§159.1Fr. 159
Θ. δέ φησιν ἐν τῷ περὶ ὑδάτων· τὸ Νείλου ὕδωρ πολυγονώτατον καὶ γλυκύτατον·
says in his treatise On Waters: the water of the Nile is most generative and very sweet; wherefore, having a sodalike mixture, it relaxes the bowels of those who drink it.
διὸ καὶ λύειν τὰς κοιλίας τῶν πινόντων μίξιν ἔχον λιτρώδη καὶ τῶν γλυκέων δὲ, φησὶν, ὑδάτων ἔνια ἄγονα ἢ οὐ πολύγονα, ὡς τὸ ἐν Φέτᾳ καὶ τὸ ἐν Πύρρᾳ.
But some of the sweet waters, he says, are barren or not very generative, such as the water in Pheta and that in Pyrrha.
Αὐχμῶν δέ ποτε γενομένων περὶ τὸν Νεῖλον ἐρρύη τὸ ὕδωρ ἰῶδες καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ἀπώλοντο.
Once when there were droughts around the Nile, the water flowed rust-like and many of the Egyptians perished.
Μεταβάλλειν τέ φησιν οὐ μόνον τὰ πικρὰ τῶν ὑδάτων ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἁλυκόν καὶ ὅλους ποταμοὺς καθὰ τὸν ἐν Κιθαιρῶνι, παρʼ ᾧ Ζηνὸς, καὶ τὸν ἐν Καρίᾳ, παρʼ ᾧ Ποσειδῶνος ἱερόν ἐστιν· αἴτιον δὲ τὸ πολλοὺς κεραυνοὺς πίπτειν περὶ τὸν τόπον.
He says that not only bitter waters change, but also salty water, and even entire rivers, like the one in Cithaeron, near which is a temple of Zeus, and the one in Caria, near which is a temple of Poseidon; the cause is that many thunderbolts fall around the place.
Ἄλλα δὲ τῶν ὑδάτων καὶ σωματώδη εἰσὶ καὶ ἔχει ὥσπερ τι βάρος ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, ὡς τὸ ἐν Τροιζῆνι· τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ τῶν γευομένων εὐθὺς ποιεῖ πλῆρες τὸ στόμα.
Some waters are also substantial and have a kind of weight in themselves, like the water in Troezen; for this immediately fills the mouth of those who taste it.
Τὰ δὲ πρὸς τοῖς περὶ Πάγγαιον μετάλλοις τοῦ μὲν χειμῶνος τὴν κοτύλην ἄγουσαν ἔχει ἐννενήκοντα ἓξ, θέρους δὲ τεσσαράκοντα ἕξ.
The water near the mines around Pangaeum weighs ninety-six per kotyle in winter, but forty-six in summer.
Συστέλλει δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ πυκνοῖ μᾶλλον τὸ ψῦχος, διὸ καὶ ἐν τοῖς γνώμοσι ῥέον οὐκ ἀναδίδωσι τὰς ὥρας ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι ἀλλὰ περιττεύει βραδυτέρας οὔσης τῆς ἐκροῆς διὰ τὸ πάχος.
The cold contracts and condenses it more, wherefore flowing in water-clocks it does not indicate the hours in winter, but a surplus remains because the outflow is slower due to the thickness.
Καὶ ταὐτὰ περὶ Αἴγυπτόν φησιν ὅταν μαλακώτερος ὁ ἀήρ.
And he says the same things happen around Egypt when the air is milder.
Τὸ δὲ ἁλυκὸν ὕδωρ γεωδέστερόν ἐστι καὶ πλείονος δεῖται κατεργασίας, ὡς καὶ τὸ θαλάσσιον θερμοτέραν ἔχον τὴν φύσιν καὶ μὴ ὅμοιον πάσχον.
Salty water is more earthy and requires more processing, just as sea water, having a warmer nature, does not undergo the same effect.
Μόνον δʼ ἀτέραμνον τῶν ἁλυκῶν τὸ τῆς Ἀρεθούσης.
Of salty waters, only that of Arethusa is resistant to softening.
Χείρω δʼ ἐστὶ τὰ βαρυσταθμότερα καὶ τὰ σκληρότερα καὶ τὰ ψυχρότερα διὰ τὰς αὐτὰς αἰτίας· δυσκατεργαστότερα γάρ ἐστι, τὰ μὲν τῷ πολὺ τὸ γεῶδες ἔχειν τὰ δὲ ψυχρότητος ὑπερβολῇ.
Worse are those that weigh heavier, are harder, and colder, for the same reasons; for they are harder to process, some by having much earthy matter, others by an excess of cold.
Τὰ δὲ ταχὺ θερμαινόμενα κοῦφα καὶ ὑγιεινά.
Those that heat up quickly are light and healthy.
Ἐν Κρανῶνι δʼ ἐστὶν ὕδωρ ἡσυχῆ θερμὸν ὁ θερμαῖνον διατηρεῖ κραθέντα τὸν οἶνον ἐπὶ δύο καὶ τρεῖς ἡμέρας.
In Cranon there is water gently warm, which when mixed keeps the wine warm for two or three days.
Τὰ δʼ ἐπίρρυτα καὶ ἐξ ὀχετοῦ ὡς ἐπίπαν βελτίω τῶν στασίμων, κοπτόμενά τε μαλακώτερα γίνονται.
Flowing waters and those from conduits are generally better than standing waters, and when beaten they become softer.
Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς χιόνος δοκεῖ χρηστὰ εἶναι.
For this reason, water from snow also seems to be good.
Καὶ γὰρ ἀνάγεται τὸ ποτιμώτερον.
For the sweeter part is carried up.
Καὶ τοῦτο κεκομμένον ἐστὶ τῷ ἀέρι.
And this is beaten by the air.
Διὸ καὶ τῶν ὀμβρίων βελτίω, καὶ τὰ ἐκ κρυστάλλου δὲ διὰ τὸ κουφότερα εἶναι· σημεῖον δὲ ὅτι καὶ ὁ κρύσταλλος αὐτὸς κουφότερος τοῦ ἄλλο ὕδατος.
Wherefore it is better than rainwater, and water from ice is also better because of being lighter; and the proof is that ice itself is lighter than other water.
Τὰ δὲ ψυχρὰ σκληρὰ διότι γεωδέστερα.
Cold waters are hard because they are more earthy.
Τὸ δὲ σωματῶδες καὶ θερμανθὲν θερμότερον καὶ ψυχθὲν ψυχρότερόν ἐστιν.
That which is substantial, when heated, is warmer, and when cooled, is colder.
Κατὰ τὴν αὐτὴν δʼ αἰτίαν καὶ τὰ ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι ποτιμώτερα τῶν ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις· ἧττον γὰρ μέμικται τῷ γεώδει.
For the same reason, waters in the mountains are sweeter than those in the plains; for they are less mixed with earthy matter.
Ποιεῖ δὲ τὸ γεῶδες καὶ τὰς ἐπιχροὰς τῶν ὑδάτων.
Earthy matter also causes the colorations of waters.
Τὸ γοῦν τῆς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι λίμνης ἐρυθρὸν γίνεται ἐπί τινας ἡμέρας.
At least, the water of the lake in Babylon becomes red for some days.
Τὸ δὲ τοῦ Βορυσθένους κατά τινας χρόνους ἰοβαφὲς, καίπερ ὄντος διʼ ὑπερβολὴν λεπτοῦ· σημεῖον δέ· τοῦ Ὕπάνιος ἐπάνω γίνεται διὰ κουφότητα τοῖς βορείοις.
And that of the Borysthenes is violet-colored at certain times, although it is exceedingly fine; and the proof is: it gets on top of the Hypanis because of its lightness during north winds.
Πολλαχοῦ δ' εἰσὶ κρῆναι αἱ μὲν ποτιμώτεραι καὶ οἰνωδέστεραι, ὡς ἡ περὶ Παφλαγονίαν πρὸς ἥν φησι τοὺς ἐγχωρίους ὑποπίνειν προσιόντας.
In many places there are springs, some sweeter and more wine-like, such as the one around Paphlagonia, to which he says the inhabitants go to drink a little.
Ἁλμώδεις δʼ ἅμα τῷ ὄξει ἐν τῆς Σικελίας· ἐν τῇ Καρχηδονίων δὲ ἐπικρατείᾳ κρήνη ἐστὶν ᾗ τὸ ἐφιστάμενον ἐλαίῳ ἐστὶν ὅμοιον, μελάντερον τὴν χρόαν, ὃ ἀποσφαιροῦντες χρῶνται πρὸς τὰ πρόβατα καὶ τὰ κτήνη.
There are salty springs together with vinegar-like acidity in Sicily; in the territory of the Carthaginians there is a spring where what floats on top is like oil, darker in color, which they gather into balls and use for sheep and cattle.
Καὶ παρʼ ἄλλοις δ' εἰσὶ λίπος ἔχουσαι τοιοῦτον, ὡς ἡ ἐν Ἀσίᾳ ὑπὲρ ἧς Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπέστειλεν ὡς ἐλαίου κρήνην εὑρηκώς.
And among others there are springs containing such fat, like the one in Asia about which Alexander wrote in a letter that he had found a spring of oil.
Καὶ τῶν θερμῶν δʼ ἐκ φύσεως ὑδάτων ἔνια γλυκέα ἐστὶν, ὡς τὰ ἐν Αἰγαῖς τῆς Κιλικίας καὶ περὶ Παγασὰς, τά τʼ ἐν τῇ Τρωικῇ Λαρίσσῃ καὶ περὶ Παγνηυ σίον καὶ ἐν Μήλῳ καὶ ἐν Λιπάρᾳ.
And of naturally warm waters, some are sweet, like those in Aegae of Cilicia and around Pagasae, and those in Troas' Larissa and around Pagneusion and in Melos and in Lipara.
Ἐν δὲ Προύσῃ τῇ πρὸς τὸν Μύσων Ὄλυμπον τὰ βασιλικὰ καλούμενα.
In Prusa near the Mysian Olympus are the waters called Royal.
Τὰ δʼ ἐν Ἀσίᾳ περὶ Τράλλεις καὶ τὸν Χαρακωμήτην ποταμὸν, ἔτι δὲ Νύσσαν πόλιν οὕτως ἐστὶ λιπαρὰ ὡς μὴ δεῖσθαι τοὺς ἐναπολουομένους ἐλαίου.
And those in Asia around Tralles and the Characometes river, and also the city of Nysa, are so oily that those who bathe in them do not need oil.
Τοιαῦτα καὶ τὰ Δασκύλου κώμῃ· τὰ δʼ ἐν Καρούροις κατάξηρα καὶ σφόδρα θερμά· τὰ δὲ περὶ Μηνὸς κώμην, ἥ ἐστι Φρυγίας, τραχύτερά ἐστι καὶ λιτρωδέστερα, ὡς καὶ τὸ ἐν τῇ καλουμένῃ Λέοντος κώμῃ τῆς Φρυγίας· τὰ δὲ περὶ Δορύλαιον καὶ πινόμενά ἐστι ἥδιστα· τὰ γὰρ περὶ Βαΐας ἢ Βαΐου λιμένα τῆς Ἰταλίας παντελῶς ἄποτα.
Such are also those in the village of Dascylus; those in Carura are extremely drying and very hot; those around the village of Men, which is in Phrygia, are rougher and more sodalike, as is also the water in the so-called village of Leon in Phrygia; those around Dorylaeum are very pleasant to drink; for those around Baiae or the harbor of Baius in Italy are completely undrinkable.