The son of glorious Leto fares harping on his hollow harp to rocky Pytho,
clad in his fragrant raiment that waxes not old, and beneath the golden
plectrum winsomely sounds his lyre. Thence from earth to Olympus, fleet
as thought, he goes to the House of Zeus, into the Consistory of the
other Gods, and anon the Immortals bethink them of harp and minstrelsy.
And all the Muses together with sweet voice in antiphonal chant replying,
sing of the imperishable gifts of the Gods, and the sufferings of men,
all that they endure from the hands of the undying Gods, lives witless
and helpless, men unavailing to find remede for death or buckler against
old age. Then the fair-tressed Graces and boon Hours, and Harmonia, and
Hebe, and Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, dance, holding each by the wrist
the other's hand, while among them sings one neither unlovely, nor of
body contemptible, but divinely tall and fair, Artemis the Archer,
nurtured with Apollo. Among them sport Ares, and the keen-eyed Bane of
Argos, while Phoebus Apollo steps high and disposedly, playing the lyre,
and the light issues round him from twinkling feet and fair-woven
raiment. But all they are glad, seeing him so high of heart, Leto of the
golden tresses, and Zeus the Counsellor, beholding their dear son as he
takes his pastime among the deathless Gods.
How shall I hymn thee aright, howbeit thou art, in sooth, not hard to
hymn? Shall I sing of thee in love and dalliance; how thou wentest forth
to woo the maiden Azanian, with Ischys, peer of Gods, and Elation's son
of the goodly steeds, or with Phorbas, son of Triopes, or Amarynthus, or
how with Leucippus and Leucippus' wife, thyself on foot, he in the
chariot . . .? {115} Or how first, seeking a place of oracle for men,
thou camest down to earth, far-darting Apollo?
On Pieria first didst thou descend from Olympus, and pass by Lacmus, and
Emathia, and Enienae, and through Perrhaebia, and speedily camest to
Iolcus, and alight on Cenaeum in Euboea, renowned for galleys. On the
Lelantian plain thou stoodest, but it pleased thee not there to stablish
a temple and a grove. Thence thou didst cross Euripus, far-darting
Apollo, and fare up the green hill divine, and thence camest speedily to
Mycalessus and Teumesos of the bedded meadow grass, and thence to the
place of woodclad Thebe, for as yet no mortals dwelt in Holy Thebe, nor
yet were paths nor ways along Thebe's wheat-bearing plain, but all was
wild wood.
Thence forward journeying, Apollo, thou camest to Onchestus, the bright
grove of Poseidon. There the new-broken colt takes breath again, weary
though he be with dragging the goodly chariot; and to earth, skilled
though he be, leaps down the charioteer, and fares on foot, while the
horses for a while rattle along the empty car, with the reins on their
necks, and if the car be broken in the grove of trees, their masters tend
them there, and tilt the car and let it lie. Such is the rite from of
old, and they pray to the King Poseidon, while the chariot is the God's
portion to keep.
Thence faring forward, far-darting Apollo, thou didst win to Cephisus of
the fair streams, that from Lilaea pours down his beautiful waters, which
crossing, Far-darter, and passing Ocalea of the towers, thou camest
thereafter to grassy Haliartus. Then didst thou set foot on Telphusa,
and to thee the land seemed exceeding good wherein to stablish a temple
and a grove.
Beside Telphusa didst thou stand, and spake to her: "Telphusa, here
methinketh to stablish a fair temple, an oracle for men, who, ever
seeking for the word of sooth, will bring me hither perfect hecatombs,
even they that dwell in the rich isle of Pelops, and all they of the
mainland and sea-girt islands. To them all shall I speak the decree
unerring, rendering oracles within my rich temple."
So spake Phoebus, and thoroughly marked out the foundations, right long
and wide. But at the sight the heart of Telphusa waxed wroth, and she
spake her word:
"Phoebus, far-darting Prince, a word shall I set in thy heart. Here
thinkest thou to stablish a goodly temple, to be a place of oracle for
men, that ever will bring thee hither perfect hecatombs--nay, but this
will I tell thee, and do thou lay it up in thine heart. The never-ending
din of swift steeds will be a weariness to thee, and the watering of
mules from my sacred springs. There men will choose rather to regard the
well-wrought chariots, and the stamping of the swift-footed steeds, than
thy great temple and much wealth therein. But an if thou--that art
greater and better than I, O Prince, and thy strength is most of might--if
thou wilt listen to me, in Crisa build thy fane beneath a glade of
Parnassus. There neither will goodly chariots ring, nor wilt thou be
vexed with stamping of swift steeds about thy well-builded altar, but
none the less shall the renowned tribes of men bring their gifts to
Iepaeon, and delighted shalt thou gather the sacrifices of them who dwell
around."
Therewith she won over the heart of the Far-darter, even that to Telphusa
herself should be honour in that land, and not to the Far-darter.
Thenceforward didst thou fare, far-darting Apollo, and camest to the city
of the overweening Phlegyae, that reckless of Zeus dwelt there in a
goodly glade by the Cephisian mere. Thence fleetly didst thou speed to
the ridge of the hills, and camest to Crisa beneath snowy Parnassus, to a
knoll that faced westward, but above it hangs a cliff, and a hollow dell
runs under, rough with wood, and even there Prince Phoebus Apollo deemed
well to build a goodly temple, and spake, saying: "Here methinketh to
stablish a right fair temple, to be a place oracular to men, that shall
ever bring me hither goodly hecatombs, both they that dwell in rich
Peloponnesus, and they of the mainland and sea-girt isles, seeking here
the word of sooth; to them all shall I speak the decree unerring,
rendering oracles within my wealthy shrine."
So speaking, Phoebus Apollo marked out the foundations, right long and
wide, and thereon Trophonius and Agamedes laid the threshold of stone,
the sons of Erginus, dear to the deathless Gods. But round all the
countless tribes of men built a temple with wrought stones to be famous
for ever in song.
Hard by is a fair-flowing stream, and there, with an arrow from his
strong bow, did the Prince, the son of Zeus, slay the Dragoness, mighty
and huge, a wild Etin, that was wont to wreak many woes on earthly men,
on themselves, and their straight-stepping flocks, so dread a bane was
she.
[This Dragoness it was that took from golden-throned Hera and reared the
dread Typhaon, not to be dealt with, a bane to mortals. Him did Hera
bear, upon a time, in wrath with father Zeus, whenas Cronides brought
forth from his head renowned Athene. Straightway lady Hera was angered,
and spake among the assembled Gods:
"Listen to me, ye Gods, and Goddesses all, how cloud-collecting Zeus is
first to begin the dishonouring of me, though he made me his wife in
honour. And now, apart from me, he has brought forth grey-eyed Athene
who excels among all the blessed Immortals. But he was feeble from the
birth, among all the Gods, my son Hephaestos, lame and withered of foot,
whom I myself lifted in my hands, and cast into the wide sea. But the
daughter of Nereus, Thetis of the silver feet, received him and nurtured
him among her sisters. Would that she had done other grace to the
blessed Immortals!
"Thou evil one of many wiles, what other wile devisest thou? How hadst
thou the heart now alone to bear grey-eyed Athene? Could I not have
borne her? But none the less would she have been called thine among the
Immortals, who hold the wide heaven. Take heed now, that I devise not
for thee some evil to come. Yea, now shall I use arts whereby a child of
mine shall be born, excelling among the immortal Gods, without
dishonouring thy sacred bed or mine, for verily to thy bed I will not
come, but far from thee will nurse my grudge against the Immortal Gods."
So spake she, and withdrew from among the Gods with angered heart. Right
so she made her prayer, the ox-eyed lady Hera, striking the earth with
her hand flatlings, {121} and spake her word:
"Listen to me now, Earth, and wide Heavens above, and ye Gods called
Titans, dwelling beneath earth in great Tartarus, ye from whom spring
Gods and men! List to me now, all of you, and give me a child apart from
Zeus, yet nothing inferior to him in might, nay, stronger than he, as
much as far-seeing Zeus is mightier than Cronus!"
So spake she, and smote the ground with her firm hand. Then Earth, the
nurse of life, was stirred, and Hera, beholding it, was glad at heart,
for she deemed that her prayer would be accomplished. From that hour for
a full year she never came to the bed of wise Zeus, nor to her throne
adorned, whereon she was wont to sit, planning deep counsel, but dwelling
in her temples, the homes of Prayers, she took joy in her sacrifices, the
ox-eyed lady Hera.
Now when her months and days were fulfilled, the year revolving, and the
seasons in their course coming round, she bare a birth like neither Gods
nor mortals, the dread Typhaon, not to be dealt with, a bane of men. Him
now she took, the ox-eyed lady Hera, and carried and gave to the
Dragoness, to bitter nurse a bitter fosterling, who received him, that
ever wrought many wrongs among the renowned tribes of men.]
Whosoever met the Dragoness, on him would she bring the day of destiny,
before the Prince, far-darting Apollo, loosed at her the destroying
shaft; then writhing in strong anguish, and mightily panting she lay,
rolling about the land. Dread and dire was the din, as she writhed
hither and thither through the wood, and gave up the ghost, and Phoebus
spoke his malison:
"There do thou rot upon the fruitful earth; no longer shalt thou, at
least, live to be the evil bane of mortals that eat the fruit of the
fertile soil, and hither shall bring perfect hecatombs. Surely from thee
neither shall Typhoeus, nay, nor Chimaera of the evil name, shield death
that layeth low, but here shall black earth and bright Hyperion make thee
waste away."
So he spake in malison, and darkness veiled her eyes, and there the
sacred strength of the sun did waste her quite away. Whence now the
place is named Pytho, and men call the Prince "Pythian" for that deed,
for even there the might of the swift sun made corrupt the monster. {124}
Then Phoebus Apollo was ware in his heart that the fair-flowing spring,
Telphusa, had beguiled him, and in wrath he went to her, and swiftly
came, and standing close by her, spoke his word:
"Telphusa, thou wert not destined to beguile my mind, nor keep the
winsome lands and pour forth thy fair waters. Nay, here shall my honour
also dwell, not thine alone." So he spoke, and overset a rock, with a
shower of stones, and hid her streams, the Prince, far-darting Apollo.
And he made an altar in a grove of trees, hard by the fair-flowing
stream, where all men name him in prayer, "the Prince Telphusian," for
that he shamed the streams of sacred Telphusa. Then Phoebus Apollo
considered in his heart what men he should bring in to be his ministers,
and to serve him in rocky Pytho. While he was pondering on this, he
beheld a swift ship on the wine-dark sea, and aboard her many men and
good, Cretans from Minoan Cnossus, such as do sacrifice to the God, and
speak the doom of Phoebus Apollo of the Golden Sword, what word soever he
utters of sooth from the daphne in the dells of Parnassus. For barter
and wealth they were sailing in the black ship to sandy Pylos, and the
Pylian men. Anon Phoebus Apollo set forth to meet them, leaping into the
sea upon the swift ship in the guise of a dolphin, and there he lay, a
portent great and terrible.
[Of the crew, whosoever sought in heart to comprehend what he was . . .
On all sides he kept swaying to and fro, and shaking the timbers of the
galley.] But all they sat silent and in fear aboard the ship, nor loosed
the sheets, nor the sail of the black-prowed galley; nay, even as they
had first set the sails so they voyaged onward, the strong south-wind
speeding on the vessel from behind. First they rounded Malea, and passed
the Laconian land and came to Helos, a citadel by the sea, and Taenarus,
the land of Helios, that is the joy of mortals, where ever feed the deep-
fleeced flocks of Prince Helios, and there hath he his glad demesne.
There the crew thought to stay the galley, and land and consider of the
marvel, and see whether that strange thing will abide on the deck of the
hollow ship or leap again into the swell of the fishes' home. But the
well-wrought ship did not obey the rudder, but kept ever on her way
beyond rich Peloponnesus, Prince Apollo lightly guiding it by the gale.
So accomplishing her course she came to Arene, and pleasant Arguphea, and
Thryon, the ford of Alpheius, and well-builded Aepu, and sandy Pylos, and
the Pylian men, and ran by Crounoi, and Chalcis, and Dyme, and holy Elis,
where the Epeians bear sway. Then rejoicing in the breeze of Zeus, she
was making for Pherae, when to them out of the clouds showed forth the
steep ridge of Ithaca, and Dulichium, and Same, and wooded Zacynthus.
Anon when she had passed beyond all Peloponnesus, there straightway, off
Crisa, appeared the wide sound, that bounds rich Peloponnesus. Then came
on the west wind, clear and strong, by the counsel of Zeus, blowing hard
out of heaven, that the running ship might swiftest accomplish her course
over the salt water of the sea.
Backward then they sailed towards the Dawn and the sun, and the Prince
was their guide, Apollo, son of Zeus. Then came they to far-seen Crisa,
the land of vines, into the haven, while the sea-faring ship beached
herself on the shingle. Then from the ship leaped the Prince,
far-darting Apollo, like a star at high noon, while the gledes of fire
flew from him, and the splendour flashed to the heavens. Into his inmost
Holy Place he went through the precious tripods, and in the midst he
kindled a flame showering forth his shafts, and the splendour filled all
Crisa, {127} and the wives of the Crisaeans, and their fair-girdled
daughters raised a wail at the rushing flight of Phoebus, for great fear
fell upon all. Thence again to the galley he set forth and flew, fleet
as a thought, in shape a man lusty and strong, in his first youth, his
locks swathing his wide shoulders. Anon he spake to the seamen winged
words:
"Strangers, who are ye, whence sail ye the wet ways? Is it after
merchandise, or do ye wander at adventure, over the salt sea, as
sea-robbers use, that roam staking their own lives, and bearing bane to
men of strange speech? Why sit ye thus adread, not faring forth on the
land, nor slackening the gear of your black ship? Sure this is the wont
of toilsome mariners, when they come from the deep to the land in their
black ship, foredone with labour, and anon a longing for sweet food
seizes their hearts."
So spake he, and put courage in their breasts, and the leader of the
Cretans answered him, saying:
"Stranger, behold thou art no whit like unto mortal men in shape or
growth, but art a peer of the Immortals, wherefore all hail, and grace be
thine, and all good things at the hands of the Gods. Tell me then truly
that I may know indeed, what people is this, what land, what mortals
dwell here? Surely with our thoughts set on another goal we sailed the
great sea to Pylos from Crete, whence we boast our lineage; but now it is
hither that we have come, maugre our wills, with our galley--another path
and other ways--we longing to return, but some God has led us all
unwilling to this place."
Then the far-darting Apollo answered them:
"Strangers, who dwelt aforetime round wooded Cnossus, never again shall
ye return each to his pleasant city and his own house, and his wife, but
here shall ye hold my rich temple, honoured by multitudes of men. Lo! I
am the son of Zeus, and name myself Apollo, and hither have I brought you
over the great gulf of the sea, with no evil intent. Nay, here shall ye
possess my rich temple, held highest in honour among all men, and ye
shall know the counsels of the Immortals, by whose will ye shall ever be
held in renown. But now come, and instantly obey my word. First lower
the sails, and loose the sheets, and then beach the black ship on the
land, taking forth the wares and gear of the trim galley, and build ye an
altar on the strand of the sea. Thereon kindle fire, and sprinkle above
in sacrifice the white barley-flour, and thereafter pray, standing around
the altar. And whereas I first, in the misty sea, sprang aboard the
swift ship in the guise of a dolphin, therefore pray to me as Apollo
Delphinius, while mine shall ever be the Delphian altar seen from afar.
Then take ye supper beside the swift black ship, and pour libations to
the blessed Gods who hold Olympus. But when ye have dismissed the desire
of sweet food then with me do ye come, singing the Paean, till ye win
that place where ye shall possess the rich temple."
So spake he, while they heard and obeyed eagerly. First they lowered the
sails, loosing the sheets, and lowering the mast by the forestays, they
laid it in the mast-stead, and themselves went forth on the strand of the
sea. Then forth from the salt sea to the mainland they dragged the fleet
ship high up on the sands, laying long sleepers thereunder, and they
builded an altar on the sea-strand, and lit fire thereon, scattering
above white barley-flour in sacrifice, and, standing around the altar,
they prayed as the God commanded. Anon they took supper beside the fleet
black ship, and poured forth libations to the blessed Gods who hold
Olympus. But when they had dismissed the desire of meat and drink they
set forth on their way, and the Prince Apollo guided them, harp in hand,
and sweetly he harped, faring with high and goodly strides. Dancing in
his train the Cretans followed to Pytho, and the Paean they were
chanting, the paeans of the Cretans in whose breasts the Muse hath put
honey-sweet song. All unwearied they strode to the hill, and swiftly
were got to Parnassus and a winsome land, where they were to dwell,
honoured of many among men.
Apollo guided them, and showed his holy shrine and rich temple, and the
spirit was moved in their breasts, and the captain of the Cretans spake,
and asked the God, saying:
"Prince, since thou hast led us far from friends and our own country, for
so it pleases thee, how now shall we live, we pray thee tell us. This
fair land bears not vines, nor is rich in meadows, wherefrom we might
live well, and minister to men."
Then, smiling, Apollo, the son of Zeus, spoke to them:
"Foolish ones, enduring hearts, who desire cares, and sore toil, and all
straits! A light word will I speak to you, do ye consider it. Let each
one of you, knife in right hand, be ever slaughtering sheep that in
abundance shall ever be yours, all the flocks that the renowned tribes of
men bring hither to me. Yours it is to guard my temple, and receive the
tribes of men that gather hither, doing, above all, as my will enjoins.
But if any vain word be spoken, or vain deed wrought, or violence after
the manner of mortal men, then shall others be your masters, and hold you
in thraldom for ever. {133} I have spoken all, do thou keep it in thy
heart."
Even so, fare thou well, son of Zeus and Leto, but I shall remember both
thee and another song.