- Source
- Callimachus and Lycophron; Aratus. Mair, A. W., editor. London: William Heinemann; New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1921.
- 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:tlg0533.tlg018.humanitext-grc3:243-326
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-26
This section describes the birth of Apollo, the golden transformation of Delos, the sending of first-fruits and embassies from all directions, and various ritual dances and customs of sailors performed on the island.
εἰνάλιαι τίκτουσιν, ἐνὶ σπιλάδεσσιν ἐρήμοις.
where the sea-beasts bring forth, on desert reefs.
Ἀστερίῃ δʼ οὐδέν τι βαρύνομαι εἵνεκα τῆσδε
But against Asteria I am not at all angry on account of this
ἀμπλακίης, οὐδʼ ἔστιν ὅπως ἀποθύμια ῥέξω,
offence, nor is there any way that I shall do what is displeasing to her,
τόσσα δέοι1 μάλα γάρ τε κακῶς ἐχαρίσσατο Λητοῖ·
however much she deserved it; for indeed she favored Leto very wrongly towards me.
ἀλλά μιν ἔκπαγλόν τι σεβίζομαι, οὕνεκʼ ἐμεῖο
But I respect her wondrously, because she did not
δέμνιον2 οὐκ ἐπάτησε, Διὸς δʼ ἀνθείλετο πόντον.
tread my bed, but chose the sea instead of Zeus.
ἡ μὲν ἔφη· κύκνοι δὲ θεοῦ μέλποντες ἀοιδοὶ
She spoke; and the swans, the singing birds of the god,
Μῃόνιον Πακτωλὸν ἐκυκλώσαντο λιπόντες
leaving the Maeonian Pactolus, circled
ἑβδομάκις περὶ Δῆλον, ἐπήεισαν3 δὲ λοχείῃ
seven times around Delos, and chanted over her labor,
Μουσάων ὄρνιθες, ἀοιδότατοι πετεηνῶν·
the birds of the Muses, most musical of winged things.
ἔνθεν ὁ παῖς τοσσάσδε λύρῃ ἐνεδήσατο χορδὰς
Hence the boy bound so many strings upon his lyre
ὕστερον, ὁσσάκι κύκνοι ἐπʼ ὠδίνεσσιν ἄεισαν.
later, as many times as the swans sang over her labor pains.
ὄγδοον οὐκέτʼ ἄεισαν, ὁ δʼ ἔκθορεν, αἱ δʼ ἐπὶ μακρὸν
An eighth time they sang no more, but he leaped forth; and far aloud
νύμφαι Δηλιάδες, ποταμοῦ γένος ἀρχαίοιο,
the Delian nymphs, offspring of an ancient river,
εἶπαν Ἐλειθυίης ἱερὸν μέλος, αὐτίκα δʼ αἰθὴρ
sang the holy song of Eileithyia, and immediately the bronze sky
χάλκεος ἀντήχησε διαπρυσίην ὀλολυγήν,
echoed back the piercing cry,
οὐδʼ Ἥρη νεμέσησεν, ἐπεὶ χόλον ἐξέλετο Ζεύς.
nor did Hera show anger, since Zeus took away her wrath.
χρύσεά τοι τότε πάντα θεμείλια γείνετο, Δῆλε,
Then indeed, Delos, all your foundations became golden,
χρυσῷ δὲ τροχόεσσα πανήμερος ἔρρεε λίμνη,
and with gold the circular lake flowed all day long,
χρύσειον δʼ ἐκόμησε γενέθλιον ἔρνος ἐλαίης,
and the newborn shoot of the olive tree put forth golden foliage,
χρυσῷ δὲ πλήμυρε βαθὺς Ἰνωπὸς ἑλιχθείς.
and with gold the deep Inopus flooded, winding along.
αὐτὴ δὲ χρυσέοιο ἀπʼ οὔδεος εἵλεο παῖδα,
And you yourself took up the child from the golden ground,
ἐν δʼ ἐβάλευ κόλποισιν, ἔπος δʼ ἐφθέγξαο τοῖον·
and placed him in your bosom, and spoke these words:
ᾦ μεγάλη πολύβωμε πολύπτολι πολλὰ φέρουσα,
”O great earth, of many altars, of many cities, bearing rich increase,
πίονες ἤπειροί τε καὶ αἳ περιναίετε νῆσοι·
rich mainlands and you islands that dwell around:
αὐτὴ ἐγὼ τοιήδε, δυσήροτος, ἀλλʼ ἀπʼ ἐμεῖο
I myself am such as this, hard to till, but from me
Δήλιος Απόλλων κεκλήσεται, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
Delian Apollo shall be called, nor shall any other
γαιάων τοσσόνδε θεῷ πεφιλήσεται ἄλλῳ,
of lands be so much loved by any other god,
οὐ Κερχνὶς κρείοντι Ποσειδάωνι Λεχαίῳ,
not Cenchreis by sovereign Poseidon of Lechaeum,
οὐ πάγος Ἑρμείῃ Κυλλήνιος, οὐ Διὶ Κρήτη,
not Cyllene’s hill by Hermes, not Crete by Zeus,
ὡς ἐγὼ Ἀπόλλωνι· καὶ ἔσσομαι οὐκέτι πλαγκτή.
as I by Apollo; and I shall no longer be wandering.”
ὧδε σὺ μὲν κατέλεξας· ὁ δὲ γλυκὺν ἔσπασε μαζόν.
Thus you spoke; and he drew the sweet breast.
τῶ καὶ νησάων ἁγιωτάτη ἐξέτι κεἰνου
Therefore also, most holy of islands from that time forth,
κλἠζῃ, Ἀπόλλωνος κουροτρόφος· οὐδέ σʼ Ἐνυὼ
you are famed, nurse of Apollo’s youth; nor does Enyo
οὐδʼ Ἀίδης οὐδʼ ἵπποι ἐπιστείβουσιν Ἄρηος·
nor Hades nor the horses of Ares tread upon you;
ἀλλά τοι ἀμφιετεῖς δεκατηφόροι αἰὲν ἀπαρχαὶ
but to you, annual tithe-bearing first-fruits are always
πέμπονται, πᾶσαι δὲ χοροὺς ἀνάγουσι πόληες,
sent, and all cities lead up dances,
αἵ τε πρὸς ἠοίην αἵ θʼ ἕσπερον αἵ τʼ ἀνὰ μέσσην
both those towards the east and those towards the west and those in the midmost
κλήρονς ἐστήσαντο, καὶ οἳ καθύπερθε βορείης
lands have established their lots, and those who above the northern
οἰκία θινὸς ἔχουσι, πολυχρνιώτατον αἷμα.
shore have their homes, a most gold-rich race.
οἱ μέν τοι καλάμην τε καὶ ἱερὰ δράγματα πρῶτοι
They indeed first bring straw and holy sheaves
ἀσταχύων φορέουσιν· ἃ Δωδώνηθι Πελασγοὶ
of ears; which from Dodona the Pelasgians
τηλόθεν ἐκβαίνοντα πολὺ πρώτιστα δέχονται,
first of all receive as they come from afar,
γηλεχέες θεράποντες ἀσιγήτοιο λέβητος·
earth-couching servants of the sleepless cauldron;
δεύτερον Ἱερὸν ἄστυ καὶ οὔτεα Μηλίδος αἴης
secondly they come to the Holy city and the mountains of the Malian land;
ἔρχονται· κεῖθεν δὲ διαπλώουσιν Ἀβάντων
thence they sail across to the Abantes’
εἰς ἀγαθὸν πεδίον Ληλάντιον· οὐδʼ ἔτι μακρὸς
rich Lelantine plain; nor is the voyage any longer long
ὁ πλόος Εὐβοίηθεν, ἐπεὶ σέο γείτονες ὅρμοι.
from Euboea, since your harbors are neighboring.
πρῶταί τοι τάδʼ ἔνεικαν ἀπὸ ξανθῶν Ἀριμασπῶν
First to you brought these things from the fair-haired Arimaspi
Οὖπίς τε Λοξώ τε καὶ εὐαίων Ἑκαέργη,
Upis and Loxo and happy Hecaerge,
θυγατέρες Βορέαο, καὶ ἄρσενες οἱ τότʼ ἄριστοι
daughters of Boreas, and the males who were then the best
ἠιθέων· οὐδʼ οἵ γε παλιμπετὲς οἴκαδʼ ἵκοντο,
of youths; nor did they return back home,
εὔμοιροι δʼ ἐγένοντο, καὶ ἀκλέες οὔποτʼ ἐκεῖνοι.
but they met a happy lot, and they are never without fame.
ἦ τοι Δηλιάδες μέν, ὅτʼ εὐήχης ὑμέναιος
Indeed the Delian maidens, when the sweet-sounding marriage song
ἤθεα κουράων μορμύσσεται, ἥλικα χαίτην
frightens the girls’ chambers, bring their companion hair
παρθενικαῖς, παῖδες δὲ θέρος τὸ πρῶτον ἰούλων
for the brides, and the boys bring the first harvest of down
ἄρσενες ἠιθέοισιν ἀπαρχόμενοι φορέουσιν.
on their cheeks, offering it as first-fruits to the youths.
Ἀστερίη θυόεσσα, σὲ μὲν περί τʼ ἀμφί τε νῆσοι
Fragrant Asteria, around and about you the islands
κύκλον ἐποιήσαντο καὶ ὡς χορὸν ἀμφεβάλοντο·
have made a circle and enclosed you as in a dance;
οὔτε σιωπηλὴν οὔτʼ ἄψοφον οὖλος ἐθείραις
neither silent nor noiseless does Hesperus with curly locks
ἕσπερος, ἀλλʼ αἰεί σε καταβλέπει ἀμφιβόητον.
look down upon you, but always echoing with song.
οἱ μὲν ὑπαείδουσι νόμον Λυκίοιο γέροντος,
They sing responsively the song of the Lycian elder,
ὅν τοι ἀπὸ Ξάνθοιο θεοπρόπος ἤγαγεν Ὠλήν·
which Olen, the prophet, brought to you from Xanthus;
αἱ δὲ ποδὶ πλήσσουσι χορίτιδες ἀσφαλὲς οὖδας.
and the dancing maidens strike with their feet the solid ground.
δὴ τότε καὶ στεφάνοισι βαρύνεται ἱρὸν ἄγαλμα
Then indeed also with garlands is weighed down the holy image
Κύπριδος ἀρχαίης ἀριήκοον, ἥν ποτε Θησεὺς
of ancient Cypris, far-famed, which once Theseus
εἵσατο σὺν παίδεσσιν, ὅτε Κρήτηθεν ἀνέπλει.
dedicated with the youths, when he sailed back from Crete.
οἳ χαλεπὸν μύκημα καὶ ἄγριον υἷα φυγόντες
They, having escaped the cruel bellowing and the wild son
Πασιφάης καὶ γναμπτὸν ἕδος σκολιοῦ λαβυρίνθου,
of Pasiphae, and the winding seat of the crooked labyrinth,
πότνια, σὸν περὶ βωμὸν ἐγειρομένου κιθαρισμοῦ
O Lady, around your altar, to the sound of the rising lyre,
κύκλιον ὠρχήσαντο, χοροῦ δʼ ἡγήσατο Θησεύς.
danced in a circle, and Theseus led the dance.
ἔνθεν ἀειζώοντα θεωρίδος ἱερὰ Φοίβῳ
Hence the Cecropidae send ever-living sacred offerings of the embassy ship to Phoebus,
Κεκροπίδαι πέμπουσι, τοπήια νηὸς ἐκείνης.
the rigging of that ship.
Ἀστερίη πολύβωμε πολύλλιτε, τίς δέ σε ναύτης
Asteria of many altars, much-entreated, what merchant sailor
ἔμπορος Αἰγαίοιο παρήλυθε νηὶ θεούσῃ;
of the Aegean has passed you by in his running ship?
οὐχ οὕτω μεγάλοι μιν ἐπιπνείουσιν ἀῆται,
Not though great winds blow upon him,
χρειὼ δʼ ὅττι τάχιστον ἄγει πλόον, ἀλλὰ τὰ λαίφη
and necessity drives him to make the quickest voyage, but the sails
ὠκέες ἐστείλαντο καὶ οὐ πάλιν αὖτις ἔβησαν,
quickly they furl, and they do not embark again
πρὶν μέγαν ἢ σέο βωμὸν ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἑλίξαι
before they have circled your great altar under blows
ῥησσόμενον4 καὶ πρέμνον ὀδακτάσαι ἁγνὸν ἐλαίης
and bitten the holy trunk of the olive,
χεῖρας ἀποστρέψαντας· ἃ Δηλιὰς εὕρετο νύμφη
with hands turned behind them; which playthings the Delian nymph devised
παίγνια κουρίζοντι καὶ Ἀπόλλωνι γελαστύν.
as play and laughter for the youthful Apollo.
ἱστίη ὦ νήσων εὐέστιε, χαῖρε μὲν αὐτή,
O hearth of islands, happy in your hearth, hail to yourself,
χαίροι δʼ Ἀπόλλων τε καὶ ἣν ἐλοχεύσατο Λητώ.
and may Apollo rejoice, and she whom Leto brought forth.
- 246τόσσα δέοι
Potential optative without ἄν used in a concessive sense ('however much she might deserve such punishment'). This structures Hera's transition to explaining why she nevertheless forgives Asteria.
- 248δέμνιον
Meaning 'bed', here referring to Zeus's bed. The clause explains Hera's gratitude to Asteria, who preserved her chastity and chose to plunge into the sea to become an island rather than yield to Zeus's advances.
- 251ἐπήεισαν
Imperfect tense of ἐπάδω ('to sing over / chant to'). In this context, it describes the swans singing ritual songs over Leto's childbirth (λοχείῃ).
- 321ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν ἑλίξαι ῥησσόμενον
Refers to a singular ritual dance of sailors on Delos. ὑπὸ πληγῇσιν means 'under blows (of whipping)', and the middle participle ῥησσόμενον means 'beating themselves' or 'stamping the ground', describing an ascetic ritual performed while circling the altar.
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — source 1