- Source
- Anonymous. Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns and Homerica. Evelyn-White, Hugh G., editor. London: William Heinmann; New York: The Macmillan Co., 1914.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0013.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:74-145
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
Helios reveals to Demeter that Hades carried off Persephone by the will of Zeus. Departing from Olympus in anger, Demeter disguises herself as an old woman, arrives in Eleusis, and meets the daughters of Celeus, to whom she tells a fictional story while seeking domestic work.
ὣς φάτο· τὴν δʼ Ὑπεριονίδης ἠμείβετο μύθῳ·
Thus he spoke; and the son of Hyperion answered her with words:
Ῥείης ἠυκόμου θύγατερ, Δήμητερ ἄνασσα,
”Daughter of lovely-haired Rhea, Queen Demeter,
εἰδήσεις· δὴ γὰρ μέγα σʼ ἅζομαι ἠδʼ ἐλεαίρω
you shall know; for indeed I greatly respect you and pity you
ἀχνυμένην περὶ παιδὶ τανυσφύρῳ· οὐδέ τις ἄλλος
as you grieve for your slim-ankled child. No other of the immortals
αἴτιος ἀθανάτων, εἰ μὴ νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς,
is responsible, except cloud-gathering Zeus,
ὅς μιν ἔδωκʼ Ἀίδῃ θαλερὴν κεκλῆσθαι ἄκοιτιν
who gave her to Hades, his own brother, to be called his fruitful wife.
αὐτοκασιγνήτῳ· ὃ δʼ ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠερόεντα
And he snatched her away and carried her off on his horses
ἁρπάξας ἵπποισιν ἄγεν μεγάλα ἰάχουσαν.
beneath the murky darkness, as she shrieked aloud.
ἀλλά, θεά, κατάπαυε μέγαν γόον· οὐδέ τί σε χρὴ
But, goddess, cease your great lament; you must not
μὰψ αὔτως ἄπλητον ἔχειν χόλον· οὔ τοι ἀεικὴς1
keep a vain, insatiable anger in this way. Surely, not unfitting
γαμβρὸς ἐν ἀθανάτοις Πολυσημάντωρ Ἀιδωνεύς,
as a son-in-law among the immortals is Hades, Ruler over Many,
αὐτοκασίγνητος καὶ ὁμόσπορος· ἀμφὶ δὲ τιμὴν
your own brother and born of the same seed. And as for honor,
ἔλλαχεν ὡς τὰ πρῶτα διάτριχα δασμὸς ἐτύχθη,
he received his share when the division was first made in threefold,
τοῖς μεταναιετάειν,2 τῶν ἔλλαχε κοίρανος εἶναι.
to dwell among those over whom he was allotted to be lord.”
ὣς εἰπὼν ἵπποισιν ἐκέκλετο· τοὶ δʼ ὑπʼ ὀμοκλῆς
Having spoken thus, he called to his horses; and at his command
ῥίμφα φέρον θοὸν ἅρμα τανύπτεροι ὥστʼ οἰωνοί.
they swiftly carried the fleet chariot, like long-winged birds.
Τὴν δʼ ἄχος αἰνότερον καὶ κύντερον ἵκετο θυμόν·
But a more dreadful and more bitter grief came upon her heart;
χωσαμένη δὴ ἔπειτα κελαινεφέι Κρονίωνι
and thereafter, raging against the dark-clouded son of Cronos,
νοσφισθεῖσα θεῶν ἀγορὴν καὶ μακρὸν Ὄλυμπον
she kept apart from the assembly of the gods and high Olympus,
ᾤχετʼ ἐπʼ ἀνθρώπων πόλιας καὶ πίονα ἔργα
and went to the cities of men and their rich fields,
εἶδος ἀμαλδύνουσα πολὺν χρόνον· οὐδέ τις ἀνδρῶν
wasting her form for a long time. Nor did any of the men,
εἰσορόων γίγνωσκε βαθυζώνων τε γυναικῶν,
nor of the deep-girdled women, recognize her when they looked at her,
πρίν γʼ ὅτε δὴ Κελεοῖο δαΐφρονος ἵκετο δῶμα,
until indeed she came to the house of wise Celeus,
ὃς τότʼ Ἐλευσῖνος θυοέσσης κοίρανος ἦεν.
who was then the ruler of fragrant Eleusis.
ἕζετο δʼ ἐγγὺς ὁδοῖο φίλον τετιημένη ἦτορ,
She sat near the wayside, grieved in her dear heart,
Παρθενίῳ φρέατι, ὅθεν ὑδρεύοντο πολῖται,
at the Maiden’s Well, from which the citizens drew water,
ἐν σκιῇ, αὐτὰρ ὕπερθε πεφύκει θάμνος ἐλαίης,
in the shade, and above it grew a thicket of olive.
γρηὶ παλαιγενέι ἐναλίγκιος, ἥτε τόκοιο
She was like an old-born crone, who is barred from child-bearing
εἴργηται δώρων τε φιλοστεφάνου Ἀφροδίτης,
and from the gifts of wreath-loving Aphrodite,
οἷαί τε τροφοί εἰσι θεμιστοπόλων βασιλήων
such as are the nurses for the children of law-ruling kings,
παίδων καὶ ταμίαι κατὰ δώματα ἠχήεντα.
and the housekeepers throughout their resounding halls.
τὴν δὲ ἴδον Κελεοῖο Ἐλευσινίδαο θύγατρες
And the daughters of Celeus of Eleusis saw her
ἐρχόμεναι μεθʼ ὕδωρ εὐήρυτον, ὄφρα φέροιεν
as they came for the easily-drawn water, so that they might carry it
κάλπισι χαλκείῃσι φίλα πρὸς δώματα πατρός,
in bronze pitchers to the dear house of their father—
τέσσαρες, ὥστε θεαί, κουρήιον ἄνθος ἔχουσαι,
four of them, like goddesses, holding the flower of maidenhood,
Καλλιδίκη καὶ Κλεισιδίκη Δημώ τʼ ἐρόεσσα
Callidice and Cleisidice and lovely Demo
Καλλιθόη θʼ, ἣ τῶν προγενεστάτη ἦεν ἁπασῶν·
and Callithoe, who was the eldest of them all.
οὐδʼ ἔγνον· χαλεποὶ δὲ θεοὶ θνητοῖσιν ὁρᾶσθαι.
Nor did they recognize her; for the gods are hard for mortals to see.
ἀγχοῦ δʼ ἱστάμεναι ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδων·
Standing near, they addressed her with winged words:
τίς πόθεν ἐσσί, γρῆυ, παλαιγενέων ἀνθρώπων;
”Who and from where are you, old woman of ancient-born people?
τίπτε δὲ νόσφι πόληος ἀπέστιχες, οὐδὲ δόμοισι
Why have you gone away apart from the city, and do not approach
πίλνασαι; ἔνθα γυναῖκες ἀνὰ μέγαρα σκιόεντα
the houses? There, in the shadowy halls, are women
τηλίκαι, ὡς σύ περ ὧδε καὶ ὁπλότεραι γεγάασιν,
of your age, and younger ones as well,
αἵ κέ σε φίλωνται3 ἠμὲν ἔπει ἠδὲ καὶ ἔργῳ.
who would welcome you both in word and in deed.”
ὣς ἔφαν· ἣ δʼ ἐπέεσσιν ἀμείβετο πότνα θεάων·
Thus they spoke; and she, the queen of goddesses, answered with words:
τέκνα φίλʼ, αἵ τινές ἐστε γυναικῶν θηλυτεράων,
”Dear children, whoever you are of women,
χαίρετʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ ὑμῖν μυθήσομαι· οὔ τοι ἀεικὲς
greetings; and I will tell you. Indeed, it is not unfitting
ὑμῖν εἰρομένῃσιν ἀληθέα μυθήσασθαι.
to tell the truth to you who ask.
Δωσὼ ἐμοί γʼ ὄνομʼ ἐστί· τὸ γὰρ θέτο πότνια μήτηρ.
Doso is my name; for my lady mother gave it to me.
νῦν αὖτε Κρήτηθεν ἐπʼ εὐρέα νῶτα θαλάσσης
Now indeed I have come from Crete over the broad back of the sea
ἤλυθον οὐκ ἐθέλουσα, βίῃ δʼ ἀέκουσαν ἀνάγκῃ
against my will; by force and against my desire, by necessity,
ἄνδρες ληιστῆρες ἀπήγαγον. οἳ μὲν ἔπειτα
pirate men carried me away. They then
νηὶ θοῇ Θόρικόνδε κατέσχεθον, ἔνθα γυναῖκες
put in at Thoricus with their swift ship, where the women
ἠπείρου ἐπέβησαν ἀολλέες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοί,
went ashore in a body, and they themselves did too,
δεῖπνόν τʼ ἐπηρτύνοντο παρὰ πρυμνήσια νηός·
and prepared their supper by the stern-cables of the ship.
ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ οὐ δόρποιο μελίφρονος ἤρατο θυμός·
But my mind did not desire the sweet-hearted supper;
λάθρη δʼ ὁρμηθεῖσα διʼ ἠπείροιο μελαίνης
and slipping away secretly through the dark mainland,
φεῦγον ὑπερφιάλους σημάντορας, ὄφρα κε μή με
I fled the arrogant masters, so that they might not
ἀπριάτην περάσαντες ἐμῆς ἀποναίατο4 τιμῆς.
sell me unpaid and profit from my worth.
οὕτω δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην ἀλαλημένη, οὐδέ τι οἶδα,
Thus I came here, wandering, and I know nothing of
ἥ τις δὴ γαῖʼ ἐστι καὶ οἵ τινες ἐγγεγάασιν.
what land this is and who dwell in it.
ἀλλʼ ὑμῖν μὲν πάντες Ὀλύμπια δώματʼ ἔχοντες
But to you may all those who have Olympian homes
δοῖεν κουριδίους ἄνδρας, καὶ τέκνα τεκέσθαι,
grant wedded husbands, and to bear children,
ὡς ἐθέλουσι τοκῆες· ἐμὲ δʼ αὖτʼ οἰκτείρατε, κοῦραι.
as parents desire; but pity me, maidens.
τοῦτο δέ μοι σαφέως ὑποθήκατε, ὄφρα πύθωμαι,
And suggest this to me clearly, so that I may learn
προφρονέως, φίλα τέκνα, τέων πρὸς δώμαθʼ ἵκωμαι
kindly, dear children, to whose house I may go,
ἀνέρος ἠδὲ γυναικός, ἵνα σφίσιν ἐργάζωμαι
of man or woman, so that I may work for them
πρόφρων, οἷα γυναικὸς ἀφήλικος ἔργα τέτυκται·
willingly, doing such tasks as belong to an elderly woman.
καὶ κεν παῖδα νεογνὸν ἐν ἀγκοίνῃσιν ἔχουσα
I could hold a newborn child in my arms
καλὰ τιθηνοίμην καὶ δώματα τηρήσαιμι
and nurse it well, and keep the house,
καί κε λέχος στορέσαιμι μυχῷ θαλάμων εὐπήκτων
and spread the master’s bed in the innermost part of well-built chambers,
δεσπόσυνον καί κʼ ἔργα διδασκήσαιμι γυναῖκας.
and teach the women their tasks.”
φῆ ῥα θεά· τὴν δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἀμείβετο παρθένος ἀδμής,
So spoke the goddess; and immediately the unwedded maiden answered her:
- 83οὔ τοι ἀεικὴς
The adjective ἀεικὴς (unfitting, unworthy) with the copula (ἐστί) omitted. It functions as a litotes, emphasizing the positive assertion that Hades is by no means an unworthy son-in-law among the gods.
- 87τοῖς μεταναιετάειν
The relative pronoun τοῖς stands for the omitted antecedent ("those among whom to dwell") and is constructed with the following infinitive μεταναιετάειν to mean "to dwell with them," serving as a key to deciphering the structure of the entire following clause.
- 117αἵ κέ σε φίλωνται
The combination of the epic particle κέ and the subjunctive φίλωνται expresses a potential or conditional force, implying a gentle confidence about the future: "who would readily welcome and cherish you (if you were to go to them)."
- 132ἀποναίατο
The third-person plural epic/Ionic middle optative form of ἀπονίναμαι ("to derive benefit or advantage"), where -ατο corresponds to -ντο. Governed by the purpose particle ὄφρα, it takes the genitive ἐμῆς τιμῆς ("my value"), meaning "lest they should enjoy or profit from my worth (without paying for me)."