§4.84.1ἀπαγγελίαν·
narrative.
νυνὶ δὲ περὶ Δάφνιδος πειρασόμεθα διελθεῖν τὰ μυθολογούμενα.
But now we shall endeavor to discuss the myths related concerning Daphnis.
Ἡραῖα γὰρ ὄρη κατὰ τὴν Σικελίαν ἐστίν, ἅ φασι κάλλει τε καὶ φύσει καὶ τόπων ἰδιότησι πρὸς θερινὴν ἄνεσιν καὶ ἀπόλαυσιν εὖ πεφυκέναι.
For there are in Sicily the Heraean mountains, which they say are well suited by their beauty, nature, and the peculiar character of their sites for summer relaxation and enjoyment.
πολλάς τε γὰρ πηγὰς ἔχειν τῇ γλυκύτητι τῶν ὑδάτων διαφόρους καὶ δένδρεσι παντοίοις πεπληρῶσθαι.
For they say that they possess many springs distinguished for the sweetness of their waters, and are filled with trees of every kind.
εἶναι δὲ καὶ δρυῶν μεγάλων πλῆθος, φερουσῶν καρπὸν τῷ μεγέθει διαλλάττοντα, διπλασιάζοντα τῶν ἐν ταῖς ἄλλαις χώραις φυομένων.
And that there is also a multitude of great oaks, bearing fruit outstanding in size, twice the size of those growing in other lands.
ἔχειν δὲ καὶ τῶν ἡμέρων καρπῶν αὐτομάτων, ἀμπέλου τε πολλῆς φυομένης καὶ μήλων ἀμυθήτου πλήθους.
And that they also have some of the cultivated fruits growing of their own accord, much wild vine growing, and an unspeakable multitude of apples.
§4.84.2διὸ καὶ στρατόπεδόν ποτε Καρχηδονίων ὑπὸ λιμοῦ πιεζόμενον διαθρέψαι, παρεχομένων τῶν ὀρῶν πολλαῖς μυριάσι χορηγίας εἰς τροφὴν ἀνέκλειπτον.
For which reason they also say that they once sustained an army of the Carthaginians when it was hard pressed by famine, the mountains providing an inexhaustible supply of food for many tens of thousands.
ἐν ταύτῃ δὲ τῇ χώρᾳ συναγκείας δένδρων οὔσης θεοπρεποῦς καὶ Νύμφαις. ἄλσους ἀνειμένου μυθολογοῦσι γεννηθῆναι τὸν ὀνομαζόμενον Δάφνιν, Ἑρμοῦ μὲν καὶ Νύμφης υἱόν, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ πλήθους καὶ τῆς πυκνότητος τῆς φυομένης δάφνης ὠνομάσθαι Δάφνιν.
And in this region, where there is a glen of trees meet for a god, and a sacred grove dedicated to the Nymphs, they relate that the one named Daphnis was born, being the son of Hermes and a Nymph, and that he was named Daphnis from the multitude and density of the laurel growing there.
§4.84.3τοῦτον δʼ ὑπὸ Νυμφῶν τραφέντα, καὶ βοῶν ἀγέλας παμπληθεῖς κεκτημένον, τούτων ποιεῖσθαι πολλὴν ἐπιμέλειαν· ἀφʼ ἧς αἰτίας βουκόλον αὐτὸν ὀνομασθῆναι.
And they say that he, having been reared by the Nymphs and possessing very many herds of cattle, took great care of these; for which reason he was called a herdsman.
φύσει δὲ διαφόρῳ πρὸς εὐμέλειαν κεχορηγημένον ἐξευρεῖν τὸ βουκολικὸν ποίημα καὶ μέλος, ὃ μέχρι τοῦ νῦν κατὰ τὴν Σικελίαν τυγχάνει διαμένον ἐν ἀποδοχῇ.
And being endowed by nature with an exceptional gift for beautiful melody, he invented the bucolic poem and song, which down to the present time continues to be held in acceptance throughout Sicily.
§4.84.4μυθολογοῦσι δὲ τὸν Δάφνιν μετὰ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος κυνηγεῖν ὑπηρετοῦντα τῇ θεῷ κεχαρισμένως, καὶ διὰ τῆς σύριγγος καὶ βουκολικῆς μελῳδίας τέρπειν αὐτὴν διαφερόντως.
And they relate that Daphnis hunted with Artemis, serving the goddess in a manner pleasing to her, and with his panpipes and bucolic melody delighted her exceptionally.
λέγουσι δʼ αὐτοῦ μίαν τῶν Νυμφῶν ἐρασθεῖσαν προειπεῖν, ἐὰν ἄλλῃ τινὶ πλησιάσῃ, στερήσεσθαι τῆς ὁράσεως· κἀκεῖνον ὑπό τινος θυγατρὸς βασιλέως καταμεθυσθέντα, καὶ πλησιάσαντα αὐτῇ, στερηθῆναι τῆς ὁράσεως κατὰ τὴν γεγενημένην ὑπὸ τῆς Νύμφης πρόρρησιν.
And they say that one of the Nymphs, falling in love with him, warned him that if he should associate with any other woman, he would be deprived of his sight; and that he, having been made drunk by a certain king's daughter and having associated with her, was deprived of his sight in accordance with the warning given by the Nymph.
καὶ περὶ μὲν Δάφνιδος ἱκανῶς ἡμῖν
And concerning Daphnis, we have [spoken] sufficiently.