίδιον

ἆμαρ ἢ νύκτες· τόθι γὰρ γένος Εὐφά-

μου φυτευθὲν λοιπὸν αἰεί

τέλλετο· καὶ Λακεδαιμονίων μιχθέντες ἀνδρῶν

ἤθεσιν ἔν ποτε Καλλίσταν ἀπῴκησαν χρόνῳ

νᾶσον· ἔνθεν δ᾿ ὔμμι Λατοί-

δας ἔπορεν Λιβύας πεδίον

260σὺν θεῶν τιμαῖς ὀφέλλειν, ἄστυ χρυσοθρόνου

διανέμειν θεῖον Κυράνας

ὀρθόβουλον μῆτιν ἐφευρομένοις.

γνῶθι νῦν τὰν Οἰδιπόδα σοφίαν· εἰ

γάρ τις ὄζους ὀξυτόμῳ πελέκει

ἐξερείψειεν μεγάλας δρυός, αἰσχύ-

νοι δέ οἱ θαητὸν εἶδος,

265καὶ φθινόκαρπος ἐοῖσα διδοῖ ψᾶφον περ᾿ αὐτᾶς,

εἴ ποτε χειμέριον πῦρ ἐξίκηται λοίσθιον,

ἢ σὺν ὀρθαῖς κιόνεσσιν

δεσποσύναισιν ἐρειδομένα

μόχθον ἄλλοις ἀμφέπει δύστανον ἐν τείχεσιν,

ἑὸν ἐρημώσαισα χῶρον.

270ἐσσὶ δ᾿ ἰατὴρ ἐπικαιρότατος, Παι-

άν τέ σοι τιμᾷ φάος.

χρὴ μαλακὰν χέρα προσβάλ-

λοντα τρώμαν ἕλκεος ἀμφιπολεῖν.

ῥᾴδιον μὲν γὰρ πόλιν σεῖσαι καὶ ἀφαυροτέροις·

ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ χώρας αὖτις ἕσσαι δυσπαλὲς

δὴ γίνεται, ἐξαπίνας

εἰ μὴ θεὸς ἁγεμόνεσσι κυβερνατὴρ γένηται.

275τὶν δὲ τούτων ἐξυφαίνονται χάριτες.

τλᾶθι τᾶς εὐδαίμονος ἀμφὶ Κυρά-

νας θέμεν σπουδὰν ἅπασαν.

ΙΓ΄τῶν δ᾿ Ὁμήρου καὶ τόδε συνθέμενος

ῥῆμα πόρσυν᾿· ἄγγελον ἐσλὸν ἔφα τι-

μὰν μεγίσταν πράγματι παντὶ φέρειν·

αὔξεται καὶ Μοῖσα δι᾿ ἀγγελίας ὀρ-

θᾶς. ἐπέγνω μὲν Κυράνα

280καὶ τὸ κλεεννότατον μέγαρον Βάττου δικαιᾶν

Δαμοφίλου πραπίδων. κεῖνος γὰρ ἐν παισὶν νέος,

ἐν δὲ βουλαῖς πρέσβυς ἐγκύρ-

σαις ἑκατονταετεῖ βιοτᾷ,

ὀρφανίζει μὲν κακὰν γλῶσσαν φαεννᾶς ὀπός,

ἔμαθε δ᾿ ὑβρίζοντα μισεῖν,

285οὐκ ἐρίζων ἀντία τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς,

οὐδὲ μακύνων τέλος οὐδέν. ὁ γὰρ και-

ρὸς πρὸς ἀνθρώπων βραχὺ μέτρον ἔχει.

εὖ νιν ἔγνωκεν· θεράπων δέ οἱ, οὐ δρά-

στας ὀπαδεῖ. φαντὶ δ᾿ ἔμμεν

τοῦτ᾿ ἀνιαρότατον, καλὰ γινώσκοντ᾿ ἀνάγκᾳ

ἐκτὸς ἔχειν πόδα. καὶ μὰν κεῖνος Ἄτλας οὐρανῷ

290προσπαλαίει νῦν γε πατρῴ-

ας ἀπὸ γᾶς ἀπό τε κτεάνων·

λῦσε δὲ Ζεὺς ἄφθιτος Τιτᾶνας. ἐν δὲ χρόνῳ

μεταβολαὶ λήξαντος οὔρου

ἱστίων. ἀλλ᾿ εὔχεται οὐλομέναν νοῦ-

σον διαντλήσαις ποτέ

οἶκον ἰδεῖν, ἐπ᾿ Ἀπόλλω-

νός τε κράνᾳ συμποσίας ἐφέπων

295θυμὸν ἐκδόσθαι πρὸς ἥβαν πολλάκις, ἔν τε σοφοῖς

δαιδαλέαν φόρμιγγα βαστάζων πολί-

ταις ἡσυχίᾳ θιγέμεν,

μήτ᾿ ὦν τινι πῆμα πορών, ἀπαθὴς δ᾿ αὐτὸς πρὸς ἀστῶν·

καί κε μυθήσαιθ᾿, ὁποίαν, Ἀρκεσίλα,

εὗρε παγὰν ἀμβροσίων ἐπέων,

πρόσφατον Θήρᾳ ξενωθείς.

One of the chief treatments of the Argonautic legend before Apollonius was that by the Boeotian post Pindar, in his Fourth Pythian Ode. The more one reads this poem, the more one becomes aware that Apollonius must have known it intimately. Many of the elements that go to make the Argonautica are already present: Medea is already a dominant character-her speech opens Pindar's poem, there is a catalogue of heroes who come to assist Jason, key phrases such as μειλιχίοισι λόγοις (Pind. P. 4.128) make an appearance; see further Studies in the Reception of Pindar in Ptolemaic Poetry, Alexandros Kampakoglou 2019; The Poets of Alexandria, Susan Stephens, 2018.

1 –3. Invocation of the Muse:

1: σάμερον μέν: the use of μέν, without an answering particle emphasises the opening word of the Ode. χρή: the poet speaks of his poetic task in terms of obligation or necessity. The obligation is commonly alleged by the poet to arise from the merit of the victor or else from the performance of great deeds, the fame of which can only be adequately perpetuated by the poet. The real obligation is of course the one entailed by the commission.

1-2: παρ’ άνδρί φίλῳ / στάμεν: similar to the opening of Argonautica Book 3.1-2: Εί δ’ άγε νΰν, Ερατώ, παρά θ’ϊστασο καί μον ένισπε. Although άνδρί φίλῳ need not imply that Pindar is intimate with the King. The poet often refers to a victor as a friend, it perhaps implies more than the fact that he has received a commission from the person concerned.

2: στάμεν: this Doric form of the infinitive (< ἵστημι) is attested only here:

2: εὐΐππου . . . Κυράνας: is a genitive of place. The adjective is particularly appropriate for Cyrene, since Libya was famous for its horses (and chariots) in antiquity.

2: κωμάζοντι σὺν Ἀρκεσίλᾳ: dat. sing. participle agreeing with the name of the King. A κώμος was normally accompanied by a flute and could be either a stationary celebration or a procession moving from one place to another. Pindar is supplying the song part of the revelry. By placing the name of the Cyrenaean king both here at the end of the second verse from the beginning and again at the end of the second verse before the conclusion of the ode (298) as well as at the opening (65) and the close (250) of the Colchian narrative, Pindar makes it serve as a frame not only for the whole ode but also for the central episode within it and thus gives it special prominence.

3: Μοῖσα: the Aeolic form of the noun. Λατοίδαισιν: The plural here includes Artemis explicitly and Leto implicitly, i. e. the triad who presided over the games at Delphi. όφειλόμενον: in an ode celebrating a victory praise is naturally due to the gods in whose honour (and their cult-seat at which) the games are held. Moreover, divinities are considered in some way ultimately responsible for success at the games over which they preside. The mention of Πυθώνι here serves both to identify the place where the victory was won and to provide the setting for the myth which follows. αὔξῃς: pres. subj. act. 2nd. sg. αὐξάνω, after ὄφρα.

3 (f): ούρον ύμνων: the “breeze of song” refers to the physical act of singing which accompanies the victor in his celebration. The image is also appropriate here in the prooemium of an ode which will narrate the voyage of the Argonauts.

4 (a), ένθα ποτέ: it is a traditional device of early Greek poetry, once the subject has been stated, to introduce a narrative by means ofa relative clause.

4 (b). χρυσέων Διὸς αἰετῶν πάρεδρος: Pindar told elsewhere (cf. fr. 54) the story of how two eagles were sent by Zeus, one from the West and the other from the East, to locate the centre of the earth. Their meeting at Delphi was marked by a white stone called the όμφαλός At some point two golden eagles were set up on either side of the stone. which are still represented on stone relief carvings of the 4th cent. However, they were allegedly carried off at the time of the Sacred War (356–346 B. C.) when the Phocians seized Delphi.

4 (e ). πάρεδρος: Pindar, who often uses this word of a person occupying a seat of honour.

5 (a) ούκ άποδάμου ’Απόλλωνος τυχόντος: genitive absolute. Since Apollo was known to have many cult centres among the Hyperboreans {Py. 10. 34–36), all of which he would be presumed to visit from time to time, it could not be assumed that he would always be present to prompt the προφήτις.

6: χρήσεν ... / ... ώς ... κτίσσειεν: the subordinate clause is final: “proclaimed Battus as colonizer . . . so that he might found.

6 (c). καρποφόρου: The Cyrenaica was often mentioned in antiquity for its fertility.

6 (d). Λιβύας: Battus is more properly called the oecist of Cyrene, but Pindar prefers to avoid repetition.

6 –7 (b). ἱεράν / νᾶσον: in Homer Ιερός, a common epithet of cities, is used twice of islands: Euboea (II. 2. 535) and Έχινάων (= Echinades) ... ίεράων | νήσων II. 2. 625–26). Among the Lipari Islands the one known today as Vulcano was once called 'Ιερά and was thought to be the site of Hephaestus’ forge because of its volcanic activity (cf. Th. 3. 88. 3). The “holy island” here is Thera (cf. 10) which like Vulcano may well have been called ιερά because of volcanic activity.

7 (a) νάσον ... λιπών: to say that people leave a place, like saying that they drink the water of a particular stream, is sometimes a more elaborate way of identifying their home.

7 (b). ώς: normally first in its clause but the postponement may be seen as influencing the word placed in front of it. ήδη: not “at once” but “in the end.”

7 (e). εύάρματον: Having called Cyrene εὐίππου, Pindar again alludes to Arcesilaus’ victory and by the choice of epithet now suggests that it was in the chariot-race.

8: πόλιν ἐν ἀργινόεντι μαστῷ: The use of this epithet, which Homer applied to two cities in the Catalogue ofShips, is one of the many examples of color epicus in this ode. Whether the hill on which Cyrene was originally settled was white in Pindar’s day or not, there is no reason why he should not describe it as such in Battus’ time, especially since he calls it a μαστός, the choice of which word would itself naturally suggest by association an epithet meaning “white”.

9–11. καί . . . Κόλχων: often Pindar does not conclude a sentence at the end of a strophe. This type of enjambement not only helps to bind the strophes together, but it also serves to emphasize the part which is placed at the beginning of the new strophe.

9: τὸ Μηδείας ἔπος ἀγκομίσαι: “bring back safe, i.e. redeem, fulfil:” aor. opt. act. 3rd. sg. <ἀνακομίζω.

9-10: ἔπος . . . Θήραιον: “prophecy spoken on Thera.”

10:ἑβδόμᾳ καὶ σὺν δεκάτᾳ γενεᾷ: the word order is unusual. γενεά: in early Greece reckoning by generations offered one of the main ways of establishing some sort of chronology. This was often important not only for historical but also contemporary political purposes as well. Naturally mythology and imagination were used to fill in gaps. About 500 B. C. (or some time before) Hecataeus of Miletus attempted to systematize existing chronologies in his Genealogiae, which included the Argonauts among others. Apollonius Rhodius is less precise: at 4. 1751–52 Iason, interpreting Euphemus’ dream, tells him of the island (Thera), iv’ όπλότεροι παίδων σέθεν έννάσσονται / παϊδες.

10-11: Αἰήτα τό ποτε ζαμενὴς / παῖς: The prefix ζα-, an epic and Aeolic equivalent of δια-, has an intensifying function as in ζαής, ζάθεος, ζάκοτος, etc. The final element -μενής is the adjectival suffix derived from μένος: “which the high-spirited child of Aietes: Αἰήτα: masc. gen. sg. (doric, aeolic) <Αἰήτης.

11 (a), άπέπνευσ’ άθανάτου στόματος: a variant of the poetic phrase used to describe the act of speaking in which the organ ofspeech from which the sound comes is mentioned together with a verb ofmotion or articulation; (II. 1. 249 άπό γλώσσης ... ρέεν αύδή.) άπέπνευσ’: not elsewhere used with έπος or a synonym of it.

11 (d). δέσποινα Κόλχων: Medea is not just a “Colchian princess”, but the “mistress of the Colchians”, i. e. δέσποινα emphasizes Medea’s status and power.

12 (a), ήμιθέοισιν Ίάσονος αίχματάο ναύταις: what the nautical metaphor in 3 suggested and the references to the island of Thera in 6 –7 and 10 vaguely implied is now made explicit. We are to hear of a voyage, in fact of the most famous of all mythical voyages, that of the Argo, which is here indirectly but clearly mentioned. αἰχμᾱτᾶο, (spearman, warrior): masc gen sg (epic doric) <αἰχμητής.

12 (d). ναύταις: in substantival apposition to ήμιθέοισιν together with which it frames Ίάσονος αίχματάο. Pindar begins the story of the Argonautic expedition in the form of a speech (13 —56) and then resumes it later as a narrative (70-262).

Read More

The whole story, as often in Pindar, is told in regressive order: (1) colonization of Libya, (2) encounter of Euphemus with Eurypylus, (3) Iason and the expedition to Colchis. Whereas Iason dominates the story in the narrative proper, Eu­ phemus, the ancestor of the Cyrenaean royal family, is at the centre of the story in Medea’s speech. Her speech serves to focus initial attention upon this one Argonaut, who, though never lost sight of later (cf. 175, 256), nevertheless must thereafter play a subordinate role in Iason’s great adventure. The speech falls into five distinct sections: (a) 13 –20, Colonization from Thera to Libya, (b) 20–37, Encounter of Euphemus with Triton/Eurypylus, (c) 38–49, Explanation of the Delay in Coloni­ zation, (d) 50–53, Euphemus, the Ancestor of the Battiads, on Lemnos, (e) 53 –56, Oracle given to Battus. Significantly, in Apollonius Rhodius, who is not concerned with glorifying the Battiad dynasty, the prophecy regarding Euphemus and the clod is reduced to a brief interpretation by Iason to Euphemus of the latter’s dream (4. 1749–54). 13-20. Colonisation from Thera to Libya. Having brought the Argonauts to Thera so that the island can serve as the setting for Medea’s speech. Pindar now provides his equivalent of a foundation oracle couched in appropriately riddling language. We move with one leap from Thera to Libya, the future goal of the Theran colonization and likewise the place where the original token ofsovereignty over the land was received.

13: κέκλυτε: (hear): aor. imperat. act. 2nd. pl. <κλύω.

13:παϊδες ύπερθύμων τε φωτών καί θεών: the Argonauts are a select crew: some are ήμίθεοι in the strict sense, while the rest, like Iason, are sons of distinguished (this is the implication of the Homeric ύπερθύμων) mortal fathers.

14 (a), άλιπλάκτου . . . γᾶς: “sea-beaten land.” The use of the epithet here is not merely decorative, since it prepares us for 17–18 in which the transformation of the islanders into landsmen is described in oracular fashion.

14 (c). Έπάφοιο κόραν: in Medea’s oracular language the land of Libya appears as its eponymous heroine, who is here called the daughter of Epaphus.

15 ἀστέων ῥίζαν: ῥίζα can be used of anything from which something springs or grows metaphorical usage of the word is especially common in early Greek in the sphere of the family;

16: Διὸς ἐν Ἄμμωνος θεμέθλοις: Although at a considerable distance from the capital, the oracle of Zeus Ammon was a noted feature of the region of Cyrene.

20: Τριτωνίδος ἐν προχοαῖς: Pindar’s account of the Argonauts’ return is as follows. After leaving Colchis (on the southeastern end of the Black Sea) by the Phasis River, they crossed Oceanus and the Red Sea (perhaps the Indian Ocean and our Red Sea), returned to Oceanus, traveled overland for twelve days to Libya and Lake Tritonis, through whose outflow they reached the Mediterranean, stopping at Thera and Lemnos on their way to Iolcus.

33: Εὐρύπυλος Γαιαόχου παῖς ἀφθίτου Ἐννοσίδα: Triton, son of Poseidon, calls himself here by the name of Libya’s first king, Eurypylus. Lake Tritonis means “Triton’s Lake.”

42: ἐν τᾷδ᾿. . . νάσῳ: Thera.

44: Ταίναρον εἰς ἱερὰν: At the southern tip of Lacedaemon, where an entrance to Hades was supposed to be.

46: Καφισοῦ παρ᾿ ὄχθαις: Near Orchomenus in Boeotia (cf. Ol. 14.1–5).

49: ἐξανίστανται . . . Μυκηνᾶν: As part of the mass migrations of the twelfth century.

50: ἀλλοδαπᾶν κριτὸν εὑρήσει γυναικῶν: The women of Lemnos, with whom the Argonauts slept on their way home to Iolcus (cf. 254–257).

51: τέκωνται / φῶτα: Battus.

52: κελαινεφέων πεδίων: Unlike much of the surrounding area, Cyrene receives some rainfall.

59: μάκαρ υἱὲ Πολυμνάστου: Battus.

61:μελίσσας Δελφίδος: The Pythia, the priestess through whom Apollo conveyed his oracles. “Spontaneous” indicates that she answered before she was asked the question. For Battus’ stammer and consultation of the Pythia, see Hdt. 4.155.

66: ἐξ Ἀμφικτιόνων: The officials overseeing the Pythian games (schol).

69: Μινυᾶν: The Minyae, the Battidae, or both. The Minyae were from Orchomenus (cf. Ol. 14.4).

74: ὀμφαλὸν εὐδένδροιο ῥηθὲν ματέρος: Delphi, the navel of Gaea, Earth.

80: Μαγνήτων: Magnesia was the easternmost district of Thessaly, between the Peneius River and the Gulf of Pagasae, including Iolcus and Mt. Pelion.

88: χαλκάρματός . . . πόσις: Ares.

89: Ὦτον καὶ σέ, τολμάεις Ἐπιάλτα ἄναξ: Two gigantic brothers who tried to scale heaven by piling Ossa on Olympus and Pelion on them; they were killed by Apollo (cf. Od. 11.307–320) or Artemis (cf. Apollod. 1.7.4).

90: Τιτυὸν: The giant Tityus was slain by Artemis (and confined in Hades) for attempting to rape her mother Leto on her way to Delphi (cf. Od. 11.576–581).

99: πολιᾶς ἐξανῆκεν γαστρός: The scholia gloss πολιᾶς as “old,” hence respectful in tone, but others take it to be insulting.

103: πὰρ Χαρικλοῦς καὶ Φιλύρας: Chariclo was Chiron’s wife, Philyra his mother.

107: λαγέτᾳ / Αἰόλῳ See Media, genealogy of Aeolus. Tyro was married to her uncle Cretheus, thus making Aeson and Pelias half-brothers.

109: λευκαῖς πιθήσαντα φρασίν: the meaning of the phrase is in doubt. Glosses include “evil” (Hesychius), “shallow” (schol.), or “empty” (schol.).

σήμερον to-day

μέν as while whereas

χρή imp: ἔχρην/χρῆν it is necessary

σύ σοῦ σοί σέ you (sg.)

παρά from/by/to the side of

ἀνήρ ἀνδρός ὁ, man

φίλος –η –ον, dear beloved one's own

ἵστημι στήσω ἔστησα (or ἔστην) ἕστηκα ἕσταμαι ἐστάθην, make to stand set

εὔιππος (Ep. ἐΰιππος) –ον, well-horsed delighting in horses

βασιλεύς βασιλέως ὁ, king

Κυρήνη –ης ἡ, Cyrene

ὄφρα so that until

κωμάζω κωμάσω ἐκώμασα κεκώμακα ἐκωμάσθην, to go about with a party of revellers to revel make merry

σύν with in company with

Ἀρκεσίλαος –ου ὁ, Arcesilaus (name)

Μοῦσα –ης ἡ, Muse

Λητοΐδης –ου ὁ, son of Leto

ὀφείλω ὀφειλήσω ὤφελον ὠφείληκα ––– ὠφειλήθην, to owe be obliged

Πυθών –ῶνος ἡ, Pytho the region of Delphi

τε and

αὐξάνω αὐξήσω ηὔξησα ηὔξηκα ηὔξημαι ηὐξήθην, increase pas. grow

οὖρος –ου ὁ, a fair wind

ὕμνος –ου ὁ, a hymn festive song

ἔνθα there thither; where whither

ποτέ (ποτ’ ποθ’) when?; at some time ever once

χρύσεος –η –ον, golden gold-inlaid

Ζεύς διός ὁ, Zeus

ἀετός –οῦ ὁ, (Ion. αἰετός) an eagle

πάρεδρος –ον, sitting beside; standing beside

οὐκ οὐχ οὐκι οὐχι not

ἀπόδημος –ον, away from one's country from home abroad

Ἀπόλλων –ωνος ὁ, Apollo

τυγχάνω τεύξομαι ἔτυχον τετύχηκα ––– ––– happen meet obtain

ἵέρεια –ας ἡ, priestess

χράω χρήσω ἔχρησα ––– κέχρημαι ἐχρήσθην, to proclaim or direct by oracle (mid. χράομαι)

οἰκιστήρ –ῆρος ὁ, Founder colonizer

Βάττος ὁ, Battus (name)

καρποφόρος –ον, fruit-bearing fruitful

Λιβύη ἡ, Libya the north part of Africa

ἱερός ο–ά] –όν holy

νῆσος –ου ἡ, island

ὡς as as if how; to

ἤδη already by this time

λείπω λείψω ἔλιπον λέλοιπα λέλειμμαι ἐλείφθην, leave

κτίζω κτίσω ἔκτισα ––– ἔκτισμαι ἐκτίσθην, build found create

εὐάρματος –ον, with beauteous car

πόλις –εως ἡ, city

ἐν in on

ἀργινόεις –εσσα –εν, white

μαστός –οῦ ὁ, one of the breasts

καί and

ὁ, ἡ, τό the

Μήδειος –α –ον, Mede

ἔπος –ους τό word

ἀνακομίζω ἀνακομιῶ ἀνεκόμισα ἀνακεκόμικα ἀνακεκόμισμαι ἀνεκομίσθην, to carry up

ἕβδομος –η –ον, seventh

δέκατος –η –ον, tenth

γενεά ᾶς Ion. γενεή ῆς ἡ, race stock family

Θήραιος Of Thera

Αἰήτης –ου ὁ, Aeetes

ζαμενής –ές very strong mighty raging

παῖς παιδός ὁ/ἡ, child slave

ἀποπνέω ἀποπνευσοῦμαι/ἀποπνεύσομαι ἀπέπνευσα ἀποπέπνευκα ἀποπέπνευσμαι ἀπεπνεύσθην, to breathe forth

ἀθάνατος –ον, immortal deathless

στόμα –ατος τό the mouth organ of speech

δέσποινα –ης ἡ, mistress lady

Κόλχος ὁ, a Colchian

εἶπον aor. for λέγω and φημί said (aor. for λέγω)

δέ but and

οὕτως in this way so thus

ἡμίθεος –ου ὁ, a half-god demigod

Ἰάσων –ονος ὁ, Jason an Aiolid son of Aison of Iolkos leader of the Argonauts reared by Cheiron

αἰχμητής –οῦ ὁ, a spearman

ναύτης –ου ὁ, sailor

κλύω ––– κέκλυκα ––– ––– ––– hearken

ὑπέρθυμος –ον, high-spirited high-minded daring

φώς φωτός ὁ, man

θεός –οῦ ὁ, (gen./dat. θεόφιν) god

φημί φήσω ἔφησα ––– ––– ––– say

γάρ for (explanatory)

ὅδε ἥδε τόδε this that

ἐκ out of

ἁλίπληκτος –ον, sea-beaten

γαῖα –ας ἡ, earth

Ἔπαφος –ου ὁ, Epaphus

κόρη –ης ἡ, girl

ἄστυ ἄστεως τό town

ῥίζα –ης ἡ, a root

φυτεύω φυτεύσω ἐφύτευσα πεφύτευκα πεφύτευμαι ἐφυτεύθην, to plant

μελησίμβροτος –ον, an object of care

Ἄμμων –ωνος ὁ, Zeus-Ammon

θέμεθλα –ων τά the foundations lowest part bottom

ἀντί opposite over against

δελφίς –ῖνος ὁ, the dolphin

ἐλαχυπτέρυξ –υγος short-finned

ἵππος –ου ὁ, horse mare

ἀμείβω ἀμείψω ἤμειψα ἤμειφα ἤμειμμαι ἠμείφθην, change respond

θοός –ή –όν swift

ἡνία (ἁνία) –ων τά or ἡνία (ἁνία) ἡ, reins bridle

ἐρετμός ὁ, rowing

δίφρος –ου ὁ, the chariot (board); seat

νωμάω νωμήσω νώμησα νενώμηκα νενώμημαι ἐνωμήθην, to deal out distribute

ἀελλόπους –ποδος storm footed

ἐκεῖνος –η –ον, that one

ὄρνις ὄρνιθος ὁ/ἡ, bird omen

ἐκτελευτάω ἐκτελευτήσω ἐξετελεύτησα ἐκτετελεύτηκα ––– ἐξετελευτήθην, to bring quite to an end accomplish

μέγας μεγάλη μέγα big great

μητρόπολις –εως ἡ, the mother-state

θήρα Thera

γίγνομαι γενήσομαι ἐγενόμην γέγονα γεγένομαι ––– be born become happen

Τριτωνίς –δος ἡ, Tritonis

προχοή –ῆς ἡ, outpouring

λίμνη (λίμνα) –ης ἡ, pool swamp

εἴδομαι εἴσομαι εἰσάμην are visible appear

δίδωμι δώσω ἔδωκε δέδωκα δέδομαι ἐδόθην, give grant

ξένιος –α –ον, belonging to a friend and guest hospitable

πρῴραθεν from the ship's head from the front

εὔφημος –ον, uttering sounds of good omen

καταβαίνω καταβήσομαι κατέβην καταβέβηκα ––– ––– step down go down

δέχομαι δέξομαι ἐδεξάμην ––– δέδεγμαι –εδέχθην, receive take await

αἴσιος [–α] –ον, boding well auspicious

ἐπί on upon

Κρονίων –ωνος ὁ, son of Cronus

πατήρ πατρός ὁ, father

κλάζω κλάγξω ἔκλαγξα κέκλαγγα ––– ––– to make a sharp piercing sound

βροντή –ῆς ἡ, thunder

ἡνίκα at the time when

ἄγκυρα anchor

πρός from at towards

χαλκόγενυς –υ with teeth of brass

ναί yes

κρήμνημι to hang be suspended

τόσσαις to happen

Ἀργώ –οῦς ἡ, the ship named Argo

χαλινός –οῦ ὁ, a bridle bit

δώδεκα/δυώδεκα twelve

πρότερος –α –ον, before in front earlier

ἡμέρα –ας ἡ, day time

ὠκεανός –οῦ ὁ, Oceanus

φέρω οἴσω ἤνεγκα ἐνήνοχα ἐνήνεγμαι ἠνέχθην, bear carry

νῶτον –ου τό (or νῶτος ὁ) the back

ὑπέρ over beyond on behalf of

ἐρῆμος –η –ον, lone lonely desert

ἐνάλιος [–α] –ον, in on of the sea

δόρυ δόρατος τό spear

μῆδος –ους τό counsels plans arts schemes

ἀνασπάω ἀνασπάσω ἀνέσπασα ἀνέσπακα ἀνέσπασμαι ἀνεσπάσθην, to draw up pull up

ἐμός –ή –όν my

τουτάκι at this time

οἰοπόλος –ον, traversed by sheep

δαίμων δαίμονος ὁ/ἡ, divinity god spirit

ἐπέρχομαι ἔπειμι ἐπῆλθον ἐπελήλυθα ––– ––– come near assault visit

φαίδιμος –ον, shining

αἰδοῖος –α –ον, regarded with reverence august venerable

πρόσοψις –εως ἡ, appearance aspect mien

τίθημι θήσω ἔθηκα τέθηκα ––– ἐτέθην, set up place establish institute

φίλιος –α –ον, friendly

ἄρχω ἅρξω ἦρξα ἦρχα ἦργμαι ἦρχθην, begin rule (+gen.)

ξένος –ου ὁ, stranger guest-friend foreigner

ἅτε just as; seeing as

ἔρχομαι εἶμι ἦλθον ἐλήλυθα ––– ––– come go

εὐεργέτης –ου ὁ, a well-doer benefactor

δεῖπνον –ου τό feast

ἐπαγγέλλω ἐπαγγελῶ ἐπήγγειλα ἐπήγγελκα ἐπήγγελμαι ἐπηγγέλθην, tell proclaim command

ἀλλά but

νόστος –ου ὁ return (home)

πρόφασις –εως ἡ, allegation excuse plea

γλυκύς γλυκεῖα γλυκύ sweet pleasant

κωλύω κωλύσω ἐκώλυσα κεκώλυκα κεκώλυμαι ἐκωλύθην, hinder prevent

μένω μενῶ ἔμεινα μεμένηκα ––– ––– remain await stand fast

Εὐρύπυλος –ου ὁ, Eurypylus son of Euaemon from Thessaly; son of Poseidon and Astypalaea from the island of Cos; or son of Telephus slain by Neoptolemus

γαιήοχος –ον, earth-upholding

ἄφθιτος –ον, not liable to perish imperishable

Ἐννοσίδας –α ὁ, Earth-shaker

εἰμί ἔσομαι impf. ἦν infin. εἶναι to be

γιγνώσκω γνώσομαι ἔγνων ἔγνωκα ἔγνωσμαι ἐγνώσθην, know perceive

ἐπείγω ἐπείξομαι ἤπειξα ––– ἤπειγμαι ἐπείχθην, press hard

ἄν conditional particle

εὐθύς –εῖα –ύ straight direct

ἁρπάζω ἁρπάσομαι ἥρπασα ἥρπακα ἥρπασμαι ἡρπάσθην, snatch away steal

ἄρουρα –ας ἡ, tilled or arable land ground fatherland

δεξιτερός –ά –όν right the right

προτυγχάνω to come before

μαστεύω to seek search

οὐδέ but not not even

ἀπιθέω ἀπιθήσω ἀπίθησα he disobeyed

νιν him her

ἥρως ἥρωος ὁ, hero warrior

ἀκτή –ῆς ἡ, headland foreland promontory

θρῴσκω θοροῦμαι ἔθορον to leap spring

χείρ χειρός ἡ, (dat. pl. χέρσι) hand

ἀντερείδω to set firmly against

βῶλος –ου ἡ, a lump of earth a clod

δαιμόνιον divine being spirit

πευθώ –οῦς ἡ, tidings news

αὐτός –ή –ό his/her/itself

κατακλύζω to dash over flood deluge inundate

βαίνω βήσομαι ἔβην βέβηκα ––– ––– go step walk

ἅλμη –ης ἡ, sea-water brine

ἑσπέρα –ας ἡ, evening

ὑγρός –ά –όν wet moist running fluid

πέλαγος –ους τό the sea

ἕπομαι ἕψομαι ἑσπόμην imp: εἱπόμην to follow

ἦ truly (emphasizes what follows)

μήν verily truly then

ὀτρύνω ὀτρυνῶ ὤτρυνα ––– ––– ––– urge on

θαμά often oft-times

λυσίπονος –ον, releasing from toil

θεράπων –ονος ὁ, attendant servant

φυλάσσω φυλάξω ἐφύλαξα πεφύλαχα πεφύλαγμαι ἐφυλάχθην, guard keep watch

λανθάνω λήσω ἔλαθον λέληθα λέλησμαι ––– escape notice

φρήν φρενός ἡ, thinking-thing heart core

νῦν/νύ now as it is

ὅς ἥ ὅ who which; this

χέω χέω ἔχεα κέχυκα κέχυμαι ἐχύθην, to pour

εὐρύχορος –ον, with broad places spacious

σπέρμα –ατος τό seed offspring

πρίν until before

ὥρα –ας ἡ, season time moment

εἰ if whether

οἶκος –ου ὁ, house dwelling; household

βάλλω βαλῶ ἔβαλον βέβληκα βέβλημαι ἐβλήθην, throw strike

χθόνιος [–α] –ον, in under

ᾍδης –ου ὁ, Hades

Ταίναρος ἡ, Taenarus

εἰς into to

υἱός –οῦ ὁ, son

ἵππαρχος –ου ὁ, a general of cavalry

Ποσειδῶν –ῶνος ὁ, Poseidon

ἄναξ –ακτος ὁ, ruler lord

Εὐρώπη –ης ἡ, Europa Europe

Τιτυός –οῦ ὁ, Tityus a giant the son of Gaea punished in Hades

θυγάτηρ θυγατρός ἡ, daughter

τίκτω τέξομαι ἔτεκον τέτοκα τέτεγμαι ἐτέχθην, beget bear

Κηφισός –οῦ ὁ, the Cephisus

ὄχθη –ης ἡ, a rising ground a bank dyke

τέτρατος –η –ον, fourth

ἐπιγίγνομαι ἐπιγενήσομαι ἐπιγενόμην ἐπιγέγονα ἐπιγεγένομαι ––– come after

αἷμα –ατος τό blood

λαμβάνω λήψομαι ἔλαβον εἴληφα εἴλημμαι ἐλήφθην, take seize receive

Δαναός –οῦ ὁ, king of Argos father of fifty daughters

εὐρύς –εῖα –ύ broad

ἄπειρος –α –ον, inexperienced of ignorant; boundless

τότε at that time then next

ἐξανίστημι ἐξαναστήσω ἐξανέστησα/ἐξανέστην ἐξανέστηκα ––– ––– to raise up: to make one rise

Λακεδαίμων –ονος ἡ, Lacedaemon

Ἀργεῖος –η –ον, Argive of or from Argos (Greece)

κόλπος –ου ὁ, womb bay

Μυκήνη –ης ἡ, Mycēne daughter of Inachus; eponymous heroine of the city

γε at least; yes (emphatic)

ἀλλοδαπός –ή –όν belonging to another people

κριτός –ή –όν picked out chosen

εὑρίσκω εὑρήσω εὗρον εὕρηκα εὕρημαι εὑρέθην, find discover

γυνή γυναικός ἡ, woman

λέχος –ους τό a couch bed

γένος –ους τό birth offspring; race

τιμή –ῆς ἡ, honor esteem value

κελαινεφής –ές black with clouds

πεδίον –ου τό plain

δεσπότης –ου ὁ, master lord

πολύχρυσος –ον, rich in gold

δῶμα –ατος τό house

φοῖβος –η –ον, bright radiant

ἀναμιμνήσκω ἀναμνήσω ἀνέμνησα ––– ἀναμέμνημαι ἀνεμνήσθην, to remind

θέμις –ιστος ἡ, that which is laid down

Πύθιος –α –ον, Pythian

ναός –οῦ ὁ, temple

χρόνος –ου ὁ, time

ὕστερος –α –ον, latter next last

ναῦς νεώς ἡ, ship

πολέω go about range over

ἄγω ἄξω ἤγαγον ἦχα ἦγμαι ἤχθην, do drive go

Νεῖλος –ου ὁ, the Nile

πῖον τό fat rich milk

τέμενος –ους τό sacred precinct

Κρονίδης –ου ὁ, son of Cronus

ἄρα well then really

στίξ στιχός ἡ, a row line rank

πτήσσω πτήξω ἔπτηξα ἔπτηχα ––– ––– to frighten scare alarm

ἀκίνητος –ον, unmoved motionless

σιωπάω σιωπήσω ἐσιώπησα σεσιώπηκα σεσιώπημαι ἐσιωπήθην, keep silence keep secret

ἀντίθεος –η –ον, godlike

πυκινός –ή –όν close thick compact

μῆτις –ιος/–ιδος ἡ, wisdom counsel cunning craft

ὦ ὤ Oh! oh hey

μάκαρ μάκαρος blessed happy

πολύμνηστος –ον, much-remembering mindful

οὗτος αὓτη τοῦτο this

λόγος –ου ὁ, reason account word

χρησμός –οῦ ὁ, the answer of an oracle oracular response oracle

ὀρθόω ὀρθώσω ὤρθωσα ὤρθωκα ὤρθωμαι ὠρθώθην, make straight correct

Μέλιττα ἡ, bee Melissa

αὐτόματος [–η] –ον, acting of one's own will of oneself

κέλαδος –ου ὁ, a noise as of rushing waters: a loud noise din clamour

χαίρω χαιρήσω ––– κεχάρηκα κεχάρημαι ἐχάρην rejoice be happy; χαῖρε! Greetings!

τρίς thrice

αὐδάω (ηὔδων) αὐδήσω ηὔδησα ηὔδηκα ηὔδημαι ηὔδάθην, speak

πόρω ––– ἔπορον ––– ––– ––– pres. not attested; aor. to furnish offer; perf. it is fated

ἀναφαίνω ἀναφανῶ ἀνέφηνα to make to give light make to blaze up

δύσθροος –ον, ill-sounding

φωνή –ῆς ἡ, sound voice

ἀνακρίνω ἀνακρινῶ ἀνέκρινα ἀνακέκρικα ἀνακέκριμαι ἀνεκρίθην, to examine closely to question interrogate

ποινή –ῆς ἡ, quit-money for blood spilt

τίς τί who? what?

μάλα very very much

δή indeed of course

μετά among after in pursuit of

ὥστε so that so as to and so

φοινικάνθεμος –ον, with purple flowers

ἔαρ ἔαρος τό spring

ἀκμά (ἀκμᾷ ἀκμάν; ᾰκμαί) ἡ, keen edge

ὄγδοος –η –ον, eighth

θάλλω θαλλήσω ἔθηλα τέθηλα ––– ––– to bloom abound to be luxuriant

μέρος –ους τό part portion heritage destiny

τῷ therefore in this wise thereupon

Πυθώ –οῦς ἡ, Pytho the region of Delphi

κῦδος –ους τό glory majesty might

ἀμφικτίονες or ἀμφικτύονες –ων οἱ they that dwell round next neighbours

ἱπποδρομία ἡ, a horse-race

ἀπό away from

ἐγώ I

πάγχρυσος –ον, All of gold

νάκος –ους τό a fleece

κριός –οῦ ὁ, a ram

πλέω πλεύσομαι ἔπλευσα πέπλευκα πέπλευσμαι ἐπλεύσθην, sail go by sea

Μινύαι –ῶν οἱ the Minyans

θεόπεμπτος –ον, sent by the gods

σφεῖς they

ἀρχή –ῆς ἡ, beginning rule order

ναυτιλία ἡ, sailing seamanship

κίνδυνος –ου ὁ, a danger enterprise

κρατερός –ά –όν strong powerful mighty

ἀδάμας –αντος the untamed unconquerable

δέω δήσω ἔδησα δέδεκα δέδεμαι ἐδέθην, bind fetter

ἧλος –ου ὁ, a nail

θέσφατος –ον, spoken by God decreed ordained appointed

Πελίας –ου ὁ, Pelias king of Kolchis

ἀγαυός –ή –όν illustrious noble

Αἰολίδης –ου ὁ, son of Aeolus

θνήσκω ἀποθανοῦμαι ἀπέθανον τέθνηκα ––– ––– die be slain

ἤ or than

βουλή –ῆς ἡ, advice will; council

ἄκαμπτος –ον, unbent that will not bend rigid

κρυόεις –εσσα –εν, chilling

μάντευμα –ατος τό an oracle

θυμός –οῦ ὁ, heart spirit

μέσος –η –ον, middle in the middle

ὀμφαλός –οῦ ὁ, the navel

εὔδενδρος –ον, well-wooded abounding in fair trees

ἐρῶ εἴρηκα ἐρρήθην, say tell speak

μήτηρ μητρός ἡ, mother

μονοκρήπις –ῑδος ὁ, ἡ, with but one sandal

πάντως in all ways in any case

φυλακή –ῆς ἡ, guard

σχέθω to hold

εῦτε when after

αἰπεινός –ή –όν high lofty

σταθμός –οῦ ὁ, a standing place weight

εὐδείελος –ον, very clear distinct far-seen

χθών χθονός ἡ, the earth ground

βλώσκω μολοῦμαι ἔμολον μέμβλωκα ––– ––– to go

κλεῖτος –εος τό [fame > κλέος]

Ἰωλκός or Ἰαολκός Iolcus (modern Volos)

εἴτε either or (usually paired i.e. εἴτε…εἴτε)

ἀστός –οῦ ὁ, a townsman citizen

ἀρά –ᾶς ἡ, a prayer imprecation curse

ἱκνέομαι ἵξομαι ἱκόμην ––– ἷγμαι ––– come

αἱχμή –ῆς ἡ, spear-point spear

δίδυμος –ον, double twofold twain

ἔκπαγλος –ον, terrible fearful

ἐσθής –ῆτος ἡ, clothing

ἀμφότερος ἀμφοτέρα ἀμφότερον both of two

ἔχω ἕξω (or σχήσω) ἔσχον ἔσχηκα ––– ––– have possess keep

Μάγνης –ητος Magnesian of Magnesia

ἐπιχώριος –α –ον, in or of the country local native

ἁρμόζω ἁρμόσω ἥρμοσα ἥρμοκα ἥρμοσμαι ἡρμόσθην, fit together adapt

θηητός –ή –όν gazed at wondrous admirable

γυιός –ή –όν lame

ἀμφί on both sides

παρδαλέη –ης ἡ, a leopard-skin

στέγω στέξω ἔστεξα ––– ––– ἐστέχθην, to cover closely so as to keep

φρίσσω φρίξω ἔφριξα πέφρικα ––– ––– to be rough; bristle; shudder

ὄμβρος –ου ὁ, storm of rain thunder-storm

κόμη –ης ἡ, the hair hair of the head

πλόκαμος –ου ὁ, a lock

κείρω κερῶ ἔκειρα κέκαρκα κέκαρμαι ἐκέρθην, to cut

οἴχομαι οἰχήσομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– to be gone to have gone

ἀγλαός –ή –όν splendid shining bright

ἅπας –ασα –αν each and every

καταιθύσσω to wave

ταχύς –εῖα –ύ swift

εἶμι infin. ἰέναι ptc. ἰών ἰοῦσα ἰόν to go

σφέτερος –α –ον, their own their

γνώμη –ης ἡ, thought opinion

ἀτάρμυκτος –ον, unwincing unflinching

πείρω πειρῶ ἔπειρα – πέπαρμαι ἐπάρην to pierce quite through fix

ἀγορά –ᾶς ἡ, market place

πλήθω πλήσω ἐπλησα πέπληθα to be or become full

ὄχλος –ου ὁ, crowd mob

ὀπίζομαι – – – – – to regard with awe and dread

ἔμπας alike

τις τι anyone anything someone something

οὔτι in no wise

που perhaps doubtless

χαλκάρματος –ον, with brasen chariot

πόσις –ιος/–εως ὁ, husband spouse mate

Ἀφροδίτη –ης ἡ, Aphrodite

Νάξος ἡ, Naxos

λιπαρός –ά –όν oily shiny with oil

Ἰφιμέδεια –ας ἡ, Iphimedeia wife of Alōeus and mother of Otus and Ephialtes

Ὦτος –ου ὁ, Otus a giant son of Poseidon and Iphimedīa or of Cyllēne a chief of the Epeians

τολμάω τολμήσω ἐτόλμησα τετόλμηκα τετόλημαι ἐτολμήθην, undertake dare endure

ἐφιάλτης –ου ὁ, nightmare

βέλος –ους τό a missile an arrow

Ἄρτεμις –ῐδος ἡ, Artemis

θηρεύω θηρεύσομαι ἐθήρευσα τεθήρευκα τεθήρευμαι ἐθηρεύθην, to hunt go hunting

κραιπνός –ή –όν rapid rushing

ἀνίκητος –ον, unconquered unconquerable

φαρέτρα –ας ἡ, a quiver

ὄρνυμι ὄρσω ὦρσα ὄρωρα ὀρώρεμαι ––– arouse stir up

δυνατός –ή –όν strong; possible

φιλότης –ητος ἡ, love friendship

ἐπιψαύω ἐπιψαύσω ––– ––– ––– ––– to touch on the surface touch lightly handle

ἔραμαι ἐρασθήσομαι ἠράσθην, ἤρασμαι to love to be in love with

ἀλλήλων –οις each other

γηρύω γηρύσω ἐγήρυσα ––– ––– ––– to sing

τοιοῦτος τοιαύτη τοιοῦτο such such as this

ἀνά up upon

ἠμίονος –ου ὁ mule

ξεστός –ή –όν smoothed polished wrought

ἀπήνη –ης ἡ, a four-wheeled wagon

προτροπάδην headforemost with headlong speed

σπεύδω σπεύσω ἔσπευσα ἔσπευκα ἔσπευσμαι ἔσπευθην, hurry

τέθηπα (perf. with no pres. in use) to be astonished astounded amazed

αὐτίκα immediately straightway at once; presently

παπταίνω παπτανῶ ἐπάπτηνα ––– ––– ––– to look earnestly gaze

ἀρίγνωτος [–η] –ον, easy to be known

πέδιλον –ου τό sandals

μόνος –η –ον, alone solitary

πούς ποδός ὁ, foot

κλέπτω κλέψω ἔκλεψα κέκλοφα κέκλεμμαι ἐκλάπην steal

δεῖμα –ατος τό fear affright

προσεννέπω προσενισπήσω προσένισπον ––– ––– ––– to address accost

ποῖος –α –ον, of what nature/kind?

εὔχομαι εὔξομαι ηὐξάμην ηὖγμαι pray boast

πατρίς –ίδος ἡ, country fatherland; native

ἄνθρωπος –ου ὁ/ἡ, human being

χαμαιγενής –ές earth-born

ἐξανίημι ἐξανήσω ἐξανῆκα ἐξανεῖκα ἐξανεῖμαι ἐξανείθην, to send forth let loose

γαστήρ –τρός ἡ, the paunch belly

ἔχθιστος –η –ον, most hostile

μή not lest

ψεῦδος –ους τό falsehood lie

καταμιαίνω to taint defile

γέννα –ης ἡ, descent birth

θαρσέω θαρσήσω ἐθάρσησα ἐθάρσηκα ἐθάρσημαι ἐθαρήθην, be of good courage

ἀγανός –ή –όν mild gentle kindly

ὦδε so thus in this way

διδασκαλία –ας ἡ, teaching instruction education

χείρων –ον, worse meaner inferior

ἄντρον –ου τό a cave grot cavern

νέομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to go

Χαρικλώ –οῦς ἡ, Chariclo (name)

φιλύρα Ion. φῐλύ–ρη ἡ, the lime

ἵνα where; that in order that

Κένταυρος –ου ὁ, a Centaur

τρέφω θρέψω ἔθρεψα τέτροφα τέθραμμαι ἐτράφην nurture make grow make firm

ἄγνος ἡ, (Att. ὁ) a willow-like tree

εἴκοσι twenty

ἐκτελέω ἐκτελῶ ἐξετέλεσα ἐκτετέλεκα ἐκτετέλεσμαι ἐξετελέσθην, to bring quite to an end to accomplish achieve

ἐνιαυτός –οῦ ὁ, anniversary year

οὔτε...οὔτε and not neither…nor

ἔργον –ου τό work deed

ἐντράπελος –ον, shameful

οἴκαδε homeward

ἀρχαῖος –α –ον, ancient old-fashioned primitive

κομίζω κομιῶ ἐκόμισα κεκόμικα κεκόμισμαι ἐκομίσθην, carry take care of

βασιλεύω βασιλεύσω ἐβασίλευσα βεβασίλευκα βεβασίλευμαι ἐβασιλήθην, to be king

κατά against down

αἶσα –ης ἡ, share portion

ὀπάζω ὀπάσσω ὤπασα join as companion (guide escort)

λαγέτης leader of the people

Αἴολος –ου ὁ, Aeolus father of Sisyphos

ἄθεμις –ιτος lawless

λευκός –ή –όν white; light bright

πείθω πείσω ἔπεισα πέπεικα (or πέποιθα) πέπεισμαι ἐπείσθην, persuade mid. obey trust

ἡμέτερος –α –ον, our

ἀποσυλάω ἀποσυλήσω ἀπεσύλησα ἀποσεσύληκα ἀποσεσύλημαι ἀπεσυλήθην, to strip off spoils from

βίαιος –α –ον, forcible violent

ἀρχεδίκας ὁ, first legitimate possessor

τοκεύς –έως ὁ, one who begets a father

τοι let me tell you surely

ἐπεί/ἐπείδη when

πάμπρωτος –η –ον, first of all the very first

εἶδον (aor. for ὀράω) see

φέγγος –ους τό light splendour lustre

ὑπερφίαλος –ον, overbearing overweening arrogant

ἡγεμών –όνος ὁ, guide leader chief

δείδω δείσομαι ἔδεισα δέδοικα (or δίδια) ––– ––– fear

ὕβρις –εως ἡ, violence rape insolence

κῆδος –ους τό care for

ὡσεί just as if as though

φθίω φθίσω έφθίκα ––– έφθιμαι έφθίμην to decay wane dwindle

δνοφερός –ά –όν dark dusk murky

μίγα mixed with blended

κωκυτός –οῦ ὁ, a shrieking wailing

κρύβδα without the knowledge of

πέμπω πέμψω ἔπεμψα πέπομφα πέπεμμαι ἐπέμφθην, send conduct escort

σπάργανον –ου τό a swathing band

πορφύρεος –η –ον, darkgleaming dark;

νύξ νυκτός ἡ, night

κοινόω κοινώσω ἐκοίνωσα κεκοίνωκα κεκοίνωμαι ἐκοινώθην, make common defile share in

ὁδός –οῦ ἡ, road street way; manner

κεφάλαιος –α –ον, of the head completion chief poin

οἶδα infin. εἰδέναι impΕr. ἴσθι plupf. usΕd as impf. ᾔδειν to know

λεύκιππος–ον, riding

δόμος –ου ὁ, house home

κεδνός –ή –όν careful diligent sage trusty

πολίτης –ου ὁ, citizen freeman

φράζω φράσω ἔφρασα πέφρακα πέφρασμαι ἐφράσθην, point out show advise design

σαφής –ές (or σάφα) clear plain distinct

Αἴσων –ονος ὁ, Aeson son of Cretheus and Tyro father of Jason and king in Iolcus

ἱκάνω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– come to arrive at reach

ἄλλος ἄλλη ἄλλο other another

φήρ φηρός ὁ, the Centaurs

θεῖος –α –ον, godly divine

κικλήσκω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to call summon

προσαυδάω προσαυδήσω προσηύδησα προσηύδηκα προσηύδημαι προσηυδήθην, speak to address accost

εἰσέρχομαι εἰσελεύσομαι εἰσῆλθον εἰσελήλυθα ––– ––– go in/into enter

ὀφθαλμός –οῦ ὁ, the eye

πομφολύζω to bubble up gush forth

δάκρυον –ου τό a tear

γηραιός [–ά] –όν aged in old age

βλέφαρον –ου τό mostly in pl. the eyelids

περί about concerning; near

ψυχή –ῆς ἡ, life soul

γηθέω γηθήσω ἐγήθησα γέγηθα ––– ––– to rejoice

ἐξαιρέω ἐξαιρήσω ἐξεῖλον ἐξῄρηκα ἐξῄρημαι ἐξῃρέθην, take out choose deliver

γόνος –ου ὁ, that which is begotten offspring a child

κάλλιστος –η –ον, finest

κασίγνητος –ου ὁ, or –η –ον, a brother; adj of a brother; sibling

κλέος –ους τό glory

ἐγγύς near like

Φέρης –ητος ὁ, Pheres son of Cretheus and Tyro father of Admētus

κρήνη –ης ἡ, a well spring fountain

ὑπερηΐς Hyperian

Μεσσήνη –ης ἡ, Messene a district about Pherae in what was afterward Messenia

Ἀμυθάν ὁ, Amythan (name)

Ἄδματος ὁ, Admatos (name)

μελάμπους ὁ, ἡ, πουν τό gen. ποδος blackfooted

εὐμενέω to be gracious

ἀνεψιός –οῦ ὁ, a first-cousin cousin

δαίς δαιτός ἡ, feast banquet meal

μοῖρα –ας ἡ, part portion lot fate

μειλίχιος [–α] –ον, gentle mild soothing

τεύχω τεύξω ἔτευξα τέτευχα τέτυγμαι ἐτύχθην, build

πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all every

Εὐφροσύνη Euphrosyne

τανύω τανύσω ἐτάνυσα – τετάνυσμαι ἐτανύσθην, stretch strain extend

ἀθρόος –α –ον, crowded together many

πέντε five

δρέπω δρέψω ἔδρεψα/ἔδραπον – – ἐδρέφθην, to pluck cull

εὐζοία ἡ, good living

ἄωτον –ου τό fine wool; crème of the best de la crème; conferring prestige

ἕκτη ἡ, the sixth of a stater

σπουδαῖος –a –ον, earnest serious

συγγενής –ές born with congenital natural in-born

παρακοινάομαι to communicate

ἐφέπω ἐφέψω ἔπεσπον ––– ––– ––– to go after follow pursue

αἶψα forthwith at once directly

κλισία –ας ἡ, a place for lying down

Μέγαρος –ου ὁ, Megaros (name)

ἐσσύμενος –η –ον, hurrying vehement eager impetuous

εἴσω (ἔσω) inward

καθίστημι καταστήσω κατέστησα (or κατέστην) κατέστηκα κατέσταμαι κατεστάθην, set down restore settle

ἀκούω ἀκούσομαι ἤκουσα ἀκήκοα ––– ἠκούσθην, hear listen

ὑπαντιάζω ὑπαντιάξω/ὑπαντιάσω ὑπηντίασα to come

Τυρώ ––οῦς ἡ, Tyro daughter of Salmōneus and mother of Pelias and Neleus by Poseidon

ἐρασιπλόκαμος –ον, decked with love-locks

πρᾶος –ον, and πρᾱΰς (Ion. πρηΰς) –εῖα –ΰ mild soft gentle meek

μαλθακός –ή –όν soft

προσστάζω προσστάξω to drop on shed over

ὄαρος ὁ, familiar converse fond discourse chat talk

κρηπίς –ῖδος ἡ, a half-boot

σοφός –ή –όν clever wise learned

πετραῖος –α –ον, of a rock

θνητός –ή –όν mortal

ὠκύς ὠκεῖα ὠκύ quick swift fast

κέρδος –ους τό gain profit

αἰνέω αἰνέσω ᾔνεσα ᾔνεκα ᾔνημαι ᾔνέθην, tell speak of praise

πρό before on behalf of

δίκη –ης ἡ, justice

δόλιος –α –ον, crafty deceitful treacherous

τραχύς –εῖα –ύ rough

ἕρπω/ἑρπύζω ἕρψω/ἑρπύσω εἵρπυσα ––– ––– ––– to creep crawl

ἐπίβδα ἡ, the day after a festival

ὅμως still nevertheless

θεμίζω to judge

ὀργή –ῆς ἡ, natural impulse temperament

ὑφαίνω ὑφανῶ ὕφανα/ὕφηνα ὕφαγκα ὕφασμαι ὑφάνθην, to weave

λοιπός –ή –όν remainder remaining over

ὅλβος –ου ὁ, happiness bliss; prosperity

ἐρέω εἶπον εἴρηκα εἴρημαι ἐρρήθην, will say

εἷς μία ἕν one

βοῦς βοός ὁ/ἡ, bull cow pl. cattle

Κρηθεύς –έως ὁ, Cretheus of Iolcus the husband of Tyro

θρασυμήδης –ες bold of thought

Σαλμωνεύς –έως ὁ, Salmoneus son of Aeolus

τρίτος –η –ον, third thirdly

γονή –ῆς ἡ, produce offspring

αὖ or αὖθις back again; besides

σθένος –ους τό strength

ἥλιος –ου ὁ, the Sun

λεύσσω ––– ––– ––– ––– ––– to look

ἀφίστημι ἀποστήσω ἀπέστησα (or ἀπέστην) ἀπέστηκα ἀπέσταμαι ἀπεστάθην, remove; revolt/cause to revolt

ἐχθρός –οῦ ὁ, enemy

πελάζω πελάσω ἐπέλασα ––– ––– ἐπελάσθην, to approach come near draw near

ὁμόγονος –ον, (= ὁμογενής) of the same family or race or kind; kinsman

αἰδώς αἰδοῦς ἡ, shame sense of honor

καλύπτω καλύψω ἐκάλυψα κεκάλυμμαι ἐκαλύφθην, to cover with

πρέπω πρἐψω ἐπρέψα be conspicuous shine forth appear

χαλκότορος –ον, wrought of brass

ξίφος –ους τό sword

ἀέκων –ουσα –ον, unwillingly

πρόγονος –ου ὁ, ancestor

δατέομαι δάσομαι ἐδασάμην δέδασμαι to divide among themselves

μῆλον –ου τό sheep or goat

ξανθός –ή –όν yellow

ἀγέλη –ης ἡ, a herd

ἀφίημι ἀφήσω ἀφῆκα ἀφεῖκα ἀφεῖμαι ἀφείθην, send forth release

ἀγρός –οῦ ὁ, field arable land

ἀπαυράω ἀπουρήσω ἀπαύρησα to take away

νέμω νεμῶ ἔνειμα νενέμηκα νενέμημαι ἐνεμήθην, distribute

πλοῦτος –ου ὁ, wealth riches

πιαίνω to make fat fatten

πονέω πονέσω/πονήσω ἐπόνεσα/ἐπόνησα πεπόνηκα πεπόνημαι ἐπονήθην, work

τεός –ή –όν = σός 'your'

πορσύνω πορσυνῶ ἐπόρσυνα ––– ––– ––– to offer present

ἄγαν too much

σκῆπτρον –ου τό a staff

μόναρχος –ου ὁ, one who rules alone a monarch sovereign

θρόνος –ου ὁ, arm-chair

κρηθείδας son of Kretheus

ἐγκαθίζω to seat in

ἱππότης –ου ὁ, a driver

εὐθύνω εὐθυνῶ ηὔθυνα ––– εὔθυσμαι/ηὔθυσμαι ηὐθύνθην, to guide straight direct

λαός –οῦ ὁ, people host

ἄνευ without

ξυνός –ή –όν common public general concerning

ἀνία –ας ἡ, grief sorrow distress trouble

λύω λύσω ἔλυσα λέλυκα λέλυμαι ἐλύθην, loose release destroy

νεώτερος –α –ον, younger

ἀνίστημι ἀνστήσω ἀνέστησα (or ἀνέστην) ἀνέστηκα ἀνέσταμαι ἀνεστάθην, make stand set up; stand up

κακός –ή –όν bad cowardly evil ugly

ἀκή ἡ, point

ἀνταγορεύω to speak against reply

τοῖος –α –ον, quality such such-like

ἡλικία –ας ἡ, time of life age; generation

ἀμφιπολέω to attend constantly to attend on watch guard

σός –ή –όν yours

ἄνθος –ους τό flower

ἥβη –ης ἡ, manhood youthful prime youth

ἄρτι just now

κυμαίνω κυμανῶ ἐκύμανα to rise in waves

δύναμαι δυνήσομαι ––– ––– δεδύνημαι ἐδυνήθην, be able to

ἀφαιρέω ἀφαιρήσω ἀφεῖλον ἀφῄρηκα ἀφῄρημαι ἀφῃρέθην, take from take away

μῆνις –ιος ἡ, wrath anger

κέλομαι κελήσομαι ἐκελησάμην ἐκεκλόμην command urge on exhort call to

ἑός ἑή ἑόν his her own

Φρίξος ὁ, Phrixos (Name)

θάλαμος or θάλᾶμος –ου ὁ, the rear portion of the house

δέρμα –ματος τό the skin hide

βαθύμαλλος –ον, thick-fleeced

πόντος –ου ὁ, sea the deep

σαόω save preserve deliver mid. oneself

μητρυιά –ᾶς ἡ, a step-mother

ἄθεος –ον, without god denying the gods

θαυμαστός –ή –όν wondrous admirable

ὄνειρος –ου ὁ, or ὄνειρον –ου τό a dream

φωνέω φωνήσω ἐφώνησα πεφώνηκα πεφώνημαι ἐφωνήθην, make a sound speak

μαντεύομαι μαντεύσομαι ἐμαντευσάμην μεμάντευμαι to divine prophesy presage

Κασταλία –ας ἡ, Castalia

μετάλλατος to be searched out

τάχος –ους τό speed quickness

πομπή –ῆς ἡ, procession guidance

ἆθλος –ου ὁ, contest

ἑκών –οῦσα –όν willingly

τελέω τελῶ or τελέσω ἐτέλεσα τετέλεκα τετέλεσμαι ἐτελέσθην, fulfill; pay; initiate

μοναρχέω to be sovereign

ὄμνυμι (or ὀμνύω) ὀμοῦμαι ὤμοσα ὀμώμοκα ὀμώμο(σ)μαι ὠμόθην, to swear

προίημι προήσω προῆκα προεῖκα προεῖμαι προείθην, send ahead shoot

καρτερός –ά –όν strong; fierce

ὅρκος –ου ὁ, oath

μάρτυς μάρτυρος ὁ/ἡ, witness

γενέθλιος –ον, and –α –ον, of or belonging to one’s birth family

σύνθεσις –εως ἡ, a putting together composition combination

ἐπαινέω ἐπαινέσω ἐπῄνεσα ἐπῄνεκα ἐπῄνεμαι ἐπῃνέθην, approve applaud exhort

κρίνω κρινῶ ἔκρινα κέκρικα κέκριμαι ἐκρίθην, judge

ἀτάρ but yet

κῆρυξ –υκος ὁ, messenger

πλόος –οῦ ὁ, a sailing voyage

φαίνω φανῶ ἔφηνα πέφηνα πέφασμαι ἐφάν(θ)ην bring to light; appear

πάντῃ every way on every side

τρεῖς τρία three

ἀκαμαντομάχης ὁ, unwearied in fight

Ἀλκμήνη –ης ἡ, Alcmene wife of Amphitryon in Thebes mother of Heracles by Zeus and of Iphicles by Amphitryon

ἑλικοβλέφαρος –ον, with ever-moving eyelids quick-glancing

Λήδη –ης ἡ, Leda the wife of Tyndareus mother by Zeus of Helen Castor and Polydeuces and of Clytaemnestra by Tyndareus

δοιοί –αί –ά two both

ὑψιχαίτης –ου ὁ, with long hair

αἰδέομαι αἰδέσομαι ᾐδεσάμην –––– ᾔδεσμαι ᾐδέσθην, to be ashamed to do

ἀλκή –ής ἡ, strength

Πύλος –ου ἡ, Pylos a city in Messenian Elis on the coast opposite the southern extremity of the island of Sphacteria or a city in Triphylia of Elis south of the Alphēus

ἄκρα –ας ἡ, (Ion. ἄκρη) a headland foreland cape

ἑσθλός –ή –όν good

κραίνω κρανῶ ἔκρανα ––– ––– ἐκράνθην, to accomplish fulfil bring to pass

Περικλύμενος –ου ὁ, Periclymenus son of Neleus an Argonaut defended Thebes against the Seven

εὐρυβίας –ου of far-extended might mighty

φορμικτής –οῦ Dor. –μικτάς ὁ, a harper

ἀοιδή –ῆς ἡ, song a singing

εὐαίνετος –ον, much-extolled

ὀρφεύς –έως ὁ, Orpheus

Ἑρμῆς –οῦ ὁ, Hermes herm

χρυσόρραπις –ιδος with wand of gold

ἄτρυτος –ον, not worn away untiring unwearied

πόνος –ου ὁ, toil hard work; pain

Ἐχίων Echion

χλάδω to exult

Ἔρυτος ὁ, Erytus (name)

Πάγγαιον Pangaeum (mountain)

ναιετάω νάσσομαι ἐνασσάμην ––– νένασμαι ἐνάσθην, to dwell

γελανής –ες cheerful

θάσσων –ον, swifter

ἐντύνω ἐντυνῶ ἔντυνα – – – to equip deck out get ready

ἄνεμος –ου ὁ, wind spirit

Ζήτης ὁ, Zetes (name)

Κάλαις ὁ, Calais (name)

βορεάς poet. Βορειάς and Βορηϊάς άδος ἡ, Boread daughter of Boreas

πτερόν –οῦ τό wing

ἄμφω ἀμφοῖν both (dual)

παμπειθής –ές all-persuasive

πόθος –ου ὁ, a longing yearning fond desire

ἐνδαίω2 to distribute

ἦρα (acc. sg.) service gratification

ἀκίνδυνος –ον, without danger free from danger

αἰών –ῶνος ὁ, life lifetime time; spinal marrow

πέσσω πέψω ἔπεψα πέπεμμαι ἐπέφθην, to cook bake; to ripen to digest

θάνατος –ου ὁ, death

φάρμακον –ου τό drug

ἀρετή –ῆς ἡ, virtue excellence

ἧλιξ –ικος of the same age

Ἰαωλκός –οῦ ὁ, Iolcus a town in Thessaly on the Pagasaean gulf

λέγω λέξω (or ἐρῶ) ἔλεξα (or εἶπον) εἴρηκα λελεγμαι (or εἴρημαι) ἐλέχθην, (or ἐρρήθην,) say mean

μάντις –εως ὁ, prophet

Κλάρος Clarus

θεοπροπέω – – – – – to prophesy

Μόψος Mopsus

βάζω βάξω ἔβαξα to speak say

στρατός –οῦ ὁ, encamped army host

πρόφρων –ον, with forward mind

ἔμβολον –ου τό pointed so as to be thrust in: ram peg bolt

κρεμαννύω/κρεμάννυμι κρεμάσω ἐκρέμασα κεκρέμακα κρέμαμαι ἐκρεμάσθην, to hang hang up

ὕπερθεν from above

φιάλη –ης ἡ, a broad flat vessel a bowl

ἀρχός –οῦ ὁ, a leader chief commander

πρύμνα –ης ἡ, the hindmost part of a ship the stern poop

Οὐρανίδης son of Uranus

ἐγχεικέραυνος –ον, hurling the thunderbolt

ὠκύπορος –ον, quick-going

κῦμα –ατος τό wave

ῥιπή –ῆς ἡ, the swing

καλέω καλῶ ἐκάλεσα κέκληκα κέκλημαι ἐκλήθην, call

κέλευθος –ου ἡ, a road way path track

εὔφρων –ον, cheerful gladsome merry

νέφος –ους τό a cloud mass

ἀνταύω to sound in turn answer

φθέγμα –ατος τό the sound of the voice a voice

λαμπρός –ά –όν bright radiant clear

ἀκτίς –ῖνος ἡ, a ray beam

στεροπή –ῆς ἡ, a flash of lightning

ἀπορρηγνύω/ἀπορρήγνυμι ἀπορρήξω ἀπέρρηξα ἀπέρρηχα ἀπέρρηγμαι ἀπερρήχθην, to break off snap asunder

ἀναπνοή –ῆς ἡ, recovery of breath revival

σῆμα –ατος τό a sign mark token

κηρύσσω κηρύξω ἐκήρυξα κεκήρυκα κεκήρυγμαι ἐκηρύχθην, be a herald invoke proclaim

ἐμβάλλω ἐμβαλῶ ἐνέβαλον ἐμβέβληκα ἐμβέβλημαι ἐνεβλήθην, throw in invade

κώπη –ης ἡ, oar

τερασκόπος –ον, soothsayer; prophetic

ἡδύς –εῖα –ύ pleasant sweet

ἐνίπτω ἐνίψω ἠνίπαπα to reprove upbraid

ἐλπίς –ίδος ἡ, hope

εἰρεσία –ας ἡ, rowing

ὑποχωρέω ὑποχωρήσομαι ὑπεχώρησα ὑποκεχώρηκα ὑποκεχώρημαι ὑπεχωρήθην, to go back retire recoil

παλάμη –ης ἡ, the palm of the hand the hand

ἄκορος –ον, untiring ceaseless

νότος –ου ὁ, the south

αὔρα –ας ἡ, air in motion a breeze

ἄξεινος ον Ion. for ἄξενος the Axine

ἁγνός –ή –όν full of religious awe

ἵζω εἵσομαι εἷσα/ἵζησα ἵζηκα take a seat sit down sit still rest

φοινίσσω φοινίξω ––– ––– ––– ––– to redden make red

θραίκιος –α –ον, Thracian

ταῦρος –ου ὁ, bull

ὑπάρχω ὑπάρξω ὑπῆρξα ὑπῆρχα ὕπηργμαι ὑπήρχθην, begin exist be sufficient for

νεόκτιστος –ον, and –η –ον, newly founded

λίθος –ου ὁ, rock

βωμός –οῦ ὁ, altar

θέναρ –αρος τό the palm of the hand

βαθύς βαθεῖα βαθύ deep high

ἵημι ἥσω ἧκα εἷκα εἷμαι εἵθην, put in motion let go shoot; (mid.) hasten rush

λίσσομαι ––– ἐλλισάμην/ἐλιτόμην ––– ––– ––– pray beseech with prayer

σύνδρομος –ον, running together meeting

κινηθμός ὁ, motion

ἀμαιμάκετος [–η] –ον, irresistible

ἐκφεύγω ἐκφεύξομαι ἔκφυγον ἐκφεύγα ––– ––– flee out escape

πέτρα –ας ἡ, rock cliffs shelf of rock

ζωή –ῆς ἡ, life

κυλίνδω ἐκύλισα κεκύλισμαι ἐκυλίσθην, to roll roll along

βαρύγδουπος –ον, loud-thundering loud-roaring

τελευτή –ῆς ἡ, a finishing accomplishment end

Φᾶσις –ιος or –ιδος ὁ, the river Phasis

ἔπειτα thereupon

κελαινῶπις black visaged

βία –ας ἡ, violence force

μίγνυμι μείξω ἔμειξα μέμειγμαι ἐμείχθην, mix mingle

πότνια –ας ἡ, mistress queen

ὀξύς –εῖα –ύ sharp

ποικίλος –η –ον, many colored spotted mottled

ἴυγξ ἴυγγος ἡ, the wryneck

τετράκναμος four-spoked

ὀλυμπόθεν from Olympos

ἄλυτος –ον, not to be loosed indissoluble

ζεύγνυμι ζεύξω ἔζευξα ἔζευγμαι ἐζεύχθην,/ἐζύγην yoke

κύκλος –ου ὁ, ring circle

μαινάς –άδος ἡ, raving frantic

Κυπρογενής –ές Cyprus-born

λιτή –ῆς ἡ, a prayer entreaty

ἐπῳδή –ῆς ἡ, an enchantment spell charm

ἐκδιδάσκω ἐκδιδάξω ἐξεδίδαξα ἐκδεδίδαχα ἐκδεδίδαγμαι ἐξεδιδάχθην, to teach thoroughly

Αἰσονίδης –ου Aesonides

ποθεινός –όν and –ή –όν longed for desired much desired

Ἕλλας –αδος ἡ, Greece

καίω καύσω ἔκαυσα –κέκαυκα κέκαυμαι ἐκαύθην, light kindle burn

δονέω δονήσω ἐδόνησα δεδονή\\μαι to shake

μάστιξ –ιγος ἡ, a whip scourge

δείκνυμι δείξω ἔδειξα δέδειχα δέδειγμαι ἐδείχθην, publish show demonstrate

πατρῷος –α –ον, of one’s father ancestral

ἔλαιος ὁ, the wild olive

φαρμακόω to endue with healing power

ἀντίτομος –ον, cut as a remedy for

στερεός –ά –όν stiff stark firm solid

ὀδύνη –ης ἡ, pain of body

χρίω χρίσω ἔχρισα κέχρικα κέχριμαι ἐχρίσθην, to touch on the surface: to rub

καταινέω καταίνεσα to agree to

κοινός –ή –όν common

γάμος –ου ὁ, marriage wedding

ὅτε when

ἀδαμάντινος –η –ον, adamantine

ἄροτρον –ου τό plow

σκίμπτομαι to allege

βοή –ῆς ἡ, shout

φλόξ –ογός ἡ, a flame

γένυς –υος ἡ, the jaw side of the face cheek; axe

πνέω πμεύσομαι/πνευσοῦμαι ἔπνευσα πέπνευκα ––– ἐπνεύσθην, breathe be prudent

πῦρ πυρός τό fire

χάλκεος –α –ον, of copper

ὁπλή –ῆς ἡ, a hoof the solid hoof

ἀράσσω ἀράξω ἤραξα ––– ––– ἠράχθην, to strike hard smite

ζεύγλη –ης ἡ, the strap or loop of the yoke

ὀρθός –η –ον, straight upright

αὖλαξ –ακος ἡ, a furrow

ἐντανύω ἐντανύσω ἐνετάνυσα – ἐντετάνυσμαι ἐνετανύσθην, to stretch

ἐλαύνω ἐλῶ ἤλασα ἐλήλακα ἐλήλαμαι ἐλάθην, to drive set in motion

βωλάκιος –a –ον, lumpy loamy

ὄργυια –ας ἡ, the length of the outstretched arms

σχίζω σχίσω ἔσχισα ἔσχισμαι ἐσχίσθην, to split cleave

ὅστις ἥτις ὅ τι whoever whatever anyone one

στρωμνή Aeol. –α Dor. –ά ἡ, a bed spread

κῶας τό a fleece

αἰγλήεις –εσσα –εν, dazzling radiant lustrous

θύσανος –ου ὁ, a tassel

κροκόεις –εσσα –εν, saffron-coloured

ῥίπτω ῥίζψω ἔρριψα ἔρριμμαι ἐρρίφθην, throw cast hurl

εἷμα –ατος τό garment

πίσυνος –ον, trusting on relying

εἴλω εἰλήσω εἴλησα ––– εἴλημαι εἰλήθην, to roll up pack shut in

παμφάρμακος –ον, skilled in all charms

ἐφετμή –ῆς ἡ, a command behest

σπάω σπάσω ἔσπασα ἔσπακα ἔσπασμαι ἐσπάσθην, to draw

βόειος –α –ον, of an ox

ἀνάγκη –ης ἡ, necessity

ἔντεα –ων τά fighting gear arms armour

αὐχήν –ένος ὁ, the neck throat

ἐρίπλευρος –ον, with sturdy sides stout

φυή –ῆς ἡ, growth stature

κέντρον –ου τό goad spur sharp point

αἰανής –ές dreary dismal direful horrid

βιατάς ὁ, forceful mighty

ἐκπονέω to work out finish off

ἐπίτακτος –ον, drawn up behind

μέτρον –ου τό a measure proportion rule

ἰύζω ἰύξω ἴυξα to shout yell

ἀφώνητος –ον, voiceless speechless

πέρ encl. emphatic particle

ἄχος –ους τό anguish distress

δύναμις –εως ἡ, power authority influence

ἄγαμαι ἀγασθήσομαι ἠγασάμην ἠγάσθην, to wonder be astonished

ἑταῖρος –ου ὁ, comrade companion

ὀρέγω ὀρέξω ὤρεξα – ὀρώρεγμαι/ὤρεγμαι ὠρέχθην, to reach stretch stretch out

στέφανος –ου ὁ, crown wreath

πόα –ας ἡ, grass herb

ἐρέπτομαι – – – – – to feed on

ἀγαπάζω/ἀγαπάω ἀγαπήσω ἠγάπησα ἠγάπηκα ἠγάπημαι ἠγαπήθην, to treat with affection shew affection to

ἐνέπω ἐνισπήσω/ἐνίψω ἔνισπον ––– ––– ––– to tell tell of relate describe

ἐκτανύω ἐκτανύσω ἐξετάνυσα – ἐκτετάνυσμαι ἐξετανύσθην, to stretch out

μάχαιρα –ας ἡ, a large knife

ἔλπω – – – – – to make to hope

οὐκέτι οὐκ ἔτι no more no longer

πράσσω πράξω ἔπραξα πέπραχα (or πέπραγα) πέπραγμαι ἐπράχθην, do make achieve

κεῖμαι κείσομαι ––– ––– ––– ––– lie be laid down; lie sick

λόχμη –ης ἡ, a thicket coppice copse

δράκων –οντος ὁ, snake

λάβρος –ον, furious boisterous

πάχος –ους τό thickness

μῆκος –ους τό length stature distance

πεντηκόντορος a ship of burden with fifty oars

κράτος –ους τό might power

πληγή –ής ἡ, blow stroke

σίδηρος –ου ὁ, iron

μακρός –ά –όν long large great

ἁμαξιτός –όν traversed by wagons carriage road

συνάπτω συνάψω συνῆψα συνῆμμαι συνήφθην, tie join together mid; take part with

οἶμος –ου ὁ/ἡ, a way road path

βραχύς –εῖα –ύ short brief

πολύς (πολλός) πολλή πολύ many much

ἡγέομαι ἡγήσομαι ἡγησάμην ––– ἥγημαι ἡγήθην, lead command believe

σοφία –ας ἡ, cleverness skill wisdom

ἕτερος –α –ον, one/the other of two

κτείνω κτενῶ ἔκτεινα ἀπέκτονα ––– ––– kill

γλαυκῶπις –ιδος gleaming - eyed

τέχνη –ης ἡ, craft skill art;

ποικιλόνωτος –ον, with back of various hues

ὄφις –εως (or –ιος) ὁ, a serpent snake

Μήδεια ἡ, Medea

φόνος –ου ὁ, murder slaughter corpse

ἐρυθρός –ά –όν red

λάμνιος –a –ον, Lemnian

ἔθνος –ους τό tribe nation

ἀνδροφόνος –ον, man-slaying

γυῖον –ου τό only pl. joints

ἐπιδείκνυμι ἐπιδείξω ἐπέδειξα ἐπιδέδειχα ἐπιδέδειγμαι ἐπεδείχθην, display exhibit

κρίσις –εως ἡ, a separating decision

ἀμφίς on both sides; apart asunder

συνευνάζομαι συνευνάσομαι συνηυνασάμην ––– συνηύνασμαι συνευνάσθην, to lie with

ὑμέτερος –α –ον, your

μοιρίδιος –α –ον, allotted by destiny destined doomed

ἦμαρ –ατος τό day

τόθι there in that place

ἀεί always ever

τέλλω ––– ἔτειλα ––– τέταλμαι ––– to make to arise accomplish

Λακεδαιμόνιος –α –ον, Spartan

ἦθος –ους τό haunts pl. manners; character

ἀποικέω ἀποικήσω ἀπῴκησα ἀπῴκηκα ἀπῴκημαι ἀπῳκήθην, to go away from home to settle in a foreign country emigrate

ἔνθεν whence; thence

λατοίδας child of Leto

ὀφέλλω/ὀφείλω ὀφειλήσω ὠφείλησα/ὤφελον ὠφείληκα – ὠφειλήθην, [Epic Aeolic] owe > ὀφείλω

χρυσόθρονος –ον, gold-enthroned

διανέμω to distribute apportion

ὀρθόβουλος –ον, right-counselling

ἐφευρίσκω ἐφευρήσω ἔφηυρον ἐφηύρηκα ἐφηύρημαι ἐφηυρέθην, to light upon discover

Οἰδίπους –οδος ὁ, Oedipus

ὄζος –ου ὁ, a bough branch twig shoot

ὀξυτόμος –ον, sharp-cutting keen

πέλεκυς –εως ὁ, an axe

ἐξερείπω ἐξερείψω ἐξήρειψα/ἐξήριπον ἐξερήριπα to strike off

δρῦς –υός ἡ, a tree

αἰσχύνω αἰσχυνῶ ᾔσχυνα ––– ––– ᾐσχύνθην, make ugly disfigure

εἶδος –ους τό seen thing form shape

φθινόκαρπος –ον, having lost fruitfulness

ψῆφος –ου ἡ, small stone; vote; judgment

χειμέριος [–α] –ον, wintry stormy

ἐξικνέομαι ἐξίξομαι ἐξικόμην ἐξῖγμαι to reach arrive at

λοίσθιος –α –ον, last

κίων –ονος ἡ, a pillar

δεσπόσυνος [–η] –ον, of or belonging to the master (δεσπότης) arbitrary

ἐρείδω ἐρείσω ἤρεισα ἤρεικα ἐρήρεισμαι ἠρείσθην, cause to lean prop

μόχθος –ου ὁ, toil hard work hardship distress trouble

ἀμφιέπω ––– ἀμφίεπον ––– ––– ––– to go about be all round encompass

δύστηνος –ον, wretched unhappy unfortunate disastrous

τεῖχος τείχους τό a wall city wall fort

ἐρημόω to strip bare to desolate lay waste

χῶρος –ου ὁ, place a piece of ground

ἰατήρ –ῆρος ὁ, doctor healer

ἐπίκαιρος –ον, in fit time

Παιάν –ᾶνος ὁ, paean

τιμάω τιμήσω ἐτίμησα τετίμηκα τετίμημαι ἐτιμήθην, to honor revere value

φάος –ους τό light daylight

μαλακός –ή –όν soft

προσβάλλω προσβαλῶ προσέβαλον +dat. attack

τρώμα ἡ, (Dor.) wound

ἕλκος –ους τό a wound

ῥᾴδιος –α –ον, easy read; easy-going

σείω σείσω ἔσεισα σέσεικα σέσεισμαι ἐσείσθην, to shake move to and fro

ἀφαυρός –ά –όν feeble powerless

χώρᾱ –ᾱς ἡ, space land; country

αὖθις again in turn

δυσπαλής –ές hard to wrestle with

ἐξαίφνης on a sudden

κυβερνήτης –ου ὁ, a steersman helmsman pilot

ἐξυφαίνω to finish weaving

χάρις –ιτος ἡ, grace favor

τλάω τλήσομαι ἔτλην τέτληκα –––– –––– to take upon oneself to bear suffer undergo

εὐδαίμων –ον, happy lucky blessed

σπουδή –ῆς ἡ, haste speed seriousness

ὅμηρος –ου ὁ, pledge hostage

συντίθημι συντιθήσω συνέθηκα συντέθηκα συντέτειμαι συνετέθην, put together construct devise

ῥῆμα –ατος τό (spoken) word line verb

ἄγγελος –ου ὁ, messenger

πρᾶγμα –ατος τό deed occurrence pl. affairs

διά through on account of

ἀγγελία –ας ἡ, a message tidings news

ἐπιγιγνώσκω ἐπιγνώσομαι ἐπέγνων ἐπέγνωκα ἐπέγνωσμαι ἐπεγνώσθην, to look upon witness observe

κλεινός –ή –όν famous renowned illustrious

βάττος ὁ, stammerer lisper

δίκαιος –α –ον, just fair

Δαμόφιλος –ου ὁ, Damophilus (name)

πραπίδες –ων αἱ the midriff diaphragm

νέος –α –ον, new young; strange

πρέσβυς πρέσβεως ὁ, old man elder

ἐγκύρω to fall in with light upon meet with

ἑκατονταέτης –ες of a hundred years

βιοτή –ῆς ἡ, a living sustenance

ὀρφανίζω to make orphan make destitute

γλῶσσα –ης ἡ, tongue language

φαεινός –ή –όν bright brilliant radiant

ὄψ ὀπός ἡ, a voice

μανθάνω μαθήσομαι ἔμαθον μεμάθηκα ––– ––– learn understand

ὑβρίζω ὑβριζιῶ ὕβρισα ὕβρικα ὕβρισμαι ὑβρίσθην, insult offend disrespect

μισέω μισήσω ἐμίσησα μεμίσηκα μεμίσημαι ἐμισήθην, to hate

ἐρίζω ἐρίσω ἤρισα ἤρικα ἐρήρισμαι to strive wrangle quarrel

ἀγαθός –ή –όν good noble

μηκύνω μηκυνῶ ἐμήκυνα — μεμήκυσμαι ἐμηκύνθην, to lengthen prolong extend

τέλος –ους τό result fulfillment end

οὑδείς οὑδεμία οὑδέν no one nothing none

καιρός –οῦ ὁ, due measure critical time

εὖ well

δρήστης Att. δράστης ου Dor. δράστας α ὁ, worker

ὀπαδέω – – – – – to follow accompany attend

ἀνιαρός –ά –όν grievous troublesome annoying

καλός –ή –όν beautiful good fine

ἐκτός without outside

ἄτλας –αντος ὁ, not enduring

οὐρανός –οῦ ὁ, heaven sky

προσπαλαίω to wrestle

κτέανον –ου or κτέαρ –ατος τό possessions property

Τιτάν –ᾶνος ὁ, the Titans

μεταβολή –ῆς ἡ, change transaction

λήγω λήξω ἔληξα allay abate

ὅρος ὅρου ὁ, boundary limit; rule

ἑστία –ας ἡ, hearth

οὐλόμενος –η –ον, destructive baneful

νόσος –ου ἡ, disease sickness

διαντλέω to drain out exhaust

συμποσία ἡ, a drinking together

ἐκδίδωμι ἐκδώσω ἐξέδωκε ἐκδέδωκα ἐκδέδομαι ἐξεδόθην, surrender

πολλάκις often

δαιδάλεος –α –ον, cunningly

φόρμιγξ –ιγγος ἡ, the phorminx

βαστάζω βαστάσω ἐβάστασα ––– ––– ––– to lift lift up raise

ἡσυχία –ας ἡ, quiet

θιγγάνω θίξομαι ἔθιγον ––– ––– ––– to touch handle

μήτε...μήτε and not

οὖν therefore then in fact

πῆμα –ατος τό suffering misery calamity woe bane

ἀπαθής –ές not suffering

μυθέομαι μυθήσομαι μεμύθημαι ἐμυθήθην, speak or talk of describe explain relate

ὁποῖος –α –ον, of what sort

πηγή –ῆς ἡ, running waters streams

ἀμβρόσιος [–α] –ον, immortal

πρόσφημι πρόσφησω προσέφησα speak to address

θῆβαι –ων αἱ Thebes (usu. plural)

ξενόω to make one's friend and guest

translation

FOR ARCESILAS OF CYRENE

winner, chariot race, 462B.C.

Today, Muse, you must stand beside a man who is a Str. 1

friend, the king of Cyrene with its fine horses,

so that while Arcesilas is celebrating

you may swell the breeze of hymns

owed to Leto’s children and to Pytho,

where long ago the priestess who sits beside the golden

eagles of Zeus prophesied when Apollo was not away

that Battus would be the colonizer

of fruit-bearing Libya, and that

he should at once leave the holy island to found a city

of fine chariots on the white breast of a hill,

and to fulfill in the seventeenth generation that word Ant. 1

spoken on Thera by Medea,

which the high-spirited daughter of Aeetes

and queen of the Colchians had once breathed forth

from her immortal mouth. Such were her words

to the demigods who sailed with spear-bearing Jason:

“Hear me, sons of great-hearted men and gods.

I declare that one day from this sea-beaten land

the daughter of Epaphus

15will have planted within her a root of famous cities

at the foundations of Zeus Ammon.

In place of short-finned dolphins Ep. 1

they will take swift horses

and instead of oars they will ply reins

and chariots that run like a storm.

This sign will bring it to pass that Thera

20will become the mother-city of great cities—the token

which Euphamus once received at the outflow

of Lake Tritonis, when he descended from the prow

and accepted earth proffered as a guest-present by a god

in the guise of a man—and father Zeus, son of Cronus,

pealed for him an auspicious thunderclap—

when he came upon us hanging the bronze-jawed Str. 2

25anchor, swift Argo’s bridle,

against the ship. Before that, we had drawn up

the sea-faring bark from Oceanus in accordance

with my instructions, and for twelve days

had been carrying it across desolate stretches of land.

At that point the solitary god approached us,

having assumed the radiant face of a respectful man,

and he began with the friendly words

which generous men first utter when offering dinner

to strangers upon their arrival.

The excuse, however, of our sweet return home Ant. 2

prevented our tarrying. He said that he was Eurypylus,

son of the immortal Holder and Shaker of the Earth, 11

and he recognized that we were in a hurry.

He immediately picked up some earth

in his right hand and sought to give it as a makeshift guest-gift.

Nor did he fail to persuade him, but the hero leapt

upon the shore, pressed his hand into the stranger’s,

and accepted the divine clod.

I have heard that it was washed off the ship

by a wave during the evening and passed

into the sea, borne on the watery main. In truth, Ep. 2

I frequently urged

the servants who relieve our toils

to guard it, but their minds were forgetful;

and now the immortal seed of spacious Libya has been

shed upon this island 12 prematurely. For if Euphamus,

the royal son of horse-ruling Poseidon,

whom Europa, Tityus’ daughter, once bore by the banks

45of the Cephisus, had gone home to holy Taenarus

and cast the clod at the earth’s

entrance to Hades,

the blood of the fourth generation of children Str. 3

born to him would have taken that broad mainland

with the Danaans, for at that time

they are to set out from great Lacedaemon,

from the gulf of Argos, and from Mycenae.

Now, however, he will find in the beds of foreign women

a chosen race, who will come honored by the gods

to this island and beget a man

to be ruler of the plains with dark clouds.

And when, at a later time, he enters the temple at Pytho,

within his house filled with gold

Phoebus will admonish him through oracles Ant. 3

56to convey many people in ships

to the fertile domain of Cronus’ son on the Nile.”

Such were the verses of Medea’s speech;

the godlike heroes shrank down in silence

and without moving listened to her astute counsel.

O blessed son of Polymnastus, 19 it was you

60whom the oracle, in accordance with that speech, exalted

through the spontaneous cry of the Delphic Bee,

who thrice bade you hail and revealed you to be

the destined king of Cyrene,

when you were asking what requital would come Ep. 3

from the gods for your stammering voice.

Yes, indeed, now in later time as well,

as at the height of red-flowered spring,

65the eighth generation of those sons flourishes in Arcesilas,

to whom Apollo and Pytho granted glory

from the hands of the Amphictyons 21

in horse racing. And for my part, I shall entrust to the Muses

both him and the all-golden fleece of the ram, for when

the Minyae sailed in quest of it, god-sent honors

were planted for them.

What beginning took them on their voyage, Str. 4

71and what danger bound them with strong nails

of adamant? It was fated that Pelias

would perish because of the proud Aeolidae, at their hands

or through their inflexible counsels.

And an oracle came to him that chilled his crafty heart,

spoken at the central navel of the tree-clad mother, 23

75to be greatly on guard in every way against

the man with one sandal,

when he should come from the high dwelling places

into the sunny land of famous Iolcus,

whether he be a stranger or a townsman. And so in time Ant. 4

he came, an awesome man with two spears,

and clothing of both kinds was covering him:

80native garb of the Magnesians 24 closely fitted

his marvelous limbs, but around it he protected

himself from chilly showers with a leopard skin;

nor were the splendid locks of his hair cut off and lost,

but they rippled down the length of his back.

Putting his intrepid resolve to the test,

he quickly went straight ahead and stood

85in the agora as a crowd was thronging.

They did not recognize him, but, awestruck as they were, Ep. 4

one of them nevertheless said, among other things:

“He surely is not Apollo,

nor certainly is he Aphrodite’s husband

of the bronze chariot; and they say that in shining Naxos

Iphimedeia’s sons died, Otus and you, bold

king Ephialtes;

and certainly Artemis’ swift arrow hunted down Tityus,

as it sped from her invincible quiver,

warning a person to desire to attain loves

within his power.”

While they were saying such things in turn

to one another, Pelias came

on his polished mule car

in precipitous haste. He was stunned as soon as

he caught sight of the single sandal in clear view

upon his right foot, but he hid his panic in his heart

and addressed him, “What land, O stranger, do you claim

to be your fatherland? And what mortal

born upon the earth delivered you forth

from her gray womb? Tell me your lineage

and do not stain it with most hateful lies.”

Taking courage, he answered him with gentle words Ant. 5

in this way: “I claim that I shall manifest the teachings

of Chiron, for I come

from the side of Chariclo and Philyra and from the cave

where the Centaur’s holy daughters raised me.

After completing twenty years without doing

105or saying anything untoward to them, I have come

home to reclaim my father’s ancient honor

of kingship, now being wielded

unjustly, which long ago Zeus granted

to Aeolus, leader of the people, and to his sons,

for I am told that lawless Pelias Ep. 5

gave in to his white wits

110and usurped it

by force from my justly ruling parents,

who, as soon as I saw the light,

fearing the violence of the overbearing ruler,

made a dark funeral

in the house and added women’s wailing as if I had died,

but secretly sent me away in my purple swaddling clothes,

115and, entrusting the journey to the night, gave me

to Chiron, son of Cronus, to raise.

But now you know the principal elements of my story. Str. 6

Dear fellow citizens, show me clearly

the home of my fathers who rode white horses,

for I come here as the son of Aeson, a native,

to no strangers’ land.

The divine creature called me by the name Jason.”

120Thus he spoke. When he entered his home, his father’s

eyes recognized him and then tears burst forth

from under his aged eyelids,

as he rejoiced in his soul to see his extraordinary

offspring, fairest of men.

Both of his father’s brothers Ant. 6

125arrived when they heard the news about him: Pheres

came from the nearby Hyperian spring

and Amythaon came from Messene; Admetus

and Melampus also came quickly,

out of good will, to their cousin. During the feasting

Jason received them with gentle words

and, providing fitting hospitality,

extended all manner of festivity

130for five whole nights and days, culling

the sacred excellence of joyous living.

But on the sixth day, the hero laid out in earnest Ep. 6

the whole story from the beginning

and shared it with his relatives,

who joined him. At once he rose with them

from the couches, and they went to Pelias’ palace.

135They hastened straight in and took a stand. When he

heard them, the son of lovely-haired Tyro

met them face to face. In a soft voice

Jason distilled soothing speech

and laid the foundation of wise words:

“Son of Poseidon of the Rock,

the minds of mortals are all too swift Str. 7

140to commend deceitful gain above justice, even though

they are headed for a rough reckoning the day after.

You and I, however, must rule our tempers with law

and weave our future happiness.

You know what I am about to say: one heifer was mother

to Cretheus and bold-counseling Salmoneus; we in turn

were born in the third generation from them

and behold the golden strength

145 of the sun. The Fates withdraw, if any feuding arises

to make kinsmen hide their mutual respect.

It is not proper for the two of us to divide the great honor

of our forefathers with bronze-piercing swords

or javelins. For I give over to you the sheep,

the tawny herds of cattle, and all the fields

which you stole

150from my parents and administer to fatten your wealth—

I do not mind if these overly enrich your house—

but, as for the scepter of sole rule

and the throne upon which Cretheus’ son once

sat and rendered straight justice to his people of horsemen,

these you must give up without grief

on both sides, lest some more troubling evil Ep. 7

arise for us from them.”

156Thus he spoke, and Pelias

responded calmly, “I shall be

such as you wish, but already the aged portion of life

attends me, whereas your flower of youth

is just cresting; and you are capable of removing

the anger of those in the underworld. For Phrixus orders

160us to go to the halls of Aeetes to bring back his soul

and to recover the thick-fleeced hide of the ram

by which he was once preserved from the sea

and from the impious weapons of his stepmother. Str. 8

Such things does a wondrous dream come and tell

to me. I have inquired of the oracle at Castalia

if some expedition must be made, and it orders me

to provide conveyance by ship as soon as possible.

165Willingly accomplish this task and I swear

that I will hand over to you sole rule and kingship.

As a mighty pledge, let our witness be

Zeus, progenitor of both our families.”

After agreeing to this pact, they parted.

But Jason himself at once began

sending heralds everywhere to announce that a voyage Ant. 8

171was in the making. Swiftly came Cronian Zeus’

three tireless warrior sons, born to

bright-eyed Alcmene and to Leda,

and the two men with hair piled on high,

offspring of Earthshaker, out of respect for their valor,

from Pylos and the headland of Taenarus, whose noble

175glory was fulfilled, that of Euphamus

and yours, mighty Periclymenus.

And from Apollo came the father of songs,

the widely praised minstrel Orpheus.

And Hermes of the golden wand sent his twin sons Ep. 8

for the endless toil,

one Echion, the other Erytus, both

swelling with youthfulness. Swift

to come were those dwelling at the base of Pangaeum,

for with a cheerful heart their willing father Boreas,

king of the winds, swiftly equipped

Zetes and Calaïs, men whose backs both

rippled with wings of purple.

And Hera enkindled in these demigods

that all-persuasive, sweet longing

for the ship Argo, so that no one might be left behind Str. 9

to remain with his mother and coddle a life

without risk, but rather, even if it meant death,

to gain the most noble remedy for his own achievement

in the company of others of his age.

When the pick of the sailors came down to Iolcus,

Jason praised and mustered them all. Then the seer

Mopsus, prophesying for them by means of birds

and sacred lots,

gladly sent the host on board. And when they had slung

the anchors above the prow,

the captain took a golden bowl in his hands Ant. 9

and, standing on the stern, called upon Zeus,

father of the Uranidae and wielder of lightning,

and upon the rushing waves and winds to be swift-

moving and the nights and paths of the sea and days

to be propitious and their homecoming favorable.

And from the clouds there answered him an auspicious

clap of thunder, and bright flashes of lightning

came bursting forth.

The heroes took fresh courage, trusting

200the god’s signs. The seer bade them

fall to the oars, as he expressed Ep. 9

cheerful expectations.

From under their swift hands the rowing

proceeded tirelessly.

Sped by the breezes of the South Wind, they came

to the mouth of the Inhospitable Sea, where they

established a sacred precinct for Poseidon of the Sea,

205and there was at hand a tawny herd of Thracian bulls

and a newly built stone altar with a hollow.

As they sped on to grave danger,

they prayed to the lord of ships

for escape from the irresistible movement Str. 10

of the clashing rocks, 46 for the two of them were alive

and would roll more swiftly

210than the ranks of loudly roaring winds.

That voyage of the demigods, however, finally

put an end to them. Next they came to the Phasis,

where they matched strength with the dark-faced

Colchians in the presence of Aeetes himself.

But the Cyprus-born queen of sharpest arrows

bound the dappled wryneck to the four spokes

215 of the inescapable wheel

and brought from Olympus that bird of madness Ant. 10

for the first time to men, and she taught

the son of Aeson to be skillful in prayers and charms,

so that he might take away Medea’s respect

for her parents, and so that desire for Hellas might set

her mind afire and drive her with the whip of Persuasion.

220And right away she showed him the ways to accomplish

her father’s trials, and she concocted with oil

antidotes for terrible pains and gave them to him

for anointing—and so they agreed to join with one

another in a sweet marriage of mutual consent.

But after Aeetes positioned in their midst the plow Ep. 10

made of adamant

225and the oxen that were breathing the flame of blazing fire

from their tawny jaws

and pawing the ground in turn with brazen hoofs,

he led them and brought them to the yoke-strap single-handedly.

He stretched straight furrows as he drove them

and split open the stretch of clodded earth a fathom

deep. Then he spoke thus, “When the king, whoever it is

230who captains the ship, completes this task for me,

let him take away the immortal bedding,

the fleece that gleams with golden fringe.” Str. 11

When he had spoken thus, Jason flung off his saffron

cloak, and putting his trust in the god, took on the task.

The fire did not make him flinch, owing to the commands

of the hospitable woman skilled in all medicines.

He grasped the plow, bound the necks of the oxen

235by force in their harness, and by thrusting

the ruthless goad into their strong-ribbed bulk,

the powerful man accomplished the appointed

measure of toil. Aeetes cried out, although in inarticulate pain,

astonished at the power he beheld.

But his comrades were stretching forth their hands Ant. 11

240to the mighty man, covering him with crowns of leaves,

and greeting him with words

of kindness. At once the wondrous son of Helius

told him where Phrixus’ sacrificial knives

had stretched out the shining hide,

but he did not expect him to perform that further trial,

because it lay in a thicket

and was right by the ferocious jaws of a serpent,

245which exceeded in breadth and length a ship of fifty oars,

which strokes of iron have fashioned.

But it is too far for me to travel on the highway, Ep. 11

because the hour is pressing and I know

a short path—and I lead the way

in wise skill for many others.

He cunningly slew the green-eyed snake with spotted back,

250O Arcesilas, and with her own help stole away Medea,

the slayer of Pelias.

They came to the expanses of Oceanus, to the Red Sea,

and to the race of man-slaying Lemnian women.

There they also displayed the strength of their limbs

in games for the prize of a cloak

and slept with the women. Then it was in those foreign Str. 12

furrows that the fated days or nights received the seed

of your family’s radiant

prosperity, for there the race of Euphamus

was planted and continued ever after.

And, after coming to the abodes of Lacedaemonian men,

in time they settled on the island formerly called

Calliste. And from there the son of Leto gave your family

the plain of Libya

260to make prosper through honors coming from the gods,

and the divine city of golden-throned Cyrene to govern,

to you who have devised policy based on right counsel. Ant. 12

Now come to know the wisdom of Oedipus: 55 if someone

with a sharp-bladed axe

should strip the boughs from a great oak tree

and ruin its splendid appearance,

265although it cannot bear foliage, it gives an account of itself,

if ever it comes at last to a winter’s fire,

or if, supported by upright columns

belonging to a master,

it performs a wretched labor within alien walls,

having left its own place desolate.

But you are a most fitting healer, and Paean 57 Ep. 12

honors your saving light.

271One must apply a gentle hand to tend

a sore wound.

For easily can even weaklings shake a city;

but to set it back in place again is a difficult

struggle indeed, unless suddenly

a god becomes a helmsman for the leaders.

275But for you the blessings of such things are unfolding.

Dare to devote all your serious effort

to the cause of blessed Cyrene.

And among the sayings of Homer, take this one to heart Str. 13

and heed it: he said that a good messenger

brings the greatest honor to every affair.

The Muse, too, gains distinction through true

reporting. Cyrene and the most celebrated house

280 of Battus have learned to know the just mind

of Damophilus. For that man, a youth among boys,

but in counsels an elder

who has attained a life of one hundred years,

deprives a malicious tongue of its shining voice

and has learned to hate the person who is violent,

not striving against the noble Ant. 13

286 nor delaying any accomplishment, since opportunity

in men’s affairs has a brief span.

He has come to know it well; he serves it

as an attendant, not as a hireling. They say

that the most distressing thing is to know the good,

but to be forced to stand away. Yes, that Atlas

290 is wrestling even now with the sky

away from his homeland and from his possessions;

yet immortal Zeus released the Titans. In the course of time

sails are changed when the wind

dies down. But he prays that, having drained Ep. 13

his accursed disease to the end,

he may some day see his home; that he may join

the symposia at Apollo’s fountain,

295often give his heart over to youthful enjoyment, and,

taking up the ornate lyre among his cultured citizens,

may attain peace,

neither doing harm to anyone, nor suffering it from his townsmen.

And he would tell, Arcesilas,

what a spring of ambrosial verses he found,

when he was recently a guest at Thebes.

Suggested Citation

Peter Hulse. Apollonius: Argonautica Book IV. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-947822-21-4. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/apollonius-argonautica/parallel-texts/pindar-pythian-4-divine-clod