§2424.
24.
Ἱπποκράτους ὑγιεινὸν πρὸς Δημήτριον βασιλέα.
Hippocrates' work on health to King Demetrius.
Ἱπποκράτης Κῷος βασιλεῖ Δημητρίῳ χαίρειν.
Hippocrates of Cos to King Demetrius, greeting.
Ἡμεῖς καὶ πρότερον σπουδάζοντες, ὦ βασιλεῦ, περὶ τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσιος ἐν κεφαλαίῳ θεωρῆσαι τὰ μέρη, ταῦτα ξυγγράψαντες καθάπερ ἠξίωσας, ἀπεστείλαμεν.
O King, we previously too, being eager to contemplate the parts concerning human nature in summary, wrote these down just as you requested and sent them.
Νῦν δὲ περὶ ὧν δεῖ μάλιστα σπουδάζειν τοὺς ἔμφρονας, ἡμεῖς τὰ μὲν καὶ παρὰ τῶν πρότερον παρειληφότες, τὰ δὲ καὶ νῦν αὐτοὶ προσεξευρίσκοντες, γεγράφαμέν σοι· οἷς σὺ [καὶ] τῶν προτέρων ἀῤῥωστημάτων σημείοις γινομένοις ἐπακολουθῶν καὶ χρώμενος πλειστάκις, ἄνουσος ἂν εἴης τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον.
And now, concerning the things about which the wise must most of all be eager, we have written to you, partly having received them from our predecessors, and partly having discovered them ourselves; by following and using these and the signs of sicknesses that occur, you would be free from disease for all time.
Ἔστι δὲ δύο γένη ἀῤῥωστιῶν ἁπάντων ζώων, ἡ μὲν κατὰ γένος, ἡ δὲ κατὰ πάθος ἀνόμοιαι.
There are two kinds of sicknesses of all animals, the one according to class, and the other according to affection, being dissimilar.
Τὰς δ’ ἐπιθυμίας τὰς κατὰ τὴν τροφὴν ἐκ τῶν ὑπεναντίων ὄψει, ξηραινόντων ὑγρὰ, ὑγραινόντων ξηρὰ, κενούντων πλήρη, πληρούντων δὲ κενά· τὰς δὲ νούσους ἁπάσας ἐξ ὑπεναντίων ὄψει καθεστηκυίας καὶ νούσους ὑπὸ νούσων γινομένας.
And you will see that desires concerning nourishment arise from opposites—things drying wet things, things wetting dry things, things emptying full things, and things filling empty things; and you will see that all diseases are resolved by opposites, and diseases are cured by diseases.
Ὑπὸ σπασμῶν, πυρετὸς ἐπιγινόμενος ἵστησι τὸ νόσημα· κεφαλῆς δὲ περιωδυνίας αἷμα κατὰ τὰ ὦτα ῥαγὲν ἢ κατὰ τὰς ῥῖνας· σπασμοὶ πᾶσι τοῖς μελαγχολικοῖς ἐπιγιγνόμενοι παύουσι τὰς μελαγχολίας.
For convulsions, a fever supervening stops the disease; and for severe pain of the head, blood bursting through the ears or nostrils [stops it]; and convulsions supervening upon all melancholic persons stop the melancholies.
Καὶ καθόλου μέν ἐστι καὶ ῥίζα τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων νοσημάτων ἡ κεφαλὴ, καὶ τὰ ἀῤῥωστήματα τὰ μέγιστα ἐκ ταύτης παραγίνεται· ἐπικειμένην γὰρ αὐτὴν τῷ σώματι, ὥσπερ σικύαν τῶν εἰσφερομένων ἁπάντων συμβαίνει αὐτὴν ἕλκειν περιττώματα καὶ τοὺς λεπτομερεῖς χυμούς.
And generally, the head is the root of human diseases, and the greatest sicknesses arise from it; for since it is placed upon the body, like a cupping-glass, it happens to draw the residues and subtle humors of all things that are introduced.
Δεῖ δὲ προσέχειν τὸν νοῦν, ἰδίως [τε] ζῇν αὐτὸν παρασκευάσαντα εἰς ταῦτα τὰ μέρη, ὅπως μηδεμίαν αὔξησιν λαμβάνῃ τὰ προσπίπτοντα τῶν ἀῤῥωστημάτων διά γε τῆς ἐπιμελείης καὶ τῆς εὐταξίης τῆς παρὰ σοὶ γινομένης, καὶ μήτε ταῖς τῶν ἀφροδισίων ἀκρασίαις μήτε ταῖς τῶν διαφόρων ἐδεσμάτων μήτε τοῖς ὕπνοις τοῖς ὑπερχαλαστικοῖς, ἀγυμνάστου ὄντος τοῦ σώματος, χρώμενον, ἀλλ’ ἐπακολουθοῦντα τοῖς σημείοις τοῖς γινομένοις ἐν τῷ σώματι, διατηρεῖν τὸν καιρὸν ἑκάστου, ὅκως ἂν φυλαξάμενος τὸ ἀῤῥώστημα τὸ μέλλον ἐπιφέρεσθαι, ταῖς θεραπηΐαις αἷς ἂν ἐγὼ γράφω χρώμενος, διατελῇς ἄνουσος ἐών.
And it is necessary to pay attention, preparing oneself to live specifically with regard to these parts, so that the occurring sicknesses receive no increase through the care and good order that is produced on your part; and neither indulging in the excesses of sexual pleasures nor in various foods nor in over-relaxing sleeps while the body is unexercised, but following the signs that occur in the body, to preserve the season of each, so that, guarding against the sickness about to come upon you and using the treatments which I write, you may continue to be free from disease.
§2525.
25.
Δόγμα Ἀθηναίων.
Decree of the Athenians.
Ἔδοξε τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ τῶν Ἀθηναίων.
It pleased the council and the people of the Athenians.
Ἐπειδὴ Ἱπποκράτης Κῷος, ἰατρὸς ὑπάρχων καὶ γεγονὼς ἀπὸ Ἀσκληπιοῦ, μεγάλην εὔνοιαν μετὰ σωτηρίας ἐνδέδεικται τοῖς Ἕλλησι, ὅτε καὶ λοιμοῦ ἰόντος ἀπὸ τῆς βαρβάρων ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα, κατὰ τόπους ἀποστείλας τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ μαθητὰς, παρήγγειλε τίσι χρὴ θεραπείαις χρωμένους ἀσφαλῶς διαφεύξασθαι τὸν ἐπιόντα λοιμὸν, ὅπως τε ἰητρικὴ τέχνη Ἀπόλλωνος διαδοθεῖσα τοῖς Ἕλλησιν ἀσφαλῶς σώζει τοὺς κάμνοντας αὐτῶν· ἐξέδωκε δὲ καὶ ξυγγράψας ἀφθόνως τὰ περὶ τῆς ἰητρικῆς τέχνης, πολλοὺς βουλόμενος τοὺς σώζοντας ὑπάρχειν ἰητρούς· τοῦ τε Περσῶν βασιλέως μεταπεμπομένου αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τιμαῖς ταῖς κατ’ αὐτὸν ἴσαις καὶ δώροις ἐφ’ οἷς ἂν αὐτὸς Ἱπποκράτης αἱρῆται, ὑπερεῖδε τὰς ὑποσχέσεις τοῦ βαρβάρου, ὅτι πολέμιος καὶ κοινὸς ἐχθρὸς ὑπῆρχε τοῖς Ἕλλησιν.
Since Hippocrates of Cos, being a physician and descended from Asclepius, has demonstrated great goodwill along with salvation to the Greeks, when, a plague coming from the land of the barbarians upon Greece, he dispatched his own disciples to various places and instructed them with what treatments they should use to safely escape the oncoming plague, so that the medical art of Apollo, handed down to the Greeks, safely saves those of them who are sick; and he also published by writing abundantly the things concerning the medical art, wishing that there be many physicians who save; and when the king of the Persians sent for him with honors equal to his own and with gifts which Hippocrates himself might choose, he overlooked the promises of the barbarian, because he was a hostile and common enemy to the Greeks.
Ὅπως οὖν ὁ δῆμος Ἀθηναίων φαίνηται προαιρούμενος τὰ χρήσιμα διὰ παντὸς ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων καὶ ἵνα χάριν ἀποδῷ πρέπουσαν Ἱπποκράτει ὑπὲρ τῶν εὐεργετημάτων; δεδόκηται τῷ δήμῳ μυῆσαι αὐτὸν τὰ μυστήρια τὰ μεγάλα δημοσίᾳ καθάπερ Ἡρακλέα τὸν Διὸς, καὶ στεφανῶσαι αὐτὸν στεφάνῳ χρυσῷ ἀπὸ χρυσῶν χιλίων· ἀναγορεῦσαί τε τὸν στέφανον Παναθηναίοις τοῖς μεγάλοις ἐν τῷ ἀγῶνι τῷ γυμνικῷ· καὶ ἐξεῖναι πᾶσι Κώων παισὶν ἐφηβεύσιν ἐν Ἀθήναις καθάπερ παισὶν Ἀθηναίων, ἐπειδή περ ἡ πατρὶς αὐτῶν ἄνδρα τοιοῦτον ἐγέννησεν· εἶναι δὲ Ἱπποκράτει καὶ πολιτείαν καὶ σίτισιν ἐν. Πρυτανείῳ διὰ βίου.
In order, therefore, that the people of the Athenians may appear to choose what is useful at all times on behalf of the Greeks, and so that they may render fitting thanks to Hippocrates for his benefits; it has been resolved by the people to initiate him into the Great Mysteries at public expense, just like Heracles the son of Zeus, and to crown him with a golden crown of a thousand gold pieces; and to proclaim the crown at the Great Panathenaia in the athletic contest; and that it be permitted for all the children of the Coans to serve as ephebes in Athens just like the children of the Athenians, since their homeland begot such a man; and that there be for Hippocrates both citizenship and maintenance in the Prytaneum for life.
§2626.
26.
Ἐπιβώμιος.
At the Altar.
Ὦ πολλοὶ καὶ πολλῶν πολίων οἰκηταὶ, ἐν ἀξίῃ μεγάλῃ γεγονότες, κοινὸν οὔνομα Θεσσαλοὶ, πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποισι πικρὴ ἀνάγκη τὰ μεμοιραμένα φέρειν· καρτερεῖν γὰρ βιάζεται ἃ βούλεται, ᾗ καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ εἴκων, ξὺν ἐμῇ γενεᾷ θαλλοὺς στέψας, ἐπ’ Ἀθηναίης βωμοῦ ἱκέτης ἵδρυμαι, τίς ἐὼν χρὴ λέγειν τοῖς ἀγνοέουσιν.
O many and inhabitants of many cities, being in great dignity, with the common name of Thessalians, it is a bitter necessity for all men to bear what has been allotted; for [necessity] forces to endure what it wills, yielding to which indeed I now, having crowned myself with branches along with my offspring, sit as a suppliant at the altar of Athena. Who I am, it is necessary to tell those who do not know.
Ἱπποκράτης, ὦ ἄνδρες, ὁ ἰητρὸς ὁ Κῶος διὰ σεμνῆς καὶ καλῆς αἰτίης ἐμὲ ἑωυτὸν καὶ παῖδας ὑμῖν ξυνίστημι.
Hippocrates, O men, the physician of Cos, through a solemn and noble cause, I commend myself and my children to you.
Γινώσκεσθε, ὦ πλῆθος· καὶ γὰρ δὴ, ὦ ἄνδρες, οἰκεῖοι ἐόντες ὡς εἰπεῖν, ἀληθῶς πολλοῖσιν ὑμέων καὶ πολίων ὑμετέρων γινώσκομαι ὡς τύπῳ εἰπεῖν.
Be acquainted, O multitude; for indeed, O men, being as it were relatives, I am truly known to many of you and of your cities, to speak in outline.
Οὔνομα δ’ ἰδέης καὶ προσωτέρω κεχώρηκε· δοκέω δὲ τοῦτο ἐκ τέχνης ἐμῆς ὑγιείης τε καὶ ζωῆς αἴτιον ἀνθρώποισιν, οὐ μόνον τοῖσι τὴν ἡμετέρην οἰκέουσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολλοῖσιν Ἑλλήνων ἐγγὺς ἡμέων γινώσκομαι.
And the name of my form has gone even further; and I think this is due to my art, being the cause of health and life for men, and I am known not only to those who inhabit our land, but also to many of the Greeks near us.
Ἤδη δὲ ὁτέῳ ὑπέμεινα τὸ τηλικοῦτον πρῆγμα ἔργῳ πρᾶξαι, ἐρέω.
And now I will say for what cause I have endured to perform such a great thing in deed.
Ἀθηναῖοι, ὦ ἄνδρες Θεσσαλοὶ, κακῶς ἐξουσίῃ χρεώμενοι, μητρόπολιν ἡμετέρην Κῶ ἐν δούλης μέρει διατίθενται, τὰ ἐλεύθερα διὰ προγόνων κτήσιος δορίκτητα ποιεύμενοι, οὔτε ξυγγενείην αἰδεσθέντες, ἥ ἐστιν αὐτέοις ἀπὸ Ἀπόλλωνός τε καὶ Ἡρακλέους, ἥτις ἐς Αἴνιόν τε καὶ Σούνιον τοὺς κείνων παῖδας ἱκνέεται, οὔθ’ Ἡρακλέους εὐεργεσίας ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βαλόμενοι, ἃς ὁ κοινὸς ὑμῖν τε καὶ ἡμῖν ὀρθῶς ποιέων θεὸς ἐς ἐκείνους κατέθετο.
The Athenians, O men of Thessaly, using their power badly, are treating our mother-city Cos in the manner of a slave, making what was free through ancestral acquisition into booty of the spear, neither respecting the kinship which is to them from Apollo and Heracles, which reaches to Aenius and Sunium to their children, nor laying to heart the benefits of Heracles, which the god who does what is right, common to both you and us, deposited with them.
Ὑμεῖς τε ἀλλὰ πρὸς Διὸς ἱκεσίου καὶ θεῶν ὁμογνίων ἐξέλθετε, ἀμύνατε, ἐλευθερώσατε, τῆς ἰδίης φιλοτιμίης μηδὲν ἐλλείποντες.
Do you then, by Zeus the god of suppliants and the gods of the race, go forth, defend, liberate, failing in nothing of your own honor.