§1τάδε σοὶ κατʼ εὐχὴν, Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τε καὶ σῶτερ, δῶρα ἀνάγομεν, σὺ δὲ δέξαι, καὶ ὥσπερ ἔσωσας εὐμενῶς, καὶ προσοῦ τὰ χαριστήρια, τῷ τε λόγῳ ἐπάρκεσον καὶ παράπεμψον εἰς ὅσον ἀνθρώπου λόγον ἐξικέσθαι δυνατὸν ὡς πλεῖστον, ὡς μὴ τελέως καταγέλαστοι γενώμεθα, μηδὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ παντὸς πέσοιμεν.
These gifts we offer to you, Zeus King and Savior, in accordance with our vow; and do you receive them, and just as you saved us with benevolence, also accept these thanksgiving offerings, and assist our speech, and guide it as far as possible, as much as it is possible for human speech to reach, so that we may not become utterly ridiculous, nor fall away completely.
καίτοι πρὸς αὐτῷ γιγνόμενος οὐκ ἔχω τίς γένωμαι, ἀλλὰ νῦν μοι δοκῶ καὶ σφόδρα μανθάνειν ὡς τελέως ἄρα ἐκινδύνευον, καὶ οὐκ ἐν ἐμαυτῷ ἦν ὑπὸ τῆς θαλάττης, κατὰ τοιούτων εὐχόμενος, ἃ μήτε ἀποπληρῶσαι ῥᾴδιον μήτε ἐγχειρῆσαι σωφροσύνης ἴσως ἔχει πίστιν, ὑπισχνούμενος ὕμνον ἐρεῖν Διὸς, καὶ ταῦτα ἄνευ μέτρου.
And yet, as I draw near to the task, I do not know what will become of me, but now I think I understand very well how completely I was in danger, and how I was not in my right mind because of the sea, in making vows about such things, which are neither easy to fulfill nor does the attempt perhaps show proof of soundness of mind, promising to deliver a hymn to Zeus, and that too without meter.
ἦ πολλὴ τότε ἦν ἡ θάλαττα καὶ πᾶν ἐποίει §2καὶ πράττειν καὶ λέγειν.
Truly, the sea was great then and made me do everything, both to act and to speak.
ὅμως δὲ, οὐ γὰρ ἐκλειπτέον οὐδὲν εὐκταῖον, φασὶν, ἀλλὰ πᾶν ὁτιοῦν ὁπωσοῦν ἀποδιδόμενον κρεῖττον ἢ καθάπαξ ἐκλειφθὲν, πειραθῶμεν ἀμωσγέπως ἀφοσιώσασθαι πρὸς τὸν θεόν· τοῦ δὲ κάλλιον ἢ ἐνδεέστερον αὐτῷ μελήσει.
Nevertheless, since they say that no vowed thing must be left undone, but that anything whatsoever paid in whatever way is better than being completely neglected, let us try somehow or other to discharge our holy duty to the god; and as to whether this is done more beautifully or more deficiently, it will be his concern.
καὶ δὴ τὸ μὲν ὅλως ἐκλιπεῖν ἀργίας οἴσει δόξαν, ἣν οὐ θέμις ἐν τοῖς πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς ἔχειν, τοῦ δὲ μὴ ἐφικέσθαι ἡ τοῦ πράγματος αὐτοῦ φύσις παρέξει τὴν συγγνώμην.
Indeed, to fail entirely will bring a reputation for laziness, which it is not right to have in matters concerning the gods, while for failing to reach the height, the nature of the subject itself will afford pardon.
οὐ γὰρ ἑκόντες ἐκλιπεῖν δόξομεν, ἀλλʼ ἀναγκαίως ὕστεροι γίγνεσθαι.
For we shall not seem to fail willingly, but to fall short out of necessity.
ὡς δʼ εἰπεῖν, κρεῖττον, εἰ δεῖ, γέλωτα ὀφλεῖν ἢ μέμψιν ἐκ θεῶν.
And, so to speak, it is better, if need be, to incur ridicule than blame from the gods.
ἐπειδὴ οὖν εὐξάμεθά τε καὶ οὐκ ἂν ἄλλως ταῦτα ἔχοι, δεῖ δὴ ὥσπερ τῶν ἀθλητῶν τοὺς ἀπογράψαντας ἑαυτοὺς μὴ ἀναχωρεῖν, ἀλλʼ ὁμόσε ἰέναι καὶ πειρᾶσθαι τοῦ ἀγωνίσματος.
Since, therefore, we made the vow, and things cannot be otherwise, we must, just like those athletes who have registered themselves, not withdraw, but go hand to hand and attempt the contest.
εἶεν δὴ, Μοῦσαι Διὸς παῖδες, οὐ γὰρ ἔγωγε ὁρῶ πότε ἄν τις ὑμᾶς ἄμεινον καλέσειεν ἢ νῦν, εἴθʼ ὑμεῖς γε ἐπʼ Ὀλύμπου σὺν Ἀπόλλωνι Μουσηγέτῃ τὴν θείαν ᾠδὴν ᾁδετε, ὑμνοῦσαι τὸν ὑμέτερόν τε καὶ τῶν ὅλων πατέρα, εἴτε Πιερία φίλον ὑμῖν ἐνδιαίτημα, εἴτε ἐν Ἑλικῶνι τῷ Βοιωτίῳ χορεύετε, τῶν Διὸς ἔργων τε καὶ δωρεῶν ὅ τί περ ὄφελος, ἄγʼ ὦ πάντʼ εἰδυῖαι, πόθεν ἀρχώμεθα;
Well then, Muses, daughters of Zeus—for I do not see when one could call upon you better than now, whether you are singing the divine song on Olympus with Apollo, Leader of the Muses, hymning your father and the father of all, or Pieria is your beloved abode, or you dance on Helicon in Boeotia, praising whatever is of benefit among the deeds and gifts of Zeus—come, O you who know all things, where shall we begin?
τί τολμήσομεν εἰπεῖν περὶ Διός;
What shall we dare to say concerning Zeus?
δότε μοι μανικὸν γενέσθαι τὸν λόγον ὥσπερ τῇ ὑποθέσει, οὕτως καὶ τοῖς πρέπουσιν εἰς αὐτὸν, καὶ μή με οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς ἐν τῷ μέσῳ καταλίπητε.
Grant that my speech may become inspired, just like its subject, and so also with the words fitting for him, and do not leave me in the middle between heaven and earth.
Ζεὺς τὰ πάντα ἐποίησε καὶ Διός ἐστιν ἔργα ὅσα ἐστὶ πάντα, καὶ ποταμοὶ καὶ γῆ καὶ θάλαττα καὶ οὐρανὸς καὶ ὅσα τούτων μεταξὺ ἄνω καὶ ὅσα ὑπὸ ταῦτα, καὶ θεοὶ καὶ ἄνθρωποι καὶ ὅσα ψυχὴν ἔχει καὶ ὅσα εἰς ὄψιν ἀφικνεῖται καὶ ὅσα δεῖ νοήσει λαβεῖν.
Zeus made all things, and all things that exist are the works of Zeus, both rivers and earth and sea and heaven, and all things between them above, and all things beneath them, and gods and men, and all things that have a soul, and all things that come to sight, and all things that must be apprehended by the intellect.
ἐποίησε δὲ πρῶτος αὐτὸς ἑαυτὸν, οὐ Κρήτης ἐν εὐώδεσιν ἄντροις τραφεὶς, οὐδʼ ἐμέλλησεν αὐτὸν Κρόνος καταπιεῖν, οὐδʼ ἀντʼ ἐκείνου λίθον κατέπιεν, οὐδʼ ἐκινδύνευσε Ζεὺς οὐδὲ
And first he made himself, not having been reared in the fragrant caves of Crete, nor did Kronos intend to swallow him, nor did he swallow a stone instead of him, nor did Zeus run any risk, nor...