§3.69.1πάντῃ δὲ κατὰ τὰς παρόδους προχεῖσθαι πηγὰς ὑδάτων τῇ γλυκύτητι διαφόρων, ὥστε τὸν τόπον εἶναι τοῖς βουλομένοις ἐνδιατρῖψαι προσηνέστατον.
And everywhere along the passages flowed springs of water outstanding for sweetness, so that the place was most pleasant for those who wished to spend their time there.
ἑξῆς δʼ ὑπάρχειν ἄντρον τῷ μὲν σχήματι κυκλοτερές, τῷ δὲ μεγέθει καὶ τῷ κάλλει θαυμαστόν.
Next to this there was a cave, in shape circular, and wondrous in size and beauty.
ὑπερκεῖσθαι γὰρ αὐτοῦ πανταχῇ κρημνὸν πρὸς ὕψος ἐξαίσιον, πέτρας ἔχοντα τοῖς χρώμασι διαφόρους· ἐναλλὰξ γὰρ ἀποστίλβειν τὰς μὲν θαλαττίᾳ πορφύρᾳ τὴν χρόαν ἐχούσας παραπλήσιον, τὰς δὲ κυανῷ, τινὰς δʼ ἄλλαις φύσεσι περιλαμπομέναις, ὥστε μηδὲν εἶναι χρῶμα τῶν ἑωραμένων παρʼ ἀνθρώποις περὶ τὸν τόπον ἀθεώρητον.
For a precipice rose above it on all sides to an extraordinary height, having rocks of various colours; for they gleamed alternately, some having a colour very like sea-purple, others dark blue, and some with other lustrous qualities, so that no colour of those seen by men was unseen about the place.
§3.69.2πρὸ δὲ τῆς εἰσόδου πεφυκέναι δένδρα θαυμαστά, τὰ μὲν κάρπιμα, τὰ δὲ ἀειθαλῆ, πρὸς αὐτὴν μόνον τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς θέας τέρψιν ὑπὸ τῆς φύσεως δεδημιουργημένα· ἐν δὲ τούτοις ἐννεοττεύειν ὄρνεα παντοδαπὰ ταῖς φύσεσιν, ἃ τὴν χρόαν ἔχειν ἐπιτερπῆ καὶ τὴν μελῳδίαν προσηνεστάτην.
And before the entrance grew wondrous trees, some fruit-bearing, others evergreen, created by nature solely for the pleasure derived from looking at them; and in these nested birds of every kind, which had delightful colouring and most sweet melody.
διὸ καὶ πάντα τὸν τόπον ὑπάρχειν μὴ μόνον θεοπρεπῆ κατὰ τὴν πρόσοψιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἦχον, ὡς ἂν τῆς αὐτοδιδάκτου γλυκυφωνίας νικώσης τὴν ἐναρμόνιον τῆς τέχνης μελῳδίαν.
Therefore, the whole place was meet for a god, not only in its appearance but also in its sound, as if the untaught sweet-singing conquered the harmonious melody of art.
§3.69.3διελθόντι δὲ τὴν εἴσοδον θεωρεῖσθαι μὲν ἄντρον ἀναπεπταμένον καὶ τῇ κατὰ τὸν ἥλιον αὐγῇ περιλαμπόμενον, ἄνθη δὲ παντοδαπὰ πεφυκότα, καὶ μάλιστα τήν τε κασίαν καὶ τἄλλα τὰ δυνάμενα διʼ ἐνιαυτῶν διαφυλάττειν τὴν εὐωδίαν· ὁρᾶσθαι δὲ καὶ νυμφῶν εὐνὰς ἐν αὐτῷ πλείους ἐξ ἀνθῶν παντοδαπῶν, οὐ χειροποιήτους, ἀλλʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς τῆς φύσεως ἀνειμένας θεοπρεπῶς.
And to one who has passed through the entrance, a wide-open cave is visible, illuminated by the sunlight, and flowers of every kind are growing, especially cassia and the others which are able to preserve their fragrance through the years; and in it are also seen many couches of nymphs made of flowers of every kind, not made by hand, but fittingly for a god produced by nature itself.
§3.69.4κατὰ πάντα δὲ τὸν τῆς περιφερείας κύκλον οὔτʼ ἄνθος οὔτε φύλλον πεπτωκὸς ὁρᾶσθαι.
And around the whole circumference, neither flower nor leaf is seen to have fallen.
διὸ καὶ τοῖς θεωμένοις οὐ μόνον ἐπιτερπῆ φαίνεσθαι τὴν πρόσοψιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν εὐωδίαν προσηνεστάτην.
Therefore, to those who behold it, not only does the appearance seem delightful, but the fragrance also is most pleasant.