237. MS. λεπίδες, corr. Karst. from a gloss of Hesych.
238-239. Plut. _de fort._ 98 D.
238. MS. ἐχῖνος, corr. Steph. 239. MS. ὀξυβελὴς δέ τε, text
follows Cd. Vulc.
240-242. Simpl. _de caelo_, Peyr. 28; Gaisford xliii. Brand. Schol. 512
a. The three lines are cited separately.
242. _A_ ξυμπρώτ’, _B_ ξυμπρώταις, corr. Karst.
243. Plut. _Quaest. conv._ 683 E.
244-246. Simpl. _de caelo_, Peyr. 46; Gaisf. xliv. Schol. Brand. 512 a.
244. Ar. _de anim._ iii. 6; 430 a 29; _de gen. an._ i. 18; 722 b 20, and
commentators.
244. MS. ᾗ, ἤ, ὡς. 245. πολλαὶ, πολλῶν ἐμπλάζοντο.
247-253. Simpl. _Phys._ 258 r.
247. MS. τοῦτον μὲν ἂν ... ὄγκον, Vulg. omits ἂν, text
from Diels. 249. MS. θαλέθοντος, corr. Karst. 253. Ald.
ὀρειμελέεσσιν, corr. Schneider (cf. 438).
254-256. Simpl. _de caelo_ following 246 after a break.
254. _B_ Taur. omit δαίμονι. 256. _B_ Taur. ἐξεγένετο.
257-260. Aelian, _hist. anim._ xvi. 29. Cf. Plut. _Colot._ 1123 B.
257. MS. φύεσθαι, Karst. ἐφύοντο. 258. MS. ἀνδρόπρωνα ...
ἐξανατείνειν, corr. Gronovius. 259. MS. ὑπ’, corr. Jacobs. 260.
MS. σκιεροῖς, corr. Diels.
261. Plut. _Colot._ 1123 B.
MS. εἱλίποδα κριτόχειρα, corr. Karst. and Duebner.
262-269. Simpl. _Phys._ 86 v 381, 31.
263. MS. ἐννυχίους, corr. Panz. cf. _Odyssey_ λ 344 ἀπὸ σκοποῦ,
which perhaps should be restored here. 266. MS. εἴδεος, Stz.
οὔδεος, but cf. Simpl. 382, 7. 269. _E_ οἵα τ’, _F_ οὔτ’, a
οὔτ’ αὖ, Diels οἷόν τ’: _EF_ γύων, a γῆρυν, corr. Stein.
270. Arist. _de gen. anim._ i. 18; 722 b 12; _ibid._ i. 1; 764 b 17; and
270-271 in Philop. on this passage.
270. _Z_ omits ἐν. 271. Stein transposes last two words.
272. Plut. _Quaest. nat._ 917 C.
MS. τῷ δέ τι ... εἴτε διὰ πέψεως ἀμμίσγων. Karst, τῷ δ’ ἐπὶ ...
δι’ ὄψεος ἀντ’ ἀίσσων, Stein ἀμμιχθέντι.
273-274. Arist. _de gen. anim._ iv. 1; 723 a 24 after 271. _S_ ἐλύθη.
275. Schol. Eur. _Phoen._ p. 600 Valck. Stein transposes first two words.
276-278. Galen in Hippokr. _Epidem._ iv. 2.
276. MS. τὸ κατ’ ἄρρενα ἔπλετο γαίης. Text from Diels.
279. Plut. _de amic. mult._ 95 A; cf. Arist. _de gen. anim._ iv. 4; 771 b
23.
280. Arist. _de gen. anim._ iv. 8; 777 a 10; and Philop. on this passage.
281. Plut. _Quaest. Nat._ 916 D.
282-283. Plut. _Quaest. Conv._ 663 A.
282. MS. μὲν ἐπὶ γλυκὺ, corr. Macrob. 283. MS. omits ἔβη and
ends δαλεροῦ λαβέτω, corr. Karst.
284-285. Philop. on Arist. _de gen. anim._ 59 a.
284. MS. ὕδωρ οἴνῳ μᾶλλον ἐναρίθμιον. Text from Stein.
286. Plut. _de def. orac._ 433 B.
MS. γλαυκῆς κρόκου, corr. Karst. and Xylander.
287-311. Arist. _de respir._ 7; 473 b 9.
287. _M_il δίαιμοι. 289. MSS. ἐπιστομίοις, _Z_ _M_il
ἐπιστομίαις, corr. Stz. MSS. πυκναῖς or πυκίνοις, _M_il δόναξι.
290. Some MSS. τέθρα, _M_il φόνον, others φανὸν. 291. _M_ μέν
γ’ ἐνθεῖναι θέρει, pr _Z_ εὔπνοιαν. 292. Several MSS. ἐπάξῃ,
ἐπαίξῃ. 293. Bekker with majority of MSS. καταβήσεται. 294.
MSS. ἀναθρώσκει, corr. Karst. 295. Several MSS. κλεψύδραις,
il παίζησι, _MZ_ παίζουσι, others παιζουσα, _MZ_il διιπετέος,
others δι’ εὐπετέος. 298. il_MZ_ οὐδ’ ὅτ’, οὐδέτ’, Bk οὐδ’ ὅγ’,
Stein οὐ τότ’. 299. MSS. ἀέρος, corr. Stein. 301. MSS. αὔξιμον,
a few others αἴσιμον. Cf. Simpl. Phys. 151 v. 303. Many MSS.
χρωσθέντος. 307. MSS. αὔξιμον, Bk. αἴσιμον. 309. MSS. ἐπαίξειε,
corr. Stein. 310. _MZ_il αἰθέρος, others ἕτερον, _MZ_il οἶδμα
τιταίνων. 311. l ἀναθρώσκοι.
313.[75] Plut. _Quaest. nat._ 917 E; _de curios._ 520 F.
MS. (_Q.n._) κέμματα, (_de c._) τέρματα, Buttmann κέρματα.
From Plutarch _Mor._ 917 E and Arist. _Problem. inedit._ II.
101, (Didot, IV. p. 310); Diels _Hermes_ xv. 176 restores the
following line after 313:
<ἐν δρίῳ> ὅσσ’ ἀπέλειπε ποδῶν ἁπαλὴ περίπνοια.
314. Theophrast. _de sens._ § 22.
315. Theophr. _ibid._ § 9. Diels _Dox._ 501 suggests ὀστοῦν.
316-325. Arist. _de sens. et sensib._ c. 2; 437 b 26. Alex. Aphrod. on
this passage.
318. _YE_ ἀμόργους, _M_l ἀμουργούς. 320. Many MSS. πῦρ. 323.
MSS. λεπτῇσιν γ’ ὀθόνῃσιν corr. Bekker: several MSS. ἐχεύατο,
λοχάζετο. 324. Several MSS. ἀμφιναέντος.
326. Arist. _Poet._ c. 21; 1458 a 5. Strabo, viii. 364.
327-329. Stob. _Ecl. Phys._ i. p. 1026.
327. MSS. τετραμένα, corr. Grot. _ACt._ ἀντιθρῶντος, other
MSS. ἀντιθροῶντος, corr. Bergk. 328. _ACt._ κικλήσκεται. 329.
Cf. _Etym. M._ and _Or._ under αἷμα; Tertul. _de an._ xv. 576;
Chalcid. on _Tim._ p. 305.
330-332. Arist. _de anim._ iii. 3; 427 a 23; and Philop. on this passage.
Arist. _Met._ iii. 5; 1009 b 18; Themist. on Arist. _de anima_ 85 b.
330. Some MSS. ἐναύξεται. 330. MS. omits τ’. 331. MS. καὶ τὸ
φρονεῖν, corr. Karst.
333-335. Arist. _de anim._ i. 2; 404 b 12; _Met._ ii. 4; 1000 b 6; Sext.
Emp. _Math._ i. 303, vii. 92, 121. Philop. on Arist. _de Gen. et corr._
59 b; Hipp. _Ref. haer._ p. 165. Single lines are mentioned elsewhere.
334. Sext. ἠέρι δ’ ἠέρα. 335. Sometimes στοργὴν δὲ στοργῇ.
336-337. Theophr. _de sens._ § 10; _Dox._ 502.
336. MS. ὡς ἐκ τούτων π., corr. Karst. 337. MS. ἥδονται καὶ ἀ.,
corr. Karst.
338-341. Hipp. _Ref. haer._ vii. 31; 254. Cf. Schneid. _Philol._ vi. 167.
338. MS. εἰκάραι φημερίων, corr. Mill. MS. τινὸς, corr.
Schneid. 339. MS. ἡμετέρας μελέτας, corr. Schn. 340. MS.
εὐχομένων, corr. Schn. 341. MS. μακάρων, corr. Mill. Schn.
καθαρὸν λόγον.
342-343. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 733.
344-346. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 694; Theodor. Ther. i. 476 D.
344. Theod. πελάσασθ’ οὐδ’, Clem. πελάσασθαι ἐν.
347-351. Ammon. on Arist. _de interpret._ 199 b; Schol. Arist. i. 35 b.
Tzet. _Chiliad._ xiii. 79. 348-349. Hippol. _Ref. haer._ p. 248. 350-351.
Tzet. vii. 522.
347. Ammon. οὔτε γὰρ ἀνδρομέῃ κεφαλῇ, Tzt. οὐ μὲν γὰρ βροτέῃ
κεφαλῇ. 348. Tzt. οὐ μὲν ἀπαὶ, Hippol. οὐ γὰρ ἀπὸ, Ammon. Tzt.
νώτων γε ... ἀίσσουσιν. Text from Hippol. 349. Hippol. γούνατ’
οὐ μήδεα γενήεντα. (349a. Hippol. adds after 349 the following
ἀλλὰ σφαῖρος ἔην καὶ ἶσος ἐστὶν αὐτῷ, Schneid. ἀλλὰ σφαῖρος
ἕεις καὶ πάντοθεν ἶσος ἑαυτῷ.)
352-363. Diog. Laer. viii. 62. Omitting 354, 362, _Anthol._ Bosch. i. 86.
352-353, 355-356. _Anth. gr._ Jacobs ix. 569. 352-353. Diog. Laer. viii.
54 (cited as beginning of Book on Purifications). 354 inserted by Stz.
from Diod. Sic. xiii. 83. 355. Diog. Laer. viii. 66; Sext. Emp. _Math._
i. 302; Philost. _vit. Apoll._ i. 1.; Lucian, _pro laps. inter salut._ i.
496; _Cedren. chron._ i. 157.
352. MS. ξανθοῦ, Bergk ζαθέου. 353. variant ναίετε ἄκρην:
variants ἀν, ἀν’, ἂν. Anth. πόληος, Bergk πόλεως, Steph.
πόλευς. 364. MS. αἰδοῖοι, Bergk αἰδοίων. 355. Vulg. ὑμῖν,
Bergk ὔμμιν. 356. Cd. Vind. τετιμημένος ... ἔοικα. 357. Vulg.
θαλείης, corr. Karst. 361. MS. δέ τι, corr. Stz. Clem. Al.
Strom. 754 παρακολουθεῖν ... τοὺς μὲν μαντοσυνῶν κεχρημένους,
τοὺς δ’ ἐπὶ νοῦσον σιδηρὸν δὴ χαλεποῖσι πεπαρμένους. 363.
Platt, _Journ. Philol._ 48 p. 247 ἐβόλοντο: MS. εὐηκέα, Scal.
εὐήχεα.
364-365. Sext. Emp. _Math._ i. 302.
365. Some MSS. πολυφθορέων. Cf. 163.
366-368. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 648.
366. _AH_ ὅτ’ ἀληθείη, Cd. Paris. ἐκ τ’ ἀληθείη. 367. Diels οὓς
ἐρέω· μάλα δ’ ἀργαλέη πάντεσσι τέτυκται.
369-382. 369, 371, 373-374, 381 Plut. _de exil._ 607 C. 369-370, 372-383.
Hippol. _Ref. haer._ 249-251 (scattered through the text). 369-370.
Simpl. _Phys._ 272 v; Stob. _Ecl._ ii. 7; 384. 374-375. Origen _c. Cels._
viii. 53 p. 780. 377-380. Plut. _de Is. et Os._ 361 C (Euseb. _Praep.
Ev._ v. 5; 187). 377-379. Plut. _de vit. alien._ 830 F. 381-382. Asclep.
in Brand. Schol. Arist. 629 a; Hierokl. _carm. aur._ 254; Plotin. _Enn._
iv. 81; 468 C.
369. Plut. ἔστι τῆς (τι), Hippol. ἔστι τί: Simpl. σφράγισμα.
371. Panz. Schneid. φρενῶν. 372. MS. ὃς καὶ ἐπιορκον ἁμαρτήσας
ἐπομώσει, corr. Schneid. Schneid. αἵμασιν, Stein αἵματος. Knatz
rejects 372 as a gloss from Hesiod _Theog._ 793. 373. Plut.
δαίμονες οἵτε μακραίωνες λελόγχασι βίοιο, Hippol. δαιμόνιοί τε
(remainder as in text), Heeren δαίμων., Orig. Hipp. μὲν ἀπὸ.
Cf. ἀπαὶ v. 348. 375. Orig. γιγνομένην παντοίαν διὰ χρόνον
ἰδέαν, Hippol. φυομένους παντοῖα διὰ χρόνον εἴδεα. 377. Hippol.
μέν γε. 378. Plut. _de vit. alien._ δὲ χθονὸς ... ἀνέπτυσε.
Plut. _de Is._ ἐσαῦθις. 378. Hipp. φαέθοντος. 381. MSS. ὡς,
τὴν, τὼς, corr. Scal.; Hippol. confirms correction. Hippol.
omits νῦν. Asclep. δεῦρ’. 382. Asclep. αἰθομένῳ.
383-384. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 750; Diog. Laer. viii. 77; Athen. viii. 365;
Philostr. _vit. Apoll._ i. 1; 2, and often.
383. Hippol. _Philos._ 3 ἤτοι μὲν γὰρ, _Cedren. Chron._ i.
157 ἤτοι μὲν πρῶτα. Often κούρη τε κόρος τε. 384. Cedren. καὶ
θὴρ κ.θ. ἐξ ἁλὸς ἔμπνους ἰχθὺς καὶ ἐν Ὀλυμπίᾳ βοῦς, Diog.
Laer. ἔμπυρος, Athen. ἔμπορος, Clem. ἔλλοπος. Others ἄμφορος,
νήχυτος, φαίδιμος.
385-388. 385. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 516. 385b-386. Hierocl. _carm. aur._
254. 386, 388. Synesius _de prov._ i. 89 D. 386-387. Prokl. on _Kratyl._
103; 386. Philo vol. ii. 638 Mang. 388. Synes. _epist._ 147; Julian. Imp.
_orat._ &c.
385. Clem. ἀσυνήθεα, Hierocl. ἀτέρπεα. 386. Synes. φθόνος,
Philo φόνοι τε λίμοι τε. 388. Syn. Iul. ἐν λειμῶνι, Hier. ἀνὰ
λειμῶνα, corr. Bentl.
389. Hierocl., as just cited; λειμῶνα ὃν ἀπολιπὼν ... εἰς γήινον ἔρχεται
σῶμα ὀλβίου αἰῶνος ἀμερθείς.
390-391. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 516. 390. Plut. _de exil._ 607 E; Stob.
_Flor._ ii. 80 Gais.
390. Clem. καὶ οἵου. 391. Clem. λιπὼν.
392. Porphyr. _de ant. nymph._ c. viii.
393-399. (United by Bergk.) 393-396. Plut. _de tranquil. an._ 474 B. 394.
Plut. _de Is. Os._ 370 E. 396. Tzt. _Chiliad._ xii. 575. 397-399. Cornut.
_de nat. deor._ chap. xvii.
394. Plut. _Is. Os._ μέροπι. 395. MS. Δειναίη, corr. Bentl.
396. Tzt. μελάγκο(υ)ρος, Plut. μελάγκαρπος. MSS. φοριή, σόφη.
Mullach Σιωπή.
400-401. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 516-517. Timon Phlias. in Euseb. _Pr. ev._
xiv. 18.
400. MS. ἢ δ, corr. Scalig. 401. MS. οἵων, corr. Stein. Cf.
Timon and Porphyr. _de abstin._ ii. 27.
402. Stob. _Ecl._ i. 1050; Plut. _de esu car._ 998 C.
Plut. ἀλλογνῶτι, Stob. V ἀλλοιχῶτι, A ἀλλογλῶτι.
403. Plut. _Quaest. conv._ 683 E.
404. Clem. Al. _Strom._ 516.
MS. νεκρὰ, εἴδε’, Flor. ἠδὲ, corr.
405-414. Porphyr. _de abstin._ ii. 21 (405-412), 27 (413-414). 405-411.
Athen. xii. 510 D. 405-407. Eustath. _Iliad._ x. p. 1261, 44. 412-414.
Euseb. _Pr. ev._ iv. 14 from Porphyry; Cyrill. _adv. Julian._ ix. 307.
406. Porphyr. οὐδ’ ὁ Κρόνος, Eustath. omits. 407. Porphyr. adds
ἥ ἐστιν ἡ φιλία. 408. Cf. Plato _Legg._ vi. 782 D and Iamblich.
_Vit. Pyth._ 151. 409. Athen. γρ. δὲ, Burnett μακτοῖς: Porphyr.
δαιδαλεόσμοις. 410. Porphyr. ἀκράτου. 411. Athen. ξανθῶν ...
ῥίπτοντες. 412. Porphyr. Cyrill. ἀκρίτοισι, Euseb. ἀκράτοισι,
corr. Scalig. Porphyr. δεύεται. 413. Cyrill. ἔσχον. 414.
Porphyr. ἀπορρέσαντες ... ἐέλμεναι, corr. Stein and Viger.
415-420. Iamblich. _Vit. Pyth._ 67. Porphyr. _Vit. Pyth._ 30. 415, 417.
Diog. Laer. viii. 54.
Order of verses in MS. 415, 17, 16.
421-424. 421-422. Schol. Nicand. _Theriac._ p. 81 Schn. 423-424.
Theophrast. _de caus. plant._ i. 13, 2. Cf. Plut. _Quaest. conv._ 649 C.
422. MS. φιλοφροσύνη, corr. Stz. 423-424. ἀείφυλλα καὶ
ἐμπεδόκαρπά φησι θάλλειν καρπῶν ἀφθονίῃσι κατ’ ἠέρα πάντ’
ἐνιαυτὸν restored by Hermann. Herm. αἰείφυλλα, corr. Karst.
from Plutarch. Stz. κατ’ ἠέρα, Lobeck. κατήορα.
425-427. Arist. _Rhet._ i. 13 1373 b 15.
425. Arist. τοῦτο γὰρ οὐ τισὶ μὲν δίκαιον, τισὶ δ’ οὐ δίκαιον,
Karst. θεμιτὸν ... ἀθέμιστον. 427. _Y_b_Z_b_A_c αὐγῆς, Bekker
from one MS. αὖ γῆς.
428-429. Sext. E. _Math._ ix. 129.
430-435. Sext. following the last verses. 430-431. Plut. _de
superstitione_ 171 C.
431. MSS. οἱ δὲ πορεῦνται, Scalig. ὃς ... πορεῦται, Diels
φορεῦνται. 432. MSS. θύοντες ὅδ’ ἀνήκουστος, corr. Hermann.
435. MSS. ἀπορραίσαντα, corr. Karst.
436-437. Porphyr. _de abst._ ii. 31.
438-439. Aelian, _Hist. An._ xii. 7; _Orphic. Frag._ p. 511 Herm.
438. Ael. ἐν θηρσὶ δὲ.
440. Plut. _Quaest. conv._ 646 D.
MSS. τῆς δάφνης τῶν φύλλων ἀπὸ πάμπαν ἔχεσθαι χρή, corr. Stein.
441. Aul. Gell. _N. A._ iv. 11; Didym. _Geopon._ ii. 35, 8.
442-443, Theo. Smyrn. _Arith._ i. 19 Bull, p. 15, 9 Hill.
MS. κρηνάων ἀπὸ πεντ’ ἀνιμῶντα, φησίν, ἀτείρει χαλκῷ δεῖν
ἀπορρύπτεσθαι, Arist. _poet._ xxi.; 1457 b 13 ταμὼν ἀτειρέι
χαλκῷ. Text from Diels.
444. Plut. _de ira_ 464 B.
445-446. Clem. Al. _Protr._ p. 23. Cf. _Carmen aureum_ v. 54 f.
447-449. Clem. Al. _Strom._ p. 632; Theod. _Therap._ viii. p. 599.
450-451. Clem. Al. _Strom._ p. 722; Euseb. _Praep. evang._ xiii. 13. MSS.
ἐόντες ἀ. Ἀχαιῶν ἀπόκληροι ἀπηρεῖς corr. Scaliger.
TRANSLATION.
_Book I._
1. And do thou hear me, Pausanias, son of wise Anchites.
2. For scant means of acquiring knowledge are scattered among the members
of the body; and many are the evils that break in to blunt the edge of
studious thought. And gazing on a little portion of life that is not
life, swift to meet their fate, they rise and are borne away like smoke,
persuaded only of that on which each one chances as he is driven this way
and that, but the whole he vainly boasts he has found. Thus these things
are neither seen nor heard distinctly by men, nor comprehended by the
mind. And thou, now that thou hast withdrawn hither, shalt learn no more
than what mortal mind has seen.
11. But, ye gods, avert the madness of those men from my tongue, and
from lips that are holy cause a pure stream to flow. And thee I pray,
much-wooed white-armed maiden Muse, in what things it is right for beings
of a day to hear, do thou, and Piety, driving obedient car, conduct me
on. Nor yet shall the flowers of honour well esteemed compel me to pluck
them from mortal hands, on condition that I speak boldly more than is
holy and only then sit on the heights of wisdom.
19. But come, examine by every means each thing how it is clear, neither
putting greater faith in anything seen than in what is heard, nor in a
thundering sound more than in the clear assertions of the tongue, nor
keep from trusting any of the other members in which there lies means of
knowledge, but know each thing in the way in which it is clear.
24. Cures for evils whatever there are, and protection against old age
shalt thou learn, since for thee alone will I accomplish all these
things. Thou shalt break the power of untiring gales which rising against
the earth blow down the crops and destroy them; and, again, whenever thou
wilt, thou shalt bring their blasts back; and thou shalt bring seasonable
drought out of dark storm for men, and out of summer drought thou shalt
bring streams pouring down from heaven to nurture the trees; and thou
shalt lead out of Hades the spirit of a man that is dead.
33. Hear first the four roots of all things: bright Zeus, life-giving
Hera (air), and Aidoneus (earth), and Nestis who moistens the springs of
men with her tears.[76]
36. And a second thing I will tell thee: There is no origination of
anything that is mortal, nor yet any end in baneful death; but only
mixture and separation of what is mixed, but men call this ‘origination.’
40. But when light is mingled with air in human form, or in form like the
race of wild beasts or of plants or of birds, then men say that these
things have come into being; and when they are separated, they call them
evil fate; this is the established practice, and I myself also call it so
in accordance with the custom.
45. Fools! for they have no far-reaching studious thoughts who think that
what was not before comes into being or that anything dies and perishes
utterly.
48. For from what does not exist at all it is impossible that anything
come into being, and it is neither possible nor perceivable that being
should perish completely; for things will always stand wherever one in
each case shall put them.
51. A man of wise mind could not divine such things as these, that so
long as men live what indeed they call life, so long they exist and share
what is evil and what is excellent, but before they are formed and after
they are dissolved, they are really nothing at all.
55. But for base men it is indeed possible to withhold belief from strong
proofs; but do thou learn as the pledges of our Muse bid thee, and lay
open her word to the very core.
58. Joining one heading to another in discussion, not completing one path
(of discourse) ... for it is right to say what is excellent twice and
even thrice.
60. Twofold is the truth I shall speak; for at one time there grew to be
one alone out of many, and at another time, however, it separated so that
there were many out of the one. Twofold is the coming into being, twofold
the passing away, of perishable things; for the latter (_i.e._ passing
away) the combining of all things both begets and destroys, and the
former (_i.e._ coming into being), which was nurtured again out of parts
that were being separated, is itself scattered. 66. And these (elements)
never cease changing place continually, now being all united by Love
into one, now each borne apart by the hatred engendered of Strife, until
they are brought together in the unity of the all, and become subject to
it. Thus inasmuch as one has been wont to arise out of many and again
with the separation of the one the many arise, so things are continually
coming into being and there is no fixed age for them; and farther
inasmuch as they [the elements] never cease changing place continually,
so they always exist within an immovable circle.
74. But come, hear my words, for truly learning causes the mind to grow.
For as I said before in declaring the ends of my words: Twofold is the
truth I shall speak; for at one time there grew to be the one alone
out of many, and at another time it separated so that there were many
out of the one; fire and water and earth and boundless height of air,
and baneful Strife apart from these, balancing each of them, and Love
among them, their equal in length and breadth. 81. Upon her do thou gaze
with thy mind, nor yet sit dazed in thine eyes; for she is wont to be
implanted in men’s members, and through her they have thoughts of love
and accomplish deeds of union, and call her by the names of Delight, and
Aphrodite; no mortal man has discerned her with them (the elements) as
she moves on her way. But do thou listen to the undeceiving course of my
words.[77]...
87. For these (elements) are equal, all of them, and of like ancient
race; and one holds one office, another another, and each has his own
nature.... For nothing is added to them, nor yet does anything pass away
from them; for if they were continually perishing they would no longer
exist.... Neither is any part of this all empty, nor over full. For how
should anything cause this all to increase, and whence should it come?
And whither should they (the elements) perish, since no place is empty
of them? And in their turn they prevail as the cycle comes round, and
they disappear before each other, and they increase each in its allotted
turn. But these (elements) are the same; and penetrating through each
other they become one thing in one place and another in another, while
ever they remain alike (_i.e._ the same).
110. For they two (Love and Strife) were before and shall be, nor yet, I
think, will there ever be an unutterably long time without them both.
96. But come, gaze on the things that bear farther witness to my former
words, if in what was said before there be anything defective in form.
Behold the sun, warm and bright on all sides, and whatever is immortal
and is bathed in its bright ray, and behold the rain-cloud, dark and cold
on all sides; from the earth there proceed the foundations of things and
solid bodies. In Strife all things are, endued with form and separate
from each other, but they come together in Love and are desired by each
other. 104. For from these (elements) come all things that are or have
been or shall be; from these there grew up trees and men and women,
wild beasts and birds and water-nourished fishes, and the very gods,
long-lived, highest in honour.
121. And as when painters are preparing elaborate votive offerings—men
well taught by wisdom in their art—they take many-coloured pigments
to work with, and blend together harmoniously more of one and less of
another till they produce likenesses of all things; so let not error
overcome thy mind to make thee think there is any other source of mortal
things that have likewise come into distinct existence in unspeakable
numbers; but know these (elements), for thou didst hear from a god the
account of them.
130. But come, I will tell thee now the first principle of the sun, even
the sources of all things now visible, earth and billowy sea and damp
mist and Titan aether (_i.e._ air) binding all things in its embrace.
135. Then neither is the bright orb of the sun greeted, nor yet either
the shaggy might of earth or sea; thus, then, in the firm vessel of
harmony is fixed God, a sphere, round, rejoicing in complete solitude.
139. But when mighty Strife was nurtured in its members and leaped up to
honour at the completion of the time, which has been driven on by them
both in turn under a mighty oath....
142. For the limbs of the god were made to tremble, all of them in turn.
143. For all the heavy (he put) by itself, the light by itself.
144. Without affection and not mixed together.
145. Heaped together in greatness.
146. If there were no limit to the depths of the earth and the abundant
air, as is poured out in foolish words from the mouths of many mortals
who see but little of the all.
149. Swift-darting sun and kindly moon.
150. But gathered together it advances around the great heavens.
151. It shines back to Olympos with untroubled face.
152. The kindly light has a brief period of shining.
153. As sunlight striking the broad circle of the moon.
154. A borrowed light, circular in form, it revolves about the earth, as
if following the track of a chariot.
156. For she beholds opposite to her the sacred circle of her lord.
157. And she scatters his rays into the sky above, and spreads darkness
over as much of the earth as the breadth of the gleaming-eyed moon.
160. And night the earth makes by coming in front of the lights.
161. Of night, solitary, blind-eyed.
162. And many fires burn beneath the earth.
163. (The sea) with its stupid race of fertile fishes.
164. Salt is made solid when struck by the rays of the sun.
165. The sea is the sweat of the earth.
166. But air[78] sinks down beneath the earth with its long roots.... For
thus it happened to be running at that time, but oftentimes otherwise.
168. (Fire darting) swiftly upwards.
169. But now I shall go back over the course of my verses, which I set
out in order before, drawing my present discourse from that discourse.
When Strife reached the lowest depth of the eddy and Love comes to be in
the midst of the whirl, then all these things come together at this point
so as to be one alone, yet not immediately, but joining together at their
pleasure, one from one place, another from another. And as they were
joining together Strife departed to the utmost boundary. But many things
remained unmixed, alternating with those that were mixed, even as many
as Strife, remaining aloft, still retained; for not yet had it entirely
departed to the utmost boundaries of the circle, but some of its members
were remaining within, and others had gone outside. 180. But, just as far
as it is constantly rushing forth, just so far there ever kept coming in
a gentle immortal stream of perfect Love; and all at once what before I
learned were immortal were coming into being as mortal things,[79] what
before were unmixed as mixed, changing their courses. And as they (the
elements) were mingled together there flowed forth the myriad species of
mortal things, patterned in every sort of form, a wonder to behold.
186. For all things are united, themselves with parts of themselves—the
beaming sun and earth and sky and sea—whatever things are friendly but
have separated in mortal things. And so, in the same way, whatever things
are the more adapted for mixing, these are loved by each other and made
alike by Aphrodite. But whatever things are hostile are separated as far
as possible from each other, both in their origin and in their mixing and
in the forms impressed on them, absolutely unwonted to unite and very
baneful, at the suggestion of Strife, since it has wrought their birth.
195. In this way, by the good favour of Tyche, all things have power of
thought.
196. And in so far as what was least dense came together as they fell.
197. For water is increased by water, primeval fire by fire, and earth
causes its own substance to increase, and air, air.