Humanitext Reader

Moschus · Fragments §6.1-6.8

Alpheus Flowing beneath the Sea for Love

Passage 3 of 4 · Greek

Summary

The poet describes how the river Alpheus flows under the sea without mixing to reach the spring Arethusa, attributing this miraculous feat to the power of Love.

§6.1Ἀλφειὸς μετὰ Πῖσαν ἐπὴν κατὰ πόντον ὁδεύῃ, §6.2ἔρχεται εἰς Ἀρέθοισαν ἄγων κοτινηφόρον ὕδωρ, §6.3ἕδνα φέρων καλὰ φύλλα καὶ ἄνθεα καὶ κόνιν ἱράν, §6.4καὶ βαθὺς ἐμβαίνει τοῖς κύμασι, τὰν δὲ θάλασσαν §6.5νέρθεν ὑποτροχάει, κοὐ μίγνυται ὕδασιν ὕδωρ, §6.6ἁ δ’ οὐκ οἶδε θάλασσα διερχομένω ποταμοῖο. §6.7κῶρος λινοθέτας κακομάχανος αἰνὰ διδάσκων §6.8καὶ ποταμὸν διὰ φίλτρον Ἔρως ἐδίδαξε κολυμβῆν.
When Alpheus, after passing Pisa, journeys through the sea, he comes to Arethusa, bringing wild-olive-bearing water, carrying beautiful leaves and flowers and sacred dust as bridal gifts. And deeply he enters into the waves, and runs beneath the sea, and water does not mix with water; nor does the sea notice the river passing through. That mischievous, net-setting boy, who teaches dreadful things, even a river did Love teach to swim through a love-charm.

Notes

  1. 6.6διερχομένω ποταμοῖο — This genitive participial construction functions as the object of the verb οἶδε, meaning 'does not know/notice the river passing through.' It could alternatively be construed as a genitive absolute, but the object participle construction typical with verbs of perceiving is more natural here.
  2. 6.7λινοθέτας — A compound of the noun λίνον (flax, thread, or 'net' used for hunting and fishing) and τίθημι (to set/place). It metaphorically describes Love as setting nets or traps to catch prey. It features the Doric nominative singular ending -ας.

Cite this passage

Moschus, Fragments §6.1-6.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0035.tlg005.humanitext-grc2:6.1-6.8

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