(ll. 179-181) O Lord, Lycia is yours and lovely Maeonia and Miletus,
charming city by the sea, but over wave-girt Delos you greatly reign
your own self.
(ll. 182-206) Leto’s all-glorious son goes to rocky Pytho, playing upon
his hollow lyre, clad in divine, perfumed garments; and at the touch of
the golden key his lyre sings sweet. Thence, swift as thought, he
speeds from earth to Olympus, to the house of Zeus, to join the
gathering of the other gods: then straightway the undying gods think
only of the lyre and song, and all the Muses together, voice sweetly
answering voice, hymn the unending gifts the gods enjoy and the
sufferings of men, all that they endure at the hands of the deathless
gods, and how they live witless and helpless and cannot find healing
for death or defence against old age. Meanwhile the rich-tressed Graces
and cheerful Seasons dance with Harmonia and Hebe and Aphrodite,
daughter of Zeus, holding each other by the wrist. And among them sings
one, not mean nor puny, but tall to look upon and enviable in mien,
Artemis who delights in arrows, sister of Apollo. Among them sport Ares
and the keen-eyed Slayer of Argus, while Apollo plays his lyre stepping
high and featly and a radiance shines around him, the gleaming of his
feet and close-woven vest. And they, even gold-tressed Leto and wise
Zeus, rejoice in their great hearts as they watch their dear son
playing among the undying gods.
(ll. 207-228) How then shall I sing of you—though in all ways you are a
worthy theme for song? Shall I sing of you as wooer and in the fields
of love, how you went wooing the daughter of Azan along with god-like
Ischys the son of well-horsed Elatius, or with Phorbas sprung from
Triops, or with Ereutheus, or with Leucippus and the wife of
Leucippus.... ((LACUNA)) ....you on foot, he with his chariot, yet he
fell not short of Triops. Or shall I sing how at the first you went
about the earth seeking a place of oracle for men, O far-shooting
Apollo? To Pieria first you went down from Olympus and passed by sandy
Lectus and Enienae and through the land of the Perrhaebi. Soon you came
to Iolcus and set foot on Cenaeum in Euboea, famed for ships: you stood
in the Lelantine plain, but it pleased not your heart to make a temple
there and wooded groves. From there you crossed the Euripus,
far-shooting Apollo, and went up the green, holy hills, going on to
Mycalessus and grassy-bedded Teumessus, and so came to the wood-clad
abode of Thebe; for as yet no man lived in holy Thebe, nor were there
tracks or ways about Thebe’s wheat-bearing plain as yet.
(ll. 229-238) And further still you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and
came to Onchestus, Poseidon’s bright grove: there the new-broken colt
distressed with drawing the trim chariot gets spirit again, and the
skilled driver springs from his car and goes on his way. Then the
horses for a while rattle the empty car, being rid of guidance; and if
they break the chariot in the woody grove, men look after the horses,
but tilt the chariot and leave it there; for this was the rite from the
very first. And the drivers pray to the lord of the shrine; but the
chariot falls to the lot of the god.
(ll. 239-243) Further yet you went, O far-shooting Apollo, and reached
next Cephissus’ sweet stream which pours forth its sweet-flowing water
from Lilaea, and crossing over it, O worker from afar, you passed
many-towered Ocalea and reached grassy Haliartus.
(ll. 244-253) Then you went towards Telphusa: and there the pleasant
place seemed fit for making a temple and wooded grove. You came very
near and spoke to her: ‘Telphusa, here I am minded to make a glorious
temple, an oracle for men, and hither they will always bring perfect
hecatombs, both those who live in rich Peloponnesus and those of Europe
and all the wave-washed isles, coming to seek oracles. And I will
deliver to them all counsel that cannot fail, giving answer in my rich
temple.’
(ll. 254-276) So said Phoebus Apollo, and laid out all the foundations
throughout, wide and very long. But when Telphusa saw this, she was
angry in heart and spoke, saying: ‘Lord Phoebus, worker from afar, I
will speak a word of counsel to your heart, since you are minded to
make here a glorious temple to be an oracle for men who will always
bring hither perfect hecatombs for you; yet I will speak out, and do
you lay up my words in your heart. The trampling of swift horses and
the sound of mules watering at my sacred springs will always irk you,
and men will like better to gaze at the well-made chariots and
stamping, swift-footed horses than at your great temple and the many
treasures that are within. But if you will be moved by me—for you,
lord, are stronger and mightier than I, and your strength is very
great—build at Crisa below the glades of Parnassus: there no bright
chariot will clash, and there will be no noise of swift-footed horses
near your well-built altar. But so the glorious tribes of men will
bring gifts to you as Iepaeon (‘Hail-Healer’), and you will receive
with delight rich sacrifices from the people dwelling round about.’ So
said Telphusa, that she alone, and not the Far-Shooter, should have
renown there; and she persuaded the Far-Shooter.
(ll. 277-286) Further yet you went, far-shooting Apollo, until you came
to the town of the presumptuous Phlegyae who dwell on this earth in a
lovely glade near the Cephisian lake, caring not for Zeus. And thence
you went speeding swiftly to the mountain ridge, and came to Crisa
beneath snowy Parnassus, a foothill turned towards the west: a cliff
hangs over it from above, and a hollow, rugged glade runs under. There
the lord Phoebus Apollo resolved to make his lovely temple, and thus he
said:
(ll. 287-293) ‘In this place I am minded to build a glorious temple to
be an oracle for men, and here they will always bring perfect
hecatombs, both they who dwell in rich Peloponnesus and the men of
Europe and from all the wave-washed isles, coming to question me. And I
will deliver to them all counsel that cannot fail, answering them in my
rich temple.’
(ll. 294-299) When he had said this, Phoebus Apollo laid out all the
foundations throughout, wide and very long; and upon these the sons of
Erginus, Trophonius and Agamedes, dear to the deathless gods, laid a
footing of stone. And the countless tribes of men built the whole
temple of wrought stones, to be sung of for ever.
(ll. 300-310) But near by was a sweet flowing spring, and there with
his strong bow the lord, the son of Zeus, killed the bloated, great
she-dragon, a fierce monster wont to do great mischief to men upon
earth, to men themselves and to their thin-shanked sheep; for she was a
very bloody plague. She it was who once received from gold-throned Hera
and brought up fell, cruel Typhaon to be a plague to men. Once on a
time Hera bare him because she was angry with father Zeus, when the Son
of Cronos bare all-glorious Athena in his head. Thereupon queenly Hera
was angry and spoke thus among the assembled gods:
(ll. 311-330) ‘Hear from me, all gods and goddesses, how
cloud-gathering Zeus begins to dishonour me wantonly, when he has made
me his true-hearted wife. See now, apart from me he has given birth to
bright-eyed Athena who is foremost among all the blessed gods. But my
son Hephaestus whom I bare was weakly among all the blessed gods and
shrivelled of foot, a shame and disgrace to me in heaven, whom I myself
took in my hands and cast out so that he fell in the great sea. But
silver-shod Thetis the daughter of Nereus took and cared for him with
her sisters: would that she had done other service to the blessed gods!
O wicked one and crafty! What else will you now devise? How dared you
by yourself give birth to bright-eyed Athena? Would not I have borne
you a child—I, who was at least called your wife among the undying gods
who hold wide heaven. Beware now lest I devise some evil thing for you
hereafter: yes, now I will contrive that a son be born me to be
foremost among the undying gods—and that without casting shame on the
holy bond of wedlock between you and me. And I will not come to your
bed, but will consort with the blessed gods far off from you.’
(ll. 331-333) When she had so spoken, she went apart from the gods,
being very angry. Then straightway large-eyed queenly Hera prayed,
striking the ground flatwise with her hand, and speaking thus:
(ll. 334-362) ‘Hear now, I pray, Earth and wide Heaven above, and you
Titan gods who dwell beneath the earth about great Tartarus, and from
whom are sprung both gods and men! Harken you now to me, one and all,
and grant that I may bear a child apart from Zeus, no wit lesser than
him in strength—nay, let him be as much stronger than Zeus as
all-seeing Zeus than Cronos.’ Thus she cried and lashed the earth with
her strong hand. Then the life-giving earth was moved: and when Hera
saw it she was glad in heart, for she thought her prayer would be
fulfilled. And thereafter she never came to the bed of wise Zeus for a
full year, not to sit in her carved chair as aforetime to plan wise
counsel for him, but stayed in her temples where many pray, and
delighted in her offerings, large-eyed queenly Hera. But when the
months and days were fulfilled and the seasons duly came on as the
earth moved round, she bare one neither like the gods nor mortal men,
fell, cruel Typhaon, to be a plague to men. Straightway large-eyed
queenly Hera took him and bringing one evil thing to another such, gave
him to the dragoness; and she received him. And this Typhaon used to
work great mischief among the famous tribes of men. Whosoever met the
dragoness, the day of doom would sweep him away, until the lord Apollo,
who deals death from afar, shot a strong arrow at her. Then she, rent
with bitter pangs, lay drawing great gasps for breath and rolling about
that place. An awful noise swelled up unspeakable as she writhed
continually this way and that amid the wood: and so she left her life,
breathing it forth in blood. Then Phoebus Apollo boasted over her:
(ll. 363-369) ‘Now rot here upon the soil that feeds man! You at least
shall live no more to be a fell bane to men who eat the fruit of the
all-nourishing earth, and who will bring hither perfect hecatombs.
Against cruel death neither Typhoeus shall avail you nor ill-famed
Chimera, but here shall the Earth and shining Hyperion make you rot.’
(ll. 370-374) Thus said Phoebus, exulting over her: and darkness
covered her eyes. And the holy strength of Helios made her rot away
there; wherefore the place is now called Pytho, and men call the lord
Apollo by another name, Pythian; because on that spot the power of
piercing Helios made the monster rot away.
(ll. 375-378) Then Phoebus Apollo saw that the sweet-flowing spring had
beguiled him, and he started out in anger against Telphusa; and soon
coming to her, he stood close by and spoke to her:
(ll. 379-381) ‘Telphusa, you were not, after all, to keep to yourself
this lovely place by deceiving my mind, and pour forth your clear
flowing water: here my renown shall also be and not yours alone?’
(ll. 382-387) Thus spoke the lord, far-working Apollo, and pushed over
upon her a crag with a shower of rocks, hiding her streams: and he made
himself an altar in a wooded grove very near the clear-flowing stream.
In that place all men pray to the great one by the name Telphusian,
because he humbled the stream of holy Telphusa.
(ll. 388-439) Then Phoebus Apollo pondered in his heart what men he
should bring in to be his ministers in sacrifice and to serve him in
rocky Pytho. And while he considered this, he became aware of a swift
ship upon the wine-like sea in which were many men and goodly, Cretans
from Cnossos 2510, the city of Minos, they who do sacrifice to the
prince and announce his decrees, whatsoever Phoebus Apollo, bearer of
the golden blade, speaks in answer from his laurel tree below the dells
of Parnassus. These men were sailing in their black ship for traffic
and for profit to sandy Pylos and to the men of Pylos. But Phoebus
Apollo met them: in the open sea he sprang upon their swift ship, like
a dolphin in shape, and lay there, a great and awesome monster, and
none of them gave heed so as to understand 2511; but they sought to
cast the dolphin overboard. But he kept shaking the black ship every
way and make the timbers quiver. So they sat silent in their craft for
fear, and did not loose the sheets throughout the black, hollow ship,
nor lowered the sail of their dark-prowed vessel, but as they had set
it first of all with oxhide ropes, so they kept sailing on; for a
rushing south wind hurried on the swift ship from behind. First they
passed by Malea, and then along the Laconian coast they came to
Taenarum, sea-garlanded town and country of Helios who gladdens men,
where the thick-fleeced sheep of the lord Helios feed continually and
occupy a glad-some country. There they wished to put their ship to
shore, and land and comprehend the great marvel and see with their eyes
whether the monster would remain upon the deck of the hollow ship, or
spring back into the briny deep where fishes shoal. But the well-built
ship would not obey the helm, but went on its way all along
Peloponnesus: and the lord, far-working Apollo, guided it easily with
the breath of the breeze. So the ship ran on its course and came to
Arena and lovely Argyphea and Thryon, the ford of Alpheus, and
well-placed Aepy and sandy Pylos and the men of Pylos; past Cruni it
went and Chalcis and past Dyme and fair Elis, where the Epei rule. And
at the time when she was making for Pherae, exulting in the breeze from
Zeus, there appeared to them below the clouds the steep mountain of
Ithaca, and Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. But when they were
passed by all the coast of Peloponnesus, then, towards Crisa, that vast
gulf began to heave in sight which through all its length cuts off the
rich isle of Pelops. There came on them a strong, clear west-wind by
ordinance of Zeus and blew from heaven vehemently, that with all speed
the ship might finish coursing over the briny water of the sea. So they
began again to voyage back towards the dawn and the sun: and the lord
Apollo, son of Zeus, led them on until they reached far-seen Crisa,
land of vines, and into haven: there the sea-coursing ship grounded on
the sands.
(ll. 440-451) Then, like a star at noonday, the lord, far-working
Apollo, leaped from the ship: flashes of fire flew from him thick and
their brightness reached to heaven. He entered into his shrine between
priceless tripods, and there made a flame to flare up bright, showing
forth the splendour of his shafts, so that their radiance filled all
Crisa, and the wives and well-girded daughters of the Crisaeans raised
a cry at that outburst of Phoebus; for he cast great fear upon them
all. From his shrine he sprang forth again, swift as a thought, to
speed again to the ship, bearing the form of a man, brisk and sturdy,
in the prime of his youth, while his broad shoulders were covered with
his hair: and he spoke to the Cretans, uttering winged words:
(ll. 452-461) ‘Strangers, who are you? Whence come you sailing along
the paths of the sea? Are you for traffic, or do you wander at random
over the sea as pirates do who put their own lives to hazard and bring
mischief to men of foreign parts as they roam? Why rest you so and are
afraid, and do not go ashore nor stow the gear of your black ship? For
that is the custom of men who live by bread, whenever they come to land
in their dark ships from the main, spent with toil; at once desire for
sweet food catches them about the heart.’
(ll. 462-473) So speaking, he put courage in their hearts, and the
master of the Cretans answered him and said: ‘Stranger—though you are
nothing like mortal men in shape or stature, but are as the deathless
gods—hail and all happiness to you, and may the gods give you good. Now
tell me truly that I may surely know it: what country is this, and what
land, and what men live herein? As for us, with thoughts set
otherwards, we were sailing over the great sea to Pylos from Crete (for
from there we declare that we are sprung), but now are come on
shipboard to this place by no means willingly—another way and other
paths—and gladly would we return. But one of the deathless gods brought
us here against our will.’
(ll. 474-501) Then far-working Apollo answered then and said:
‘Strangers who once dwelt about wooded Cnossos but now shall return no
more each to his loved city and fair house and dear wife; here shall
you keep my rich temple that is honoured by many men. I am the son of
Zeus; Apollo is my name: but you I brought here over the wide gulf of
the sea, meaning you no hurt; nay, here you shall keep my rich temple
that is greatly honoured among men, and you shall know the plans of the
deathless gods, and by their will you shall be honoured continually for
all time. And now come, make haste and do as I say. First loose the
sheets and lower the sail, and then draw the swift ship up upon the
land. Take out your goods and the gear of the straight ship, and make
an altar upon the beach of the sea: light fire upon it and make an
offering of white meal. Next, stand side by side around the altar and
pray: and in as much as at the first on the hazy sea I sprang upon the
swift ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me as Apollo Delphinius;
also the altar itself shall be called Delphinius and overlooking 2512
for ever. Afterwards, sup beside your dark ship and pour an offering to
the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. But when you have put away
craving for sweet food, come with me singing the hymn Ie Paean (Hail,
Healer!), until you come to the place where you shall keep my rich
temple.’
(ll. 502-523) So said Apollo. And they readily harkened to him and
obeyed him. First they unfastened the sheets and let down the sail and
lowered the mast by the forestays upon the mast-rest. Then, landing
upon the beach of the sea, they hauled up the ship from the water to
dry land and fixed long stays under it. Also they made an altar upon
the beach of the sea, and when they had lit a fire, made an offering of
white meal, and prayed standing around the altar as Apollo had bidden
them. Then they took their meal by the swift, black ship, and poured an
offering to the blessed gods who dwell on Olympus. And when they had
put away craving for drink and food, they started out with the lord
Apollo, the son of Zeus, to lead them, holding a lyre in his hands, and
playing sweetly as he stepped high and featly. So the Cretans followed
him to Pytho, marching in time as they chanted the Ie Paean after the
manner of the Cretan paean-singers and of those in whose hearts the
heavenly Muse has put sweet-voiced song. With tireless feet they
approached the ridge and straightway came to Parnassus and the lovely
place where they were to dwell honoured by many men. There Apollo
brought them and showed them his most holy sanctuary and rich temple.
(ll. 524-525) But their spirit was stirred in their dear breasts, and
the master of the Cretans asked him, saying:
(ll. 526-530) ‘Lord, since you have brought us here far from our dear
ones and our fatherland,—for so it seemed good to your heart,—tell us
now how we shall live. That we would know of you. This land is not to
be desired either for vineyards or for pastures so that we can live
well thereon and also minister to men.’
(ll. 531-544) Then Apollo, the son of Zeus, smiled upon them and said:
‘Foolish mortals and poor drudges are you, that you seek cares and hard
toils and straits! Easily will I tell you a word and set it in your
hearts. Though each one of you with knife in hand should slaughter
sheep continually, yet would you always have abundant store, even all
that the glorious tribes of men bring here for me. But guard you my
temple and receive the tribes of men that gather to this place, and
especially show mortal men my will, and do you keep righteousness in
your heart. But if any shall be disobedient and pay no heed to my
warning, or if there shall be any idle word or deed and outrage as is
common among mortal men, then other men shall be your masters and with
a strong hand shall make you subject for ever. All has been told you:
do you keep it in your heart.’
(ll. 545-546) And so, farewell, son of Zeus and Leto; but I will
remember you and another hymn also.