§5.19.1ἐπεὶ δὲ περὶ τῶν ἐντὸς Ἡρακλείων στηλῶν κειμένων νήσων διεληλύθαμεν, περὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸν ὠκεανὸν οὐσῶν διέξιμεν.
Since we have gone through the islands lying within the Pillars of Heracles, we shall now discuss those that are in the ocean.
κατὰ γὰρ τὴν Λιβύην κεῖται πελαγία νῆσος ἀξιόλογος μὲν τῷ μεγέθει, κειμένη δὲ κατὰ τὸν ὠκεανὸν ἀπέχει πλοῦν ἀπὸ τῆς Λιβύης ἡμερῶν πλειόνων, κεκλιμένη πρὸς τὴν δύσιν.
For opposite Libya there lies a sea-island notable for its size, which, situated in the ocean, is distant by a voyage of several days from Libya, reclining towards the west.
ἔχει δὲ χώραν καρποφόρον, πολλὴν μὲν ὀρεινήν, οὐκ ὀλίγην δὲ πεδιάδα κάλλει διαφέρουσαν.
It has a fertile land, much of which is mountainous, but not a little is a plain outstanding in beauty.
§5.19.2διαρρεομένη γὰρ ποταμοῖς πλωτοῖς ἐκ τούτων ἀρδεύεται, καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν ἔχει παραδείσους καταφύτους παντοίοις δένδρεσι, παμπληθεῖς δὲ κηπείας διειλημμένας ὕδασι γλυκέσιν· ἐπαύλεις τε πολυτελεῖς ταῖς κατασκευαῖς ὑπάρχουσιν ἐν αὐτῇ καὶ κατὰ τὰς κηπείας κατεσκευασμένα κωθωνιστήρια τὴν διάθεσιν ἀνθηρὰν ἔχοντα, ἐν οἷς οἱ κατοικοῦντες κατὰ τὴν θερινὴν ὥραν ἐνδιατρίβουσι, δαψιλῶς τῆς χώρας χορηγούσης τὰ πρὸς τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν καὶ τρυφήν.
For being flowed through by navigable rivers, it is irrigated by them, and it has many parks planted with all kinds of trees, and very numerous gardens intersected by sweet waters; and there are villas luxurious in their construction, and in the gardens there are built banqueting places of brilliant arrangement, in which the inhabitants spend their time during the summer season, since the land supplies abundantly the things for enjoyment and luxury.
§5.19.3ἥ τε ὀρεινὴ δρυμοὺς ἔχει πυκνοὺς καὶ μεγάλους καὶ δένδρα παντοδαπὰ καρποφόρα καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι διαίτας ἔχοντα συναγκείας καὶ πηγὰς πολλάς.
And the mountainous region has dense and large forests, and all kinds of fruit-bearing trees, and many glens and springs suitable for living in the mountains.
καθόλου δʼ ἡ νῆσος αὕτη κατάρρυτός ἐστι ναματιαίοις καὶ γλυκέσιν ὕδασι, διʼ ὧν οὐ μόνον ἀπόλαυσις ἐπιτερπὴς γίνεται τοῖς ἐμβιοῦσιν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ὑγίειαν σωμάτων καὶ ῥώμην συμβάλλεται.
In general, this island is well-watered with flowing and sweet waters, through which not only a delightful enjoyment is brought to those living on it, but it also contributes to the health and strength of their bodies.
§5.19.4κυνήγιά τε δαψιλῆ παντοίων ζῴων καὶ θηρίων ὑπάρχει, καὶ τούτων ἐν ταῖς εὐωχίαις εὐποροῦντες οὐδὲν ἐλλιπὲς ἔχουσι τῶν πρὸς τρυφὴν καὶ πολυτέλειαν ἀνηκόντων· καὶ γὰρ ἰχθύων ἔχει πλῆθος ἡ προσκλύζουσα τῇ νήσῳ θάλαττα διὰ τὸ φύσει τὸν ὠκεανὸν πανταχῇ πλήθειν παντοδαπῶν ἰχθύων.
And there is an abundant game of all kinds of animals and wild beasts, and being well-supplied with these in their feasts, they have nothing lacking of those things pertaining to luxury and extravagance; for indeed the sea washing the island has a multitude of fish, because by nature the ocean everywhere teems with all kinds of fish.
§5.19.5καθόλου δʼ ἡ νῆσος αὕτη τὸν περικείμενον ἀέρα παντελῶς εὔκρατον ἔχουσα τὸ πλέον μέρος τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ φέρει πλῆθος ἀκροδρύων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν ὡραίων, ὥστε δοκεῖν αὐτὴν ὡσεὶ θεῶν τινων, οὐκ ἀνθρώπων ὑπάρχειν ἐμβιωτήριον διὰ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς εὐδαιμονίας.
In general, this island, having the surrounding air completely temperate, bears a multitude of tree-fruits and other seasonal products for the greater part of the year, so that it seems, on account of the excess of its prosperity, to be a dwelling-place as if of some gods, and not of humans.