§25.1τὸν δʼ ὁ γέρων προσέειπε φυτῶν ἐπίουρος ἀροτρεὺς §25.2παυσάμενος ἔργοιο, τό οἱ μετὰ χερσὶν ἔκειτο· §25.3ἔκ τοι ξεῖνε πρόφρων μυθήσομαι ὅσσʼ ἐρεείνεις, §25.4Ἑρμέω ἁζόμενος δεινὴν ὄπιν εἰνοδίοιο· §25.5τὸν γάρ φασι μέγιστον ἐπουρανίων κεχολῶσθαι, §25.6εἴ κεν ὁδοῦ ζαχρεῖον ἀνήνηταί τις ὁδίτην.
The old man, the plowman who was the guardian of the plants, spoke to him, ceasing from his work which lay ready in his hands: 'Stranger, I will tell you fully and willingly all that you ask, revering the terrible vengeance of Hermes of the Roads; for they say that he of the heavenly ones is most greatly angered, if anyone should reject a traveler in need of a way.
§25.7ποῖμναι μὲν βασιλῆος εὔτριχες Αὐγείαο §25.8οὐ πᾶσαι βόσκονται ἴαν βόσιν οὐδʼ ἕνα χῶρον· §25.9ἀλλʼ αἱ μέν ῥα νάοντος ἐπʼ ὄχθαις ἀμφʼ Ἐλισοῦντος, §25.10αἱ δʼ ἱερὸν θείοιο παρὰ ῥόον Ἀλφειοῖο, §25.11αἱ δʼ ἐπὶ Βουπρασίου πολυβότρυος, αἱ δὲ καὶ ὧδε.
The beautiful-fleeced flocks of King Augeas do not all graze on one pasture or in one place; but some indeed feed on the banks of the flowing Elisous, and others by the sacred stream of divine Alpheus, and others on Buprasium rich in grapes, and others even here.
§25.12χωρὶς δὴ σηκοί σφι τετυγμένοι εἰσὶν ἑκάσταις.
Separate folds indeed have been built for each of them.
§25.13αὐτὰρ βουκολίοισι περιπλήθουσί περ ἔμπης §25.14πάντεσσιν νομοὶ ὧδε τεθηλότες αἰὲν ἔασι, §25.15Μηνίου ἀμμέγα τῖφος, ἐπεὶ πολυειδέα ποίην §25.16λειμῶνες θαλέθουσιν ὑπόδροσοι εἰαμεναί τε §25.17εἰς ἅλις, ἥ ῥα βόεσσι μένος κεραῇσιν ἀέξει.
But for the cattle, although they are nevertheless overflowing in herds, pastures are always flourishing here for all of them, in the great marshy land of Menios; for the meadows and well-watered lowlands produce rich grass of many kinds in abundance, which indeed increases the strength of the horned cattle.
§25.18αὖλις δέ σφισιν ἥδε τεῆς ἐπὶ δεξιὰ χειρὸς §25.19φαίνεται εὖ μάλα πᾶσα πέρην ποταμοῖο ῥέοντος, §25.20κείνῃ, ὅθι πλατάνιστοι ἐπηεταναὶ πεφύασι §25.21χλωρή τʼ ἀγριέλαιος, Ἀπόλλωνος νομίοιο §25.22ἱερὸν ἁγνόν, ξεῖνε, τελειοτάτοιο θεοῖο.
And their cattle-shed here, on your right hand, is all very clearly visible across the flowing river, there where the plane-trees grow in abundance, and the green wild-olive, forming a pure sanctuary of Apollo Nomios, the most perfect god, stranger.
§25.23εὐθὺς δὲ σταθμοὶ περιμήκεες ἀγροιώταις §25.24δέδμηνθʼ, οἳ βασιλῆι πολὺν καὶ ἀθέσφατον ὄλβον §25.25ῥυόμεθʼ ἐνδυκέως, τριπόλοις σπόρον ἐν νειοῖσιν §25.26ἔσθʼ ὅτε βάλλοντες καὶ τετραπόλοισιν ὁμοίως.
And right next to it, very long cottages for the country-folk have been built, who guard the great and unspeakable wealth for the king faithfully, sometimes casting the seed in thrice-plowed fallow lands and in four-times plowed lands likewise.
§25.27οὔρους μὴν ἴσασι φυτοσκάφοι οἱ πολύεργοι, §25.28ἐς ληνοὺς δʼ ἱκνεῦνται, ἐπὴν θέρος ὥριον ἔλθῃ.
Indeed, the boundary lines are well known to the hard-working planters, and they go to the wine-vats when the timely harvest comes.
§25.29πᾶν γὰρ δὴ πεδίον τόδʼ ἐπίφρονος Αὐγείαο, §25.30πυροφόροι τε γύαι καὶ ἀλωαὶ δενδρήεσσαι, §25.31μέχρις ἐπʼ ἐσχατιὰς πολυπίδακος ἀκρωρείης, §25.32ἃς ἡμεῖς ἔργοισιν ἐποιχόμεθα πρόπαν ἦμαρ, §25.33ἣ δίκη οἰκήων, οἷσιν βίος ἔπλετʼ ἐπʼ ἀγροῦ.
For all this plain indeed belongs to the wise Augeas, both the wheat-bearing fields and the wooded orchards, as far as the borders of the mountain-ridge rich in springs, which we cultivate, working through the whole day, as is the custom of servants whose livelihood is in the fields.
§25.34ἀλλὰ σύ πέρ μοι ἔνισπε, τό τοι καὶ κέρδιον αὐτῷ §25.35ἔσσεται, οὗτινος ὧδε κεχρημένος εἰλήλουθας, §25.36ἠὲ σύγʼ Αὐγείην ἢ καὶ δμώων τινὰ κείνου §25.37δίζεαι, οἵ οἱ ἔασιν.
But do tell me, and it will be better for you yourself, for whose sake you have come here in such need, whether you are seeking Augeas himself or one of his servants who belong to him.
ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι σάφα εἰδὼς §25.38ἀτρεκέως εἴποιμʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐ σέγε φημὶ κακῶν ἒξ §25.39ἔμμεναι οὐδὲ κακοῖσιν ἐοικότα φύμεναι αὐτόν, §25.40οἷόν τοι μέγα εἶδος ἐπιπρέπει.
I indeed, knowing clearly, would tell you accurately, since I do not think you are born of base parents, nor do I think you yourself are like those who grow up base, such a noble stature distinguishes you.
ἦ ῥά νυ παῖδες §25.41ἀθανάτων τοιοίδε μετὰ θνητοῖσιν ἔασι. §25.42τὸν δʼ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφη Διὸς ἄλκιμος υἱός. §25.43ναὶ γέρον Αὐγείην ἐθέλοιμί κεν ἀρχὸν Ἐπειῶν §25.44εἰσιδέειν· τοῦ γάρ με καὶ ἤγαγεν ἐνθάδε χρειώ.
Surely indeed the children of the immortals must be such among mortal men.' And answering him, the strong son of Zeus spoke: 'Yes, old man, I would wish to see Augeas, the ruler of the Epeians; for indeed need of him has brought me here.
§25.45εἰ δʼ ὁ μὲν ἂρ κατὰ ἄστυ μένει παρὰ οἷσι πολίταις §25.46δήμου κηδόμενος, διὰ δὲ κρίνουσι θέμιστας, §25.47δμώων δή τινα πρέσβυ σύ μοι φράσον ἡγεμονεύσας, §25.48ὅστις ἐπʼ ἀγρῶν τῶνδε γεραίτερος αἰσυμνήτης, §25.49ᾧ κε τὸ μὲν εἴποιμι, τὸ δʼ ἐκ φαμένοιο πυθοίμην.
But if he remains in the city with his citizens, caring for the people, and they are deciding judgments, then, elder, tell me and lead me to some of his servants, whoever is the elder overseer over these fields, to whom I might speak my word, and learn from him what I ask.
§25.50ἄλλου δʼ ἄλλον ἔθηκε θεὸς ἐπιδευέα φωτῶν. §25.51τὸν δʼ ὁ γέρων ἐξαῦτις ἀμείβετο δῖος ἀροτρεύς· §25.52Ἀθανάτων ὦ ξεῖνε φραδῇ τινος ἐνθάδʼ ἱκάνεις, §25.53ὥς τοι πᾶν ὃ θέλεις αἶψα χρέος ἐκτετέλεσται.
For God has made one man dependent on another.' And the old, noble plowman answered him again: 'Stranger, by the counsel of some of the Immortals you come here, since all the business you wish is quickly accomplished for you.
§25.54ὧδε γὰρ Αὐγείης, υἱὸς φίλος Ἠελίοιο, §25.55σφωιτέρῳ σὺν παιδί, βίῃ Φυλῆος ἀγαυοῦ, §25.56χθιζός γʼ εἰλήλουθεν ἀπʼ ἄστεος, ἤμασι πολλοῖς §25.57κτῆσιν ἐποψόμενος, ἥ οἱ νήριθμος ἐπʼ ἀγρῶν· §25.58ὥς που καὶ βασιλεῦσιν ἐείδεται ἐν φρεσὶν ᾗσιν §25.59αὐτοῖς κηδομένοισι σαώτερος ἔμμεναι οἶκος.
For here Augeas, the dear son of Helios, with his son, the noble and mighty Phyleus, came only yesterday from the city, after many days to inspect his property, which is countless in the fields; as indeed it seems to kings in their own minds that the house is safer when they themselves care for it.
§25.60ἀλλʼ ἴομεν μάλα πρός μιν· ἐγὼ δέ τοι ἡγεμονεύσω §25.61αὖλιν ἐφʼ ἡμετέρην, ἵνα κεν τέτμοιμεν ἄνακτα. §25.62Ὣς εἰπὼν ἡγεῖτο, νόῳ δʼ ἔτι πόλλʼ ἐμενοίνα, §25.63δέρμά τε θηρὸς ὁρῶν χειροπληθῆ τε κορύνην, §25.64ὁππόθεν ὁ ξεῖνος· μέμονεν δέ μιν αἰὲν ἔρεσθαι· §25.65ἂψ δʼ ὄκνῳ ποτὶ χεῖλος ἐλάμβανε μῦθον ἰόντα, §25.66μή τί οἱ οὐ κατὰ καιρὸν ἔπος προτιμυθήσαιτο, §25.67σπερχομένου· χαλεπὸν δʼ ἑτέρου νόον ἴδμεναι ἀνδρός.
But let us go straight to him; and I will lead you to our fold, where we might find the king.' Having spoken thus, he led the way, but in his mind he was still pondering many things, seeing the skin of the beast and the club that filled his hand, wondering whence the stranger came; and he was constantly eager to ask him, but with hesitation he kept back the speech that was coming to his lip, lest he should say some untimely word to him as he was hurrying; for it is difficult to know another man's mind.