Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §1.36.1-1.36.3

The Mysian Boar and the Request for Aid to Croesus

Passage 36 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

While Adrastus is staying with Croesus, a giant wild boar ravages Mysia, prompting the residents to request the prince's assistance. Croesus, mindful of his tragic dream, refuses to send his son but promises to send Lydian forces and hounds instead.

§1.36.1ὃ μὲν δὴ δίαιταν εἶχε ἐν Κροίσου.
Thus he had his dwelling in the house of Croesus.
ἐν δὲ τῷ αὐτῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ ἐν τῷ Μυσίῳ Ὀλύμπῳ ὑὸς χρῆμα γίνεται μέγα· ὁρμώμενος δὲ οὗτος ἐκ τοῦ ὄρεος τούτου τὰ τῶν Μυσῶν ἔργα διαφθείρεσκε.
At this very same time, a huge monster of a boar appeared on the Mysian Olympus; rushing down from this mountain, it would ruin the works of the Mysians.
πολλάκις δὲ οἱ Μυσοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐξελθόντες ποιέεσκον μὲν κακὸν οὐδέν, ἔπασχον δὲ πρὸς αὐτοῦ.
Often the Mysians went out against it, but they did it no harm, while they suffered at its hands.
§1.36.2τέλος δὲ ἀπικόμενοι παρὰ τὸν Κροῖσον τῶν Μυσῶν ἄγγελοι ἔλεγον τάδε. ὦ βασιλεῦ, ὑὸς χρῆμα μέγιστον ἀνεφάνη ἡμῖν ἐν τῇ χώρῃ, ὃς τὰ ἔργα διαφθείρει.
At last, messengers of the Mysians came to Croesus and said these words: "O king, a monstrous beast of a boar has appeared to us in our country, which ruins our works.
τοῦτον προθυμεόμενοι ἑλεῖν οὐ δυνάμεθα.
Eager though we are to capture it, we cannot.
νῦν ὦν προσδεόμεθά σευ τὸν παῖδα καὶ λογάδας νεηνίας καὶ κύνας συμπέμψαι ἡμῖν, ὡς ἄν μιν ἐξέλωμεν ἐκ τῆς χώρης. §1.36.3οἳ μὲν δὴ τούτων ἐδέοντο, Κροῖσος δὲ μνημονεύων τοῦ ὀνείρου τὰ ἔπεα ἔλεγέ σφι τάδε.
Now, therefore, we entreat you to send with us your son and chosen young men and dogs, so that we may drive it out of our country." They indeed made this request, but Croesus, mindful of his dream, spoke to them these words: "Do not mention my son any further; for I would not send him with you.
παιδὸς μὲν πέρι τοῦ ἐμοῦ μὴ μνησθῆτε ἔτι· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὑμῖν συμπέμψαιμι· νεόγαμός τε γὰρ ἐστὶ καὶ ταῦτά οἱ νῦν μέλει.
For he is newly married, and that is his concern now.
Λυδῶν μέντοι λογάδας καὶ τὸ κυνηγέσιον πᾶν συμπέμψω, καὶ διακελεύσομαι τοῖσι ἰοῦσι εἶναι ὡς προθυμοτάτοισι συνεξελεῖν ὑμῖν τὸ θηρίον ἐκ τῆς χώρης.
However, I will send with you chosen Lydians and the entire hunting-pack, and I will strictly command those who go to be as zealous as possible to help you drive the beast out of your country."

Notes

  1. 1.36.1ἐν Κροίσου — Meaning 'in [the house] of Croesus.' This is an idiomatic ellipsis where the noun οἴκῳ (house) or οἰκίοις is omitted, leaving only the possessive genitive Κροίσου.
  2. 1.36.1ὑὸς χρῆμα — Literally 'a thing of a wild boar.' The construction 'genitive + χρῆμα' is a colloquial or poetic periphrasis used to emphasize the extraordinary size or nature of the object, here meaning 'a huge/monstrous wild boar.'
  3. 1.36.1διαφθείρεσκε — Imperfect of the verb διαφθείρω (to destroy). The suffix `-σκε-` (the iterative suffix characteristic of the Ionic dialect and epic poetry) is attached to express the repeated and continuous action of the boar ('used to destroy' or 'kept ruining'). Similarly, the subsequent `ποιέεσκον` is also an iterative past.
  4. 1.36.2ὡς ἄν — Introducing a purpose clause ('in order that') with the subjunctive `ἐξέλωμεν`. While the particle ἄν is rarely used in purpose clauses in Attic Greek, the construction ὡς ἄν + subjunctive is frequently used to express purpose in Homeric and Herodotean (Ionic) Greek.
  5. 1.36.3οὐ γὰρ ἂν...συμπέμψαιμι — The construction ἄν + optative. Here, rather than expressing a mere potential or possibility in the future, it expresses a polite yet firm and resolute refusal ('for I would not/cannot send').

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §1.36.1-1.36.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.36.1-1.36.3

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.