§6.69.1ὃ μὲν δὴ τοιαῦτα ἔλεγε, ἣ δὲ ἀμείβετο τοῖσιδε. ὦ παῖ, ἐπείτε με λιτῇσι μετέρχεαι εἰπεῖν τὴν ἀληθείην, πᾶν ἐς σὲ κατειρήσεται τὠληθές.
Thus he spoke, and she answered him with these words: "My son, since you entreat me with prayers to tell you the truth, the whole truth shall be declared to you.
ὥς με ἠγάγετο Ἀρίστων ἐς ἑωυτοῦ, νυκτὶ τρίτῃ ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἦλθέ μοι φάσμα εἰδόμενον Ἀρίστωνι, συνευνηθὲν δὲ τοὺς στεφάνους τοὺς εἶχε ἐμοὶ περιετίθεε.
When Ariston had brought me to his own house, on the third night from the first, there came to me a phantom resembling Ariston, and having slept with me, it placed on me the garlands which it had.
§6.69.2καὶ τὸ μὲν οἰχώκεε, ἧκε δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα Ἀρίστων.
And when this had gone, Ariston came after this.
ὡς δέ με εἶδε ἔχουσαν στεφάνους, εἰρώτα τίς εἴη μοι ὁ δούς· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐφάμην ἐκεῖνον, ὁ δὲ οὐκ ὑπεδέκετο.
When he saw me having the garlands, he asked who it was that had given them to me; and I said it was he, but he denied it.
ἐγὼ δὲ κατωμνύμην φαμένη αὐτὸν οὐ ποιέειν καλῶς ἀπαρνεόμενον· ὀλίγῳ γὰρ τι πρότερον ἐλθόντα καὶ συνευνηθέντα δοῦναί μοι τοὺς στεφάνους.
And I swore an oath, saying that he did not do well to deny it; for having come and slept with me a little while before, he had given me the garlands.
§6.69.3ὁρέων δέ με κατομνυμένην ὁ Ἀρίστων ἔμαθε ὡς θεῖον εἴη τὸ πρῆγμα.
Seeing me swearing this oath, Ariston perceived that the matter was divine.
καὶ τοῦτο μὲν οἱ στέφανοι ἐφάνησαν ἐόντες ἐκ τοῦ ἡρωίου τοῦ παρὰ τῇσι θύρῃσι τῇσι αὐλείῃσι ἱδρυμένου, τὸ καλέουσι Ἀστροβάκου, τοῦτο δὲ οἱ μάντιες τὸν αὐτὸν τοῦτον ἥρωα ἀναίρεον εἶναι.
And on the one hand, the garlands were found to have come from the shrine of the hero which is established by the courtyard doors, whom they call Astrobacus; and on the other hand, the seers declared that this same hero was the one who had come.
§6.69.4οὕτω ὦ παῖ ἔχεις πᾶν, ὅσον τι καὶ βούλεαι πυθέσθαι· ἢ γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ ἥρωος τούτου γέγονας, καί τοι πατήρ ἐστι Ἀστρόβακος ὁ ἥρως, ἢ Ἀρίστων· ἐν γάρ σε τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ ἀναιρέομαι.
Thus, my son, you have all that you wish to learn; for either you are begotten of this hero, and your father is the hero Astrobacus, or else your father is Ariston; for I conceived you on that very night.
τῇ δέ σευ μάλιστα κατάπτονται οἱ ἐχθροί, λέγοντες ὡς αὐτὸς ὁ Ἀρίστων, ὅτε αὐτῷ σὺ ἠγγέλθης γεγενημένος, πολλῶν ἀκουόντων οὐ φήσειέ σε ἑωυτοῦ εἶναι ʽτὸν χρόνον γάρ, τοὺς δέκα μῆνας, οὐδέκω ἐξήκειν̓, ἀιδρείῃ τῶν τοιούτων κεῖνος τοῦτο ἀπέρριψε τὸ ἔπος.
And as for the point on which your enemies especially attack you, saying that Ariston himself, when your birth was announced to him, said in the hearing of many that you were not his because the time of ten months had not yet run out—he let fall that word in ignorance of such matters.
§6.69.5τίκτουσι γὰρ γυναῖκες καὶ ἐννεάμηνα καὶ ἑπτάμηνα, καὶ οὐ πᾶσαι δέκα μῆνας ἐκτελέσασαι· ἐγὼ δὲ σὲ ὦ παῖ ἑπτάμηνον ἔτεκον.
For women bear children both at nine months and at seven months, and not all complete ten months; and I bore you, my son, at seven months.
ἔγνω δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ Ἀρίστων οὐ μετὰ πολλὸν χρόνον ὡς ἀνοίῃ τὸ ἔπος ἐκβάλοι τοῦτο.
And Ariston himself also realized not long afterwards that he had let fall this word out of folly.
λόγους δὲ ἄλλους περὶ γενέσιος τῆς σεωυτοῦ μὴ δέκεο· τὰ γὰρ ἀληθέστατα πάντα ἀκήκοας.
Therefore receive no other stories about your birth; for you have heard the whole truth.
ἐκ δὲ ὀνοφορβῶν αὐτῷ τε Λευτυχίδῃ καὶ τοῖσι ταῦτα λέγουσι τίκτοιεν αἱ γυναῖκες παῖδας.
And as for Leotychides himself and those who say these things, may their wives bear children to them from ass-herds!"