I. (5 lines) (ll. 1-5) Have reverence for him who needs a home and
stranger’s dole, all ye who dwell in the high city of Cyme, the lovely
maiden, hard by the foothills of lofty Sardene, ye who drink the
heavenly water of the divine stream, eddying Hermus, whom deathless
Zeus begot.
II. (2 lines) (ll. 1-2) Speedily may my feet bear me to some town of
righteous men; for their hearts are generous and their wit is best.
III. (6 lines) (ll. 1-6) I am a maiden of bronze and am set upon the
tomb of Midas. While the waters flow and tall trees flourish, and the
sun rises and shines and the bright moon also; while rivers run and the
sea breaks on the shore, ever remaining on this mournful tomb, I tell
the passer-by that Midas here lies buried.
IV. (17 lines) (ll. 1-17) To what a fate did Zeus the Father give me a
prey even while he made me to grow, a babe at my mother’s knee! By the
will of Zeus who holds the aegis the people of Phricon, riders on
wanton horses, more active than raging fire in the test of war, once
built the towers of Aeolian Smyrna, wave-shaken neighbour to the sea,
through which glides the pleasant stream of sacred Meles; thence 2602
arose the daughters of Zeus, glorious children, and would fain have
made famous that fair country and the city of its people. But in their
folly those men scorned the divine voice and renown of song, and in
trouble shall one of them remember this hereafter—he who with scornful
words to them 2603 contrived my fate. Yet I will endure the lot which
heaven gave me even at my birth, bearing my disappointment with a
patient heart. My dear limbs yearn not to stay in the sacred streets of
Cyme, but rather my great heart urges me to go unto another country,
small though I am.
V. (2 lines) (ll. 1-2) Thestorides, full many things there are that
mortals cannot sound; but there is nothing more unfathomable than the
heart of man.
VI. (8 lines) (ll. 1-8) Hear me, Poseidon, strong shaker of the earth,
ruler of wide-spread, tawny Helicon! Give a fair wind and sight of safe
return to the shipmen who speed and govern this ship. And grant that
when I come to the nether slopes of towering Mimas I may find
honourable, god-fearing men. Also may I avenge me on the wretch who
deceived me and grieved Zeus the lord of guests and his own
guest-table.
VII. (3 lines) (ll. 1-3) Queen Earth, all bounteous giver of
honey-hearted wealth, how kindly, it seems, you are to some, and how
intractable and rough for those with whom you are angry.
VIII. (4 lines) (ll. 1-4) Sailors, who rove the seas and whom a hateful
fate has made as the shy sea-fowl, living an unenviable life, observe
the reverence due to Zeus who rules on high, the god of strangers; for
terrible is the vengeance of this god afterwards for whosoever has
sinned.
IX. (2 lines) (ll. 1-2) Strangers, a contrary wind has caught you: but
even now take me aboard and you shall make your voyage.
X. (4 lines) (ll. 1-4) Another sort of pine shall bear a better fruit
2604 than you upon the heights of furrowed, windy Ida. For there shall
mortal men get the iron that Ares loves so soon as the Cebrenians shall
hold the land.
XI. (4 lines) (ll. 1-4) Glaucus, watchman of flocks, a word will I put
in your heart. First give the dogs their dinner at the courtyard gate,
for this is well. The dog first hears a man approaching and the
wild-beast coming to the fence.
XII. (4 lines) (ll. 1-4) Goddess-nurse of the young 2605, give ear to
my prayer, and grant that this woman may reject the love-embraces of
youth and dote on grey-haired old men whose powers are dulled, but
whose hearts still desire.
XIII. (6 lines) (ll. 1-6) Children are a man’s crown, towers of a city;
horses are the glory of a plain, and so are ships of the sea; wealth
will make a house great, and reverend princes seated in assembly are a
goodly sight for the folk to see. But a blazing fire makes a house look
more comely upon a winter’s day, when the Son of Cronos sends down
snow.
XIV. (23 lines) (ll. 1-23) Potters, if you will give me a reward, I
will sing for you. Come, then, Athena, with hand upraised 2606 over the
kiln. Let the pots and all the dishes turn out well and be well fired:
let them fetch good prices and be sold in plenty in the market, and
plenty in the streets. Grant that the potters may get great gain and
grant me so to sing to them. But if you turn shameless and make false
promises, then I call together the destroyers of kilns, Shatter and
Smash and Charr and Crash and Crudebake who can work this craft much
mischief. Come all of you and sack the kiln-yard and the buildings: let
the whole kiln be shaken up to the potter’s loud lament. As a horse’s
jaw grinds, so let the kiln grind to powder all the pots inside. And
you, too, daughter of the Sun, Circe the witch, come and cast cruel
spells; hurt both these men and their handiwork. Let Chiron also come
and bring many Centaurs—all that escaped the hands of Heracles and all
that were destroyed: let them make sad havoc of the pots and overthrow
the kiln, and let the potters see the mischief and be grieved; but I
will gloat as I behold their luckless craft. And if anyone of them
stoops to peer in, let all his face be burned up, that all men may
learn to deal honestly.
XV. (13 lines) 2607 (ll. 1-7) Let us betake us to the house of some man
of great power,—one who bears great power and is greatly prosperous
always. Open of yourselves, you doors, for mighty Wealth will enter in,
and with Wealth comes jolly Mirth and gentle Peace. May all the
corn-bins be full and the mass of dough always overflow the
kneading-trough. Now (set before us) cheerful barley-pottage, full of
sesame....
((LACUNA))
(ll. 8-10) Your son’s wife, driving to this house with strong-hoofed
mules, shall dismount from her carriage to greet you; may she be shod
with golden shoes as she stands weaving at the loom.
(ll. 11-13) I come, and I come yearly, like the swallow that perches
light-footed in the fore-part of your house. But quickly bring....
XVI. (2 lines) (ll. 1-2) If you will give us anything (well). But if
not, we will not wait, for we are not come here to dwell with you.