§28.1Διὰ τί ἐπὶ τοῖς φρέασι τὰκηλώνεια ποιοῦσι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον;
Why do they construct swipes for wells in this manner?
προστιθέασι γὰρ βάρος ἐν τῷ ξύλῳ τὸν μόλιβδον, ὄντος βάρους τοῦ κάδου αὐτοῦ, καὶ κενοῦ καὶ πλήρους ὄντος.
For they add a weight, namely lead, to the wood, even though there is already the weight of the bucket itself, both when it is empty and when it is full.
Ἥ ὅτι ἐν δυσὶ χρόνοις διῃρημένου τοῦ ἔργου (βάψαι γὰρ δεῖ, καὶ τοῦτ’ ἄνω ἑλκύσαι) συμβαίνει καθιέναι μὲν κενὸν ῥᾳδίως, αἴρειν δὲ πλήρη χαλεπῶς;
Or is it because, since the task is divided into two times (for it is necessary to dip it, and then to drag it up), it happens that letting it down empty is easy, but raising it full is difficult?
§28.2Λυσιτελεῖ οὖν μικρῷ βραδύτερον εἶναι τὸ καταγαγεῖν πρὸς τὸ πολὺ κουφίσαι τὸ βάρος ἀνάγοντι.
It is therefore advantageous that letting it down should be slightly slower, in comparison with greatly lightening the weight for the one who draws it up.
Τοῦτο οὖν ποιεῖ ἐπ’ ἄκρῳτῷ κηλωνείῳ ὁ μόλιβδος προσκείμενος ἢὁ λίθος.
This, then, is what the lead or stone attached to the end of the swipe accomplishes.
Καθιμῶντι μὲν γὰρ γίνεται βάρος μεῖζονἢ εἰ μόνον κενὸν δεῖ κατάγειντὸν κάδον· ὅταν δὲ πλήρης ᾖ, ἀνάγει ὁ μόλβδος, ἢ ὅ τι ἄν ᾖ τὸ προσκείμενον βάρος.
For to the one letting it down, there is indeed a greater weight than if it were necessary to let down only the empty bucket; but when it is full, the lead, or whatever the attached weight may be, helps to draw it up.
Ὤστ’ ἐστὶ ῥᾷον αὐτῷ τὰ ἄμφωἢ ἐκείνῳ.
Thus, both actions together are easier for him than for that other person.