§254οὔτε Στυγός ἐστιν ἀπορρὼξ τόδε τὸ ῥεῦμα οὔτε ἄλλο ἔχει φρικῶδες οὐδὲν, ἀλλʼ ὑγιείας ἂν αὐτὸ προσείποις, ἢ νέκταρος, ἤ τινος τῶν τοιούτων ἀπορρῶγα.
Nor is this stream a branch of Styx, nor does it have anything else that causes shuddering, but you would call it a branch of health, or of nectar, or of some such thing.
τεκμηριοῖ δὲ καὶ τοῦτο, ὁ χρόνος γοῦν αὐτοῦ οὐχ ἅπτεται, ἀλλʼ ἀπαντληθὲν τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ ἔξω γενόμενον τὸ αὐτὸ ποιεῖ οἷόν περ τὸ ἀεὶ λειπόμενον ἐν τῷ φρέατι, ἄσηπτον καὶ ἀπαθὲς μένει.
And this too proves it: at any rate, time does not touch it, but the water drawn and taken outside acts in the very same way as that which is always left behind in the well, remaining decay-free and unaffected.
πλῆθος δʼ αὖ τοῦ φρέατος τούτου τοσοῦτον ὅσον ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδενὸς ἑτέρου φρέατος· μάλα ἀκμῆτας εἶναι δεῖ τοὺς ἀρυτομένους καὶ νοῦν ἔχοντας, ἵνα μὴ φθάνῃ τὸ ἐγκαταλαμβάνον.
Moreover, the abundance of this well is so great as to be, so to speak, like that of no other well; those who draw from it must be very energetic and attentive, lest the rising water catch them by surprise.
μόνον γοῦν τοῦτο πάντων φρεάτων ἀρυτομένων καὶ ἐώντων τὸ ἴσον ἀεὶ μέτρον παρέχεται, τῷ τετρημένῳ πίθῳ τὸ ἀντίστροφον ποιοῦν.
At least, this is the only one of all wells that are drawn from and remain that provides always the same measure, doing the opposite of the leaking jar.
ὁ μὲν γὰρ οὐδέποτε πληροῦται, τὸ δὲ ἀεὶ τοῦ χείλους ἐγγύς ἐστιν.
For the latter is never filled, while the former is always close to the brim.
ἅτε γὰρ ὂν διάκονόν τε καὶ συνεργὸν τοῦ φιλανθρωποτάτου τῶν θεῶν ἑτοιμότατον πρὸς τὴν ὑπηρεσίαν καὶ ἀεὶ πλῆρές ἐστι, καὶ οὔτε ἐκεῖνος ἄγει σχολὴν ἄλλο τι πράττειν ἢ σώζειν ἀνθρώπους καὶ τοῦτο μιμούμενον τὸν δεσπότην ἀεὶ πληροῖ τὴν τῶν δεομένων χρείαν, καὶ ἔστιν ὥσπερ ἄλλο τι θρέμμα ἢ δῶρον Ἀσκληπιοῦ, ὥσπερ Ὅμηρος ἐποίησεν ὅπλα καὶ ἔργα Ἡφαίστου, πρὸς τὸ ἐκείνῳ δοκοῦν κινούμενα.
Since it is a servant and coworker of the most philanthropic of the gods, most ready for service, it is also always full; and just as that god has no leisure to do anything else than to save humans, so this well, imitating its master, always fills the need of those who require it, being like some pet or gift of Asclepius, just as Homer made the arms and works of Hephaestus move according to his pleasure.
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐνταῦθα ἤδη ἐγενόμην, ποῖον ὕδωρ ἂν τῶν κατʼ ἀνθρώπους τούτῳ παραβληθείη χρείας ἕνεκα;
But since I have already reached this point, what water among those of humans could be compared to this for the sake of utility?
οὐ γὰρ μόνον πόμα, τὸ δʼ αὐτὸ καὶ λουτρόν ἐστιν ἥδιστον καὶ ἀβλαβέστατον, οὐδʼ ἀντέστραπται πρὸς τὰς ὥρας τοῦ ἔτους, θέρους μὲν ψυχρότατον ὂν αὐτὸ αὑτοῦ, χειμῶνος δὲ ὡς ἠπιώτατον γιγνόμενον, τὰ τοῦ παρόντος ἀεὶ καιροῦ δυσχερῆ λῦον καὶ παραμυθούμενον, οἵαν χρὴ τὴν Ἀσκληπιοῦ πηγὴν ἱερὰν εἶναι.
For it is not only a drink, but at the same time a most pleasant and harmless bath; nor is it reversed with respect to the seasons of the year, being coldest of itself in summer, and becoming gentlest in winter, dissolving and comforting the difficulties of the present season, just as the sacred fountain of Asclepius ought to be.
καλὰ μὲν γὰρ ταῦτα καὶ ἡδέα καὶ αὐτῷ χρωμένῳ καὶ ἑτέρους ὁρῶντι τοῦτο μὲν θέρους ὥρᾳ περὶ τὰ χείλη τοῦ φρέατος περιεστηκότας ἑξῆς ὥσπερ ἐσμὸν μελιττῶν ἢ μυίας περὶ γάλα, ἐξ ἕω ζητοῦντας τὸ πνῖγος προκαταλαβεῖν ἀντʼ ἄλλου πόματος τῶν κωλυόντων §255τὸ δίψος καὶ ἰσχόντων, τοῦτο δὲ ὅταν τις κρυστάλλου πεπηγότος τὴν χεῖρα προτείνας ἀπονιψάμενος θερμότερος αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ καὶ ἡδίων γένηται·
For these things are beautiful and pleasant both to him who uses it himself and to him who sees others—on the one hand, in the summer season, standing in order around the brim of the well like a swarm of bees or flies around milk, seeking from dawn to anticipate the sweltering heat instead of any other drink among those that prevent thirst and restrain it; on the other hand, when someone, stretching out his hand in the freezing ice and washing himself, becomes warmer than himself and more pleasant.
ἀλλὰ καὶ τἄλλα ὁ θεὸς αὐτῷ χρῆται ὥσπερ ἄλλῳ τῳ συνεργῷ, καὶ πολλοῖς ἤδη πολλάκις τὸ φρέαρ τοῦτο συνεβάλετο εἰς τὸ τυχεῖν ὧν ἔχρῃζον παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ.
Nay, the god uses it also for other things as another coworker, and already this well has contributed many times to many people obtaining what they needed from the god.
ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ παῖδες οἱ τῶν ἰατρῶν τε καὶ τῶν θαυματοποιῶν γεγυμνασμένοι πρὸς τὰς διακονίας εἰσὶ καὶ συμπράττοντες ἐκπλήττουσι τοὺς θεωμένους καὶ χρωμένους, οὕτω τοῦ μεγάλου θαυματοποιοῦ καὶ πάντα ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ πράττοντος ἀνθρώπων εὕρημα τοῦτο καὶ κτῆμά ἐστι καὶ συμπράττει δὴ πρὸς ἅπαντα αὐτῷ καὶ γίγνεται πολλοῖς ἀντὶ φαρμάκου.
For just as the servants of physicians and wonder-workers are trained for service and, by cooperating, amaze the spectators and users, so this invention and possession of the great wonder-worker who does everything for the salvation of humans cooperates with him in all things and becomes a remedy for many.
πολλοὶ μὲν γὰρ τούτῳ λουσάμενοι ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκομίσαντο, πολλοὶ δὲ πιόντες στέρνον ἰάθησαν καὶ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον πνεῦμα ἀπέλαβον, τῶν δὲ πόδας ἐξώρθωσε, τῶν δὲ ἄλλο τι.
For many, having washed their eyes with this, recovered their sight; many, having drunk, were cured in their chest and recovered their necessary breath; of some it straightened the feet, and of others some other part.
ἤδη δέ τις πιὼν ἐξ ἀφώνου φωνὴν ἀφῆκεν, ὥσπερ οἱ τῶν ἀπορρήτων ὑδάτων πιόντες μαντικοὶ γιγνόμενοι.
Already someone, having drunk, uttered a voice from being speechless, just as those who drink of secret waters become prophetic.
τοῖς δὲ καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ ἀρύτεσθαι ἀντʼ ἄλλης σωτηρίας καθέστηκε.
For some, even the very act of drawing has become a source of salvation instead of anything else.
καὶ τοῖς τε δὴ νοσοῦσιν οὕτως ἀλεξιφάρμακον καὶ σωτήριόν ἐστι καὶ τοῖς ὑγιαίνουσιν ἐνδιαιτωμένοις παντὸς ἄλλου χρῆσιν ὕδατος οὐκ ἄμεμπτον ποιεῖ.
Thus, while it is an antidote and savior for the sick, for the healthy who dwell there it makes the use of all other water not blameless.
πάντα γὰρ ἤδη μετὰ τοῦτο τὸ ὕδωρ γίγνεται πειρωμένοις, οἷον εἴ τις μετὰ ἀνθοσμίαν οἶνον τῶν ἐξεστηκότων τινὰ πίνοι.
For everything after this water becomes to those who try it as if someone, after fragrant wine, should drink one of those that are flat.
μόνον δὲ τοῦτο τὸ αὐτὸ νοσοῦσι καὶ ὑγιαίνουσιν ὁμοίως ἥδιστον καὶ λυσιτελέστατον ἑκατέροις τε καὶ συναμφοτέροις ἐστὶ, καὶ οὔτʼ ἂν γάλα παραβάλοις οὔτʼ ἂν οἶνον ποθήσαις, ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν ὥσπερ Πίνδαρος τὸ νέκταρ ἐποίησεν αὐτόχυτον, πότιμον θείᾳ τινὶ κράσει κεκραμένον ἀρκούντως.
And this alone is equally most pleasant and profitable for both the sick and the healthy, for each and for both together, and you would neither compare milk to it nor long for wine, but it is just as Pindar made nectar, pouring of itself, drinkable and sufficiently blended by some divine mixture.
ὥστε εἰ δύο εἶεν κύλικες, ἡ μὲν ἑτέρου τε ὕδατος καὶ οἴνου τοῦ καλλίστου, ἡ δὲ τούτου τοῦ ὕδατος, ἀπορήσαις ἂν πότερον λάβοις.
So that if there were two cups, one of other water and the finest wine, and the other of this water, you would be at a loss which to take.
ἔτι δὲ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἱερὰ ὕδατα τὴν τῶν πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων χρῆσιν πέφευγεν, οἷον τὸ ἐπὶ Δήλῳ καὶ εἴ τί που ἄλλοθι ἄλλο τοιοῦτόν ἐστι, τὸ δὲ τῷ σώζειν τοὺς χρωμένους, οὐ τῷ μηδένα αὐτοῦ ψαύειν, ἱερόν ἐστι· §256καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καθαρσίοις τε ἐξαρκεῖ τοῖς περὶ τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ ἀνθρώποις καὶ πίνειν καὶ λούεσθαι καὶ προσορῶσιν εὐφραίνεσθαι.
Furthermore, while other sacred waters have escaped the use of the multitude—such as that in Delos and if there is any other such elsewhere—this is sacred by saving those who use it, not by no one touching it; and it suffices both for purifications around the temple and for humans both to drink and to bathe and to rejoice when looking upon it.
ἐγὼ μὲν οὔτε Κύδνον οὔτε Χοάσπην, ὅθεν βασιλεὺς ἔπινε, περιφέρων, οὔτε ᾧ τοὺς καλλίστους στεφάνους ἀνῆκεν ἡ γῆ περὶ τὴν ὄχθην ἑκατέραν Πηνειὸν, οὔτε πηγὴν ἄβυσσον, οὔθʼ ὅ τι ἐρεῖς ἕτερον ὕδωρ παραβάλοιμʼ ἂν τούτῳ τῷ πάντα ἱερῷ, ἀλλʼ εἶναι φαίην ἂν αὐτὸ ἐν ὕδασι τοσούτῳ νικῶν ὅσῳ περ τὸν προστάτην αὐτοῦ θεὸν ἐν θεοῖς.
I would not compare Cydnus, nor Choaspes, from which the king drank, singing their praises, nor Peneios, along whose banks the earth puts forth the most beautiful crowns, nor an abyss-like spring, nor any other water you might mention, to this all-sacred water, but I would say that it conquers among waters as much as its patron god does among the gods.
λοιπὸν ἓν εἰπεῖν, ὅτι καὶ ὅσια ἂν ποιοῖμεν οὕτω κρίνοντες· ὁ γὰρ θεὸς πρῶτος περὶ αὐτοῦ ταύτην τὴν ψῆφον ἤνεγκεν, ὥς φασιν.
There remains one thing to say: that we would also do what is holy in judging thus; for the god was the first to cast this vote concerning it, as they say.