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Full text of "Dionysiaca"

THE LIBRARY 

of 

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY 

Toconto 



THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY 

FOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB, LL.D. 

EDITED BY 
+ T. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D. 

E. CAPPS, PH.D., LL.D. W. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d. 
L. A. POST, M.A. E. H. WARMINGTON, m.a. 



NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 

III 



NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY 

W. H. D. ROUSE, Lirr.D. 

MYTHOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY 
H. J. ROSE, M.A. 

PROFESSOR OF ORBEK, UNIVERSITY OF 8T. ANDREWS 

AND NOTES ON TEXT CRITICISM BY 

L. R. LIND, Ph.D. 

CRAWFORDSVItlJC, INb. 

IN THREE VOLUMES 

III 

BOOKS XXXVI— XLVIIl 




CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS 

LONDON 

WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD 

MCMXLII 



PA 

A3 
V.3 



FirH primtmt l«MO 
R0l.riml*d liMi 



FrinUd in Onat HrUaim 



PREFACE 

I SHOULD like to have written an estimate of Nonnos 
as poet and man of letters, but that is hardly what 
would be expected in a translation. His Niagara of 
words is apt to overwhelm the reader, and his faults 
are easy to see ; but if we stand in shelter behind 
the falls, we can see many real beauties, and we can 
see his really wonderful skill in managing his metre 
long after stress had displaced the old musical accent. 
He has left his mark, indirectly at least, on English 
literature ; for one man of genius was for ever quot- 
ing him, and had him in mind when he created his 
incomparable and immortal drunkard, Seithenyn ap 
Seithyn Saidi. He it was who summed up in four 
lines the sordid ambitions of all the tyrants of the 
world, from Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar to 
Timour and Attila and Napoleon, 

The mountain sheep are sweeter. 
But the valley sheep are fatter. 
And so we thought it meeter 
To carry oflF the latter. 

W. H. D. Rouse 

HiSTON Ma NOB 

Cambridge 
June 1940 



CONTENTS OF VOLUME III 

PAOK 

Preface v 

Summary of the Books of the Poem . . viii 

Text and Translation — 

Book XXXVI 2 

Book XXXVII 36 

Book XXXVIII 92 

Book XXXIX 124 

Book XL 154 

Additional Note to Book XL . . 194» 

BookXLI 196 

BookXLII 228 

BookXLIII 268 

BookXLIV 298 

BookXLV 820 

BookXLVI 346 

BookXLVII 372 

BookXLVIII 424 

Index 495 

vii 



OEPIOXH 
TftN AIONTSIAKnN IIOIHMATQN 

EnirPA<>Ai 
TON rnoAEinoMENON rr AIONTTIAKQN nOIHMATON 



'Ev 8c rpirjKoaraf Iktw ftcrd Av/iaTa 
^OLK^os ^rjpLahrJL Kopv<7G€T<u clSo; afut|/3cuy 

dvSpoLGLV adXo<f>6pois €iTiTvp.^iol tloiv ayuivt^, 

*H;(t TpirjKOGTov irdXev oyboov, aiBoTrt haXtft 
heiXalov ^aidovTos €;(€t9 fiopov rivioxfjo^. 

*Ev 8c Tpir^Koarw ivdno p.€Td KVfiara Acuotrcftf 
ArjpLcxSrjv <j)€vyovra nvpi<f>X€y€wv crroXov 'Ii^^ufi^. 

TcaaapaKOOTOV €\€l Seha'Cypitifov op'j^auov *\vhuM¥, 
TTWs ^€ Tvpov Alowgos ihvoaTo, narp&a Ka5/xov. 

Y[pa>rov reaaapaKoorov c;(Ci, 'n66€v vUi Wvpffvj^ 
dXXr)v KvTrpLV ctiktcv * Afivfiwirrjv *A^po8iny. 

TeaaapaKocrrov v<fn]va to Scvrcpoi', ^;(i Xiy^utrnf 
BoLKxov repTTvov cpwTa Kal Ifiepov twoaxyQiov. 

Ail^eo TCGGapaKocrrov crt rpirov, dmroBi fUXma 
"Apca KvpLaroevra /cat d/xTrcAoccraav 'EtoHu. 



SUMMARY OF THE BOOKS OF THE POEM 
Headings of the last thirteen Books 

OF THE DiONYSIACA 

(36) In the thirty-sixth, Bacchos, after his surges of 
madness, changes his shape and attacks Deriades. 

(37) When the thirty-seventh takes its turn, there 
are contests about the tomb, the men competing 
for prizes. 

(38) When the thirty-eighth takes its turn, you have 
the fate of unhappy Phaethon in the chariot, 
with a blazing brand. 

(39) In the thirty-ninth, you see Deriades after the 
flood trying to desert the host of fire-blazing 
Indians. 

(40) The fortieth has the Indian chief wounded, and 
how Dionysos visited Tyre, the native place of 
Cadmos. 

(41) The forty-first tells how Aphrodite bore Amy- 
mone a second Cypris to the son of Myrrha. 

(42) The forty-second web I have woven, where I 
celebrate a delightful love of Bacchos and the 
desire of Earthshaker. 

(43) Look again at the forty-third, in which I sing a 

war of the waters and a battle of the vine. 

ix 



SUMMARY OF BOOKS 

TeaarapaKOGTOV v<t>'qva to T€rparov, ^vi yvroMroc 
SepKeo /xatvo/xcVas" ^at Fl^i^cos' oyKov an€iXijif, 

UefjLTTTov TiaaapaKocrrov cVo^ccu, oimo&i llcy- 
devs 
ravpov €7na(f>iyy€i K€pa€XK€OS dvrl Avaiov, 

"FiKTov T€GaapaKo<rr6v Kc nXtov, ^x^ wwfoti^p 
Ylevdeos aKpa Kaprjva Kal cuAc a&r cict^i' Ayavrjr. 

"Kpx^o TcaoapaKoarov cV €/38ofio>', omro^« Ilt/H 

Kal fiopos *lKaploio koI appoxirwv Wpuihyf), 

^it,€o 7€aaapaKO<rr6v is oyboov alfia riyama^, 
TlaXkrjvrjv 8c 66k€V€ koI tnrvaXirjs tokov ACpifft, 



SUMMARY OF BOOKS 

(44<) The forty-fourth web I have woven, where you 
may see maddened women and the heavy threat 
of Pentheus. 

(45) See also the forty-fifth, where Pentheus binds 
the bull instead of stronghorn Lyaios. 

(46) See also the forty-sixth, where you will find 
the head of Pentheus and Agaue murdering her 
son. 

(47) Come to the forty-seventh, in which is Perseus, 
and the death of Icarios, and Ariadne in her 
rich robes. 

(48) In the forty-eighth, seek the blood of the giants, 
and look out for Pallene and the son of sleeping 
Aura. 



XI 



NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 



VOL. Ill 



AIONTSIAKUN TPIAKOrTON EKTON 



*Ev 8c rpL-qKoarut Iter (ft fi€ra Avfiara 
BaKxos AT7pta87Ji Kopvaatnu tt&oi a^4ifiot¥, 

*n? <j>dyi€vos Qap<jvv€ y€yr)06ra<: rfyty^s^fft^' 
ArjpLabrjs 8* ircpwOev cou? tKopvoat /laxTTtic, 
dfjL<l)OT€pr] 8e tfxiXayyi d€oi vatrijpt^ *OAv/Airov 
KCKpifievoL crre^Xoyro KvP€pinfjrrjp€^ *E»nfaOt, 
ol fJLcv ArjpLaSijog dprjyoveg, ol 8c AuoiOV. 1 

Zeu? ftei' dva( ^aKapwv vifiiivyo^ wItoBt K//)r»f 
"Apeos" €?;(€ ToAai^a 7rapaKAt8d»'* ovpay6$€y hi 
€fi7TVpov uSardet? 7TpoKaXi^€To K-iKU-o^fo/rw 
'HcAtov, yAau/ctuTTiy "Apr)^, 'H^cutrro? 'rS<i<nn|ir 
*Hpi7? 8' drrt/ccAcu^os' dpcoriay 'Aprt^f ^<my 
Aif]TCx)7]v 8* cVt 87)^11/ ivppani^ rjXvdtv *Kpfifff, 

Kat fa^eou iTo\4p.ov hiSvpiOKTimo^ c/Socfuy ^X**^ 
dli<j)OT€poLs fiaKapeomv. €7r€aGVfi€vwv 04 tciAoifii^ 
"Aprjs iirraTTeXedpos efidpyaro YpiToytv^lj), 
/cat Sdpu Oovpov LoXXev dvoirrqrov 8< Staanj^ 
fjL€(JG7]v alycSa Tvifjev, ddrji^rov 8< ica^>7)vov 
^Aacre Fopyetr^? 6<f>Lcob€a Ayjia xairT)^, 
riaAAaSo? ourrjaay Aaatov adicoy o^irrcv^ 5^ 
TTejJLTTOjJLevr) pot^>]8ov d/ca^TTc'o? €y;(€Oj ^X^'H 
7roLr)Tr]v TrXoKafxlba vodr)? i^dpa^c Mc8oi><T7y9. 
KOVpT) 8* €yp€KvhoipLOs inat^aoa koI airrq 
2 



BOOK XXXVI* 

In the thirty-sixth, Bacchos, after his surges of mad- 
ness, changes his shape and attacks Deriades. 

With this speech he encouraged the glad leaders ; 
and Deriades on his part put his own soldiers under 
arms. The gods who dwell in Olympos ranged them- 
selves in two parties to direct the warfare on both 
sides, these supporting Deriades, those Lyaios. Zeus 
Lord of the Blessed throned high on Cerne held the 
tilting balance of war. From heaven Seabluehair of 
the waters challenged fiery Helios, Ares challenged 
Brighteyes, Hephaistos Hydaspes ; highland Artemis 
stood facing Hera ; Hermes rod in hand came to 
conflict with Leto. 

^^ A double din of divine battle resounded for the 
two parties of the Blessed. As they rushed to con- 
flict, sevenrood Ares joined battle with Tritogeneia 
and cast a valiant spear ; the goddess was untouched, 
but it struck full on the aegis, and ran through the 
snaky crop of hair on the Gorgon's head, which none 
may look upon. So it wounded only the shaggy 
target of Pallas, and the sharpened point of the 
whizzing unbending spear scored the counterfeit hair 
of Medusa's image. Then the battlestirring maiden, 

•* The battle of the gods is imitated rather closely from 
II. XX. 32-74 ; xxi. 328-513. 



KONNOS 

avyyovov €yxo£ a€ip€V cV *\p€i FIoAAar o^i^rci^^ 

K€ivOy TO TT€p <j>op€ovoa Xfx^^^*' rjXixi XQ^V 

dvdope iraTpwoio rcAcaatyoi^to tcapr^v, 

Koi haTrihw yow Kd^€ nmciy iT€pi^nKtrot 'Af^* 

aXXd /xtv opdcoaaaa TraXii'BlinjTov *Avrjyrj 

firjTpl fl>^rj p.€Td Srjpiv dyovrarov cairaacv ^Hpffi, 

"Hpr) h* drrtptSaiPcv 6p€aaiv6fiov Ai o w fc w w 
ApT€fiL9 (JJS ovvdeOXo^ opcoTta?, IBvrtvit W 

TofoV COV KVkXoHJCV OflO^TJXw &4 KvSoiftA 

Wprj Zr)v6s cXovoa v€if>o^ 7r€'rrvKaafUvo¥ tifUHt 
dppayes cos" adnos cf^* • koX 'Aprtfu^ dXXop im* aXXt^ 
r)€pLr)s TTc/xxrouCTa 8t* dyrvyo^ lov dXyjfrqv 

€19 OKOTTOV dxprilOTOV €-nV €K€VWO€ ^Op^p/t/lf, 

Kal v€(l>€Xr)v dpprjKTOv oXrjv C7rv«ra(cv SumSf 
Kal ycpdvojv pupirjXo^ erjv rvno^ TJi€po^oirtK 
iTrrafievajv ar€<f)avnrjh6v dfioiPaiat Tivi KlMUf 
Kal V€<f>€'C OKIOCVTI TTCTnyyOTC? i7<mj' <M<r70^* 

coTctAd? 8* dxdpaKTo^ dvaifiova^ cfyc KoXihrrfffi, 
Kal Kpavaov Kov<f>iaa€v tmrjvtfuov ptXo^ *H^, 
X^^pl 8c hivevovaa TriTrrjyoTa vutra voAo^i^ 

ro^ov 5* dyKi^Aa /cu/cAa owtBXaat fAopfiapof myfii)* 
ou 8e pidxr]v dvcKcnpc Aid? Sdfictp' *A^//udof 5^ 
OTTy^eos" aKpov ervipc pL^aalrarov' i} 5ir ruvcioa 
eyx^i-* 77-a;^€VTt x^/^* KaT€X€V€ ^ap/rpipr. 
#cat ot cTTcyycAdoKTa Atdj pLvOi^aro vvfii^* 

" "ApTCfjLi, drjpia pdXXc rL fi€iiouiy dvTt^pc{c«^; 
Kal oKOTriXuiv iniprjOi' tI goI pLoBos; ovrv^avai hk 
€vhpop.ihas <f>opiovaa Aittc KvrjpuBa^ *A^ip^* 



^ « Appropriately ; by a popular ancient theory. Ilcrm 

("Hpa) is the atmosphere (di^p). 

4 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 22-50 

motherless Pallas, rushed forwards in her turn and 
raised her birthmate spear, the weapon as old as 
herself, with which at her birth she leapt out of her 
father's pregnant head born in armour. Huge Ares 
was hit, and sank to the ground on one knee ; but 
Athena helped him up and sent him back to his 
dear mother Hera unwounded, when the duel was 
done. 

^ Against Hera came highland Artemis as cham- 
pion for hillranging Dionysos, and rounded her 
bow aiming straight. Hera as ready for conflict 
seized one of the clouds <* of Zeus, and compressed it 
across her shoulders where she held it as a shield 
proof against all ; and Artemis shot arrow after 
arrow moving through the airy vault in vain against 
that mark, until her quiver was empty, and the 
cloud still unbroken she covered thick with arrows all 
over. It was the very image of a flight of cranes 
moving in the air and circling one after another 
in the figure of a wreath : the arrows were stuck 
in the dark cloud, but the veil was untorn and 
the wounds without blood. Then Hera picked up a 
rough ilhissile of the air, a frozen mass of hail, circled it 
and struck Artemis with the jagged mass. The sharp 
stony lump broke the curves of the bow. But the 
consort of Zeus did not stop the fight there, but 
struck Artemis flat on the skin of the breast, and 
Artemis smitten by the weapon of ice emptied her 
quiver upon the ground. Then the wife of Zeus 
mocked at her : 

^ " Go and shoot wild beasts, Artemis ! Why do 
you quarrel with your betters ? Climb your crags — 
what is war to you ? Wear your trumpery shoes 
and let Athena wear the greaves. Stretch your 



NONNOS 

Kal AtVa a€LO rivaaa^ hoXoirXoKa' ^po^oMM yap 

aol KVV€? aypwaaovaif koI ov 7rr€pO€yr€i ourrtH' 

ov OX) \eovTO<f>6vov yLeBitrti^ /3cAof • dbpay4w¥ y^ 

au)V KaiMaTCJV ISpancg avdXxi&tg tiai Aa/uiOi* 

Gcjv 8' iXd(l>ajv oAcyiJc koI €VK€pdov aio ii^pov, M 

acbv €Xd<f>cjv dAcytfc- Tt aol Aioj via ytpalptut 

TTopSaXicov cXaTfjpa Kal rjvioxrja XfoiTwv; 

Tjv 8' edeXrjg, €X€ ro^ov, "Epcj^ ori Tofo rrnuWt* 

TTapOcvLKrj (fyvyoSepLve fi€yyo<rr6K€ , TropBfiAy *Epunw^ 

K^arov ix^iv coi^eAAc? dooarjTrjpa Aojfciiyy, «> 

(Tvv Yla(l>lT), avv "EptoTi- ov yap Kpar^tif TO«rcTo£o. 

oAAa, TcAcCTaiydi'oto Kv^pvrjiriipa ytviBXr^^, 

€px€o TTaLhoTOKUJV cVt TTaordSa SrjXvrfpdotVf 

Kal XoxiOLS jScAccCTCTii' 6i(TT€VOvaa yiwducaf 

CLKeXos €(J(70 Xeovn-i AextotSo^ iyyvBi vvfi^tf^, iS 

dvTt <f>LXo'JTToX€llOLO fJLOyOOTOKO^. dXXa KOA otfTrit 

Xrjy€ oao(f>pov€ovaa aa6<t)povos catica ^lirpnrit, 
OTTt T€(x)v fjLeXeojv fjL^deTTcov rvnov u^t/iVScur Zcvf 
napdeviKas dydpx)vg yvp.<f>€V€Tai- ciacri Ktunjw 
eiKova arjv ^oocoaL yap-OKXanov 'ApicaScc ^Xu, 70 
KaAAtoToi;? dya/xoio ya^ooroAoi', VfX€TtpTfv Si 
€p.<l)pova p,dpTvpov dpKTov €Ti ar€i'dxovai it€tXuf¥ai 
fi€p,(l)op,evr)v vodov cKoj e/xo/xavc; ioxtaxfnj^, 
drjXvreprjs ot€ XiKTpov ebvaaro BrjXi/^ ojroin^f. 
dAAd T€i7v dvovrjTov dnoppupaaa <l>ap€Tfrrfv 78 

*H/3r;9 KoAAtTre S^piv dpeiovo^' tjv 8* €BfXi^ajf^, 
d)S Xox^'T] TToAc/xt^c TcXeaaiydfuv KvSfpttrj." 

"EvveTTC, T€Lpopcinrju 8€ 77a/)7jAi;^c»' 'A/>tc/uv *H/n). 
rrjv 8c <^d^a> pLedvovaav diro <f>Xolafioio KOfu^arv 

« C/. 7Z. xxi. 483. Many other close iniiUtiom viO be 
6 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 51-79 

cunning nets. Dogs, not winged arrows, hunt and 
kill your beasts. You handle no weapon to kill 
lions ; the sweats of your paltry labours are timid 
hares. Attend to your stags and your horned 
team, attend to your stags : why should you exalt 
the son of Zeus, the driver of panthers and the 
charioteer of lions ? Keep your bow, if you like, for 
Eros also bends a bow. What you ought to do, you 
virgin marriage-hater, you midwife, is to carry the 
cestus, love's ferry, the helper of childbed, in com- 
pany with Eros and the Paphian : for you have power 
over birth. Begone then to the bedchambers of 
women in labour of child, you the guide of creative 
birth, and shoot women with the arrows of child- 
birth ; be like a lion ** beside the young wife in 
labour, be midwife rather than warrior. Nay, cease 
to be chaste yourself because of your chaste girdle, 
since Zeus our Lord on High assumes your shape to 
woo virgins unwedded.^ The Arcadian woods still 
tell of that love-stealing copy of you which seduced 
unwedded Callisto ; the mountains lament still your 
bear who saw and understood, and reproached the 
false enamoured image of the Archeress, when a 
female paramour entered a woman's bed. Come, 
throw away your useless quiver, and cease fighting 
with Hera who is stronger than you. Fight Cythereia, 
if you like, the childbed-nurse against the marriage- 
maker." 

''^ So Hera spoke, and passed on, leaving Artemis 
discomfited and drunken with fear. Phoibos threw 

found if the reader compares this book with the passages cited 
in the note on the title of this book. 

* He disguised himself as Artemis to approach Callisto ; 
she was afterwards changed into a bear (authors differ as to 
the reasons). 

7 



NONNOS 

dfi(f>or€pa) 7nj)(yv€ Karrj<t>€i ^oifio^ ayovrA, 
Kal fiLV dyojv €Grrja€v €prjfidBo^ Modi ^Xh^' 
voon^aas" 8' dKl)(rp'os o/xAcc 0€<mthi )(<ipftfi. 

Kal pvdlov npo^dxov nvpotif npouo^ amiot iorti, 
(bol^os €S VGfJLivrjif Uoai&ijiov' ofi^ hi ^^^^^ 
6rJK€ PcXos Kal iwpoov €KOV^a€ ^tX^tii 
dfjL(f>oT€prf TraXdfiT) TrepiSc'fio^, ^^P^ Kopvotrjj 
oXku) KVfiaTocvTt, adXag koI r6(a rpituyjf, 
alxP-V ^* cit^ciAocaaa Koi vSar6€VT€i oumi 
avfi-neaov oAArjAotai* Kopvaao^Uvoio hk ^oifion 
Apcos €afiapdyr)a€ /xcAo? naTpioiOf KlBrfp, •• 

Ppovratov KcXdbrjixa' Bv€XXi^€aaa &€ aoAniyf 
ovaat, ^OLpeloiaiv cVc^ctuttc novridf *\\xio' 

TpLTOJV 8* €VpVy€V€lOS €^p.^€V xfiohl KOX^ 

dvhpo<f)ur)g dreAcoTO?, an* i(vos €yxXoo^ *X^^' 
NrypctSes S* dXdXa^ov vn^ptcj^a^ Si OaXiafnK •• 
GCiOfxcvov TpioSovTO^ "Apoi/f pLvtc^oaTo Nijpn^. 
Ovpavlrjg be ^ctAayyo? xmlprtpov ^yov okoCuiv 

yalav lp,aacrop,€vqv poBUav evooixyovi vaX^iift 
dpfiovl-qv KOGfioLo iJ.€TOxXiaa€L€ Tpuxiyrjt 100 

firj TTorc KiVTjaa^ x^^^^^ KprjirlBa /Scpc^pcur 
drjriTrjv rcXeacuv ddrj-qrov xl^ovos €bpr)V, 
fir) pvdlojv ^AcjSa naUiav dvapprj^€i€v IvaiSXatm 
TaprapLCt) K€vdficovi ;(€a>v p.€Tavdaru}v v6wp, 
vipr€pov €vp(x)€VTa KaraKXv^cuv ttvAcoii^. 108 

T6aG09 dpa KTVTTos wpro dewv €ptBi (wt/6tntu¥, 
Kal x^oviai CToATTiyyc? cVc^/jcftov dfi^ortpov^ hi 
pd^hov cAa<^/3tJa>v dvcaeipaac fi€cAi;(09 *E^^' 

• To Nonnos ApoUo is the Sun, thouf h oriflriiuUljr thrt* b 
no connexion beb^een them. Mere, then, Firr b ficbtiiw 

Water. 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 80-108 

both his arms about her in pity, and brought her 
out of the turmoil ; he left her in a lonely coppice, 
and returned unnoticed to join the battle of the 
gods. 

^ And now a fiery chief stood up to the champion 
of the deep, Phoibos,** to fight with Poseidon. He 
set shaft on string, and also lifted a brand of Delphic 
fir in each hand ^ doubledextrous, to use fire against 
the surging sweep of water, and arrows against the 
trident. Fiery lance and watery arrows crashed 
together : while Phoibos defended, his home the 
upper air rattled a thunderclap for a battlesong ; 
the stormy trumpet of the sea brayed in the ears 
of Phoibos — a broadbeard Triton boomed with his 
own proper conch, like a man half-finished, from the 
loins down a greeny fish — the Nereids shouted the 
battlecry — Arabian Nereus pushed up out of the sea 
and bellowed, shaking his trident. 

®^ Then Zeus of the underworld '^ rumbled hearing 
the noise of the heavenly fray above ; he feared that 
the Earthshaker, beating and lashing the solid ground 
with the earthquake-shock of his waves, might lever 
out of gear the whole universe with his trident, might 
move the foundations of the abysm below and show 
the forbidden sight of the earth's bottom, might burst 
all the veins of the subterranean channels and pour 
his water away into the pit of Tartaros, to flood the 
mouldering gates of the lower world. 

^^ So great was the din of the gods in conflict, 
and the trumpets of the underworld added their 
noise. But Hermes lifted his rod as peacemaker and 

" If this means anything, it signifies that his bow and 
arrows ( = sunrays) were of fire. 
* Pluto in Hades. 

9 



NONNOS 

rpiGOols 8' adavaroiAJi fuav (wwoaro ^ounjr* 

" FvCOTC AlO? Kal KOVp€, 

oi) ^Uv, KXtnorofM, $UXXm€ 110 
TTVpGov la icat ro^a, uv &€ yAa>xu« rpioun^, 
fiT) fiaKOLpcov TiT^i'69 cVcyycAaauKTi Ki;&Oi^, 
fiTj Kpovlrjv fi€Ta Sijpiv aTrctAiJrcipcu' *0XvfAWO9 
bevrepov ddavdroiaiv "Aprj^ €ful>vXu>i ciiy, * 

fiT) fjLoOov dXXov iSoi/ii p.€rd kXovov 'lairfToib, lli 

firjSc /i€Td Xayprja Kal otpiyovov ntpl Baxxov 
^Acf a? yalav dnaaav €w nvpl ^oio/icvos" Zcuf 
dcvaou kXvgg€i,€ to ScvrcfK)*' orruya tcoofAov, 
vSaaiv ofippi^aas x^^^^ aldtpa' /x^^c vorfow 
rjcpLois TTcAdycaat hiA^poxov dp^ia XcAT/inyy* 190 

/it) tjivxpriv €X€T(xi ^acScDV ndXiv tyLTtvpov afykfjp. 
npeapvrcpu) 8* vnocLKc KvP^pmrfrijpi BaXdamif, 
TTaTpoKaoLyih^Tw rayvwv x^P^^» ^^' ytpaipu 
clvaXlrjv aio A17A0V oAoj p^hiujv €voai)fim¥' 
liri G€ XItttj <t>OLVLKOS €pws Kal fivrjoTi^ cAoui^. ISO 

ris TToAtv, iwoGiyaic, St/ccunrdAaj €vBah€ K^Kpo^, 
rls ttoXlv "Iva^o^ ciAAo? €17^ noXiv laxtv ^Hfjj, 

OTTl Kal ^KtToXXojVI KOpVGG€(U, WS 7T€p *A6^l¥Jf, 

Kal ixodov aSXov ex^is irporipr^v /x<rd <f>vXonw "Hfnjs; 
Kal Gv, Trdrep /xcyoAoto, K€paG<f>6p€, ^tfpia&rjot, 1)0 
'H^atWou n€<f>vXa^o GeXas p.€rd XafiirdSa Box'^^ov, 
/lit} <7€ 7rv/)tyAco;(tvt /cara^Acfctt K€pavvw." 
*d? ctTTcov dveKOi/je Oecov €p.<f>vXov *EnKu. 
Kttt TOTC Avacr^ciff "naXivdyp^rov dy4>€ir€ x^f^V*' 

• Sacred trees in I>ekM. 
" As he was between Poseidon and Athena. 
10 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 109-134 

checked both parties, and addressed one speech to 
three of the immortals : 

110 " Brother of Zeus, and you his son — you, famous 
Archer, throw to the winds your bow and your brand, 
and you, your pronged trident : lest the Titans laugh 
to see a battle among the gods. Let there not be 
intestine war in heaven once again, after that conflict 
with Cronos which threatened Olympos : let me not 
see another war after the affray with lapetos. Let 
not Zeus be aflgry again for lateborn Bacchos as 
for Zagreus, and set the whole earth ablaze with his 
fire a second time, and pour down showers of rain 
through the air to flood the circuit of the eternal 
universe. I hope I may not behold the sea in the 
sky and Selene's car soaking ; may Phaethon never 
again have his fiery radiance cooled ! 

122 " You then yield to your elder, the ruler of the 
sea ; do this grace to your father's brother, because 
Earthshaker the ruler of the brine honours your 
seagirt Delos : cease not to love your palmtree, to 
remember your ohve.<» And Earthshaker, what 
second Cecrops will be judge * here ? What second 
Inachos '^ has awarded her city to Hera that you take 
arms against Apollo as well as Athena, and seek a 
second quarrel after your quarrel with Hera ? — And 
you, horned one,** father of great Deriades, beware 
of the fire of Hephaistos after the torch of Bacchos, 
or he may consume you with his firepronged thunder- 
bolt." 

133 This appeal put an end to the gods' intestine 
strife. Then Deriades, mad and furious, when he 

' When Poseidon and Hera strove for possession of Argos ; 
usually Phoroneus is said to have judged between them. 
*• Hydaspes. 

11 



NONNOS 

AT^ptaSry? j3apu/iT;vi9, dnrjfiova^ w^ Sc lidicx^r ^ 
/cat fjLodop dfiT€fi€0VT09 6ni7r€vwv tiujfvvaov 
cts" ivoTrrjv oiorpr^ae Trc^ujoray i^yefiov^f • 
/cat ft;vT7i' 7rpvX€€Gai koX tTnrncormi' dwciA^r 
Pdppapov eajJLapdyrjac Papw^dyywv diro AOifiAr 

" 'Lrificpov Tj Aioyvaov iyw TrXoKaiu&oi ifuSoom, HO 
rj€ fJLodos Ba/c;(€toy durra}a€i yivo^ Xvhutv, 
VjjieZs p,€V SarupotCTtv dX€(rjT€ipav dvdytcm 
on^aaTC' AryptaSry? he KopvamaBut Atoyvatft, 
7)pL€pihojv hk 7T€TqXa /ecu opyava rrouciXa Boinrov 
^Acfare, /cat /cAtatas* €pL7Tprjaar€' McuvaX&af oi II* 
S/xcoiSa? ai5;^€VTt KOfuaaare ^rjpuz&rji' 
/cat TTvpt ^Tjta dvpaa pLOpaivtre' povKtpdwp 5^ 
I]€tA7yvoav Sarvpoii' re iroXvimepetov K€^aXim9 
Ai^tov d/xrj(7ain-€9 oAotTTn^pi gti^t)^ 
OTCj/raTe ndvra fieXaOpa fiooKpaipoiat Koprnvoa. I<0 
/X17 Oac^cov arpdipcLC Twpavyda^ ctj 5uatv tinrovr, 
TTptv Sarvpou? /cat Bci/c;(o»' oAu/rroTTcSiTai KOfuaaw 
G<l>iyy6p,€vov t /cat orrt/croi' €^]j S^Saty/t/ixyi' cu^^ 
pwyaXdov ^opcorra /card aripvom \iTijjva, 
dvpaov drroppiifjavTa' raxnmXoKdpxov hk ywaucw¥ IM 
)(aLT7]v diJLTTcXoeaaav ipw Tc^pa/aorc SoAo/. 
dapaaXeoL Sc yeveade, /cat *I>'8^t^i' /icrd yt^Mtnr 
vt/cTyv /cu8tdv€tpav dctcrarc A-qpiaoijo^, 
6<j>pd TLs ipplyrjGL /cat df/tiyoviov arparo^ dMfhpum 
*Iv8ot? FT^yevccaatv di't/CTyroiati' cpijciv/' 140 

"EweTTe, /cat npofidxovs p.€Tav€vp.€vo^ 

dXXov tri* dAAoi 
ijvtdxou? otarprjacv dfi^rpopiajv €X€<}>dvTwv, 
KoX TTpvXeojv TTOfjiTrfjas C7re<rr7)pifev 6p.iXuj 
fiapvap.€VOV9 TwpyrjSov. ofiolriXa} bk kvSoi^ 
OvpGOfiavrjs Alowgos iprjfiovofiwv GTi^a $Tipa^ 166 
12 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 135-165 

saw the Bacchants unharmed, began the battle again ; 
when he saw Bacchos whole on the field he goaded 
his fugitive captains to rally, and to footmen and 
horsemen alike he roared his barbaric threats in a 
loud voice : 

140 ** 'This day either I shall drag Dionysos by the 
hair, or his assault shall destroy the Indian nation ! 
You, fall on the Satyrs and check them by main force : 
let Deriades confront Dionysos. Burn the vine plants 
and all the various gear of Bacchos and set fire to their 
camp ; bring the Mainalids as slaves to triumphant 
Deriades ; consume with fire every thyrsus of the 
enemy ; as for the oxhorned Seilenoi and the crowds 
of Satyrs, shear off like a crop all their heads with 
devastating steel, and hang the oxhorned skulls in 
strings round all our houses. May Phaethon not 
turn his fireblazing horses to his setting before I 
bring in the Satyrs, and Bacchos bound with galling 
fetters, with his spotted cloak torn to rags on his 
chest by my spear and his thyrsus thrown away. 
Bum to ashes with my brand the long flowing hair 
of the women and their wreaths of vine ! Courage 
all ! After the Indian battle you may sing the 
glorious victory of Deriades, that even in many 
generations to come people may shiver to face the 
unconquerable Indians born of the Earth ! " 

1*1 He spoke, and passing from one to another of 
his chieftains he goaded on the drivers of the ele- 
phants, those creatures of endless life, and set the 
chiefs in their places to lead the army of footsoldiers 
to the battle in close columns. With equal passion for 
the fight, Bacchos thyrsusmad drove to the combat 

IS 



NONNOS 

els ivOTTTjV pdKX€V€V' 6pi.rp€<j>€€^ hk fUl)f7Tol 

SaLfiovLY) ppvxf]^ov €paKX€vdr)(7av ifidoBXjj, 

Kai TToXifs iK orofidTOiv tKopvoarro fiaiv6fi€POf ftjp* 

wfiopopcov Sc SpdKovr€9 aTroTrruovrcf SSwnav 

TTjXepoXov^ TTOfiTrevov c? -qcpa niSajcaf loO ITO 

Xdafiart, avpi^ovri fitfivKorog dv0€p€un'O^, 

Aofd TrapaoKalpovres' <V dvrifiloDS hk 6op6Â¥Ttt 

avTOfxaTov gkottov ctxov €;(iSi^crr€y Surrol' 

Kal GKoXiaiS IXiK^aaiv ifurpwOrj S^/xa; *I»«8«r 

elXoficvojv, ppoT€OVS Sc TToSa? cnlrqKaMmro attp^ |7i 

et? Bpofiov diooovras. *Ap€ifiav€€i &€ ymmarcf 

Sijptv €fiLp,riaavTo SpaxoirropoXov Oi3aA<tt^, 

17 7roT€ Kevrpov exovaa Ywauc€ioio KvSoifAoO 

Sucr/xcvca? viK7)0€v c^tSioJcaai Kopvfifioi^ , . . 

/cat Tt9 a77-6 <jrop.dTO)v hoXixdoKiov cyjfoy ldXXut¥ |§o 

toy a/coj^tOT^pa Kar€7rrv€ ^"qpiahrjos, 

Kal <f)ovl7j paddfiiyyi, ;(aAi/^ cSiat t^rro Bwpirff, 

Koi vIkVS CV X^O»^i /fClTO TVTTCiy l,<i>ovn ^X4fi¥(l$, 

aTTvoos dfi<l>L€7TCJv jScAo? ^pLTTvoov. opSondSwv hi 

€t? Xo<j)iT]v iTTLKvprov dvot^a^ €X€<f>dvra»v 186 

TTopSaAt? rnxyp-qro ficrdpaio^ oA/zari rapawv 

TTVKvd 8e drip^ioLo KarearripiKTO Kapijvov, 

Kal BpofJLOv Tjivprjae TawKm^jjuov €X€<f>diTcjv, 

Kal TToXifs eajJLog CTTtTrre, ^apvafiapdywv drro XatfUju¥ 

^piKTOV ipTjflOVOpXOV duxJV ppV)^fJLa X€6vT<JJV' 190 

Kai Ti? ivLKrjdTj Tpofjidojv fiVKi^fiara ravpov, 

/cat poos eloopoojv pXoavpijs yXwxlva K€paxr^ 

Xo^ov dKovrit^ovaav is rjcpa- fjyoiraXios 8< 

€ts" <f)6Pov dXXos opovacv xriTo^piaauiv yivw dpKTov 

d-qpclais 8' iaxjjaiv ofioKrvnos dXXos €n aXXt^ 195 

14. 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 166-195 

his line of wild beasts from the wilderness. These 
mountainbred warriors roaring under the divine whip 
rushed madly on. Many wild beasts were there 
with their weapons in their mouths. There were 
serpents spitting from their ravening teeth fountains 
of poison, which they sent farshot into the air with 
hissing gape and rattling throat. Leaping sideways 
and darting at their foes, the snaky arrows found a 
mark which offered itself ; the bodies of the Indians 
were surrounded and imprisoned by the coils, the feet 
of men starting to run were entangled in a rope. 
The war-niaddened women imitated the attack of 
Phidaleia " the snakethrower, who once was stung 
to show what a woman could do in battle, and con- 
quered her enemies with clusters of snakes. 

1^ One shooting a spike of poison from his mouth 
like a longshafted spear bespattered Deriades, and 
his corselet of steel was wetted by the deadly drops. 
Dead on the ground lay a body struck by a living 
missile, lifeless with a living shot in him. A panther 
leapt through the air with his feet upon the curved 
neck of a straightleg elephant, and stuck close to 
the monster's head delaying the course of all the 
longlegged elephants. A great swarm fell, when 
they heard the lions from the wilderness and the 
terrible loud roar resounding from their throats. 
One was conquered trembling at the bellow of a bull, 
and seeing the point of his formidable horn stabbing 
sideways into the air ; another leaped into flight 
shuddering at the jaws of a bear ; the hounds of 
an invincible Pan gave tongue one after another, in 

" Wife of Byzas, founder of Byzantium. The Scjrthians 
attacked the city in his absence, and she drove them oflF by 
throwing snakes at them. 

15 



NONNOS 

Uavos dvLKTiToio Kvwv avwXdKr€€ Xoi^. 
/cat ^66ov vXaKOfiwpov €0€idura¥ tuBo>wtt 

avvrj 8* dfi(t>or€poiaiv ofioivyof ^€V *EtmA 
yala 8c Supcjovaa <l>6vov KV^ialvtro Xli^p^ 

KT€LVOfl€VajV €KaT€/)^(, IToXvOnt p4Ut¥ Off M) 

ttXtjOvl ToaaaTir) vckvcjv iartlvtro Ai{^* 
X^Lpl 8* dvoxXii,u)v 'AtSiyy dp^fuo¥ ox^ 
evpvrepovg TwXeojva^ iotv toifc fuXiBotMlf 

KT€LVOfJL€VO}V €KdT€p6€, SiCaOt'/iOtor M fitpSBftm 

TaprdpLov fiviajfia \apojt'tS4i ttmmctf ^J|#M. Mi 

Kat TToAu? €yp€KvSoifjLo^ €yjy trrvnof, dtmfiUm^ U 
<l)T€LXrj KTapJvwv mpoT pottos , o»¥ 6 ^Up a^rwr 
LTTTTodcv <l}Xlad7)a€ r€TVfifL4voi dv€fptw¥a, 
OS 86 /card orfpvoio irtpirpoxpv awrvya ftmfioOf 
OS 8e p,€oov K€v€cjva TTtircLpfiivoi itaniH hi^mf' tlO 
aAAo? €t;)/Ac6;(ti't nap* 6p,^KiXov dMpo¥ SuFT^ 
pXrjp,€vos avTOKvXKTTos ofiiXtt /(rrori *^''P5*» 
Off 8e TVTrci? pLiodrqs xmkp aiTvyo^, ^ M 01 iSflOV 
/cat <l>xryds dXXos CTrirrrc pax*^ rtrofnjuJpof 0dxft§, 
7T€^6s dcXXrjcvra T€TVfip.€vov iTnrov i<iaaf SU 

OS 8e 7r€(7a>v d^iouAo? oSu/xro owTpo^or j ||fc p 
/cat Tts" dvaA^Tjrai K€\apay^ivos ^ap 6ufr^ 
KvpL^axos cf €X€<f>avTos cVcySoinnyac tcot4n, 
Kpdra Trapa/cAiVas* BaTrdhio, kcu ;(C^Mf ^^A*^V 
alfJLoXcrjv TTTjxwc /caT7^<^'i yaiov dyoorip. f|D 

Kat Tt9 dmiyp LTTTrqos €vavria ho^Quos <<'^» 
/cat ad/ceo? /ccvcoiixi X*'^^ €nXTfa€ KOi'iTj^, 
/cat x^oi'i rapadi' €nrjl^€, 8<8€y^otK dWpof 
Xctpt 8e dapaaXcT] 7ToXv6aihaXov danCba ^ 
iTTTTelrjv ipafiddoLOiv oXrjv ippaivtv oironnjr* 
''a/cxeucra? 8€ Kdprjvov dvoj v€.vovti vpoowwm 

avr^ojprjTO KoviGaX€rjv T^'^a atitja¥f 
K 




DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 196-227 

concert with the roars of the wild beasts, and the 
swarthy Indians feared their loudbarking attack. 

^^® There was hard fighting on both sides alike ; 
the thirsty earth was inundated with blood and gore 
in the common carnage, and Lethe was choked with 
that great multitude of corpses brought low and 
scattered on every side. Hades heaved up his bar 
in the darkness, and opened his gates wider for the 
common carnage ; as they descended into the pit 
the banks of Charon's river echoed the rumblings of 
Tartaros. 

20« Loud indeed was the battlestirring noise, many 
the wounds of the falling combatants on both sides. 
One struck in the throat slipt from his horse, one 
pierced through the chest in his rounded bosom, one 
wounded in the belly fell from a chariot. Another hit 
just in the midnipple with a barbed arrow rolled 
himself over to meet approaching death ; one fell 
struck right on the waist, one through the shoulder, 
another left his swift horse struck, and fleeing on 
foot fell pierced by a lance through the spine. 
Another, felled before the down was on his face, 
mourned for his yearsmate youth. Another mor- 
tally wounded by an arrow in the liver, fell tumbling 
off his elephant with a thud into the dust ; his head 
sank on the ground, he scrabbled with his hands and 
clutched the bloody soil in despair. 

221 A man stood sideways to meet a horseman ; he 
had filled the hollow of his shield with dust, and fixed 
his foot firmly awaiting the man's onset. Pushing 
out the handsome shield in his bold hand, he 
smothered the horse's head with sand. The horse 
reared wildly and threw up his head shaking the dust 

VOL. Ill C 17 



NONNOS 

KafiTTvXa 5' evXdiyyo^ a-nttrnHv attpa xpXanB* 
Tpi^oiv 8* ayKvX^ovra naXwo^dvfi¥ yhn^ 
vifjLTCvrjg hehovrjTOf Kai opBiov av)(dva waAktttf 
otorprjct? dxaXivog iirfarr^pll^tro yavQ 
TToaolv oTnadiblouji, koI aiBvaatav k6¥%» ovAf 
€1? iT€hov r)K6vrLl^€V d-noacnnwp if^^fia. 
avrdp 6 k€kXhi€vw ra^w ihpa^ KOfixapOf 
yOjivov €-)(U}v Ooov dop' virip 5a«r^Sor M 
Kvavcov npofiaxoio hUBpia€v avBtptw^a, 

"AXXos epiTTTolrjro^ tx^itro nutXot dLXifn^f, 
yclrovos rjvLoxou) B€B€yfi4voi: ^X^*^ IfuioOktif, 
OLKTpov iov dirqcKovTa hioartifioiP iXar^pa, 
K€LfjL€vov dpTiSdiKTov, €inairaipovra Komfgi, 

KoXX-qTrjs 8* dniX^dpo^ €x^v 9rcpc^i{«rca 
8vafiaxos, iweaTrqxys, ofioiio^ * AXtnntfiji, 
IBaKx^lyj^ Kara pAaaov ipxxlvtro ^i^ior^ror* 
^aoGapihoiv hk <l>dXayrya fi€ra kXovo¥ fj^tXof Amir 
€t? €vvrju dvdehvov dvayKaiwv vfuvaitat^, 
Kal Kcvcfj TToAcftifev in* cArrSi, TTjXucof M^, 
olos e-qv dpaavs *Oto9 dv€fiParov alBipa /nia««r« 
dyvov dwiJL<t>€VTov irodiiov Acres' lox^oiffft, 
olo£ €7)v ^iXeojv Ka6apr]s vfiivauov *A&ij^ 
vijjiveijyris cV "OAu/xttov dKovrllatv *E^i<Un|r* 

KoAA^TT^S' TTcAc TOtO? V7T€pT€pO^, oW^pi ythwt^, 

Trjyeveos rrpoyovoLO derjfidxov alfia komjU^/u^, 
IvSov TrpojToyovoLO' Kal dpKios cttActo fiop^ 
SrjaaL dovpov "Aprja fieO* utVaj 'I^fxcScti^* 
oAAa Tooov 7T€p iovra ywrj KTdv€v of €4 nirpff. 



" A giant. 

^ Otos and Ephialtes, the gigantic sons of Alocut and 
18 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 228-255 

out of his mane, and spat out the curved ends of 
his jewelled bit. His champing teeth and jaw were 
covered with foam, he rose high, shaken, mad, and 
now free of the bit he rose up on his hind legs 
quivering and shivering his outstretched neck ; then 
pawing the dust ^vith his hoof he shot his rider 
flying to the ground. The other man rushed fiercely 
upon him as he lay, with svnft sword drawn, and cut 
the throat of the black soldier stretched on the 
ground. 

^^ Another horse hearing the crack of some 
driver's whip hard by, took fright and bolted in re- 
treat, trampHng on his own rider, who lay wounded 
and dying, poor wretch, gasping in the dust. 

^^ Colletes with his huge body, immense, for- 
midable, nine cubits high, equal to Alcyoneus,** went 
raging through the fighting hosts of Bacchos. He 
wished after the battle to drag a company of Bas- 
sarids to his bed, and no brideprice paid for the 
forced bridals. But that was an empty hope he 
fought for, that mighty man : Hke bold Otos,*' who 
would tread the forbidden ground of heaven for lust 
of the holy bed of Archeress the unwedded ; like 
Ephialtes, whose love was for wedlock with pure 
Athena, when he attacked Olympos in the clouds 
on high. Such was Colletes, gigantic, heavenhigh, 
having in him the sacrilegious blood of his giant 
ancestor the founder of the Indian race. He was 
great enough to put Ares in prison Uke the sons of 
Iphimedeia. But huge as he was, a woman killed 

Iphimedeia, tried to scale heaven by piling mountains on 
one another, Horn. Od. xi. 305 fF. (That they did it to win 
goddesses to wife is a later fancy ; in Homer they are children.) 
They also bound Ares, H. v. 385 flF. 

19 



NONNOS 

BaKxt>dSos XapOTTCia Kvfi€pvr(T€ifKL xo/xci^f . 

Kat Tt? apiarevovaav Ibwv wlfavx€va nuumff 
davfia xoAa> Kcpdaa^ rpop,€pi)v i^Biy^wro ^tttHjfr 

" "^A/jc?, "Apes, AiTTf Tofa 

Kal acTTTiBa «((u ado XSyX!^» 
^Ap€s, iavXrjOrjg, Xitrc KavKOXiov dvhpo^itfOVt y^ SI9 
dAAoia? Aiowaos *AfJLa^6vag €»? ficSot^ iXxti* 
6rrXo<f)6pov9 hoveovaiv dmoTriScy ^fur^pov yap 
ovK OLTTO SepfjLiobovTos ids €K6p,iaa€ ywaoofttf . 
fctvov tSov /cat dniarov iyd) rvnov ov aOKOt cSfUMf , 
ov 86pv dovpov exovaiv 'Afia(ovt3€9 Aiovdootf* Mi 
ou TOCTOV €vda)prjK€S dpurr€vovai ywohcti 
KauK-aatScs" BdK;(at Sc <l>iXo7rr6p6wv and Yttpwi^ 
<j)vX\dhas at;(/i,dJouai, if at ov \aT€Ovai oA^foa, 
ojfJLOL AryptdSao /xc/xt^voto?, otti yin^wccj 
XoXkclovs ovvx^aai 8taa;(tJouat ;(tTci>i«ay." fTO 

"EwcTTc dap-^-qaa^ Kpavaov /ScAo?, orov tXoOaa 
TrjXlKov vipiKdprjvov dncKravev dvtpa Bdir;^. 

ArjpLdhrjs 8* d/ci;^TOj CTTcSpafic Bvidai hoKj^f, 
Kal XapoTTT^v ihCojKe XiOoaaoov rj S< <^vyovoa 
ixdpvaro BapaT^eaaa napiarap^cit] ^lovvaat, S7t 

Bvpoov dKovritfOvaa ^iXdvOip-ov VLvdhi xdpt^JJ' 
ArjpidSrjs 8* *Opt^aAAov dTrqXoirjac ai&qpw, 
J^ovp-qr ojv 6p.6<f>vXoVf *Aj3arri8o9 doroi' dpovprfs. 
Kal KOTccjv erdpoio ScSoinroro? dp;f09 *A/3avrttir 
KapiJLivwv pamXrja KaTCTrp-qvt^c MeAiaacwy, tn 

KuAAapov, o^udevTt /car' avx^vos dopi rwffa^, 
AcDyaalSrjv d\ os fiovvos, cVct ao<f>6s €GK€ pLay^qrrfi, 
ATjpidSr) fiefieXrjTO Sopidpaaewv rrX^ov ^Ivhatv 

« Hindu Kush. » See xx. 198, 

20 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 256-283 

him with a sharp stone, Charopeia a leader of the 
Bacchic dance. 

257 And one seeing the noble deed of the high- 
necked girl, spoke in trembling tones with wonder 
and anger mixed : 

259 " Ares ! Ares ! Leave your bow and shield and 
your spear ! Ares, you are conquered ! Leave the 
Caucasos,** for Dionysos is bringing another sort of 
Amazons into the field, to kill men. Shieldless they 
rout men-at-arms. Not from your Thermodon ^ has 
he brought his women. I have seen a strange and 
incredible spectacle ; the Amazons of Dionysos have 
no shields on their shoulders, carry no valiant spear ; 
with strong corselets and all, the Caucasian women 
do not so play the heroes. The Bacchant women 
cast bunches of leaves from foliage-loving hands, 
and they need no steel. Alas for the madman 
Deriades, when women tear coats of mail with their 
fingernails ! " 

271 This he said, when he marvelled at the rude 
missile which the Bacchant girl picked up and killed 
that huge highheaded man. 

273 But Deriades ran untouched against the fren- 
zied Bacchants, and pursued Charope who threw the 
stone ; but she escaped, and took her stand fighting 
boldly beside Dionysos, stabbing with her flowery 
thyrsus in the Euian battle. Then Deriades killed 
Orithallos with his spear, one of the Curetian tribe 
from the land of the Abantes. Their chief MeHsseus 
in anger for his comrade's fall, struck down Cyllaros 
king of the Carminians, cutting his throat with his 
sharp sword, and Logasides, who alone, because he 
was accomplished in the art of war, was more precious 
to Deriades than any of the bold Indian spearmen, 

21 



NONNOS 

Kat fjLiv dva$ <t>tXM fi€ra Moppta- noXXdtn h* air§ 
*0paip6rj Kal amicTt /xit]? itpavat rpair^l^fft, tit 

Ovyarepwv paaiXrjo^ o/icWuK* afx^^rtpots y^ 
cyxe'C Kal TTpaTrihtoaiv imtp^aXt awrpoftav np^» 
evda TToXvs TTpofidxco npofio^ rjpiotv ^i^(Uil|| ol 
YlcvKeTLO) TroAc'/xtfcv dc/KTiwoSrys" 'AXijA^fiflf, 
Kal OAoyioj KiKopvaro Mdp<i>i< ical BoimWa Ai|t«i^. M9 

*YGp,Lirrjg Sc ToAaiTa Tra-rqp txXiVt Kpo^iimr 
Kal PpLapo) AioKuaoj ifiapvaro AijpioS^, 
fiL^as €}/;^€t dvpaov dKoyro(f>6p<^ S4 fUixffTn 
7T7J p,€v aKovTL^oini p.€TdTponov clSo9 nftfipam 
Svaaro TiavTol-qs noXvSaibaXa ^a/iara fiop^ftlt' 9$ 
TTTJ 8c dveXX-qeaoa Kopvoa€To fiaivofuvi) ^Aof , 
dy/cuAoi' ai^uacrouaa acAa? p-nrdpfioyt Kanvt^, 
oAAore KVfJLaii'CJV cxTT-ar^Aioi' (pp€€V vhotp, 
vypos 6iGr€V(x)v hiepov fiiXo^' dfuf>Uwwv M 
lGO(f)V€s filiirjp.a Xeovreioio TTpocramov 90O 

opdiov rj€pTa^€ p.€rdpaiov dv6€p€wvat 
TpTjx^^X^ov ppv)(T]p.a xiuiv TTVKiv6rpi)(i Xam<^ 
Kal KeXaSov Ppovralov ipiafiapdyoio rotcno^' 
Kal GKLepijs (f>op€U)v TToXvSaiBaXov ctSo9 omupnrif 
dXXo(l)avr)s p.op<t)ovTO, Kal cuccAos^ epifi yaiff^ JQ9 

avTorcXrjg aKixqros dv€bpafi€V, aldtpa Tvnrury, 
cos TTLTVs, ojs TrXaTdviaros' dfi€iPofX€vov &< KOfiVfifov 
fup,7jXoLS TreToAoiori voOrjv Sci'SpcjoaTO "xai^^t 
yaarepa Odfivov e^ajv 7T€pip,iJK€TOV' dtcpffiova^ St 
X^Lpas ids 7TOL7]a€, Kal €<f>Xoiwa€ ;(iTdi>xi9, aiO 

Kal TToSas ippit^cjoev dvaKpovwv hk Ktpaiai^* 
fxapvapLevov jSaatATyos" eTrctpidvpi^c npoaumw' 

Kal OTLKTOLS pLcXeCGGl TVTTOV fUfir)X6v wfxUVUtV 

TTopSoAt? vipLTTOTTjTos dvihpafjiev aXfiari rapaorv, 

KoX Xo(f)i,rjs indpaivev dcpaiXoifHjjv cAc^dvroiv 3U 

22 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 284^315 

and the king loved him best after Morrheus — often 
he touched one table with Orsiboe herself and the 
king, living in the family with the king's daughters, 
for both with spear and wits he surpassed all his years- 
mates. Then many a captain fought against cap- 
tain : tall agile-footed Halimedes against Peucetios, 
Maron against Phlogios, Leneus against Thureus. 

2*1 Father Cronion tilted the balance of battle. 
Now Dionysos attacked mighty Deriades, matching 
spear with thyrsus. As the chieftain stabbed and 
thrust, the god changed his shape, and put on all sorts 
of varied forms. Sometimes he confronted him as a 
wild storm of fire, shooting tongues of crooked flame 
through dancing smoke. Sometimes he was running 
water, rolling delusive waves and sprinkling watery 
shots. Or taking on the exact image of a lion's 
face, he lifted high his chin straight up and let 
out a harsh roar through the hairy throat, with a 
noise like his loudcrashing father's rattling thunder. 
Next like something with an overshadowing mass of 
variegated fruitage he changed into another shape, 
and like a sapling of the earth he ran up selfmade, 
bursting into the sky untouched, a perfect pine, or 
a plane ; for his head changed and his hair became 
what seemed the counterfeit foliage of a tree, his 
belly lengthened into the trunk, he made his arms 
the boughs and his dress the bark and rooted his feet, 
and knocking up with his long branches he whispered 
into the face of the fighting king. Then he wove a 
dappled pattern over his limbs, and like a panther he 
was up in the air with flying leaps, and dropping with 
gentle steps upon the neck of some lofty elephant ; 

^ (fnXeei Tiedke, tf>iX4oi mss. and Ludwich. 
* So MSS. : Ludwich Kcpalas- 

2S 



NONNOS 

Kov(l>a pLpd^' €X€<f>a9 8^ nafyqopo^ apfia 
ctV TTchov rjKovTL^c dcrjfidxov rivioxfja, 
aeioyv <t>aiSpd XtrraSva Kai ayKvXa kvkXol ;(oAfpdr. 
oifSc 7T€Gajv dfieXrjae TTiXwp npofio^, dXXa AvoX^f 
fxapvaro iiop<t>a)d€VTi koI ovraat nopSaXiv <MX^j. J*> 
aAAa ndXiv p,€Tdfi€Ltp€ 6€6s b^fia^' i^i^am^ yap, 
Tjepa depyiaivojv, iXcXl^ero -nvpao^ dXtgrqi, 
aWvaawv dv4pLOis <f>Xoy6€V P^Xo^, ^f4* ^ l^odf 
arrjOea Xa)(yrJ€VTa hi4rp€X€ ^-qpia&rjo^ 
KVKXodev v^jLTTopov 5c ScScy/xcvo^ oA/iara KHirvoO ttS 
dpyewals Xayov^aaiv "Apa^ c/xcAou^cro $wptf(, 
paXX6fJi€vos (rmvdrjpi,' iwpipXrfrov hk ^pijof 
T^/itSaT)? i^cCovTL Xoifxi) d€pp.aiv€ro Tn)XTj^ . . . 
€/c pXoavpov be Xcovro^ €<^lveTo Kanpo^ dXijrrff, 
evpvvwv jJLcya ydapia hacwrpix^ dvOtpfatvo^, 310 

/cat Xo^ir^v TTcXdoas em yaarcpi Srjpiahfjof 
opdos oTnadihioio nohog arr)pt^€TO naXfLw, 
OriyaXeoLs dvvx€(JGi fxcaov K€i'€wi'a ;(a/>da<7aM<'. 

ArjpidSrjs 8* VTTcponXos ifidpvaro <f>dap.ari Kot^^, 
iXnlSi fiaipihlri TT€(f>op7)p.€.vos' rjOeXt 8* aUl y^ 

diftavoTOLs dKixqrov cAcu' ('ihwXov aytxrroty 
dvTiTVTTOV he AcovTO? iov hopv nrj^e furttrnm, 
fivOov dneLXrjTrjpa ;fco>v noXvtiB^i Baic;^a>* 

** Tt Trrdjaaeis t Aiojo^ac; 

tL aoi B6X09 dvTi KvSoifUfv; 
ArjpLaSrjv Tpofiewv TToXvSaiSaXov etSo^ dfLeifiei^; ^40 
TTophaXis ov kXov€€l fie <j>xryo7rroX€pu>v Aiomrov, 
apKTOv otCTTcuoi, #cat hevhpeov dopi refivw 
ifjevSofievov Sc Xeovros iyuj Kcvecjin xf'pdfw. 
oAAct Go<l)ovs Bpaxp.i]vas aTevxeas «V a€ Kopvaaw 
24, 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 316-344 

the elephant lunging sideways smashed the car and 
shot the impious driver to the ground, shaking off 
yokepads and bit and bridle." Even though fallen 
the gigantic warrior would not leave him alone, but 
fought with Lyaios transformed and wounded the 
panther with his spear. But again the god changed 
his shape : a moving firebrand he rose high, heating 
the air and shooting a fiery bolt through the wind, 
running all over the breast and shaggy chest of 
Deriades. His Arabian mailcoat was blackened as 
the gusts of smoke struck on his white flanks from 
above and the sparks fell on him ; his crest burnt 
up and the helmet grew hot, half-scorched upon the 
firestruck wearer. [Then he took a lion's shape, 
and . . .*] From a grim lion he changed to a wild 
boar, opening the wide gape of his hairy throat, and 
bringing his bristles close to the belly of Deriades 
he stood up straight rearing on his hind legs, and 
tore through his flank with sharp hooves. 

^^ Proud Deriades went on fighting against these 
unsubstantial phantoms, driven by vain hopes, ever 
seeking to grasp the intangible image with hands 
that could not touch. At last he thrust his lance 
in the face of the lion before him, and cried 
threatenings against Bacchos of many shapes : 

^^ " Why do you hide yourself, Dionysos ? why 
tricks instead of battle ? Do you fear Deriades, that 
you change into so many strange forms ? The 
panther of runaway Dionysos does not frighten me, 
his bear I shoot, his tree I cut down ^vith my sword, the 
pretended lion I will tear in the flank ! Well then, 
I muster against you my wise Brahmans, unarmed. 

" He seems to see the elephant yoked to a chariot, as at 
Pompey's triumph. * Several lines are lost here. 

25 



NONNOS 

yvfJLvol yap yeydcuji, ^€oicA*^ot9 8' ^iraoihdtf 34* 

TToAAa/ct? r)€p6<l)OLTOV, ofxotiov djtryi ravpt{t, 
ovpavodev Kardyovres €<f)apfid(ayTo LcAnmr, 
TToXXaKL 8* iTTTrcuorro? €7T€iyofi€i'OJV M olpptM¥ 
daradeog Oac^orro? di^OTT^oiTO nofHirp^.* 

"EwcTTC TTaTTraivijjv drtporpOTra ^cur/xara B<£«r)^* JSO 
icat voov €tx€v aTnarov cuo^A^^ 5^ fuvoofj 
re-xyr)v (fKLpfiaKoeacrav inippd^g ^iovva<ft 
eXncTO vLKrjacLv Atoy vUa fivarihi rtxyri' 

"Ev^a dopojv dKixqros dvlhpa^uv vijtcii Sl^patir 
Kol deos d<t>paLvovTa Oerjfidxov dvhpa boiC€VUi¥ *• 

dfJLTTcXov epXdcrrqacv dprjyova briiornjro^. 
Kal Tt? €vara<t>vXoLo ^ctJAotoj oivdBo^ opunff 
ip7rvl,0}V Kara Paiov cV dpyvpOKVKXov dm/i'iyv 
^r^pidh-qv €a<l>Ly$€V dnctXrjrrjpi Kopvfifiip, 
dfi<t)L7repi,7TX€ySriv 7r€n€Srjp,€VOV' dpriSaXrj 5^ m 

av}x<f)VTOV aWvaaiov cVl fiorpvl porpw dXifrrp^ 
fiaLvojievov paaiXrjos iniaKiowvra •nooaorm^ 
a€L€TO fjLLTpayaa? oXov dv€pa' ATjptd&rjv h^ 
avTo<f)vr)s iiiedvaacv cAif cucoSci Kopnw' 
yvL07T€ST]v 8* daihr)pov €7T€7tX€K€ hi^uyi rapat^t 3M 

Kol TTohaS €ppl^U)G€V 6fJLO^Vy€OJV cAc^KTttfV . . . 

appaydos klogoZo' koi ov roaov oXxdha irovrov 

dr^KTCL nepLTrXeKecov €xevTjibo<; djcpa ycvcioiv 

ScGficp KapxapohovTL StcoTTjptfc daXaaai)' 

roXov €7)v p,Lp,7]iia. fidrrfv 8* iXi^fxivra^ €rr€ly%ja¥ X30 

rivioxos ^apvhovTTov i-qv cAcAiJcv l^udadXriv, 

Kcvrpois o^vrepoLGLv drrcidca varra x^^pdaaatv. 

Kol roGov *Iy8ov dvaKra, 

Tov OX) Krdv€v dantTOf aij(fij^, 

djlTTeXoeLS VLK7]G€V cAlf TTpOfMO^' dp.tf>i€7TCJV Bi 

r)fi€pL8(x)v opTTTjKL KaTdGx^Tov dv6€p€(jjya tn 

26 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 345-375 

For they go naked ; but their inspired incantations 
have often enchanted Selene as she passes through 
the air Hke an untamed bull, and brought her down 
from heaven, and often stayed the course of Phaethon 
swiftly driving his hurrying car." 

3^ He spoke, surveying the varied visions of 
Bacchos, and his mind was still unbeUeving : with 
implacable will he hoped to contrive some scheme of 
magic against Dionysos, and to conquer the son of 
Zeus by mystic arts. 

3^ Then he leapt unhindered into his car; but 
the god seeing the impious man still foolish, made 
a vine grow to help his attack. The godsent plant 
laden with clusters of winefruit crept quietly upon the 
cart with its silver wheels, and smothered Deriades 
in its threatening clusters, and entangled him round 
about and over all, dangling bunch after bunch new 
grown upon itself before the mad king, shading his 
face and enveloping the whole man. And Deriades 
was intoxicated by the sweetsmelling fruit of the 
selfgrown vine ; it threw fetters not of steel about 
his two feet, and rooted to the ground the legs of 
the yoked elephants with trails of unbreakable 
ivy *» : not so firmly is the seagoing barge held fast 
on the main by the toothed bond of a holdtheship,'' 
when she fastens her sharp fangs on the timbers. 
Yes, it was just like that ! In vain the driver whipt 
up his elephants and swung his cracking lash, tearing 
the obstinate hide with sharper prickles. The great 
Indian prince, whom countless blades could not kill, 
was conquered by the tendrils of a champion vine ! 
Deriades struggling with his throat entangled in the 

" This seems the general sense of the Greek. 
" See xxi. 45 and note. 

27 



NONNOS 

7JVLy€TO ^rjpuj^rjg gkoXiw rtdXififi^vo^ 6Xk^, 

/cat fjLoyecjv arivaKros iXiaa^ro fiaiva&i ^ortrj, 

XeTTTOv €X(J^v oAoAuy/xa dtovS^os dv6€p€wvog, 

V€Vfiamv d<l>d6yyoig ucerqaia Bdxpva Xtifiatv 

Kal TToXdfirjv u)p€^€V dvavSta, fxdprupi myj 300 

fioxOov oXov poocDV TO Bi haKpvov €irXtro ^fn^* 

Kal or/ceSaaa? ^lovuao^ irjv rroXv^afiov imLpffjv 

yvLOTreSrjv cvPorpvv dv€anaa€ ArjpiaBrqos, 

Kcu (Tr€<t>os rjfJLepLBtov iXucwSta Kiaaov iXdaoa/S 

ScGfjLLov avx^va Xvaev oyuoTrXiKivjv Ac^kavncur. JM 

oif Sc <j>vyd}v hpvoevra rawTrropdoio Kopvfifiov 

Seafjiov aTreLXrjTTJpa Kal avroiXucrov apdymp^ 

Ar]pLdhr)s d7r€€L7T€V iOijfiova KOfinov dntiXijs, 

dXXd ndXiv irpopLOs €ok€ Beqfidxo^' fix* ^ fioMff 

Bix^aSlrjv, Tj BdKXOv fXttv rj hfxwa rtXiaofu, JHI 

^ Ayi<f)OT€povs 8* dv€KOip€ fidxT)^ dfl^pOflOf <W*^' 
Kal fJLodos -^v ficrd vvKra, Kal urrvaXtcav dno XtKTpof^ 
iypoixlvovs du)pnr)^€v dfioiPairj ndXiv *Hctf(. 

Ovhc fiodwv rdXos ^cv €7r€iyofji4vw Aiokmt^, 
oAAa roacDv {jLcrd KVKXa KvXivSofi€vcjv cioavrcur M6 
pvOfiov 'En;aAtoto fid-njv €Tr€p6fip€€ adXiriyf, 
tJSt] S* iypcfiodcuv ireajv noXvKafxn€i irvaajj 
Ba/cxta? o^tTcActTTOs- cfiawcTo fiaXXov *EIruca. 

Ov fi€V d(l>€L8rjaavT€9 *Ap€ifiav€o^ Aiovvaov 
KoXXiTTov dp^vrjOTOLGi ftc/xT^Aoxa fivOov dipxui 400 

AiKTatoL *PaSafidv€s 6fi6<f>pov€S' dXXa Avcuw 
vfjas ir^xyrioavTO fiaxrjp.oi'ag' difjuftl &€ XoxfUHS 
ttoIttvvov dXXo0€v dXXos' 6 /xcv TopvoHjaro you/^vf, 
28 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 376-403 

vine-twigs was choked and crushed in the winding 
trails. For all his labour he could not stir ; where- 
fore he adjured in tones of madness and sent out 
a stifled cry from a throat now pious, and prayed 
with voiceless movements shedding tears of supplica- 
tion ; held out a dumb hand, with eloquent silence 
uttered all his trouble ; his tears were a voice. 

382 Then Dionysos dispersed his entanghng fruit, 
and broke off the fettering grapes from Deriades ; 
then shedding the twines of ivy, he undid the wreath- 
ing garland of garden-vines from the yoked elephants' 
necks. Yet Deriades, now free from the woody 
bonds of the long branching clusters crawling of 
themselves, and the constraint which threatened 
him, did not desist from his wonted threats and 
boasts. Once more he was the chieftain defying 
the gods ; he only hesitated whether to slay Bacchos 
or to make him a slave. 

3^1 But darkness surrounded both armies and put 
a stop to the fight. Night past, the battle began 
again ; when they awoke from sleep and bed, the 
succeeding dawn armed them once more. 

3^ Not yet was it the end of conflict for impatient 
Dionysos ; yet first there must be many cycles of 
rolling years while the trumpet blazed the tune of 
war in vain ; but after the varied course of so many 
battle-stirring years, now the conflict of Bacchos 
grew more violent for the end. 

399 Now the Rhadamanes of Dicte did not neglect 
the command of warmad Dionysos, nor left it for 
the forgetful winds to care for ; but with one accord 
they built ships of war for Lyaios. Through the 
woods they were busy, some here, some there. One 
was turning pegs, one worked at the middle of the 



NONNOS 

09 Sc iJL€<rqv TTcnoirqTO n€pl rponiv, itcpia B* SXXof 
opda 7T€pl crrafjLCvcGmv dfxoijSaii/atv v^lvuw^ 
oXkoZi roLXOV €T€VX€V, €7rrjyKtViSa^ hi 
jjLTjKeSavag /carcTrr^fc, Padwofxtim hi fuo^^fin 
lx€a(7o<l>avfj fjL€oov LGTov "Apcujf ajpSwaaro Tf jcrair 
Xalcfyc'C 7T€7TTafi€va) 'n€<f>v\ay^Uvov' adrap iw* dxpt^t 
Sovparcrjv inCKvpTOV ^Topvwaavro Ktpairiv 410 

tSfMovcs €V7raXdfJLOLO Koi Hifxiiarov kcu *A^^i^. 

"n? ol ficv fjLoy€Ovr€S afu^rp-u} rivt tcwH 
BcU^oj vijas €T€vxov. €TTaij\aX6(jjv hi tcvdOifuL 
fjLavTOcrvvrjs Alowoos €^y ifivrjaaro 'Pfiny, 
OTTt TcAo? TToXcfioio <f>aviqa €Tai , omrorri ocjcj^tH iXb 
ilvaXi'qv ^IvSolaiv dvaarquuKTW *E,yvw. 

Kal AvKos aKporoLTOio hC othyuaro^ i^ycfioycucur, 
vcvfiaaiv drplirroLaiv xmohpnf^awv Acovuoov, 
dPpoxov 'qvLox^vcv ohomopov dpfia daXdaatf^, 
'^X'' oo<j>ol *Pa8a/ia»'€9, oAtTrAavccs furxivdarai, 420 
vfjas irexy^crcLVTO daXaaaonopw Aiovvout. 
Kal Tore TCTpanopOLo xpdvov <rrpo<l>dXiyya tofXlvhw^, 

tTTTTCUCOV €TOS eKTOV, cXlGGCTO KaflTTvXo^ AuoV . . . 

€LS dyoprjv iKdXeaac fieXappivwv yivo^ *\vhaw 
ArjpLaSrjs GKT)7Trovxo9' inciyofUvoi hi 9rc5c^ 425 

Xaov do AAt feu V irepoSpoos TJi€ KTJpv^. 
avTLKa 8* rjyepedovro TroXwnrepeojv (rriX€S *lvh<ja¥, 
i^ojJievoL GTOLXTjhov dpxn^aiojv i-nl fidJBpiov' 
Xaols S' dypofidvoLOLv dva^ dyopnoaro Moppet^* 
loT€, (ptAoi,, Taxo- 7TaVT€^, 

d 7T€p Kafiov vfltoSi irvpvoir, OO 
etaoKC yata KlXiaaa Kal *Aacrvpuov y€V09 daiptu^ 
aup^eVa SovXov cKapAJjev vno fvyd Arjpiohrjo^- 
lore Kai^ oaaa reXcaaa Karaxxp^^tov Aiovvaov, 

80 



i 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 404-433 

keel, one fitted the planks straight over the pairs of 
ribs, and fastened the long sideplanks fixed to the 
ribs making the vessel's wall" ; an Arabian shipwright 
raised upright in the middle of the deep mastbox 
the mast amidships, reserved for the spreading sail ; 
and skilled workmen of deft Hephaistos and Athena 
rounded the wooden yard for the top. 

*i2 So they wrought ships for Bacchos with 
really incomparable art. And Dionysos amid the 
anxieties of war remembered the prophecy of his 
own Rheia : that the end of the war would be seen, 
when Bacchants fought by sea against Indians. 

*^' Lycos appointed by irrevocable command of 
Dionysos to serve as commander on the surface of 
the sea, drove his seachariot undrenched travelling 
upon its way to the place, where the Rhadamanes, 
those clever voyagers into foreign parts, had built 
the ships for seafaring Dionysos. And then circling 
Time, rolling the wheel of the fourseason year, was 
whirling along for the sixth year. King Deriades 
summoned to assembly the blackskin nation of 
Indians ; the herald with hurrying steps went 
gathering the people and cried his call in their 
different languages. At once the many tribes of 
Indians assembled, and sat down in companies on 
rows of benches, and prince Morrheus addressed 
the assembly : 

430 " You all know, I think, my friends, what labours 
I went through among the mountain strongholds, 
until the Cilician land and the Assyrian nation bowed 
their necks as slaves under the yoke of Deriades. 
You know also what I have done in resisting Dionysos, 

• Horn. Od. V. 252-253. 

SI 



NONNOS 

fiapvdiicvos SanJpoMTt xai afirfrijpi ac^im» 
T€fiva)V ix^pa Kapnqva pooKpaipoto yfWflA^, 
OTTTTore BaaaapiBojv n€n€bT]fji€vov €afi6v iptiooat 
w-rraaa ArjpLaSr), iroXipLOV y€pa^, dtv iW Al^p^ 
dareos cvXdiyycs €<f>oivi)(BT)aav dyviOi 
KT€Lvop,€va)v €T€pai Sc pL€rdpau)V dfi^ XOP^^ 
dyxovLO) OXiPovro TrcplnXoKov avx^y^ htaft/^* 
oAAat 8* vharocvTog inciprfBrfaav oXiBpov, 
Kp\mr6p.€vai KcvdfiwvL irihooKai^o^ i(€V€W¥Of. 
aXXd irdXiv vacTTjoLv dp^lova firjriv v^taivw 
eloatoi *PaSa/xavay, ort Bpirrofiw tu4 t^X*1I 
vfjas eTexvrioavTO <f>uyo7TToX€fjup ^lovvaw' 
efjLTTTjs ov Tpop.€Ui hopv vavfjLaxov iv noMfJUHf yap 
dvSpa (l)€p€aaaK€(Dv K€Kopvdfuvov v^ltoSi yrfdi^ 
ouTtSavots" TTCToAotat 7roT€ #rr€ivouai yvMiorcf; 
^ TTore XvGGoxvv 6p€a&popx>^ v^u<€0(ja^ rittr 
BrjyaXeoig 6vvx€(TaL StaTftrj^ct V€a9 IvSiov; 
ov hvvaraL PapvSovTTov vBwp ^€iXrfv6f apdoauHP 
aTTToXipup vdpdrjKi, fiax^jfiova yfja KoAu^eu, 
et? x^P^^ alfiaToevra Oopwv Auaacu^cc rapaift, 
Kcofiov dvaKpovcov davarri<f>6pov' ovS* m irdrry 
ravpclois Kcpdcaai TreTrappAvov dvhpa 5a^i<i{f« 
dyxf'^o.vri p,€adrot.o Six^topJvov K€V€wvo^, 
oAAa TVTTels TTpoKdpTjvos aru/ijScuTo* TiKt iu^fJH 
KeCacTaL iv podioiaiv oXiaOi^aotJUi §€ Bcurvoi 
iyx^di fJLTjKcBavoLGL p,iaL(f>6vov €19 pvdov dXfii^s, 
Txynroixevai' koX vrjas durrataw Aiovvaov, 
vavjxaxov elKoalirqxv 8t* oXKdBos €yxo9 iXiotnu^. 
oAAa, <f)LXoi., p^dpvaade TrcTToi^oTcy dyTifiua¥ Si 
p/q Tt? v7TOTm]G(J€L€v oTnTTevwv aTix<i VffWV 
BaKxt'dSojv *Ii/Sot yap c^tJ/xopcV ciat KvSoifAOV 
clvaXlov, Kal {laXXov dpiar^vovai BaXda<rn 
S2 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 4>34rA65 

fighting Satyrs, and cutting off the hateful heads 
of that oxhorned generation with shearing steel, 
when I dragged away and delivered to Deriades 
that fettered swarm of Bassarids, the prizes of war ; 
and how the paved streets of the city were purpled 
by their gore as they were massacred, how others 
had a dance in the air with their necks choked in a 
throttling noose, how others were swallowed in a 
deepdug hollow pit and learnt what a watery death 
is like. But again I weave a better notion still 
for our people. I hear that the Rhadamanes have 
built ships for Dionysos the runaway by some wood- 
cutter's art of theirs. However, I fear not the 
seafighting tree ! When was it known in war that 
women with paltry leaves kill a man in a ship 
full of shields ? When will highhom Pan, the crazy 
ranger of the hills, tear Indian ships to pieces 
with sharp claws ? No Seilenos can row over the 
loudrumbhng waters, and sink a ship of war with a 
peaceful ferule, leaping to bloody dance with frenzied 
foot, striking up a chant with death in it ; in the 
sea he will never transfix a man with his bullhorns, 
and get near enough to cut him in two at the waist 
and vanquish him. No ! one blow shall send him 
headlong, and he shall lie in the billows where he will 
find no tomb ; the Bacchant women struck down with 
long spears shall sink into the depths of the sea soiled 
in blood. And the ships of Dionysos I \^ill destroy, 
thrusting a twentycubit seafighting spear through 
the hulk ! 

*^2 " Come on, friends, fight with all confidence. 
Let no one shrink when he sees opposed to us the 
ships of Bacchos in line ; for Indians are used to fight- 
ing by sea, indeed they have more prowess when 

VOL. Ill D S3 



NONNOS 

rj x^ovl hr]pL6a}VT€9. dviKrjra} 8^ m&riptft 
ov TToAca? ^arvpovs Xr)iaaofitu, dXXa tcofidaiv 
dvrl hi.r]Koaiu}v Trpo^idy^iov €va fiowov ipvaaw 
drjXvfiavij ^lowaov, oTrdova Ai^pio&^of." 

"ft? ehwv Trap€7T€UJ€v dS^Xyia Atipia&rja *T0 

Mopp€ug aloX6firjTi9' CTrc^cyfcuTO 8^ Xaol 
fivdov €TTaiyijaavT€S' ofioyXwaawv 8* dtro Xaifujj¥ 
otS/xaat KiwyL€voLGiv laodpoo^ €Pf>€fi€v rix<^» 
Xvae 8* dva^ dyopi^v. BpofiUft 8* ^ar^XXtro fcfjpvf 
novTLOv VGfiLvrjv iviirwv 7r€iBijfiOvt B<ur)^. 47ft 

"AfKfxjJ 8* els €V I6vr€^ €pVKOfl€VOiO KvSoifioO 

dfiPoXlrjv TTOLTjaav inl rpla KvnXa 5IcA»}in/^, 

€la6K€ Tapxvacjai, haCKrayL€vwv ori^a V€Kpd»¥' 

tJv 8c Tt? elpTjvrj fuwwpios ''Ap€i y€irio¥, 

if>vXo7nv (hhivovaav d(j)anXu}uaaa yaXrivrjjv, 400 



84 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVI. 466-480 

they fight by sea than by land. My invincible steel 
shall not take many Satyrs ; but instead of two 
hundred warriors I will drag home one by the hair 
alone, womanmad Dionysos, to be the servant of 
Deriades." 

^"^^ With this appeal, Morrheus, cunning man, per- 
suaded implacable Deriades. The people all cheered 
loudly and applauded the speech : one concordant 
cry resounded from all throats like the noise of 
stirring waves. The king dismissed the assembly. 
The herald was sent to Bromios to declare war by 
sea against willing Bacchos. 

*^^ But both men agreed to forbid war and make a 
truce for three circuits of the moon, until they should 
do the solemn burial rites for the host of the dead 
who had fallen. So for a short time there was peace, 
never far from war, spreading abroad a calm that 
was pregnant with strife. 



35 



AIONTSIAKnN TPIAKOSTON 
EBAOMON 

avhpdaLV d6Xo<t>6pois inirvfiPioi tiatv dy^ytf. 
*Qs OL ^€v <l>tX6T7jri, p^fjLr)X6r€9 cfi^poi^y *lvhol, 

Ba^XetTyV dv€fJLOUIW €7TLrp€^VT€S *V.tnMjj, 

oyLfiaoLV aKXavTOiOiv €TapxvcravTO Baydvraf, 

ola piov ppoT€ov ycu^ia Stofxa fftvyoiTa^ 

i/jvxrj^ 7T€fi7roii€vrjg, odiv rjXvOt, KVKXdBi (T€ipi§ 

vvGGav €9 dpx^Lirjv' arparir) 8* d/z TiaucTO H6jc)(pv. 

Kat (fyiXlrjv Aiowaos t^wv iroXiyLOio yoAipn^r 
TTpwLog rjfjLLovovs Kal ofii^XvSa^ dvSpa^ intlytav 
dt^aXcrjv eKeXevaev dydv dp^airpo^v vXrjv, 
6<t>pa TTVpl (^Acfctev dXojXora v€Kp6v ^O^^Xryfif. \Q 

Tibv fJL€V €7]V TTpOKeXivdo^ €010 1TlTV<uS€0^ vXlJf 

Oauvo? iprjfjLovopAi) p.€p.€Xr)p.€Vog rjOdBt Xd^^jj, 
firjTpos opcoTiaSos' ScSai^fxcVo? o'Sia ]\.ip§nj^. 
Kal hpvrofio) otoi;^86v irefivcTo b^vbpa <n5?)/>^* 
7roAAi7 p,€v TTTeXeT] TavirqKe'C TOfivcro )(aXtcw, |f 



o The transmigration of souls was and is an 
doctrine ; this was one of the few things about India knowB 
to the average Greek. 

^ This description imitates the bunal of Fatrodo& in Homer, 
36 



BOOK XXXVII 

When the thirty-seventh takes its turn, there are 

contests about the tomb, the men competing 

for prizes. 

So the Indians, now sensible and busy with friend- 
ship, threw their Bacchic war to the winds, and buried 
their dead with tearless eyes, as prisoners now set free 
from the earthy chains of human life, and the soul re- 
turning whence it came, back to the starting-place in 
the circling course.** So the army of Bacchos had rest. 

"^ When Dionysos saw friendly calm instead of war, 
early in the morning he sent out mules and their 
attendant men to bring dry wood from the mountains, 
that he might burn with fire the dead body of 
Opheltes.^ 

^^ Their leader into the forest of pines was Phaunos 
who was well practised in the secrets of the lonely 
thickets which he knew so well, for he had learnt 
about the highland haunts of Circe '^ his mother. The 
woodman's axe cut down the trees in long rows. 
Many an elm was felled by the long edge of the axe, 

n. xxiii. The whole book is quite minutely imitated from 
the same model. 

* Circe is mother of Latinos and Agrios as early as the 
Hesiodic poems ; here she is the mother of the Latin wood- 
fairy. 

37 



NONNOS 

ttoXXt) 8' wljnT€Tr)Xog €'n€Knm€ Konroy^ hfiSk, 
Koi TToXXrj Terdvvcrro nlrv^, teal cVcVAtro wciMr^ 
avxf^'^poLS TTCToXoiGL- 7roXvcm€ptwv ano ocKOpcur 
T€fivofi€vwv Kara Paiov iyvfivio&rjaav cpcirvac 
Kal TLs * AfJiaSpvdSajv /i.€Tam<mo^ ^<"'*X* N''/*^* ^ 
TrqyaLT) 8* aKt'x^roj aTj^ci fiiyyvro Kovpjj. 

Kat TToAu? €pxofi€vou7iv opthpo^io^ rHt¥ ayijp, 
ovpcos olfiov €xoiv ircporpoTTov ^y 8c i^o^ao* 
vilfi<t>avTJ TTpopXiJTa KarrjXvSa Xo(6v oSinyr 
TToaal 7ToX\mXav€€aGiV' €\mX€Kroio hk attpijs Ift 

TTU/cva 7r€pia(f>ly$avT€9 aprjpori bovpara Sca/up 
ovp-qcjv inedrjKav xmkp pdxiv €aavpi€v<jnv 8^ 
TjiJLiovajv aroi)(qh6v opiSpofioi ticrvnfv owAn 
cnT€pxop.€vaiv , koX vCtra -noXwIrapAdoiO Koviff^ 
Gvpofxevcov KaroTTiaB^ <fnrrwv tfiapvvtro ^toprtft. lO 
Kat Sarvpot Kai Ildvcs- inoiTTvxfoy, oil' o /i€v avrair 
uAoTOftoi? . . . TraXafir^mv 

dfJLoi^icjv dno So^poir . • • 
<l>LTpovg dKafidroLdiv cAcu^ptJoi^Cff dyoaroif 
TToaal <f>LXoaKdp6fioLaLV €7T€KpoTdXi^ov ipLiryn' 
Koi rd fJL€v vXov6px)L x6ovl Kdrd€Gav, ^x'^ rtAiaofU 35 
Emo? ev SaTTcSoj (rqfujvaro rvfipov *0^€XTn. 

Kat TToAus" ca/xos" €171' ctc/wtttoAi?' af*^ ^ rttcpt^ 
'jT€vdaXi7]v TrXoKajxtha KaTr)<f>€i TdfjLV€ aiBruxo' 

dfJi(f>l Se fJLLV GT€vdxOVT€S i7T€pp€OV oXXo^ CTT oAAoi, 

V€Kp6v diJLOi,paLr)aLv oXov gki6wvt€S tdtipat^. 40 

icat V€Kvv €OT€V€ BaK;^o? dTrCV^T/TOlO TTpOaatTTOV 
ofMfiaaLV dKXavTOiGLv, dKcpGiKOfiov &€ icafn^»*ov 
nXoxp-ov €va T/xrjfa? cVc^TJ^caro hwpov 'O^c^tw. 
IlotT^CTav §6 TTVprjv iKarofiTTebov €v6a Koi hSa 
*I8atot depdnovres opiTp€<f>€os Aiovuorou* 40 

€v Se TTU/JiJ /LtcaciTTj GTOp^Gov v€Kvv. dfufn, 5c wcp^ 
38 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 16-46 

many an oak with leaves waving high struck down 
with a crash, many a pine lay all along, many a fir 
stooped its dry needles ; as the trees were felled far 
and wide, little by little the rocks were bared. So 
many a Hamadryad Nymph sought another home, 
and swiftly joined the unfamiliar maids of the 
brooks. 

22 Parties coming up would often meet, men on 
the hills traversing different mountain-paths. One 
saw them up aloft, out in front, coming down, 
crossing over, with feet wandering in all directions. 
The sticks were packed in bundles with ropes well 
twisted and fastened tight and trim, and laid on the 
mules' backs ; the animals set out in hnes, and the 
hooves rang on the mountain-paths as they hurried 
along, the surface of the sandy dust was burdened 
by heavy logs dragged behind. Satyrs and Pans 
were busy ; some cut wood with axes, . . . some pulled 
it from tree after tree with their hands, ... or Hfted 
trunks with untiring arms and rattled over the rocks 
with dancing feet. All this woodmen laid out upon 
the earth, where Euios had marked a place on the 
ground for the tomb of Opheltes. 

^"^ There was a great swarm of men from different 
cities. Over the body they cut the tress of mourning 
with the steel of sadness. Groaning for him, they 
streamed one after another, and covered the whole 
body with their hair each in his turn. Bacchos 
lamented the dead with umnournful face and tearless 
eyes, and cutting one lock from his uncropt head he 
laid it upon Opheltes as his gift. 

^ The Idaian servants of mountainbred Dionysos 
built the pyre a hundred feet this way and that way, 
and on the middle of the pyre they laid out the body. 

39 



NONNOS 

'AoT€/)ios AiKToios imjopov dop ^pvaaaf 
*IvSovs Kvav€ov9 SvoKaCStKa 8€ipoTo/i»J<m? 
OrJKcv dyojv aT€(l>avr)S6v iiraamntpui T»vi K^Ofi^p* 
iv 8* irlOcL /xeAtTO? *fat dXtlifMTOf afi^dop4jaf. 90 
Kal noXees a<l>dl,ovro j3o€y koI nw€a noifiyfft 
Trpoadc TTVprjs' Krap.€Vijjv hk fiowv iirtvrfvtt ¥€Kp^ 
aojjxaTa KVKXiodcvra koI dpriTopLotv (rrixfii lwww¥, 
wv aTTo brjfiov aTTama Aa/3a>v <rroi;fiy&oi' iK^OTOV, 
dfuftl v€KW aropeaa^, KVKXwaaro niova ^rofijv. 45 

'Ev^a TTvpo^ XP*o^ ccTKc* ^iXooKoitiXoio 5^ J^Iptcifi 
^avvos iprjfjLovofjLO^, Tvporjv&o^ doroy dpoCpff^, 
cu? Trdt? dypoTcprjs^ 8€BaTjfi€vo^ ^Py^ T€icoifcn|ff, 
TTVpaoroKovs Xdiyya^, 6p€id&o9 opyava T/yyity» 
rjyaycv €k GKontXoto, Kal, oTmoSi cnj/xara N^iin^ 60 
fjcpodev 7TL7rrovT€^ l-mcrruHJavTO Ktpawoi, 
Aet«/faya deancalov Twpos i/yaycv, a>9 *fcv ipdi^ 
wpKaCrjv (f)dip.€Vou)' AiopX-qrw 8c ^cctai 
dp,<j>orepo)v €.\pLa€ Xidiov K€V€wt^g dXtu/taf 

TTVpOOTOKiOV Kol AcTTTOV *EtpvBpaLOlO KOpVflfioV 66 

Kdp<f>os dno^vaas SiSvpidovi p,iyw€ ntrpof 
rpipojv 8* €vda koI €vda koX dpotvi ^Aw dpdaatMfV 
€yKpv<f>ov avToX6x€VTov dv€ipv€ Xaty€Ov trvp, 
nvpKa'Cfj 8* V7T€67)K€V, oTTT) WAcv dypids vXrj, 

Ov 8c TWprjV <f>6Lp.€VOV 

TTipihthpopev dirropLtvum nvp, TO 
aXXd dco^ Oac^ovTos" cvavriov oppa rovucToas* 
dyxi(t>0Lvr)S eKdXcaaev *Ea>tov E^pov d-qTTjv, 
TJvpKatrjs CTTiKovpov dyeiv dvriirvoov avprjv. 
Kal Bpoplov KoXeovTog *Ea>cr^pos €kXv€ yeirwr 

• Nonnos seems to confuse the striking tofrethcr of 
with the rubbing or twirling of a hardwcHKl (" niak ") 
in a groove or hole in one of soft wood ('* female *'). 
40 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 47-74 

Asterios of Dicte drew the sword that hung by his 
side, and cut the throats of twelve swarthy Indians 
over the body, then brought and laid them in a close 
orderly circle around it. There also he placed jars of 
honey and oil. Many oxen and sheep of the flock 
were butchered in front of the pyre ; he heaped the 
bodies of the slain cattle round the body, together 
with rows of newly slaughtered horses, taking from 
each of them in turn all the fat which he laid like 
a rich girdle all round the body. 

^ Now fire was wanted. So Phaunos the son of 
rock-loving Circe, the frequenter of the \vilderness, 
who dwelt in the Tyrsenian land, who had learnt as 
a boy the works of his wild mother, brought from 
a rock the firebreeding stones which are tools of the 
mountain lore ; and from a place where thunderbolts 
falling from heaven had left trusty signs of \ictory, he 
brought the relics of the divine fire to kindle the 
pyre of the dead. With the sulphur of the divine bolt 
he smeared and anointed the hollows of the two fire- 
breeding stones. Then he scraped off a light dry 
sprig of Erythraian growth and put it between the 
two stones ; he rubbed them to and fro, and thus 
striking the male against the female, he drew forth 
the fire hidden in the stone to a spontaneous birth,** 
and applied it to the pyre where the wood from 
the forest lay. 

â„¢ But the fire kindled would not run round the dead 
man's pyre ; so the god came near, and fixing his eye 
on Phaethon,^ called upon Euros the eastern wind to 
bring him a breeze to blow on his pyre and help. As 
Bromios called, the Morning Star hard by heard his 

" Looking straight at the sun, which apparently was just 
rising or risen. 

41 



NONNOS 

iKeoLTjs, Koi yvwrov iov 'nporqKt Avaltp, H 

dadfiari nvKvordpw ^oyo€ i5ca nvpaov ovtlirrciv. 

Kat OdXafiov poSocvra Xinwv firjTpoHOV *\\o09 
TTVpKaCrjv <f>Xoy6€aaav dv€ppi7ri^€v d-qTrj^ 
Trdinnjxos, aWvoawv dv€fioTp€^s oAAo/ioor wOp* 
Kal adXas rjKovri^ov cV 4</>a BvtdS€9 aSpai, tO 

y€iTov€$- 'HcAtoio. aw dyyv^Uvi^ h4 Ava^ 
*AGT€pLos AtKratb?, ofioyvtov atfia KOfui/u», 
KvivaoLov dpL<f>LKV7r€XXov €xa}v b^na^ i^of otmMt 
cvobfiov, haTTcboio xy^^ €fi€$vaa€ Kovirjv, 
ijwx^v riv€fjL6<t>oLTOv * Apicnop&ao y^paipcav, 8f 

*AAA* OT€ St) hpoa€poXo TTpodyytXos dpfiaro^ *\\oOf 
opdpo^ €p€vBi6wv dfiapvaG€ro yvtcra x<xf>doow¥t 
hr] t6t€ TravTC? opovaav, dfioiPauv &€ KtmiXXt^ 
TTVpKa'Crjv irdpoio KaT€ap€Gav ucfidSi Ba#rxov. 
Kat jSaAiai? TTTCpvycaaiv c^aJfTo 6€pfi6^ dyjrrjf fO 
€1? hojxov *HcAtoto <f>a€a(f>6pov, *A<rrtpio^ S< 
oarca cruXXc^ag K€KaXvp.p.€i'a hiTrXajci ^fJLw 
els XP^^^V^ <l>idXrjv KaTedrjKaro Xfu/tava vtKpoO, 
Koi TpoxoiXol KopvpavT€S, CTTci Aa;^oi' Miov "Ihvff, m 
v€Kp6v irapxyaavro, fjLLrjg oiK-qropa ndrprf^, M 

KprJTTjs yvriaiov af/xa, ^advvopidvwv hi Btp.€BXujv 9597 
TUfi^ov iropvcjoavro TreboaKatfKos hid koXttov 
Kal KOVLV odvelrjv TTVfidrrjv enex^vav *O^Xrjj, 
/cat rd<t>ov aiTrvripoiaiv dvearriaavTo hofiaioif, 
TOLOV eTTLypdipavres €7ros veotrevdii ru/xjJoj* loQ 

*' v€Kp6s *Ap€GTopLhr]s fJLLWcjpios €v6dh€ Kelroi, 
Kvcuaatos", *lvho<l>6vos, 

BpofjLLov awdedXos, 'O^Anyy/* 

Kat deos dfiTTcXoeLs iTnTvp.^ia Swpa KOfii^utr 
42 



97« 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 75-103 

appeal, and sent his brother " to Lyaios, to make the 
pyre burn up by his brisker breath. 

^^ The Wind left the rosy chamber of Dawn his 
mother, and fanned the blazing pyre all night ^ long, 
stirring up the windfed leaping fire ; the wild breezes, 
neighbours of the sun, shot the gleams into the air. 
Along with sorrowing Lyaios, Asterios of Dicte who 
was one of his kindred, holding a twohandled cup of 
sweet fragrant wine, made the dust of the earth 
drunken in honour of the soul of Arestor's son now 
carried on the wind. 

®^ But when morning, the harbinger of Dawn's 
dewy car, scored the night with his ruddy gleams, 
then all awoke, and quenched their comrade's pyre 
with cups of Bacchos's juice in turn. Then the hot 
wind returned on quick pinions to the lightbringing 
mansion of Helios. Asterios collected the bones, and 
wrapping them in folded fat laid the relics of the dead 
in a golden urn. Then the whirling Cory bants, since 
their lot was cast in the haunts of Ida, gave burial 
to the body as an inhabitant of one country, a true- 
born son of Crete, and digging the foundations deep 
they made his round tomb in a hollow dug in the 
earth, and last of all they poured foreign dust over 
Opheltes. They built up his barrow with taller 
stones, and engraved these Unes on this monument 
of their recent sorrow : " Here lies Arestor's son who 
untimely died : Cnossian, Indianslayer, comrade of 
Bromios, Opheltes." 

^^^ Then the god of the vine brought the funeral 

" Euros ; presumably both are children of Astraios, cf. vi. 
18, 40. No earlier author has this genealogy. 

^ Taken over from Hom. Ih xxiii. 217, but there it is in 
place, here Nonnos has just implied that it was early morning. 

43 



NONNOS 

avToOi Xaop €pVK€, koX r{ov*v t^pifv a/uM, 
repfxa hpofxov rcXtaa^ iimrfXarov' €¥ oovwy M ■• 
opyviris laoficTpo^ €'nv XW09 €^pit fUrptf^, 
rjfiiTOfiov kvkXolo <^pwv rvnov, €uc6i¥a ui^rfft, 
dvTLTVTTois Xay6i'€aaiv €v(oof, oJov iS^OMir 
ifyyoTTovois TroAa/xTyai ytputv ropvwatiTO TfJCTWr* 
ivdcov aaKTJaai iroOtwv fipira^' 6v r6r€ yoim IM 

Kov<f)Lt,u)v TraXdpLrjGi niXujp vbpvaaro KiMMOi^ 
vvaarjs Xa'Cvcq^ avrlppoTTov, toov iictli^ 

dvTLTTOpOV XldoV oXXoV O/iOJ^V/OF ^ X^^ •^Jf**' 



TTOLKiXa 8* tJcv d€dXa, 

dpyvpos, *lvSd pL€TaXXa, /3o«f, [\aMru»Xu>f 2Ai^. IM 

Kat dcog Irnnjeaaiv dtBXui Si^aro vunjt* 
TTpwTLo fiev Oiro ro^ov ^ApLa^ovlriv Tf ^ap4rfnff 
KOI odKos tJ/xitcAcotov * Aprjuf>iXriv tc ytiMiaro, 
rqv TTOTc (depfjLwboirroi vn* d^vai nt^oi ^5<uair 
Xovofievrjv C,coypT]G€f Kal ijyovcv ctV woAw *Ii*5(tfr* UO 
h^xnipix) LTTTTov €9r)K€ Boociodi avvSpofioy avpfjn, 
^avdo(f>vrjf hoXixfjai KaraaKiov ai);(ri^ ;(airaif, 
T^/itTcAc? /a»€oucrav crt Pp€<f>os» ^s cri ^prut 
LTT7TLOV oyKov €;^oucra yov^ff ot&uWro yaanuf 
Koi TpLTdra) Owp-qKa, Kal daniBa Srjtct TrrapTy Mi 
Tov fi€v dpiGTonovos Tcxyqaaro Avpyto^ g/f/iwr 
daKijaag XP^^^V Stt^ciA/xari, rijy o* m fi4aaif» 
6p,<f>aX6s dpyvpdip rpoxocis ttoikiAActo KOOfup' 
TTc/LtTTTOj Soict T(iAa;^a, y€f)a9 ncurroiAi^o? ^X^V' 
opdojOcls 8* dyopcuev €7n(rTT€pxu)v iXarijpa^' UO 

** *(^ <l>lXoLt ovs €8t8a^€»/ 'A/nyy TroXlnopSov *E»ik«», 
of? hp6p.ov LTTTToavvr^s ScopTyaaro Kva>*o;fain;$>, 
ou /X€v cyco KafidrcDv dSarjfiovas dvBpa^ itrtiyw, 
dXXd TTovoL^ PpiapoLGiv iO-qpxiva^' ijfurcpoi yap 
TravTrotat? dp€Tij<n /xe/XT^Aorc? €iai puoLXtrai' Ui 

44 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 104-135 

prizes. He kept the people there, and marked out a 
wide space for games with the goal for a chariot-race. 
There was on the ground a stone of a fathom's mdth, 
rounded into a half-circle, like the moon, well 
smoothed on its two sides, such as an old craftsman 
has fashioned and rounded with industrious hands 
wishing to make the statue of a god. A giant Cyclops 
Ufted this in his hands and set it in the earth for a 
stone turning-post, and fixed another like it at the 
opposite end. There were various prizes, cauldron, 
tripod, shields, horses, silver, Indian jewels, cattle, 
Pactolian silt." 

11^ The god offered prizes of victory for the chariot- 
eers. For the first, a bow and Amazonian quiver, a 
demilune buckler, and one of those warlike women, 
whom once as he walked on the banks of Thermodon 
he had taken while bathing and brought to the Indian 
city. For the second, a bay mare swift as the north 
wind, with long mane overshadowing her neck, still in 
foal and gone half her time and her belly swollen 
with the burden her mate had begotten. For the 
third, a corselet, and a shield for the fourth. This 
was a masterpiece made on the Lemnian anvil ^ and 
adorned with gold patterns ; the round boss in the 
middle was wrought with silver ornaments. For the 
fifth, two ingots, treasure from the banks of Pactolos. 
Then he stood up and encouraged the drivers ; 

131 " My friends, whom Ares has taught citystorm- 
ing war, to whom Seabluehair has given the racer's 
horsemanship ! You whom I urge are men not un- 
acquainted with hardship, but used to heavy toils ; 
for our warriors hold dear all sorts of manly prowess. 

" i.e. gold. 
* Therefore presumably by Hephaistos. 

45 



NONNOS 

el yap dno TfiwXoio ytvos Aa)f€ AfSSiOf ^njjp* 
iTTTTCirjg TcAcerct FlcAoTnytSo^ dfia I'Ufiyf 
€t §6 TTihov WiaaXov c^ct /xaiT^K iinrotfr 
"HAiSo? €vhi<l>poio KoX OlvouAoiO noXirriq, 
olhev *0Xvfi7TidSos Koriiff^pov o^ov iXtuiff 
oAA' ovK Olvofidoio rrcAci hpo^to^, owe iX ar^ pt S 
ivddSe K€VTpov €xovai K<uco(tivwv VfMvalotif, 
oAA' dp€Tng hpofios 0VT09, iXtvOtpo^ a d foyt v ^ltif' 
€1 rrehov^ Aovi-qg rj ^wKi&os atfia KOfuift, 
TIvOlov *A7T6XXcovt r€Tifi€vov oJh€v dywva' 
€i ficderrct, ao<f>6v o^a^ tXakOKo^ov SXapaBi m o t t 
eyvo) nLaXerjs iyKvitova KoXftiv iiparif 
el neXev evioBivos Axai&o^ daro^ dpo^fnfff 
IleXXijvrjv heBdrjKev, ottt) piyr^Xov dywva 
dvhp€S dedXcvovai <f>iXoxXaiyov irepi yucrff, 
X€t.pL€plcp G(f)iyyom€s ddaAnea yvia vtrw^f 
el vaeTTjg pXdanjGev dXi^ioi^io KopivOov, 
"la^/xtov TjiierepOLO WaXaifxavo^ o25cv aycuHt." 

"Q? <f>ap,evov arrevBovreg eirirpexov i^^un^(, 
hi^pa TTepirpoxdiiivres dfioipabU' wmmd&rw hi, 
BtOvdoV dyOJV TTpOiTKTTOS VTTO ^XT/d htjafv *tf>€x/^vf 

* So Mss. : ax*i6» I^wtcfa. 



« In this passage, Nonnos takes occasion to 
his knowledge of the ni\-tholc>g7 of aUilrtkr < 
Dionysos's men include Lytlians; but IV1o|m (l^Xl) 
of Tantalos the Lydian, so' they may take example from kit 
defeat of Oinomaos {c/. xix. 152). But this b ooe of tbt 
many mythical origins of the games at OlympU, lo U Umj 
come from Pisa (the nearest town to the predncl of " 
where the games were held) that may eooouragc H 

especially as this is to be a clean and fair contest, with 

tricks such as Pelops played for the sake of hb Um of 
Hippodameia (141-143; the Foambom is Aphrodite). Or 
46 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 136-156 

If one is of Lydian birth from Tmolos, he will do deeds 
worthy of the victorious racing of Pelops. If one 
comes from the land of Pisa, nurse of horses, a man of 
Elis with its fine chariots, a countryman of Oinomaos, 
he knows the sprigs of Olympian wild olive : but this 
is not the race of Oinomaos, our drivers here have not 
the goad of a marriage fatal to strangers — this is a 
race for honour and free from the Foamborn. If one 
has the land of Aonia or the blood of Phocis, he knows 
the Pythian contest honoured by Apollo. If he holds 
Marathon, rich in olives, the home of artists, he knows 
those j ars teeming with rich j nice. If one is a habitant 
of the fruitful land of Achaia, he has learnt of Pellene, 
where men wage a shivery contest for the welcome 
prize of a woollen cloak, a coat to huddle up their cold 
limbs in winter. If he has grown up to live in sea- 
girdled Corinth, he knows the Isthmian contest of our 
Palaimon."" 

^^ He spoke, and the leaders came hastening up 
and ran round each to his chariot. First Erechtheus 
brought his horse Bayard under the yoke, and 

if they are from the regions near Delphi (144), they are 
neighbours of the Pythian Games (that these were not 
founded till centuries later does not seem to trouble Nonnos). 
If they are from the Isthmus of Corinth (152-153) they are to 
remember that the Games there are in honour of Palaimon 
(c/. ix. 90). Apparently a chronological scruple prevents him 
naming the Nemean Games, said to have been founded by 
the Seven champions on their way to Thebes. Of the minor 
Games, the prizes for which were not wreaths but objects of 
value, he mentions (146) the (Heracleia at) Marathon, but 
obviously confuses them with the Panathenaia, for the 
Marathonian prizes were silver goblets (schol. Pind. 01. xiii. 
110), oil being the prize of the Panathenaia. In 148-149 the 
allusion is to the Hermaia at Pellene in Achaia, where the 
prize was a woollen cloak. Probably he had his information 
from Pindar and his scholiast. 

47 



NONNOS 

apcreva, kol BrjXcLav cVca^YJ^ccuac no5((p«np, 
ovs Boperjs €(m€Lp€v €U7rr€pvyafv M Xditrpom 
Tiidovirjv "ApTTViav dcAAoTrof ciy ya^ui¥ tXtcwv, 
Kai a<f>€ag, *Qp€idviai' oO* rjpTraatv *Ar$SUi rfi§i^^fff^, 160 
ojTTaaev ehvov €pwTos *Ep€x04i yafifip6t Jtijfnft, 
hevrepos ^AKralcjv *lafi'qviBa iroAAcv IftAtMoifir 
Kai Tpiros vypofifhomro^ dnoimopof i w oa tyol om 
TiKcXfiLS €7]v raxvncjXo^, 09 €ypa^ tro^Xisng A«|p 
TTOLTpLov ISvvwv Woaihtiiov opfjui 0ciA<(ovi|f. 161 

TCTparo? dvdop€ Oavj-oy, 09 €»V fidaw ^jkBklf iy AfO S 
fjLovvos €x<Jiv rvnov laov eiji Y€v4ruo rtxaiSofif, 
'HcAtou fiLp.rjp4i iJKpwv rtrpdCvyaf Iwwmrf 
Kai ^LKcXwv ox^oiv €n€PrjaaTo wdfinroe *Ajjrfnyf, 
olarpov €xix}v Wiaalov €Xcuot<6fiov mna^UHOt 1^ 

Imroavvr^s aKopryro^, cVct ntSov <^iC€€ VfSft/^Uff 
*AX<f>€iov hvaepcjTo^, o? ciV *Apt$ovaa^ Ufiin 
appoxov ehvov €poyro9 aywv aT€^ayrf^6ptm 0«M* 

Kai dpaavv *AKTaLiova Xafiwy aircCwv^Ify ifclWiK 
TratSt 7rar7)p oTrcuSoin-i ^Aov9 tnrriXXtro fivBovf* 175 

" TcKvov ^ApLoraioio TTtpiaaovooiO rotdior, 
otha /LtcV, oTTt <f>€p€i,s oBcvos aptciov, om ntiiiTjmt 
avji(f>VTov Tjvoper) KCKipaofifvov avOtfun^ Vtf» 
TTCtTptoy atfia <t>€pwv Ooi/StJiop, rnUrtpai hk 
Kp€Loaov€9 dlaaovaiv cVi bpofwv *ApKa&€f Iwrnn- l» 

T> " S^' i'', ^^^ ' Oreithyia was d«u|rhtcr of EwchUwi— (or 
Pandion) king of Athens. «^«««« iw 

* Theban. from the river Ismenos (properly MlimiMMl 
near Ihebes. ' * ' ^^ 

\ The genealogy is Helios-C'ircc-Faunas r/. xmvIL IS. 

- Ihe story of how Alphdos, the river of Elk. loved 
Arethusa, the fountain of Syracuse (amoac otbiwpUoBi), 
48 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 157-180 

fastened in his mare Swiftfoot ; both sired by North- 
wind Boreas in winged couphng when he dragged a 
stormfoot Sithonian Harpy to himself, and the Wind 
gave them as loveprice to his goodfather Erechtheus 
when he stole Attic Oreithyia for his bride.** 

162 Second, Actaion swung his Ismenian ^ lash. 
Third was speedyfoal Scelmis, offspring of Earthshaker 
lord of the wet, who often cut the water of the sea 
driving the car of his father Poseidon. Fourth 
Phaunos leapt up, who came into the assembly alone 
bearing the semblance of his mother's father,*' with 
four horses under his yoke like Helios ; and fifth 
Achates mounted his Sicilian chariot, one insatiable 
for horsemanship, full of the passion which belongs 
to the river that feeds the olivetrees of Pisa. For 
he lived in the land of the nymph loved by hapless 
Alpheios, who brings to Arethusa as a gift of love 
his garlanded waters untainted by the brine. <* 

17* Bold Actaion was led away from the crowd by 
his father, who addressed these loving injunctions to 
his eager son : 

176 " My son, your father Aristaios has more ex- 
perience than you. I know you have strength 
enough, that in you the bloom of youth is joined with 
courage ; for you have in you the blood of Apollo my 
father, and our Arcadian mares are stronger than any 

and consequently his waters flow under the sea without 
mingling with the salt water, to join hers, is told a hundred 
times in ancient authors, e.g., in Strabo vi. 2. 4. The 
epithet orc^aviy^opov probably means that if a garland is 
thrown into Alpheios it will reappear in Arethusa ; elsewhere 
it is a silver cup, or dirt of some kind, or generally anjrthing 
that may be thrown into the river which gives this proof of 
the story. But it may simply refer to the garlands given as 
prizes at Olympia. 

VOL. Ill E 49 



NONNOS 

oAAa fiaTrjv raSc Wrra, 

Kal ov oBti'o^, ov Spo^iof h 
VLK-fjaai SeSdaaiv, oaov 4>p€V€^ r^vxoxno^' 
fjLOVinrjs KcpSoGVvnr)^ €ntS€V€cu' iimoawjf yi^ 

XpT^^i^L TTLVlfTOLO haTj^0V09 TIVIOXTJO^. 

oAAa (TV TTarpos aKov€, koI Itmia tctoSia T^Yir^, 111 
oaaa "Xfiovw b€bdrjKa noXurpona, koi oi Swa(w, 
OTTevSc, TcVoj, y€V€Trjpa rcaiy dptr^i ycpo^pcir' 

Kol 8/>0/A09 iTTTTOaVVTjg /IC^cVfl kAc'oS", OOOOV 'EvUci* 

OTTcvSe Kal €v oraStotcrt 

/x€Ta TTToAcfiouy fu ytpoiptim' 
"Apca VLKrjaa^ irdprjv vnoSvato vuaiv, IfO 

6(f>pa p,€T alxfirjTTJpa Kal ddXo^pov at KoX i a ow . 
CO T€K09, af la pi^ov ofioyinijToj ^lovvaui, 
d^ia Kal ^oipoio Kal €vnaXdfioto Kvp^vfi^f 
Kal KajJidrovs viKyjaov *Api(rraioio roK^of' 
Imrocrvvrjv 8* dvd<l>aiv€, <f>€pwv T€xyr)fuyva yOnj¥, tfl 
KcpSaXerjv a€o fJL-fJTLv, cVft Kara fitaaoy dywvof 
dXXos dvrjp dSlhaKTog d-noomnov dpfia frap^Xtcu/^ 
TrAa^erat €vda Kal €vda, 

Kal duTinopcjv Spofiof imrwk 
dcrraros ov p,d(myL jSidfcrcu, ov^€ ;^ciAu^ 
rreldcraL, rjvloxos he fierdrpoTro^ €ktoBi yvofnft |O0 
lA/ccrai, 7j;^t (^cpoixrir aTrci^c'c? dpnayt^ irnnH* 

OS be K€ T€Xl^€in-L hoXci) p.€fl€X-qfl€VOS €irj 

rjvLoxos TToXvfirjTis , cxcov Kol iXdaaovas iimxnK, 
WvvcL, npoKeXevdov OTnTreviov iXarrjpa, 
iyyvs del nepl vvaoav dyojv Spofiov, 

dpfia 3< «rafiirrct 305 
iTTTrevcov ircpi repfia Kal ov ttotc rcp/ia yapdaaijav, 
GK€7TT€6 fJLOL Kal a<f>iyy€ KvpepvrjTTJpi ;^ciAi»'ai 
8o;^ct>CTas" 6X0V LTTTTov dpicrrepov iyyvdi vvaoff^, 
50 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 181-208 

for the race. But all this is in vain, neither strength 
nor running horses know how to win, as much as the 
driver's brains. Cunning, only cunning you want ; 
for horseracing needs a smart clever man to drive. 

185 " Then listen to your father, and I will teach 
you too all the tricks of the horsy art which time has 
taught me, and they are many and various. Do your 
best, my boy, to honour your father by your successes. 
Horseracing brings as great a repute as war ; do your 
best to honour me on the racecourse as well as the 
battlefield. You have won a victory in war, now win 
another, that I may call you prizewinner as well as 
spearman. My dear boy, do something worthy of 
Dionysos your kinsman, worthy both of Phoibos and 
of skilful Cyrene, and outdo the labours of your 
father Aristaios. Show your horsemastery, win your 
event like an artist, by your own sharp wits ; for with- 
out instruction one pulls the car off the course in 
the middle of a race, it wanders all over the place, and 
the obstinate horses in their unsteady progress are 
not driven by the whip or obedient to the bit, the 
driver as he turns back misses the post," he loses 
control, the horses run away and carry him back 
where they will. But one who is a master of arts 
and tricks, the driver with his wits about him, even 
with inferior horses, keeps straight and watches the 
man in front, keeps a course ever close to the post, 
wheels his car round without ever scratching the 
mark. Keep your eyes open, please, and tighten the 
guiding rein swinging the whole near horse about 
and just clearing the post, throwing your weight 

" Not the goal, but the mark at the end of the track where 
the cars were to turn ; it was a point of horsemanship to 
come as near as possible without actually hitting it. 

51 



NONNOS 

Aofo? €7TL nXevpfjoi TrapajcXtSov dpfia PapAmm, 
d'yxi'<t>0LV7)? dipavoTos dyayKouf) rwi fUrpt^ tlO 

GOV hpofiov Wvvwv, n€<f>vXayfUvo^f dxpi ^iamin 
7rX'qp,vrj eXiaaoficvov aeOcv dpfiaTt>i ofa vtp curpov 
T€/3/xaT09 drrrofievrj rpo vctSct yciTow tcvtfXuf 
dXXd XiOov 7T€<t>vXa^o, firj d(ovi I'vaaav apafat 
elv ivl hrjX-qaaio Kal dpyuara kcu atStv twmavt. SI6 
Kal Tcov €vda Kal €v6a Kara hpofiov dpfui vop4vot¥ 
eaao Kvpcpvrjrr) navofiouos' dfL4>6r€pO¥ W, 
Kevrpo) €7TL<nT€px<Jiiv, 7rpox€wv TrA»/f4inroK air<iAi|r« 
Sc^Lov liTTTov iXavvCt OoorTfpov ciV Sp6fia¥ iXxi^i^ 
oBXi^ios fi€d€7rovTa TToptifUva tcvKXa )(aXu^' SO 

eaao KvPepm^rrj navofiouo^ dpfia voft€Wju¥ 
€19 hpopov WvKcXevdov, cVct Tc^viJ/iow povXj 
TrrjbdXiov hi<f>poio ntXti voos rjvioxiiof.** 

"Qs cIttcjv TToXivopoo^ €\dl^€rOt tratba hihafat 
'qddSo^ iTTTToavvrjs irepOTpona K€pS<a T4)[inrf^, ftt 

Kat Kvv€7}s €VToad€V fdrjfiovo^ oAAcK €n* dXXtp 
TV<f)X7]v x^^P^ TLTaive <f>vXaaaofA€voio npoaofmVt 
KXrjpov €X€iv idcXwv €T€pdTpo7Tov, otd rii ovnp 
€tV Kvpov dXXonpoaaXXov €Kr)P6Xa SaxrvXa iraAActfr. 
Kal Xdxov r)VLoxrJ€s d/xoij3a5iy lirrrofuurfff 8i 90 

^avvo9 dciboficvrjg ^aidoyriBo^ atfia vcW^Aiyr 
KXrjpo) npcjTog €rjv, Kal b€VT€pos ii€v Axdrtft, 
TO) 8* cVt ^ap.vap^vrjo<s d^XiJKOs, 

dpLffn. h* dp* airtp 
iXXax^v *AKTaux)V' 6 8c <f>€praro^ ctV hp6po¥ iarfi 
varariov KXrjpOLO rvx(Jtiv nXrj^nnTo^ *K^;^cvr. 2V 

Kat ^oeas" pidariyas €Kov<f>iaav ^vto)m€f, 
lardfJievoL aroLx^^ov dp.oi.^alwv eirl hippuf¥, 
Kal aKOTTos AlaKOS rj€v iTTfrvpLO^, oi^po, voifooc 
KapL7TTOfi€vovs 7T€pl T€pfia <f>iXoaT€<f»avovs iXaT^poii 
52 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 209-239 

sideways to make the car tilt, guide your course 
by needful measure, watch until as your car turns 
the hub of the wheel seems almost to touch the 
surface of the mark with the near-circling wheel. 
Come very near without touching ; but take care of 
the stone, or you may strike the post with the axle 
against the turning-post and wreck both horses and 
car together. As you guide your team this way and 
that way on the course, act like a steersman ; ply the 
prick, scold and threaten the whip without sparing, 
press the off horse, lift him to a spurt, slacken the 
hold of the bit and don't let it irk him. Manage 
your car like a good steersman ; guide your car on a 
straight course, for the driver's mind is like a car's 
rudder if he drives with his head." 

^^ With this advice, he turned away and retired, 
having taught his son the various tricks of his trade 
as a horseman, which he knew so well himself. 

226 One after another as usual each put a blind hand 
into the helmet," turning away his face, and hoping 
to get the uncertain lot in his favour, as one who 
shakes his fingers for a throw of the doubtful dice far 
from him. So the leaders in turn took their lots. 
Horsemad Phaunos, offspring of the famous blood of 
Phaethon, was first by lot, and Achates was second, 
next came the brother of Damnamenes,^ and next 
to him Actaion ; but the best racer of all got the 
last lot, horsewhipper Erechtheus. 

236 Then the drivers lifted their leather whips, and 
stood in a row each in his chariot. The umpire was 
honest Aiacos ; his duty was to view the crown-eager 
drivers turning the post, and to watch with unerring 

" They drew lots to see which should drive nearest the 
inside of the track. ** Scelmis. 

53 



NONNOS 

fidprv^ dXrjd€tr)g IrtpoOpoa y^Uia Xvoj), 
o/x/xaaiv d7rXav€€aai btajcpii'iov bpofiov iimtiir. 

Total fi€v €K paXpibo^ €Tjv bpofioi' iaoviUvoi¥ M 
OS y.€v €T)v TTpoKeXcvOos » 6 &€ npoSiovra in^f^ooi 

ayxt-<l>oLyvs fJL€V€aiv€v 6iTiaT€pov rjviox^' 
Kai TLs €vl arahlois cAan^p tXaTfjpa tci)(noas 
ap/xart hi<f)pov c/xifc, koX rivia X'P*'' rivaaauiv 
LTnrovs ayKvXoSovTi SuTrrotijac ^^oAa^* 
aAAo9 €7rataaovTi GwiyLiropos rivtoyi)^ 
eh €piv am<f>ripi(rTOv laopponov cfYC nop€irfv, 
SoxfJ'i'OS oKXd^wv, r€rawapL€vos » op06^ ayaytq;, 
l^vi KafnrroficvTjf Kal eKovaiov iTmov ^Xav¥tMt¥, 
<f>€LBofjL€vr) TToXdfir) TexyrjfjLovi P<u6v ifidaaw¥, 
€VTpo7raXi,i^ofi€in]s hoyjuoaaro kvkXov onu/irrjf' 
hi<l>pov OTnadoTTopov 7T€<f>vXayfi€vos rfvioxnof 
Kal vv K€v diaaovTt, irohiov eniPrfropi troAiAfp 
€19 Tpoxov avTOKvXL(jTov oyvf u)Xla6av€v iwwt 
€1 firj iri. OTTevBovaav irjv dv€Ko^€V ipwi^ 
"qvloxos, KaTOTTiadcv cVrJAuSa buf>pov €pvKutv, 
Kai ris €X(*iv npoKcXcvdos oniarfpov "qyioxrja 
dvTiTxmov hpoyLov elx^v o/xo JijAoji' cVi hl^kputv, 
doTaros €v6a Kal ivda 7T€piKX€itov fXarrjpa 
dyxt'<l>avi] . Kal S/fcA/iiy, dnooTTopos ewootyawv, 
clvaXlrjv [idoTLya HoaeiBdtovos IXlaautv 
ndrpLov TjVLox^ve OaXaaaovofjuov y^vos limoiv 
ovhk roaov tt€tt6t7]to ravvTrrepos "^^pa r^pjvtjjv 
Uriyaaos viliLTTOTrjTog , oaov PvBuvv Tro&cy iimur¥ 
Xepaairjv aKlxrjTov cVoiTjcravro nop€iT)v. 

Aaol 8* els €V l6vT€s, €v inhiXo^HMj Ttvi vcopco 
eCfOiievoL otolxtjoov OTnirevrr^pes ayojvos, 
TTjXodev ioKOTrla^ov iTTeiyofxevcov Spofiov iwiretfr* 
54 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 240-271 

eyes how the horses ran. He was the witness of 
truth, to settle quarrels and differences. 

2*2 The race started from the barrier. Off they 
went — one leading in the course, one trying to catch 
him as he raced in front, another chasing- the one 
between, and the last ran close to the latter of 
these two and strove to graze his chariot. As they 
got farther on driver caught driver and ran car 
against car, then shaking the reins forced off the 
horses with the jagged bit. Another neck and neck 
with a speeding rival ran level in the doubtful race, 
now crouching sideways, now stretching himself, 
now upright when he could not help it, with bent 
hips urging the willing horse, just a touch of the 
master's hand and a light flick of the whip. Again 
and again he would turn and look back for fear of the 
car of the driver coming on behind : or as he made 
speed, the horse's hoof in the spring of his prancing 
feet would be slipping into a somersault, had not the 
driver checked his still hurrying pace and so held 
back the car which pressed him behind. Again, one 
in front with another driver following behind would 
change his course to counter the rival car, moving 
from side to side uncertainly so as to bar the way to 
the other who pressed him close. And Scelmis, 
offspring of the Earthshaker, swung Poseidon's sea- 
whip and drove his father's team bred in the sea ; 
not Pegasos flying on high so quickly cut the air 
on his long wings, as the feet of the seabred horses 
covered their course on land unapproachable. 

26^ The people collected together sat in rows 
on a high hill, to see the race, and watched from 

55 



NONNOS 

SaKTuXov aKpov €G€L€v €7rurrrtpxtov iXaTSjfiOt 
dXXo9 dfiiXXrjTTJpi TToOw h<hovTniivo^ Iwrnttm 
iTTTrofiavfj voov clx^v ofioSpofiov rivtoxfiof fW 

/cat Ti? €ov 7rpoK€X€vSov iSajv 8pOfW¥ y^ i oy^Of 
Xepalv €7rc7rAaTay7;a£ #ccu laxt ntvBoii 4cfrj 
dapcrvvojVf yeXowv, rpofi^wv, tXaTrjpi ircAf^ctfr. 

'Apfiara 8* €imolrjra Ooturtpa Bvioiot fytCTOV 
oAAore p,€v 7r€Tr6njro p,€rdpaiat wfj 5' iwi yoig tl0 
dKpo<t>avTJ 7r€<f>6prjTo pLoyi^ ijtavovTa 9eo¥aff 
Kal rax^vw (/ra/xada>5c9 cSo? rpovotthdi taStcXip 
dpfiaro^ Wxmopoio Kar€ypa^€v oAxof oAi}nK' 
avfi<f>€pTr) 8* cpty ^cv €y€ipofi4yri 3^ loU iivn^ 
arrjdeaw LTnTcloLmv dvrfwprfro Kovtri, SIf 

XcttTOA 8* TjcpL-paiv €TT€ppaK)vro dv^XXai^' 
OTprjpol 8* (XaT7Jp€S ofioyXofoaufV dno XaifUa^ 
o^trrepTjv fidcmyo^ dTreppoiphrjaav larqv. 

*AAA* oT€ Srj nvparov tcAcoi' Spofiov, 

d(^ SpoAfOig 
S/ccA/xt? €7]v TTpamoTOs dXibpofiov dpfia nra^^wr* ttO 
/cat ot ofiaprqaas cVc/xaariev tTrrroi' 'Kpc^^ciW 
d'yxi'<f>cLvrjs, /cat hi(t>pov oTnoBo-nopov rdxa. ^abft 
clvaXlov TcXxLVOs Ibelv €7npi^Topa hitftpuiv 
/cat yap depaiTTOTTjTos *Ep€;(^€oy iTrTro? dyi^Kop 
8t;(^a8toj fivKTTJpi naXlp-TTvoov daSfia riTCUVvuy tt6 

dXXoTpLov depjiaLve /X€Td(f>p€VOV 'qvioxrjos, 
Kal vv Kcv avx^vLcuv ihpd^aro X^^* KOfidwv, 
ivTpoTTaXit,oii€VOLs pX€<f>dpoi9 iXarrjpa 8o/ccu(oi', 
/cat vu /c€ G€LOfjL€VU)v Tpo^aAi^ arpo<f>dXiyyi y^vtlujv 29Q 
acfypLocjv araTos lttttos aTTCTrruev a/cpa x<^i*^<^» 909 
oAAa TTaparpeipas dveaelpaac huf>pov *E.p€xO€V9, 300 
Tjyta 8 €V7roLr)ra Karicnraaev dpnayi naXfLw, y^i 

56 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 272-301 

a distance the course of the galloping horses. One 
stood anxious, another shook a finger and beckoned 
to a driver to hurry. Another possessed with the 
fever of horses' rivalry, felt a mad heart galloping 
along with his favourite driver ; another who saw 
a man running ahead of his favourite, clapt his 
hands and shouted in melancholy tones, cheering 
on, laughing, trembling, warning the driver. 

2'^^ The fine chariots, faster than the furious 
Bear,* now flew high aloft, now skimmed the earth 
scarcely touching the surface of dust. The track 
of the car dashing straight on with quick circling 
wheel scratched the sandy soil as it passed. Then 
there was a confused struggle; the dust also was 
stirred and rose to the horses' chests, their manes 
shook in the airy breezes, the busy drivers shouted 
all with one voice together louder than their crack- 
ing whips. 

289 Now they were on the last lap. Scelmis with 
a swift leap was first of all pressing on his seachariot. 
Erechtheus was close upon him whipping up his 
team, and you might almost say you saw the second 
car ready to climb aboard the car of the maritime 
Telchis ; for the spirited stallion of Erechtheus was 
up in the air, panting and snorting with both nostrils, 
so as to warm the back of the other charioteer. The 
eyes of Scelmis were turned back again and again 
on the other driver, and he might have pulled 
Erechtheus' horse by the mane, and the foaming 
stallion might have shaken his jaw with a quick jerk 
and spat out the bit ; but Erechtheus checked the car, 
and turned it to one side with a vigorous pull at the 

" Moving faster than Ursa Maior, otherwise the Waggon 
(a/ia^a), travels around the pole. 

57 



NONNOS 

dyxi^(l>o-yrj Kara ^aiov €7na(f>iyy<jjv y4vw »^»<J»«'* *• 
/cat ttoXlv eyyvs cAaaac ^irywv a^o^vov araytai^, IM 
Kal fiLV €OL9 6\€€aai,v inataaovra 6oK€Viit¥ 38i 

E/ccA/xt? d7T€LXrjTcipay diT€ppoiphir^€V uttrw' 

" Arjyc OaXaaaaioiai fidrrjv imroiaw ioi(fittr 
aXXov ifiov yivtrao WtXcnji irort bi^pOÂ¥ cAovra^ 
OtVo/Ltaou v'LKT]G€V dvLtcyTiov Spofiov timcav, 
iTTTToavvrj^ fi€V cycoyc KvP€pvr]rrjpa KoXiaaw 810 

l-nTTLov vypoyLihovra- av &€, trAiJfimrc, T»Taa«f»f 
VU079 iXTTiSa ndoav cV laTaTcAfiav A^ki/k. 
oi5 Sc Tcrjs oXiyrjs p.opirjq XP^*^^» oAAa KOfu^ut 
dfiTTcXocv aT€(fos oAAo #ca4 ovK cAa^ctav iXcuff¥. 

*Qj (l>ap,€vov 

raxvpovXog Ixoioaro fidXXov *FIpcx^rur, JW 
Kal SoAoi' T}7r€po7n7a fcal Cfx^pova /x^4V v^aimav 
;(€/KTt /A€v T^i'tox*^**' *°*' ^poyMv, €v icptihiji hi 
ImroavvT^g ttoXiovxov €T)v iniKovpov *AOrfinjif 
kikX^gkcdv Taxvp-vdov dirqpirytv 'Ar^iSa ^ainjr* 

" Koipavc KcKpoTTi-qs, iTmoaacK IIoAAaf a^rfTiM>p, 330 
ws" <7V rioCTCtSaajwa reoi vucqaa^ ayaiw, 
oi?To> aos" vacTTjg MapaOutviov Jmrov iXtumtm 
vUa viKTJacLe TloacLBdcovo^ 'Epcv^cw." 

Totoy CTTO? Pooiov €7T€fid<m€v laxui 'nujXut¥, 
dpfiaTL 8* dpfxa ireXaaacv lao^vyov dmifilov hi t% 
Xaifj fjicv Papvhea^ov liria^iyywv ytvw lmrut¥, 
avvSpo^ov av ipvcov ^€^n)p.€vov dpfia ;(aAa^, 
h€^LT€pfj /xacmjev cows' v^avx'^vas Imrov^ 



* Pelops got from Poseidon the team with which he 
off Hippodameia, Find. O/. i. 87. 

* (Mopia^ a sacred olive, esp<-cially watched orer by Zc«i 
and Athena, Soph. O.C. 705-706. 

* For possession of Attica, cf. xxxvi. 126. 
58 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 302-328 

stout reins, wrenching the horses* jaws slowly towards 
himself. Then again he drove close, having escaped 
the disaster of a horse without bit and bridle. And 
Scelmis when he saw him making for his car shouted 
in threatening tones — 

^^ " That will do now ! It's of no use to run 
a match with horses of the sea ! Pelops long ago 
driving another car of my father's" beat in a race 
the unconquered horses of Oinomaos. As guide of 
my horsemanship I will call on the Horse God of 
the deep : you, my friend the horse flogger, direct 
all your hope to Athena the Perfect Webster. I 
do not want your paltry olive ^ ; I'll carry off a 
different garland, a vinewreath and not your trump- 
ery oUve." 

^1^ Erechtheus was a hasty man, and these words 
of Scelmis made him angrier than before, and his 
quick intelligent mind began at once to weave plots 
and plans. His hands went on with his driving, but 
in his heart he uttered a quick prayer to Athena the 
queen of his own city in his own country language, 
to crave help in his horsemanship : 

^2^ " Lady of Cecropia, horsemistress, Pallas un- 
mothered ! As thou didst conquer Poseidon in thy 
contest,*' so may Erechtheus thy subject, who drives 
a horse of Marathon, conquer Poseidon's son ! " 

324 With this appeal he touched up the flanks of his 
colts and brought up level car to car and yoke to yoke, 
and with his left hand caught at the mouth of his 
rival's horse, and pulled at the heavy grip of the 
bit, forcing back by the bridle the car running by 
his side ** ; with his right hand he lashed his own 

<* Apparently a good deal of fouling was tolerated in 
ancient racing. 

59 



NONNOS 

iaavfxevovs Trporcpcjac' fi€Ta(m^aa^ hi KtXftvStm 
6rJK€ TToXivStvrjTov 6niar€pov r^vioxfjia. 
/cat TpoxaXol^ oroyiaTtaai xtwv ^iXoK^profUf¥ ^X*** 
via tloacLhdwvo^ dfioiPdbi V€u<€t ^otyn, 
ivTpoTToXi^ofieinrjv fjL€d€7TCJV ycAooKTOv ommr^* 
" SfccAfti?, iviKTjSrj^' 

a€o if>^pr€p6^ iariv *Ep€XlMt, 
oTTi, r€6v BoAioi', Z€<j>vp-qCho^ oi/xa y€v4BXrK, 
dpG€va Kal v€ov Ittttov oSonropov dfipoxp¥ aA^i|f 

€t fJL€v d'yr]vop€€is HcXoTTTjCBo^ cit^ica r^x^nff 
vfiCTcpov yeverijpo^ dXi^pofiov dpfia y€paipui¥, 
MupTtAo? aloX6fir)TiS €itikXottov rjyva€ vucr/v, 
pLLfiTjXu) TcAcW? dna'rqXLOv dfova Krjpw' 
€t he fieya <t>pov€€is yci'c^? X^^*' €vvoaiyaiov, 
Ittttlov ov /coAcci?, pvduov inipyropa hi^puMt, 
TTOvrLov avrov dvafcra, Kvp€pv7jrrjpa rpiaunffi, 
dpG€va GOV VLKTjaev dprj-yova BijXv^ *A0ijvn," 

"Hs" <l>dfjL€vo9 T€A;^t»^ Trapehpafifv daro^ A^i/ki^. 
Tip 8* CTTL Oaui'o? eXavvev o^ov rtOpimrov i^daawv 
*AKTalcjv Se rerapTos eTrUXonos i(rn€ro 4>avvif>, 
TTarpos *ApL(TTaiov p.€p.v7)pi€vo^ €ia€ri fivduty 
KcpSaXecov /cat Xolados €7jv Tvparjvo^ Wxartf^. 

Kat Opaavs *AKTaut}v boXlrfv c^paaoaro /SouAnv* 
Oauvov cots' ox^ecaLV crt irpoOeovra Ki-)^riaa^ 
o^vrepr] ixd<myt. p,€Tacrrp€ipag SpopLOv iTmarv 
(Tvvhpopog rjV(,6x€V€, TrapaKXcTrrajv iXaTrjpa, 
^aiov V7To<t>ddp,€vo9- Kal irr* dvrvyi yot^Ta mffa; ; 
hi<f)pov dp,LXX7jT7Jpa Kareypa<f>€v dpfiari Xo(u», 
LTTireiovs rpoxdevTi Slo^vcuv noSag oXkcj. 
Kal SaTTcSoj 7T€G€V dpp.a- rLvaaaop-fi-oio 5c hi^oov 

60 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 329-358 

highnecked steeds putting on a spurt. So he took 
the place of Scelmis on the course, and made that 
charioteer fall behind. Then he looked back with 
a laughing countenance on the son of Poseidon, and 
mocked him in his turn with raillery, the words tum- 
bling over his shoulder in a stream — 

3^ " Scelmis, you're beaten ! Erechtheus is a 
better man than you, for my old ambling mare Swift- 
foot has beaten your Piebald, with Zephyros for sire, 
a horse too, and a young one, and one that can run 
on the sea without getting wet ! If you are so proud 
of the skill of Pelops and praise the seacoursing car 
of your father, it was Myrtilos ° who contrived that 
cheating victory, with his clever invention, when he 
made a wax model of an axle to deceive his master. 
If you are haughty because of your father Earth- 
shaker, the Horse God as you call him, who rides in 
the chariot of the deep, himself lord of the sea and 
master of the trident, Athena, a female, has beaten 
your backer, the male ! " 

346 As he said this, the man of Athena's town ran 
past the Telchis. Next after him came Phaunos 
flogging his fourhorse team. Fourth was Actaion the 
cunning and artful, who had not forgotten his father's 
good advice ; and the last was Tyrsenian Achates. 

3^1 Now bold Actaion thought of a cunning plan. 
His car was just behind Phaunos and catching him up, 
when with a sharper cut of the whip, he turned his 
horses aside and drove them up level, sUpping by the 
driver and getting a little in front, then pressing his 
knees against the rail, he scraped the rival car ^nth 
his own crossing car and scratched the horse's legs 
with his running wheel. The car was upset, and over 

« Oinomaos's charioteer. 

61 



NONNOS 

Tpetg ^€v vrrep SaTTcSoto trtXov -ntirrrfortf It 
og fi€v vTT€p Xayovwv, 6 bt yaar^po^, o? 5' ^iri ftc^mr, MO 
els §€ Ti? 6p66<; €p,ifiv€ TrapaxXibov, o/a^ 5^ VO^I 
aicpa TTohcov pit,wa€, kox dforarov av^^iv acunr 
au^iryo? icrrqpi^ev oXov 7ro5a yctTtnti? iinroo, 

ol fJLCv caav 7rpoxv6€VT€S <Vi )^oi^* 

oiVrroA/of 5^ Mi 
rjvioxos K€KvXLaro napa rpoxov, dpfjuin ycmur* 
dpv7TT€To h* aKpa ^€TOJTra, ftiaiyofUvov W ycPfMW 

•qvloxos 8* di^cTroATO dourr€po^- €aavfUvtaf M 

€4? x^^^^ 7r€7mjcjTi TTopUrraTO ytirovt h ( ^ ^ , SID 

alhofieinf naXdfir) riravxtayUvov Imrov oPtXicwtr 

Kai j3aAiT7 fidariyi Karr^a ttcuAo*' ifLa0OWÂ¥. 

Kal dpaavg *AKrauov itfTToinj^ixn' €yyuBi hi^pom 

^avvov oTTiTTevajv (fnXoiraiyp.oxii pijfaro ^ta¥^ 

" Arjyc p.a.Tr)v a€KovTa<; €TTi<m€pxoiv oiBfW lmmwH » Mi 
Arjyc pidrqv <f}6dp.€V09 yap d-rrayy^XXw Aiorvoify, 
Oawo? oTt TTpodiovra^ oAou? cAarVjpay iaaof 
vocmjJLos oifiLKeX^vBos cAcuacroi dpfiara oi^Kur* 

<f>€ih€0 GTJS p.d(TTLyOS, €77€l Tap.€alxpOi K€VTptp 

Gibv opoojv coKTcipa bcfia^ Kc;^apay/i/vov iinmir.'* )M 

"ErvcTTcv darTjptKTOv d;(o»' TTpoKtXtvBov iXawot^ 
WKvrepr) /xdorriyt- /cat d;^nrro Oauvo? cucouco*'. 
/cat fioyis iv SaTrcSoj AaaiT)? ScS/xiy/iCvo^ ov/>^ 
/C€/cAt/xeVa>v cjpdwuc Sc/xa? K€KovifjL€i'ov iimwy, 
Kal rwa Auo/xcVoto Trapat^avra Xendhvov Mi 

TTCuAov aycoi' iraXivopaov €7r€a<l)i^KUiO€ ;(aAivai' 
cjrrjo-a? 8* ev^a /cat ev^a Trap^aavpLtvajv 7ro5a? tmrcur 
dpfiaros vipL p€pr)K€, /cat t^vtov dpfiart ntffai 
<j>pi,KaXiri fidcm^€ to Scirrc/x)!^ tTnrov ifLdoBXjj' 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 359-389 

the wreckage three of the horses lay fallen on the 
ground, one on the flank, one on the belly, one on 
the neck. But one kept clear by a swerve and re~ 
mained standing, his feet firmly rooted on the earth, 
shaking his trembling neck ; he supported the whole 
leg of the horse yoked next to him, and lifting the 
yokeband pulled the car up again. There they were 
in a mess on the ground ; the driver rolled in the 
dirt beside his wheel, close to the car, the skin of his 
forehead barked, his chin soiled, his arm stretched 
out in the dust and the elbow torn by the ground. 
The driver leapt up quickly, and in a moment he was 
standing beside his wrecked car, dragging up the 
prostrate horse with shamed hand and flogging the 
discomfited beast with quick lash. Bold Actaion 
watched Phaunos in difficulties beside his car, and 
made merry at his plight : 

375 " That will do now ! It's of no use to press 
your unwilling horses. That will do, it's all of no 
use ! I shall be there first, and I will inform Dionysos 
that Phaunos will let all the other drivers pass, and he 
will come in last dragging his own car. Spare your 
whip. It really makes me sorry to see your poor 
horses torn like that with a fleshcutting prick ! " 

3^1 Phaunos was furious to hear these words, as the 
speaker drove his team quickly on with speeding 
whip. He pulled at the thick tails of the horses 
lying on the ground, and with great difficulty made 
the beasts get up from the dust. One colt which 
had struggled out of the untied yokestrap he brought 
back again and fastened into the bridle. . He put the 
feet of the struggling horses into their places on 
both sides, and mounted the car, taking his stand 
firmly in it, then once more whipt up the team with 

63 



NONNOS 

Kal tt\€OV iJAaac OatJw? eman^pxaf^ hp6fUMf 
d)Kvr€pov 8* eSlwKe trapoirtpov ijito^^* 
Kal <t>daiJL€vovs €Kix^a€v, cVci fUvof ififiaXtP M 
tTTTT'tos' iwoolyaios tov Opaavv via y^paiDtmr 
areivojTrrjv 8c k€X€v6ov &wv napa tcotXaBi wfrpfH 
€jx<l>pova firJTiv v<fxui'€ SoXcmXoKov, o^pa mx^^Mf Wb 
dpfiari T€xyT^€VTi Tro/xufcicv *Ax^Tqv, 
pojyfios €T)v PadvKoXiros, ov ^(ipfirfft KtXtiS&QV 
ycifiepl-p fidoTiyi Aios furaydariov vSijop 
r)€p6d€v npox^ovTO^' €€pyop.€V'<o b< p€€Bpip 
ofippov yctoTo^oio pa-X''^ KOiXaii^tro yoiiyf , 400 

-fjxt fioXajv atKCJv av€a€ipaa€ hi4>pov *A)fanjff, 
^cvyojv dyxuc^Xevdov €rrr)Xvai'qv iXarrjpot' 
Kal ol €7r€aavfJL€V<^ rpoyu(pr)v avcvcucaro ^Ctfrip* 
" EtWrt, vr^TTu OaiW, rtol pvnocjoi ^^ircuHtf, 
ctadri acjv ox^ujv ipafia0a)S€€s €iai Kopwvcu, tQf 

ov no) od>v iriva^as OKoopL'qTutv koviv Imrwi^' 
Xvfxara ado Kddaip€' ri ool toqov lirnov iXnuvtw; 
firj G€ ttoXlv mTTTOvra Kal dcmaipovra voi^aw. 
Tov^ dpaaifv *AKraio}va <f>vXdaG€0, fin at iCijp^OOC 
Tavpelr) g€0 vdnov xmoari^tKV IfidovXrj, 410 

fMY) G€ TrdXiv npoKdprqvov dKOVTi^€i€ Koytjf. 
eLGCTt, GTJg /xc^eTTcis" Kcx^payp^vo, KVKXa naptiijf' 
<l>avv€f ri fiapyalveiSt (vvr]ova fuufiov dranrctfir 
narpl IloG€i,bdcovi Kal *HcAta> aco irdimip; 
afcd /xoi ILarvpiov <f>tXoK€pTOfjLOV dvBtptwva. 415 

Yi€iXT]vovs 7r€<f>vXa^o Kal dpufKiroXov^ Aioruoov, 
p,T] GOL CTTeyycXdGWGi Kal avaraXcu} ato Si^ptp, 
trfj dpova; tttj jSoravai; 

TTTJ <f>dpfjLaKa TTOuciXa KiftKtjf; 
rrdvrd ac, Trdvra XcXoittcv, 

OT* €iV hpofiov i^A^c; dyw¥Of, 
64 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 390-419 

his terrible lash. Harder than ever Phaunos drove 
and urged on his galloping horses, quicker than ever 
he pursued the driver in front of him — and he caught 
up the team ahead, for horsegod Earthshaker put 
spirit into the horses to honour his bold son. Then 
seeing a narrow pass by a beetling cliff, he wove a 
tangled web of deceitful artifice, to catch Achates 
and pass him by skilful driving. 

2^'^ There was a deep ravine, which the errant flood 
of rain pouring from the sky had torn by the side 
of the course under the wintry scourge of Zeus ; the 
torrent of rain confined there had cut away a strip 
of earth and hollowed the ground so as to form a 
narrow ridge. Achates when he got there had 
unwillingly checked his car, to avoid a collision with 
the approaching driver ; and as Phaunos galloped 
upon him, he called out in a trembUng voice — 

404 " Your dress is dirty still, foolish Phaunos ! the 
tips of your harness are still covered with sand ! You 
have not yet dusted your untidy horses ! Clean off 
your dirt ! What's the good of all that driving ? I 
fear I may see you tumbling and struggling again ! 
Take care of that bold Actaion, or he may catch you 
and flick your back with his leather thong and shoot 
you headlong into the dust again. You still show 
scratches on your round cheeks. Why do you still rage , 
Phaunos, bringing disgrace alike on Poseidon your 
father and Helios your gaffer ? Pray have respect 
for the mocking throat of the Satyrs — beware of the 
Seilenoi and the attendants of Dionysos, or they may 
laugh at your dirty car ! Where are your herbs and 
your plants, where all the drugs of Circe ? All have 
left you, all, as soon as you began this race. Who 

^ Tov H. J. Rose, aov Mss. and edd. 
VOL. Ill F 65 



NONNOS 

tIs k€v aTrayyctAciO' dyijvopi aclo rticovan 

Kal a€0 KVfipaxov dpfia Kai avxfiatovoav uiooBXffp^; *' 

Totov d7r€ppoipSrja€v dyrjvopa. fxvSov Ax^rm, 
K€pToyL€0)V' Nc'/icais" hk roarjv typnt/taro ^ci»rnr. 
Kal Gx^^ov rjXvde (t>auvos o/x^AuOa hi^pov iXaJmmr 
ap/xart 3* dpfia TrcAaaac, kcu dfovi yd/x^oi^ dpaoowt^ 
ficaaoTrayfj om'cafc fiaXujv Tpoxo€ib4i KwcXtft' 
Kal Tpoxos avroKvXurros tXif iirtKitcXiro yoij^, 
dpp,aaw Olvop,doto navtuctXos , aimort tCMtoO 
OaXTTOjievov 4>a€dovTi XvStis dnan^Xio^ d(w¥ 
iTTTToavvqv dv€Konr€ fi€firjv6rK>^ rivtoxfjof' 
OTCLVwTrfjv §€ KeXcvdov €xo>v aw/ufivcv 'Axdrrff, 
claoKc TCTpaTTopwv xmtp dvrvyo^ rjfxfvos imnu^ 
cjKVTcpr) fidariyi 'napriXv6€ OatVo9 'A^fcinp', 
ofa TTcp ovK dUxiv Kal €Kowf>ia€ fidXXov l^MiiaBXtiiff 
fiaarl^wv dKixrjro^ €n€iyofi€vwv Xo^tov Irrmwv' 
Kal TrdXcv ^AKraUovos 67riaT€po^, oaaa Bop6^rat 
Slgkov 7r€inTop.€vou> ncXci SoAivoawiOf opfLif, 
ov ppLapfj naXafirj hov€a}v ai^rfo^ idXXii. 

Aaots 8* €fnr€G€ Xvoaa' 

Kal ijpiaav dXXo9 iir* dXXttft, 
avvdealas t€vxovt€S drcKfidpTov ntpl vucrfs 
iaaofJLCvrjs' rd Sc Sivpa dvtXXono^cjv yopcv iWMr 
rj TpiiTOs -qk Xe^rjs rj <j>dayavov -nk /Soccii* 
Kal vacTTjs vacTTJpt,, <t>iXo9 8' ipUHuvtv muptfi, 
yqpaXios Sc yepovri, V€w v€os, dvipt 8* av^. 
t}v S* cpt? dfjL(t>oT€pwv €T€p66poos, oj fih * Axc(n|r < 
KvSalvcoVy cTcpos Sk x^p^lova ^avvov iXiyX'"^ 
iv x^ovl 7T€7m](x)Ta KvXivSofi€vcjv and hi^paty, 
dXXos €p(,SfjLaLvct)v, oTi SevTcpos -^ *Ep€^fi€Vt 
elvaXiov TeXxLVos OTrLaripos r^vioxrio^' 
oAAoi 8* aXXos epi^oVf art <l>6afi€vwv hpoyjw It 
66 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 420-450 

will tell your proud mother the tale of a tumbling 
chariot and a filthy whip ? " 

*22 Such were the proud words that Achates 
shouted in mockery : but Nemesis recorded that big 
speech. Now Phaunos came close and drove along- 
side. Chariot struck chariot, and hitting the middle 
bolt with his axle he broke it with his rolhng wheel — 
the other wheel rolled off by itself and fell twisting 
on the ground, as with the chariot of Oinomaos, when 
the wax of the false axle melted in Phaethon's heat 
and ended the horsemanship of that furious driver. 
Achates remained in the narrow way, while Phaunos 
in his car, leaning over the rail of his four-in-hand, 
passed him with speeding whip as if he did not 
hear ; he lifted his lash more than ever, flogging the 
necks of the galloping horses beyond pursuit. Now 
he was next behind Actaion, as far as the long throw 
of a hurtling quoit when some stout lad casts it with 
strong hand. 

*3^ The spectators were mad with excitement, all 
quarrelhng and betting upon the uncertain victory 
that was not yet. They lay their wagers on the storm- 
foot horses — tripod or cauldron or sword or shield ; 
native quarrelled with native, friend with comrade, old 
with old and young with young, man with man. 
All took sides shouting in confusion, one praised up 
Achates, a second would prove Phaunos the worse, 
for falling to the ground from his upset car ; another 
maintained that Erechtheus was second behind 
Telchis the driver from the sea ; another would have 
it that the resourceful man of Athens was visible 

67 



NONNOS 

l,K€Xfiiv €Tt -npodlovra irapatfas iXarijpa. 
Ov TTO) vciKO^ (Xrfyi, 

Kal i^aotv iyy^ 'EptxMt, 
Ittttovs €vBa Kal €v6a Karwfia&6¥ aliw LikMMr* 
Kal TToXvs l7nT€ioio 8t* av^CKK" fppt€9 tBpAt 
Kol Xaalov aripvoio, koB* rivtoxoto hi wvtaml 
av-xjiripal paSdfiiyyf^ €n€opiooyTo teo¥Vfff 
ap/uara 8* dy;(i7rdpoi<Tiv €Trfrpt)(€v lyt^oiy It 
aXXofievrj <TTpo<f>aXiyyi' Koi ov rpox^tm 
AcTTToAcT/y aTivaxra rivdaacro vwra ifOt4m» 
avrap 6 narrqevTa ficrd hpofuw wffO&i il^ptW 
els fidaov "^Xdev aywvos' €w 8* tafirifM j^trfiM 
fjLvhaXcQjv iSpwra biacrrdiovra ^nUmMi^* 
Koi rayys €k hL<f>poio icarTjw firiHtbay^ hi 
€t? t,vy6v €V7Toi-qTov i-qv tKXutv ifxdaBXim' Ml 

LTTTTOVS S* *A^l5d/xa9 OtpatrotV Xv€¥' *M»t(VTtpOf hk 

repTTop,€vri TTaXdp.rj irpundypia Kov^un vismift 
lohoKTTjv Kal Tofa Kol €V7n)XrjKa yvtmica, 
TToXXcuv rjiiiTOfJLoio fi€a6p.tf>aXa vuna /3oc(i|p. 

To) 8* €7tI h€VT€pos i^A^c BaXaaQoiutv tin hl^pum 410 
^KcXfiLs, iTTiGTTfpxojv WooLbrjiov opfui BaXoooifSf 
kvkXo£ oaov Tpoxoeis aTroAfcVeTcu utKioi iW9Vf 
rod /x€v €TTataaovros €7naaanpcjv fJLcytn oMpai 
iKTaSlrjs ipavovoiv iXiaaop€vnffs '»'f>*y<9 ovpifi' 
Sevrepa 8* ctAev deOXa, Kal cupcyc AofiMOfici^ 471 

eyKVOV LTTTTOV €X€LV, ^rjXrjfJLOVl X*f>* TlTtUVWV, 

Kat TptTO? *AKTauoi' dy€Kov<f>uj€ avuBoXa vtxtff 
Xpvao(f>a'f] da)pr)Ka, TzaifaioXov €pyov *OAi;/iirov. 

To) 8' €771 Oawoj i/cai-f 

Kai auToSi hi^pov ipvoaas 
6fi<t>aX6v dpyvpoKVKXov dv7j€pTa^€ /5o€t7/«^, 4i0 

68 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 451-480 

close by, that his team was in front and he had won 
after passing Scelmis the leading driver. 

^^ The quarrel had not ended when Erechtheus 
came in first, a near thing ! unceasingly lashing his 
horses right and left dowTi from the shoulder. Sweat 
ran in rivers over the horses' necks and hairy chests, 
their driver was sprinkled with plentiful dry spatter- 
ings of dust ; the car was running hard on the horses' 
footsteps amid rising whirls, and the undisturbed sur- 
face of the light dust was disturbed by the rolling 
tyres. After this flying race, he came into their midst 
in his car. He wiped off with his dress the sweat which 
poured from his wet brow, and quickly got out of 
the car. He rested his long whip against the fine 
yoke, and his groom Amphidamas unloosed the 
horses. Then quickly with happy hand he lifted the 
first prize of victory, quiver and bow and helmeted 
woman, and shook the flat half-shield with the boss 
in the middle. 

*'^ Scelmis came second in his chariot from the sea 
— for he drove Poseidon's car from the sea, as far 
behind as the round wheel is behind the running 
horse — as he gallops, the hairy tip of his long waving 
tail just touches the tyre. He took the second prize, 
the mare in foal, and gave her in charge to Damna- 
menes, offering her with jealous hand. 

477 Third Actaion lifted his token of victory, the 
corselet shining ^vith gold, the gorgeous work of 
Olympos. 

*^ Next came Phaunos, and there checked his 
car. He lifted the shield with rounded silver 



NONNOS 

avxfi'rjprj? fiedcncjv rri Xtu^va «rfu«a Kari»fg, 

Kal I.iK€X6s e€pd7rcjv Ppa&vSiPiof iyyM, SJ^^ov 
Xpvaov SiGGa rdXayra Karrj^i Sctffv AjjfOTjy, 
OLKTpov dyrjvop€oirri <fHXo<rr6py<fi ^U)¥VO^, 

Avrap 6 TJvyp.axiT^^ ;(aA€ir^ iarrftnv ayuiMi* 
TrpwTO} fi€v d^ro ravpov an* *Ii«5<^kho fiowSXa^ 
hcjpov ay€iv, irdpcp hi pAXapputnv Kripos IvoAr 
PdpPapov aloXoi'wrov cAa;v Kar4&fjie€ fio^hff, 
opdojdcis h* dy6p€V€v a€BXrfTrjpa^ ^irciycur, 
€vnaXdfiov 8vo <f>ana9 tpihfiaivtiy ircfM pIki^' 

" Wvypirjs ovTo^ ac^Ao; drtipdot' dBXo^6p^ U 
dvepi vifcqaavri baavrpi\a ravpov 
dvSpl Sc viKrjdcvTi noXvTrrvxov aawiha 

^Qs" <t>ap.€vov hpofjuoio 

aoKtoTTaXos u^fno McAmmmi^, 
•qSdhi TTiryfiaxirj fi€p,(Xrjp^vo^' €VtC€paav M 
dipdfievog ravpoio tootjv €<f>0€y(aTO i ^4mI ¥^' 

EAderoi, OS 7ro9€€i adjco^ aioXov od yip idam 
oAAoj TTLOva ravpov, €ws crt ;(c^>a9 OMipm," 

"Q? <j>ap.ivov ^vpL-navras ttrto^pnffyxtnn OMnn)* 
Eupu/xcScoy 8c oi oroj dviararOt tw n6p€V 'E^^ 
opyava 7wyfiaxlr)s yvioAiccoj, 05 irapo; ouft 
7Tarpa)(x) ficfieXr^ro Traprjfievos €<Txap€<uvi, 
HfpaLOTrjtdbrjg, G<f>vpijXaTov dtcfiova rvnrwv. 
rov ii€v ipLTTrolrjTos^ d8cA<^05 dfuf>€ir€V 'AXiCim, 
fa)/xa Sc ol napcOrjKc, koI rjpfjLoa€v ifut furfn/^, 
Kal SoXixo.^^ TToXdfirjai Kaoiyvrfroio awdirrw¥ 

* So MSS. : cptnTOt'TTor Ludwich. 

70 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 481-506 

boss, and he still showed those relics of the dirty 
dust. 

*S2 When Achates arrived despondent beside his 
slowroUing car, a Sicilian groom displayed two 
ingots of gold, a consolation from his kind friend the 
splendid Dionysos. 

*^ Next the god put up the boxing, a hard match 
that. For the first man, he offered a bull from an 
Indian stall as a prize ; for the second, he put up a bar- 
baric manicoloured shield which had been a treasure 
of the blackskin Indians. Then standing up he called 
with urgent voice for competitors, inviting two men 
to contend for the prize of ready hands : 

491 *< This is the battle for hardy boxers. The 
victor in this contest shall have a shaggy bull, to 
the loser I will give a shield with many layers of 
good hide." 

494 When Bromios had spoken, shakeshield Melis- 
seus stood up, one well practised and famihar with 
boxing ; and seizing the bull's horn he shouted these 
big words, 

497 " This way anyone who wants a painted shield ! 
For I will not let another have the fat bull as long as 
I can hold up my hands ! ** 

*^ At these words, silence sealed all lips. Only 
Eurymedon rose to face him, one to whom Hermes 
had given the gear of stronglimbed boxing. This 
man, a son of Hephaistos, had always been used to 
remain busy beside his father's furnace hammering 
away at the beaten anvil. Now his brother Alcon 
attended him full of excitement, placed his body-belt 
beside him<* and fitted the girdle to his loins, coiled the 

* There is no need to alter the text to nepid-qKe, as L. sug- 
gests : the word imitates Homer, II. xxiii. 683, irapaKd^^aXcv. 

71 



NONN08 

Koi TTDOULOS €1? U.€(JOV l}A^€V, 

ioOnpofiMira npoo^ 

aid 8* arriTTcUoio ^uAacacro hvafiavp¥ ^pf^» 

fjLTJ TTOTc /ill' nXi^itu tear o^pvof iji furmwem, 

rid fuv alfia{€i€, rtrvfifiivw apBpO¥ dfuSfof, 

rj€ biarfiri^€i€, Kara Kpmd^oio rvxi}oor« 

ciV /x€ao»' cyKc^oAoio I'oij/ioKX &Kpo¥ ^^6^99 , •!» 

^ TToXdfirjv rpir)\€lav €m KponL^oun 

ofJLfiara yvfiviOQ€u XinoyXi^voiO 

r)€ ha<t>oiirrJ€VTo^ apaaaofitvoio y^vtiov 

6^vT€pwv cAoacK noXvartxov cypuo¥ 

(m^deog aKpov eXaaatv 6 hi oyc&W &rra , 

;(€rpa fidrrjv Iriraivt, Koi rjfippOfTtv ^p^ 

Kal fiiv del rpofxfcjv irtpihthpo^u, irtSAvor d^lptt^t 

he^iTCfyrjv yvfivolo Kdrw fta{oiO rtrau^air. 

dfKfxjj 8* ct? €v LKai^v ctttJAwS*?, aXXof Ar* ^My fiSi 

;(cp(7t Sc x^^P^^ €yLi^av' inaaavrtpjfai W ptMoSf 
^pLKTos ofxoTrXcKecjv €iT€p6fjLfi€€ SoOiTOf i|Mlrrair 
dKpordrqv Trcpt x^M^* \apaaiJo^vri^ 5< irapcti|r 
alfMoXeais Xi^dB^aaiv c^tvix^i^oov tfuimt^' SM 

/cat y€vviov neXc hoOnos' cVi Bpcjoyjijt hi npoatawoif 
€vpvr€pov ycyaooToy iKVfiawovro iraptuu, 
o^daXpiol 8* cKdrepOcv tKoiXauvoyro nptxnuwoo, 

EvpvfiSwv /lev €Kapv€ NIcAuraco^ iS^ioi* ^^JITO» 
dax^TOi' iJcAioto [i€vajv dvrumiov aXyXrp^, m 

o/x/ia /caTauyaforroy cVotfay 8c McAiOVCi^ 

72 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 507-536 

straps of dry leather neatly round his brother's long 
hands. Then the champion advanced into the ring, 
holding his left hand on guard before his face like 
a natural shield, and the fleshcutting straps of his 
artificial hand did for a wrought lance. Always he 
kept on his defence before the dangerous attack of 
his adversary, that he might not get one in upon 
brow or forehead, or land on the face and draw blood, 
or smash his temple with a lucky blow, tearing a way 
to the very centre of his busy brain, or with a hard 
hook over the temples tear the eyes out of his 
blinded face, and smash his bloody jaw and drive in 
a long row of his sharp teeth.** 

^20 But now as Eurymedon rushed him, Melisseus 
landed one high up on the chest ; he countered with 
a lead at the face but missed — hit nothing but air. 
Shaking with excitement, he skipt round the man 
past his chest with a side-step and brought home 
his right on the exposed breast under the nipple. 
Then they clinched, one against the other, shifting 
a bit their feet carefully in short steps, hands making 
play against hands : as the blows fell in quick suc- 
cession the straps wreathed about their fingers made 
a terrible noise. Cheeks were torn, drops of blood 
stained the handstraps, their jaws resounded under 
the blows, the round cheeks swelled and spread on 
the puffy face, the eyes of both sunk in hollows. 

^^ Eurymedon was badly shaken by Melisseus and 
his artful dodging. He had to stand with the sun 
shining intolerably in his face and blinding his eyes ; 
Melisseus rushed in, dancing about with quickened 

" Nonnos had never seen any real boxing, and is thinking 
of the brutal and unscientific Roman slogging with the 
caestus. 

73 



NONNOS 

6(vT€pji orpo^taXiyYi furapaiov iX^^of aM(p^ 
a^vio yvaByiov €nHlf€V vn* ovaroi' aihap 6 
wmos auT0Kv\ujT09 €p€iaaTo vuna teot4g, 
OvfioXiTrfj^ fi€Bvoin'i tmvtuctXoi' cfvc hk K6fan^ 

K€KXlfl€V7JV €T€paH7€, Kol olfJMTOS €11X999 dxj^ 

AcTrrd naxyyofi€yoio' Xafiofv h4 /Mr iifT^ifAm 
arvyvo^ xmtp vurroio lurrfyayt avyyovof *AAff«ir 
TrXTryfj dfi€paiv6w ^p^tfrnyUvov . iaaviuvof M 
^Ivvwrjv 7r€pCfi€Tpov avrjtpra^t /Socci/v. 

Kcu SihvfjLovs ^iiowaos dtdXrpijpaf i nt l yu m 
dvbpdaiv ddXo<f>6poun ndXr)^ trqpvftv dyujva' 
Kal rpiTTos €lKoaifi€Tpo^ diSXiov lararo ¥uaf% 
TTpwTO) dcdXrfTTJpi' ridti 5* ccV fi4aao¥ atipas 
dvOcfJLoevra Xi^rp-a \€p€iovt ifntrri ^vXdaow¥, 
dpdwdel^ S* ld^a€ irdXiv arjfidm^pi ^u/vj' 

*' ^€UT€, <f>iXoi, KoX Tovrov €y€ipar€ KoXiv 6y£mi." 

npwTos 'ApioTcuos', /xcT^TTctra &€ B€vr€pof iimi 
AuxKos €V7TaXdfioio TrdXr)^ h^harjfA^vo^ ^py^* 
^(x)fiaTL 8c aK€TT6wvr€s adrjijTOv ^wnv €uooOt 
yvp.vol dcdXevovres €<f>€<rraaav' dfLt^ortpoi Si 
npana fxkv dfjufxrrepas naXdfia^ cVi Sil^vyi tcoMr^ 
ovfinXeKov €vda Kal €v6a, X*^'^ ^^* vwra leovvffs 
oAArJAou? €pvovT€s dfJLOLpahis, dfifiari x^iftum 
OKpordrco a^ly^avT€<s' erjv 5* difjufH&pofiOf <iri|^» 
dvOpa TTaXLvBlvrjTov dywv erepo^uyt naXfu^, 
cXkojv cAko/xcj'os' T€* avvo)(p,d^ovTo yap qm/^um 
X^polv dfioi^alrjaiVf €Kvprijjaavro hk 5ci/np, 
fjLCGaarUi} Sc Kapr^vov €Tn)p€!hovTo fimlmt^ 
dKXi,v€€s, v€VovT€s €7tI x^ovos' €k &€ fi€nawtim 
dXiPofievojv KafidroLo irpodyy^Xos €pp€€v !Bpun' 
dfJL(f>OT€pwv 8' dpa vcara /ccicv^OTa 7njx€OS oXtc^ 
74 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 537-568 

twists and turns, and popped in a sudden one on the 
jaw beneath the ear ; and Eurymedon being dis- 
tressed fell on his back and rolled in the dust help- 
less, fainting, like a drunken man. He inclined his 
head to one side and spat out a foam of thickish 
blood. His brother Alcon slung him over his back 
and gloomily carried him out of the ring, stunned 
by the blow and unconscious, then quickly lifted 
the great Indian shield. 

^^ Next Dionysos called for a couple of com- 
petitors in wrestling, and announced the contest for 
this prize. He offered a tripod of twenty measures 
as prize for the wanner, and brought out a cauldron 
with flower-ornaments reserved for the defeated man. 
Then he rose, and called out with announcing voice, 
552 " This way, friends, for the next fine contest ! " 
^^ He spoke, and at the summons of crownloving 
Dionysos, Aristaios first rose, then second Aiacos, 
one well schooled in the lore of strongarmed wrest- 
ling. The athletes came forward naked but for the 
body-belts that hid their unseen loins. They both be- 
gan by grasping each the other's wrists, and wTcathed 
this way and that way, and pulled each other in 
turn over the surface of the widespread dust, holding 
the arms in a close grip of the fingers. Between the 
two men it was like ebb and flow, man drawing man 
with evenly balanced pulls, dragging and dragged ; 
for they hugged each other with both arms and bent 
the neck, and pressed head to head on the middle of 
the forehead, pushing steadily downwards. Sweat 
ran from their rubbed foreheads to show the hard 
struggle ; the backs of both were bent by the pull 

75 



NONNOS 

Stjuyt avfi7rX€K4o9 TraXdfLrj^ irpifitro &0|«4^* "^ 

Gfiwhi^ 5* avTor€X€aros oWSpoficv aSftiOfn # y piy, 
aioAa nop<f>vpovGa- Scfuif 5' iarilrro ^ c i»n 8 ». fl* 

Ot 8c naXaiafjLoauyrjs mporpana udyyam rixmit 
oAATjAots" dv€<f>aivov afioipa^is' ayTtfiu)¥ hi 
np&Tos ^Apiaralos TraXafirf^ ir^^^tWro irt^P ^ , 

AiaKos otoAo/xT/Ttj, wokA^Wopti 5^ T^CPij» iiP 

Aatoy *Apujraioio no^o^ KutXriira nardfoig 

vjrriov avTOKvXiorov oXov ntpucafifiaXt yf^t 

rfXLpdra) irpnqwvi 7rav€uc€Xov' dfL^ ^ Xaol 

rr)XiKov ai);^€VTa fiowkuvov vUa ^ktiBodt 

ofjLfiaai dafiPaXeoujiv c^iyaovro moAnu. Mtt 

8€VT€/x)9 ijcprafc fitrdpaiov x^lfoBi yohtfS 

KOXMf>i^(ov dfioyrfrl irtXwpiov via Kvfrjtnfs 

AlaKos, caaofjLorqv dp€Tfiv r€Ki€ain ^uXdEoowr^ 

aKafidra) llrjXrji Koi evpvPif} TtXafuUm, 

dy/cds" €xcov, ov vwtov rj opBiov av^^^Mi K^i^tMrttm, liO 

TTTix^uLv dfufxyrepoiGi fjL€aaiTarov dvBpa itioyi/{dir» 

laov diJi€Lp6inr€aaiv €X(jov tvttov, ovs xdfu f 4k rum 

npr^vvcov dvcfioio 9v€XX-^aaav dyaYtafy. 

/cat TTcAaCTas- oXov dvbpa rr€piorp<Mt84vra «tom% 

Ato/cds" dvTiTrdXoio pAaiov €'n€fiTfaaro yurrwtf Mf 

/cat TToSa 7r€7TrafjL€vr]^ hid ycurrcpo? curraSa wiltt^wr, 

KafiTTvXov dKpordTip 7T€pl yovvari hiafia avvatmm, 

rapaco rapaov IpeiSc Trapd o^vpov dxpov cAifof * 

/cat Ta;^us" dvri^iov rerawofUvos v^todi " ' 

• The genealogy is : 

Endels = Aiaoos = Psamathe 



Peleus Telamon Hiooot. 
76 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 572-599 

of the arms, and pressed hard by the two pairs of 
twined hands. Many a weal ran up of itself and 
made a purple pattern with the hot blood, until the 
fellows' bodies were marked with it. 

^"^^ So they showed each against the other all the 
various tricks of the wrestler's art. Then first 
Aristaios got his arms round his adversary and heaved 
him bodily from the ground. But Aiacos the crafty 
did not forget his cunning skill ; with insinuating 
leg he gave a kick behind the left knee of Aristaios, 
and rolled him over bodily, helpless upon his back on 
the ground, for all the world like a falling cliff. The 
people round about all gazed with astonished eyes 
at the son of Phoibos, so grand, so proud, so famous, 
taking a fall ! Next Aiacos without an effort lifted 
the gigantic son of Cyrene high above the ground, 
to be an example of valour for his future sons, Peleus 
the unwearying and Telamon the mighty °: he held 
the man in his arms, bending neither back nor upright 
neck, carrying the man with both arms by the middle, 
so that they were like a couple of cross-rafters which 
some carpenter has made to calm the stormy compul- 
sion of the winds. ^ Aiacos threw down the man at 
full length in the dust, and got on his adversary's 
back as he lay, thrust both legs along under his belly 
and bent them in a close clasp just below the knees, 
pressing foot to foot, and encircling the ankles ; 
quickly he stretched himself over his adversary's 

* The picture in Iliad xxiii. 712, which Nonnos copies, is 
more exact : the two wrestlers stand on the ground, leaning 
against each other, like two rafters in a roof. 

77 



NONNOS 

avx^vL heafiov cjSoAAc ppaxtovt, b^xrvXa 
^uSoAcoi 8' IBpwTi. x^*' W*"»^ «fowi|r, 
avxp-rjpfj ipafiddo) Sitpriv paSa^uyya t(a0aipaf¥, 
fiT) 8toAia^7}<7€i€ TTcptVAoKoy dftfuxTt xitpAf 
dcpfjL-qv Tpipofi€voio Kor ovx^v^ Ufii&a wiftmttv, 

Tov §€ nu^ofUvoio <Tw4pp€ov 6(4i naXfi^ 
K€Kpip.cvoi KrfpvKt^, o7rc7r«ir7TJp<9 aywvof, 
/XTJ p.Lv dTTOKr€lv€i€v ofto^t/yt Trqx^of oA«f«p. 
ov yap €T)v t6t€ O^a^o^ oyjoUos, 8v tnpof ^rol 
ot/iiyovoi <f>pdaGavTo, riraivofiivcjv ore 5c<yyutfr 

aVX^vltJJV TTVlKTTJpl TTOVW pfpOpT/JfltVO^ ^*^P 
VLK7JV aVTlTToXoV ftl^OTCVCTOi €fl^pOVt Ctyjj, 

dvcpa VLtcrjaavra Karri^i X^^ Trarofay.* 

Kat TpCnov €lKoaip.€Tpov hrrjxwayTo Xafi^rrtf 
Mvpfiihovc^f dcpdnovTcs d^BXtx^pov PaaiXrjof 
*AKTalaiv §€ Xeprjra raxiovi Kov^at pitrfj, 
Scvrepa irarpos dcOXa Ka-nf<j>4i X^H^ KoyHunf, 

Kat TOT€ Bd/c;(09 €&rjK€ iroSwv raxvrqTO^ dyw^a* 
TTpwTO} dedXrjTTJpi Ti^ct? #cc(fii}Aia vucrf^ 
dpyvp€OV KprfTTJpa SopiKrrirqv t< ywduca, 
hevripcp aloXoh^ipov idijKaro Q€aaaX6v iimo¥, 
Kal TTVfidro) ^ixf>os d^v avv cvrfi-qrw rtXa^utvt, 
opdcodels 8* dy6p€V€, nohwKcas dvSpai cVccyuir* 
" *AvhpdGLv (jjKxmopoLaiv d€6Xia raOra ycWo^.*' 

*i2s <f>afJL€VOV 

^LKTOLOs idrjpLova yovvara itoXXlju . , , 
^ So ]iS9. : Kc^ai^ I.udwich. 



• From a wrestling bout this has suddenly 
pancration, *' all-in " wrestling. In true mU^ oaly 

78 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 600-621 

back and wound his two hands over each other 
round the neck like a necklace, interlacing his 
fingers, and so made his arms a fetter for the neck. 
Sweat poured in streams and soaked the dust, but 
he wiped away the running drops with dry sand, 
that his adversary might not slip out of his encircling 
grip by the streams of hot moisture which he sent out 
of his squeezed neck. 

^02 As he lay in this tight embrace, the heralds 
came running up at full speed, men chosen to be over- 
seers of the games, that the victor might not kill him 
with those strangling arms. For there was then no 
such law as in later days their successors invented, 
for the case when a man overwhelmed by the suffo- 
cating pain of a noose round the neck testifies the 
victory of his adversary with significant silence, by 
tapping the victor with submissive hand.** 

®io Then the Myrmidons laid hands on the twenty- 
measure tripod as the servants of the victorious prince ; 
and Actaion quickly lifted the cauldron, his father's 
second prize, and carried it away with sorro^vful hand. 

^1* Then Bacchos set the contest of the footrace. 
For the first man he offered as treasures of victory a 
silver mixing-bowl and a woman captive of the spear ; 
for the second he offered a Thessalian horse with 
dappled neck ; for the last, a sharp sword with well- 
wrought sling-strap. He rose and made the announce- 
ment, calling for quickfoot runners : 

®20 ** Let these be the prizes for men who can run ! " 

*^ At these words, came Dictaian Ocythoos,* 

falls counted (in which A throws B off his feet while still 
standing himself). 

" The name inferred from what follows. A line has 
dropt out. 

79 



NONNOS 

rco 8* €m noiKiXofirjTiS dit'hpa^itv wtcvt '1 , , 
IIpuiao9 wKimoSrvs, Ku/JcAniSoc <urr^ lyoMlf. 

TOtCT4 fl€V €K poXpibo^ C^V OpOflOf' *U«UPDOt M 

ldxrT€vr\ irpoKiX^vOov €x,wv Spoftoy ^iftrvutmi M 
Scirre/x)? ay;(iK<Aci;^o^ o'niartpoi ^€¥ *E^C¥Pm« 
yetToi'09 *i2Kt;^ooio fi€ranf^p€vov aad^n fiOXattf^ 
Koi K€<l>aXr)v dcpfiaiif ^v^AoxditMO 5^ i W i j pH f 
ola Kavwv aripvoio xrcAci fi4a<K, o¥ Tt»i |AtT|py 
napBivos laronoyos tcx^itJ/xow x*^'^ Ta«wO||, 
'Qki/^oou 77cAc roaoov onurrtpo^- a/<^ M y% 

/cat loi #c€v dfuff-qpiaroi €ti)v bp6fu>f dXXa vopiAp 
liip.r]Xrjv la6yi€rpov lhd»v cVirtuwro ro^MMp 
Kov^xrrcpw, koI ^>arra rrapthpa^ fi4i^O¥t §idfp^, 

TOtoi' €7roy Poowv ]iop€rjv IxtrtxHV *EiW j (^ ^ ' 
** Tap.Pp€, r€w xpaiofirioov *Ep€X^^ 

€t fiedencLS yXvKvv olarpov 

iprj^ crt irai5o( *E^Mt««ir 
3o9 fu>i Oiov TTT^pvycjv PaXiov hp6^io¥ tU liisM 4p<Pi 
*0,Kvdoov Ta-xyyovvov Iva TTpodtoita nQpd}/$m, 
*Q; <f>afi€vov Bopeqg U€'n^<nov ttcXvt ^apn{r» 
Kai fJLLV ivrpoxaXoio ra^iova di)K€v ddXXift, 

Tp€LS fJL€V €7T€pp<OOVTO TToSdtV dltfUuSti IToAfi^t 

oAA* ovK laa ToXairra' k€u oTmoam^ cujc€i rapa^ 

^QkvOoOV 7Tpod€OVTOS OTTicTTtpO^ ^€V *E^J(^>(Vr, 

roaaov deAATJcvroy ^Y^p^xBtos err Aero ytirotm 
Yipiauos avxri^is, ^pvyiov y€»x>y. taaviUiftmr 3^ 
oTmore XoladLos ^cv cti bpofios aXfLari 
80 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 622-651 

wagging his experienced knees. Next ran up fleet 
Erechtheus, a man full of craft, and dear to Victorious 
Pallas ; after him fleetfoot Priasos, one from the 
arable land of Cybele. Off they went from scratch. 
Ocythoos led, light as the stormwind on his feet, 
going straight ahead and keeping his lead. Close 
behind came Erechtheus second at full speed, with 
his breath beating on the back of Ocythoos close 
by, and warming his head with it : as near as the 
rod lies between the web and the breast of a girl 
who loves the shuttle, when she holds it at measured 
distance with skilful hand working at the loom, so 
much was he behind Ocythoos, and he trod in his 
footmarks on the ground before the dust could settle 
in them. Then it would have been a dead heat ; 
but Ocythoos saw this rival running pace for pace 
with himself, so he made a spurt and ran past the 
fellow by a longer distance, as much as a man's pace. 
Then Erechtheus anxious for victory addressed a 
prayer to Boreas and cried out : 

640 " Goodson, help your own Erechtheus and your 
own bride, if you still cherish a sweet passion for my 
girl, your sweetheart ! Lend me the speed of your 
swift wings for one hour, that I may pass kneequick 
Ocythoos now in front ! " 

6^ Boreas heard his suppHcating voice, and made 
him swifter than the rapid gale. All three were 
moving their legs like the wind, but the balance was 
not equal for all : as far as Erechtheus was behind 
Ocythoos running before him with swift foot, so far 
behind, near storms wift Erechtheus, was Priasos the 
proud son of Phrygia. So they ran on, until just as 
the end of the race was coming for their bounding 

VOL. m G 81 



NOKNOS 

*Q.Kvdoo9 raxvyovvos iTrojXujBrjot *foitij, 
rlxi powv TTcAev ovOog d6€a<f>aTos, ov9 ira/M riififi^ 
Mvy$ovlr) Atowao? a7rr}Xolrja€ y,axpxfi^' 
oAAd 7TaX(,w6aroio irohos raxvSivti traXfi^ tM 

*Q.Kv6oog 7r€<f>6pr)ro fjL€rdXfX€voi' ^aavfiJvwt hi tW 
avTiTToXov TTpoddovTO^ ctttJAuSc TOpOOV dfkMifitui^, •• 
€t TOT€ jSatoy €t;v €Ti 1TOU hpofiof, f "V^X^ fiuhmm •!• 
^ TTcAev dfJLffnjpiaros rj €<f>Oaa€v aarov *A^iJM|r« tlT 
Kat KTcpas aloXovwrov 

€KOV<fna€V UJKVS *Epi){^fWf, ••• 

StSovtov KpTjTTJpa r€Tvyfi€vov *Lh(vBoot hi 
etpvae QeoaaXov imrov' 6 5c rpiro^ VP^f^*^ fiaumt¥ 
Uplaaos dop cSckto avv dpyvp€w rcAofUam. 
/cat Sarupcov iydXaaac x^P^ if>iXonaiYfiovi 9vft^, 
TTaTTTalvcjv Kopvpavra X^^ pvndwvra KOÂ¥ijjt Ml 

ovdov dTTOTTTVovra Kardppvrov dvBtptwvoi, 

Kat aoXov avToxdc^vov dywv intOrjKev ayuiM 
SiGKopoXovs ^Lowaos dKom-iorrjpai €ttttyiMi¥' 
TTpdjTcp p,kv hvo bovpa avv ImroKOfiw rpv^aXtijn 
drJK€v dyu)v, ircpcp he Suivyea KVKXd&a fiirpnjv, 970 
Kal rpLTdrcp <t>LdX'qv, /cat v€ppiBa OiJK€ rmififnp, 
^v XP^^^TI K^'^hi Atoj TTcpoKT/aaro ^oA^cvf* 
op6(x)dels S dvd fxiaaov cyepaivooi ^>dTo ^ai^* 

" 015x0? dyojv inl hloKov deBXrjrrjpas ivtiyti.*' 

"Os ^a/xcVou l^pofiioio 

aaKicmoXos (Lpro McAioov^, 979 
T<p 8' cm Sevrc/K)? tJA^c^ dcpanrodi]^ '/VAifnf^, 
icai Tpiros EivpyficScov Kal rerparos rjXv0€V 'Afftmr- 
Kal Triavpes aroixT]h6v i<f>4araaav dXXos itr* oAAm. 
82 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 652-678 

feet, kneeswift Ocythoos slipt in the dirt, where 
was an infinite heap of dung from those cattle which 
had been slaughtered by the Mygdonian knife of 
Dionysos beside the tomb. But he sprang back- 
wards with a quick- whirling spring of his foot and 
jumped back again, then off he went — and he would 
have quickly passed the travelling step of his rival 
running in front if there had been even a little 
space to run : whereby he would either have made 
a dead heat by a spurt or he would have passed 
the Athenian. 

^^ Swift Erechtheus then lifted the Sidonian mix- 
ing-bowl, that treasure adorned with curious work- 
manship on the surface ; Ocythoos took off the 
Thessalian horse ; Priasos quietly walked in third, 
and received the sword with silver sling-strap. The 
company of Satyrs laughed in mocking spirit when 
they saw the Corybant smeared all over with dirt, 
and spitting out the dung that filled his throat. 

^®' Now Dionysos brought out a lump of crude ore 
and laid it before him, and summoned competitors 
to put the weight. For the first, he brought and 
offered two spears and a helmet with horsehair 
crest ; for the second, a brilliant round body-girdle ; 
for the third, a flat bowl ; and for the fourth a 
fawnskin, which the craftsman of Zeus had fastened 
with a golden brooch. Then he rose, and made his 
announcement among them in a rousing tone : 

674 " xhis contest calls for competitors with the 
weight ! " 

*'^ At these words of Bromios up rose shakeshield 
Melisseus ; second after him came footlifting Hali- 
medes, and third, Eurymedon, and fourth, Acmon. 
The four stood in a row side by side. Melisseus took 

83 



NONNOS 

Kol aoXov €vblvrjTov iXwv €ppulf€ MtXtaatvt* 
^eiXrjvol 8* eyeXaaaav oXi^ova ifxirro^ tpor^y. •© 

Sevrepos Evpvfiehajv TraXafx-qv i'n€p€iaaro hioKt^t . . . 
/cat aoXov cvblvrjTOV eXwv vwpLTfropi KUfmip 
ppidv ^eXos 7rpo€r]K€ neplrpoxov tvXo^of Aif/uuf 
/cat peXos ri€p6(l>OLTOV €7r(Tp€X^ aviSpOfWif avpaif, 
/cat GKOTTov EvpvfieSovTog v7T€pPaX€ u€iiovt lUrpfjf •• 
o^€Lrj (rrpo^aXiyyi' koX vd/nroSrjs *AAi/xn&iyj 

els GKOTTOV TjKOVTL^eV €V r)€pl blGKOV oAlTTiyV 

/cat aoXos rjcplrjaLV encppol^rjaev dcAAcu; 
€K ppiaprjs 7TaXap.T)s 'ne^prqpAvo^ , ws airo t6(ov 
Lnrarai daradeeaat, peXos hebovrjpjivov avpaif ••^ 

opdiov rjepodcv 8c ncawv etcvXivbero yoxji 
aA/Ltart rqXcTropo), 'n€<f>opripL€vos turrri TToXfUft 
X^^pos ivarpeTTTOio, ^pwv avroouxnov opfii/p^, 
claoKc (rqp,ara ndvra napehpofiev' dypofuvoi W 
TrdvTcs incafiapdyrjaav OTTnrevrTJpes dycjvo^, ••• 

dXXofjLevov hioKOLO redTjTTorcs dararov opyirpf. 

Kat hovicjv hvo hovpa avv v^iX6<f>w rpv^^tiXtlji 
htirXoa Bwpa /ccJ/ztfcv dyrjvopewv 'AXifi-q^s' 
"AKfJLCov 8* elXiTToh-qs XP^^^^^^ Kowfnxjt fiirprjv' 
/cat rpLTOs Evpvpidhwv <f>idXr)v diwpwrov deipaf T^ 
dpL^ideTOv KTcpas cIAc* KaT7]<f>i.6atv he trpoawvi^ 
ve^plha ttolklXovcotov dvrjepra^e WeXiaaevf. 

Kat TTpofidxoLS Aiovvaos dddXia B-qtcaro rofav, 
evGTox^'qs dvddT)p.a- /cat eTrraerrjpov ipvaua^ 
'qfilovov raXaepyov ivecn-qpi^ev dywvi, '^ 

/cat Senas eviroiqTOv dddXiov lararo I'ucqs 
dvSpl ;^€p€toT€pa> 7re<f>vXayp.evov. EvpvaXos 8^ 
vrjLov opdcoaas irepLfi'qKeTov Urrov dpovprq 
arfJGev xmep Banebov ipafiaOwheos, vi/fufavrj 8^ 

84 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 679-709 

the lump, swung it well and threw : the Seilenoi 
laughed loudly at the fellow's miserable throw! 
Second, Eurymedon rested his hand on the weight 
[and threw it farther]. Then highcrested Acmon 
took the lump, swung it well with experienced 
wrist, and cast the heavy missile hurtling through 
the air ; the missile travelled through the air hke 
the wind, and passed Eurymedon 's mark by a longer 
measure, whirling swiftly. Then Halimedes, tower- 
ing high on his feet, sent the weight travelling 
through the air to the mark: the mass whistled 
amid the stormwinds in the sky when hurled by 
that strong hand — for it flew like an arrow straight 
from a bow, twirled by unstable breezes ; down from 
the sky to the earth it fell after its long leap, and 
rolled along the ground still under the impulse of 
the accomplished hand, moving of itself, until it had 
passed all the marks. The spectators of the contest 
crowded and cheered all together, amazed at the 
unchecked movement of the weight bounding along. 

^^^ Halimedes proudly received the double prize, 
and went off with the highplumed helmet shaking 
the pair of spears. Acmon came shuffling up and 
lifted the body-belt shining with gold ; third Eury- 
medon took up his treasure, the brand-new bowl with 
two handles ; Melisseus with downcast countenance 
lifted the dappled fawnskin. 

703 j^^Q^ Dionysos put prizes ready for champions 
of the bow, the offering for good archery. He led 
out for the contest a hardy sevenyear mule, and 
made it stand before the company ; and laid down 
a well-finished goblet as prize of victory to be kept 
for the less competent man. Then Euryalos planted 
a ship's tall mast in the ground, upright above the 

85 



NONNOS 

hioiiiov r)a)f)r)a€ ncXeioBa avfinXoKW lory, ^W 

XeTTTaXdov Stcraotcrt fiCrov n€fH Troaaiy /Aifaf . 
/cat deos dypo^evoig evaywviov uxx< ^tMtrtpf, 
€is OKOTTOV ri€p6<t>oiTov 6iar€vrfjpai itxtiyum' 

" "^O? /Ltcy 6i<Tr€va(i€ TrtAciaSo^ oKpa lop^oag, 
rjixlovov <f)€p€TU) 7ToXvaX<f>€a, fJMprrvpa vuctf^' ^l* 

OS §€ TrapaTfAaJotTO TrcAciaSoj ciV a*f<woi' tXtntv, 
opvLV ixryXoiXivt. Xnrujv axa^toxrov oumft, 
aKpa he p,7)pivBou> fiaXutv 7rr€p6€VTi ptXifivfft, 
rjaoova ro^cuaetc /cat rjaaova hwpa Scjf^o^* 
dvTL yap Tjfiiovov Bdnas ouj€rau, o^pd $ct 0otfi^ 'f^ 
To^o<l>6p(x) cm€ia€i€ /cat oli'oxvTa} ^toyvaw," 

ToloV €7TOS pOOOiVTOS €\€Kr€dvOiO AvOtOV 

ev^Oiirris 'T/xcVato? c/cr^jSoAo^ ci? ^ao¥ ian^ . . . 
€19 OKOTTOV WvKcXcvdov dywv dyriuTriov urroO, 
KvcucTCTta To|a <f>€pwv T€ravvayL€va icvrnXihi **n^, 'M 
^AarepLos 7Tpo€7]K€ jScAo? kAyJpoio Tvxi}aay, 
/cat TU^f p.rjplvdoLO' ha'Lt,ofi€inrjg 5< /ScA/fU^ 
77€ptT7 7T€<l>6prjro ixerdpaios opvis dXrjfiwy' 
/cat fXLTOs els x^ova mTrrc. 

Si* tHpiTropov ht tetXfv^ov 
ofifxa (f>€poiv iX(,ia]h6v, xmkp v€^u>v hk SotC€VQMt TM 
To^evTTjp *Yp,€vaLos eTOLfjLOTdTTjs drro vrvpiff 
els OKOTTOV r)ep6<f>oiTOv VTrrjvefJUOV /3<Ao9 cAkcm^ 
d^vrepov TTpoeiqKe, TreXeidSos din-a rtramtfy* 
/cat TTrepoeis ttcttottjto Si* r^epos los aXrfnfq 
aKpo^avriSy fieoa vwra TTapa^vwv ve^XauMV, IM 

GvplC^cov dvep-oior peXos S* tOwev *AnoAAtuy 
TTLord <j)epcx}v Svoeparri KaoiyinjTip Siovvatft' 
iTTTafievrjs S* ervxqoe TrcAcidSoj, eaavfidvTf^ S^ 
crr7}^co9 aKpov cruj/fe* ^apwopJi'ov Sc #caf>^i*ov 
opn? dcAAiJcacra St* lyc/wy efineae yatr)- 740 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 710-740 

sandy soil, and fastened a wild pigeon by a string 
to the top of the mast, winding a light cord about 
the two feet. The god called to all those assembled 
for the games, inviting any to shoot at the flying 
mark : 

714 " Whoever shall pierce the skin of the pigeon, 
let him receive this valuable mule as witness to his 
victory : whoever shall draw at the mark and miss 
the pigeon, leaving the bird unwounded by the 
barbed arrow, but shall touch the string with his 
feathered shaft, he will be a worse shot and he shall 
receive a worse prize ; for instead of the mule he 
shall carry off the goblet, that he may pour a 
libation to Archer Apollo and Winegod Dionysos." 

^22 Such was the proclamation of wealthy Lyaios. 
Then Hymenaios the longshot, with his flowing hair, 
came forward [and after him Asterios. The lot fell 
to Asterios ;] and he taking aim straight at the mast 
in front of him, with his Cnossian bow and the string 
pulled back from it, let fly the first shot, and hit the 
string. When the shaft cut the string, the bird flew 
away up into the sky and the cord fell to the ground. 
Archer Hymenaios followed round the bird's high 
course with his eye and watched for him over the 
clouds ; he had his bowstring quite ready, and let 
fly a swift shot through the air at his highflying mark, 
aiming at the pigeon. The winged arrow sped 
travelling through the air visible on high, grazing the 
surface of the cloud in the middle, whistling at the 
winds. Apollo held the shot straight, keeping faith 
with his lovesick brother Dionysos ; the point hit the 
flying pigeon and struck it upon the breast as it 
sped, and the bird fell through the air quick as the 
wind to the earth, with heavy head, and half-dead 

87 



NONNOS 

riiJLidavrj9 Sc n^Xeia ntpl Trrtpa troAA* tcawfi, 
TToaal ncpLGKalpovaa \opoTTX€t(lo^ Atoi'uoov. 

Kat ^eos" rjprjTTJpog avaBpwoKwv M vucjj 
X^^po.s €7r€7TXaTdy7jG€v cVt^cAayfo? 'Tfi€valtft' 
^vvol 8* etV €vl TTairrtg, oGoi Trap^fUfivov ayw¥t, 71* 
dYxi-V€<f>rj ddfJLprjaav €KrjpoXirjv T/Acvotov. 
/cat yeXowv J^Lowao^ ecu? 7raXdfirf<ny ipwroot 
rjp.LOVov TTopc Swpov oiJKiXofuyrjv *Xfi€\'aUi»' 
/cat yepas 'AoTfptoio ScVay /cot><^c(oy /rcupot. 

Kai <t>LXirjv cm STJptv d/coi^iOT^pa? i'rr€iyia¥ 780 

*Iy8t/cd Bd/c;^09 dc^Aa <f>€patv nap€$r)K€V dywvt, 
hLxdahi7)v Kvr^pxha /cat 'Ii'S^tjj At^oK aX^rf^. 
opdcjdclg 8* dydpcuf, Siko 8* cVcAcikjc ^a^pptuff, 
o^pa fiodo) TraifoPTi /cat ou /CTc«*om <7i5i;^ 
fjufJLTjXrjv reAcacoatw dpat/xovo9 ct/cdi^ )(dpfirji' Hi 

" O^os" dycbv 8uo <f>an-a^ dKovriarrjpaf fytipom 
fjLclXixov of8ev "Aprja /cai ct)oi(>OK7ac *E*a>cu.** 

''i^S' <f>afjL€vov Bpo/xtb(o a(87jp€a T«/;(€a iroAAciir 
'AoTcpios" KCKopvcrro, /ecu Aiaxdy ctV fuaov I<mi 
xdXKCOV €yxos €xojv, noXvSaiSaXov dtm&a inXkunt, 7W 
Ota Accov dypavXog eTTataavjv nvi ravpift 
"5 OT>t Aa;j^v7y€VTi • aihr^pdcp h€ ;^iTaiw 
€t9 ficaov ippwovTo KaXviltdp.€voi S^p-a^ d^i/^m 
"Apeos alxfJLTjrijpi^- 6 pkv hopv Oovpov laAAo/r 
'AcTTcptos", MtVcoos" cx^*' narpwiov dXjcrfv, TM 

ovraac 8e^tTcpoto ^paxiovos dxpov d/xt*faf 
Off 8€ /car* da<f)apdyoto ai8-qp€ov fyxos d€ipug¥ 
Ata/cos", vii/Lp,€BovTos €Ov Ato? dfta pt^aw, 

VV^ai fJL€V p,€V€at,V€ fl€GaiTaTOV dv6€p€wva' 

oAAd € BdKxos €pvK€ /cat rjp7raa€ <f>oiyiov aixfti/f^, 770 
88 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 741-770 

the pigeon beat about with its wings in the dust, 
fluttering about the feet of Dionysos weaver of 
dances. 

^*3 Then the god leapt up on the young man's 
victory, and clapt his hands to applaud Hymenaios ; 
and the company one and all who were present at 
the contest were astonished at the long shot of 
Hymenaios near the clouds. Dionysos laughing 
led forward with his own hands the mule which 
was due as a prize to Hymenaios, and gave it to 
him ; and the comrades of Asterios lifted his prize, 
the goblet. 

750 Now Bacchos invited those present to a friendly 
match at casting the javelin, and brought forward 
Indian prizes, a pair of greaves, and a stone from the 
Indian sea. He rose and made his announcement, 
and called for two warriors, bidding them show a 
fictitious image of bloodless battle, with not-killing 
steel in sport : 

756 «« This contest summons two javelin-men, and 
knows only Ares gentle and Enyo tranquil." 

^^® So spoke Bromios, and Asterios came up armed, 
shaking his weapons of steel ; and Aiacos stept for- 
ward, holding a bronze spear and shaking a shield 
gorgeously adorned, like a lion in the country charg- 
ing a bull or a shaggy boar. Both these spearmen 
of Ares marched forward covered \nth steel corselets. 
Asterios cast a furious spear with the vigour of 
Minos his father, and he wounded the right arm 
grazing the skin. Aiacos, doing a deed worthy of 
his father Zeus Lord in the highest, aimed his iron 
spear at the gullet and tried to pierce the throat 
right in the middle ; but Bacchos checked him and 
caught the deadly blade, that he might not strike 



NONNOS 

airx^va firj TrXrj^eiev oKovrurrrjpi ai&i^ptp' 
ayi<j>or€povs S* dv€K(Hlf€ Kal ta;f€ Ovuihi ^ujvfj' 

" *Pu/jaT€ Tcvx^cL ravra ifUXrjv OTTjoovrcy *KyiKu' 
dpdfiios ovros "ApT]^, Kal avovrarol cuny dywiti." 

"EwcTTcv- €yp€fi6dov S^ Xofiwv iTptofii^ VUOff 774 
AlaKos av)(rj€i,9 XP^^^^^ Kvr)fu&ai dtipitw 
8oJK€v ca» OepdnovTi' koI vartpa bwpa KoyHu¥ 
*Aar€pL09 Kov<l>i^€ SopiKTTfrrjv XiBov *lvSij^. 



90 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVII. 771-778 

the neck with the cast spear. Then he made them 
both stop, and called out with wild voice — 

773 " Drop those spears ! Yours was a friendly 
battle. This is a peaceful war, a contest without 
wounds." 

"^"^^ So he spoke. Aiacos proudly received the 
prize of battlestirring victory, and took the golden 
greaves, which he handed over to his servant. 
Asterios carried off the second prize, the Indian 
stone taken by force of arms. 



91 



AIONTIIAKDN TPIAKOSTON OFAOON 

*Hxt rpLrjKooTov WAcv oyhoov, alBawt oaA^ 
BeiXalov ^aedovro^ €x**^ fiopov ^tnoxfjof. 

Avro 8* dycov Xaol 8c /icrrjtok' ti-hia X^Xf^t 
Kal a<l)€T€pai9 KXiOiTjoiv ofitXtoy aypo¥6fMM hi 
lldv€S ivavXil^ovTO ;^apa8pau><ai fxtXaBpoif, 
avTOTTayrj yaiorrcj €prjfidoo^ avrpa Ataurfft 
ianepLOL- ^drvpoi. 8c 8c8u#foTC9 tU aniof ipmro9 • 
drjyaXcoLS ovvx^ggl koI ov rfirjrrjpi 9i&ijpy 
TreTpalrjv iXdx^t-av iKOiXaivo^ro )fa^iVi;y, 
€lg6k€v opdpos €Xapnp€ a€Xaa<f>6po^ , a/>Tt^aWf M 
dpL^oripois avcTcAAc yaXTt)\'air)^ f^do^ *\\ovf, 
*lvSoLS Kal ^arvpoiGiv cVci totc irufrAo&c ruooji 10 

MuySoVtOU TToXipLOlO KoX *h'8a>OlO Nv8<M^iO0 

dfi^oXLrjv irdwoacv eXi^ \p6vo^' ou8c ri^ airoit 
ov (f>6vos, ov r6r€ hi]pis' ckcito 8c 'rr)X6Bi ^^ap^iift 
^aKx^-ds €^aeT7)pos dpaxvioojira Po€irj. 

'AAA* oT€ St) TToXefiojv €Tos c)38o/xoK iJyayoT ^QpOA, !• 
ovpdvLov TOTC (T^/xa TTpoayycAov oax>7ri Boir)^ 
^atVcTO, OdjiPos diTiGTov cVci {o^os> ijfiaTi yUoo^ 
dTTpo'Cb-qs T€Tdw(jTOt K€X<uvi6wvri 8c ntvXtft 
93 



BOOK XXXVIII 

When the thirty-eighth takes its turn, you have the 

fate of unhappy Phaethon in the chariot, 

with a blazing brand. 

The games were over. The people retired into the 
recesses of the forest, and entered their huts. The 
rustic Pans housed themselves under shelter in 
the ravines, for they occupied at evening time 
the natural caverns of a lioness in the wilds. The 
Satyrs dived into a bear's cave, and hollowed their 
Uttle bed in the rock with sharp finger-nails in place 
of cutting steel ; until the lightbringing morning 
shone, and the brightness of Dawn newly risen 
showed itself peacefully to both Indians and Satyrs. 
For then Time rolling in his ambit prolonged the 
truce of combat and strife between Indians and 
Mygdonians ; there was no carnage among them 
then, no conflict, and the shield which Bacchos had 
borne for six years lay far from the battle covered 
with spiders' webs." 

^^ But as soon as the Seasons brought the seventh 
year of warfare, a foreboding sign was shown to wine- 
faced Bacchos in the sky, an incredible wonder. 
For at midday, a sudden darkness was spread abroad, 

" From Bacchylides, frag. 3 (Jebb), 6-7. Nonnos means 
there \n as perfect peace. 

93 



NONNOS 

KpvTTTOixcvov ^acdovTa fi€(n)^pia^ cfxcv Sfdx^, 

KX€7TTOfl€Vr)S 8* OLKTIVO^ €TT€aKi6w%rrO KoXut¥ai' ! 

/cat 7roXv9 €v6a Kal €vBa Karripint nvpaof oAifnyi , 
dpfiaros ovpavloio Karappvros' dnpa 84 yairf^ 
livpios €KXva€v op.Ppog, €KVfiaivoyTo Bi fttrptu 
TjeptaLS At^aScaatv, ccuj fioytS w/wBi hi^pov 
v\fji<f}av7]s di'CTcAAf 'uaXiv nvpoti^ 'Tntpiutv. 

BdKx<p 8* dax<^owvTi 5i' r}€po^ alatof hmi 
aUros vipiKcXevdos , oif>Lv K€p6€vra Kop^iMt^ 
drjyaXcoLS ovvx^Gaiv 6 §€ Bpaavv airx^va tcd^trrw^ 
KV[jLpaxos avTOKvXiaros iTrotXlaOrfatv *yhdawjf. 
Kal Tpofiep-q m^pidfjLov oXov arparov ilx^ onartnj* 
"IS/xcov 8* aloX6p.r)ris , €V€t fiddev opyia Slovarff 
Ovpaviris cvkvkXov €'jTurrapi€yTjs irw darpcur, 
drpofios lararo pxivvos, cttci fidd€V S/Aon ^^XHI 
crvinrXcKcos ^aiBovrt KardaKia KvxXa £<Ai}n^, 
Kal <f>X6ya 7Top<f)vpovaav vno ^o<f>0€t&€i K<a¥tgt 
/cAcTTTO/icVou ^aedovTog dOrj-qroio irop€ir)^, 
Kal TTarayov Ppovralov dpaaaopJvwv vt^cAcUtfr, 
aWepLOV /xu/cT^/xa, Kal darpdmovra KOfn^rrjv, 
Kal BoklSojv aKTLva, Kal IpiTwpov aXpjx KtpawoO. 
Tola nap* Ovpaviris h€har]p.€vos €pya dtaiyfff 
Icrraro dapcrqcaaav exojv <f>p€va' yutd 8* CiC<urrov 
Xvero' piavTLTToXos Sc yipoiv ycAocui^i irpoaumtp 
"Ihpxov €fi7T€86p,vdov €xojv cVt ;(etA€ai irtiBw 
Xaov oXov uapcrwev, on ;^povu>io kvBoiuoO 
iaaofJLcvrjv fierd paiov €7riaraTO ytCrova vitcrfv, 

Kal <!>pijy(,ov TToXviBpiv dv^ipero pLOvrw ^EptxjMt, 

o Nonnos seems to think that a solar cdipae Mf 
meteors. 

94 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 19-46 

and a midday obscurity covered Phaethon with its 
black pall, and the hills were overshadowed as his 
beams were stolen away. Many a stray brand fell 
here and there scattered from the heavenly car <* ; 
thousands of rainshowers deluged the surface of the 
earth, the rocks were flooded by drops from the sky, 
until fiery Hyperion rose again shining high on his 
chariot after his hard struggle. 

26 Then a happy omen was seen by impatient 
Bacchos, an eagle flying high through the air, holding 
a horned snake in his sharp talons. The snake twisted 
his bold neck, and slipt away of itself diving into the 
river Hydaspes. Trembling silence held all that 
innumerable host. Idmon alone stood untrembling, 
Idmon the treasury of learned lore, for he had been 
taught the secrets of Urania, the Muse who knows the 
round circuit of the stars : he had been taught by his 
learned art ^ the shades on the Moon's orb when in 
union with the Sun, and the ruddy flame of Phaethon 
stolen out of sight from his course behind the cone of 
darkness, and the clap of thunder, the heavenly bellow 
of the bursting clouds, and the shining comet, and the 
flame of meteors,'' and the fiery leap of the thunder- 
bolt. Having been taught all these doings by Urania 
the goddess he stood with dauntless heart, while the 
limbs of every man were loosened. But Idmon that 
ancient seer encouraged all the host, with laughing 
countenance, and words of confident persuasion upon 
his lips : "I know," he said, " that victory is near, 
and soon it will end this long struggle." 

^ Erechtheus also inquired of the accomplisht Phry- 

^ Idmon means learned. 

* SoKis, a small beam of wood, was used for a long narrow 
meteor. 

95 



NONNOS 

avfi^oXa TraTnaivujv tmdrov Ai09, €» irAf y^pfglffi 
aXoia Svafi€V'€€aaiv ^ ^IvBwftoyw Aioyvatfi, 
ov Toaov vGfXLirqs Trodtwv tc'Ao?, oaoo¥ <uroAPB* 
fivuTLTToXoLs odpoiai fi€fi'qX6ra fiOdav ^Okifuwov, 
Kal GTLxcis darpaUov IXuauv koX tcvtcXdha fi^l^, 
Kal Svaiv rjfjLaTirjv Oac^oi^iBo; o^fiopor olyAi^f 
KXeTrrofieinrj^ . aUl St d€Oppnfrwv ntpH fiMitr 
'Ardibos dpxaiTjs <f>iXon€v6(€i €iai noXiriu, 

OvSc yepwv dfieXriat Btonpo^o^, oAAa AmUIw 
a€LU)v Eum Ovpaa Koi ov Wayarrq&a hd^t^ 
Tolov €7ros fiam-coov dyijpvy^v dv$€p€<Javof 

" Elaatciv cWAci? <l>p€VoB(Xyta ^v$C¥, *¥,^tyjM, 
ov fiovvoL SeSdaai dcol va€rijfKi *OXvfincv; 
Xe^oj S*, ofs fi€ SiSafcj' €fx6^ ba(^yalof *\n6XXu¥, i 

flTj aT€p07n)v TpOp€OiS» flT) SctSt^l ITVpOOV <Ul(T1p« 

pLT) hpopLOv 'HcAt'ou t,o<l>o€th€a, piTihi Xvalov 
viK-qs iaaopL^vj)s TrpwrdyY^Xov opitv *OXvfAmmf 
ojs 6 y€ d-qyaXiwv ovv^wv Kt^oi^ypAvo^ fuxfi^iif 
apirayos olcovolo 7T€7rapp€vo^ o^€i rapot^, ( 

€ts" TTpoxods TTorap^to bpdjciuv (LXuiBt Ktpdtm^, 
KoX v€Kvv ipTTTjarrjpa y4pu)v tKpv^v 'Vhdawtf^, 
ovroj ATjpLdSrjv Trarpwiov otSpa KoXwfKi 

€LK€XoV €lSo9 €XOXna pOOKpaipw y€V€T7Jpl," 

Tola yipwv dy6p€V€ OcTjyopo^' dpt^ 64 fuSB^ ' 
pavTLTToXcp yrjdrjoev oXos arparo^' (foxa 5' aXXwm 
davpari x^PH^ K€paaa€v dpiyropo^ d(rr6i *A(^ijn|f, 
roLOS iojv yXvKcpfjaiv in* iXiriaiv, w^ cw fUotn^ 
Kcopd^ojv MapaOcovi per* 'Ap€a Arjpia&TJog, 

Kal t6t€ p^vvwdivTi <f>iXoaK07r€Xip Aioiiuqjm \ 

o Is this a reminiscence of St. Paul** vonk «■ lkt 
96 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 4.7-75 

gian prophet, when he saw the portents of Highest 
Zeus, whether they were favourable to the enemy or 
to Indian-slaying Dionysos. He did not so much wish 
for the end of the conflict, but rather to hear the 
message from Olympos, the theme of mystical 
tales, and the orders of circling stars, and the round 
moon, and the sunset at midday which has no light 
of Phaethon because this is stolen away. Always 
the citizens of ancient Athens are ready to hear 
discourses concerning the gods." 

^^ Nor was the old seer neglectful ; but shaking his 
Euian thyrsus instead of the Panopeian laurel,* he 
uttered these words of interpretation with his mouth : 

^^ ** Do you wish, Erechtheus, to hear the heart- 
consoling tale which only the gods know who dwell in 
Olympos ? Well, I will speak, as my laurelled Apollo 
has taught me. Tremble not at the lightning, fear 
not the travelling brand, nor the darkened course of 
Helios, nor the bird of Olympos, first harbinger of 
Lyaios's victory to come ; as that horned snake, torn 
by the sharp pointed claws of the robber bird and 
pierced by its talons, slipt into the waters of the river, 
and old Hydaspes swallowed the reptile corpse, so 
Deriades shall be swallowed in the flood of his father's 
stream under the likeness of his bullhorned sire." 

"^ Thus spoke the old prophet ; and at the diviner's 
words all the host was glad, but beyond others the 
citizen of unmothered Athene mingled gladness with 
wonder, as full of joy in his sweet hopes as if he were 
triumphing in Marathon itself after the war with 
Deriades. 

'^ And now to Dionysos, alone among the rocks 
Areopagus, Acts xvii. 22 dvbpcs *Adr)vatoi, Kara irdvra ws 
BeiaibaiiiovcoTcpovs v/xas decopd) ? 

* Delphian : Panopeus was near Delphi. 
VOL. Ill H 97 



NONNOS 

crvyyovos ovpavoStv A to? dyycAoy nXv6€V 'Epftiftt 
/cat TLva fJLvdov cetTre irapryyoptrnv ttrl vLtCJH' 

"M17 rpofxeois toSc (rfjfia, 

Kal ct ttAcv i}^t^ yiff ' 
TouTo aot, dTpofi€ BaKX€, Trarfjp avt^vt Kpiatfium 
viKT]^ *\vSo(f)6voio TTpoayyiXov r^Xu^ yap ^ 

ScvTepov acTTpaLTTTOVTi <f>€pavyta Baxvoi' iuntutf 
KoX dpaavv 6p<l>vaiT) pL^Xavoxpoov *\i^Â¥ ifUx^' 
aWepL yap tvttos ovtos ofioiu}^' €V^a/ii>i M 
ws ^6<t>os rfpLoXSwe KaXu7rrop,€yrj^ ^dof ioOf, 
Kal naXiv dvrcXXajv TTvpufKyytos v^toOi hi^ptm •• 

*HeAto? (,o<t>6€G(Tav d7n;/coKri{cv ofjuvXriP, 
ovrco awv pXcifxipwv /xoAa rqXodi k<u av rwdfof 
Taprapvqs fo<^«7<7ai/ 'Eptwoy daK07ro¥ dix^*^ 
dorpaxli€Ls kot 'Aprja ro h^vrtpov coy 'XntpUum, 
ttjXIkov ov 7tot€ Oavfia ytpwv rp<xf>6^* rfyaytP AiaW, W 
ef OT€ haLfxovioLO TTVpo^ p€^Xri^Uvoi arfitp 
KVfipaxos 'HcAtoto <f>€pavy€o^ ticntat hUtpov 
TjiiLharjg ^a€dojv, Trorafiw 5* cVpimrcTO KcAr^* 
Kal dpaavv rjPrjrrjpa nap* 6<f>pv<nv *Hpi5avo£a 
'HAtdSes" Ki-wpoZaLV crt ortvd^ovoi irmJAotj/* •• 

*Q? (f>afi€vov Aiowao^ €yTJ$€€v tXn&i yunfi* 
*EipiJL€Lav S* €p€€LV€, Kal rjOiXe fjLoXXov axouoai 
KcAtoCs" 'EaTTcptotCTt pL€firjX6ra fiv&ov *0Xvfi9oo, 
TTws ^acdcov K€KvXL(rro 8t* aW€po^, rj w6$€V ovrol 
'HAtdScs- irapd X^^H-^ yoTjpovo^ *H/>i3ayoio 100 

€t9 <l)irr6v rifiel^oirro, Kal €V7r€TdXwv diro 5ri^/xiir 
hdKpva fiapjialpovTa KaraaraXdovai p€€6p(HS' 

Kat ot dv€ipopL€V(x) 

TTcrdaas arofia /xctAt^oy 'Epfi^ 
ddoKeXov ippoLp^aev cttos <t>iXo7r€v6€i B<urx9>* 
^ So Mss. : x/x>»^ Ludwidu 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 76-104 

which he loved, came Hermes his brother from heaven 
as messenger of Zeus, and spoke assuring him of 
victory : 

''s ** Tremble not at this sign, even though night 
came at midday. This sign, fearless Bacchos, your 
father Cronion has shown you to foretell your victory 
in the Indian War. For I liken Bacchos the hght- 
bringer to the sun shining again, and the bold black 
Indian to the thick darkness. That is what is meant 
by the picture in the sky. For as the darkness blotted 
out and covered the light of shining day, and then 
Helios rose again in his fireshining chariot and dis- 
persed the gross darkness, so you also shall shake 
from your eyes far far away the darksome sightless 
gloom of the Tartarian Fury, and blaze again on the 
battlefield like Hyperion. So great a marvel ancient 
eternal Time our foster-father has never brought, 
since Phaethon, struck by the steam of fire divine, 
fell tumbling half-burnt from Helios 's lightbearing 
chariot, and was swallowed up in the Celtic river ; 
and the daughters of Helios are still on the banks 
of Eridanos, lamenting the audacious youth with 
their whimpering leaves." 

^ At these words, Dionysos rejoiced in hope of 
victory ; then he questioned Hermes and wished to 
hear more of the Olympian tale which the Celts of 
the west know well : how Phaethon tumbled over 
and over through the air, and why even the daughters 
of Helios were changed into trees beside the moaning 
Eridanos, and from their leafy trees drop sparkling 
tears into the stream. 

103 In answer, friendly Hermes opened his mouth 
and noised out his inspired tale to Bacchos eagerly 
listening : 



NONNOS 

" *Avhpofi4ov, Atdwcrc, piov rtpilfififipoTt woi^ifr, lOi 
€t (T€ TToXaiyevewv muiv yXvK^ oUrrpos hrtiyti, 
jxvdov oXov ^a^dovros €yw aroiYpSov Mdtw, 
*Q.K€av6s KcXdSwv, fiiTpovfUvo^ ayrvyi $ewiiiOV0 
LKfjLoXerjv 7T€pl vvaaav aywv yoii^jj^ I'Saiipf 
T-qBvos dpxcyovoujLv o/iiAi^as* vfAMvaloit '*• 

yvfJL<l)LOs uSardciy KXvfjUyrjv Wiccv, ijv mnt TifAfe 
Kpeioaova ^-qiABwv Supw fiauoaaro fuil^^, 
TTapdevov onXorepriv cvwAfVov, ^ im fiop^ 
*HeAio; XvKdpama hvw^KdfLf)VOÂ¥ iXloowtf, 
aiOepos iTTTa^iovoy itw {rrt^PaytjSov oScilttir« 119 

KapLvc TTvpos rafjLirjs €r€p<ft irvpi' koX 4^Mya hi^ptu^ 
Kal aeXas aKrivwv c/^ivjoaro in>pa6s E^ wm w>j 
oTTTTOTc <j>oiviaaovTos imtp K^pas 'Qiccaiioib, 
epLTTvpov *Ha)oiaiv iov h€p.a^ vhaai AoMiir, 
irapBlvov dyxtKcXcvBov lathpojctv, 6nnMt yvparii ISO 
vrix^TO TTaTpu)oiaiv i-niOKolpovoa p€4BpOiis, 
XovopLcvTj 8' 'qaTpa7rr€V' cqv W Tiy, dff &rt huttnjii 
fiappLapiry7]v rpoxdcaaav duanXi^aaaa K€paiff£ 
eancplr] acAayiJc 8i* vharos ofiirvta Mi^. 
rjiii(t)avr)s 8* ciTrcStAoy cV v6aaiv lararo mvpti. Iff 
'HeAtov pohiTjOLv dioreyouaa Tro^uxT;* 
Koi npoxoals KexdpaKTo tvttos xpoos' ov tot« tdrpti 
Kovprjs arepva KdiXimrc, Karairyd^ovaa Si Mpu^fff 
dpyv(f>€Ojv €VkvkXos Itvs <f>okviaatro pLal^w¥. 

AWepCo) S' iXaTTJpL narrip cfct^aro Kovpffv- IJO 

#cat YiXvpL€VT]s vfJL€vaiov dv€KXayov €Viro5cf *Qptu 

' For the literary historj- of Phafthon from AlcH 
times on, see G. Knaack, QuasstioH4t PftaHkomUm§m 
1886. 

" The Zodiac (because all the planets more w¥tUm f^ 
The Greeks called the seven heavenly bodies pkncts; 
100 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 105-131 

^^^ " Dionysos, joy of mankind, shepherd of human 
life ! If sweet desire constrains you to hear these 
ancient stories, I will tell you the whole tale of 
Phaethon from beginning to end.** 

1^ " Loudbooming Oceanos, girdled with the circle 
of the sky, who leads his water earth-encompassing 
round the turning point which he bathes, was joined 
in primeval wedlock with Tethys. The watery bride- 
groom begat Clymene, fairest of the Naiads, whom 
Tethys nursed on her wet breast, her youngest, a 
maiden with lovely arms. For her beauty Helios 
pined, Helios who spins round the twelvemonth licht- 
gang, and travels the sevenzone circuit ^ garland-wise 
— Helios dispenser of fire was afflicted with another 
fire ! The torch of love was stronger than the 
blaze of his car and the shining of his rays, when 
over the bend of the reddened Ocean as he bathed 
his fiery form in the eastern waters, he beheld the 
maiden close by the way, while she swam naked and 
sported in her father's waves. Her body gleamed 
in her bath, she was one like the full Moon reflected 
in the evening waters, when she has filled the 
compass of her twin horns with light. Half-seen, 
unshod, the girl stood in the waves shooting the 
rosy shafts from her cheeks at Helios ; her shape was 
outlined in the waters, no stomacher hid her maiden 
bosom, but the glowing circle of her round silvery 
breasts illuminated the stream. 

1^ " Her father united the girl to the heavenly 
charioteer. The lightfoot Seasons acclaimed Cly- 

were the real planets. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, 
and also the sun and moon. Thus the Zodiac is called seven- 
zoned. Note that they did not regard the Earth as a planet, 
and did not know the planets Uranus and Neptune^t P > u» ■• . 

101 



NONNOS 

Kal ydfiov 'HcAtbto <f>a€a<f>6pov ofi^ W fsvft/^ai 
Nrjlhes (jjpxr](TavTO- nap* vSaroetrn 5^ murhp 
cvXoxos aoTpaTTTovTi yafJLco i'vpL^€V€ro Kovpn), 
Koi tjrvxpols fJLcXceaaiv cSc'faro dtpfiov otcoiTqif, 
darpal'qs Sc (f^dXayyos €rjv daXofLrrnoXof olyAi}, 
Kal p,€Xos ciV 'Yp.€vaiov dvttrXtKt )^vrto*ho% (umy^, 
Gvt^vyirjs irpoKiXtvOos *E.u><T^po9' ovri Si frciWi^ 
wpL<f>i,hi'qv OLKrlva yafuxrroXov €tx€ SfAiwii* 
*Ecr77-6pc8es- 5* oAoAa^ot'* c^ 3* a/xa TrjBik VI^M^ 
*Q/c€ayo9 KcXab-qac fi€Xo^ TToXim&oKi XaufU^, 

Kal KXvfi€vr}^ yoi'OdTi ydpxjt icvfuuVrro yfurr^' 
Koi pp€<f>os ciSiVowaa 7T€'natvofJLtvov rotctrolo 
yclvaro deoKcXov via <f>a€(nf>6pov. Ofi^ hi Kcniptf 
TLKTOfievo) K€Xdbrja€ /xcAo^ rraTpoHOf ai$^' 
*Q.K€avov he dvyaTp€9 dnoSpoHTKOvra Xoxthff 
viia TraTnriJooiaiv €<f>aihpm'airro Xo€rpoii' 
(nrdpy ava 8* dfufK^dXayro' 

Kal d(rr€p€9 alBimi mXfuft 
€LS pdov diaaovres ed^fio.'o^ *Ch<€ay6lo 
Kovpov €KVKXojaavro , koX EiXeiBvia lIcA^nj 
lJLapfiapifyr)v TrefiTTovaa a€Xaa<f>6pov *W4XLOi hk 
vUi bcoK€v €X€LV iov ovvofia fidfyrvpi fu>p^ 
dpficvov 7]i6€ov yap in d<rrpdnrovTi npooumtf 
HeAtou ycvcTTjpo? ininpen^ avyyoi'O^ atykrj. 

IIoAAaKi naiSoKOfioioiv cV rjOeaiv d^pov dBvptai¥ 
^CiK€av6s ^aedovra naXivSivrfrov dmlpwv 
yacrrpl fieoT) Kov(f>i^€, 8i* Vipmopov d€ KtXtvBov 
aararov avroeXiKTov oAtJ/xovi avvSpo^v Wfm 
rjepodev naXivopaov cScfaro Kovpov dyoar<ft, 
Kal ndXiv TjKovTL^ev' 6 Sc rpoxoiiUi naXfuZ I 

X^tpos ivGrpeTTToio napdrponos ^Oj<€avoiO 
bwwTTJ GTpo<l>dXLyyi Karripinev ciV /icAov v5om>. 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 132-162 

mene's bridal with Helios Lightbringer, the Naiad 
Nymphs danced around ; in a watery bridal-bower 
the fruitful maiden was wedded in a flaming union, 
and received the hot bridegroom into her cool arms. 
The light that shone on that bridal bed came from the 
starry train ; and the star of Cypris, Lucifer, herald 
of the union, wove a bridal song. Instead of the 
wedding torch, Selene sent her beams to attend the 
wedding. The Hesperides raised the joy-cry, and 
Oceanos beside his bride Tethys sounded his song 
with all the fountains of his throat. 

142 " Then Clymene's womb swelled in that fruit- 
ful union, and when the birth ripened she brought 
forth a baby son divine and brilhant with light. At the 
boy's birth his father's ether saluted him with song ; 
as he sprang from the childbed, the daughters of 
Oceanos cleansed him, Clymene's son, in his grand- 
sire's waters, and wrapt him in swaddlings. The 
stars in shining movement leapt into the stream of 
Oceanos which they knew so well, and surrounded 
the boy, with Selene our Lady of Labour, sending 
forth her sparkling gleams. Helios gave his son his 
own name, as well suited the testimony of his 
form ; for upon the boy's shining face was visible 
the father's inborn radiance. 

155 " Often in the course of the boy's training 
Oceanos would have a pretty game, lifting Phaethon 
on his midbelly and letting him drop down ; he 
would throw the boy high in the air, rolling over and 
over moving in a high path as quick as the wander- 
ing wind, and catch him again on his arm ; then he 
would shoot him up again, and the boy would avoid 
the ready hand of Oceanos, and turn a somersault 
round and round till he splashed into the dark 

103 



NONNOS 

fidvTig iov davdroio- yepoiv 8' ij^fuoft vtrjoat, 
Bca^aTa yivwGKOJV, nivirrrj 8* tKpwJK aiattrQ, 
fiT) HXv^evrjs <t>tX67raiBog dnevdta BufjiC^ dfjuifjl l« 
TTLKpa Trpodeani^ajv ft>a€dovTidBo^ Au«o Moifftif, 

Kat Trats dpriKOfuoros c^c***' dyiovXov ^npifr 
7777 /Ltcv €^9 KXvfJL€yrjs Sd/ioi' dfi^irt, 

irn hi tcai aMjt 
QpivaKlr)9 Xeifiwva fi€TTjuv, iJx* ^^H^*"^ 
Aafi7T€Tir) 7rap€fiifiv€, /Soaj Koi /x^Aa it>/icvair ... 110 
-narpos iov {a^toio <f>€pwv iroOov Tivtoxfjoft 
d^ova TcxyT^^vTi <nnn]pfioa€ Soupaat btofup, 
KVKXwaas rpoxocvra rvnov dKif&iqfiovi Si^pm* 
daK-qaas he XcnaSva Koi dvBoKOfiwv diro «n7«(tfr 
TrAcf as" AfTTToAcotat Xvyois rpiiXucrov IpAaBXtp^ ITS 
dpveiois TTLOvpoiai. v€ovs ene&rjKe ;(aAivowf 
Kai vodov evTToiryrov *Eo}a<^pov d(TT€pa rtv^botf 
dvdcGLv dpycwolaLV, laov rpo\o€ih4i kvkX^, 
67JK€V irjs npoKeXevdov ivtcvi^fitBos dirmnrj^, 
dcrrepos *Ha>o(o iJKpwv rvnov dfi^ ht ;(cura4( 110 
opdiov €vda Koi €v6a <f>€pavy€a BaXov cpciba; 
i/jevSoficvaLS ojcTiaiv iov fufieiro roKrja, 
iTnrevwv ar€<j>av7]h6v aXiKnmov dynrya vnoov, 

'AAA* 6t* dvrjilfjTO <f>ipa)v evdvBeyuov ^pip^, 
TToXXaKL naTpwrjs ^Aoyo9 Tf^TO, x^H^ ^ /^9 IM 
Kov<l)t,a€ Oepfid AcTraSi'a koi darepoeaaav ifuiavXff^, 
Kai rpoxov dpLxfyirroXeve , koX dLfi^<uf>6<juv 64 flag invtMrv 
Xtovdais TToXdfjLTjaiv iripnero Kovpos dSijpwv 
heliTcpfj 8* itpavc TwpL^Xrfroio ;(aAi»x>u. 
fiaivero 8* iTnToavvrj? ficdinajv noOov' c^Oficvof hi ItO 
yovvaat narpwois iKc-rqaia haxpua Xelficjv 

• The island (later identified with Sidly) wbct« the 
1(H 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 163-191 

waters, prophet of his own death. The old man 
groaned when he saw it, recognizing the divine oracle, 
and hid all in prudent silence, that he might not 
tear the happy heart of Clymene the loving mother 
by foretelling the cruel threads of Phaethon's Fate. 

^^^ " So the boy, hardly grown up, and still with no 
down on his lip, sometimes frequented his mother 
Clymene 's house, sometimes travelled even to the 
meadows of Thrinacia," where he would often visit and 
stay with Lampetie, tending cattle and sheep . . . 
There he would long for his father the charioteer 
divine ; made a wooden axle with skilful joinery, fitted 
on a sort of round wheel for his imitation car, fashioned 
yoke-straps, took three light withies from the flower- 
ing garden and plaited them into a lash, put unheard- 
of bridles on four young rams. Then he made a clever 
imitation of the morning star round like a wheel, out 
of a bunch of white flowers, and fixed it in front of 
his spokewheeled waggon to show the shape of the star 
Lucifer. He set burning torches standing about his 
hair on every side, and mimicked his father with 
fictitious rays as he drove round and round the coast 
of the seagirt isle. 

^®* " But when he grew up into the fair bloom of 
youth, he often touched his father's fire, lifted with 
his little hand the hot yokestraps and the starry 
whip, busied himself with the wheel, stroked the 
horses' coats with snow-white hands — and so the play- 
ful boy enjoyed himself. With his right hand he 
touched the fireshotten bridle, mad with longing to 
manage the horses. Seated on his father's knees, 
he shed imploring tears, and begged for a run with 

of the Sun were, see Od, xii. 127 ; Lampetie was in charge 
of them. 

105 



NONNOS 

TJrcev efiTTvpov dpfia koI aldtplutv bp6fio¥ li 
Kal y€V€'n)g av€V€V€V' 6 8e nXtov tfSti fivvift 
alTL^ojv X(,Tdv€V€' 7Taprjyof>€U}V 8* ^iri hi^^ 
vipiTTopu) v€ov via (fi^oaropyw ^ro ^€Mfrj' ■•• 

' *Q. T€KO? *HeAcoto, <f>iXov ycwK *ih(€a»wo, 
dXXo yepas fidarcve' ri aol nort hitftpo^ OXvfAWOV; 
LTrTToovvrjs aKLxqTov ca hpofiov ov hwaaoi. yap 
ldvv€(,v ifJLov dpp.a, ro -rrtp fioyii rfvioxtvio. 
ov noTC dovpos "Aprj^ <f>\oy(pw KtKopvaro Ktpov¥tp, Sflt 
dXXd ficXos adXTTiyyi Kal ov fipovraiov apdamv 
ov ve^eXas ''}\<l>ai<rros €OV y€V€Tijpo^ dycipct, 
ov V€<t>€Xr]y€pd'n]s KC/fA7}<7K€Tcu ola Kpoyuav, 
dXXd Trap* iaxap€cuvi aibrjp€ov ojcfiova rvimi, 
dordfxaGt. ttolt^toZoi x€wv TTOirfrov arfrqv Mi 

KVKVov €X€i rrrepoivra, 

Koi ov raxyv Imrov *\fr6XKumr 
ov ar€po7rr)v TTVpocaoav d€/)Ta{ci yo'cr^poj 
'Kpfirjs pdphov €X^Vt ovK aly&a narpo^ d*ipt%, 
oAA* ipecis' " Zayprji irop^v {rnii'drjpa K€pav¥oQ"' 
Ziaypcvs GKrjTTTOv d(ip€, Kal <vfiiXr)G€V dXidpt^. tlO 
dt,€o Kal (TV, reKoSy rrai'Ofioua TnjfiaTa irdaxf^-* 

EItTC, Kal ov 7rap€7T€lG€- 

7rdt9 3c y€vijTopa vwrawp 
hdKpvGi OcpjXOTepoLaiv €ov^ cSiT^i'C ;(4Ta;itxy 
;(6pCTt he TTaTpwTjs (f>Xoy€prjg c^auacv VTrrjvtK, 
d/cAaSov ev SaTrcSoi KVKXovp.€vov avx^vo, KOfiirrair, SIA 
Xiaa6fi€Vos' Kal TraiSa TraTrjp cAcaipc hoK€vat¥, 
Kal KLwprj KXvp,€vrj ttXcov rJT€€V' avrdp 6 Btffup 
epLTTcSa yLvcjGKCJV dficTdTpoTTa m^fiara Mo^yv^ 
dGX(^X6coV i7T€V€VG€V, aTTOGfiij^as &€ ;^iTa»ii 
fivpofidvov ^aedovros d/iciScos op-Ppov onurrr^ ISO 
XciXca TrauBos €kvgg€, togtjv 8* c^cyfaro ^oMrffr 
106 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 192-221 

the fiery chariot and heavenly horses. His father 
said no, but he only begged and prayed all the more 
with gracious pleading. Then the father said in 
affectionate words to his young son in the highfaring 
car ; 

196 *" Dear son of Helios, dear grandson of Oceanos, 
ask me another boon ; what have you to do with 
the chariot of the sky ? Let alone the course of 
horsemanship. You cannot attain it, for you can- 
not guide my car — I can hardly drive it myself ! 
Furious Ares never armed him with flaming thunder- 
bolt, but he blares his tune with a trumpet, not 
with thunder. Hephaistos never collects his father's 
clouds ; he is not called Cloudgatherer like Cronion, 
but hammers his iron anvil in the forge, and pours 
artificial blasts of artificial wind. Apollo has a 
winged swan, not a running horse. Hermes keeps 
his rod and wears not his father's aegis, lifts not his 
father's fiery lightning. But you will say — " He 
gave Zagreus the flash of the thunderbolt." Yes, 
Zagreus held the thunderbolt, and came to his death ! 
Take good care, my child, that you too suffer not 
woes like his.* 

212 "So he spoke, but the boy would not listen ; 
he prodded his father and wetted his tunic with 
hotter tears. He put out his hands and touched his 
father's fiery beard ; kneeling on the ground he bent 
his arched neck, pleading, and when the father saw, 
he pitied the boy. Clymene cried and begged too. 
Then although he knew in his heart the immovable 
inflexible spinnings of Fate, he consented regretful, 
and wiped with his tunic the rain of tears from the 
unsmiling face of sad Phaethon, and kissed the boy's 
lips while he said : 

107 



NONVOS 

Za>8ta/cou yXa<l>vpolo 7T€TrqyoT€S avrvyi kvkXov, 

K€KpHl€VOl (TTOIXD^OV CTnjTpiflOl, oU W fwAuMf 

Xo^Tj TTOvXvdXiKTos aTapniTo^ €<m ffAojnJrwr ■• 

dcrradecjv. /cat €Ka<rrov cAif Kpovof ohcC¥ dfulp€t 
€p7Tvt,uiv papvyowos, ceo? /loyij w/fi rtXiatrg 
etKOGL Kal ScKa KVKXa TroAi^vocrroiO ScAiJfi^, 
fc6i^9 ipSojid-n]^ vnkp dvrvyo^' u^K>^i 8* f^mys' 
(hKvrepov yevcT^pos €)(€i, bpofiov dyritropof Zcvr, •• 
fcou bpofiov els XuKd^OLvra bUpx^Toi' 

€v rpirdrn 5^ • . • 
TJfjLaaiv i^-qKovra napepx^Tai tpLtrvpo^ Apffi, 
ycLTOJV aeto toktjos' inavrtXXwv Si rrrdfrqj 
airros iyd) crT€(l>avr)S6v oXov noXov dpftaat r^fumt 
ovpavlcjv ^KXlkcjv iroXvKap.'nia KVKXa $uo«rair, tM 

[xerpa xpovov TnmjprjGi <l>€pa}v kvkXovijl(vos *Ct^KUf, 
TT^y avrr^v TTcpl vvaaav, lots oXov ohcov oScuoci^f 
irXriaas rjddSa firjva TcX€a<f>6pov' ovS^ iroptlffw 
icoAAei^a; dreXcarov dnlxTrepov otfAoy dfL€ifiut, 
ovBe ndXiv npoKcXcvdov, cVct TroAuKO/xYr/cf dAAoi HO 
d(TT€p€S dvrt.d4ovT€£ dct <rr€ixov<TiV dXijrai, 
dip 8* dvaa€Lpd^ovT€s d/ia TTpoaaut kox owiaaw 
TjfiLTeXrj fiedenovai, TraXiXXura /xcrpa ircAcutfoii, 
SeyjJLevoL dpxpordpwdev ifirjv mpoomrrov alykqi^' 
ols evL XevKalvovaa ttoXov K^poeaoa ^Xtf^ M0 

kvkXov oXov TrXrjaaaa Go<f>w nvpi fJirjva. Xoxaki, 
fi€Gao<f>avris, iniKvpTos, oXw nX^ovaa irpoowmtf 



" i.e. Saturn takes two and a half years to trai 
sign (30°), and therefore thirtj- years for the whole Zodiac 

" A line to this effect has perhaps been lost. The mMiitii^ 
is very odd : Saturn is " seventh," i^. from the earth, b«l 
Ares " third," i.e. counting from Saturn. 

' The sun (regarded by the Greeks as a planet) never l^ 
108 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 222-247 

222 '« ' There are twelve houses in all the fiery ether, 
set in the circle of the rounded Zodiac, one close after 
another in a row, each separate ; through these alone is 
the inclined winding path of the restless planets rolling 
in their courses. All round these Cronos crawls from 
house to house on his heavy knees along the seventh 
zone upon the circle, until at last with difficulty he 
completes thirty circuits of returning Selene.** On 
the sixth, quicker than his father, Zeus has his course 
opposite, and goes his round in a Hchtgang. By 
the third, fiery Ares passes [one sign that is, of the 
Zodiac ^] in sixty days, near your father. I myself 
rise in the fourth, and traverse the whole sky gar- 
land-wise in my car, following the winding circles 
of the heavenly orbits. I carry the measures of 
time, surrounded by the four Seasons, about the same 
centre, until I have passed through a whole house 
and fulfilled one complete month as usual ; I never 
leave my journey unfinished and change to a back- 
ward course, nor do I go forward again ; since the 
other stars, the planets, in their various courses 
always run contrary ways : they check backwards, 
and go both to and fro ; when the measures of their 
way are half done they run back again, thus receiving 
on both sides my one-sided light." One of these 
planets is the horned moon whitening the sky ; when 
she has completed all her circuit, she brings forth 
with her wise fire the month, being at first half seen, 
then curved,** then full moon with her whole face. 

trogresses, as the other planets appear to do {dvaaeipdCovres). 
As half the other planets (Including the moon) are above and 
half below him (on the geocentric theory), each of them gets 
his light from one side only. 

^ The curving outline between first quarter and full moon 
(Stegemann). 

109 



NONNOS 

Mrjvr) 8* dvTLKeXevdos eyw ai^axprrfSoy iXiaowtf 
fjLapfJLapiryrjv OpeTrreipav dfiaXXoroKov ToirrroSd 
ZiohLaKTjv TT€pl vvooav drtpyLOva kvkXov Ht^, ■© 
TLKTCJV fi€Tpa xpovoio, Kol oiKoBev ottcov <f/if/jHw» 
Kol reXeaas €va kvkXov oXov XuKofiayra KO§u(/uf, 
cLKpa 8e (Tuvheap-oLo <f>vXdaa€o, firi ovcWr ipmw¥f 

appacLv Vp,€T€pOlS t,0(f>0€lh€a KUtVOV €Xi(af, 

<f)€yyos oXov kAc^cici'' iiriaKiowy aio hv^pt^* IW 

p^rjhe 7TapLTnT€VG€iag iOT^fiovo^ dvrvya tcvt(Xov' 

fir)S€ TavxmXiKTOJV iXiKotv iroXvKO^Trii ^afi^, 

irevre TrapaXXrjXiov ScSokt^/kW? dpTvya. tcvtcXufV, 

olarpov €;(ot9, icat vvooav 6pi'qd€a narpof idofji, 

fjLT^ o€ TrapanXdy^eiav €v aid dpi fftoiraAti itrmH' !•• 

firjhe SiOTrrcvojv bvoKaiB€Ka KVxXa nopfirf^ 

€K Sd/Liou 619 ^6px>v dXXov €'n€iy€0' hqX ado hl^^ 

Kptov €(f>L7nT€Vcov pLT) Si^co Tavpov tXauvtw 

y€LTOva fjLrj fidorcvc 'Trpodyy€Xov urTofioffo^ 

^Kopiriov dcrr€p6<f>oiTov xmo TLxryov r^vto')(€Wa¥f ^^ 

€1 fJLTj dva7TXT]0€ias ieiKooi Kol B€Ka fioipa^. 

oAAct oif fiev kXv€ p,vdov' iydt S* ac Ttdpra Si&i{a>. 

K€VTpOV oXoV KOOpiOlO, 

fi€o6fi<f>aXov darpov *0Ai;/iVOV, 
K/>iov iyd) pLidcTTcov vipovfjL€vos €lap ddfw, 
Kal TpoTTLKTjv 7,€<f>vpoio 7Tpodyy€Xov dvTvya fkkirwr, tlO 
vvKTa ToXavrevovoav laopponov 'qpiy€V€ij), 

^ KXalifias Stegemann : icX^uv l^dwich, mm. 

" Where the moon cuts the ecliptic. The cooe b tiM 
conical shadow of the earth, but this of course b oa the iidt 
away from the sun. Nonnos Ls hopelcMly oonfiaaed. 

" The arctic, the two tropic, the equatorial and Ite 
antarctic circles. He must keep betwrrn the tropkiu 
imaginary parallel circles dra^-n through the two â– iilAfcil 
points in Cancer and Capricorn, as these txnind the 
110 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 248-271 

Against the moon I move my rolling ball, the 
sparkUng nourisher of sheafproducing growth, and 
pass on my endless circuit about the turning-point 
of the Zodiac, creating the measures of time. When 
I have completed one whole circle passing from house 
to house I bring off the lichtgang. Take care of 
the crossing-point itself," lest when you come close, 
rounding the cone of darkness with your car, it 
should steal all the light from your overshadowed 
chariot. And in your driving do not stray from the 
usual circuit of the course, or be tempted to leave 
your father's usual goal by looking at the five parallel 
circles ^ with their multiple bond of long encom- 
passing lines, or your horses may run away and carry 
you through the air out of your course. Do not, 
when you look about on the twelve circles '^ as you 
cross them, hurry from house to house. When you 
are driving your car in the Ram, do not try to drive 
over the Bull. Do not seek for his neighbour, the 
Scorpion moving among the stars, the harbinger of 
the plowtree,^ when you are driving under the 
Balance, until you complete the thirty degrees.^ 

^' ** * Just listen to me, and I will tell you every- 
thing. When I reach the Ram, the centre f of the 
universe, the navel-star of Olympos, I in my exaltation 
let the Spring increase ; and crossing the herald of 
the west wind, the turning-line which balances night 
equal with day, I guide the dewy course of that 

" An absurd inaccuracy for the 12 signs. 

^ The beginning of autumn ploughing. 

* The distance from the beginning of one sign to the 
beginning of the next is 30 degrees. What follows describes 
the Sun's yearly course through the Signs. 

f More absurdity ; Aries is the starting-point on the circle 
of the Zodiac, not the centre of anything. 

Ill 



NONNOS 

Wvvo) hpoaoevra ;(€Ai5oi'tiy9 hpo^iov 'Ckfftn' 
Kptou 8* avTt,K€X€vdov €V€pr€pov oIkov aiitifitrnf, 
Xr]Xo.ls €v hibvfirjGiv larjfupa ^yyta Wfivoir, 
ivTVvo) TToXlvopao^ lao^vyov ^/lop d/A4j(Ap, t1* 

/cat Spofiov €ivoai<t>vXXov aym ^iVOiwwpSof *Pp<|f* 
<j)iyy€'C fi€ioT€pw x^^H'^vy ^'^^ wooov iXa v ¥ttw 
<t)vXXox6a) ivl fx-qvi koI avhpdai yci^ KOfiH/Uf 
ofippiov IxOuocvTos im€p pax^v AiyoKtpijot, 
aypovopLOis Iva yaZa ij>€p€afiia hwpa Xox^wrji, ti© 

wfjL<t>lov ofjippov €xovaa Kal ciAct^viov i4paT^¥' 
Koi dipos ivrvvo) araxyrjKOfiov ayy^^v ofimnff, 
d€pp,oT€pais aKTiai, Twptj^a ycuav tfMaaw¥, 
vipiTcvTjs napa vvaaav or ciV ^pofiov ^MO^^cvoi 
KapKLVov, dirnK€X€v6ov aSaXnw Alyotftpijot , IN 

ap,<l>oT€povs KoX NeiAoi' opuov koX fiorpw (uifoir. 
dpxop.€vos 3c Spofioio fi€r€px(o ytirova K/prip, 
^u}a(f)6pov aTrAavco? ficOtnajv nofiirfja KtXtv&ov, 
Imroavvrjs 'npoK€\€vdov' afjLoiPaCjj &€ noptljj 
(jov SpojjLov Wuvovai SucoSc/ca KVKXdStf *Qpeu.* MO 

*Qj CLTTCJv ^addovTos €7T€aTijpi(€ Kafnjjytft 
Xpvaelrjv rpu^oActav, cat S4 fuv corc^ nvpQt^, 
cTrrarovovs aKrlvas cVt nXoKOfiouTiv iXifas, 
KVKXcoaas GT€<f>airr)S6v cV* tf ui XcvKoSa fiirfnpr 
Kal fiLv dv€xXaCvaja€v ca> nvpoevrt ;(ira»M, m 

/cat TToSa <t>OLviaGOVTl hl€G<l>l^KUHT€ TTC&cA^. 

TraiSt Sc hi<f>pov cScu/cc #cai ij<ii»y9 airo ^tki^ 

iTTTTOu? 'HcAtoto TTvpwScas TJyayov *Qpai' 

Koi dpaavs elg ^iryov -^XOcv 'EAjJO<f>6po^, 

dpu<f>i b^ ^oApt^ 

hnriov oi);^ewi hovXov iireKXTjurac XeirdSvip, 900 

Kai ^aiBwv incBaivc' SiBou S4 oi i)Wa «<£JUciv, 
• The summer solstice. » C/. xvi. 45. 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 272-SOl 

Season when the swallow comes. Passing into the 
lower house, opposite the Ram, I cast the hght of 
equal day on the two hooves ; and again I make day 
balanced equally with dark on my homeward course 
when I bring in the leafshaking course of the autumn 
Season, and drive with lesser light to the lower turning- 
point in the leafshedding month. Then I bring winter 
for mankind with its rains, over the back of fishtailed 
Capricorn, that earth may bring forth her gifts full 
of life for the farmers, when she receives the bridal 
showers and the creative dew. I deck out also corn- 
tending summer the messenger of harvest, flogging 
the wheatbearing earth with hotter beams,, while I 
drive at the highest point of my course " in the Crab, 
who is right opposite to the cold Capricorn : both 
Nile and grapes together I make to grow. 

287 " ' When you begin your course, pass close by the 
side of Cerne,* and take Lucifer as guide to lead the 
way for your car, and you will not go astray ; twelve 
circhng Hours '^ in turn will direct your way.' 

^^ " After this speech, he placed the golden helmet 
on Phaethon's head and crowned him with his own 
fire, winding the seven rays like strings upon his hair, 
and put the white kilt girdlewise round him over 
his loins ; he clothed him in his own fiery robe and 
laced his foot into the purple boot, and gave his 
chariot to his son. The Seasons brought the fiery 
horses of Helios from their eastern manger ; Lucifer 
came boldly to the yoke, and fastened the horses' 
necks in the bright yokestraps for their service. 

^^ " Then Phaethon mounted, Helios his father gave 

'^ The Sun has twelve minor hours attendant upon him, 
which are elsewhere assigned to the months, here clearly to 
the hours of the day. 

VOL. Ill I 113 



NONNOS 

rjvla iiapyLaipovra koX cuyA^aoav l^iaaBhff 
'HcAto? y€V€T7)s' rpofi€pfj 5* iXtXilrro ovyj, 
vUa yiviooKijjv fjuwwpioi" €yyv$i h' ^X^W 
7)iJLL<t>av7)g KXvfjL€vr) <j>Xoytpwv €irifii/jiropa il^pfm^ MS 

h€pKOll€Vq <l>lX6r€KVO^ CTToAAcTO X^^pfiOTX fUJfTI^* 

"HSry 8c 8/>oao€t9 dfiapvoa€ro ^^wo^6pos ion^p, 
Kal Oae^cuv a^cVcAAci' 'EiuioH cutv)^ fiaimt^, 
vSaat, TTaTTTTiLoiai X€\oufi€vo^ *Chc€aj^04O. 
Kcu Opacrvg €v<f>a€ajv tXarrfp u0t5po/iO9 hnnt¥ S|0 

ovpavov iaKOTTia^c X^P*i* Kixapaywli-ov aor/Mur* 
eTTTci TTcpt Jcuvat? icvkAov/x£vov' cIScv aAijraf 
avTLTTopQvg, Koi yalav oyuoliov thpojct Ktyrpift 
fjLcaaoTTayij f 8oAt;^(7iv aw^twdtiaav ^piirvan, 
TTavrodi TTVpyiodiLGav xmwpo<f>ioiaiv arfnu^* 31A 

/cat 7Torap.oi)9 GKonia^tt kcu 6<f>pva^ 'Qkcomno 
a0 dyaacipafovTos" lov poov €is coi' uScup. 

"O^pa fi€V ofifia riraiv€v 

€? aW€pa KoX ;^uaiv aoTMur 
/cat x^^^^s aloXa (f)vXa Kal aarara vatra BaXiaai^, 
TTaTTraivojv iXiKrjSov artpfiovos cSpava KOOfiov' UQ 
T6<f>pa 8c hLvrid€vr€s vno ^vyov alBoit€s Imroi 
Za)8ta/cou TrapdficiPov c^tJ/xoi-oj aiTirya fCUfcAov. 
/cat ^aedcov d8i8a/cTos', €;(cu>' 7rvp6€Gaav IfuiaBXtp', 
<f>aiv€ro^ /xaorifoiv X6<f>ov iTrmov ol hi fuuf^mt, 
KevTpov xmo'nrriaaovT€s d<f>€iB€o^ rfvio)(fjo9, m 

dpxalrjs diKovT€s xmkp PaXfiBa k€X€v6ov 
d^ovLTjv napd vvaaav dXrjfiov€9 €rp€Xpv cmroi, 

8€;^VU/LtCVOl KTVTTOV oXXoV €$TlfJLOVOS TjVtOxfjOi, 

Koi NoTtov TTapd T€pp.a KOX dpKTta vurra Sopijof 

-^v kXovos. ovpavLct) S€ 7rapiardfi€i'ai TruAcom ffff 

oAAo^avcj v66ov -^fiap iOdfiP^ov etmoSts ^Qptu* 

^ So Mss. I Ludwich /Mu»«r». 
114 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 302-331 

him the reins to manage, shining reins and gleaming 
whip : he shook in trembhng silence, for he under- 
stood that his son had not long to Hve. Clymene 
his mother could be half seen near the shore," as she 
watched her dear son mounting the flaming car, and 
shook with joy. 

307 " Already Lucifer was sparkling, that dewy star, 
and Phaethon rose traversing the eastern ambit, after 
his bath in the waters of Oceanos his grandsire. The 
bold driver of brilliant horses, running on high, 
scanned the heavens dotted with the company of the 
stars, girdled about by the seven Zones ; he beheld 
the planets moving opposite, he saw the earth fixed 
in the middle like a centre, uplifted on tall cliffs and 
fortified on all sides by the winds in her caverns, he 
scanned the rivers, and the brows of Oceanos, driving 
back his own water into his own stream. 

318 ** While he directed his eye to the upper air and 
the flood of stars, the diverse races of earth and the 
restless back of the sea, gazing round and round on 
the foundations of the infinite universe, the shining 
horses rolled along under the yoke over their usual 
course through the zodiac. Now inexperienced 
Phaethon with his fiery whip could be seen flogging 
the horses' necks ; they went wild shrinking under the 
goad of their merciless charioteer, and all unwilling 
they ran away over the limit of their ancient road 
beyond the mark of the zodiac, expecting a different 
call from their familiar driver. Then there was tumult 
along the bounds of the South and the back of the 
North Wind ; the quickfoot Seasons at the celestial 

* i.e. she was up to her waist in water. 

115 



NONNOS 

€Tpe/x€ 8* ripiy€V€ia' Kal laxc ^wa4^pot ioHj^ 
' n^ Repeat, ^tAe K-ovf)* ; 

Tt fxaiWcu fmrw iXaAw^; 
<l>€iS€o crfj9 fidcmYos ayn^vopo^' o/x^or/pcdr M 
TrAafo/xcWv 7rc<^uAa|o #fa4 dfrAai^W X^'P^ Sarpct^g 
fiTj Spaavs *^pLwv a€ KaTotcrtivtu fiaxfUfffl, 
ixri poTToXw TwpoevTi yipoiv TrAiJfcu Boctfn|ff« 
irXayKTris 8* Imrocvvr)^ cti ^Sko, firfid at 
yaaripi rvp.p€VG€i€V €V aW^pi Krjrof *OAi^l 
fir)8€ (7€ haLTp€va€i€ \€U)V, 71 Tavpo^ *OAi^^Mrov 
auxcva Kvprdtaa^ (f>Xoy€pjj TrATjfcu Ktpaiff 
a^co To$€irrfjpa, riraivofiairji dno vtvprjs 

firj x^-os oAAo ycvoiTO, koI ald€pos darpa ^atftbl 
TJfjLaros tora/xcVoio, fi€arifiPpi^oyTi &^ ^*^p^ 
dararos r)piy€V€i,a ouvovrTjactc ScAiJvjj.* 
*^9 <f>apL€vov ^aiBiov irXtov iJAoacv, 

ap/ia irap^XKum 
€19 NoTOV, ctff 3op€r)v, 

7,€<f>vpov GX^Sov, iyYV$€V EJpov. 
/cat kX6vo9 aWcpos ^€v, aKtm/jroio o< KOOfuw 
dpfjiovirjv iriva^ev' ihoxjutiST) 8€ koX avroi 
aldipi Stvijcvrt p.€aos r€ropr)p,€vos d(ojv, 
Kal yioyis avrodXiKTov €Xa<f>pi^wv rroXov oorpciir 
oKXaSov ianjpLKTo Aij^i;? Kvprrovp.€\'o^ "ArAay, 
/icifova (f>6pTov €x<J^v- Kal urqp.€pov c/rrotfcv 'A/mttov 
Ku/cAov €7n^v(x)v eXiKwSei yaartpos oXxtft 
avvhpofxos darepocvTi ApaKwv €7r€<Tvput€ Tavpq^, 
Kal Kvvl a€LpidovTL Acwv Ppvxrjoaro Xaifup, 
alOipa Oepfialvujv fiaXcpw twpi, koX Bpaavs fon| 
KapKLvov oKraTToSrjv kXovcojv Xaaiorpixi rraXfit^' 
ovpavLov §€ AcovTOs oirmBihiw Trapd rapot^ 
116 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 332-360 

gate wondered at the strange and unreal day, Dawn 
trembled, and star Lucifer cried out. 

333 " ' Where are you hurrying, dear boy ? Why 
have you gone mad with reins in your hand ? Spare 
your headstrong lash ! Beware of these two com- 
panies — both planets and company of fixed stars, lest 
bold Orion kill you with his knife, lest ancient Bootes 
hit you with fiery cudgel. Spare this wild driving, 
and let not the Olympian Whale entomb you in his 
belly in high heaven ; let not the Lion tear you to 
pieces, or the Olympian Bull arch his neck and strike 
you with fiery horn ! Respect the Archer, or he 
may kill you with a firebarbed arrow from his drawn 
bowstring. Let there not be a second chaos, and 
the stars of heaven appear at the rising day, or 
erratic Dawn meet Selene at noonday in her car ! ' 

^' " As he spoke, Phaethon drove harder still, 
drawing his car aside to South, to North, close to the 
West, near to the East. There was tumult in the sky 
shaking the joints of the immovable universe : the 
very axle bent which runs through the middle of the 
revolving heavens. Libyan Atlas could hardly sup- 
port the selfrolling firmament of stars, as he rested on 
his knees with bowed back under this greater burden. 
Now the Serpent scraped vdih his WTithing belly the 
equator far away from the Bear, and hissed as he met 
with the starry Bull ; the Lion roared out of his throat 
against the scorching Dog, heating the air with raven- 
ing fire, and stood boldly to attack the eight claws of 
the Crab with his shaggy hair bristling, while the 
heavenly Lion's thirsty tail flogged the Mrgin hard by 

117 



NONNOS 

Uapddvow dyx^KtXevOov €yidan4 Sufuof o^f^' 
KovpTj 8c 7Tr€p6€aaa Trapdi^aaa Bocurnv 
d^ovos iyyvs LKai'€ Kal d}fiiXrfiT€¥ 'Afiafji' 
Kal SxmKTjv trapa vvaaav dXrjfAOPa ^A^^fO fr4l 
"Ecmepov dvTiKeXfvOov 'Eoxr^pof tiB^w in9V^fr Ml 
TrAafcTo 8* iJpiycWta' Kal rfiohof airrX AayttoB 
^€Lpt,09 aWaX6€i,s ihpd^aro Sulxibof *AptCTem* 
bLxdd be /caAAct0arrc9, o f^cv N(m>v, St M BajpifOv 
'Ix^w€9 a<rr€pO€VT€9 €'n€aKiprnfaiiy 'OAvfiwi^, 
yctVopc? *T8poxooto- KvpiarrjTrjpi 8^ 9raA|i^ •!• 

avvSpofios AiyoKcpfjo^ cAxf cupy^craro AcAf^r* 
/cat NoTirj? cXitcqbov dnoirXayxB€vra KtXtMm 
^Kopnlov dyxiKcXcvdov, €rJ9 fpavovra yjavolfffff^ 

€Tp€p,€V *Q.pUx)V Kal €V doTpaGl, flTj fipoOVf tpfWUm 

aKpa nohwv fuacic to ^VT€pov d^ii tchnpi^' tn 

Koi aeXas rjp.LT€X€aTov dTroTrrvovaa nooaumov 
dnpoKcXaivLoojaa p.€arjpLPpidi dv6op€ Mt/wj* 
ov yap vTTOKXdTTTovGa vodov acAa; dpatvt nvoa^ 
dvTLTTopov ^addovTog d^idXytro avyyovov euvAi^* 
nAT^taSo? 8c <l>aLXayyos cAi^f €7rrdar€pos rp(w StO 

ovpavov eTrrd^ajvov €'n€pp€fi€ KVKXd&i ^urtrj' 
Kal KTVTTov aldvaaovT€s urqpidfiwv dno XaifiAur 
dure pes dvridiovTes cpaK^evdrjaav dXijrai' 
Zrjva pL€v oJ^cc KvTTpis, 'Apr]s Kpovov, tiaparfff M 
riAciaSos' iyyvs iKavev €px>s luravdarvot aar^, JM 
darpaai 8* i-TTra-nopois Kcpdaas €fnf>vXiov aXykijv 
rjfjn,(f>av7js avcTcAAcv c/xij Trapd firjrepi Maijj, 
'Apfxaros ovpavioio napdrpano^, ^ v(kt¥ aUX 

" Leo lashed his tail so hard that it hit the nest 
tion, Virgo ? 

* " Thirsty," because it nerer sets and ao 
water. 

118 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 361-388 

his hind leg,** and the winged Maiden darting past 
the Waggoner came near the pole and met the Wain. 
The Morning Star sent forth his straying light in the 
setting region of the West and pushed away the 
Evening Star who met him there. Dawn wandered 
about ; blazing Sirius grabbed the thirsty Bear ^ 
instead of his usual Hare. The two starry Fishes 
left one the South and one the North, and leapt in 
Olympos near Aquarius ; the Dolphin danced in a 
ring and tumbled about with Capricorn. Scorpios 
also had wandered around from the southern path 
until he came near to Orion and touched his sword — 
Orion trembled even among the stars, lest he might 
creep up slowly and pierce his feet once again with 
a sharp sting." The Moon leapt up at midday, 
spitting off the half-completed light from her face and 
growing black on the surface, for she could no longer 
steal the counterfeit light from the male torch of 
Phaethon opposite and milk out his inborn flame. 
The sevenstar voices of the Pleiades rang circling 
round the sevenzone sky with echoing sound ; the 
planets from as many ^ throats raised an outcry and 
rushed wildly against them. Cypris pushed Zeus, 
Ares Cronos * ; my own wandering star ^ approached 
the Pleiad of Spring, and mingling a kindred light 
with the seven stars he rose halfseen beside my 
mother Maia — he turned away from the heavenly 
chariot, beside which he always runs or before it in the 

" When he was on earth, Orion was killed by the sting of a 
huge scorpion, and the two constellations commemorate this. 

** Presumably six ; one planet, the Sun, was otherwise 
engaged. There are six Pleiades, omitting the one (Electra) 
which is too dim to see clearly. 

* Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn. 

^ The planet Mercury. 

119 



NONNOS 

avvhpofios rj npoKeXevBo^ cciioy, iim^ptat W 
'HcAiou hvvovTos oTTioTtpa ^'yyfo n^fimr 

Kai fJLLVy OT€ BpOfJLOV toOV €X<^V MfJUHpOf <0€^l« 

'HcAiou Kpahlrjv €7T€<l>Tjfiiaav iBfiovt^ aarpuMr 
Kal Spoacpals vi^Beaai hidfipoxov euJ^A^ Tf6«(gr 
wfjL<t>Los Evpwirqs fjLVKTJaaro TaCpof *OAi^«oVf 
€tV Spofiov opOcLxras noSa irofiTruAov* ofvrfi4f M 
8ox/xa>cra9 Oa^^oi^i Wpa; Aofotb furtatrov 
ovpavir)v <t)Xoy€pjjatv CTrcimwcv arrvyo )(i}Aa2r* 
/cat dpaavs c/c /coAcotb napi^pov aidoni fiffp^ 
^ClpUvv ^i<f)os €IXk€' KoXavpona ttoAAc BoorrTf* 
Kttt TToSoj darpaioio pL€Tdpaia youvara naXXtMi¥ 
Uriyaaos €x/)€/x€TtJc, kcu aWvaawv iroXov omkj 
r)p,i,<f>avr)g Ai^vs LTmos inerptx^ y^iroyt Kwa^, 

Kal KOT€(JJV TTTCpa TToAAcV, OTTW^ TToAtV I^VtOX^ 

dXXov aKovTiaa€i€v an ald^pos, ola irol oiMr 
avrvyos ovpavij]^ aneaciaaTo B^AAcpo^cWip^. 
ovKiri 8* vtftnropoio Bopeia3o9 lyyvdi vvotnii 
aXXrjX.u)v €x6p€vov tV* tfui #ci;«cAa$€9 "A/iicro*, 
oAAct NoTa> pilayovTo, Kal 'E<m€pijj napa XifLyji 
d^poxov t^vo? €Xovaav arj6€OS *ilK€CLv6iO. 

Zcus" §€ na-r-qp ^aiSovra Kar€'npfrfvi^€ tctpavif^ 
v^lfodev avTOKvXiarov vnep poov *H/M5ayoib* 
h-qGas 8' dppiovlrjv 7TaXivdyp€rov tJXlki 5ca/x^ 
tTTTTOUS' 'HcAioj TToXiv wTTaacv, ald^piov hk 
dvroXlr) iropev dpjia, Kal dpxair) Troipa vvaajj 
dfJL<l>L7ToXoi ^aeOovTOs iir^Tp^xov ci^oSc; ^Ctptu, 
yala hk irdaa ycAaaac to S€VT€pov' 'q€p66€y Si 
Ja>OTOKou Ato? ofiPpog oAaj €Kd$rjp€v dpovpa^, 
Kol Siepfj paddfiiyyi Kar€o^€Q€ nvpadv aAi/np« 
120 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 389-418 

morning, and in the evening when Helios sets he sends 
liis following light, and because he keeps equal course 
with him and travels with equal portion, astronomers 
have named him the Sun's Heart. Europa's bride- 
groom the Olympian Bull bellowed, stretching his 
neck drenched with damp snowflakes ; he raised a 
foot curved for a run, and inclining his head sideways 
with its sharp horn against Phaethon, stamped on the 
heavenly vault with fiery hooves. Bold Orion drew 
sword from sheath hanging by his glowing thigh ; 
Bootes shook his cudgel ; Pegasos neighed rearing 
and shaking the knees of his starry legs — halfseen <* 
the Libyan courser trod the firmament with his foot 
and galloped towards the Swan his neighbour, angrily 
flapping his wings, that again he might send another 
rider hurtling down from the sky as he had once 
thrown Bellerophontes himself out of the heavenly 
vault.* No longer the circling Bears danced back to 
back beside the northern turningpost on high ; but 
they passed to the south, and bathed their unwashen 
feet in the unfamiliar Ocean beside the western main. 
*io " Then Father Zeus struck down Phaethon with 
a thunderbolt, and sent him rolling helplessly from 
on high into the stream of Eridanos. He fixed again 
the joints which held all together with their primeval 
union, gave back the horses to Helios, brought the 
heavenly chariot to the place of rising ; and the agile 
Hours that attended upon Phaethon followed their 
ancient course. All the earth laughed again. Rain 
from Hfebreeding Zeus cleared all the fields, and with 
moist showers quenched the wandering fires, all that 

° The figure of the constellation shows only the front half 
of the heavenly horse, here called Pegasos. 

* When he tried to ride to heaven on Pegasos's back. 

121 



NONNOS 

oaaov €7tI ySova iraaav ipu^Xty^wv dvo AntfuQm 
ovpavodev ;(/>€/x€^oi^€y arrtirrvow a20oircf Tmoc. 
'HA109 3* av€r€XX€ TToXlvhpo^iov dpfia PO§iMihmr 
Kal GTTopos r)€^rjro, naXiy 5* tytXaaoav iXual, 
h€xyvfi€vai npoTtfyqv Purrqatov aiB4fiOf oTyAi^. 

7j€VS hk na-rffp ^aiSovra Kar€an^pi(€¥ *OAilyiP|i 
cLKeXov 'Hvi6)(a) kcu €7rwyvfJU}V' o^pdy%o¥ M 
irrj^^e'i fiapfialpovri G€Xaa^pou 'Apfia Ttrabfmif 
els hpofjLov aiaaovTos c^^t rvnov *\\vioxff>i, 
ota rrdXiv TToOewv kcu €v darpaatv apfia roir^of . 
Kal TTorafxos nvpiKavros avi^Xv$€v €iV mUor &npom 
Zr)v69 enanrqaayros, iv aarepotvTi hk taStcXtf 
^Hpihavov TTvpoevTos cAuxacTcu ayKvXov vSciip. 

r»'a>Tat 8' (xiKvp-opoio beSovnorof ^y*oxf)Oi 
€(? <f>irr6v elhos dfi€nl/av, oSvpofitvwv 5* air^ hdf^ptm 
d(l>V€t.rjv TTCToAotai KaToaraXdovatv i^porpt," 



122 



DIONYSIACA, XXXVIII. 419-434 

the glowing horses had spat whinnying from their 
flaming throats out of the sky over all the earth. 
Helios rose driving his car on his road again ; the 
crops grew, the orchards laughed again, receiving 
as of yore the life-giving warmth from the sky. 

^24 " But Father Zeus fixed Phaethon in Olympos, 
like a Charioteer, and bearing that name. As he 
holds in the radiant Chariot of the heavens with 
shining arm, he has the shape of a Charioteer starting 
upon his course, as if even among the stars he longed 
again for his father's car. The fire-scorched river also 
came up to the vault of the stars with consent of 
Zeus, and in the starry circle rolls the meandering 
stream of burning Eridanos," 

*32 " But the sisters of the charioteer fallen to his 
earl/ death changed their shape into trees, and from 
the weeping trees they distil precious dew ^ out of 
their leaves." 

« The Milky Way. » Amber. 



123 



AIONTSIAKnN TPIAKOSTON ENATON 

'Ev he rpiriKoarw evarat fura tcvfiara Xtvaatit 
/^T)pi,dbr)v <l>€vyovTa TwpiffXeyttov aroXov *lv6uf¥, 

*Q? eiTTCjv oKLxriTOs cy ovpavov 7JXu$€V 'Ef^^, 
;(ap/xa Xlttwv Kal davfia Koaiyirqrtft ^aavvat^, 

OLKoofi'qrratv ;fW(nv ^jtrrpta¥ 
ddfiPee Koi Oac^oin-a Sc&otmara, ttw^ napa KcAro^ 
*KcrTT€pla) TTvpiKavros inioXiaBrjae p€€dp<p, 
T6<f>pa 8c vrjes iKavov ctttJAuScj, ay M. n 6 t r n p 
GTOLxo-has Wvvovres €s 'Ap€a vavfAa)(ov *lv66t¥ 
dKXvoTO) *PaSafjLdv€9 cVairrtAAoi^o BaXaatrg, 
TTOVTOV dfJLOipairjaiv €TnppTJaaoin'€^ tpoMUf 
VGjiLvrjs iXarrjpes' cVciyo/xcVoi 8c Avalut 
oA/cacTtv amrt^ois' cVcoupiac nofino^ aijny^. 
/cat Au/co? 7)y€fi6v€V€V €v vSaoL buf>pov tXawut^f 
ImTeiaig dxdpaKTov inL^vojt' poov onXaxs, 

Arjpt,dSr]^ 8* aTTcAc^/x)? imtprepo^ wjtodi nvpyom 
€G(TVii€VOiv v€(f>€Xr)b6v ibcpKCTo Aat^a inTOfl' 
6<f>daXfiip KOT€ovTi, Kal a»s" imipoTrXo^ djcovow, 
iypcfJLodovs oTt joja? 'Apcup ropvtoaaro riKTurv, 
a>p.oG€v vXoTOfioiGLv dyciv * Apd^eaaiv *E.vtHu, 
Kal TToXiv 'qTT€iXrja€v cuorcaaai AvKoopyov, 
124 



BOOK XXXIX 

In the thirty-ninth, you see Deriades after the 
flood trying to desert the host of fire- 
blazing Indians. 

This story told, Hermes went into the heavens 
unapproachable, leaving joy and amazement to his 
brother Dionysos. 

3 While Bacchos was wondering still at the con- 
fusion of the disordered stars, and Phaethon's 
fall, how he slipt down among the Celts into the 
Western river, firescorched, the foreign ships were 
arriving, which the Rhadamanes had been navi- 
gating over the tranquil sea, guiding their columns 
on the deep towards the Indian War of ships, 
splashing into the deep with alternating motions, 
oarsmen of battle ; to suit the haste of Lyaios, 
a following wind whistled against the ships. And 
Lycos led them driving his car over the waters, and 
skimmed over the flood, where the horses' hooves 
left no mark. 

1* But gigantic Deriades high on his battlements 
saw with angry eye the sails of the ships like a cloud ; 
and in his overweening pride, as he heard that an 
Arabian shipwright had built battle-rousing ships, he 
swore to make war on the woodcutting Arabs, and 
threatened to mow down the Rhadamanes with de- 

125 



NONNOS 

dfirjaas 'PaSa/idmj aXotrp^pi at^ptft. 
Kal OToXov ddprjuavTe^ drap/Wcy 4rp€fiO¥ Ivool, 
"Apca -nairraivovrt^ dXiKTimov, dxpi koa airoQ 
yovvara ToXfi'^evros iXvtro ^rjpiaaTfOi' 
TTOLTfTOj 8c yeXcuTi yaXrjvauHO itpoaanrtm 
*\vh6s dva$ cVcAcuaf TptrfKoaiutv ano r/jpmf 
^S" iX€(l>avToPaToio napd a^vpa Svafiara yolff 
Xaov dy€iv' Kal Kpaiirvo^ <V drpatrw rj*4 «*"'' 
TToaal TToXvyvafiirroiaiv dno x^ovo^ tUvMva 
Kal arroXog o^vg iKav€ itoXvairtpiwv ttirA n| 
k€kXo[jl€vov PaaiXrjo^- 6 hi Opaav^ avY^fa t 
oXKahas €U7rriXrjKas cV 'A/xa novnav IXmrn, 
Xaov oXov 6dp<wv€, koI v^ivotp ^ro 4^t¥§' 
" *Av€/)€9, ovs driraXXfv 

a^t ndXiv pdpvaaBt irtnoiOdrt^' tiiBofjLtvtm U 
dfarc TTiJp €9 "Aprja, koI danrrov witart 



/cat arparov vypoK€X€vdov €vucpv^to^u iaXiaafl 
crifv hopL, avv BcjprjKi, avv oXxdat, a^ AlOl^q y . 
€t deos cttActo Bd/cxoy, €fjLw irvpi B<Lr)^ <U^< 
ou;^ dXi9» cl>; Trpoxofjai iToXvrpona ^dpuatca wdi 
dvdeai. ScaGoXiKolaiv ipov (f>oUi(€v 'vhdawfglfg 
Kat piv Ihwv alyr]aa, koX rjavxoi tloin Xmnnm 
erXrjv ^av^d peedpa piaivop€vov norofUHO; 
€1 yap €7)v poos ovTos an* dXXorplov nornuuHO, 
pLTjbe 7TaT7)p c/zds" ijev 'Afwyioy *lv^ nfSatnn^, 
Kal K€v iyw toSc x^^H^ X*^^^ €irXrfaa tcotfinif 
oSjJLTjv PoTpvoeaaav dpaXbvvatv Atovvoov, 
Kal npoxorjv pedvovaav ipov ycvmfjpoy 6 M tmf 
TToaal KoviopevoiGi hUrp^xov dfipoxov vSatpt 
ola Trap* *Apy€loiai (^tiJctcu, co? (I'oalxBwm 
126 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 20-50 

stroying steel and to devastate the city of Lycurgos.'* 
The fearless Indians trembled at sight of the fleet, 
when they surveyed the seabeaten armada, until even 
the knees of daring Deriades gave way. With a forced 
laugh on a calm face, the Indian king ordered men 
to be marshalled from three hundred islands along 
the unapproachable slopes of his elephantfeeding 
land. In haste a herald went on his way, travelling 
from land to land with many a twist and turn, and 
a fleet came with speed from the many scattered 
isles at the summons of their king : boldly he 
stretched his neck, and drew the helmeted ships into 
the maritime war, with words of encouragement to 
all his men which he uttered in high-hearted tones : 
33 " My men, bred beside my standfast Hydaspes, 
now fight again with confidence ! Bring flaming fire 
into battle, light unquenchable torches, that I may 
burn those newly come ships with blazing brand and 
sink in the sea that waterfaring host, with spear, with 
corselet, with ships, with Dionysos ! If Bacchos is 
a god, I will destroy Bacchos with my fire. Is it 
not enough, that he has sprinkled those cunning 
poisons in the water and reddened my Hydaspes with 
Thessalian flowers ? That I have looked on him in 
silence, and let myself quietly behold the yellow 
streams of my maddened river ? For if that stream 
came from a foreign river, if the warlike Indian 
Hydaspes were not my own father, then I would 
have filled that flood with heaps of dust to drown 
the viny stink of Dionysos ; I would have walked 
upon the drunken stream of my father and crossed 
unwetting water with dusty feet, as once it is 
said among the Argives that Earthshaker made 

• The Lycurgos of books xx.-xxi. 

127 



NONNOS 

^r)p6v vhcjp TTolrfuet Koi av<rraMov voto|IoSo 

ov deos, ov deo^ o6ro^' iifv b* iiJKyaaro ^mrhfr 
TToL-qv yap l^povlwvos 'OAv/itruw <uyi8a wiiAAci; 
troLov cx€t oTTivBripa AiopXi^roiO KtpavvoO; 
nolrjv 8* ovpavir)v artpon^v y€V<T^p09 Qtlp^i; 
oi) Kpovl^s Kar 'Aprja Kopvaatnu o&vm Ktaai^' 
ov Tvndvwv nardyoiai fUXos ^pcvnumf iiattut. 
ovhk Ato5 aia]TrTolaiv opMua dvpaa KoXdaoiu. 
ov x^ovux) dwprjKi Aios »^^ tow ^y^* 
v€ppihL SatSoAc'ij TTOTC wouctW ooTpor l£i»n»; 
oAA* €>€€t9, OT4 ^pw c5€f aro Koi xww o&w 
8a>pa napd Kpotfiwvos cUf i^imno TOif^of 




V€KrapL 

HoLKxo^ ofiov ^arvpoimv cVi x^ov^ €iXamw6(im' 
balvxrrai ovpavioioi <tvv adavdroi^ Vtunffi^^^tff* 
€1 Se neXc ^poros ovros tirovpavloio roteijof, 
avv Alt Koi p.aKdp€fjai fuijs o/fovat r/MiiN{i^. 
€kXvov, cjs ttotc BCjkov (6v Kol a K ijnr p o ¥ *OAtf^i 
8ai/<€ yepas TLayprji TraXauntpw AiOVMjy, 
dcrrcpoTrqv TLayprji koX dp.irtXov oivonn Boiry^. 

£7776 Koi €19 p,66ov wpro' awtppwovTO M Aool 
ouv 8opi, (7UV aaK€€aGi, koX o^jupuov IkitSUk vOofi * 
X^paaiov TToAc/xoto fi€T€cni^aavTO daXdatrjj* 
Kal TrpofiaxoLS J^iowaos iKtKXero Bwdit ^^^i^*^* 

" "Apcos oAKi/xa TC/cva kcu, €v6<japnrfKOS Aim|n|f» 

ofs- jScOS^ ^pyO- pjodoiO KOX iXTTth€9 CUTIV tt^UMf , 

o In his anger because Phoroneus and the oCber p ria cM of 
Argos adjudged their land to Hera ; see [ ApoUodoTM) tt. 14^ 

Pausanias ii. 15. 5, 

128 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 51-79 

water dry, and a horse's hoof left his prints on the 
dust of river Inachos dAed up." 

53 "No god, no god is that man ; he has lied about 
his birth. For what Olympian aegis of Cronion does 
he brandish ? What spark has he of Zeus-thrown 
thunderbolt .'' What heavenly lightning of his 
father's does he lift ? No Cronides equips himself 
for war with vineleaf and ivy ! I cannot compare 
the music of thunder to rattUng cymbals. I will 
not call the thyrsus anything like the thunderbolt 
of Zeus, I will not allow an earthly corselet to be 
equal to the clouds of Zeus. How can I liken a 
dappled fawnskin to the pattern of the stars ? — But 
you will say, he received the grapes and the Uquid 
wine as gifts from Cronion his father, who blesses the 
crops with increase. Well, Zeus gave Olympian 
nectar to one of Trojan blood, a country clown, a 
cowTnan, Ganymede the cupbearer, and wine is not 
equal to nectar : thyrsus, you have the worst of it ! 
Bacchos feasts on earth with Satyrs ; Ganymede 
banquets with the heavenly immortals. If this 
mortal had a heavenly father, he would have touched 
one board with Zeus and the Blessed. I have heard 
how Zeus once gave his throne and the sceptre of 
Olympos as prerogative to Zagreus the ancient 
Dionysos — Hghtning to Zagreus, vine to wineface 
Bacchos ! " 

'* He spoke, and away to battle. The people 
rushed together armed with spears, with shields, and 
now transferred their last hope of victory from land 
to sea. Then Dionysos. called to his leaders with 
wild voice : 

78 " Mighty sons of Ares and corseleted Athena, 
whose Hfe is the works of war, whose hope is conflict ! 

VOL. Ill K 129 



NONNOS 

aTT€vaar€ Kal Kara nSvrov aiarwoai y^vof *lMklFf M 

oAAa BaXaaaaioio hiatcropa hvjiartjroi, 

€yx€a hL7rXiuaayT€^ ofiOTrXoKa 5t{uvi htiffi/^ 

vavfiaxa KoXXTJ€vra, TrtpH arofia tifUva )^aAic<p, 

fiL^are Svafi€V€€aaiv aXi'rrTOirjTO¥ 'Eruui, it 

7rpo<l>ddfi€voi, firj x^^ irvpavyda 5aA^ dcijpair 

Arjpidbrj^ <f>X€(€i€v ^Ap-nia Sovpara rtfutv* 

v6a<fn ij)6pov ^idpvaoBt^ Mi/xaAAd»^(* iypOiMm^y^ 

eXnlhes dvriJ^Ujjv Ktvtavxw' ci hk luy/rfoait 

<t>vX(yiTiv ovK €r€X€aa€v ctri x^ovo^ opYOfiOf *Ili&Sr» M 

rjXiPdTcjv Xo<f>ifjaiv €i^hfn^awv iXi^atrrm^, 

d.yx^v€<jn\s » dKixrjro^, opovraro^, iflpn y€trw¥, 

ov fi€v iyd) npofidxcav nork Stvofuu, oi^ KoXio om 

dXXov douGTjrrjpa fierd Kpo^^iwpa rotcfja, 

rjVLOxov TTovroio Kal alBtpo^' riv 8* iBMf9<0, M 

yvwTov €fiov KpoviBao l\oG€iBd{jjva tcopiaott 

IvbwTjv OTixo. Trdoav dpua^wovra r/xo/i^* 
Koi TTpofiov €vpvy€V€iov, dnooTTopov iwoavyoiOVf 
rXavKov €XCJ awdcOXov, ifirj^ art yttrova Qi j p i |t , 
novTiov *Aovir)s *AvBTfS6vo^ darov dpovafif' IM 

TXavKov €X€o Kal ^opKiw lfiaaaofi€yrjv 04 BaXaoajf 
oA/caSa ArjptdSax) KaraKpvtJKi McAix<7>Ti7(, 
KvhaLv<x)V ^lowaov ofioyvtov, oS naT€ fitfrnp 
vrpnov €Tp€<l>€ BdKxov, cttci Trope novna^ Iiiw 
€v yXdyos dfi<f>or€poiGit UaXaifLovt teal ^umia^* MS 
fiavTiTToXov 8c ytpovTos, OS rifi€r€pTjv nork yunp 
€Gaofi€vrjv Kara ttoxtov vTTOppvxij) ^to ^Ofrj, 
€ifil <f>iXo9 Uporrijos' cV vofiwyjv 8< Kopvaatt 
dvyarepas ^-qprjos tfi-q GcViy, cv 8< KvSoifUMf 
BaGGapCSojv crwdeOXos c/xi^ Bcapi^crarrai *\vw- 110 

dcDprj^o) 8' is 'Aprja Kal AloXov, o^pa PO^ot^ 

180 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 80-111 

Make haste now — destroy the Indian race on the sea 
as well, and finish your land victory with another by 
sea ! Come, take in hand those messengers of sea- 
warfare, spears coupled together with double rings, 
welded seapikes with bronze fixed at the mouth, 
and join sea-terrifying battle with your enemies — 
get in before them, that Deriades may not hft his 
fireblazing torch and burn up the warlike timbers 
of our ships. Fight without fear, Mimallones ! 
For the hopes of our seafighting adversaries are 
all empty boasts. If for all his efforts the Indian 
chieftain could not finish off his war on land, seated 
on the neck of mountainous elephants, near the 
clouds, unapproachable, unwounded, a neighbour 
to the sky, then I never lack champions, I will 
call on no other helper after my father Cronion, 
charioteer of sea and sky ; or if it please me, I 
will arm Poseidon the brother of my Cronides, to 
wipe out all the Indian host with his trident, and 
I have as my ally Earthshaker's offspring Glaucos, 
the broadbearded champion, as neighbour of miy own 
Thebes and seaborn inhabitant of the land of Ao- 
nian Anthedon" — yes, Glaucos I have and Phorcys. 
And Melicertes will drown the vessel of Deriades 
flogged by the sea ; he shall glorify Dionysos his kins- 
man, for his mother once nursed baby Bacchos, since 
Ino of the sea gave one milk to both Palaimon and 
Dionysos. I am also the friend of Proteus the Old 
Man prophetic, who told with a voice out of the 
deep waters my coming victory on the sea.^ My 
Thetis also prepares the daughters of Nereus for 
war, and in the battle my Ino is arming to help the 
Bassarids. Aiolos too I will arm for warfare, that I 

« Cf, xiii. 73. " Cf. xxi. 289. 

131 



NONNOS 

E^pov aKovrl^ovra koI alxfJuil^ovTa Bofnfa^ 
ya^ppov ifiov irpoyLaxov, 

}Aapadu}Vil^ dpftraya rUfb^i|f« 
Kai NoTov AWioirfja npoaaniarrjpa \valom* 
/cat Tj€<l>vpos TToXv fxdXXov dcAAijcKn KvitHfi^ IW 

oXKabag avrifiiuiv SiyArJacTcu- tifur^pov y^ 
evv€Tiv *\piv c^fi Aios dyycAoi'. oAAd ouMrf 
iKToBev cvBvpGOio Koi *lvSwoiO tcvSo^toO 
fUfiv€TO) rip€fi€atv Bpauv^ AioXo^, ificZi StO|A4^ 
OLGKov cVta^iyfay orcfUi^Sca, firfi* ivi irdrry W© 

dadfiaaiv *lvbo<l>6voiaw apurrtvaoHfw d^rot* 
dAAa ftd^oi/ r€\€Gw vffo^opa Ovpoa Ttraimit¥," 

"Qj cIttojv €K6pvoG€ TrcTTOi^oToy ^yt/ior^Of . 
•^817 Be TTToAc/xoio TrpodyycAoy mttoto <mAirty(« 
Kal fjLeXos €yp€Kvhoifiov dvtKXayov 'Apcof oMoi Ui 
Aaov doAAi{oKT€9, dpaaaopAvt) hk pO€irj 
elvaXlov KeXdhrjac fiodov xaXKOKporrov i^x^' 
KoX Kavayr)v ofioboimov dytarparo^ ia^c ovptyf • 
di^t 8c irerpal-qs TroAc/xiJia X€uffava ^ojvij^ 
HavLOLS vaT€p6<f>o)vos dpai^ro ttovtw 'H^fci. ISO 

Total 8e fiapvap.€voiaLv erjv kXovos, utpro h* luni 
K€kXoix€vwv' Kal Xaos iBi^fiovt fidpvaro rixKd 
KVKXwaas (rr€<f>avrjh6v oXov arparov, cv 8* apa ^awjp 
vtjvgIv 6p,ot,vy€€aaiv €pxTp<oBrj aroXos *\v6tiam 
els Xlvov €pyofi€va)v vcttoSwv tvttov AuurcScuy 5^ u^ 
AlaKos vypov "Aprja npodeoTrl^wv SoAo^imx 
dpxop-^yos TToXefioio deovBea p-q^aro ^wvrjtr 

" Et ndpos r)pL€T€prqv dUov uc€Trj<jiov 'qx^ 
doTTopov €vpvdXa}os dir^Xaaas avxf^v dpovprrii^ 
1S2 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 112-139 

may behold East Wind shooting arrows and North 
Wind hurling javelins — North Wind goodson of my 
champion « and the spoiler of the Marathonian bride, 
South Wind the Ethiopian defender of Lyaios. 
West Wind also much more shall destroy the ships 
of my adversaries with stormy tumult, for he has 
to wife Iris the messenger of my father Zeus. No, 
better let bold Aiolos keep away from the battle of 
Indian and thyrsus and remain in peace and quiet ; 
let him tie up tight his windy bag by its usual cord, 
that the winds may not be heroes on the deep and 
slay the Indians with their blasts. I will finish the 
battle shaking a ship-destroying thyrsus." 

123 With these words, he armed his confident cap- 
tains. Already the trumpet was there as harbinger 
of war, and the pipes of war gave out their battle- 
rousing tune collecting the army. The stricken shield 
sounded with bronze-rattling noise for the seafight, 
and the host-assembling syrinx mingled its piercing 
tones, and Pan's answering Echo came from the 
sea with faint warlike whispers instead of her rocky 
voice. 

^31 Then there was din amongst the fighters, and 
the noise of clamour arose. The host fought with 
their accustomed skill, and surrounded all the enemy 
in ring; the Indian fleet was in the middle girt 
about with an unbroken circle of ships like a shoal 
of fish enclosed in a net. Then Aiacos beginning 
the battle cried aloud with inspired voice this pro- 
phecy of the watery strife at Salamis for the 
descendants of Aiacos : 

138 "If ever, O Zeus of the rains, thou hast heard 
our voice of prayer, and driven away seedless drought 

<• Erechtheus. 

133 



NONNOS 

SufjoXerjv crrt yaiav dywv fium^atoy voatp. Mi 

Sos TToAtv o^iTcAccrroi' Unjv X^^> "Wtu 7aO, 
vhari Kvhalvwv fi€ koI €v6a&€' koI rtf Mffl 

VLKrjV r)IJL€T€prjV B€hoKTJfJL€VOS' * U*^ ^ /tt^ 

Zcuj eov via y€paip€, koX €v wcAaytacn ytpaipti* 
oAAo? avr]p Acf€t€J' 'AxoiiKOj* * tlv ivx $€OU^ I4» 

klaKos '\vho<f>6vos 4>vail,oaq' d^i^oTtpOÂ¥ yip^ 
K€Lpa)v cx^pa Kcipriva koI avXaxi iropiror im4a09t 
yapyia nopev ^^firfrpi koI €v4tpoawfj¥ Aiovifo^i/ 
pv€o 8* r]p.€T€pr]s ttXoov oXko^' ovotoA^ M 
COS" x^oi'toi /ccrcoii'i <f>€p€apiov rjyayov v^(op, lit 

/cat pvduDV Xayovcjv BavaTrf^pov ot&fia icopAoom 
Hapvdficvov GTpaTifjai kcu oXxdai Aijpca&^of. 
oAAa, TTctTcp, aKTj7Trovx€ Plov, aKrprrovxi #ciAn|«oC, 
7T€fi7r€ fioL aUrov opvw €/x^ #r7}/>u«ca y€W(0Ai|f 

Sc^LTCpOV TTpOfldxOlGl Koi VfJL€r€p<t} ^lOl'Vatfi' lt§ 

dXXos 8* avTipLoiaiv dpurr€p6^ opva utta&uf 
avfipoXa h* dpAfxyripoi^ €r€p6Tpona ravra ycWo^lw* 
Tov pL€v iaadpTqao) 7T€<l>oprjfi€vov dpmayi rapo^ 
drjyaXeojv ovvxojv K€-)(apayp.€vov o^c'i Ktvrptp 
v€Kp6v o<f)Lv TTepLpLeTpov dcprdl^omra K€fnumj¥, I0p 

hv(7fi€V€OS K€p6€VTos (iTrayycAAovTa TcAcwnjy* 
AcuS 8* dvrtjStcov €T€pos p^Xavoypoos cA^ 
ia;av€at? Trrepvyeaai. TTpodifml^ajv ^vov *lv^<a¥, 
avTOfidrov davaToio ficXav tvttov riv &* i$€Xff<rrj9, 
ppovraioLS irardyoiaiv ifirjv pxivT€V€o vucrjv, ||§ 

/cat crT€po7rr)v Bpofiloio Ac;(c6ia <f>€yy€a ntfintMiv 
vUa aelo yepaipe ndXiv Twpi, hvapi€V€wv hk 
oA/ca8as" cuTT^Ai^/cas" dtOTCuaoKJi K€pauvoi, 

* Because of Aiacos's piety, Zc%is readily gnurted hli 
134 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 140-168 

from the broad threshingfloors of our country,'* and 
brought Hfegiving water upon the thirsty land, then 
give us again an equal boon now at last, and glorify me 
here also with water ! Then men may say when they 
see our victory, ' As Zeus showed honour to his son 
on land, so he shows him honour on the sea.' Some 
other man of Achaia may say, * Aiacos is both Indian- 
slayer and lifebringer at once ; he both cuts off his 
enemies' heads and brings fruit to the furrow, giving 
joy to Demeter and a merry heart to Dionysos.' Pro- 
tect thou the sailing of our ship ! As I brought life- 
giving water to the hollow of the parche(f earth, so 
now I arm this flood from the hollows of the deep 
to bring death, battUng against the armies and ships 
of Deriades. 

^^^ " Come, O Father, monarch of life, monarch of 
battle ! Send me an eagle, the auspicious herald 
of my birth, on the right hand of my captains and 
your own Dionysos ! Let another omen come on 
the left for my adversaries, and let these two be op- 
posite tokens for both. Let me see the one sailing 
along with robber's wing and lifting a huge horned 
serpent, dead and torn by sharp points of his keen 
talons, proclaiming the end of my horned enemy : 
let the other come to my host of adversaries black- 
hued, with dark ^vings, foretelling the carnage of 
the Indians, the black image of self-inflicted death. 
If it be thy pleasure, foretell my victory with claps 
of thunder, and send the lightning which lighted the 
birth of Bromios to honour your son once again with 
fire, and let thunderbolts strike the helmeted ships 

prayers ; therefore, when a great drought visited Greece, he 
was asked to intercede for the rest, and did so successfully ; 
see Isocrates, Evagoras 5\ Pausanias ii. 29. 7-8. Cf. xxii. 277. 

135 



NONNOS 

wfJL<f>LOV al<ixvv€ia^ o^oirrtpov ofnnv *V!.pumm. |10 

ofifia TraXiwoarrouy ^aXwv ayrtanuw Apttmv 
yafJLppov iov Xirdvtvt Kal uxvc fiv6o¥ E^M^AfAr* 
" TayL^pos €p,6g Hofx'ijy, Owp-qaato, 

fiapvafievo) ycvcr^pt Po-qdoov daBfia nraimm n§ 

eSva T€OV daXdfjLoio OaXaaaai-qv iroM vitcifr 
oAicaat /xev hpofiioio if>€pwv VJfooaoov nSfftff 

VTjuat §€ ^y)pidhao pi(pir)v6ra novrcv IfLdootm 

dadfiari Kvpxiro^vTi rcaj dwprffov <i^AAaf— ItO 

iaal yap vapiinqs €fnr€ipafu>^, orri koa aAr6f 

QpT/JK-qv vcucrdei^, ^fintipafLo^, old rttp 'Apnt—^t 

avriPicov Sc <l>dXayyi hv<rqv€fJLOv doB^m teofuium 

cyx^'C iraxyvcvTi Kopvaaco ^rfpiahrji' 

arrJGas 8* avripioiGi ^ucAA^^aoov *Kvuai Hi 

hvojievdas Tofcuc x<^ciW^>^* /^cA^fU^, 

icai All TTiord <f>€po)v koI IlaAAa^i koI ^Uo¥fSotf, 

flVWeO K€Kp07Tl7)g €vnap$€vov, ^x^ yvKUictf 

K€pKC8l, TTOLkCXXoVGI T€WV VpL€VaiOV KpWTW^' 

^IXiaaov §€ y€patp€ yapxxiroXov, dmtdOi icovpfqif 

'Ar^iBa 0171' napoKoiTiv dvT^pnaaav dpnaytt 

€^ofi€irr)v drlvoKTov aKunfrw aldiv utpu^. 

oI8a p,€v, (1)S avvdcdXo^ cAcuaercu oAAof drfrrfs 

yciTOiv dvTiPioLGLv 'Ecitoj* oAA* cVt x^ipfin 

ov rpop.€Oi Bpaavv l^vpov, on irt^poevrts o^roi 

TrdvT^Sy oaoi ttvciouctiv, oTrdovts cicri Bo^r^o^* 

#Cai TTpOflOS AWlOTTCUV NoTlT^V €7Tl WfoV dpOVpffS 

firjK€Ti vo<7T^a€i€ Kopu/xj3aao9, oAAd 5a/i<iiy 
136 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 169-198 

of the foe. Yes, Father, remember Aigina, and do 
not shame the bridegroom ^ of thy bride, the love- 
bird of like feather with this ! " 

1^^ After this prayer, he began the fight ; Erech- 
theus also cast up his eye to the heavenly path of 
the ever-returning Bear, and prayed to his goodson 
in these words : 

1^* " Goodson Boreas, put on your armour, and send 
a helping blast to your bride's father in battle ! Give 
victory by sea as the price of your bride ! Bring a 
ship-stirring wind for Bromios's fleet and grant a boon 
to Erechtheus and Dionysos alike. For the ships of 
Deriades, flog the maddened deep into waves with 
your blast and arm your tempests — for you are well 
practised in fighting, as one whose habitation is 
Thrace, well-practised as Ares himself — then drive a 
stormy wind upon the host of our enemies, arm your- 
self against Deriades with your icy spear. Raise a 
hurricane of war against our enemies, shoot the foe 
with your frozen shafts, and keep faith with Zeus and 
Pallas and Dionysos. Remember Cecropia * with its 
lovely girls, where the women weave with their shuttle 
the love-story of your wedding. Honour Ilissos who 
led the bridal train, when the robber breezes made 
robbery of your Attic bride, sitting unshaken upon 
your unmoving shoulder. 

^®3 "I know that another wind will come to help 
our adversaries, the East Wind their neighbour: but 
I fear not bold Euros in battle, because all the winged 
breezes that blow are servants of Boreas. Let 
Corymbasos the chief of the Ethiopians never return 
to the arable land of the south ; let him be brought 

" Alluding to the eagle-shape which Zeus took to carry oflF 
Aigina. " Attica. 

137 



NONNOS 

tpvxpov xmkp TTOVTOio tnutv davaTtf^opov Ao^* 
ovK aXiyw Z€<f>vpoto, Kopvoaoft4voto Bojpf^* 
Sel^ov 6yLO<j>po<Jvvr)v €Kvpw a^BtV' ovpwnVW M 
avv aol ^aKxt'a.h€aaiv ifiali orpari^ow ll^^^ 
fiapvdfjLcvos TpioSovTi V\oo€ihdwv iroA AA|M|p 
Tj fi€v €otj vatrrjaiv, 6 5^ yvurrKHO ycWiM|f* 
Kal '7wp6€i9 'H<l>aioT09 'E/>€X^<o? aXfM ytpolptm 
rfcrai evdvrqTos «J t^TOccToav *Eyvw, 
oA/caai Ai^puzSoo fuz;(^/io>^ irvpoov iXlaoom, 
hos 3c /Lie vt/c^aai ic€u cV v^Kxai, iccu furci r£n|r 
KcKpoTTiT) Kop.u7€i€v dTrrffiova Xaoy *Epcx^cvv, 
*cat Bopcrjv p.€\^HiHn koX *Qp€iBvia¥ *A9^mu." 

Toiov CTTOJ pooojv dAi5iv€o^ iT^ttTo xopfnff 
cyx^t T€;^OTi, ICCU cuy va€Trj^ ^\apadatvoi 
vavfiaxov er^ev cpcora* ifnXrjpdrfiw &€ «ru$04fU^ 
cuoToAo? i^ev "Ap^g rort vairriXos, iv naXdfLji M 

Tn^SoAtOV ^OpOg €tx€, KVp€pirqTTI^ &€ ItuSoCfloO 

Aeip.09 dKovTo<f>6pojv dvtXvaaro n€iafumL ri|cdr. 
Ku/cAcoTTcoi^ 5c ^<xAayye; evatn'AAovro AiA<£oo]|| 
oAicaSa? dy;(tciAo«jii' oiorciJojTcy ipinvaii' 
EupuoAo; 8* oAoAa^ci', dXippoi^u* 5< irv&Mfi^ 
dYXi'V€(f)r}s ol(Trpr)a€V eV vop.Lvr)v WXnirfiif^, 
Kal SihviiaL^ OTpaTifjaiv €7T€ktv7T€ novTWf 'Kpnft 
X€p<Tai7]v ficrd Srjptv, dXippoi^o) 8* oAoAi/r^ 
oAKam Ba/cxeiT^aiv €TT€pp€ov oXkoJ^s *Ii«8<iif 
icat ^ro9 t}^ CKdrepOe, Kal cfcc «(t;/tara Ai^^, 
/cat TToAuy dp,<f>OT€pwv (TTparo^ rjpnr€v dprn^(VTtf tA 
aXfJuiTL Kvavdrj? epvdalvero vwra daXdatr^, 
138 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 199-227 

low, although he is helped by his own hot Ethiopian 
South, let him drink the cold water of death beyond 
the sea. I care nothing for Zephyros, when Boreas 
is under arms. Show that you are of one heart with 
your goodfather. From heaven by your side will 
come Poseidon fighting for my Bacchiad armies with 
his trident, and Athena, she helping her countrymen, 
he his brother's son ; and fiery Hephaistos honouring 
the blood of Erechtheus will come full welcome to the 
watery war, swinging a warlike torch against the 
ships of Deriades. Grant me victory on the sea also, 
and after victory let Erechtheus take his people 
home to Cecropia unhurt, and let Athens chant of 
Boreas and Oreithyia." 

212 Thus he cried loudly, and fell to the fight on the 
eddies of the brine with well-skilled spear — as a man 
of Marathon " he was in love with seafighting. In 
that tumult of many oars Ares was then an excellent 
mariner. Rout held rudder in hand. Terror ^ was pilot 
of the fray and threw off the hawsers of the javelin- 
bearing ships. 

218 Troops of Cyclopians navigated the sea, shower- 
ing rocks from the shore upon the ships ; Euryalos 
shouted the warcry, and Halimedes high as the 
sky dashed raging into battle with brineblustering 
tumult. In both armies the sea-battle roared after 
the conflict on land, while Indian ships charged 
Bacchic ships with brineblustering yells. There was 
carnage on both sides, and the waves boiled with 
gore ; a great company fell from both armies, the 
back of the blue sea grew red with newly -shed blood. 

* An odd blunder ; Nonnos seems to confuse Marathon 
with Salamis. 

* Phobos and Deimos are Ares' attendants in Homer. 

139 



NONNOS 

rioAAoi 8' €vOa tcai €v6a x^r^* w /g rorrff 
otSoAcoi nXurTrjp€9 ivavriXXoyro BaXimp' 
Koi poBLois €XiKrih6v CYcui' iropdfiija^ ai/rac ^^ 

avp€TO vtKpos ofuXoi a^i5/i aw^miof aC^' 
rroAAoi S* atVrofcuAioTov vtto orpo^iXtyya tcviotfioQ 
€19 poov wXlaBriaav, avayKoij) hi m&ntt 
niKpov v^p evoi^oov xmofiovx^rf^ Xiva Mojpiff » 
Ppid6fJL€voi OwpnriKf Kol oiOaMcav yJXatf Samp flB 

Kvav€a)v €KdXv7n'€v ofioxpoa awfiara vtxp&f 
^€vd€i <I>vkl6€vti, aw vyponopw Si ^oftifi 
XaXK€o^ IXvoevTL x'-'^^*' iKoXtjirrtro mfX^' 
Kai rdiif>os inXcro nom-os. €rvfifi€vo¥ro Si woAAot 
K7jT€ioi,s vcwcaaii', cv txBv6€VTt hi Xat^MM fio 

omvoov aiBvaaoiHTa viicw rvfifiivaaro ^cmni, 
^avSov €p€vyop.€vrj poov axfiarof, 6XXvudmt¥ hi 
r€VX€a TTovTos ibtKTOt v€oa^y4o^ bi ^op^Of 
avTOfxarrj XcxfKt^aaa hi vharo^ hrXt€ in}Xii( 
h€afiov Xvofi€votOf SiKXXi^tvTi 5< iroXXrff Mft 

X^vfiari <l>oiTaX€rjs €n€Vfjx€TO icvKXa Potlfff 
crvv Sicpw T€Xafiwvi. iroXv^ 5* vno KVfAoaut dttpoi^ 
d<hp6s ipevdioojv noXirj^ av€KrJKUv oAffti^ 
aifiaXdo} Trdi'XevKov vTro<JTi(ag ;(v<7iv oA«t^. 

Kat <f>ovlais XiPdBcGGiv €<f>oiyixOr) ^UXuc^pmff' Mt 
KiVKoBi-q S' oAoAyfc, ridr)vrn€ipa Xvalau, 
aifx^va yavpov ixovaa, Kai Ivho^^vov wtpi vunit 
dvBei <I>vkl6€vti. KopLTjv €ar4ilfaro Nvfi^* 
icat 0€Ti? aKpTjBefivo^ im€pKV^Hiaa doXiatn^ 
X^lpas ip€Laap.€vrj koI Acu/hSi kcu Wayovtirj Mb 

da^ievov ofifia TiVatvev cV €V$vpoat Su>vvou9. 

Kat PvOlrj FaAarcia OaXaaaaiov Sid KoXnov 
r)p.i,(l>avris 'n€<f>6pr)To hia^vovaa yoAv^npf, 

140 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 228-258 

228 Many on this side and that side fell into the 
mess of carnage, and navigated the sea swollen and 
floating. The merciless winds dragged with them 
the crowds of dead bodies, tossed about by the surge 
with breezes to ferry them. Many fell of themselves 
under the whirlwind of battle, and slipt into the flood, 
then drank of the bitter brine, for they could not help 
it, and weighed down with their corselets knew the 
threads of the Fate who drowned them in the waters. 
The black water covered the black livid bodies of the 
swollen dead with seaweed in the depths ; slimy mud 
covered coat of mail and seafaring wearer together ; 
the sea was their grave. Many again had sepulture 
in the maw of seamonsters, or the darting seal en- 
tombed the inanimate corpse in her fishy throat and 
belched out a stream of brownish blood. The sea 
took the armour of the dead ; the plumed helmet 
worked loose from the strap and floated upon the 
water by itself, its owner newly slain ; many a round 
shield swam at random on the flood with soaking 
sling driven by the gale, and under the surface of 
the waves masses of red foam bubbled up from the 
grey brine, marking the spread of white with streaks 
of blood. 

250 Melicertes also was stained by the drops of 
gore ; Leucothea cried out for joy, she the nurse of 
Lyaios, raising a proud neck, and the Nymph crowned 
her hair with flowers of seaweed for the Indian- 
slaying victory ; and Thetis unveiled peeping up out 
of the sea, with her hands resting on Doris and 
Panopeia, turned a gladsome eye towards Dionysos 
with his thyrsus. 

257 Galatea too came from the depths and moved 
half visible through the bosom of the deep sea, 

141 



NONNOS 

Kal <f>oviov KwAomos aXi'rrrolffr€¥ *E»tNtf 

eXnero yap UoXv<f>r)fiov i6€i¥ ttara ^ittovir *li« 
atTta ^Tjpidhao avvaix}idl^otrra Aua/q»* 
rapPaXerj 8* ltctr€V€ BaXaaaalrjv *A^po 
via Y\oG€iSda)vos dpurrtvovra aawaai, 
Kal yeverqv <f>iX6T€Kvov i^* vUi Kva¥OXiihiff MB 

p.apvap.€vov \i,rdv€V€ npoaani^tw HoXu^fi^iiam, 
Kol Pvdiov rpioSovTOS €KVKXuMjtvno ^off9ji^ 
6vyaT€p€s ^rjprjos' €p«t5o/icvoj W rpuwrg 
TTovTios €woaiyai,os tbtpKtro ytlrova x^'PI'^9 
Kol arparov €vdiupT)Ko^ onin€vnjv AiO W dOtr, tlO 

^■qXrip^v opowv iripov YkVKXumo^ *EriN«, 
vypopLodu) Bpofilw noXvfi€fi<t>4a fr^aro ^ u ti^' 
" Et? cvotttJv, <f>CX€ Boic;^*, 

KaXXelipas 8* eua /xoiH'oi' d-noTTpoBi ^mar^roy, 
€1? xpo^'o*' €'7TTa€r7)pov CYcis' 7roAu#rv*fAor aycitfra, tTi 
PoGKOJV dXXoTrpoGoXXov artppx>vo^ iXitHha xidpfiyf^, 
oTTt T€oi5 pL€ydXoio TrpoaoTTiarrjp^i dyuM^Of 
TTcii^c? €1^09 x^TCoiKTii' di'iiorrou rioAv^^fiov* 
€t he T€rjv €771 8^piv e/i09 n-ai^ urcro KiM(Aai^« f79 

narpwTjv 8* cAcAtfci' c/xij? yAcu;^!!^ rpuuyift, ttl 

ICai K€V UTTCp 7T€bloiO (TwaL)Qidiatv £SMJ¥6ot(f ttO 

QTrjdea PovKcpdoio SUdXaa€ SrjpiaAfjos, ISA 

icat TToAuv ali'ov ofiiXov €fiw rptoBovn 5<u{air ftl 

€19 p-iav r)piy€V€Lav oXov ycvo9 ticravtv *\vhoai¥. IB 
utoj c/Lto? TToAat* oAAo? c^oiv cKaroKra&a x^ipAf ^^ 
Ttn^vcuv oAen^pt T€ai •)(fialop.r)0€ toktm, 
Atyauuv 7roAi^;(u?, ore Kpovov ciV ^^ficm ihcijmf 
' So Marcellus : irdJUv MM. and edd. 

" Nonnos follows the story aooording to which 
142 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 259-287 

wrinkling the calm surface, and looking upon the 
sea-afFrighting battle of murderous Cyclops she was 
shaken, and her cheeks changed colour from fear, for 
she thought she saw Polyphemos fighting for Lyaios 
against Deriades in this Indian War ; and in dismay 
she besought Aphrodite of the sea to protect the 
heroic son of Poseidon, and she prayed the loving 
father Seabluehair to defend his son Polyphemos in 
the battle." The daughters of Nereus gathered 
round the bearer of the deepsea trident ; Earth- 
shaker the seagod leaning upon his trident watched 
the neighbouring conflict, and scanning the host of 
corseleted Dionysos, he observed with jealousy the 
valour of another Cyclops, and loudly reproached 
Bacchos for disturbing the waters with battle : 

2^3 " Bacchos my friend, how many Cyclopians you 
have brought into your war, and left only one far 
from the battle ! Your conflict has lasted through 
many cycles, seven years, feeding the varying hopes 
of endless strife, because all the foremost champions 
of your great contest lack one, Polyphemos the 
invincible. If my son the Cyclops had come to your 
conflict, and brandished the prong of my trident, 
his father's, then indeed as the ally of Dionysos he 
would have pierced the chest of horned Deriades 
on this field — he would have destroyed a great and 
terrible host with my threetooth, and slain the whole 
Indian nation in one day ! Before this another son 
of mine with a hundred hands helped your Father 
to destroy the Titans, Aigaion manyarm, when he 

loved Polyphemos in return (contrast Theocritos xi.) and bore 
him a son. 

143 



NOVVOc 

TjXipdrcjv irircuvt iroXwrnpti two^ ay%HrrAft 
TjcAiov aKioaxrav €x<*»y v^jfavx^ya yairfft 

€U7raXdfiov ^piapijo^ (mon i ifOOO¥T€S Ewn». 

ToTov €nos <l>Bov€utv v€fi€arifM)¥i w^^paJU ^iMi'f* 
aiSofi€vrj 8^ 8<>a>aa Karrj^a^ cfx* mpttdi, 
"ApcX fi^ na^ovTO^ ipcjfiavto^ MoAv^'^^iov. 

rjdaSa novrov oirumt Karapfwrov aJfian Ni|pirfr* 
£av&qs 5* €vvoaiyaios €ddfifi€€ vuna ^aXiaarit, 
IxOvas di^po^yovs opowv kqX tthfivi Micpwr 
ycirovo; dfipoxa I'cura y€<^vpcj6€VTa tfaX(lo«Fi|f . . • 
Baic;(ia5e9 t€ ^>aXayy€S €7Ttpp€ov aWam Xaut, 300 

Kctro §€ hvafjL€V€wv crrparo^ dantrof, 

toy A^ X*W*2/ 
paXXofi€va)v ^i<f>€€am kqI oftnopoiaiv 6urrxHS» 
rod p,€V unkp Xandpriv /ScAo; c/xircac, 

Tou Oc ryumffOt 
€yx€i x°^^^ fi€adrqs xmkp avrvya K6paifi 
<x)T€iXrj p€pddu<rro ;(apcu7ao/xAx>io KOfnjyov. 90b 

TToAAot 8' ci^a iccu o-^o 7ToXvGn€p€uiv ^Aanymr 
TTOVTOV dfJMiPaloujiv dva4TxiiovT€S €p€rfJL6lS 
KDaverjv XcvKaivov €TTaa<Tvr€pn)v ;^u<ni' d/^p^, 
Kai novos ^v dvovr^ros itriiyopLivtJV tXarrfpuM^, 
<TViJL<f>€pTOV9 Sc KoAcua? doaoT^Ti^pi ac^i|p9» SIO 

IdvvTTjp d7T€Ko^€ Kou ca^MTcv oopi aci/n^. 
144 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 288-311 

put Cronos to flight and stretched the farspread 
legion of his high-climbing arms and shadowed 
the sun with hair flying high over his neck, so 
that the grim Titans were driven from Olympos 
cringing, before the attack of Briareos and all his 
arms ! 

2^2 So he spoke, in a tone of grudging jealousy ; 
and Thoosa « sank down her cheeks in shame that 
lovesick Polyphemos was not present in the battle. 

^^ But when the end came of this loudblustering 
conflict, Nereus saw his familiar sea flooded with 
blood ; Earthshaker was amazed at the brownish 
surface of the deep, as he saw fishes eating men, and 
the back of the neighbouring sea bridged over dry 
with the heaps of corpses . . . The troops of Bacchos 
poured upon the swarthy people. 

(301 There lay an infinite multitude of the enemy, 
struck down in the fight by swords and sharp arrows. 
One had a shaft lodged over the flank; one was 
struck by a bronze spear over the round of his temple, 
the wound running deep into the cloven head. Great 
numbers of the farscattered oarsmen on both sides 
cleft the dark flood with continuous strokes of alter- 
nating oars, and whitened it with foam ; but the 
labour of the hurrying oarsmen was in vain, for the 
commander cut the ropes with his sword and severed 
with aiding steel the tangled mass of lashings.'') 

<* Daughter of Phorcys, mother by Poseidon of Poly- 
phemos, Od. i. 71. 

" This seems to be a description of a ship getting away 
from another which has grappled her. Something is lost to 
the effect that Dionysos's followers caught and killed those 
who were rowing away. But the whole paragraph may be 
out of place, for in the next lines the Indians are still fighting 
stoutly. 

VOL. Ill L 145 



NONNOS 

€pp€€V dnXav€wv hoXixoatciof o^po^ Surrwm* 
a)v 6 fi€v loTov c/3aAA€ fi€aaimTO¥, of 5^ wtpi^foan 
lariov evhimp-ov €p6fiP€€ awhpofiof aSfiOMt, 31* 

oAAo? €J)v irporovoiGi nttrapfiivoi, &f M U/toStft^ 
Kctro 7T€aa}v, mpos &€ &i* W**^ *^ ttAi|n|f 
aKporarqs ^rvx^fo^v a€patXa^oiO t€€p(UffS, 
acXiiaai 8' oAAoj fiji' rtrayvofuyos' dyvi^ar^ M 
oAAa Kv^pvr}fT7)po^ dnonXaYX^^yra K€Xtvio9 SM 

aorara TrqbaXioio bi€((a€v curpa tcopvufiov 
Kal OAoyio; icAtrroTo(o9 \nrrw4yuo¥ fiiXof JXtttm 
LKpia vrjos cjSoAAe icai ou#( irvx'V^ AvaUm, 
tJv S* cai5ca' icard ttoitok ctmrcpov 26r <SMn|i 
TTouAvTToSo? a#coAiou> n^purX^xBivni, tcomiftpotf ttft 
oAAov 8* 'qpPpor€v oAAo;* 'Epu^ooti^ M atftifp^t 
nofiTTiXov oAAo? €TU0€ «carai;(/ia(ctfF Aio wl oD V 
€yx€'C 8* i7ffo»^t{€ KopvfjiPaaoi, o^fi^ '"'X'i^ 
oXxai-qg ^arvpoio, iTapat(aaa 8< Aoyj^ 
IxOvos vypoTTopoio Kar€ypcuf>€ hi^vyov oiSjp^ tti 

Br^yaXeri yXcDx^vi' Tirua*cd/x«i*o^ 8€ aft5^yM^ 
€t9 a/coTrdi^ d;(^((rroi' avovrqrov Aum^vodv 
ArfpidS-qg bopv nipLTrev, d-nornXayxBtlaa hk Bokj^ov 
€45 paxir^v h€X<f>lvos €iTOiirw€ Aoivio; <u;(fii}, 
KvpTos OTTji Xo<l>iijai oiWTrrcTcu ix^uoy at))(i)r, no 

S€X<l>ls 8* airrocAticToj idrjpLovi tcvKXa&i vwnrQ 
rjfiidavrjs GKiprrjae ;(optTt8o9 dAfuxrt Nfoi^m* 
TToAAoi 8* rr^a kcu €i'6a KVpicmjTijp€S oXdupoo 
IxBves wpxTjGavTo x^H^^^^^H^^'^^ ^''^ vwrw¥* 
Kat SrepoTnyy npop.dxi'^fV' 

d€pafn6^^ 8* 'AAifc^5i|( SIO 
YCipl Aaj3ci>y TTpTjcova OaXaaaoTOKOiO KoXunnjig 
pup€v cV* dvTiPioiaw eSwc 8c ^iraXcq nytJff 
146 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 312-342 

^12 From each army flew straight a shower of long- 
shafted arrows whizzing unerring through the air. 
One struck full upon a mast, one ran noisily through 
a flapping sail quick as the wind, another pierced the 
forestays, another fell and stuck in the mastbox ; an 
arrow again flying through the air hit the end of the 
yard which supported the sail, another stuck straight 
up on the foredeck. Others came near the helms- 
man, but missed the way in which they had been sent 
and scraped the top of the moving rudder. Phlogios 
the famous archer drew a shot through the air, and 
hit the ship's deck but missed Lyaios. You could 
see a winged arrow fly and skim over the sea, 
then embraced in the feelers of a curling squid. 
Many missed, but one with Erythraian steel aimed 
at Dionysos hit a pilot-fish.** Corymbasos cast a 
lance at a Satyr's tail, but the lance missed him and 
scored the forked tail of a waterfaring fish with its 
sharp point. Deriades aimed his steel at a target 
impossible to hit, as he cast at unwounded Dionysos ; 
the deadly point missed Bacchos and got to work on 
the backbone of a dolphin, where the curving neck 
of the fish joins the bristUng back — the fish leapt 
of itself in its usual curving course, and already 
half-dead skipt with the leap of a dancing Fate. 
On all sides many a fish with pierced back tumbled 
about in his dance of death. 

^^ Steropes also fought in the forefront ; HaU- 
medes high uphfted upon his feet grasped the crag 
of a seaborn cliff and threw it at the foe — a stray 

*» Naucrates ductor. 

147 



NONNOS 

Tfyrjxa^dov pXr)e€l(m XiSov rpoxo€tb4t KVteXtf». 
Kai ns aKOVTioBeiaa hi* oXxahof 6Xxaii ytri 
a/x<^Te>as cfcvfcv aXibpofWi hx*^ <"XI*'}» ••• 

vr^as €TrLa<f>iy^aaa hvw ^wtfovt h€afUf» 
arcivoficvtov v€<f>€Xr)b6v' hfv 8* mpotcrvwat ^V* 

Kai aroXos dfufxyripODy T<Tpa{i/yor cfxtr *Ei>M6« 
wv 6 fi€v dmir<5poio wept /wx*** <»*^*>*^ aSpev, 
OS h€ Aij3os Spoacpolo wt^w trrc/xW', St M B^pfof , IM 
Kat NoTir^i' -rrapa WJav. ofioi^Sa/j^ M^nraSr 
Moppcus /x€v Ta^vy^*'*'*^ ^^* o^<*^<>f a*«aoa pai w ur 
Baa(7apt3a>i' €<f>6Prja€v aXiirroirjrov ^nM»« 
faos" dpiOTCuoii' Kai cv u5a<nv* dAAc£ < ff^poiy 
Ei^io; ovrrjuas hi(ffTJs avtatipaat x^ff-'^lf* 9t§ 

Kai fioy€iov oBvvrjaiv tni vroXiv oi^cro mopptus* 

''0<f)pa fiev €v$€ov cAko;, o /iiv Adx«, 5ai|iOP^ X'lp 
XvaiTTovov 3paxp-'fjvos oKiaaaro ^oifi6ii Ti^fH* 
d€cnT€airi AoAov v^vov unorpviovTOf doti§, 
T6<l>pa 5e SvGfi€V€€aaiv cW^pac AuScof 'Apiff. StO 

Toiai fttv €yp€Kv8oifios trjv vXoos, f^X* ^* *E*'W^ 
vauriAiT}? TTpoKdXevBoVt aXiafiapdyov hi KvioifiaB 
•^v icAdi'os dp.<f>oT€pcjv mpoTponoi' dynfilum yip 
oGGoi fi€v Kpavaolatv ourrtvoyTo fiiXl^UfOis 
ri <f>ovLOLs 7T€rdXoiaiv ^ €yx€aiv "^4 fia)(aiptu/ig SM 

X^ipas ipeTfiwaavres d'qd€as €i9 fUXoM u8«|p 
WfiaajLV daraOdcGGiv irvp^vovro BaXiaofif' 

€t 8c Tt? €t? oAa TTtTTTC TVTTciy BpOfUOCO |4aXI|T4r» 

alBvGGOJV TToXdfias incv^x^ro Kv^ra r^unttf 
X^P^^'- OaXaoGop-oBoiGiv, dXippoi^w 8c icuSoui^ flQ 

p.apvdfji€vos podloLGi fi€T dv€pas €Gxuf€9 ^amp, 
ElvaXlrjs h€ TdXavra fidxrjs c^cAtif Kpo^Uut^, 
148 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 343-372 

ship sank, struck by the rounded mass of hard stone. 
Or again, a spear cast over the sea at close quarters 
joined ship to ship and coupled the pair together, 
holding two vessels fast in a common bond, while 
they were all crushed together in a cloud — great was 
the clamour on both sides. 

^^ The two fleets were engaged in four divisions : 
one facing the backbone of the scorching East Wind, 
one by the wing of the rainy Sou'west, one in the 
region of the North, one in the South. Morrheus 
with alternating rushes marched kneeswift from 
ship to ship and scattered the seascared array of 
Bassarids, a conquering hero equally on the sea ; but 
Euios wounded him with his thyrsus and checked his 
valour on the deep — then Morrheus in agony was 
gone back to the city. 

357 While the divine wound which had got him 
was being healed by the godly hand of a painquelling 
Brahman with Apollo's art, who cooed a verbose ditty 
of solemn incantation, so long the Lydian wargod 
prevailed against his enemies. 

3^1 Their assault awoke a new conflict : Enyo went 
before their sails, and the struggle of the two navies 
in the brineplashing battle was different. For those 
of the enemy who were struck by volleys of hard 
stones, or deadly leaves, or spears or swords, 
paddled the black water with unaccustomed hands 
and found a grave in the sea with staggering steps ; 
but if any warrior of Bromios fell stricken into the 
brine, he darted out his arms and swam cutting the 
waves with seabattUng hands, as he fought the surge 
with brineblustering noise and cleft water instead 
of men. 

372 Now Cronion incUned the balance of the sea- 

149 



NONNOS 

vLKrjv vSarocaaav €'n€VTWotv I^un^iia<ff 
Kal PvSUx) TpioSovTt Kopvaatro iaMU*oxo/n|f 
fiapvdficvos hnnioiai, koi dfipoxo^ A wio x< l fa » J* 

dpfia lloGtihawvog ePaxxtvBri MtAunpTfK. 
Kal TTiGvpaig Kara trovrov i6iim€Vot>m ndXXaag 
KVfuiTa 7Wpya*aayT€^ iOvjpii^yBTi^iav drjrcA, 
hvafi€V€wv tddXovTts durraiacu (rrixa •'i|«3r. Sit 

ol fi€v Aripio&rjos dpTfyovts, oi 5j Amuoo* m 

Koi Zc^upo; K€K6pvaro, M9 

Noro9 S* €n€avpui€¥ Efjpy» W 
Kal Boperjs Gp^iaaov dywp dtrriirvotMf ot^pifr 
dypia fiaivofiivrjs €n€fidari€ vuna BaXdatnff, 
Kal oToXov Wvvovaa /ia;^/AOva Aijpio&^o; 
vofiLVT]^ "Kpi^ ^PX^' Auavuao40 &€ Ki^oir tti 

*\vho(l>6va) TToXdfi-p KoXntoaaro Xai^a N/iny. 
\€LXeai 8* (VfioAcouri fiax^jp^va Kd^Xov ipttaaf 
elvaXlrj odXTTiyyi ficAo? /xi;#n}cTaTo Niypcvy 
icat ©CTis" €afiapdy7)G€v iwaXirj^ ^UXo^ *H;(0^ 
KVfiaGL TraTpcuoioL npoatmi^oxHTa Avaiov, 9tQ 

Kvpyfidhcov 8c Kaj36i/x>9 cBijfiova BaXi¥ ^Iptm 
vapiLvrjs hoXov €vp€v dprfyova' firjKtbayfpf yap 
V7]vv lbl7)v c^Acfcv €Kovau>v oulfdfk€vos nvp' 
vtjvgI 8* in* dvTipioiaiv cVcV^x* ^oiraXtfi inyfif 
vcvfiaai Ba/c;^€totai TT€piaKaipovaa OaXdatrn, SM 

#cai Ao^ai? l\iK€aaiv axft* oXxdhos oXKoha pnirmr 
kvkXov €£ avrocXiKTOv cv^;(€to irvpao^ dXffrq^t 
Kalcjv €vda Kal evSa TToXwmepiijjv orlxa vtfum, 
Kal aeXas dSprjaaaa Trupt/SATyroto BaXdmrrff 
Nrypetj aKprfhefivos ibvaaro p€vO€a troirrov, 400 

q.Wofi€vov <j>€vyovaa hC uSaro? ucfiaX^ov nvp, 

XafcTo 8* '1^80? o/xiAo? cm xBova, itovtov tdaa^' 
Kal Oac^coy cycAaaacv, ori nporipous furd Scil|ioi^ 
150 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 373-403 

fight, preparing a watery victory for Dionysos ; Sea- 
bluehair armed him mth his trident of the deep to 
fight the foe, and Melicertes madly drove the un- 
wetted car of Poseidon. The winds also rode on 
four tempests over the sea, armed for the fray and 
towering up the waves, with a will to destroy the 
lines of their enemies' ships, these to help Deriades, 
those Lyaios : Zephyros was ready, Notos whistled 
against Euros, Boreas brought up his Thracian 
breeze as a counterblast and flogged the back of the 
maddened sea. Discord guided the warlike navy 
of Deriades and led the battle ; but Victory filled 
out the sails of Dionysos with a hand which bore 
death for the Indians. Nereus pressed his conch of 
war with dripping lips and boomed a tune through 
the sea-trumpet, and Thetis shrilled a tune of war- 
like sound and defended Lyaios ^vith her father's 
billows. 

2^1 Eurymedon the Cabeiros Hfting his familiar 
torch invented a useful stratagem of war. He set 
fire to his own long vessel on purpose ; then the 
vessel was sent adrift bounding over the sea against 
the enemy at the command of Bacchos. The errant 
bonfire floated round of itself by wayward turns 
from ship to ship, and setting alight here and there 
the long line of far-scattered vessels. The Nereid un- 
veiled seeing the glare of the fire-shotten sea dived 
into the depths, and fled from liquid fire through 
burning water. 

*02 Then the Indian host left the sea and retreated 
to the land ; and Phaethon laughed, because Ares 
in the seafight had fled again before the fire of 

151 



NONNOS 

€K Twpog 'H^tWoto iraXiy ^vyt nu//iaj(ov 'Afftff, 
^rjpidhrjs S* aKixtTO^ Ihwv ^Xoya awSpo/tc^ 
€t9 TTcSibv 'n€'n6mfro Botitrtpa yowara wdXXatVf 
^vywv uypov "Aprfa 6aXauraofi6Sov Aiomtbov. 

• When Hephaistos cmnirht him wHh Aplwodlto hi • i 



152 



DIONYSIACA, XXXIX. 404-407 

Hephaistos, as once before he fled from his chains.*' 
And Deriades when he saw the flame, fast as the 
wind fled to the land, wagging his knees too quick 
to catch, as he tried to escape the watery assault of 
seafighting Dionysos. 

of fine chains, Od. viii. 296; Helios (Phaethon) spied on 
them, ibid. 302. 



153 



AIONniAKHN TESSAPAKOCTON 

TeaaapaKooTov c;(C( bthaJiYfi^vov 6p)(aua¥ *hMkf0 
ncjs §€ Tvpov ^iowGos thvoaro, narpAa K^Sfiov. 

Ov 8e Aitcqv dX(€iv€ navotltiov , ovS4 teal adr^ 
dppayeos kXwotjjpo^ dxa/xTrca iij/xaTa Motfftff 
aXXd pLiv ddprjuaaa wc^ufora IloAAaf *Aftpjn|— 
€^€TO yap Kara ttovtov cVc trpopXtftoq ifMrrtft, 
vavp,axov elaopowaa KopvoaopUvwv fioBor *Ii«5afr— > f 
€K GKOTTLTJs dj^cTToATo, KOi apocva huoaTO fiop^fi^ 
KXctliivoois 8* odpoiai TTapTfira^fv 6p)(afio¥ *Ii«ter9 
Moppcoj cISo? €xovaa, xapil^o^Uvt) &€ Ava/y 
^Tjpidhrjv dv€Koili€, Kol COS dXtyovaa tcvSiHfLoO 
<j>piKr6v dTT€ppoi^hr)a€v ctto^ 7roXvfi€ft^i ^tMt¥§' 10 

" Ocuyct?, Ar)pidSrj; rtVi ^roiAAincf 'Apca nyctfr; 
TTCtis' Suvaaai va€Tr)aL <l>ayij p.€vai ; rj 'n60€V aimj¥ 
o^cai *0paiP6r)v ficvtB-qiov, at k€v dxovafi 
ArjpLdSrjv (f>€vyovTa #cat ou fiifivoyra ywoxkos; 
ath€o ^eipopL-qv prf^rjvopa, p,^ a€ voTfajj If 

VGfXLVTjv daiS-qpov VTroTm^aaoyra Avatov, 
^ Sopv dovpov €xovaa Kal 6xXl^ov<ra po€tri¥ 
pApvaro BaaaapiScCTCTi, axn^frnopJvr) napaxoirfi, 
^ajeo /xot Moppet Aittcov pxtdov r^v 8* c^cA^ar^r, 
atrro? dpLorevau) /ecu dt'oAxi^a Baic;(o»' oAcaoctf. SO 
154 



BOOK XL 

The fortieth has the Indian chief wounded, and how 

Dionysos visited Tyre, the native place 

of Cadmos. 

Yet he escaped not allseeing Justice, nor the inflex- 
ible threads of Fate herself the inexorable Spinner. 
No — Pallas Athena beheld him in flight, for she 
sat on a headland high over the sea, and watched 
the Indians contending in their battle on the sea. 
Down from the height she leapt, and put on the 
shape of a man, the form of Morrheus ; and, all to 
please Dionysos, she checked Deriades, cajoUng the 
Indian chieftain with mindstealing whispers. As if 
anxious about the conflict, she poured out words 
of affright in reproachful tones : 

11 *' You flee, Deriades ! Whom have you left in 
charge of the seafight ? How can you show yourself 
to the people ? Or how will you look in the face of 
dauntless Orsiboe, if she hears that Deriades is in 
flight and will not stand before women ? Have 
respect for manbreaking Cheirobie, let her not see 
you shrinking from fight with Lyaios unarmed — why, 
she held a furious spear, she heaved up an oxhide and 
fought the Bassarids following her husband ! Give 
place, please, to Morrheus — you have left the field, 
and if you please, I will be champion myself and 

155 



NONNOS 

'rT€vB€p6v ov KoXtatii at -nt^^irra, atio M 
ccrroi XtipoPlr)^ €T€po? noai^' ouhofuvof yip 

KoXXtuItU) T€0»' aOTU, Kol IfoflOl tU X^^*"* lll(8«r, 

Zfo/xai €tV il*fu^i77»', lya firi aio yojdiftit d Uow wa». 

CU71V *A/xa^oi'i3c9 rrtpl Kavtcaao¥, i^wiMi wMal 
XeipoPlr)^ noXv fidXXov dpumvovai yiiMiartc 
Ktldi bopuc-rqrriv Ppiaprjv av(U&vo¥ OMoirm 
€(V ydfiov, rfv cWAcu, fiiav afo^uu' ht BtiXi^tM^ v^ 
oi) 0€xoy-ai mo TraiSa <fnryonroXifAO*o TOtrifot,' 
*Qs <fafi€yr) nap€7r€ia(v ayrjvopa ^ffpuArja, 
Kal ol Odpaos €hwK€ ro htvrtoov, o^pa ha§uifi 
fiapvafjLtvov Bpofiioio rvntU ^urrfvopi BiSfiom. 
Kal Bpaavs ayvwoawv BoXirjv naptovaay AA)n|r 
ipevhoficvov ^ioppTJog iXtyX^^ fivSov OKoAim 
XciXcGiv aiSop,€voiat irappfffopov Za)f€ ^ciin(r* 

ri fi€ fu/x^cu, drpofu MopptB; 
ov TTpoyuos, ov npofjLO^ o6to^, 

KoX yap afJLrjxcLveu}, rtVi papvofuu rf rtm /MAAm* 

OTTCvScJV p.€V TTTipOeVTl fioXtlv ^lOWOOV SuFT^, 

rj ^Uf>€l TrAi]^ a? p.€aov avx^vo^, ri hopv n^uwum 
ovrrjaai nodiwv hia yaartpos, avri AtMUOP 
TTopSoAtv aloXovuyrov tnataaovra Ki)(dyt»t , . . 
fiaovafidvov 8c Xiovros cTrciyo/ioi ov^^cmi rZ/AMCcy, 
#cat Bpauvv avrl Xiovros o^v ScuTTrAi/Ta Soiccucu* 
OTTCvScov 8* dvTi hpaKovTos OTTiiTtvw pa^w apKTOV' 
€LS Xo<l>ir)v 8' inlKvpTov €fi6v bopv dovpov uiAActf, 
dAAd jiaTTjv Taruco 8oAt;(d>' ptXo^' dyri yap aptmm 

* The sense of the lost words may hftTc been ** 
panther and it turns into a lion.** 
156 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 21-48 

destroy that weakling Bacchos. I call you good- 
father no more, you, a runaway — let your girl 
Cheirobie find another husband : for I am ashamed 
— I will leave your city and migrate to the Median 
country, I will go to Scythia, that I may not be 
called your goodson. 

2^ " But you will say * My wife is well armed, she 
understands warfare ! ' There are Amazons about 
Caucasos, and many women are there far better 
champions than Cheirobie. There I will carry off a 
strong one for my bed, captive of my spear, to wed 
me without brideprice, if I like. For I will never 
receive into my bridechamber your daughter, whose 
father is a fugitive from the battle ! '* 

^1 With this reproach she persuaded proud Deri- 
ades, and gave him courage again, that he might be 
struck down by the mandestroying thyrsus of warring 
Bromios. He knew not that it was deceitful Athena 
before him ; he heard the reproachful voice of the pre- 
tended Morrheus, and bold again, spoke comforting 
words with shamed hps : 

^^ " Spare your words. Why do you reproach me, 
fearless Morrheus ? No soldier is this, no soldier, 
who is always changing shape. Indeed I am at a loss 
who it is I am fighting and whom I strike. Eager to 
shoot Dionysos with a feathered arrow, or to cut 
through his neck with a sword, or desiring to cast a 
spear and pierce his belly — instead of Lyaios I find a 
speckled panther charging upon me. . . .* A lion is 
fighting and I hasten to shear his neck, and I see a 
bold horrible serpent instead of a lion — I attack, and 
instead of a serpent I behold a bear's back — I cast my 
furious spear at the curving neck, but in vain I hurl 



157 



N0NN06 

^oiWrcu ^€p6^oiTog avotmrot hm^idm^ 4^^^* 
Kanpov iBojv imovra poo^ fivKH^fid^ dstemm, 10 

dm-i avo^ riva ravpov tnrip Xofoio fiMrwrnam 
nanraivu} yaporrfjaiv axoyriioma tctatUaut 
•fm€T€povs iXtiJMvras' iyw 5* iiiiv iop iklf90m 
ihrjpol iroXv<nT€p€€aai, koi oCy m ^mM fia§ldf/m, 
Kol if>VT6v ddpnaas ravvut ^cAof , dXXa ^ v fiir r ot H 
vvaaav is rjtpirfv opow Kuprovfuvot^ vSmp. 
€v6€V €y<jj rpop,€Uiv noXwfxipfiajca Ba^fMOra r /j pTfi 
<f>vXo7nv dXXoTTpoaaXXov aAvaira{a» Aioviloov* 
oAAd ndXiv ^pofiiw Bwpi^ofiai, dxpit ^Xiyfm 
fidyyava r€;(>n/cvra hoXoppa/^os AionSdov." tO 

*Q.S tlTTOiV K^KOpVarO TO h€VT€pO¥ ^M3l AllvM* 

Koi ndXiv €v 7rc3ui> fioSos tfiptfu, /iiijiiii|iA'y U 
elvaXtrjv fi€rd bijpiv iOwpn^xBrj ^uMwnp' 
Kol TTporipnrjs Bpofiioto X€XaafjL4vof cirArro vitcrit, 
6TnT6r€ hmpri€vri 7T€pinXoKos av;f/i«a Sca/ioj ii 

u<€Girjv noXvevKTOv dvta^tdt pAprvpi Bdxvui' 
dAAd TToAiv npofios €0K€ Btr^pAxoS' cfvc hi^paMff 
SixBoL^iriVf rj hoKxov cAcu' rj hfiwa rMooai, 

rpls fl€V ioV BopV TTC/XTTC, 

Kcu -nfiPportv ^pa pdXXu¥' 
oAA' OT€ hr) TO T€rapTov €iT€opaiJL€v oivont B^JcyylO 
€19 OKOTTov dxpriiarov €7njopov cyx^ IdXXtav 
^T)pLdSr)s imdponXos, €ov owdtBXov dYwvf>s 
yapiPpov iov KaX€€<7K€, koI ovk€ti ^aiV€To S\opp€lir 
aXXd p^Tacrrp€ifiaaa SoXonXoKov c25os> *A^i^ 
haipLOVi, PoTpv6€VTL TTapiaraTO' b€pKOfUvov b^ 7* 

SfLpxLTi dcoTTcaUx} XvTo yovvaxa ArjpioSijof 
€yvw 8* dvSpofi€rj^ dnarriXiov €uc6va ftop^SfS 
}Aopp€0^ dvTiTvnoio (f>€p€iv plfirjpa npomawov 
Koi SoXov rjTTCpOTTija acxfnjs €v6rja€v 'ABijyti^. 
158 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 49-79 

the long shaft, for instead of a bear appears a flame 
flickering up into the air uninjured ! I see a boar 
rushing and I hear a bull's bellow, instead of the 
boar I see a bull lowering his head sideways and stab- 
bing our elephants with flashing horns. I swing my 
sword against all sorts of beasts, and cannot overcome 
that one beast. I behold a tree and take aim, but it 
is off and I see a spout of water curving into the path 
of the sky. Therefore I tremble at the bewitched 
miracles of his art, and shrink from the changeable 
warfare of Dionysos. But I will confront Bromios 
again, until I lay bare the cunning enchantments of 
Dionysos the botcher of guile ! " 

^1 He spoke, and a second time armed himself, wild 
as before ; again the uproar of battle rose on the 
plain — there after the seafight he met Dionysos in 
arms. He had forgotten the former victory of 
Bromios, when his neck was entangled in leafy bonds 
and he offered his prayers of many supplications to 
Bacchos, who saw it all. Again he was a soldier 
fighting against the gods ; doubtful only whether to 
kill or make Bromios a slave. Thrice he cast a spear, 
and missed, striking nothing but air ; but when the 
fourth time in his arrogance Deriades rushed upon 
wineface Bacchos, and cast his spear through the air at 
a mark which could not be hit, he called his goodson 
to help him — and Morrheus was no longer to be seen, 
but Athena had changed her deceptive shape and 
stood beside the vinegod. Deriades saw her, and his 
knees trembled with overwhelming fear : he under- 
stood that the human shape which bore the likeness 
of Morrheus was all a deception, and recognized the 

159 



NONNOS 

T17V fi€v i&wv /^^6yvao9 iytfittv, cr KpMff hk •• 

tlf€vbofjJirqv yuKoaK€ awaixii/^finaop *AMn|r. 
Kcu ror€ parpv6€i^ Koriuw fiasextiiero 0«(pnii> 

^rjpia^v 5* €biwK€ raxvSpopo¥' ojdr^ 6 ^ii^wv 
KoviJMs €7r€iyofi€vaii hvraurrro aMjpOfiOf ol jp aif ' li 
dAA* ore x<^P<>^ rWavov, 0117} iroAf/ Ai yrAfor Aai|p 
KVfian Xvaautoyri y4po>v 9C€\ap>u^€¥ nTMnnir, 
iJtoi o ficv TTorafUHO rrap* "^vai dvXrrot ^<my, 
CO? y€V€rr)v awiUBXov €x<t>v K€XaBotrra /la^^i^r^ 
vypoi' oxom-ioT^pa Kopvaao^Uvov Aiovuoov, W 

halpxiiv S* d/xTrcAoci? ra^aixpoa dvpac¥ i^XXatm 
oKporarov XP^ fioGvov iviypa/^ Hrfpiabtjof. 
avTop 6 KiacnTcvri rvntU ^ur^jjvopi BaXXf 
Trar/Mooi npoKciprjvo^ €nu»Xuj0ifa€ ^iBptif, 
firjK€havols /icAccoac yc^pcuoa; 2iAor uSoi|p W 

avTOfiarog, XP^^^I^ ^ ^*^ fiereL ^nSXaww *IiMp 
ovy Alt nafifi€^€ovri ndXiv voarrfimp *OAi//iir^. 
BGuc;^oi 3* a/Li^aAaAa{^ov d&rjptrov Atovfiaov 
brjpw av€vd^oirr€9, ooAAiJon-o bi iT<iXXol 
€yx€aiv ovrd^ovT€^ oXov XP^ ^rjpio&rjoi. 100 

*Opaij3oT7 8' wfiw(€ noXvSpT^vwv <Vi unljpyairf 
K€ifjL€vov dpTiSdiKTov 6SvpofjL€vrj TTopajKoirqir 
7r€v6aX€Oi,s 8* o»a;;(€(7<7i KaT€ypaif>€ kvkXol vpoawmov^ 
Kol aKoXiijs (jjXoip€v dtcqbia fiarpw tBtlfnfq, 
KoX Koviv aWaXo^aGov €oO irarr^^cvc Kopi^fw lOS 

XctfwjSir; 8' oAoAufe Kara/^ipJvoio ronr^o;, 10^ 

Kvav€ovs 8* TJpaaG€ ppaxiova^, dpyv^dov hi 106 

arepvov oXov yvixvwa€ Six<^iofx4voio x^rurvas' 107 

IIpooToroT} 8* a7r€8iAo9 cas* fuovaa ira/>cuU, 100 

160 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 80-109 

deluding trick of wise Athena. But Dionysos was 
glad when he saw Athena, and knew in his heart 
that she had been helping him in disguise. 

^^ Then the grapy deity was maddened with anger. 
He rose lofty and huge, like the rock of Parnassos, and 
pursued swiftrunning Deriades ; he raced off light 
and quick as the hurrying winds, but when they 
reached the place where ancient Hydaspes rolled his 
warbreeding water in wild bubbling waves, he stood 
immense on the river bank as having now an ally, 
his father, roaring loud, to shoot with his waters 
against Dionysos in battle : there the vine-deity 
cast his fleshcutting thyrsus and just grazed the skin 
of Deriades. Struck with the mandestroying ivy 
bunch he slipt headfirst into his father's flood, and 
bridged all that water himself with his long frame. 

^^ Now the long Indian War was ended, the gods re- 
turned again to Olympos with Zeus the Lord of all ; 
the Bacchants cheered in triumph around Dionysos 
the invincible, crying Euoi for the conflict, and many 
thronged round Deriades piercing him everywhere 
with their spears." 

^^^ Orsiboe wailed on the battlements with a loud 
lamentable dirge, sorrowing for her husband who lay 
so newly slain ; she scratched her cheeks with her 
fingernails in sorrow, and heedlessly tore out bunches 
of her curling hair, and poured smoking ashes on 
her head. Cheirobie lamented for her dead father, 
and scored her black arms, rent her white robe and 
bared all her breast ; Protonoe * unshod tore her 

<* From the appearance of Athena in the shape of Morrheus 
to this line, the death of Hector in Iliad xxii. is closely 
imitated. 

" Daughter of Deriades, wife of Orontes (xxvi. 17). 
VOL. Ill M 161 



NONNOS 

KVKXa KoviaaXdoio #faTOMrYWO«m wpoawmmf, 110 

KXaUv in* afuftoTtpoiai teat iv4pii koX yfprr^pt, 
hnrXoov oAyoff cvoiHra, kox Zajfi ircvMoi ^omrj* 

** ^Avtp, an aiwi'O^ 1V09 a»A<o* ir^ 8* 4>^ J| 4^y 
eAAtTTcj cV yL€yapoujiv antifiifnpf rotcmto* 
irqniov ov r€Kov via napax/^aaw od U4ra nirar tlf 
vooTLfjLov dvBpa vor^aa ro h^vrtpov, a}Xk tfi S yy 
avTos c4> hthfirfTo, fcal owofia bdm€ ^i0poit» 
Kol 6dv€v €v fcivounv, oYTcuf ^/ior a»'8pa KoXJaom 
danopov aurobdiKrov ovoori/ior vypov 'Op^mpr. 
fivpofiat, dfi<l>OT(pov^ Kol ^yjpioh^v «rai 'Op^rflfr* |J0 
f(7ov dno<f>difi€vov^ bupoy fiopov da^po^itmf y^ 
^rjpidbrjv KpvifK KVfxa, p6o^ o itcdXvifKV *OpArtff. 
fnjTcpi 8' ov y€v6firiv rravofioUof' *Opatfid>fi y^ 
dvyarcpiov TJ€ia€ Kara^ofUvovi ifitPaUwt' 
Uporrovorjs ydfiov c^Scv, 

€b4(aTO yofifipw *Opitm^, IM 
Xei/>oj3iT^y 8* €^€v(€V dyucrjrat napatcolrji, 
ov Tpop,€€i Kal Jidxxos 6 rqXucoi' dft/^Untt fUp 
\eipoplT) fcaom-a <f>iXov nooiv, ov h4 i B6paof, 
ov poos €npi^vL^€V' €yw o apa div^oa irooj^ui, 
dvepos ol\oyL€voio koX dXXvfi€vov ycvrr^pcK. |J0 

A^€, fidrrjv a€o nalba naprjyop€ovaa, TtBr/ini), 
Soy ftot €X€iv €px>v dv^pa, koI ov Y€vrnjpa yoAam' 
Scl^ov ifiol Tt»^ Trat&a, napijyopov dvOpog ApOfg. |j| 
Tt? fji€ AajScoi' KOfiia€t€v cV €vpvp€€Bpov 'V8a<nn|r, |j§ 
o^pa KVGO) <f>iXov otSfia pi€\ujray€os vonuwio; lj$ 
rls fi€ AajSo^i' KOfiCa€i€v cV Upd rifinta Ao^n^, I94 
o^pa nepLTTTV^aifii Kai ev npovo^cnv *OiM$m|r; 197 

ctTjv Ifiepocig Kol eyw poos' oi^c #f<u ovri) 
BdKpvaiv o^Pprjdclaa <t>avTi<rofiai airrddi irtfy^, 
^X* Oavdiv €vvbpos ifxds noais ol^fia icuAiyOCi, lit 

169 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 110-140 

cheeks and smeared her face all over with dirty dust, 
weeping for both husband and father, with twofold 
agony, and cried in tones of sorrow — 

^^^ " Husband, how young you have lost your life ! 
You have left me a widow in the house ere I have 
borne a child, no baby son I have to console me ! I 
never saw my husband come home a second time after 
victory, but he slew himself with his own steel, and 
gave his name to the stream, and died among 
strangers, that I should have to call the watery 
Orontes my husband, childless, self-slain, never re- 
turned ! I wail for both Deriades and Orontes, both 
perished by one watery fate : Deriades the death of 
many men was buried in the wave, the flood swallowed 
Orontes. But I am not like my mother ; for Orsiboe 
sang her hymn over her daughters' weddings accom- 
plished, she saw the marriage of Protonoe, she re- 
ceived Orontes as goodson, she joined Cheirobie to an 
unconquered husband, whom Bacchos trembled at 
great as he is ; Cheirobie has her dear husband alive, 
no thyrsus, no flood has brought him down — but I it 
seems doubly suffer, my husband gone and my father 
perished. 

^^^ " Cease to comfort your child, my nurse, all in 
vain. Let me have my husband, and I will not be- 
wail my father ; show me a child to console me for 
my husband's loss ! Who will take me and bring me 
to the broad stream of Hydaspes, that I may kiss the 
wave of that honey dropping river ? Who will take me 
and bring me to the sacred vale of Daphne, that I 
may embrace Orontes even in the waters ? O that 
I too could be a lovely stream ! O that I might also 
become a fountain there, watered by my own tears, 
a watery bride where my husband dead rolls his 

163 



NONNOS 

€uv€Tty uSaToccToa' koI €000^101 olia KofioiM^ 
^ 7rdpo9 iyL€p6€VTo^ tpaatrafUyti trottifioSb 
rdfrnerai dyKas €xovGa Koi tla^rt KdSi^or d4rorn|r« 
haipos rifjL€T€pov napd Moppdof olo¥ /mtroif 
avSpdai -nap KiAiVcaai fUfitiXAra flOSim ittoik^' 14f 
ou /i€v €>/*** TTo0€ovaa irap^px^liOA i)5iW 'Qp^mpr^ 
ofa <f>uyds Ucpifioia, tcai ov vort irofifnUor Ac«|p 
a^ avaaci/xi^lotKra ^vXafofiai vypw atcoi'njpp. 
€t 8€ ftoi ov TTcVptuTO ^avciv flropa yciroM ^A4f^» 
KVfjLaGi TTarpondriop fu Kartucpij^ifv 'TS(iaVf||, 110 
/X17 Sarupou K€p6€VTos €v dyKoiyDGiy tavow, IM 

fx^ Opt^a Kotfiov iBco, /x^ KVfifiaXa, X^P^ Tti^d(mt Ul 
/X17 TcA€Ti7i' rcAcaoi iJHXonaiyfLova, hV^ vci^aw UB 
MaioviT^v, ^17 T/LUi>Aov tScu, ^117 5a»/ia AiNUOV Ut 

^ ^vya hovXocrvvrj^ ^apvaxB^a, fiij n; Mff^' IM 

' Kovprq ^TipidBao hopiBpao4oi pamXrjos 
Xr)ihlrj fierd hrjpiv xmohprqtrati Aiovucr^.' " 

*Q.s <l>ap.€VTjs cAecim <Tvv€cn'€vdxotrro yv¥au€€f, 
cjv ndiSt cjv T€9vrjK€v aScA^o^, wv y€V€Tijp€S 
ri TToms dpTiy€V€LOS diupios. €k &€ tcapfijvov |60 

KeipoPlrj TiXXovaa KOfx-qv rjfiv(€ iropcta;* 
Six^ablais 8* oSutT^aiv tfidaG€To, Kai ytyrnjptg 
ov Toaov €ar€vdxt-t,€v , oaov i^ficm^cv okoitq' 
€kXv€ yap Mopprjos ipoipLavlovaav dvdytnf¥ 
Koi 80A0V rjTTcpoTrija aa6<f>pova XoAKO/x^Scci/f . lift 

KaL TLva pivOov ccittci' eov pnfi^aua ;(trtui<a* 

• Not mentioned elsewhere. There ir*» « C . 

daughter of Pterelaos, who loved Amphitrjon. and chI 
Pterelaos^s golden hair which made him ImmoriaL 
killed by Amphitryon. 

164 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 141-166 

beautiful waters ! Then I shall be hke Comaitho," 
who in olden days was enamoured of a lovely river 
and still has the joy of holding Cydnos her husband 
in her arms, as I hear is a favourite story among those 
Cihcian men. So says Morrheus my goodbrother. 
But I am not like runaway Periboia ^ ; I will not pass 
charming Orontes whom I love, I will not draw back 
my winding water and avoid a watery spouse. If it. 
was not ordained that I should die near his neighbour 
Daphne, may Hydaspes my father's father drown me 
in his waves, and save me from sleeping in the arms 
of a horned Satyr, and seeing Phrygian revels, 
rattling their cymbals in my hands, joining their 
sportive rites ; that I may not see Maionia and 
Tmolos, the house of Lyaios or the all-burdensome 
yoke of slavery ; that men may not say — * The 
daughter of Deriades the spearbold king, taken cap- 
tive after the war, is now a servant to Dionysos.' " 

158 When she had finished the women groaned 
piteously with her,'' those who had lost a son or a 
brother, whose fathers were dead or husband un- 
timely taken, with the down on his chin. And 
Cheirobie tore the hair from her head and scored her 
cheeks ; she was tormented by double sorrow, and 
she groaned not so much for her father as she was 
indignant against her husband, for she had heard the 
enamoured passion of her husband and the delusive 
guile of chaste Chalcomedeia.** She rent her dress 
and spoke : 

^ Unknown ; unless she is that Periboia who was wife of 
Oineus of Calydon. See the play of Pacuvius, entitled 
Periboia {Remains of Old Latin^ L.C.L. ii., pp. 274 IF.). 

" An echo of Iliad xxii. 515. This whole passage is a 
feeble imitation of the wailing for Hector. 

** Cf. bks. xxxiii.-xxxv. 

165 



NONNOS 

y€v4rqv i^iov Hfcratft MofpfSt* 

ovh^ 77- Ac <l>6ifi€vov rifi-qopof- iyfiouSrw ii 
XaXKOfi€hrjv noOecjv ovk rjXao€ BiJAV¥ Erwtf, 
oAA' €Ti BaaaaptScaai x<»/>*{<^«*- ftwart, hUiptU' ITO 
rls S^ovos *\v8arnv noXty rnpoBt; 

Tit 4061^ lh» 

€XpcL€v an4aT€ fyjuui Bvyarp^ ^nptahijos: 
dvTjaKWv fi€v Kara hrjpw cfpf trapaxoiruf *OpSmif 
IlpwTovoTjv aKOfuarov €0rJKaro ntvOaha xhf^» 
XcipoPlrjv 8' aWciTTcv cti (cSoucmv axoirnf* IW 

yvojTTis 8* rifi€T€prjs oXoantpa irqfiara vooxm* 
UparrovoT] TToaiv €ay€v aoaanrrjpa n^i5n^, 
\eipopCrj iTOOLV €<rx€V €rj^ hrtArifiova narfnjt, 
alxfJL'Tirrjv dvovrjrov, ondova Kinrpoycvciiy^ 
oXki^jlov, dXXoTrpoaaXXov, o^to^tpovtoiTa Avaitp, lit 
€19 €fi€ 6a)pTj)^Brj Koi Cfio? ydfio^' rnitriptw yap 
}Aopp€os lfJL€ipovTos €avXTjOrj iToXig Ivbwv 
naTpos ivoG(f>laOr)v xapiv dvtpo^' ri rtpw ayi^Mnp 
Kal OvyaTTjp jSaatA^oy, iyw wore otairorif Atiuiv, 
caaojiai dpL<f>nr6Xoiv koX cvcu /ua* irat ra;(a 3ciA^ lii 
hfjLwC8a XoA/co/xcSciav ^firfv BtoTroway hniJHu* 
Grjfiepov *lvh6v ISc^Aov €X**^» dnarrjXu }Aoppt8' 
avpLov avTOKeXexKrros cAcuaccu ciy x^ova Avociir, 
XoA/co/xeSi^S' 8ia kolAAos' vnoSp-qaawv Aiovvoip. 
d/x^aSd \aXKop,€hrjs c^e ^fivia, i'vp4*^ Moop€V' 190 
ovK€TL yap Tpop,€€LS ^Xoovpov OTo/xa Ai}p«aoi^. 
;(d^€o, Kc/cA^a/c€i ac SpaKtov irdXiv, o^ ac Smukcc 
<f>povp6v dcrvX'qToio ydpov avpvyp,6v idXXujv.*' 

Tola /X€v dxyvpiivTi papvSdjcpvo^ €wen€ >^fi^' 
IlpcoTovory 8* oAoAufc TO 8€trr€^v. oft^orc/xu; 5^ lt5 
X€t/)as iiTiKXlvaaa KaT7]<f>€as iax€ fi'qrrip' 
166 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 167-196 

167 " By sparing his spear Morrheus killed my 
father, and no one avenged his death. For desire 
of that hateful Chalcomede he did not rout the 
women on the field — nay, he still shows favour to 
the Bassarids. Tell me, Fates; what jealousy" de- 
stroyed the Indian city ? What jealousy came down 
suddenly upon both daughters of Deriades ? Dying 
on the battlefield, Orontes made his wife Protonoe a 
widow to mourn uncared-for ; Cheirobie still living 
was repudiated by her husband. And I have more 
cruel things to suffer than my sister. Protonoe had 
a husband who defended her that nursed him ^ ; 
Cheirobie had a husband who destroyed his country, 
a useless warrior, the lackey of Cyprogeneia, a strong 
man unstable, a partisan of Lyaios. Even my mar- 
riage was my enemy, for the Indian city was sacked 
because my Morrheus fell in love. I was robbed of 
my father for my husband's sake ; I so proud once, 
and daughter of a king, I once the mistress of the 
Indians, I too shall be one of the servants ; perhaps 
I shall be so unhappy as to give the title of mistress 
to Chalcomedeia the serf! Traitor Morrheus, to-day 
India is your home ; to-morrow unbidden you will 
go to the Lydian land, a menial of Dionysos because 
of Chalcomede 's beauty. Husband Morrheus, make 
no secret of your union with Chalcomede ; for you 
fear no longer the threatening tongue of Deriades. 
Begone ! the serpent calls you back, the one that 
chased you away with hisses from the wedding which 
you failed to force ! " 

1^* Thus lamented the wife with heavy tears, and 
Protonoe wailed a second time. Their mother rested 
an arm on each and dolorously cried^ — 

* Jealousy of the gods. " His country. 

167 



sossos 

*' UarpiBos rifurdpri^ irtaov iXntift' 

ovicdn Xtiiaom 
dvdpa ^7)pta^r}a koI oinciri yafLBp6Â¥ *Op<^'"v 
ArjpidSr^g T€6vr)K€V' ccruAi)^ iroAif 'IiMr, 
appay€9 rjpine t€ixo9 <V^ x^*****^* ^"^ *** ovnjr •• 
Bci/cxo? cAa>v oXtaj) fi€ aw iXXutUmff ffOMffO^rf, 
Kal fi€ AajSoiv puptuv cV oticvpitipoif TUtlHlfV* 
yauxv OKCUPOftcirn*'- ix^rut W /K W€iS€pim Simp, 
Arjpia^v 8* ia&w kcu cv uSoat* /ai^ moi^ow 
riporroi^OT^i' acVouaou/ €^<mopAyrj¥ AiotM^t ^^ 

/i^ TTOTC X€ipopirj^ €r€pou yoov oiKTponf hin iam 
€XKop.€VT]^ cV €porra Sopticrrp'cjv vftcMUOfi^ 
/X17 TToaiv oAAoi' rSoifu /x<r* avtpa Ai^piaS^. 
€11] V NiyiaScaaiv SfUario^, otti teal aMfv 
AevKodcTiy ^oKfvaav c&cfaro #cuaix)x<uTi^, SIO 

/cat /iui N7i/>€i5toi^ KixXi^Kirai, dvrl bt Xiweijf 
dXXrj Kvavo7T€^a <f>ainjGOfjuu vSpia^ 'I wo." 

Tota p,€v €XK€x^TaiV€s iirwhvpovro yuvalKMt 
lardp.evai crroixj]^*' epiafiapdycju itri nvpywt^, 

Ba/c^oi 8' iKpordXiiov anoppli^Hiyrt^ *£a^ucu» 215 

ToloV €1T09 Po6wVT€S OpjOyXuHtOWV OMO XoifUJjV 

** *Hpa/xc^a fi€ya kv^os' 

€7r€<f>vop.€v 6pxafLO¥ *IlM&Mr." 

Kat yeXowv ^towao^ cVolAActo x<^>/^^'>^ f^*f^» 
dfiTTVcvaa^ 8c ttovoio kcu alfiar6€VTOi dyc2»K>S' 
irpwra fiev cfcrepctf cv cztu/x/Scvtwv <rrixa vtKpAm, flD 
8a>/x7}cra? cva rvfjL^v diriipirov cvp4i KoXwift 
aKpiTov dpxf>l TTVpTjv €KaT6fnr€bov' dfi^ H vtKpdit 
Muy8oyt? atoAo/AoATTos- €n€Krvn€v aZAiva <nSpty(, 
Koi Opvyc? ayAi/T^pc? dvcTrAcicoi' a/K7€va /loAin^r 

• Ino is also called Leucothca, ** white 
** sUver-footed " is a stock epithet of Thctk. 
168 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 197-224 

197 ** TJ^e hopes of our country have perished ! No 
longer I see Deriades my husband, no longer Orontes 
my son. Deriades is dead ; the city of the Indians 
is plundered. The unbreakable citadel of my country 
has fallen : would that I myself may be taken by 
Bacchos and slain with my dead husband ! May he 
seize and cast me into the swift-flowing Hydaspes, 
for I refuse the earth. Let my goodfather's water 
receive me, may I see Deriades even in the waters ; 
may I not see Protonoe following Dionysos perforce, 
may I never hear another piteous groan from 
Cheirobie while she is dragged to a captive wedlock ; 
may I not see another husband after Deriades, my 
man. May I dwell with the Naiads, since Seablue- 
hair received Leucothea also living and she is called 
one of the Nereids ; and may I appear another 
watery Ino, no longer white, but blackfooted." " 

213 Such were the lamentations of the longrobed 
women, standing in a row upon the loud-echoing 
battlements. 

215 But the Bacchoi rattled their cymbals, having 
now made an end of warring, and they cried with one 
voice : " We have won great glory ! we have slain 
the Indian chieftain ! " ^ 

218 And Dionysos laughed aloud, trembling with 
the joy of victory. Now resting from his labours 
and the bloody contest, he first gave their due to 
the crowd of unburied dead. He built round the 
pyre one vast tomb for all alike with a wide bosom, 
a hundred feet long. Round about the bodies the 
melodious Mygdonian syrinx sounded their dirge, 
and the Phrygian pipers wove their manly tune with 

^ Quoted from Iliad xxii. 393, with opxayLov *lvhd>v for 
*E/n-o/)a Siov. 



NONNOS 

TTcvdaXtois oTo/iarcaaiv, tntjpxnoturro W B^Jryai 

Kal KAcoxou Bcp€»fwr€9 wo ar6fia hilwY^f jM o l 
^piKTov €fivKrjaavro A^w y6o¥, Sv wApOt < 
Ilden'co r* Evpt/oAiy re fu j YroAvSfipciSi ^Ml^ 
apTirofiw poiirjbov irrtKXuvanvro MtSotSo^l 
<l>d€'yyofj,€vu}v K€<^aXfjai hirjtcoaijjat hptu(6tmt¥, 
dtv dno fivpofjUvwv gkoXiov ovpcy/ia iro|A^oir 
Bfnjvov iTOvXvKoorivov c^fu^avro MfftotMrTf . 

riavGra/xcvo; 0^ novoio, kox vSan yvla 
W7raa€ Xvai^doiai Btovb^a t(oipavo¥ *lrSoSr» 
KpLvdfji€vos MuiBcuoP' inl (wtft 5^ tcvn^Xk^ 
haKxoif haiwfi€voiai furj^ n^ovro rpaW{i|f 
^avOov vBwp trivovTt^ dtr* oivanopov mnoftoio. 
Kal xopos aoTTCTo^ caKcv* i'n€aKipmftn 5^ iroAAi7 
Baaaapi; otarpi^evri rrthov Kpovovaa nthiXtgf, I 

icat LaTupos" piapvhoxmov inipprjaautv j($6va rtMpo^ 
Aofa Kvpiarrjrfjpi no^v ^ojc^vtro naXfL^, 

TTTJxyV iTTLKXlVCJV fiaVuJjS€OS CLVY4vt BcUf^fiy^* 

Kal 7rpvX€€s Bpo/xioto awcjpxnaamo pfHUUf, 
Kal TpoxdXrjs KXov€oyT€^ CKorrAia KV9cXa vopcii^ 
pvOfiov ipupLi^cravTo ^p€aGaK€u»v Kopvfiayrtii¥f 
Kal cnparos lirmqcjv KopvBaiaXov et; XOP^ iofif 
VLKTjv TTavhap,dT€ipav dvtx^diufv Aiovvoov* 
ovSd Tis dipo<l>os tJcv* ofwyXtoGutfj &' oAaATrar 

€t? TToXoV iTTrd^tOVOV dv€hpafL€V CtH09 i7X<*'* 

*AAA* oT€ AuaiTrdi'Oio fropTJAv^c KwpLOS ioprifi, 
vLk7)s Xr]!Za Trdaav cXwv furd ^vXomiv ^Xi^tav 

• Pindar, Pytk, xiL 33 ^ves this origin of the taM oOW 

iroAufcc^oAof — iroAAay irf^aAav voftor, tile tune of DUUIT iMldl* 

^ A particularly bad imitation of Homer. Adiuk* la Mi 
grief for Patrodos refufics to w«j»h till lie Imm 
170 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 225-252 

mournful lips, while the Bacchant women danced and 
Ganyctor trolled his dainty song with Euian voice. 
The double Berecyntian pipes in the mouth of 
Cleochos drooned a gruesome Libyan lament, one 
which long ago both Sthenno and Euryale with one 
manythroated voice sounded hissing and weeping 
over Medusa newly gashed, while their snakes gave 
out voice from two hundred heads, and from the 
lamentations of their curling and hissing hairs they 
uttered the " manyheaded dirge of Medusa." <* 

2^* Now resting from his labours, he cleansed his 
body with water,** and assigned a governor for the 
Indians, choosing the godfearing Modaios '^ ; they 
now pacified touched one table with banqueting 
Bacchoi over a, common bowl, and drank the yellow 
water from the winebreeding river. There was 
dancing without end. Many a Bassarid skipt about, 
tapping the floor with wild slipper ; many a Satyr 
stormed the resounding ground with heavy foot, and 
revelled with side-trippings of his tumbling feet as 
he rested an arm on the neck of some maddened 
Bacchant. The foot-soldiers of Bromios danced round 
with their oxhides and mimicked the pattern of the 
shieldbearing Corybants, wildly circling in the quick 
dance under arms. The horsemen in their glancing 
helmets also stood up for the dance, acclaiming the 
all vanquishing victory of Dionysos. Not a soul was 
silent — the Euian tones went up to the sevenzone sky 
with shouts of triumph from every tongue. 

^^ But when the revels of the carefree feast were 
over, and Dionysos had gathered all the spoil after his 

//. xxiii. 39 ff. Dionysos apparently does the same for no 
particular reason. 

* Mentioned in xxxii. 165. 

171 



NONNOS 

AiHTaj €iTra€Tr\pa d€fi€iXia hTfiorffro^. 

/cat St^uui' oXov oXPov tXniiotrro fiax^fral, SM 

<jjv 6 fi€v *\vb6v laamv, o W ypour^ &uru^ov 

OotjSaSo? cfx* U€TaXXa koI €yxAoa i^Imi /lo^^ySoir 

oAAo; ivKpnfiiTiAos \m6 aKontijaw 'I/aomni 

opOiov r^w)? cTTCiyc 5opi*CT7/Ta>r Af^^anwr^ 

6? S< Trap* 'Hfia>5ou> /So^tNnniAvyyt KoXuMfQ ItO 

i^Aaaev *li'5<j>ca»' /icrai^cumoi^ apfia Acorroir 

icuSiocu)', €r€po^ b€ Kar avxtvos a^^Uk w A^ tm 

lAvyhoviriv toTrevhtv is ^ova n6p&aXt¥ iXtnw 

Kol Hdrvpos 'n€^pfjTo, ^iXatcprfTt^ Si vrrriKtp 

OTLKTOV C^COf TTpOKtXtvBoV ttCWfAOOt TVyp^ ^id oOm^' Ml 

oAAo? dywv voarrjotv ifj Kv^Xtfihi yvft^ll 
<l>irraXiriv €voh^ov oAiTpc^oiv bovoKi^v, 
Kal XLBov aoTpaTrrovaav *EpvSpturfs Y^fMS oAfiiyf 
W0AA17 8* €K BaXdfioio aw dprtydfutt noMucoiTg 
Xtjihl-q TrXoKafjLOJV fieXavoxP*^^ IXictro wfi4^, 170 

hia^iuiv aj5;(ei^ hovXov vTroJcwfoaa A<ira5w^. 
;(€ipi 3c Kov<f>il^ovaa pur)<f>€V€os x^^*'^ oXfiov 
€t? (JKOTrta? T/xtoAoto ^coacrvro? iju Bair)p|« 
Kwyiov dv€vdt,ovaa TraXiyvocrrtft \u>vva(ft. 

Kai orpaTifj ^lowoog c^oocmro AniSa x'HH*^ ^^ 
Aooi^ oAov ouvac^Aov imorpotrov oucaoc ir^vwr 
'IvSoii^v /xcra hr\piv' dtr^aotvovro &€ Aaoi 
fjuipfxapa Kov4>it,ovT€9 'Ecoia 5ojpa OaXdaofK, 
opved T* aloX6p.op<f>a' naXiwoarw 5c iropcciy 
KWfMov dv€vdl,ovT€s dvuc^Tut ^iovwua M> 



• Hyacinthos a^in ! The stone has no ooonesdos wMl 

the god, but the fact that it has the same 

is enough to awaken Nonnos's 

173 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 253-280 

Indian War, he remembered the land of his ancient 
home, now he had swept away the foundations of that 
seven years' conflict. The whole wealth of the enemy 
was given to the army as their plunder. One got an 
Indian jasper, one the jewel of Phoibos's patterned 
sapphire " and the smooth green emerald ; another 
hurried under the lofty peaks of broad-based Imaios ^ 
the straight-legged elephants which he had captured by 
his spear. Here was one by the deepcavemed moun- 
tain of Hemodos " driving to exile a team of Indian 
lions, in triumph ; there was another pulling a panther 
to the Mygdonian shore with a chain fast about its 
neck. A Satyr rushed along with a striped tiger before 
him, which he flogged in his wild way with a handful of 
tippling-leaves. Another returned with a gift for his 
Cybeleid ^ bride, the fragrant plants of seagrown reeds 
and the shining stone ^ which is the glory of the 
Erythraian brine. Many a blackskin bride was 
dragged out of her chamber by the hair, her neck 
bound fast under the yoke of slavery, spoil of war 
along with her newly wedded husband. The Bac- 
chant woman god-possessed returned to the hills of 
Tmolos with hands full of streaming riches, chanting 
Euoi for the return of Dionysos. 

^"^^ So Dionysos distributed the spoils of battle 
among his followers, after the Indian War, and sent 
returning home the whole host who had shared his 
labours. The people made haste to go, laden with 
shining treasures of the Eastern sea and birds of many 
strange forms. Their return was a triumphal march 
with universal acclaim to Dionysos the invincible; 

^ Himalaya. 

" Himalaya, Imaios in 258. 

* Phrygian. « Pearl. 

173 



NOVVMG 

7rdvT€S €^K\€Vovro, noXvKjn^rnto Xiworrtt 
fivrjoTLv oXov TToAf/xoio, Hop*id6i awhpofuw afyfl 

oi/jifiov ct? So/xoi' tJA^c naXuSpofiOf, irA M w ^ i f p itfi 
*Acrr€pLos r6r€ fiovvof aynnxmiStM^ ojfcUr'A^fmir 
^daiBos dfi<l>i p€€dpov dSaXndi vdoparo yoifj 
Maaaaytrqv napa KoXnov, €oO ycWrao Tcxrijog 

VOiWV d<TT€p6€VTO^ UTTO O^VpO. StSoPI^ To^jpOV* 

<f>€vya)v Kvwaaiov darv Koi opovr^muda /a4Mip« 
llaaK^T^v arvy€0)v Ktu iov Wivwa roir^, 
Kal l^Kvdirjv 9r/>o/3€)3ouAcv €^ x^oi^tJf • 

avTop 6 fiioAfOtif 
BdK^og €01? Sarvpoun icou *Im$o^<$mmc ci|iA B^Urxoic 
KavKaoirfv /icra 5i7piv *Afai(oyuKi worofiofe 

*AppaPlT]g €7r€pCUVt to h€VTtpO¥, ^x} ^/'fljttW^ 

Aaoi' dpaKx^vTiuv *ApdPwv cSiSafrv ac^Miy 
fjLVGTLTToXovs vdpdrjKas' dcfi^vroio 5^ X&yjLfff 
Nuaia PoTpvocvTL /car^orc^v oupca 0aAA<Jf. 

^AppapL-qs 5c revovra PaBvatciov aXaog idaat 
drpanov *Aaavpi'qv hupilrptt V€l^o^ oSirtf^, 
Kal Tvpitov ii€V€axv€v Ihflv yBova narpiha KaS^iov* 
Kct^t yap t^voy €KapjL€, kox doTrcTa viiiXn SoKCucur 
6dp.p€€v ^AaGvpij)s €T€p6xpoa hathaXa, r^xmilf, 
dpyviJMv €taop6wv hafiyXwyCBos tpyov 'A/nx^^' 
#cai TvpiT) GKonta^c B^hevfjieva ifxip€a ird;(Aa>, 
7Top<f>vp€ovs crmvOijpa^ djcovri^ovra BaXaaarff, 
^X* 'fy<Jt>»' oAicpyo? cV aiyioAormt' €p€7rruj¥ 
ivSofivxov xapoTTfJGi ycj^idai B€qk€Xov Ixj^ 
Xiovcag TT6p<f>vp€ naprjiSa^ alftan koxXov, 



• Because the great Bear nerer dips into the 
* Now the Rioo. 
174 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 281-308 

all revelled, for they left behind them all memory of 
that toilsome war, to blow away with the north wind, 
and each came returning home at last with his thank- 
offerings for victory. Asterios alone did not now return 
to his own country ; instead, he settled near the foot- 
unwashen Bears," about the river Phasis '' in a cold land 
by the Massagetic Gulf,*' where he dwelt under the 
snowburdened feet of his father's father, Tauros the 
Bull,^ translated to the stars. He avoided the Cnossian 
city and the sons of his family, hating Pasiphae and 
his own father Minos, and preferring Scythia to his 
own country. But Bacchos, followed only by his 
Satyrs and the Indianslaying Bacchant women, after 
a war in the Caucasos beside the Amazonian River, 
visited Arabia the second time, where he stayed and 
taught the Arabian people who knew not Bacchos to 
uplift the mystic fennel, and crowned the Nysian 
hills with the vineclusters of his fruitful plant. 

^^ Leaving the long stretch of Arabia with its deep- 
shadowy forests he measured the Assyrian road on 
foot, and had a mind to see the Tyrian land, Cadmos's 
country ; for thither he turned his tracks, and with 
stuffs in thousands before his eyes he admired the 
manycoloured patterns of Assyrian art, as he stared 
at the woven work of the Babylonian Arachne ^ ; he 
examined cloth dyed with the Tyrian shell, shooting 
out sea-sparklings of purple : on that shore once a dog 
busy by the sea, gobbling the wonderful lurking fish 
with joyous jaws, stained his white jowl with the blood 

' The Caspian Sea, called a gulf because it was supposed 
to open out into the so-called Northern Ocean. 

^ The pedigree is Zeus and Europe — Minos — Asterios. 

* Arachne, daughter of Idmon of Colophon, a great dyer 
and weaver ; she challenged Athena, and was changed into a 
spider. See Ovid, Met. vi. 1. ff. 

175 



NONNOS 

XcAca ^w[(a^ hi€p<ft irvfH, rth tntrt tMoAf^ 
<f>athp6v oAixAauttii^ ipvBalitro ^apof iSin^irrwr. SIO 

ov Si€pw fiirpoja€v oXift ^oHrrfjpi BaXdouffSt 

dXXa rvnov Aa^c roiov ^OXvfintiOV, olo¥ M ^tt faa 

dy;(iT€Ai79 AeiTTOiKJo fu^ yActi)^ a<Ai|n|. 

KOi oi onitrtvovTi yi€ar\v yBwa ovfiryor a^|y SU 

StfrAoof cAAa^c ddfifiof, ^trci Tii^or fir oAi trciTOi 

€1? x^^^^ fioiprid€iaa, owatrrofA^yri hi ^aXiaag 

Tpix^ahlais Aayoi^oon /uov (v»«oaaTo fUrpnfr 

vr)xofi€vrj 5* drii'oucro^ ofxoUoi cvArro Ko6pn, 

Kol K€<ftaXriv Kol artpva iccu au^^tW 5ai«cc Am^OO^* no 

X€ipa9 i^nXwoaaa fuatj hiSvfuiovi n6t^tf», 

yeiTOVt X€VKaivovaa BaXnaaauft h^fios d^p^» 

Koi TToSa? afufxTTtpov^ €ir€p€iaaro ^irjfrip^ y^* 

Kai TToXiv €vvoaiyaios cytuv aore/x^c htafup 

wp4>ios uSaroeif Trcpao/xcrou, ofa oiWinxtfi^ tl5 

TT^X^t 7ra^Ad{[o»^i ir€pinXoKOV cu^ycya vvft^^fffs, 

PovKoXos dyxu<€X€v6o^ 6yxXi€€ ytiTQVi Mi^ni 
avpi^itiv napd Biva, Kai ainoXo^ txBvPoXiji 
BiKTVOv ai ipvovTi, Koi dyTvnmoiai¥ iprrfUHf S)0 

<TXi'^op.€vwv vSdrwv ixapdautro fiwXo^ dpdrptj^ 
€4vaAiT7? 8' odpi^ov op.-qXv^^ tyyv^ ^X}^!^ 

7rOI,p.€V€9 . . . vXorOflOiGlt Kol €pp€fifV €l¥ €Vt 

<j>Xolafios dAd?, fivtcrffia powv, tlnOvpiOfia ircn^Aair, 
7T€Z<Tfia, <f>vr6v, rrX6o9, aXao^, 

vhcap, v€€9, dAicdf, OC^^* SJi 

* This story, which seems to hare pMted Dpom oae HiA «f 
176 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 309-335 

of the shell, and reddened his lips with running fire, 
which once alone made scarlet the sea-dyed robes of 
kings." 

311 He was delighted to see that city, which Earth- 
shaker surrounded with a Hquid girdle of sea, not 
wholly, but it got the shape which the moon weaves in 
the sky when she is almost full, falling short of full- 
ness by one point. And when he saw the mainland 
joined to the brine, he felt a double wonder, since 
Tyre lies in the brine, having her own share in the 
land but joined with the sea which has joined one 
girdle with the three sides together. Unshakable, it 
is like a swimming girl, who gives to the sea head 
and breast and neck, stretching her arms between 
under the two waters, and her body whitened with 
foam from the sea beside her, while she rests both 
feet on mother earth. And Earthshaker holding the 
city in a firm bond floats all about like a watery 
bridegroom, as if embracing the neck of his bride in 
a splashing arm. 

327 Still more Bacchos admired the city of Tyre ; 
where alone the herdsman's way was near the fisher- 
man, and he kept company with his piping along the 
shore, and goatherd with fisher again when he drew 
his net, and the glebe was cleft by the plow while 
opposite the oars were cutting the waters. Shepherds 
near the seaside woods gossiped in company [with 
boatmen, fisher with] woodmen, and in one place was 
the loud noise of the sea, the lowing of cattle, the 
whispering of leaves, rigging and trees, naviga- 
tion and forest, water, ships, and lugger, plowtail, 

" discoverers," eupcVai, to another (see M. Kremmer, Be 
catalogis heurematum, Leipzig 1890, pp. 45, 94), is told by St. 
Gregory Nazianzen, Orat. iv. 108, Cassiodorus, Variae i. 2. 
VOL. Ill N 177 



NONNOS 

^-fjXa, hovaf, hp€iTdyrj, atca^titt, 

Kol rdh€ nanraiywv voXvOofifida fi^ffaro ^iwifr' 

"firjuov€vri7r€ifH(nr6$€vihpaj(C¥; tl 9ifU€ €ltnt9» 
rrjXiKov ov nom koXXos i<Mpasco¥' ^fwf yap 
h€vSp€a avp<i€i napa tcviiora, Nij^Oof M MO 

<l>S€'yyofUyrj^ Kara ncvrov 'Afuahpvi^ ^Yt^ dMo4n, 
KOi TvpiOi9 TrcAaycocn fcal dyxMoun^ dl^Oi^p a i f 
•nvtiwv cV Atfidvoio fi€(nifiPpUf6t afipis ^^f^ 
daBfian KapnoroKip irpox^€^ rrfoo96o¥ aiBpHf^^ 
i/jvxcjv dypovofiov koI vauTiXo¥ 4h vA^or IXw o, MS 
Koi xBoviTjv hp€nd»nfjv fivOiiQ ittX&ooafi Tpttmhff 
<l>d€yY€Tai vypofUhovn OaXvoidf iv&dht Aiycu, 
Kcjifnjs dppoxov dpp.a Ka0imr€vovrt yaAijn|f , 
Wvv€iv hpoyuov laov o/io{i}Aaiv ^c ht^pt0¥, 
ofiTTVia fjuxoTL^oiHra yutrdpaia vCna hpatcdnntim* 230 
CO iroAi 7Taaifi€XoiH7a, rvno^ ySovo^, aiBipo$ mIkw^, 
avfufntdos rplTrXtvpov ry<c9 rtXoLpwva BaXdaatff** 
"Cls €ln<jjv 'JTapdp,€ip€ &4* darto^ oppa TtTomur* 
Kal ol oTrtTTcvom XidoyXwxivt^ dyvioi 
pappapvyr}v dv€if>aivov dpoifiaUno prrdXXov IfO 

icat TTpoyovov hopov cIBcv ^Ayrfvopo^, RpaM€ 
Kal ddXapov KdBpoio, Koi dpnapUvrfg vor^ 
Kvpwirrjs d<l>vXaKrov ibvaaro napdfvttava, 

pVTJGTLV €XCJV K€p6€VTOS €OV Ai09' dpXCyWOVf M 

irqyas 6dp^€€ paXXov, wrji x^oviov 5ca KdXt 
vdparos €Kxvp€vov TraXivaYpfrov €*V piav 
X^vpaaiv avToyovoiai •noXvrpt^^ c/SAucr v5oip* 
€l^€v *APapPap€rj£ y6y^pov poor, cSpoucc ^ffy^jjiP 
178 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 336-S63 

sheep, reeds, and sickle, boats, lines, sails, and corse- 
let. As he surveyed all this, he thus expressed his 
wonder : 

33^ " How's this — how do I see an island on the 
mainland ? If I may say so, never have I beheld 
such beauty. Lofty trees rustle beside the waves, the 
Nereid speaks on the deep and the Hamadryad hears 
hard by. A delicate breeze of the south breathes 
from Lebanon upon Tyrian seas and seaside plowland, 
pouring a breath of wind which fosters the corn and 
speeds the ships at once, cools the husbandman and 
draws the seaman to his voyage. Here harvesthome 
Deo brings the sickle of the land close to the trident 
of the deep, and speaks to the monarch of the wet, 
who drives his car unwetted upon the soundless calm, 
while she asks him to guide her rival car on the same 
course, and herself whips the bounteous backs of her 
aerial dragons. O world-famous city, image of the 
earth, picture of the sky ! You have a belt of sea 
grown into one with your three sides ! " 

^3 So he spoke, and wandered through the city 
casting his eyes about. He gazed at the streets paved 
with mosaic of stones and shining metals ; he saw the 
house of Agenor his ancestor, he saw the courtyards 
and the women's apartments of Cadmos ; he entered 
the ill-guarded maiden chamber of Europe, the bride 
stolen long ago, and thought of his own horned Zeus. 
Still more he wondered at those primeval fountains, 
where a stream comes pouring out through the bosom 
of the earth, and after one hour plenty of water 
bubbles up again with flood self-produced. He 
saw the creative stream of Abarbaree," he saw the 

" Not the same as in xv. 378. For the stories of these 
otherwise unknown fountains, see below, 538 if. 

179 



NONNOS 

KaXXipoTjv €p6€aaav hratwfioy, cOt $cal oMfi 
dppov €p€vyofi€vnrj^ \poo€prjs w/i^ijiw vUtp. MS 

'AAA* ore navra v6tjo€v iift ^iXompwdi #lffi^« 
€19 Sofiov *A<rrpox^Twvo^ itcutiuiat, 

«rcu vp6§ia9 iarp m¥ 
roLov e-iTos Poocjv ^KoXdaanro fuhmii ^tt^* 
" *A(rrpoxlrwv 'HpcufAcy, 

di^ fwp6f, fyx"^ if6oiumt 

'HcAte, PpOT^OlO pioV ^oXiXOGKtM «Ot(fA^, S70 

Irmcvwv eXiKr^hov oXov noXov alBant mOK^^ 
via xpovov XvKofiayra hvothtKo^ifvov JXlgmm, 
kvkXov ayci; ficrd kvkXov o^* u/acW/mmo M 8( ^ p wP 

fiala CT0^9 coSrix>y a/xT^ropo^ tu(6va Mijn|r I7f 

wBlv€19 rpUXiKTOVf or€ hpoaotoaa 2UAi}ri} 
tr^? Ao;(t7^9 ojcrtvo^ afitXytrai ayrirvwo¥ wOp, 
ravpeirjv iniKvprov dtyXXi^ovaa tc€palffir 
Tra/i<^a€9 alBtpo^ ofifia, ^'pcc9 Tcrp(£{vyi S f i^i^ 
X^tfia fi€Td ij>0iv6noipov , ayci? ^/pof ctop A^MJfkt^. MO 
vuf /i€v dKomoTTjpi 8iwKOfi4V7j oio wvptH^ 
XaJcToi daTTJpiicToy, ore (v/ov dfyv^cm SXkwip 
dKpo<l>avTjs iiT7T€io^ IfLoaaeTtu opBiof qAx^» 
acio 8c Aa/i7ro/xevo(o ^cuuacpov ovtcirx Xi^MMm/f 
TTOiKiXos €V<l>a€€aai xapdaatrai darpaai Xn^iMHf^ 3M 
X^vfiam 8* dm-oAticou) AcAou/x^wk 'QircoKHO 
aeLodfievos yovoeaaav ddaXnio^ ucfidha xdirfft 
ofiPpov dy€is <l>€p€Kapm}v, en* cucoScn 5^ Foiil 
'qepiT)^ rjwov € p€vy €ai dpSpLOv €^par^, 
Koi araxvoiv (vSlvas dvoASoiPci; a^o ftcoic^ W> 

180 



PIONYSIACA, XL. 364-390 

lovely fountain named after Callirhoe, he saw the 
bridal water of Drosera herself spouting daintily 
out. 

3®^ But when he had noted all this and gratified 
his curiosity, he went revelling to the temple of the 
Starclad <* and there called loudly upon the leader of 
the stars in mystic words : 

^^® ** Starclad Heracles, lord of fire, prince of the 
universe ! O Helios, longshadowed shepherd of 
human life, coursing round the whole sky with shining 
disk and wheeling the twelvemonth lichtgang the son 
of Time ! Circle after circle thou drivest, and from 
thy car is shaped the running lifespace for youth and 
age ! Nurse of wise birth, thou bringest forth the 
threefold image of the motherless Moon,* while dewy 
Selene milks her imitative light from thy fruitful 
beam, while she fills in her curving bull's-horn. All- 
shining Eye of the heavens, thou bringest in thy 
four-horse chariot winter following autumn, and 
changest spring to summer. Night pursued by thy 
shooting torch moves and gives place, when the first 
morning glimpse comes of thy straightnecked steeds 
drawing the silver yoke under thy lashes ; when thy 
Hght shines, the varied heavenly meadow no longer 
shines brighter dotted with patterns of bright stars. 
From thy bath in the waters of the eastern Ocean 
thou shakest off the creative moisture from thy cool 
hair, bringing the fruitful rain, and discharging the 
early wet of the heavenly dew upon the prolific earth. 
With thy disk thou givest increase to the growth of 

" Melkart. He had long been identified with Heracles 
and, later, with the Sun. 

** Helios is the father, according to Nonnos there is no 
mother. 

181 



NOXNOS 
palvwv (cooroKoio 5c* avAojcof o/awmot ^jmjr. 

* Arris c^u? NciAoiQS, 

'Apai/t KpAvot, *Kao^ptot 2M4t' 
KoX f uAa KrjoKvra ^putv yau»fmi¥V)f(L mpo^ 

901 vi(, T€pfia /3u>io ^oui¥ avroawojpor dfx^» 

TUfTCTOi Mjonmoio x/>o^*<'v trttA u >t{yp t rog turoir, 

Auaas 5* eV Trvpc y^pa; a^ifi^rni ix wvp^ j jfcp' 

€iT€ £af>aTri9 c^V9> Aiyvirriov cuW^cAof Z^« 

ci Kpd»x>s, ci Oac^oiv TToAuciui'v/iof , cere o^ IU^pi|f» ^^^ 

*HcAio; Bo/SvAoiKx. cv 'EAAa&i AcA^ 'Aw^JUmt 

€1 Fa/xos, ov oKupounv 'EpoK i<mtip€¥ 6¥tipO&t 

fiifiTjXrj^ TcAccuv aTTaT^Aiov i^itpov tMjt, 

€K Alos mn'oioiTo? ore yAoi^fiit yja^foifnff 

avroydyiO} ottooov vypov €7n(voavrof apot ff nft ^^ 

ovpaviais Xipdd€aGiv c/xatco^i^crav ^plvpiu, 

€tT€ cru riairjcov oStn'^i^ros, cc irMcf A^^4lP 

TTOiKtAoj, ^Aorpoxirojv Sc ^rt{((u — ivw^^UH y^ 

ovpavov d<rr€p6€yT€g inavyd^ovai xiT W ¥ €S ' 

ouaatv cv/xevccaaif c/xiji' cunra^co ^oin^. €Hp 

Tow)!' CTToy Aiowaos ayrjpvytv. ifawumjt $i 
€v6€ov €tbos €x<i>v ^co^cy/ioitK €vho$i y^ffoQ 
^AorpoxiTwv rjarpaili€' TTvpiyXriyov &^ np oow mom 
fiapfiapvyqv pohoeaaav airrfKoirnlov oircuvoA* 
#fat deos atyA^ct? naXdprjv cupcfc AMi«q»« *•• 

TToiKiXov cf/za <f>€pa}v, rvnov ai0€poi, 

€Uc6¥a K6ofMm00 

OTiXpoiv $av6d y€V€ia Kai dartpo^aoixv vaij r ip ' 
#cai /Ltiv €v<f>paivwv 4^ir) /xctAx^c rpatrcffj. 
avrdp 6 6vp,6v €r€pn€v d6aiTp€VTo» impa &carv«y 
t/favwv dfiPpoairjs koI v^Krapos' ov vi^uais M« ^^ 
182 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 391-420 

harvest, irrigating the bounteous corn in the life- 
nourishing furrows. 

392 '* Belos on the Euphrates, called Ammon in 
Libya, thou art Apis by the Nile, Arabian Cronos, 
Assyrian Zeus ! On thy fragrant altar, that thou- 
sand-year-old wise bird the phoenix lays sweetsmell- 
ing woods with his curved claw, bringing the end of 
one life and the beginning of another ; for there he is 
born again, self-begotten, the image of equal time 
renewed — he sheds old age in the fire, and from the 
fire takes in exchange youthful bloom. Be thou 
called Sarapis, the cloudless Zeus of Egypt ; be thou 
Cronos, or Fhaethon of many names, or Mithras the 
Sun of Babylon, in Hellas Delphic Apollo ; be thou 
Gamos," whom Love begat in shadowy dreams, 
fulfilling the deceptive desire of a mock union, when 
from sleeping Zeus, after he had sprinkled the damp 
seed over the earth with the self-wedding point of 
the sword, the heights brought forth by reason of 
the heavenly drops ; be thou painquelling Paieon, 
or patterned Heaven ; be thou called the Starclad, 
since by night starry mantles illuminate the sky — 
O hear my voice graciously with friendly ears ! " 

*ii Such was the hymn of Dionysos. Suddenly in 
form divine the Starclad flashed upon him in that 
dedicated temple. The fiery eyes of his countenance 
shot forth a rosy light, and the shining god, clad in 
a patterned robe like the sky, and image of the uni- 
verse, with yellow cheek sparkling and a starry beard, 
held out a hand to Lyaios, and entertained him with 
good cheer at a friendly table. He enjoyed a feast 
without meatcarving, and touched nectar and am- 
brosia : why not indeed, if he did drink sweet nectar, 

â–  Marriage. 

183 



N0NN08 

ci yXvKV v4Krap tmvt ficra yAoyoj ififipan^ *Hfijr 
€ip€ro 8* * Aarpo\irwva ^iutv ^iXotnnVwtL ^tutr^fr 

" * KarpoxLrwv /i« 5t5aa>f€, 

Tty ^€09 aarv voXkaat, rU r/pa^ cAfWrhl X^i 
tU OKO'niXovi oydctpc koX ippV^utot BtXtao^; 4Si 
ris KaiJLthaibaXa,ravrxk; v6$€¥ Xdxo¥ o&^Ofia m^y^ ; 
TtV x^o*'* vfjaov Cfu(cv o/io{vya MT^P^ ^B^^^fff ; " 

^ 5/ Of ircirra SiM6». 
€v6dh€ <l>afT€9 €vaiov, oyMmopoq ovr wort norfiom 4Ji 
devaov Koayuoio avn^Aixa; cS/xurcv Alui¥, 
ayvov dyv^i<f>€vrou> yivo^ "jfio^* ^ ^^^ fiu^^i|» 
avrofiaTrjv <i>8ii^v dv^poro; dtmopo^ !Xuf' 
ot TToAtv ioorvniov hair^Botv clutoxOovi r^XHi 
7r€Tpaioi.s aTlvatcTOv iirvpytoativTo BtyJBXoit' 4M 

#fat TTOTC irqyalrjoi irap* €vvSpoiai xofMVPoiir 

rcpi/nvoov Arjdaiov dfi€py6fi€voi trrtpov ^vvov 
€v8ov ofAov, KpabiT) Sc ^cAoTTroAiv dUrrpov cUfoiv 
FT/ycvccuv oraToi' rx»x>5 €nr)<jjfn)<Ta tcapff^, 410 

Kot Pporiov aKio€iS€g c^cov u'5aAfta vpoaurtnm 
d€G<f>aTOV oyLffrqcvTos dvripvyov dv6€p€tamof 
* VTTvov dTTOUK€hdaavT€S d€py€a, rroiScf dptMip/tff, 
r€v^aT€ fiot ^€vov dppa fiarfj^ dXoi' 6(vT6ftoiis W 
Ko^ari fioi TrcAcVcaai pd^iv 9r<rucu5co( vXrff 44^ 

r€v^aT€ p.01 acxfwv €pryov' \mo ara/xtWoat &€ mnrvocf 
tic/>ta yop/fHx}aavr€s inaaavrtpoi rivl Koofup 

• Herades, here identified wHfa HcikM, racked Hcim^ 
184 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 421-447 

after the immortal milk of Hera ? ^ Then he spoke 
to the Starclad in words full of curiosity : 

423 " Inform me, Astrochiton, what god built this 
city in the form of a continent and the image of an 
island ? What heavenly hand designed it ? Who 
lifted these rocks and rooted them in the sea ? Who 
made all these works of art ? Whence came the 
name of the fountains ? Who mingled island with 
mainland and bound them together with mother 
sea ? " 

*28 He spoke, and Heracles satisfied him with 
friendly words : 

*29 " Hear the story, Bacchos, I will tell you all. 
People dwelt here once whom Time, bred along with 
them, saw the only agemates of the eternal universe, 
holy offspring of the virgin earth, whose bodies came 
forth of themselves from the unplowed unsown mud. 
These by indigenous art built upon foundations of 
rock a city unshakable on ground also of rock. Once 
on their watery beds among the fountains, while the 
fiery sun was beating the earth with steam, they 
were resting together and plucking at the Lethean 
wing of mind -rejoicing sleep. Now I cherished 
a passion of love for that city ; so I took the 
shadowed form of a human face, and stayed my step 
overhanging the head of these earthborn folk, and 
spoke to them my oracle in words of inspiration : 

*^ " * Shake off idle sleep, sons of the soil ! Make 
me a new kind of vehicle to travel on the brine. 
Clear me this ridge of pinewoods with your sharp 
axes and make me a clever work. Set a long row of 
thickset standing ribs and rivet planks to them, then 

breast (without her knowledge, for the story varies) and 
so became her fosterson. 

185 



NONN08 

avfi^prqv arivoKTov dpTjpori ^ijoarv htafti^, 
hi(j>pov aAo9, <r)(€hirjv npumir\oo¥, ^ btA 
vfUas dxAiJcic- teal dyfcvXoy tutpor a«* impim 
npioTonay^S Sopv fiaxpov oXov <m}pcy|ia 
Itfpia 8c arayMtooiv dptjpora &^aorc mittXqf, 
Tolxov hovpartov nvKH'ov Tvm¥' u^ rf W c hk 
a^yyopuevov S€apoiai pAao¥ (vXo¥ o^ior 
Koi Xiy€ov nXarv ^dpo^ t^atftart hovpan 
GvpnXiKlas ht KoXtoa^ afu>i/3a8iV« ut¥ 6m6 
itcroBov ri€pUp tcoXirwaart ^dpof a^frjj 
€yKVov €( avipLOV yrjoaaoov opriiraYfj hi 
<f>pd(aT€ AeTrroAcoiai ocoi^pora Soupara ydf«i^otf , 
TWKva TrepurrpuHJoyTts 6po^vy4<ov ini roix/nt^ 
pineaw otavtvoi^, pij <f>topioy otSpM )^€ci) 
€vh6pvxov yXoj^vpoio k€x^v6ti bovparof cXiftp, 
Koi ax«8ii79 oti^Ka Kvp€pinjTrjpa Tropiitff 
vypfjs arpanirolo noXvarpo^v 4*^oX^ 

hovparfw K€V€wvi xapd^art vdrra ^aXdotrrff, 
€ta6K€ x<J^po^ Ikoig6€ p€popp(vov, cumdBi hun^l 
d(rrad€€S TrXcjovaiv aXrjpovt^ civ oAi ntrpoA, 
dg Ouai; ^ApPpoaias CTrc^fuacv, oT^ m BdXXu 
TJXiKos avToppi^ov opo^vyov cpixx cAaii^, 
7r€Tprjs vypoTTopoio p€a6p^>aXov' dxpordrois M 
aUrov ddprj(TrfT€ 'rTap€hpjjoaoyra Kopvpfioif 
Koi ^ioAt^v €vrvKTov dno ^iXoytpoio hk hh^pcn 
BappaXiovs amvOijpas cpcvycTcu avroparQ^ wtJjp, 
KoX aiXas d(l>X€y€os 7r€pifi6aK€Tai €pvo^ iXairf^* 

Kol <l>Xrr6v lHpl7T€Tr)XoV cAif o^y dpL^X^p€V€l, 

dp4>dT€pov pX€<l>dpouTi KOi ovaai Sdpfio^ ddfi 
186 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 448-477 

join them firmly together with a wellfitting bond — 
the chariot of the sea, the first craft that ever sailed, 
which can heave you over the deep ! But first let it 
have a long curved beam running from end to end 
to support the whole, and fasten the planks to the 
ribs fitted about it like a close wall of wood. Let 
there be a tall spar upright in the middle held fast 
with stays. Fasten a wide linen cloth to the middle 
of the pole with twisted ropes on each side. Keep 
the sail extended by these ropes, and let it belly 
out to the wind of heaven, pregnant by the breeze 
which carries the ship along. Where the newfitted 
timbers gape, plug them with thin pegs. Cover the 
sides with hurdles of wickerwork to keep them 
together, lest the water leak through unnoticed by 
a hole in the hollow vessel. Have a tiller as guide 
for your craft, to steer a course and drive you on 
the watery path with many a turn — twist it about 
everywhere as your mind draws you, and cleave the 
back of the sea in your wooden hull, until you come 
to the fated place, where driven wandering over 
the brine are two floating rocks, which Nature has 
named the Ambrosial Rocks." 

469 " ' Qjj Qjje Qf them grows a spire of olive, their 
agemate, selfrooted and joined to the rock, in the very 
midst of the waterfaring stone. On the top of the 
foliage you will see an eagle perched, and a well-made 
bowl. From the flaming tree fire selfmade spits out 
wonderful sparks, and the glow devours the olive tree 
all round but consumes it not. A snake writhes round 
the tree with its highlifted leaves, increasing the 
wonder both for eyes and for ears. For the serpent 

" Where, if anywhere, Nonnos found this extraordinary 
tale of the founding of Tyre is unknown. 

187 



NONNOS 

ov yap otpaitrorrfTov ^5 otcror i4'o^^ fpwoir 
Xo^os dn€iXriTrjpi hpdKto¥ ntfHfidXXtrm Mm^, 
ovSe huiTrrvcav dayarq^pov t6¥ <^5A>T m » 
opviv €<uy y€vvfaai KartoBUi, oOU Jcal H^r^ 
aicTOS* ipTnjarijpa noXv<nr€iprpv¥ ^dtSmg 
aprrdias oyvxfom furdpotoi ifipa r^^Uftt, 
ovSc fiiv 6(vo8oyTi KaraypojifMU /rvctifi- 
ovSe rawnpffivoio <^vtov nt^pnwjpoii ^ffina 
TWpaos dhy)\rjrov irtpi^oatctnu <proc i^aim» 
ovht hpaKovTiiutv ^oXShjjv antiprifui uo^MCMt 
Gvwofiov dyxiKiXtDBov, 6fAonXtt(€uM^ oi fraU ai 
ov 7rr€pvywv opvidoi i^irrrrai dXX&yLt¥0¥ wBm^ 
oAAa <f>VTov Kara fuaaa ^iXotf oiXa/f atfrn laXXm* 
ovSt kvXl^ arivatcro^ itrrppo^ wffoBi niwm 
aiiopAvoiv dv€fioujiv oXtoBtfoaaa Kopvfifitg¥. 
Kai ao<f>6v dyp€vaairr€i 6fi6)^vov 6pvi¥ iXaifff 
aierov v^inirr^v Up€uaar€ Kvavoxairjj, 
Xvdpov €TTi(m€vSovT€S oAiTrAawcaot tcoXurmif 
Kal Au #ca4 pxiKdpeaat' koX dararoi ovicirt ^rirpti 
TrAcifcTCu uypo<f>6pTjTO^, dxaoyrocf &€ ^€/iV9Aotf 
avTOfJidrq Jcua^etaa crwdTrrtToi d^iryt wirpfQ. 
Trq^are 8* dp.<f>oT€pai^ €'nuc€ipL€vt>v darv iroiiiiinnff 
dpi<j>or€pnf)s €KdT€p6€v inl Kpffnihi ^aXiaofK*' 
Toiov €7Tos fiavTwov dyrjpvyoy €yp6fJL€VOi M 
Fr/ycvcVy ScSoi^rro, #cai ovaaiv ai€v Itcdarom 
SdaKcXos d7rXav€wv CTrc/Sdfi/Scc fivOx^ dmipom, 
roloi 3* €yui T€pa^ dXXo fitrd 7rr€p6€rmg dmlpfmf 
dxvu/xcVoi? d\€<f>rjva, <f>iX6KTiTov ^^oy <U(ctfr 
€aa6p.€vos ttoXlovxo^' vncpKwIfa^ &^ &aXdaofit 
dvTLTimov filfirffia <f>€pu}v lao^vyi fJiop^ 
€49 ttXoov avToSiSaKTov ci'T^vcTo vaurCXos Ixl^^ 
Tov TOT€ 7ra7TraivovT€s cowcora •oyl daA(unn|f 
188 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 478-509 

does not creep silently to the eagle flying on high, and 
throw itself at him from one side with a threatening 
sweep to envelop him, nor spits deadly poison from 
his teeth and swallows the bird in his jaws ; the eagle 
himself does not seize in his talons that crawler with 
many curling coils and carry him off high through the 
air, nor will he wound him with sharptoothed beak ; 
the flame does not spread over the branches of the 
tall trunk and devour the olive tree, which cannot 
be destroyed, nor withers the scales of the twining 
snake, so close a neighbour, nor does the leaping 
flame catch even the bird's interlaced feathers. No — 
the fire keeps to the middle of the tree and sends out 
a friendly glow : the bowl remains aloft, immovable 
though the clusters are shaken in the wind, and does 
not slip and fall. 

493 " ' You must catch this wise bird, the high- 
flying eagle agemate of the olive, and sacrifice 
him to Seabluehair. Pour out his blood on the 
seawandering cliffs to Zeus and the Blessed. Then 
the rock wanders no longer driven over the waters ; 
but it is fixed upon immovable foundations and 
unites itself bound to the free rock. Found upon 
both rocks a builded city, with quays on two seas, 
on both sides.' 

^01 " Such was my prophetic message. The 
Earthborn awaking were stirred, and the divine 
message of the unerring dreams still rang in the 
ears of each. I showed yet another marvel after the 
winged dreams to these troubled ones, indulging my 
mood of founding cities, myself destined to be City- 
holder : out of the sea popped a nautilus fish, perfect 
image of what I meant and shaped like a ship, sailing 
on its voyage selftaught. Thus observing this crea- 

189 



NONN08 

Kal ttAoov €vnoirfrov drtp KO^droto §taB6mg, •'• 
Koi ax^hirjv irrj^am'f^ oftouov Ix^^ m^rev 
vavTiXlrj^ rvTTov laov ^fufirjaaarro ^aXdaoi^, 
Kol ttAoo? ^v nuTvpoty 5< XiBiMfv uiocAirli 4^^^ 
vavTiXiriv la6fi€rf>ov trturrwamrro BaXiaofi, 
KoX y€pdvcjv ariyoKTOv ifu^rfo w rro mop^:tff^ ^M 

at arofidrcjv €vroa6tv ooaxnfT^fta m^XMmt 
Xaav cAo^ptfouat nara^ia, ^ij irort tn lf mf 
iTTrafUvcjv 7rr€pa kov<^ napanXayftitv ^bfnfft 

CU70IC6 X^^P^^ €K€lV0V €a(hpaJKO¥, ^)f» tfvAAcUf 

€1? ttXoov avTOKtXfvOov ivavTtXXorro ieoX&99A, •• 

Kal GxcSirjv coTT^aov aXurr€^di^ wapa i^^om, 

Kol aniXdbwv intpcuvov, oirrj ^vror ijcr *AA{n}f* 

Toiai Sc fiaiofjL€voiaiv €<f>4<mov 6pv%» iXahfg 

a(€T09 r)€p6^iro^ €Kovaiov ctV ^^po¥ iarti* 

rriy€V€€g b€ XaP6vT€^ €vrrr€pov Mtc¥ &Yfnfff Mi 

a^ avaaiipdt,ovr€S omiadcnox-oio irapi)POV 

yvpvov €<f>aTrXu}aavr€^ iXtvStpov atStptiopa, 

aUrov avTOKcXevOov €bairp€VoayTO fiaxnif^ 

X-qvl Kol vypoyi€hovTi' Scu^ofi^vou hi <n5i{p9» 

€iJU(f>povo£ olojvolo V€o<Ttf>ay€wv ano Xaufiaiv OO 

OeaKcXov €pp€€v atfia, daXaaaorropov^ &€ KoXurvos 

Boifiovlais XLpa^€GGiv €7r€ppHuxr€ daXdaoji 

dyxi Tvpov Trapd novrov in* dppayitaoi hk wirpOMit 

rriY€V€€s padvKoXnov iBwfi-qaayro nBrprrj^, 

aol jJLev, dva$ Aiowac, Tr^Sorpc^y a^^ Viydirrwif tM 

€W€7TOv avToX6x€VTov *OXvp.niov, o^poi hoflffs 

vfji€T€po}v TTpoyoviuv TvpiTjv avToxBova ^vrAi^* 

dfjuf>l Se irqyduiv fitj&qoofuw apx^Y^iVOi yap 

irapdevkKoX ndpos -Pjoav ix^^povt^, wv M pUrp^ 

190 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 510-539 

ture so like a ship of the sea, they learnt without 
trouble how to make a voyage, they built a craft like 
to a fish of the deep and imitated its navigation of the 
sea. Then came a voyage : with four stones of an 
equal weight they trusted their balanced navigation 
to the sea, imitating the steady flight of the crane ; 
for she carries a ballast-stone in her mouth to help her 
course, lest the wind should beat her light wings aside 
as she flies." They went on until they saw that place, 
where the rocks were driven by the gales to navigate 
by themselves. 

521 " There they stayed their craft beside the sea- 
girt isle, and climbed the cliffs where the tree of 
Athena stood. When they tried to catch the eagle 
which was at home on the olive tree, he flew down 
willingly and awaited his fate. The Earthborn took 
their winged prey inspired, and drawing the head 
backwards they stretched out the neck free and bare, 
they sacrificed with the knife that selfsurrendered 
eagle to Zeus and the Lord of the waters. As the 
sage bird was sacrificed, the blood of prophecy gushed 
from the throat newly cut, and with those divine drops 
rooted the seafaring rocks at the bottom near to Tyre * 
on the sea ; and upon those unassailable rocks the 
Earthborn built up their deepbreasted nurse. 

535 " There, Lord Dionysos, I have told you of the 
soilbred race of the Earthborn, self born, Olympian, 
that you might know how the Tyrian breed of your 
ancestors sprang out of the earth. Now I will speak 
of the fountains. In the olden days they were chaste 
maidens primeval, but hot Eros was angered against 

" For some references to this story about cranes, see Sir 
D'A. W. Thompson, Glossary of Greek Birds^, p. 72. 
** i.e. Old Tyre, the mainland part of the city. 

191 



NONN08 

' Nrytj *ApapPap€rj ^iXondp$fV€ , Wfo tcoi oM^ 
rovTo /ScAoy, to wcp coxcv SXfj ^wnf hSA 
naaraSa KaXXiporj^, J^poatpijf h* ^yi^MUor 
oAA' €p^€is' "fud^mjj Si</>oy y4vo^. ix M foAam ^ MI 
avTOTcAiyy yci^^iji', ifol f/i^ rpo^dt iwXtro wi|yij." 
Ni7ia; ^i' KAu/xcvi) Koi anocnropof ^QtetwnSo' 
oAAd ydfjLoi^ vnottfty, iWfi^vBfi M mii d^nf* 
ws t5c Aar/Hv 'E/xurof apctoMa 4ruaivj|u/iw 
olarpw \{vnpthUp StSomfifUvov apx^yo¥09 M MO 

*nK€ai'os> iTorafioUn kcu vSaat naai ircActtw 
T77dtx>f or$€v cporra iccu ci)u&pov( Vfi4vaiovt» 
T€rXadi KoX av ^p€w laa Tfi$vi. Tooo a r M yt M 
cf oAo; oJ/xa 4>^povGa uroi ovir oAiyiK d«6 wtfyfj/i 
i/x€ip€( FaAarcia fi€XiiofjUvov MoAv^ijfUW, Ml 

TrrjKrtSt, d€Xyofi€vr) furavdarioi cty X^^""^ ^afaii 
#cat TTT^ot 3e5aaaif c/xoi' PtXo^- ov at htlU(m 
ifi€pov vSarocvra- nodopXrjrtHO &< '"T/^ 
€kXv€S vypov epwra '^vprjKoalrj^ *ApfBoAnif* •• 

'AA^ccoy ScSaT^Ka;, 09 uc/xoAcoi muM vtMFT^ 
uS/n^Aai; TToAa/xou; Trc/MjSaAAcroi i7^a5a NJ|ify>. 
^7179 oTfta <l>€povaa ri Ttprrtai lo')(taim; 
"Aprc/xts" ou pXdanjGcv a^ wSaro?, €^9 A^poSiTiy. S64 

€VV€1T€ KoAAtpOT^* SpOGCpfj fl-fj KpVTTTt KQA aVT^, 9$$ 

KvTTpi^L fidXXov o<^AA€9 dyctv X^^t ^"^ **** oinj MS 
ay;(ei'a Kd/jult€v "Epcj-rt, tIT 

»fat €1 rpo^os iorw 'EpcvTMr. 
8€;i^vu<TO K€vrpa noBoio, kox vypovofiov at iraJWoow 
€tff yevc^i^, €s €pwTa Kaaiyvifnjv *A^po5in/(/ 
Tou)i/ CTTOff KarcAcfci'- oTTtadordixMO o< rdfov §70 

19s 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 540-570 

their maiden girdles, and drawing a shaft of love he 
spoke thus to the marriage -hating nymphs : ' Naiad 
Abarbarie, so fond of your maidenhood, you too re- 
ceive this shaft, which ajl nature has felt. Here I will 
build Callirhoe's bridechamber, here I will sing 
Drosera's wedding hymn — But you will say, Mine is a 
watery race, I came selfborn from the streams, and 
my nurse was a fountain. — Yes, Clymene was a Naiad, 
and the offspring of Oceanos ; but she yielded to wed- 
lock, she also was a bride, when she saw Seabluehair 
the mighty a lackey of Eros, and shaken with the 
passion of Cypris. Primeval Oceanos, who commands 
all rivers and waters, knows love for Tethys and a 
watery wedding. Make the best of it, and endure as 
Tethys did. Another sprung from the sea so great 
and not from a little fountain, Galateia, has desire for 
melodious Polyphemos ° ; the deepsea maiden has a 
husband from the land, she migrates from sea to land, 
enchanted by the lute. Fountains also have known 
my shafts. I need not teach you of love in the 
waters ; you have heard of the watery passion of 
Syracusan Arethusa, that lovestricken fountain ; you 
have heard of Alpheios, who in a watery bower em- 
braces the indwelling nymph with watery hands. ^ 
You — the offspring of a fountain — why are you 
pleased with the Archeress ? Artemis did not come 
from the water like Aphrodite. Tell that to Calli- 
rhoe, do not hide it from Drosera herself. You ought 
rather to please Cypris, because she herself bent her 
neck to Eros even though she is nurse of the loves. 
Accept the stings of desire, and I will call you by birth 
one waterwalking, by love sister of Aphrodite.' So 
he spoke ; and from his backbent bow let fly three 

*• Cf. on xxxix. 257. ^ C/. on xxxvii. 173. 

VOL. m o 193 



NONN06 

TpinXoa n^^int ptXtfiva, kcu MwSifitp irap^ waar^ 

Kal Tvplrj^ coTTCipc Onifytvi^ at^ta ytvMaff," 

Tola luv ' HpoxA^Tjf no6fio9<Mpo9 hvtmt B^Jry^ 
TipiplVOOL^ odpoiow 6 M ^p^vo, W/rvfTO fiiWy, 
#fai 7rd/x»' 'HpaicA^t, toi' ovparifj tcdfiM ^^X'^* 
Xpvao<i>arj Kfnjrrjpa a€Xaa^6po¥' 'llpaJcA/i|r M 
aarpauMj ^loyvaov d»^;(Aai!Kiiof ^^trum. 

Koi deov aorpoxiruiva Tvpov iroAiofl|yor MO 



ADDITIONAL NOTE TO HOOK 3CL 



fit 



369 ff. This curious prayer, or hTmn, nriglft tkmA b» 
called a conipcndium of MiUr ^yncretkm. OmuUt pmmt 4tm 
ad solem re/trunt^ says M«m>biu.s 8ai. L 17. ff. Mid MNM 
examples of the inf^-niou.s throrixtnfr by which thb iMall W 
reached may be found then- or in Jaltftn's llwmm i» iThM 
Sun 143 D ff. (vol. i. p. 390 in L.( .1^). Down Id ail« 
Dionysos simply celebratcA the physical povcr* of IIk mui t 
then begrin the identifications. He ia ** BdlM on dw 
Euphrates ** ; the Gnt-ks wrrr a.<> firmly co w r to ced ■• OMunr 
modem Bible-readers that the Smutea, or tlie OvfaalHI 
generally, worshipped a god calU-d Kaal or Bcl« IIm Iralll dP 
course being that baal Ls a S<-niitic word for lord or wmtkatt 
and so is applied to a multitude of gods. Tlik ** BdL** tiHB» 
being an important deity, must be the sun, the wtan to •• 
some of the gods bearing that title may have been ratllir 
solar. He is " Libyan Ammon " and " the Assyrian Zc«s 
because 2Leus is the same as Helios and Ammoii is " 
Apis is $olu nutar, Macrob. ibid, xxL 20, Crooot, loM 



194 



DIONYSIACA, XL. 571-580 

shots. Then in that watery bower he joined in love 
sons of the soil to the Naiads, and sowed the divine 
race of your family." 

^"^^ So much Heracles leader of heaven said to 
Bacchos in pleasant gossip. He was delighted at 
heart by the tale, and offered to Heracles a mixing- 
bowl of gold bright and shining, which the art of 
heaven had made ; Heracles clad Dionysos in a 
starry robe. 

^^9 Then Bacchos left the Starclad god, cityholder 
of Tyre, and went on to another district of Assyria. 



misinterpreted as Time, was very easy to identify with the 
best-known measure of time, and therefore the gods of other 
nations identified with him (we do not know what Arab god 
Nonnos means ; it would be interesting if it were Allah) are 
sun-gods too. Sarapis (399) had declared himself to be the 
Sun, Macrob. ibid. xx. 17, and so he must be Zeus also ; 
Phaethon means Helios scores of times in Nonnos, to say 
nothing of other writers ; Mithra really was a sun-god ; the 
" Helios of Babylon " might be simply El ; Apollo had been 
identified with Helios since the fifth century b.c. Paian is 
Apollo (407) and consequently Helios also ; to call the sun 
the ether or sky (ibid.) is but a small stretch of identification 
for a syncretist of those days ; remains Gamos (402), and 
here we seem to have neither cult nor philosophy, but a 
literary pedantry of Nonnos's own. Philoxenos the dithy- 
rambic poet, in a passage cited by Athenaios, 6 a, had called 
Gamos the most brilliant (Aa/iTrporare) of the gods ; now the 
sun is the most brilliant object in the universe, and un- 
doubtedly a god ; therefore Gamos also is Helios, Q.E.D. ! 



195 



AIONTSIAKHN TEZSAPAKOCTON 
IIPQTON 

Upwrov rtaaapoKwrrov ixti, iMmf wlU lflljpp|f 

oAAt^v Kvnpw €riKr€V * AfivfiutiTiy *A^|poS^. 



"ApTi fi€v 6if>pv6€VTo^ xmip Aifitumo 
Trq^ag ayXaoKapmov irtl yBovx fiorpu^ 

Kal l\a<l>ir)s Sofiov cfSc yafii^Xiov' 4|A4^Aofr M 
ipveaw dpTitf>uTou7i PaBvoKiov oXmK ipii^ag S 

d/LiTrcAocv 7rop€ hwpov *Ahwvthi koI Kv^pf^. 

'qfi€piBwv ^cjarrjpi Oopwv €7nfirfTop€ woAfl^ 
KiGaos d€paL7T6njTog ipiTpatSTj tcvnaplootj^, 

'AAAd defucrroTToXov lltporj^ Trapi yc^roM W(iy 10 
vfivov *AfiVfJUt)vr)^, AiPain!jtB€^ ctYrarc MovofU, 
Kal Pvdiov KpovtSao koX €vvp,voio Avalon 
"Apea KVfiaToevra kcu dfiTrcAococrav 'Emw. 

'EoTt noXlS BcpOT^, plOTOV TpOTTlf, 

OpflO^ *EpCtfTWP, 

TTovroTrayTyj, evvriao^, ci^Aooj, oi; pd^i^ la^fioG l§ 

(TT€lVr) firJKOg €XOVTOS» OTTJI hiSvfJLTl^ fUoOf oXfllff 

KvpxiGLv dfitl>oT€poiaLv IfidaacToi opdto^ *'^^^X^' 
dAAd rd ficv PaOvbevhpov xmo pdxiv aldcitoi EtVpoo 
196 



BOOK XLI 

The forty-first tells how Aphrodite bore Amymone 
a second Cypris to the son of Myrrha. 

Already he had planted in the earth the clustering 
vintage of his glorious fruit under the beetling crags 
of Lebanon, and intoxicated all the winebearing 
bottoms of the land. He saw the wedding-chamber 
of Paphia ; there with newgrown shoots of the 
gardenvine he roofed a deep-shaded grove, then 
presented the viny gift to Adonis and Cythereia. 
There was also a troop of Graces ; and from the 
luxuriant coppice high leapt the ivy in his girdle of 
cultivated vine, and climbed aloft embracing the 
cypress. 

1^ Come now, ye Muses of Lebanon on the neigh- 
bouring land of Beroe, that handmaiden of law ! 
recite the lay of Amymone, the war between Cronides 
of the deep" and well-besung Lyaios, the war of 
waters and the strife of the vine. 

^3 There is a city Beroe,^ the keel of human life, 
harbour of the Loves, firmbased on the sea, with fine 
islands and fine verdure, with a ridge of isthmus 
narrow and long, where the rising neck between two 
seas is beaten by the waves of both. On one side 
it spreads under the deepwooded ridge of Assyrian 

" Poseidon. * Berytos, Beyrout. 

197 



NONNOS 

*Aa(TvpLw Aipdvw tTapairtirranu, ^x* •Oi^^'^Mf 
6pdi,a crvpl^ovaa Pioaaoo^ tpx^rai at^, 
€v6SfjLois dv€fioiai nx'naaop.txtiiv Kvnapi009l¥ • • • 
Gvwopo^ IxBvPoXrji yipuiv €/i<A/{rro ««Mfti{r« 
KOi hofios aypovofiwv, oBi iroAAoxc^ iyyvBi X&Xfi^ 
Ylavi fi€Xi^ofA€vu} hp€mxvJii^6poi rjjmt^ro Ai|w, 
Kai ri; c^* Urroporji ytutp^po^ a^x^ m(|H^f, 
paivwv apTixapatcTov otnaBofiiXi^ j | ^ ^w a m^W^» 
yctrovi fir)Xopor7Jpi napa o^vpa ^opfMo g Ai|f, 
a<fiiy^as (Tv^vya ravpov, ofuXtt tcvpr6s Jipor p tt S g* 
dXXa 5c Trap TrcAaycaaii' €^1 froAAC* ifx* nro^mi 
arcpva Yloati^utvit Kal tpfipvov <uSy^m 
TT^X^t pLv^aX€a> TTtpipaXXtrai vypof Jutolnj^, 
-niyLTTiDv ySarocvro ^cAvJ/xara )^cAcoi 

cSva no<7€iSacu»'o; dXlrpo^ta nuMa Xifonrif 
Sc^wrai, ix^iwcnra TroAvxpoa Scinva rpatr^ltK, 
elvaXij) Nrjprjog i-maKaipovra rpavHjn, 
dpKTwr)v TTapd Trcjav, ottt; poBvKVfiOVOf a#rrT^ 
fiTjKehav^ K€V€(vvi Bo^io^ cAxcTOi owAuiy. 
d/i^c §€ T€ptpii'6ou) ficarjfiPpiyov ai^x^Mi yo^ff 
€t9 paxtrjv ^oTL-qv iltapaSwh^U tlaw ^rnfftnA 
€Ls x^ova SiSoviT^v, 0^1 TTouctXa ^€vhp€a in^inwr 
Kttt ora^uAat KOfioaxri, ravimropBoii hi vcnfAoif 
hdoKLOs d7rXav€€aaL TiTatWrcu o2fu>9 oS/toac. 
BoxfMoaag Sc p€^6pov cV* lydvi rrdiTos' dpcunm 
d/x^t Suaiy /cuavcoTrdi^, ottji Xiyvrjx^i raptnjt 
'EoTTcpltov Z.€<f>vpoio Ka6irT7r€voirros ^muaAcmt 
avpiypiw SpoaoevTL ACfiv^ piTriJcTou ayKan^, 

dv^C/IOClS 0^1 X^POS, OTTp TTOpd yciTOM 

198 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 19-47 

Lebanon in the blazing East, and there comes for its 
people a lifesaving breeze, whistling loud and shaking 
the cypress trees with fragrant winds. There the 
ancient shepherd shared his domain and made his 
music along with the fisherman ; there was the 
dwelling of the farmers, where often near the wood- 
land, Deo sickle in hand met Pan playing on his 
pipes ; and the husbandman bending his neck over 
the plowpole, and showering the corn behind him 
into the newcut furrows with backturned wrist, the 
bowed plowman gripping his yoke of bulls, had con- 
verse with his neighbour the shepherd along the 
foothills of the woodland pasture. The other part 
by the seas the city possesses, where she offers her 
breast to Poseidon, and her watery husband em- 
braces the girl's pregnant neck with wet arm, putting 
moist kisses on the bride's lips; his bedfellow in her 
well-accustomed bosom accepts Poseidon's familiar 
bride-gifts from his hand out of the deep, the sea- 
bred flocks of the waters, the fishes of many colours 
for her banqueting-table, which dance on the table 
of Nereus in the brine, in the region of the 
Bear, where the northerly coast receives the deep 
waves into its long channel. About the southern 
neck of this delightful country sandy roads lead 
to the southern hills and the Sidonian land, where 
are all manner of trees and vines thick with foliage 
in the gardens, and a highway stretches that no 
traveller can miss, overshadowed with long leafy 
branches. The sea bending its course beats on the 
shore about the darkfaced west, while the bight of 
Libya is fanned by the dewy whistle of Zephyros as 
he rides with shrill-sounding heel over the western 
channels, where is a flowery land, where nurseries 

199 



NONN08 

^uraAiat BaXlovai, koX tvnfraXtam ^mi l/ i<yttp 
daSnari pofifii^^vri /zcAiJcrm ifiwvoof Am. 4f 

*EvBab€ <f)iur€s otnov o^iriKitct^ ^y mm ii t%, 51 

ovs Ovat; auToy€it6Xo9 dyufju^ih^t nai Btofup 
TJpoa€ vooifn ydfiwv, andrutp, oAovtvrof , ^tfrutp, 
OTTTTOTC GVfifJuytwv dto^ujav rtrpalyyi htoiuft 
uSari Kol TTvpocvTi n€^OfUvov ^pof dr^u^ Aft 

cn;{[i//a fiop^ioaaoa ao^v r6t(0Â¥ aanopot tXi^ 
€fA'rrvoov i'tjtuvuHJt yovriv i-vtaifiom inyXj^, 
of; Oval? €^009 onaaat r€Ma^6po¥' o^ j yWwo u ydi^ 
KcVpoTTo; ov rvnov €t)(ov, S^ lofidXtft iroMf d J U y 
yaiav €iri{vwv o^uoSci oi^prro rapatft, iO 

Wp^c hpaKCJV, Kou vn€p$€v an* i(ti09 <KXpt 
oAAo^ini); drcAcorro? €<ftaiVtTO hi)(poot oan^' 
ov rvnov dypiov €txov *Kp€xO€Of, Sw Ware ro/ifr 
auAaict wfi<l>€v<Ta<: yafiirjv 'H^aurrof i^poffr 
dXXd dciov USaXfia yoyfj^ avrd^Oon pUjl M 

irporro<f>avr)s XP^^^^ €fiatw$rj ardxm JApAf* 
Koi ^€p6T)s vdaaavro noXiv npurrdawopotf i&mi», 
riv Kpovos avros €5«i^€, ao^rj^ art ytvfum Pcii^ 
OKpvotv Oiro hopTTov €w YroAirvai^i XoA^t^^ 
Koi Xldov ElXildviav €X'i*iv fi€ppiddm ^djpm, 70 

dXipofievrjs TToXvTTcuBo^ djcoi^iarijfM. ytifMaifS, 
XavSov oXov TTorafioto poov v€<^XrjS9¥ Ju^iioott¥ 
OTTJ^ct 7ra<f>Xd^ovTi, fjLoyoaroKov €aiTaa€V vSu9p, 
Xvoas yaaT€pos oyKov €Traaavrtpov^ hk huSunm 
SiGGOTOKovs vlijag dvijptr/€v tytcvo^ au)^, 7ft 

TTopdfiov c^oiv roKCToio X€x<J^iov dv6€p€uwa' 

* The four elements. 

* First king of Athens, a kind of Attic Adam t he bad 
snakes for legs. 

* He means Erichthonk)s, cf. xiii. 171 ff. 
200 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 48-76 

bloom hard by the sea, and the fragrant forest per- 
vaded by humming winds sings from its leafy trees. 
^^ Here dwelt a people agemates* with the 
Dawn, whom Nature by her own breeding, in 
some un wedded way, begat without bridal, 
without wedding, fatherless, motherless, unborn : 
when the atoms were mingled in fourfold com- 
bination, and the seedless ooze shaped a clever 
offspring by commingling water mth fiery heat 
and air,<* and quickened the teeming mud with 
the breath of life. To these Nature gave perfect 
shape : for they had not the form of primeval Cecrops,* 
who crawled and scratched the earth with snaky feet 
that spat poison as he moved, dragon below, but 
above from loins to head he seemed a man half made, 
strange in shape and of twyform flesh ; they had not 
the savage form of Erechtheus," whom Hephaistos 
begat on a furrow of Earth with fertilizing dew ; but 
now first appeared the golden crop of men brought 
forth in the image of the gods,** with the roots of their 
stock in the earth. And these dwelt in the city of 
Beroe, that primordial seat which Cronos himself 
builded, at the time when invited by clever Rheia he 
set that jagged supper before his voracious throat, and 
having the heavy weight of that stone within him 
to play the deliverer's part, he shot out the whole 
generation of his tormented children. Gaping wide, 
he sucked up the storming flood of a whole river, and 
swallowed it in his bubbling chest to ease his pangs, 
then threw off the burden of his belly ; so one after 
another his pregnant throat pushed up and dis- 
gorged his twiceborn sons through the dehvering 
channel of his gullet. 

^ The Golden Age. 

201 



NONNOS 

ZcVJ TOTC KOVpO^ hjV, <Ti TtOV fip^^Of OV WOT€ 

aar€p<mri airAdyiJc, koI ov lir^riB* X^P^ 

Zrjvos do<r<rqrijp€^ ourrtvoyro tetpawoi' tO 

PpovTol-q papvSovno^ ip6fip€€v ofipMOf 4x^* 
oAAa TToAt? BcpoT; Trportpt) irdXfv, fjy fya ynig 
irputTOifMinji €v67ja€v ofirjXuca avfi^rvrot hltttf 
ov TOTC 'Vapaos trjv r€p*ltifiPporo^t o^ ▼'^^ ^^fi'%• ^ 
ov TOTC Laf>5icf ^aat', oirn IIoxrcuAiSof S](0ffg 
Xpvaov €p€vyofUvr)^ dfxapvoatrai oXfiuH tXik» 
£ap8i€9, 'HcAioio oimiAiiccy ow y/nx <u4|p«r« 
ou TOTe Tt9 »roAi9 i^*** *Axauay, oi^ tcoi fl^n^ 
*ApKaBiri trpoaiXr^x'o^- dvtfiXaarrfat Si liudjlf fO 

np€apvTiipri <^addovro^, o$€v ^do^ lo)fC £cXnn|9 
icat (f>6ap.€vrj -j^Bova traaav, €w rra^i^tjfroM tciXin^ 
'HcAiou i'€o^yy€5 d/xcAyo/iVvi; atXas ofyAi^ 
#cat ^09 o^iTcAccTTov oKoc^ifroio ^Av}i^4 
nponr) Kvavdrjg aTrcaciaaTO iftDitw' ofuxXtjf, 90 

ical vdco; ^o^cacrai^ dntarv^KXift KoA vnipt^ ' 
Kal ^dafxdvrj Kimpoio koI '\aSp.iov aarv KopuSop 
irpwTT) Kimpiv ehiKTo ^iAo(ctra> truAcovn 
cf oAoj opTtAdxcvToi', oTc ^pvxlr)v ^A^tpMnft 
Ovpavlrj^ w6iv€v an* auAoxo? tyKvov vSttp, 100 

OTTTTodi v6a<l>i ydfJLwv dpoaa^ poov dpatvt Xi$p^ 
avToreXrjs p.op<f>ovro Bvyarpoyovw yoM>9 d/^pt^t 
Kox Oucji? cttActo fidia' awavrcAAoiv S^ Staurji 
ariKTos tfxds-, ar€(f>avr)h6v in* l(vi kvkXov cA&jfa^, 
avrofiaTO} ^loarijpi Sc/ia; plrputaev dvdatm. 106 

#cai ^£o? i;(V€UotK7a 81* i>5aT09 dj^n^v dtrrrfv 
ov Ild<t>oVt ovK cVt Buj3Ao>' dvihpafuv, 

ov noba X^P^ 
203 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 77-107 

'^ Zeus was then a child, still a baby methinks ; 
not yet the lightning flashed and cleft the hot clouds 
with many a dancing leap, not yet bolts of Zeus 
were shot to help in the Titans' war, not yet the 
rainy sound of thunderclaps roared heavily with 
bang and boom through colliding clouds : but be- 
fore that, the city of Beroe was there, which Time 
with her first appearing saw when born together 
with her agemate Earth. Tarsos the delight of 
mankind was not then, Thebes was not then, nor 
then was Sardis where the bank of Pactolos sparkles 
with opulent ooze disgorged, Sardis agemate of 
Helios. The race of men was not then, nor any 
Achaian city, nor yet Arcadia itself which came 
before the moon. Beroe alone grew up, older than 
Phaethon, from whom Selene got her light, even 
before all the earth, milking out from Helios the 
shine of his newmade brightness upon her all- 
mothering breast and the later perfected light 
of unresting Selene Beroe first shook away the 
cone of darkling mist, and threw off the gloomy 
veil of chaos. Before Cyprus and the Isthmian 
city of Corinth, she first received Cypris within 
her welcoming portal, newly born from the brine; 
when the water impregnated from the furrow of 
Uranos was delivered of deepsea Aphrodite ; when 
without marriage, the seed plowed the flood with 
male fertility, and of itself shaped the foam into 
a daughter, and Nature was the midwife — coming 
up with the goddess there was that embroidered 
strap which ran round her loins like a belt, set about 
the queen's body in a girdle of itself. Then the 
goddess, moving through the water along the quiet 
shore, ran out, not to Paphos, not to Byblos, set no 

203 



NONNOS 

KwXidBos prjYfuvos €^pfiootv, dAAa #rtu 

<jjKxn€pjf arpo<l>aXiyYi napirf^xt^ iarw 

KoX xpoa ^vKtocvri trtpirpijnoa tnpf&iifif^ HO 

7rop<f>vp€rj TTcAc fiaXXov oKUfuarrouf oi vwrov 

;(€t/)a9 €p€rfi4jjoaaa 6€rjr6tcov llaxjUFtv vooad 

vrjxoti€yrj, kcu aripfvav iwurropiowm 9aXio9§ 

GiyaXlriv avtKoirrt xapacraofi^^ (Ua t<ai^Oi^« 

iroaaiv dfioipaloiaiv diturr^pov wBttP 
Kol BcpoT)^ Mfioivt' mjhuiv 8' MfioBpa 

TTpWTT) KvnplV cSciCTO- Kol W^i yfiTOPOf 
7)l6v€S poStOUJW €<f>OiViaQOVTO KOpVfAfioit, 

Trirpr) S* ajf>pi6ii}aa OvwSto^ tytcvoi oSkw 

'nop<f>vp€T)v ilihlva \apahpalut TtK€ ffta(4'» 

XTjvaiOLis At/3<z5€a(7i irarctaircov Ofxfipov idptnfi ... US 

dpy€vvri K€\dpvt,€ yaXa^alw X*'*"^ dXKt^* 

avToyyrov Sc fivpoio ficrdpaiov drfioy iXioffm^ 

'q€piovs €fJL€dvaa€ nopov^ €voSfioi di^rrff, 

Kai Tore Oovpov 'Eporra, yovrfi ttpotrdanopom <V>X^* 

dpfiovL7]s KoopLOio ff>€p€a^iov f^vtoxfjia, 130 

dpri,^av7)S ai6i.v€v in* d^pvoi ytiTovog 6p§iov' 

Kai ndts wKxmoSrj^f Konov dpaeva troaoi rtpdfuif, 

yaarpos dfiaicirroio p^oyoaroKOv €^Bao€9 wpnff, 

p.rjrpog dwfi<f>€UTOio /x€fiuicora K6Xno¥ dpdfaf, 

Sepp^og €Ti irpo tokoio' KvPiOTrjrrjpi 5^ iraAfi^ 135 

* In Attica. All these places are famoiu 
worship of Aphrodite. 

204 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 108-135 

foot on land by the dry beach of Colias,** even passed 
by Cythera's city itself with quicker circuit : aye, 
she rubbed her skin with bunches of seaweed and 
made it purpler still ; paddling x^-ith her hands she 
cleft the birthwaters of the waveless deep, and swam ; 
resting her bosom upon the sea she struck up the 
silent brine, marking it udth her feet, and kept her 
body afloat, and as she cut through the calm, pushed 
the water behind her with successive thrusts of her 
feet, and emerged at Beroe. Those footsteps of the 
goddess coming out from the sea are all Ues of the 
people of Cyprus.^ 

^1^ Beroe first received Cypris ; and above the 
neighbouring roads, the meadows of themselves put 
out plants of grass and flowers on all sides ; in the 
sandy bay the beach became ruddy with clumps of 
roses, the foamy stone teemed with sweetsmelling 
wine and brought forth purple fruit on its rocky 
bosom, a shadowing shower of dew with the liquor 
of the winepress," ... a white rill bubbled with 
milky juice : the fragrant breeze wafted upwards 
the curling vapours of scent, selfspread, and in- 
toxicated the paths of the air. There, as soon as 
she was seen on the brows of the neighbouring 
harbourage, she brought forth wild Eros, first seed 
and beginning of generation, quickening guide of 
the system of the universe ; and the quickleg boy, 
kicking manfully with his Hvely legs, hastened the 
hard labour of that body \\ithout a nurse, and beat 
on the closed womb of his unwedded mother ; then 
a hot one even before birth, he shook his hght 

* Possibly this means that some marks on the rocks in 
Cjrprus were shown as the prints of Aphrodite's feet. 

* The loss of one or more lines makes this obscure. 

205 



NONNOS 

Bw€vwv 'm€pa KOV<l>a wvAay anff Xoxthft, 

aaraTo^ dKXiv€€aaiv 'Kpoiy cb'CiraAArro fiaf/oif, 
arrjdcl naihoKOfiw rtrawofUvoi' <fx* ^ 4'^pfi^ 
tfi€pov avToSibaKTov ayrifUXtCTOiO h^ ^f^^ M0 

aKpa hoKwv yovifxcov XiPdBotv TtBXimUvtm fytfi^ 
otBaX€wv dKoprjroi oXov yAayof Itnraov | « lC6r. 

'Pi{a /3toi;, Ikpov;, TroAutfT rpo^, t^x^ ipitmrn, 
'npwro<f>avr^t Aiwvo^ ofxoimopf, avyxpO¥€ tf6afiov, 

cvStov Ev<f>f>oavvr)^ , Ila^'i/f bofio^, ohtof ^Epufntv, 
BaKxov TipTTVov cBc^Aov, IvavXuw loxtoifi/fft, 
NrjpetSwv dvdBfifia, Ato? ^fxo^, *Ap€Ot adkf, 
*0pxofi€v6^ \apiru}v, Aipayfjibo^ darpov Ji^tvprft, 
Tr)6vo9 lao€Tr)po^, ofiobpofio^ *li#rcayoa>, IfO 

OS Bcporyv €<f>vr€V<T€v €tu troXtmihain mar^ 
Trjdvos iKfiaXeoiaiv ofLiXrjctas v^vauHf, 
TJv TT€p * Ap.vp.wvr]v cTTc^TJ/iiaai', ciJr/ ^ M^f'V 
vSprjXrjs <f>iX6njTos viToppv\lri riK€v ciV^. 

*AAAa TLS oirXoripT] TrcAcToi ^m, orrl iu¥ oM^ IM 
dvhpofierjs Kvd€p€ia Kvfi€pvrfT€ipa yvW^Ai^ 
*Aaavpux} TTavXevKov *A5a»vi5c ycotiro fiifrrip' 
Kal hp6px>v ivi'caKVKXov dvanXi^aaaa HcAi^n^ 
ff>6pTov iXa<f>pi^€i' <f>ddp.€vos §€ /xiv cu#c/i mpa^, 
iaGOfievwv Ki^pvKa, AarivtiSa ScAtov, o^^xur, 100 

€19 BcpoT]? coStva pxryoaroKos "^XvBtv 'Epft^, 
Kai 0e/xi9 ElAci^ucq, fcal otSoAcoi; Sea koAttou 

* i.e. as much beloved by them as Orchouw o t, the 

ancient seat of their cult, r/. xvi. 131. 

^ Whether either legend is older thaa Nonooa or hit 
206 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 136-162 

wings and with a tumbling push opened the gates of 
birth. Thus quickly Eros leapt into his mother's 
gleaming arms, and pounced at once upon her firm 
breasts spreading himself over that nursing bosom. 
Untaught he yearned for his food; he bit with his 
gums the end of the teat never milked before, and 
greedily drank all the milk of those breasts swollen 
with the pressure of the lifegiving drops. 

1*3 O Beroe, root of hfe, nurse of cities, the boast 
of princes, the first city seen, twin sister of Time, 
coeval with the universe, seat of Hermes, land of 
justice, city of laws, bower of Merryheart, house 
of Paphia, hall of the Loves, delectable ground of 
Bacchos, home of the Archeress, jewel of the Nereids, 
house of Zeus, court of Ares, Orchomenos of the 
Graces," star of the Lebanon country, yearsmate of 
Tethys, running side by side with Oceanos, who begat 
thee in his bed of many fountains when joined in 
watery union with Tethys — Beroe the same they 
named Amymone when her mother brought her 
forth on her bed in the deep waters ! 

1^^ But there is a younger legend,^ that her mother 
was Cythereia herself, the pilot of human life, who 
bore her all white to Assyrian Adonis. Now she had 
completed the nine circles of Selene's course carrying 
her burden : but Hermes was there in time on speedy 
foot, holding a Latin ^ tablet which was herald of 
the future. He came to help the labour of Beroe, and 
Themis '^ was her Eileithyia — she made a way through 

invention may be doubted. All this mixture of pedantry 
and prettiness has for its inspiration the great law school of 
Berytus (Beirut). 

* It was of course Roman law that was taught at Berytus, 
although not at the time of Solon (see line 165). 

^ Goddess of Justice. 

207 



NONNOS 

(rr€tvofi€vrf^ wSivo^ dvatrrvfaaa ffaAvai^ip 

oii) p€Xos Kow^it n€n<uyofi4vwf rottmio, 

deafia 1.6Xwvo^ txovoa- mtiofjJmi M Aoxt^f *• 

XvGiTOKcj Papv vurrov i-nucXivaaa B^niifJi 

iraiBa ao<fn)v fXoxftfOt, Aoxcut^f otci y wia l i ctf 

viw a>Sivovaiv cV* €VKV9cXoiO fitHvm' 

Kox roKov dpriXox^vTov dndimH Bi^i iMim^p 110 

dpatva fialav Ixovaa bixaanoXo^ tfUa Mmi^f * 

Kal Pp€4>o^ €iV fdoi ^V' ix^XufOorro hi Kovpnff 

T€aaap€S acrrca iravra, ou'trwfVO¥nt cii|TOA, 

€K BcpoT}? ira yalav oAiji^ nXj^ooMn Btid^rmr 

TTJ §€ Xox^tfOfUVTf npundyytXot cMn fcoyi fi r 17* 

*i2if€avo5 Trope x**'^^ A<x«^»' *f«* irrfo|iO» 

dcvdoi rcAa/xcD^i x<<('*' furpovu4VCÂ¥ vimp* 

X^pol Sc yqpaXfrfaiv €? aprtriMrov XP<^ ^ t o^ip i l f 

(mdpyava rreVAa Ai#o}? dK(icov^i4y« wh tr p o^ t Att^, 

fidvTLS €'n€aaofi€vwv, on yn^paof ^}fioit dlM^pntfT^ IM 

a>? o^i? dSpavcoii' <f>oXiBwv antlfnifUk rumfag, 

€fjL7raXiv ■fjPrja€i€ A(AovfiAx>f oS/aooi tfiO|M3r* 

deoTrcairjv Sc ^iJyoTpa Xox€VOfUvrK *Ai^pMnft 

avvBpoov iKpovaavTo fi€Xo^ rfrpa^vyts *Ppa*. 

Kat ria^iT}? coStva rcAcaai/di'oco iiaB6tms IW 

dijpcs i^KX'^vovro' Xiatv h€ rt; ^fip^ MSputif 
X^CXe'C fX€iXLX^w paxiy)v tfimdl^tTO ravptm^ 
OLKpoTepois arofidrcaat ifnXov fWKififi/inf IdXXuift 
Kat TpoxaXfj papvbouTTov i-nipfr^aQOMW w^Sor 6m^ 
timos dv€KpoTdXi^€ ymdXiov ^xov apQatn»f¥, >W 

fcat TToSo; vtpiiTopoio dopcjv iirtpr/Topi voAfuJii 
TTopSoAi? atoAovorroj €77€aKlpnia€ Xayot^, 
wpvyfjs 5' oAoAvy/xa x^'coi^ ^cAorrouy/iOVt Xatfu^ 

208 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 163-193 

the narrow opening of the swollen womb for the 
child, and unfolded the wrapping, and lightened the 
sharp, pang of the ripening birth, with Solon's laws 
in hand. Cypris under the oppression of her travail 
leaned back heavily against the ministering goddess, 
and in her throes brought forth the wise child upon 
the Attic book, as the Laconian women bring forth 
their sons upon the round leather shield. She brought 
forth her newborn child from her motherly womb 
with Hermes the Judge to help as man-midwife. So 
she brought the baby into the light. The girl was 
bathed by the four Winds, which ride through all 
cities to fill the whole earth with the precepts of 
Beroe. Oceanos, first messenger of the laws for the 
newborn child, sent his flood for the childbed round 
the loins of the world, pouring his girdle of water in 
an everflowing belt. Time, his coeval, with his aged 
hands swaddled about the newborn girl's body the 
robes of Justice, prophet of things to come ; because 
he would put off the burden of age, like a snake 
throwing off the rope-Hke slough of his feeble old 
scales, and grow young again bathed in the waves 
of Law. The four Seasons struck up a tune to- 
gether, when Aphrodite brought forth her wonderful 
daughter. 

185 The beasts were wild with joy when they learnt 
of the Paphian's child safely born. The lion in play- 
ful sport pressed his mouth gently on the bull's neck, 
and uttered a friendly growl with pouting lips. The 
horse rattled off, scraping the ground with thuds of 
galloping feet, as he beat out a birthday tune. The 
spotted panther leaping on high with bounding feet 
capered towards the hare. The wolf let out a 
triumphal howl from a merry throat and kissed the 

VOL. Ill p 209 



NONNOS 

dSpvirroi9 ytvvtaoi Xvtcoq npoumrvf^ro wmM/nf^t 
Kai Ttj €vl (vXoxoiOi Xinwv tc€^taiaa96o¥ tyf^, 
dXXov €x<ov yXvKUv oUrrpor, a^uXkifrijpi X"f^ 
opxr)(7rrjp ipiSoivt kvumv pfjrdppAom ffomw, 
Kal TToSas opBwaaaa, irtpinXM)fi€taa U i€tf§, 
dpKTog dbr)XriTi{t bafiaXrjv ^tcdaOQirO 3«0|l^» 
TTVKvd 3c KvpTwaaaa ^iXi^fnov ^prvya KOf^ffi 
TTopTis dv€aKipTria€, bifiai Ai^/uiMia Acairi|f, 
rjfiiTeXig p.vKT)pLa vtutv ntfinovati ytv^ittv^ 
Koi (l>iXiwv iXifftavTi hpatcutv i^vtv 
Kal bpv€s c^<yfavTo* yoAiji^uui bi 
rfdd&a TTtpLTTi ytXarra ^^iXo^^uUnfi *A^p M ni, 
T€pnopL€vo}v opoioaa Ac^aMa irof^Ma m|^dr. 
irdai pu€v diu^XiXil^t y^Y^ffidmi tainXo¥ ^ironH|f, 
•ndaw ofioC' fiovvijv 5< avdfv a^tc it^Ac Anlovtir 
repncjXrjv, art pAvri^, tntl owoy curont fto^iji 
"Aprjg KapxapoScjv Bavarq^pov toy utAAoir 
^rjXop.avrji i^ficAAcv 'ASiui'i^i ir6rfiOÂ¥ C^aLmw. 

Kai hepoTjv •ytXooHjav crt ppt^toi Ofifiart Xnp^ 
he^afjJvri napd firjrpos dXov KOa^uHO iMfm 
napdevos *Aarpai7), XP^^^V^ Bptimtpa ymBXtftt 
€wofia TraTnrd^ovaav dvtTpti^v €fi/^pom fAof^** 
TTdpBevLw 8( ydXatcri pod; pXv^ovaa $€fiumm^ 
;^eiA€a naibos €h€VO€, 

Kcu c/SAucv CK OTO^ irovjpi|( 
*Ar^tSo9 i^Svrdiroio 'ntpidXulKxaa fuXiaatif 



* Kal Spv€s. As this makes no •en* 
read oCpvyft, supfxising the loM of a line 
204 or between (^ry^orro and la^ia/y, to 
*' And the gazelles uttered [a fricndlj call in •mmm •» lh« 
810 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 194-220 

sheep with jaws that tore not. The hound left his 
chase of the deer in the thickets, now that he felt a 
passion strange and sweet, and danced in tripping 
rivalry with the sportive boar. The bear lifted her 
forefeet and threw them round the heifer's neck, em- 
bracing her with a bond that did no hurt. The calf 
bending again and again in sport her rounded head, 
skipt up and licked the lioness's body, while her 
young lips made a half-completed moo. The serpent 
touched the friendly tusks of the elephant, and the 
trees ^ uttered a voice. 

204 With calm face ever-smiling Aphrodite rang out 
her unfailing laugh, when she saw the birthday games 
of the happy beasts. She turned her round eyes 
delighted in all directions ; only the boars she would 
not watch in their pleasures, for being a prophet 
she knew, that in the shape of a wild boar, Ares with 
jagged tusk and spitting deadly poison was destined 
to weave fate for Adonis in jealous madness.'' 

212 Virgin Astraia, nurse of the whole universe, 
cherisher of the Golden Age, received Beroe from her 
mother into the embrace of her arms, laughing, still a 
babe,*' and fed her with wise breast as she babbled 
words of law. With her virgin milk, she let streams of 
statutes gush into the baby's lips, and dropt into the 
girl's mouth the sweet produce of the Attic bee ; she 
pressed the bee's riddled travail of many cells, and 
mixed the voiceful comb in a sapient cup. If the girl 

tiger's (or some other carnivore's) purrl." For a possible 
imitation of this passage by Milton, see Paradise Lost^ iv. 
340 If. 

^ All stories agree that Adonis was killed by a boar, but 
differ as to what, if anything. Ares had to do with it. 

" A sign of a wonder-child, see Ed. Norden, Die Geburt 
des Kindes (Teubner 1924), p. 65. 

211 



N05W0S 

€t TTOTC SupaXerf irorou jttccv, Mpcyf i w i ^p W 
llu^ioi' 'ATToAAoivi AoAoi' tr<^uAayyiA«r ADi|p 
^ pool' *[Xiaaoio, roy t^nvoov 'ArtfiSi Modvy 
UupiKoi hovtovoiv in* ff6%% ^OifidiS€t aSpiU' tM 

Kal ardxyv aartpottrra ntpiyvofufnaa 9rtip4§ifim m 
)(pva€ov, old 'n€p opfiovt iv* av^^ tfvjuaro uompnft, fli 
icoupat 5* a/?pa Xcnrpa yppirwUt *O^X'0|MMi» tli 

dfjL<f>iTroXoi Ua^rji /iC/xcAi^^/Kir ^pvfo tlo^atg 'M 
eV Kpn^vrjg dpvovro voiqfiovof Tinruir iBwy. '^ 

Kai B€/>oi7 pXdarTfO€v ofMpofUH 2o!X*<>4v« ''^ 

SiKTva Brjprjrrjpo^ d€pTd^ovoa rotniof 
Koi UcL^irjq oXov €tBos ofu>yKtor cfyi rciroi{9i|f 
#(ai noSag aiyAi/cvra;* ^tpfcw/naa hi m^n m 
Xioviu) oKaipovaa B/rc; prp-dpfiovt rapo^ 
aXXr)v dpYvpontiav tb*v HcViv* a28ofi^ri| hi flf 

KpvvT€TO beifJLaivovaa iraAiy ar^fUi KaooMVt^. 
*\a<Tvpi-qv 3* MpTjv hthoKTjfi^vos d^vya iw i ffiff 
7j€VS naXiv €7Troirfro, Kal rjBtXiV c25o( <t^i€i'^r 
Kal yv K€ <f>6proy ^Kpurrog tx^*' ravptimbi ^op^§ 
aKpofiatfrr^s Trc^/n/ro 5i* vharoi cyt'o^ iftiommFf MO 
Kovif>Ll^o}v dhiavroy vnip ytirroto ywauca, 
€1 fi-q fiyrjarig €pvK€ fiooKpalptav vfuv<uut¥ 
XiSoyist dcrr€p6€v ht /icAo? {i;AtJ^oi^ Xaifi/^ 
wn<f>i09 Evpwmjs p,VKi^aaTOt Tavpof *OAilyi«ov, 
fiTj Poos laoTVTTOio hi oldtpo^ cuTOKi rci^(Ctfr Si5 

irovroTTopwy ar^octc v€orr€poy darpov 'E^wTwr* 

KOi Bc/K)?^!' Stcpoiait' 6<f>€tXofl€VTjy VflfVaUMf 

• The star Spica, which Virgo-AstrMa hokb te her Ivad. 

* Peirene in Corinth, or Hippocrmc in llrlkv 
' Mother of Andromeda, c/. uv. 135: Tbeti* 

21S 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 221-247 

thirsting asked for a drink, she gave the speaking 
Pythian water kept for Apollo, or the stream of 
Ilissos, which is inspired by the Attic Muse when the 
Pierian breezes of Phoibos beat on the bank. She 
took the golden Cornstalk" from the stars, and en- 
twined it in a cluster to put round the girl's neck 
like a necklace. The dancing maidens of Orchomenos, 
handmaids of the Paphian, drew from the horsehoof * 
fountain of imagination, dear to the nine Muses, 
delicate water to wash her. 

230 Beroe grew up, and coursed with the Archeress, 
carrying the nets of her hunter sire. She had the 
very likeness of her Paphian mother, and her shining 
feet. When Thetis came up out of the sea to skip 
with snowy dancing foot, she saw another silverfoot 
Thetis, and hid in shame, fearing the raillery of 
Cassiepeia ^ once again. Zeus perceiving another un- 
wedded maiden of Assyria, was fluttered again and 
wished to change his form : certainly he would have 
carried the burden of love in bull's form again, skim- 
ming away with his legs in the water, paddling along, 
bearing the woman unwetted on his back, had he not 
been held back by the memory of that Sidonian** bull- 
horned wedding, and had not the Bull of Olympos, 
Europa's bridegroom, bellowed from out the stars 
with jealous throat, to think that he might set up 
there a new star of seafaring amours and make the 
image of a rival bull in the sky. So he left Beroe, 
who was destined for a watery bridal, as his brother's 

will once more be told, this time with truth, that someone else, 
viz. Beroe, is more beautiful than the Nereids. " Silverfoot " 
is Thetis's stock epithet. 

^ To Nonnos's free and easy geography Assyria and Sidon 
are much the same, and Berytus is more or less equivalent to 
both. 

213 



NONN'OS 
yvwrw A^itrcv aKoiriv, tirixSovdj^ wtpl vfift^fft 

ToIt) €tjv Bfporj, Xapirwv BaXof' ft «OTt KO^fl Ml 
XapoT€fyrjv aifipXoio fitXippurov ^irvf ^tit¥^, 
tJSucttt)? aKoprjTOi €<f>iaraTo )(€iXta% ficwti 
Kal mwra^ oiarprfotv axTjAiyran' ^p^Mic 
'Aaavplrf^ 8' €Kptmrov oft^yvptv ^Aorof i|f^ 

<l>aihpoT€pais yaplrtaaw, oaoi' TtXdov &aTpa 

aw€<f>€Xovg oLKTifa^ oiartvovoa UtAi^ni 

TrAt^cTt^Tjj- Acufcoi &< napa a^vpa vtiara 

nop<f>vp€ois /icAc'caaiv i^oiviaoovro x^rw¥9t- 

ov v€p.€Ois noTt rotm>, ircu ci nXio¥ rjkucQt ^HhH ^^ 

rrjXLKOv €XXax(v tl^Of, ^iT€i yv ol afi4* w^oo w py 

KoAAca 5i;(daS(tuv a/iapixrarro ^ihpa rom^cifr. 

wKvreprjv cAcAi^c 'n€piarp<jj^ataa /i€itMin^« 
#cat Fooi' iTrrrcuaaoa Trcpi x^o»« ndaxip <SAifn|v SM 

<l>aibpa 7raXaty€V€CJv 5cc/A«rpcc paBpa wo Xi fm^, 
oTTt <f>€pix>wp.ly)v tXitcamt&o^ cf)^ MtNn{ri|f 
ar€fifiaTt tcix^iociti 7rcp<{<uo^cuni MtMn{ri| 
KvfcAomcoi^ #ca»'o»^(7(rc, iral <o( i^or^ irap^ N«A^ 
^vPv^ o.px^yovoio ^pwi'Vfio^ crrXtro OijP»;* t1* 

#cai BcpoT}? p.€V€aiv€v trratwfiov darv xapa(ai, 
dvTiTVTTOJV fi€6€7rovaa 4>iXorrroXiv otarpov *E^KiiToir. 
<f>pa^op.€V7j b€ ZoAcoi'o; aAc^ixoictuv <rri;(a Btafiwtf 
boxp-t-ov oppa TiTOii'cv cV cupvayiMOF *A9i}yi|r, 
yvcor^9 ^TjAoi' €xovua hiKoanoXov ioavfUmif hi Tn 
'qcptrjv diffiSa Si€ppoi^rjO€ irtbiXip 

€t9 b6pX}V *AppOVirjS TTOp.fl'qTOpOf, Ol 



DIONYSIACA, XLL 248-277 

bedfellow, for he wished not to quarrel with Earth- 
shaker about a mortal wife. 

250 Such was Beroe, flower of the Graces. If ever 
the girl uttered her voice trickling sweeter than 
honey and the honeycomb, winning Persuasion sat 
ever upon her lips and enchanted the clever wits 
of men whom nothing else could charm. Her laugh- 
ing eyes outshone all the company of her young 
Assyrian agemates as they shot their shafts of 
love, with brighter graces, like the moon at the 
full, when showering her cloudless rays and hiding 
the stars. Her white robes falling down to the 
girl's feet showed the blush of her rosy limbs. 
There is no wonder in that, even if she had such 
fairness beyond her young yearsmates, since bright 
over her countenance sparkled the beauties of both 
her parents. 

263 Then Cypris saw her : pregnant with prophetic 
intelligence she sent her imagination wandering 
swiftly round, and driving her mind to wander about 
the whole earth surveyed the foundations of the 
brilliant cities of ancient days. She saw how 
Mycene girt about with a garland of walls by the 
Cyclopian masons took the name of twinkle-eye 
Mycene ; how Thebes beside the southern Nile took 
the name of primeval Thebe ; and she decided to 
design a city named after Beroe, being possessed 
with a passion to make her city as good as theirs. 
She observed there the long column of Solon's 
Laws, that safeguard against wrong, and turned 
aside her eye to the broad streets of Athens, and 
envied her sister the just Judge. With hurrying 
shoe, she whizzed along the vault of heaven to the 
hall of Allmother Harmonia, where that nymph dwelt 

215 



NONNOS 

€tK€Xov ohcov €vau rvTTw rtrpalvyt tcoofum 
avTOTrayrj' mou/xy hi Bvpai ortfiaptHO luXoBftm 
appay€€S niavp€aaiv ifiirpatBrfOiW ai^Taif 
Kal hofiov IppvovTo irtplrpoxpv curora r^ 

AvToXif] Oipdiraiva irvXy}V n€pth d hpo§i4l^ 
/cat X€<l>vpov nvXMotva Svatf, Bpdwrttpa 
Kal Noriov TTVpoan-a Mttrrjfifipiat ff^fv ^Xff^» 
Kal TWKivrjv v€<f>€€aot, naXvfofityrp^ W xoA&{|| 
"ApKTog {mo6prfiar€ipa irvXriv ittinxaot Bop^jof* 

Kfi^t \dpLS npoBopovaa, cnW/iiropof 
Kvpov Kwlt€ Bvp€rpov 'E<otov' €vb6fivxot hi 
*AvToXir)s KpoK6€VTOi apaooofiii'ov wvXttmot 
dvSpap.€v *A(rrw6fjL€ia hiOKropo^, lara^Urfiif M 
KvTTpiv iaaOprjaaaa napd nponvXaui §AtXi0pO9 
TToaal naXiwoirroiat TTpodyY*^^ ifXtfcv cEintfoiy||. 
7) pikv €'noi\opL€vr) itoXuhaCbaXov Urrov *Aft}n;f 
K€pK iBi ndnXov v<f>aiv€V' v^aiyofUvov Si Y i f w of 
Trpwrqv yalav cTraaac fnaofi^aXov, Offt^ M ya^ 
ovpavov €G<f>aipcja€ rvntp icc^afMyfi^ror darpom^, 
avpL<l>€prrrjv 5c daXaaaav t^f^pfUHit av^vyt yfUfi' 
Kal 7rorap.ov£ ttoiViAAcv, ctr* dvhpofi4<ff Bi 
Tavpo<f>vrfs fi.opit>ovTo K€paa^po^ fy^Aoof 
Kal 'TTVfiaTrjv napd 'n€^av ivKXaxrroio ;((r<ii»of 
wK€av6v kvkXiogc 7r€pibpofioy avrvyt KOOfWV. 
dfi(f>i7roXos §€ ol ^XB€ Kal iyyvBi di^/XiO^ laroO 
laraficvrjv iJyyciAc napd npoOvpoif *A^p M f7f9, 
Kal ^€09, ci? rJKovat, fiirov^ pUjfaaa X}rwrt>i 
BioK^Xov laronovwv dn€a€iaaro KtpK&a X!^ipunr 
Kal raxivf} nvKaaaaa Btfias ;(ioix6^r v4wXtp 
216 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 278-307 

in a house, self-built, shaped like the great universe 
with its four quarters joined in one. Four portals 
were about that stronghold standing proof against 
the four winds. Handmaids protected this dwelling 
on all sides, a round image of the universe : the 
doors were allotted — Antolia** was the maid who 
attended the East Wind's gate ; at the West Wind's 
was Dysis the nurse of Selene ; Mesembrias held the 
bolt of the fiery South ; Arctos the Bear was the 
servant who opened the gate of the North, thick with 
clouds and sprinkled with hail. 

288 To that place went Charis, fellow- voyager with 
the Foamborn, and running ahead she knocked at 
the eastern gate of Euros. As the rap came on the 
saffron portal of sunrise, Astynomeia an attendant 
ran up from within ; and when she saw Cypris 
standing in front of the gatehouse of the dwelling, 
she went with returning feet to inform her 
mistress beforehand. She was then busy at 
Athena's loom, weaving a patterned cloth with her 
shuttle. In the robe she was weaving, she worked 
first Earth as the navel in the midst ; round it she 
balled the sky dotted with the shape of stars, 
and fitted the sea closely to the embracing earth ; 
she embroidered also the rivers in a green picture, 
shaped each with a human face and bull's horns ; and 
at the outer fringe of the wellspun robe she made 
Ocean run all round the world in a loop. The maid 
came up to the woman's loom, and announced that 
Aphrodite stood before the gatehouse. When the 
goddess heard, she dropt the threads of the robe and 
threw down the divine shuttle from her hands busy 
at the loom. Quickly she WTapped a snow-white 

" The names mean Rising, Setting, She of Midday. 

217 



NONNOS 

Sexw^J'-^v^ Kv6€p€tav, dvntfaoa W &wteov 

rrjX€<j>avfj KvSrfi'tv €7r(pxofi€yfp' *A^poS^n|r. 110 

Kal Ua<f>lrjv TSpva€v eVi dpavo¥ iyyvi ip^Urofit 

Evpwofirj Tayvn€7rXo^' arviofidvov 6^ 

Kvnpw oTTiTTcuoixra Kartf^i fidprvpi 

iravrp6<f>o^ * \p^iovir) ^hXuu ^tiXifaro 

" *Pi{a piov, Kv04p€ta ^vToon6p€, luua 
iXirU oXov Koa/xoio, rtrj^ vno vtvfian fioMft 
d7rXav€€S KXatdovai noXvrpona yrf^am WcSpmi^ . • . 

"... €ipofi€vj) BioTTiUtt 9cai wi /iumNO Ti^i(n|» 
c^ Tpo<l>6^ dOavdrwv, w^ avyxpo^^of rjXun t(6ofUff, 
€i7r€* TiVt nroXiwv paatXyjCbo^ opyam, ^ uM rijt 
Xvainovwv drivatrra i^vXdaarrtu iJWo StOfiA^; 
orri noXvxpovioio noOov hthovrjfi^vov olirrptft 
*Hp7^9 K^vTpov €\ovra Koajynjrcoi' v^uvaiu^ 
€(f xpovov IpiiipoxTa rpirjKoauiiV ciioi/ruir 
Xrjva ydfxoig c^cufa* x^^ ^ M^ d(iOÂ¥ Jfy^t^ 
fjLiadov €ov OaXdfjLoio vo-qfiotn vtvat KOfr^i^, 
OTTL fiifj TToXiojv, cjv cAAaxoi', fyyifoXA^ti 
dcGfid Ai/CT^;. TToSiO) 5c SavJ/ici-cu, C4 X^oi4 K^wpov 
i}c ria^oi TciBc 5cupa ^uAaaacrcu i)< )^jopaStfi 
ri Undprri, AvKoopyos od€v ntXtv, ifk Kfu air^ 
Kovpy]S 7ip€r€pTis ^€p6r)s €vrjvopi ndrpfj. 
dXXd bltcqs dXfyi^t koI dpfiovtrjv n6p€ tcdo^u^ 
'Apfiovir) yeyavTa fiiooaoos' ciy a^ yap a^r^ 

7T€fJUp€V €7r€iyOfl€VrjV fJLt 

6€p,k(rT07rokutv rpo^of dwhptiav, 

* While weaving s»hc no doubt had 
S18 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 308-334 

robe about her body,^ and brighter than the gold took 
her place on her usual seat to await Cythereia. As 
soon as Aphrodite appeared in the distance, she 
leapt from her throne to show due respect. Eury- 
nome in her long robe led the Paphian to a seat 
near her mistress ; Harmonia the Nurse of the 
world saw the looks and dejected bearing of Cypris 
that showed her distress, and comforted her in 
friendly tones : 

315 " Cythereia, root of life, seedsower of being, 
midwife of nature, hope of the whole universe, at the 
bidding of your will the unbending Fates do spin 
their complicated threads ! [Tell me your trouble."] 

31^ [She replied] : ** . . . Reveal to your questioner, 
and tell me, as nourisher of life, nurse of immortals, 
as coeval with the universe your agemate ; which of 
the cities has the organ of sovereign voice ? which has 
reserved for it the unshaken reins of troublesolving 
Law ? I joined Zeus in wedlock with Hera his sister, 
after he had felt the pangs of longlasting desire and 
desired her for three hundred years : in gratitude he 
bowed his wise head, and promised as a worthy 
reward for the marriage that he would commit the 
precepts of Justice to one of the cities allotted 
to me. I wish to learn whether the gift is 
reserved for land of Cyprus or Paphos or Corinth, 
or Sparta whence Lycurgos came, or the noble- 
men's country of my own daughter Beroe. Have 
a care then for Justice, and grant harmony to 
the world, you who are Harmonia the saviour of 
life ! For I was sent here in haste by the Virgin 
of the Stars herself, the nurse of law-abiding men ; 

5iT(ovLov, like the housewife in Theocritos xv. 31 ; she 
resses more formally to receive her visitor. 

219 



sossos 

UapSevo^ aartpotaaa- to hi nXio¥ hfvoftot 

"Q? <l>afi€vrjv Bapawt BtA Koi d^ifitro iM^' 
*' rivco OapaaXif), fitj SctSi^i, firjrtp *Â¥pmnmr 
iTrrd yap cV Trimxcaatv €x<*t fuufrqui attfoyiov* 
Kal TTwaK€^ ycyaaaiv iitwwfUH iwrd «ABn|f«r« 
rrpwros €vrpoxdXoio ^Kpww^io^ ian 2IcAifri|f* 
hevrepos *Kpfi€iao niva( xpvatiof cutotftt 
GTiX^v, at €Vi trdyra rtrfvxartu dpyta $^i9lfAr 
ovvofia GOV fic^cVci po5o<tf rpiro^' 6fi€Tif09 ydi^ 
dcnipos *Ha>o(o 4>€p€i rvnov €7rraw6put¥ M 
r€rpaT09 *HcAioio ^aofi^aXo^ iar% vAomffwr* 
Trc/xTrTos" €p€v6i6<jjv nvpotis: xucX^icmu 'Afnft* 
Kal ^a€Ou}v }^pov!hao ^ri^tnu iicrof <SAi4nK* 
€pSofios xnltmopoio l^povov irtXtv otVofia ^oiMtfr. 
rots €Vi TToiKiXa ndm^ fitfiopfUva B4o^m mdofum 
ypdjifiari. <f>oiviK6€in'i y4pwv ix9^*^^ *0^^air. 
oAA*, eVci IBvvooiv fi€ 5t<^ai tUtKa $€msw¥, 
nptaptrreprj ttoXiwv np^afiriia Tavra ^uXioow 
eiT* ovv ApKabiT) TrpoTtprj ntXtv ff ndXif 'Hpffft, 
T,dpSi€S €t ycyaaat iiaXalT€pai, tl hk «rcu ojMi 
Tapaog d€idop,€V7) TrporroTrroXL^, €i 5/ rtf d[AAi|, 
ovK iSdrjv Kpovio^ hi irivaf rdS€ murra hMmtm^ 
TtV nporipr) pXdcrrqa€, 

TiV cttActo (Tvyxpovof *\\oik." 
EfTTc* Kal riy€fi6v€V€v cV dyXad Bio^ra roixQ^» 
€Ig6k€v €hpaK€ x^P^^» ^^ Bcpoi^S" iff^ wd t f f^ft 
BiG^TOV O^lTcA^OTOV *0<f>iovl'q Ypdi^ '''^10^ 
iv nlvaKi Kpovio) Kcxapayfitx-ov otvom fuAnp* 
" np<j}To<l)avrjs Bcporj ttcAc GvyXP^*'^ rpiun KdoiJUp, 

220 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 335-364, 

and what is more, law-loving Hermes has passed on 
this honour to me, that I alone by enforcing the 
laws of marriage may preserve the men whom I 
have sown." 

338 To these words of hers the goddess replied 
with an encouraging speech : 

339 " Beof good cheer, fear not, mother of the Loves! 
For I have oracles of history on seven tablets, and the 
tablets bear the names of the seven planets. The first 
has the name of revolving Selene ; the second is called 
of Hermes, a shining <* tablet of gold, upon which are 
wrought all the secrets of law ; the third has your 
name, a rosy tablet, for it has the shape of your star 
in the East ; the fourth is of Helios, central navel 
of the seven travelUng planets ; the fifth is called 
Ares, red and fiery ; the sixth is called Phaethon,^ the 
planet of Cronides ; the seventh shows the name of 
highmoving Cronos. Upon these, ancient Ophion '^ has 
engraved in red letters all the divers oracles of fate for 
the universe. But since you ask me about the direct- 
ing laws, this prerogative I keep for the eldest of cities. 
Whether then Arcadia is first or Hera's city,** whether 
Sardis be the oldest, or even Tarsos celebrated in song 
be the first city, or some other, I have not been told. 
The tablet of Cronos will teach you all this, which 
first arose, which was coeval with Dawn." 

360 She spoke ; and led the way to the glorious 
oracles of the wall, until she saw the place where 
Ophion's art had engraved in ruddy vermilion on the 
tablet of Cronos the oracle to be fulfilled in time about 
Beroe's country. " Beroe came the first, coeval with 

" tjTiAjSaiv, an older name for the planet Mercury. 

'' The planet Jupiter. 

« Cf. ii. 573. " Argos. 

221 



NONNOS 

vUcg Avaoviwv, vnanjia ^yyta 'Pwfiff^. 
Ji7jpuT6vKaX€aovau',€7r€i Aifiat^nMOtytirww, . . . 
rotov €7Tos htbdrjKt Otonpcmw, oAA' ifft lal/Mm^ 
6€aK€Xov Iphoyidrov mi-attof trapcfi/rpc«r ifiX^» 
S€VT€pov ca/coTriaffv, oTrj) napa yciTOM Toix^ T10 

noiKiXa natrroirji €xapaaa€To hathaXa f4jff^ 
fiavTirroXoi^ indtaaiy, on npamara ¥9^9m 
ndv vofttoy avptyya, Xvprjv *EXiKu>vu>f 'Efift^, 
hidpoov aPpos VCayyis ivrprfrov ^UXtH aMo6» 
*Op<f>€vs fivoTinoXoio $€rjY6pa xtvitara §whHfit fit 
Kal A1W9 €V€mrjv Ooi/Jt/coj, *Apt(af oAi^nfr 
p,€Tpa bvcj^Kcifiriva Kal *ll<AiOio iroptiij^, 
fir)T€pa rucroyxvwv vriatv rtrpdlvyi hi^pt^^^ 
Kox ao<l>6s *E»^u/xuiiv irtporpana hatcrvX^ K^fK^m 
yvwaerai dorara tcvK\a naXii'v6aTOio £cAi{n|f ft$ 
rpiTiXoa, Kal aToix€lov ofio^vyov d^vyi §il(a$ 
Kdhfios €uyX(x}aaou> BiBd((rai opyuM. ^uMnjf, 



* Something has fallen out cxpUlniiif the name I 
local legend. 

* Another list of " inventors** see noCr <m %L SIOl 
' Alluding to the (late) theory that the tvdTe 

the chariot race refer to the twelve mootlia. Here 
not Erichthonios, invents chariots. 

' This does not mean that Endjmkm (ratfcMMttnd Imm 
into an astronomer w ho calculated the times of the mtMm% 

Ehases) was so had an arithmetician that be had lo OOHlt «l 
is fingers, as our children do. The andcnts of flOWH katm 
of this primitive method of reckoning, e/. Ds.-ArM. Frwk vr» 
S, p. 910 b 23 ff., and the verb »«^«ra{«v, Iwt, ovtoc lo 
82S 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 365-382 

the universe her agemate, bearing the name of the 
nymph later born, which the colonizing sons of the 
Ausonians, the consular Hghts of Rome, shall call 
Berytos, since here fell a neighbour to Lebanon. . . ." « 
^^ Such was the word of prophecy that she learnt. 
But when the deity had scanned the prophetic begin- 
ning of the seventh tablet, she looked at the second, 
where on the neighbouring wall many strange signs 
were engraved with varied art in oracular speech : 
how first ^ shepherd Pan will invent the syrinx, Heli- 
conian Hermes the harp, tender Hyagnis the music of 
the double pipes with their clever holes, Orpheus the 
streams of mystic song with divine voice, Apollo's 
Linos eloquent speech ; how Areas the traveller will 
find out the measures of the twelve months, and the 
sun's circuit which is the mother of the years brought 
forth by his fourhorse team ^ ; how wise Endymion 
with changing bends of his fingers <* will calculate the 
three varying phases of Selene ; how Cadmos will 
combine consonant with vowel and teach the secrets 

the clumsiness of their written figures, they found it con- 
venient to have a number of conventional gestures with the 
fingers to signify numerals for purposes of calculation. A 
rough method, of which no details are known, is mentioned" 
by Ar. Wasps 656, but long before Nonnos's day (see 
Juvenal x. 249 and Mayor ad loc.) a kind of arithmetical 
deaf-and-dumb alphabet had been invented, details of which 
are preserved by the Venerable Bede, in the section De ratione 
computandi at the beginning of his w ork De temporum ratione 
(printed, beside the editions of Bede, in Graevius, Thesaurus 
xi. 1699 ff. and C. Sittl, Gebarde der Griechen und Riimer^ 
pp. 256 ff.). By this, the fingers of the left hand alone can 
express numbers from 1 to 99, those of the right, 100-10,000, 
while by holding the hands against various parts of the body, 
higher numbers up to 1,000,000 can be indicated. See also 
G. Loria, Le Scienze esatte nelV antica Grecian 743-747, and 
Sir T. L. Heath, Hist, of Greek Maths, i. 26-27 ; ii. 550-552. 

223 



NONNOS 

Gv(,tryirj^ dXuroio amtjptda Si^vya K<«rpo^. 
Kal \\aif>irj fi€ra ndiTa noXvrpona h a iba X ^ ' 
iwKva TToXvcmptoJV irap€fi4rp€€V €pya 
Kal irivaKO^ ypaTrroio fi4<rrjv vnip drrvya 

TOloV €T70S GfxftOV €Vp€ ttoXvOnXO^ *EMd8l MorfvO' 

** 'Licfjirrpov oAiyy Airyovorot ^ 

'Pu)fir) /xcv iaOtTj hutpi^trai Ada6Â¥UH Ziif 
Koipavlr)v, l^poT) Si ;(afK{<T(u ^ria 0ta|i^« 
oTTTTOTc 0wpr)x^4taa ^nptaxnutc4ta¥ hA riffir 
^uAoTTii' vYpop.6dou> Kartw^ftm KXto mdrf mi' 
TTptv yap araadaXii) noXinopBuft o^ voTf kffm 
fipi^vrjv KXoi'*otMja aaoirroXuf, ay|M hufd(/n 
li-qpvro^ pioTOio yaXrfvaiOiO TtBijini 
yalav 6p.ov Kal tto^tov, ojroiiWt Tfiycf 
aoTca TTvpyioaaaa, fiia irroMf dima 

Kal e€6^, oTnroTc naaay 'O^iov^ |liiir ^^iji, 
€19 iov oIkov (Pant iraXtv&pouof /{oii^POV M 

fcat fUaov dyKOLf tXovaa yaXrivtMjaim wpoomw^ 
TT€7rrap,€vu) nrjxwt yty^Oori Kovpo¥ iyoat^, 
yovvaai KOvif>i^ovaa ^iXov fidpof' i^a^^rtpOÂ¥ M 
Kal arofia naihos (Kvaat Kal opfiara* ^tXftv^om S^ 



• The Phoenician dphahH. vhich the Greeks 
(traditionally throufrh C'ailnMM). had »iglM fa 
only ; the brilliant Grrrk innovatioo waa lo 
these signs which rrprcsentrd oootooanta 
exist in Greek, for voweU. lliey that 
complete alphalx-t of human htvtory. 

* The list rationalizes: F.ndymion, beiorrd of the MooM, 
becomes a skilful a«»tronomrr, and the tary- 
S34 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 383-405 

of correct speech ° ; how Solon will invent inviolable 
laws, and Cecrops the union of two yoked together 
under the sacred yoke of marriage made lawful with 
the Attic torch. ^ 

3^ Now the Paphian, after all these manifold 
wonders of the Muse, scanned the various deeds of 
the scattered cities ; and on the written tablet which 
lay in the midst on the circuit of the universe, she 
found these words of wisdom inscribed in many lines 
of Grecian verse : 

^^ ** When Augustus shall hold the sceptre of the 
world, Ausonian Zeus will give to divine Rome the 
lordship, and to Beroe he will grant the reins of law, 
when armed in her fleet of shielded ships she shall 
pacify the strife of battlestirring Cleopatra. For 
before that, citysacking violence will never cease to 
shake citysaving peace, until Berytos the nurse of 
quiet life does justice on land and sea, fortifying the 
cities with the unshakable wall of law, one city for 
all cities of the world." ^ 

^^ Then the goddess, having learnt all the oracles 
of Ophion, returned to her own house. She placed her 
own goldwrought throne beside the place where her 
son sat, and throwing an arm round his waist, with 
quiet countenance opened her glad arms to receive 
the boy and held the dear burden on her knees ; she 
kissed both his lips and eyes, touched his mind- 

(c/. 59) is the person who first united the two contrasting 
natures of man and woman in a durable union. To do 
Nonnos justice, he did not originate these sillinesses. 

*^ Ber3rtos was destroyed by Tryphon in 140 b.c. in his 
rivalry with Antiochos VII. It recovered, became a town 
of the Roman Empire, and was renowned for its schools, 
especially of law. Octavian (afterwards Augustus) defeated 
Cleopatra at Actium in 31 b.c. 

VOL. Ill Q 225 



NONNOS 

aTrrofianrj rofoio teal afi^^oatoa 

old n€p dax^^^'^*^'^^'^* hitXo^potn f^jj^airo 

vriKiiris tfia rcVtv fiitfoaro lioOva Kpo U m*' 
€wia yap nXi^aaa fioyoarotca miteXa T/tkfjl^ ilti 
hpifiv P^Xo^ fi€6J'rrovaa ivffmMot rottrrA 
'ApfAovirjv cAoycMm, teai oAyva woueiXa w4t9j(n 
axyvyiivT)' Kovprjv hi fioyoartfffor Ma^ Aipt», 

r€Kvov *Afivfiwvrf^ ofAaydarpio^, oC Of hMfm^ 4|A 
u)S Xdxov c( aXof atfia kqI alBipof <LUA TiAiooai 
iJf^cAov diiov €pyov, oirctfc vapa fnp*^ HalUggj 
ovpav66€v ytyama koX oCpavov ht x^oi4 V^f*^* 
oAAd Kaaiyi'Tirr^ iitl icaXXti otio . 
^cAyc ^covf, «rcu fioAAor Zcior /M^ clr Ip4 
TrcftTTc no<7€t5ao>^ «rcu ci/Air«A<WvTt Ami!^, 
dp4>or€poi^ patcdp€aow iyw hi ooc ^fiA 
hwpov €KripoXir)s irrtoucora fAioBov Sm49t 
hwaw aoi xpvoeriv yofurfv x^Avr, ^ wm^ 
'Apfiovij) n6p€ <I>ot^o9, iyu» h4 ow iyymJUfm 
daT€os €Gaofi€vov funrffiT^uMt, ^^P^ WO^ tCipr 
fcoi /i€To To(€vrfjpa Xvpoimiwof, 

<o9 ircp 'Aw^AAcdT. 



2S6 



DIONYSIACA, XLI. 406-427 

bewitching bow and fingered the quiver, and spoke 
in feigned anger these cunning words : 

408 *' You hope of all life ! You cajoler of the 
Foamborn ! Cronion is a cruel tyrant to my children 
alone ! After nine full months of hard travail I 
brought forth Harmonia, suffering the bitter pangs of 
painful childbirth ; and now she suffers all sorts of 
grief and tribulation. But Leto has borne Artemis 
Eileithyia, the Lady of Travail, the ally of woman- 
kind. You Amymone's** brother, son of the same 
mother, need not to be told how I got my blood from 
brine and ether ; but I would perform a worthy deed, 
and being born of heaven, I will plant heaven on 
earth beside the sea my mother. Come then — for 
your sister's beauty draw your bow ^ and bewitch the 
gods, or say, shoot one shaft and hit with the same 
shot Poseidon and vinegod Lyaios, Blessed Ones 
both. I will give you a gift for your long shot 
which will be a proper wage worthy of your feat 
— I will give you the marriage harp of gold, which 
Phoibos gave to Harmonia at the door of the bridal 
chamber ; I will place it in your hands in memory 
of a city to be, that you may be not only an archer, 
but a harpist, just like Apollo." 

" Otherwise unknown, not daughter of Danaos. 
' A line has fallen out paraphrasing the word " bow." 



AIONTLIAKHN TESSA PAKOCTON 
AEITETON 

TcaaopaKooToi' v^va to htvrtpav, ^ XByub m 
hoKXov TipTTvov cporTa Kcu ifL4pOÂ¥ jvifo ot y n iom, 

*ils <t>afjL€vrj nap€7r€ia€' fMraxpoi^ M mMk f 

viliw€<fyqs 7rr€p6€VTi tcar^ypaipev i^/M rapow, 

fi€iXixiov nXrjdovoa rrvpo^ #c€xaAaoTO ^aph'afti. • 
CO? 5* OTTOT* dio^c^'Aoco $4* aldioo^ ofuf Mrffi 
iKrahlco GTnvBrjpi riracWrou opSio^ dar^, 
rj arpari'^ noXefioio <f>€pwv T^pa; 17 tivi MuPriy, 
alBipos €'ypa<f>€ vanov omaBvbUp wp6t 6Xic^' 
a>9 TOT€ ^oupos* 'Epws 'n€^pttjfjJvo9 6(di foi^, 10 
TToXXofievajv Trrepvywv avtfiwSta fi6fifio¥ tAXXui¥, 
rj€p6d€v poi^Tja€' Kal *\aavplji irapa v^pjj 
€fi7rvpa hiaaa jSc'Ac/xwi ^1117 (vvataaro V€vpfi, 
rrapdeviKTJg xrn ipcjTog opouov €tV n6$0¥ tXiCtmf 
bix^ahCovs fiyr^<rrfjpa^ ofio^T^Xwv vptvaiwv, 1ft 

halfiova j3oT/^uoc^Ta Kal Tjvio)(rja SaXiatrrjt. 

Trjfios 6 fi€v paSv KVfia Xincjv dAiVCirovtx Sp§unf, 
OS §€ Tvpov fi€Ta ntiav, €<rw Aifiavou> tcofnmw^ 
rjvT€ov €19 eva ;(a>/>oc. dno pXoavpoio bi o i ^po v 
TTophaXw ISpvjovTa ^Idpojv oveAi^ac AcTraSKur^ SO 

228 



BOOK XLII 

The forty-second web I have woven, where I cele- 

ilightful love of Baccho 

desire of Earthshaker. 



brate a delightful love of Bacchos and the 



He obeyed her request ; treading on Time's heels 
hot Love swiftly sped, plying his feet into the wind, 
high in the clouds scoring the air with winged step, 
and carried his flaming bow ; the quiver too, filled 
with gentle fire, hung down over his shoulder. As 
when a star stretches straight with a long trail of 
sparks, a swift traveller through the unclouded sky, 
bringing a portent for a warhost or some sailor man, 
and streaks the back of the upper air with a wake of 
fire — so went furious Eros in a swift rush, and his wings 
beat the air with a sharp whirring sound that whistled 
down from the sky. Then near the Assyrian rock he 
united two fiery arrows on one string, to bring two 
wooers into like desire for the love of a maid, rivals 
for one bride, the vinegod and the ruler of the sea. 

17 Meanwhile one came from the deep waters of the 
sea-neighbouring roadstead, and one left the land of 
Tyre, and among the mountains of Lebanon the two 
met in one place. Maron loosed the panther sweating 
from the yoke of his awful car, and brushed off the dust 

229 



NONNOS 

Kai Koviv cfcTivofc #fa4 ttcXvatv voart wrn^ 

€y6a fxoXcjv dxixrp'o^ 'Hpcof €tri >^iTO»« ff^^n 
SoifLOvas dfjufxrrtpovs Si&vfAaon paXXtP itor^, 
paKX€vaas Aiowaov avtcv ir«i^ifX«a ril|i^||, 
€v^po(Tvv7)v BioToio fcoi om>ira p6rpu¥ iwm^ 
oiarpriaa^ h cV tporra Kvfitpvrfrijpa rpmbnfg 
hi-rrXoov Ihvov € parrot dytiv oAiytiron «roiljp||, 
»MUfui;(OP vy/Mi' "Aprna Kal oZcUa Scivra tpoWCifr* 
#cat TrA^ot' c^cyc liajrvot', ^irci »oor obof ^^i* ^ 
€19 nodov, dnXoTtpcjv ci iroXv itXio¥ iApom n A^r py 
dtXyop^yrfv dx^Xi^'oy f^cuv frci^i/vuN^ vrV 

c^cyc S*, oaaoi' tStXyfv ttnarafat fUAi m M tB o^t* 
dfJL^OT^pov^ 5* olarpr^at' hi al0€pirfs S^ ir«Afi{0W I 
icvicAcoaa; fiaXioiaiv ofioSpofiov tyitx <ii(raif 
vTjxofieva) voBo^ opvi^ dvTfiopfjTO nghiXtft, 
rolov €nos poowv ^tAoir€pro/iov* " oWpac oiMp 
€i kXov4€1 Aiowoo^, /yai Trvpc Boic;^!' dpow. ' 
Kai 0eo9 d/xTTcAoci? dtacurriov o/i^ nroiauir 
dPpov (vnXoKapLoio h4p.a^ hi€pArp€€ rvft^ffff, 
BdfiPog €xoiv oxtrriyov cV lp.€pov a/nroftipmr M 
6<f>6aXp.6s iTpoK€X€vBos tyivtro nopBfiOf *Kptifrat¥. 
nXd^ero fi€v Aiowoo^ €aw rtpt/tu^povof vXtff. 
Xddpio^ €19 ScpoTjv ir€<f>vXayp,€vov ofcfia nrarnvr, 
Kat Kara Paiov dntoB^v cV drpanov i^ tcovpnnf 
ovSc ol €taop6wyTi Kopos ntXtv urrtuUrffif yip 
iraodevov oaaov oTrowre, roaov nXdo¥ rjfitXi Xtioa^w, 
Kai KXvp,€vr)g <f>iX<ynjTo^ dvofun^oai wo6fiO¥ ^vrpam 
'HcAtov Xirdv€V€v, dniaBoTovurv M, oi^ptm^ 
aidepup ararov Imrov dvcuT^yyoyra YoAuf^ 
firjKW€iv yXvKv 4>^yyos, Iva ppaSvs €is ^6ow iX0ff 
230 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 21-52 

and swilled the beasts with water of the fountain, cool- 
ing their hot scarred necks. Then Eros came quickly 
up to the maiden hard by, and struck both divinities 
with two arrows. He maddened Dionysos to offer his 
treasures to the bride, life's merry heart and the ruddy 
vintage of the grape ; he goaded to love the lord of 
the trident, that he might bring the sea-neighbouring 
maid a double lovegift, seafaring battle on the water 
and varied dishes for the table. He set Bacchos 
more in a flame, since wine excites the mind for 
desire, and wine finds unbridled youth much more 
obedient to the rein when it is charmed with the 
prick of unreason ; so he shot Bacchos and drove 
the whole shaft into his heart, and Bacchos burnt, 
as much as he was charmed by the trickling honey 
of persuasion. Thus he maddened them both ; and 
in the counterfeit shape of a bird circling his tracks 
in the airy road as swift as the rapid winds, he rose 
with paddling feet, and cried these taunting words : 
" If Dionysos confounds men with wine, I excite 
Bacchos with fire ! " 

*^ The vinegod turned his eye to look, and scanned 
the tender body of the longhaired maiden, full of 
admiration the conduit of desire ; his eye led the way 
and ferried the newborn love. Dionysos wandered 
in that heartrejoicing wood, secretly fixing his 
careful gaze on Beroe, and followed the girl's path 
a little behind. He could not have enough of his 
gazing ; for the more he beheld the maid standing 
there, the more he wanted to watch. He called to 
Helios, reminding the chief of stars of his love for 
Clymene, and prayed him to hold back his car and 
check the stalled horses with the heavenly bit, that 
he might prolong the sweet light, that he might go 

231 



NONNOS 

Kal Bf/Kwy? fitrprjSoy in ixyttnw ixn>f 4|pi 
otdt TTcp ayvtjjaawv, Tttpihthpoiuv' itc Atfidro^ M 
oKvaXeov ttoSo^ ix^'o^ vnoKXdnrutv ivooi^fBtm 
€vrpoTraXit,oyi€vw ppahvn€iB4i ya(rro mpo^, 
Kol voov aarripiKrov o^iouov ciW BaXia^f 
KVfiaai Tra^a^oiTa iroXu^Xoiapoto luplwnit. 

Kat yXvK€prj^ a»c6fnfTtii iaw Aifiiuniiai Ai|r 
olwBr) Aiowaos tprmaifi nap^ vfifa^, 
oIwBt) Aioyvao^. *Op€ta&cf ciirarc N 
rt ttAcW i^^cAcv oAAo ^HXalrtoo^, ij XP'^ 
fiovvos ih^lv hva4porro^ iktVQ^po^ iwoawaiomf ^ 
Vat Kv<r€ vT)pidfioiai ^cAv)/iaai XdBmog iffmt0 ^^ 

XtopoVf oTrrj noSa Otjk€, k€u ^ /warmM «e 
irapdeviKTi poS6€VTi Karavydiovaa W f o fty 
Kal yXvKvv au;(^Ki ^dxxos Mptetro, 

NtM o^vpn m9ffms 
viGGOfianrj^ Kal koXXo^, o irtp ^tVn; umao€ mm^^ H 
/coAAo?, o TTcp ^uai9 €J^/>c * Koi ov (a»S^)(poi ffOOfi^ 
Xpiaafi€vrj Beporj poSo€iS4a tcvKXa npoo w wov 
^cuSo/xcVas' €pvOrjv€ voOat anii'Orjpi wap€t/ds, 
ov XP^^ avT iTvnou) Siavyu fidprvpi j^oXk^ 
fUfiTjXrjs iyeXaaaev cy dnvoov €1^ omwvijt to 

KoXXos iov Kpivovaa, koX ov rc;^vi}/ion O^q^um 
TToXXaKi^ lad^ovaa irap* o^pvow atcpa icoyM^apr 
7rXalop.€yr]s €OT7ja€ p^n^vSa fi6rrov¥ iB^tfnfg, 
dXXd yvvaifiai'€oyTa noXv trXtov of/i tchrtp^ 
dyXatai KXovdovaw aKrfh^aroio npoaurwov, ift 

Kal TrXoKafioi pvn6win'€^ dKoofi-qroio tcamnu 
dpporepoi ycyaoaiv, or* dnX€K^€9 Koi dX^frai 
Xtov€a» GTLxocjm. napi^poi dfi^ irpoawntp. 

Kat rroT€ Bu/nj<maa furdarixt yctroro wify/j^. 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 53-89 

slow to his setting and with sparing whip increase the 
day to shine again. Pressing measured step by step in 
Beroe's tracks the god passed round her as if noticing 
nothing ; while Earthshaker stole from Lebanon with 
hngering feet, and departed with steps slow to obey, 
turning again and again, his mind shifting like the 
sea and rippHng with billows of ever-murmuring care. 

60 Unsated, in the delicious forests of Lebanon, 
Dionysos was left alone beside the lonely girl. 
Dionysos was left alone ! Tell me, Oreiad Nymphs, 
what could he wish for more lovely than to see the 
maiden's flesh, alone, and free from lovesick Earth- 
shaker ? He kissed with a million kisses the place 
where she set her foot, creeping up secretly, and 
kissed the dust where the maiden had trod making 
it bright with her shoes of roses. Bacchos watched 
the girl's sweet neck, her ankles as she walked, 
beauty which nature had given her, the beauty 
which nature had made : for no ruddy ornament for 
the skin had Beroe smeared on her round rosy face, 
no meretricious rouge put a false blush on her cheeks. 
She consulted no shining mirror of bronze with its 
reflection a witness of her looks, she laughed at no 
lifeless form of a mimic face to estimate her beauty, 
she was not for ever arranging the curls over her 
brows, and setting in place some stray wandering lock 
of hair by her eyebrows with cunning touch. But the 
natural beauties of a face confound the desperate 
lover with far sharper sting, and the untidy tresses 
of an unbedizened head are all the more dainty, when 
they stray unbraided down the sides of a snow-white 
face. 

^* Sometimes athirst when beaten by the heat of 

1 See below, p. 246, for lines 65-70. 

233 



NONNOS 

ovpaviov irvpoevTO^ IfiaaaofUvfj KiM^ ^tyiq^, 
X^iXfai KapxaXtoiot' KadtXxofi/vtft M ira^ifpy 
KdfjLTrrero KVfnioBtlaa^ «ra4 c«V trr6fia noXXita 
;^€p<7i paSvyofi€i'jjoiy apvtro ndrpuf¥ Siotp^ 
o-xpi' Kop€aaafi€^'Tf AiVc rofiara* yi{o|iAn|f B4 
lfi€f>Tij Sioyvoos vnoKXii-at ydi-w vif)^ M 

KotAatVcui/ TraXdfia^ tparrjv fHfArfoaro ffO^MT^ 
v€Krapos avTox^Toio nioiv yXvtttpoimpm^ 90m^, 
Kal fiiv iaaBpTiaaaa noOov &c5otn)/i/Hir o&Ff|py 
TrqyaiT] PaBvtcoXnoi dadftfiaXof uij(^ Nif^ii^* 
" H^vxpov vSwp, Aioyvat, ^TTjv nUt* 

ov bvtmrai y^ M9 
aPiaaai Sultav ipurro^ oXoi pooi 'Qiriomo. 
€lp€o GOV y€V€Trjv, ore rnXufov otSfia wtpif^aof 

WpL^ioS l^VpiOTTT]^ OVK €Op€afV IfUp^fV V^, 

oAA* cri fidXXov €Kap,vtv <V uSaau'* trYpom6pim hi 
pAprvpa Xdrpiv "Epatro^ <X'*^ 'AA^»^ ^Al^nfr^ lOt 
OTTi rooois poBioiGi hC vharo^ uSara (nljpcgr 
ou ^vy€ d€pfi6v €p<vTa, Kal ct ir^v vypif Mrffi'* 

*Q? <fKLfi€vr) THTyauM' tbvaaro <rvyxpoo¥ Shmp 
Nrjidg dKpi]S€fJLvo^ cVcyyeAooKm Aimu^. 
fcat ^€o? vypoyL€ho\Ti \\oa€ihda»\t. luyaiptgi^ 110 

€?;(€ <f>6pov Kal Cv^ov, cVci rru napB^vof ^Bttp 
dvrl fjUBrj^, Kal klj^v cV ij/pa pn^aro ^ain{r, 
o2a TTcp curaiouaai' c^cui' Trct^/xoiv 4COi^n|r* 
riap^cVc, 8€;^vwjo v€Krap' • 

ca ^iXondfB€¥C¥ Shmp* 

<l>€Vy€ TTOTOV KprjVOXOV, OITC^ fjLTf Qtlo KOptVf^ 111 

OTTi Y^jvaifxavdwv SoAoci; ttcAc* BcoooAiSof 5^ 
834 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 90-117 

the fiery Dog of heaven, the girl sought out a neigh- 
bouring spring with parched Ups ; the girl bent down 
her curving neck and stooped her head, dipping a hand 
again and again and scooping the water of her own 
country to her mouth, until she had enough and left 
the rills. When she was gone, Dionysos would bend 
his knee to the lovely spring, and hollow his palms in 
mimicry of the beloved girl : then he drank water 
sweeter than selfpoured nectar. And the unshod 
deep -bosomed nymph of the spring, seeing him 
struck by the sting of desire, would say ; 

100 " Cold water to drink, Dionysos, is of no use to 
you ; for all the stream of Oceanos cannot quench 
the thirst of love. Ask your own father ! Europa's 
bridegroom traversed that wide gulf and yet did not 
quench the fire of longing, but he suffered still more 
on the waters. Witness wandering Alpheios,'* whom 
you see the servant of waterfaring love, in that trail- 
ing water through water in all those floods he escaped 
not hot love, though he was a watery traveller ! " 

i<^ So said the unveiled Naiad, and laughed at 
Lyaios, diving into her spring, which had one colour 
with her body.^ And the god grudging at Poseidon 
ruler of the waves felt fear and jealousy, since the 
maiden drank water and not wine. He uttered 
his voice to the unhearing air, as if the girl were 
there to hear and obey : 

11* " Maiden, accept the nectar — leave this water 
that maidens love ! Avoid the water of the spring, 
lest Seabluehair steal your maidenhood in the water 
— for a mad lover and a crafty one he is ! You know 

<* See on xxxvii. 173. 

^ This, if anything, is what the curious Greek phrase seems 
to mean. 

235 



NONNOS 

Tvpov9 otSas" tparra koI vyfMn6pov^ vfiMvntavr' 
Kal av poov SoAociTa ^vXaaa€o, fitf a4o |lil|lip 
tjj€vhaXios AiKy«t€, ya^ioKXano^ ok 9tp *Emmw9t, UO 
TJdcXov €t y€v6fir]v Kol €yw p6o£, ott ^90olx^t^$ 

Sul/aXcrjv anl>vXaKrov tfiriy Aifiartfia Tvpfif,* 

Efxrc d€6s' iuXiwv hi furdrpomatf Mot d [|iff f f » 
oirrrodi napdtvos ^, iSvaaro ftdSamor Aip ISS 

Eviog dypcimjpi irav€U(fXo^' afipotc6§itf M 
aXXo<l>irq^ ayixiXTTo^ 6yuX€€y ^tvyt ifoif^ 
ei/ccAo; Tjprjrijpi, koI dnXu^i Ofi4^ wpoomWHf 
tlt€v6aX€ov fiifi-qfia trao^povo^ hrXaatP affioJg* 
/cat TT^ fi€v aicoirui{cv ifnjfidbos dMpo¥ ipimnif, uq 
77^ 5c rainmropSoio PoBvokuw mU p^^XU^ ^'^^» 
els niTW ofifia ^Upiov XtXirffidvov, aXXort 
rj TTTcAer;)/ €S6k€V€' ^vXaaaofUvov 5^ 
ofifiam Xadpthioujiv th^pKtro ytlropa Ko^ptpf^ 
fiTj fuv aAuaica{c(€ fJLtrdrpoiroi- riidii^ ydp Uf 

KC1AA09 oTTnrtvovri Koi i^Aiirof of^iara KOt ip ffg 
Ktmpibujjv cAa;(€ia napal^aais cWur *E^mtw¥, 

Kal 'Beporjs axthov i^c kcu ijStXt §iGBo¥ Aij^i, 
oAAd <f>6P<x} nerrtbrfTO' ^cAcvic, irfj ado MjpOM 
dv8po<f>6voi ; TTTJ ^pucra K€pdarti; irfj o4o X^^TI '*^ 
yAau^d 7T€8orp€<f>€iJiiv o^iwhta Sca/ia Spcuctfrrsir; 
TT^ OTOfidTOiv p,vKTjp,a fiopvfipopov ; i. ft/yo Ai^ia, 
napdevov €rp€fi€ Bcucxoff, 01/ €rp€fi€ ^vXa rvydtnmf 
Triy€V€0}V oXcTTJpa <f>6fios vucqo€V *Eparrciiv* 
ToaaaTUxiv 3* rjfi-qa€V dp€ifiai'€wv y4vos *Ii«5c0r, 145 
ic€u yiiav lfjL€p6€Gaav dvdXxiSa 5ct5i€ iroi^n^r, 
SctSie d7)Xtrr€pTiv dnaXoxpoov €v Sc froAc^MUC 
236 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 118-147 

the love of Thessalian Tyro " and her wedding in the 
waters ; then you too take care of the crafty flood, 
lest the deceiver loose your girdle just as the wedding- 
thief Enipeus did. O that I also might become a 
flood, Uke Earthshaker, and murmuring might em- 
brace my own Tyro of Lebanon, thirsty and careless 
beside the lovestricken spring ! " 

124 So the god spoke ; and changing his form for 
another he plunged into the shady thicket where the 
maiden was, Euios wholly like a hunter ; in a new 
and unknown aspect he joined the softhaired unyoked 
maid, Uke a youth, moulding a false image of modesty 
with steady looks on his face. Now he surveyed the 
peak of a lonely rock, now he spied into the long- 
branching trees on the uplands, turning an eager eye 
on a pine or again inspecting a firtree, or an elm — 
but with cautious countenance and stolen glances he 
watched the girl so close to him, lest she should turn 
and run away ; for beauty and the eyes of a girl of his 
own age have httle consolation to a lad who gazes at 
her for the loves which the Cyprian sends. 

138 He came near to Beroe and would have spoken 
a word, but fear held him fast. God of jubilation, 
where is your manslaying thyrsus ? Where your 
frightful horns ? Where the green snaky ropes of 
earthfed serpents in your hair ? Where is your heavy- 
booming bellow? See a great miracle — Bacchos 
trembling before a maid, Bacchos before whom the 
tribes of the giants trembled ! Love's fear has con- 
quered the destroyer of giants. He mowed down all 
that warmad nation of the Indians, and he fears 
one weak lovely girl, fears a tender woman. On the 

<» She loved the river Enipeus ; Poseidon enjoyed her by 
taking the river god's shape. See Od. xi. 235 ff. 

237 



NONNOS 

OrfpovofJUit vdpBr)Ki KartTrpi^tn^ 

Kal ol ipirrroirjrov vno arofia ftCBof dX^fffi IM 

yXwaaav cV oxporarni' inrtdiftTO yc Ac! ytirtm, 
€K <l>p€v6s dlaatov fcai M ^p/ni liarifiof ifmwir 
aXKa <l>6Pov yXuKvnucpov 4xoj¥ oZMiom my§ 
€19 <fxios €a<Tv^€V7jv TroAivdy/MTor mtnmM ^wrw. 
Kai fioyi9 v<rr€p6fiv$oy vir6 0r6ita SiiO|l3r i^ifoif IM 
a^ou; ofiPoXupyoy dnca^^fnMFC OMMn{r« 

" "Afrrtfu, irfj ato Tofa; 

TT^ Ai7r€9, ov if>op€€ii imyotfyiiot dvp^ j|hApb; 
77^ aco Kciixi 7r/5tAa, Boan€pa KVtM3^99 9§fKfi; IM 
71^ X^P^ dfi^TrdAofv ; 9rn 5(«rrva ; irg ir^Wf ^fyol; 
ov bpofiov cvTtn^i9 irc/xado<r(F($or* o^ WXnt y^ 
dy/Ko<7<7€iv, o^t Kim/H9 *A&<aw3o9 iyy^ t&dmf* 
''Ew€7r€ ddfipo^ €x<ov dtrarnXiOK* /r '^fiM^ M 
napdeviKrj /ict^T^acv* ctTrctpoiccuraf ft^ impbo^ Ml 

ai;;^€W yavpov dccpcv dvaA\o/i€>i} X<VM9 fpfi* 
orrt, yin^ Trcp €ovaa, ^u^v nucro Afaiy||* 
ou3€ SdAoi" yivwaK€ voonXavtof Ataifvoov. 
Kal nX€ov dxyvTo liatcxo^, <Vc( ncBo¥ cA udB€ i 

rov ^Bos €xovaa, kcu rjStXfv, ^^P^ Oa€^ 
pov iov papvfioxOoy, €7Turrap.4vijf &n i 
o^ifiog rji6€U} TTcpcAciTTtTOi cAwiy 'Epomur 
iaaofi€vr)^ <f>iX6niros, cV dir^icrc^ 8< fi€90f9§ 
dv€p€s Ip^ipovaiVf or* dyvtoaaovai yvtmuns* 

Kal ^cos" "^fJLap €7T* ^fiap cow irtriKuSco; Ai|f 
SctVAo?, €19 /i€CToi' ^^ap, E<oco9, "'Ecnrc/wf ipmw¥, 
napdeviicQ 7Tap€fiifLV€, koI rjBtXgy curcri fufu^cir* 

238 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 148-177 

mountains he quieted the terrifying roar of lions 
with his beast-ruling fennel, and he trembled before a 
woman's threat. A word strayed into his trembling 
mouth to the tip of his tongue close behind the lips — 
it came from his heart and crept back to his heart 
again, but the bittersweet fear held it in shamefast 
silence, and drew back the voice, as it tried to issue 
into the light. Too late he spoke, and hardly then, 
when he burst the chain of shame from his lips and 
undid the procrastinating silence, and asked Beroe 
in a voice of pretence, 

158 " Artemis, where are your arrows ? Who has 
stolen your quiver ? Where did you leave the tunic 
you wear, just covering the knees ? Where are 
those boots quicker than the whirling wind ? Where 
is your company in attendance ? Where are your 
nets ? Where your fleet hounds .'' You are not 
making ready for chase of the pricket, for you do not 
wish to hunt where Cypris is sleeping beside Adonis." 

^^ So he spoke, feigning astonishment, and the 
maiden smiled in her heart ; she lifted a proud neck 
in unsuspicious pleasure, rejoicing in her youthful 
freshness, because she, a mortal woman, was hkened 
to a goddess in beauty, and did not see the trick of 
mindconfusing Dionysos. But Bacchos was yet more 
affected, because the girl in her childish simplicity 
knew not desire ; he wished she might learn his own 
overpowering passion, since when the girl knows, 
there is always hope for the lad that love will come at 
last, but when women do not notice, man's desire is 
only a fruitless anxiety. 

^"^^ Thus day after day, midday and afternoon, 
morning and evening, the god Ungered in the pine- 
wood, waiting for the girl and ever willing to wait ; 

239 



NONN08 
ndvTCJV yap K6po^ iari nap* av^p^aw, ^fi4o9 ^tnmm 

floXTrfjS T €VK€XdSoiO Kol OtmOTt ItiifiWTWrm ^MJf 

ctV Spofiov opxri<rrfjpa' ywaifuipdottn hk u a^ mjp 
ov Kopo^ tori nodujv' i^Kvaaro fiifiXsi 'Ofl^pOV. 

Kat p.oy€wv AtoKvao9 vntPpv)(Sro autrnfj, 
Saifiovij) fidoTiyi r€TVfijiJvof, MoA 
KpVTTTov axoifx-qrutv vnoHdp6uj¥ IVof *l 
a>9 5' oT€ /3ou9 oxiX'tTo^ iow irAttyninSwpf ooci 
cV/iov 6p€aaip6fiu}v miptpirpttw i}Aloa ra ifa tt ii' IM 
olcrrpr^OtU dyAr)0(v, ov €i>frrraA^ «a^ ^^90K9 li'' 
PouTuno^ 6(v6€VTi fivuHfr Irapdaorro a i in ^ IM 

aTrpot^T/^, dXiyw 5< d^i^^ ptOoXruUmt oinp^ lit 
rqMKos iioTif^XucTo, Koi opvwtf m^6$t Mvrov itO 

a^ avaac(/>a{aii' iraXivdyprrov iinnotw ^^f^ 
KvpTo^ tiTirpifiwv atco/ndXuf¥ pdxw, < i rr / r v ir u » 3^ 
o^v K€pa^ h6)(}iwa€v a»ovTaro¥ ^pa 1 4m r u m 
ovTUi Kal Aioyvaov, ov €<rrc^ voA^am pitnf, 
/Souof "Epcu? ourrprjot fiaXut¥ wtu^tXydi xirrpm, IM 

*O0€ hk p.aar€vwv yXvKV ^dpfiOKOt^ dlr *K^p Mr ff 
riavi Baavar€pvo} Ila^ii^ iytcvfiovt §M^ 
Kimpibt-qv dypvm'ov trjv atV^ouvr <Myin|r« 
#cai PovXrjv €p€€iV€v, dXtiijrtipav *Epfint¥, 
Kal KapATovs Ba#c;(oio nvpurvtlorro/s ^MoStttf SOO 

I lav K€p6€L^ €y€Xaaa€, ^rarcurAao^ 5^ |MPOiy§ 
olKTclpwv hvoipatra Svoip^pog- cfnc M BoMjif 
KuTrpLSirjv' oXtyqu Si Trapai^aatv cfy^y EpcuTwr 
oAAoi^ t5a>»' <f>X€\d€VTa piTfi aww^rjpi ^apirpofg' 

** Sum iradwv, ^tAc Baic;(€, 

ifcu a€ TTo^ei' vucqa€v 'Epcjs dpaavt; €» ^/Mf clvvSr, 

• Horn. II, xiu. 636 : ** Sleep «ad love w fcry 
240 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 178-206 

for men can have enough of all things, of sweet 
sleep and melodious song, and when one turns in 
the moving dance — but only the man mad for love 
never has enough of his longing ; Homer's book did 
not tell the truth ! « 

i®2 Dionysos suffered and moaned in silence, struck 
with the divine whip, stewing the hidden wound of 
love in his restless heart. As an ox goes scampering 
over the flats past the well-known swarm of hillranging 
bulls, driven from the herd when a gadfly has pierced 
his hide with sharp sting under the leafy trees un- 
noticed : how small the sting that strikes, how vast 
the bulk of the routed beast ! he lifts the tail straight 
over his back and lashes back, bends and scratches 
his chine on the rocks, and darts a sharp horn at his 
side striking only the unwounded elastic air — so 
Dionysos, crowned so often with victory, was pricked 
by little Love and his allbewitching sting. 

1^ At length, seeking a sweet medicine for love, 
he disclosed to bushybreasted Pan in words full of 
passion the unsleeping constraint of his desire, and 
craved advice to defend him against love. Horned 
Pan laughed aloud, when he heard the firebreathing 
torments of Bacchos, but, a luckless lover himself, 
heartbroken he pitied one unhappy in love, and 
gave him love-advice ; it was a small alleviation of 
his own love to see another burnt with a spark from 
the same quiver : 

205 " We are companions in suffering, friend 
Bacchos, and I pity your feelings. How comes it that 
bold Love has conquered you too ? If I dare to say 

song and dance with trippling feet, yet a time comes when 
they pall, you can have enough of all — but these Trojans 
never can have enough of war ! " 

VOL. Ill R 241 



€1? €fi€ Kai ^toviHJov "KfKo^ cKotifO* ^«iWrp^« 
oAAd TTodov SoAtoio iroXvrponov tflo^ 4t4iif>ti$, 
Trdcra yyn7 troOiii -nXiov Mpo^, aSiofnitm hi 
K€V0€i K€vrpov 'KputTo^ tputfitu^owm Mtt o^nf* *W 
#cai /ioycct ttoAi) fidXXoy, inti tnruS^fHf KpufTOMf 
dcpfjLorepoi y€ydacw, art «r/N;jirovoi yiwv&rfff 
iiiofivxov 7Tpa7rib€aat ircirap/A^ror ^ *E^(tfTciM^. 
Kal yap or* oAAijAjTai it6^w¥ M w wf O U f iaf^ym^, 
XvoLTTovoiS odpoiaiv imotcXiirrovm fUfiifumj Sit 

Kvnpidias. <w 64, \iaK)(t» rtur¥ ix^'H/j^ *^ 
fiifirjXij^ €pv^fia ^pu»v airan)Aaor aAo^» 
o2a aao<l>pov€ovaxiv €xwv dyiXcurro^ Javai)v« 
co; acKcoi" B€/><>179 OYC^oi' urrooo* irai Aim P ^AAtiiy 
6avp.ari p,tv SoXiw oo&Mt^a hdpttto mn4ffm^ tM 

KoXkos: IvfXKvr^aSt ort njAuror oi) Xdx0 *H^, Stl 
^ai Xaptra; tcixXrjaKt ;(c/)«iO»«ic> a^^oW[p>w> M SM 
fiop<f>7J fuufJLOv ai'aTTTC, #rai 'Apr^fuhof kqI *A^i{n|f» ttf 
iccu Be/xJiyw dyofxu« ^ocivor/anK *A^^o3Jn|r* 
Kovprj 5* curatbvaa rc^v ^KVOrffiora fto§iif^ 
ait'Oi T€p7rop.€vr) irXiov lararai' owe MSUt yi^ 

elaateiv, ori koXXos vntpfiaXiy i^AucOf jS^f* 00 

napdeiitcqv 3* cV ipwra yoij^vt Olkf€ mtfwf^ ttl 

KiWfUviuv pX€<t>dpwv dyrarrria ytvfiara W|i«cir* ttt 

7T€7rrap.€vii 5c fUramov d^iS^i Y€ipi war^ftit ttS 

il/€xSaX€ov G€o ddfifios €X€<f>poyi 0<umM otyf. ttt 

oAAd ^j3o9 /xcdcVci ac oaci^povof iyyvdi tto^fftp' M 
ctW, Tt aot pcfci /xid napS/yo^; oi h6fm â– â–  AX w, tit 

ou poSej) TraXdfjLT) Tayv€i fiiXo^' fyYca ico i) ipii|f *•• 
6<f>6aXp.ol y^ydaoiv d/coiTccrriJpcs' *hspufrw¥, 
napdcvLKTJs Se ^ScAc/ii^ poSwinSts cun wapiUiL 

248 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 207-237 

so, Eros has emptied his quiver on me and Dionysos ! 
But I will tell you the multifarious ways of deception 
in love. 

209 " Every woman has greater desire than the man, 
but shamefast she hides the sting of love, though mad 
for love herself ; and she suffers much more, since the 
sparks of love become hotter when women conceal in 
their bosoms the piercing arrow of love. Indeed, 
when they tell each other of the force of desire, their 
gossip is meant to soothe the pain and deceive their 
voluptuous longings. And you, Bacchos, must wear a 
deceptive blush of pretended shame to carry your love 
along. You must keep an unsmiling countenance 
as if through modesty, and stand beside Beroe as if 
by mere chance. Hold your nets in hand, and look 
at the rosy girl with pretended amazement, praising 
her beauty ; say that not Hera has the like, call the 
Graces less fair, find fault with the good looks of both 
Artemis and Athena, tell Beroe she is more brilliant 
than Aphrodite. Then the girl when she hears your 
feigned faultfinding, stands there more delighted 
with your praise ; more than mountains of gold 
she would hear about her rosy comehness, how 
her beauty surpasses all the friends of her youth. 
Charm the maiden to love with a meaning silence. 
Let your eyelids move, send wink and beck towards 
her. Open your hand and slap your brow without 
mercy, and show your feigned amazement by 
prudent silence. You will say, fear restrains you in 
the presence of a modest maid ; tell me, what will a 
lonely girl do to you ? She shakes no spear, she draws 
no shaft with that rosy hand " ; the girl's weapons 
are those eyes which shoot love, her batteries are 

" Nonnos, or Pan, has forgotten that Beroe was a huntress. 

243 



NONNOS 

€Sva 5c aolo troOoto, rtrj^ irct^i^Aia w^iit^t 

fi-q XWov 'IvSifrrfv, firj fidpyapa x^tpl iwd^Uf, 

ota ywaifmvtoirn WAc i 04fUf' tig Ilo^lfr yi^ MO 

d/i^icVct? r€6v €tBo9 indpt(iO¥, t ^ a^io t U 

iccuUco; lfi€ipov<n teal od XP^'^'^'^ y u w S w Wf . 

fiapTvpiTj^ €r^prf^ ov btvofuu' ifipO K^ fiam y^ 

TTola trap 'E^ufuoiit); ihl^aro &3{pa ScAi^; 

apryvpov *Qpuuv ou«r ctfiroofv ii^i)Mtwi%* 
OU K€^<lAo; 7t6p€V oXfio¥ ^i i i jjp a f u »* 

amaa€ notxlXa bwpa, koI od nap4w€tOt¥ *A^i)n|ir 
ov irlXiKvs XP^^H-V^^ XtxuHOf' <IAM BmUrfif W 

lpi€ipo}v a(fxip.apT€. ai $€ {v)^iair ^yMKoXofr 
<f>€pr€pov, riv idlKri^, 0fXtm^piO¥ iXXo ZM(m* 
PdppiTa x^^P'' Aiycu>^, rtrjs QpaBi^fi/mra 'Pc^« 
Ktmpi3os- d/3po»' dyoAfux napoivtotr ^^^^tffd^om M 
7rA^/cT^i9 'cai aropLartoat x^at¥ iT€pS$pOOm ijiX*^* MS 
^axf>vrjv npwTov dciSc #fai oamBiog hp6§t€¥ *HxpVi 
Kal KTvnov vaT€p6<f>cjvov aaiyijTOio Btaitnjiit 
OTTL deovs TToOtovra^ dn€<mryov' aXXA tnl adr^ 
lUkne. riirw <f>vy6h€pivov , 

6p€idat awSpofto¥ aSpOig, 
Flavor dXvaKd^ovoav dvuft^urovf t^ficvaiowp* MO 

/xcAttc pLopov <f>dipi€vrf^ avroxBova' pUfi^o yoiO' 
Kol rdxa SaKpvG€i€ yoi^pLovo^ oAyca ifSpk^t 
Kol pLopov olKT€ipouua' OV &€ ^pcW rifimm my§ 
S44 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 238-263 

those rose-red girlish cheeks. For lovegifts to be 
treasures for your bride, do not display the Indian 
jewel, or pearls, as is the way of mad lovers ; for 
to get love, your own handsome shape is enough — 
to touch your beautiful body is what women want, 
not gold ! 

243 " I need no other testimony — what gifts did 
Selene take from softhaired Endymion ? What love- 
gift did Adonis produce for Cypris ? Orion " gave 
no silver to Dawn ; Cephalos ^ provided no delect- 
able wealth ; but the only one it seems who did 
offer handsome gifts was Hephaistos, being lame, 
to make up for his unattractive looks, and then 
he failed to persuade Athena — his birthdelivering 
axe did not help him, but he missed the goddess he 
wanted. 

^^ " But there is a stronger charm for wedded 
union, which I will teach you if you like. Twang the 
lyre which was dedicated to your Rheia, the delicate 
treasure of Cypris beside the winecup. Pour out the 
varied sounds together, voice and striker ! Sing first 
Daphne," sing the erratic course of Echo,'^ and the 
answering note of the goddess who never fails to 
speak, for these two despised the desire of gods. 
Yes, and sing also of Pitys * who hated marriage, who 
fled fast as the wind over the mountains to escape the 
unlawful wooing of Pan, and her fate — how she dis- 
appeared into the soil herself ; put the blame on the 
Earth ! Then she may perhaps lament the sorrows 
and the fate of the wailing nymph ; but you must let 
your heart rejoice in silence, as you see the honey- 

" One of the numerous lovers of Eos ; same as Orion the 
hunter. 

" An Attic hero, husband of Procris, loved by Eos. 

• Cf. ii. 108. " Cf. ii. 119. * Cf. ii. 108. 

245 



NONNOS 

fivpofiti^ opowv fuXiTfSta hiueova 

ovSi ytXois ntXt touk, «V<t irA^or oIiOTt §mp^ Mi 

lyApral vcycmati', ore crrci^axoMn )^iwftwf . 

fjJXipov €po)fiaytovaav in *Ei«5u / i f a<»i ScA^*^* 

fi/A7re ydfioy yapUvro^ *Ahamiot, mM teal O^r^ 

avxfJ-fJprjv dntOiXov aXu>oiUvf(¥ *A^p M ni¥, 

wiuf>iov ixvtvovaay 6piipofiO¥' iMd 0« 4fiiyn f^ 

TTarpaxMiv aiovaa fuXi^pova Btiffi/iv *FpmTmif, 

aol fi€v cycu ra5c ndyra, 

oAAa fi€ iroi <7v &c5a^ov <fc^ ^^cANnJ^Mor *Hjpoi^." 

*Q9 ciTTcoi' dnt7rtfin€ ytyrf$6ra ircUSa 0uciriri|f • S74 
icoi boXirjv Atoiax70f <X'''^ ay£\curror JaiUiB^ ii 

napdevitcqv €p€Ui'€v *A6i»rtnhof Ofi^ TO«i)or» 
cuf <f>iXo9» ws ofioBrjpo^ dpthpoftoi' lanuUi^ hi 

ws d€Kwv €0Xii(f€V' inulfavovoa hi /ia{ctfr 
h€^ir€pfj vdpKT)0€ yut^aifiay^of Amh^uodv. 10 

fccu 7ror£ »n77ria;^iaiv ^ rjBtaw tiprro wodjwf fi 

vfa A109 TTap€6vra, rU cttActo iral ruiof <n* 
Kai npo^aiv fioyi^ €vp€ napd npo&vcot/t ^AfpoUnft 
opxarov d/iTreAoc^Ta xal ofiTTvta Ama yo^ff 
Kai hpoa€p6v Aci/xtuixi iccu aioAa Sci'jpa Soici ifa w^ 
^^cat K€pSaX€oiai' Kal, otd re y^iroMX ^^H^» ^^ 

ofi^i ydfiov riyd pvOov doTj^idyrtft ^^ro ^M^f* 
** Ei^i T60U ALpdyoio y^wfiopos- tf^ iSM joffS, 
dpSevw aeo yalav, iyw ato Kopmov a/(ci». 
*0.pduiv TTicnjpwv vo€w hpofiov Urrafk€yrj¥ hi 
vvaaav oTTiTrevatv <f>$ivo'nwpiSa roOro ficqaw ^^ 

' ^Kopn los arrcAAci pionjaio^, €<m S4 tcijpu^ 
avXaKos €VKdp7TOiO' poas (ciAftu/icv dfidrptp, 

246 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 264-287 

sweet tears of the sorrowing maid. No laugh was 
ever Uke that, since women become more desirable 
with that ruddy flush when they mourn. Sing Selene 
madly in love with Endymion, sing the wedding of 
graceful Adonis, sing Aphrodite herself wandering 
dusty and unshod, and tracking her bridegroom 
over the hills. Beroe will not run away from you 
when she hears the honeyhearted lovestories of her 
home. There you have all I can tell you, Bacchos, for 
your unhappy love ! Now you tell me something to 
charm my Echo." 

274 Having said his say, he dismissed the son of 
Thyone comforted. Then Dionysos put on a serious 
look, the trickster ! and questioned the maiden about 
her father Adonis, as a friend of his, as a fellow-hunter 
among the hills. She stood still, he brought a longing 
hand near her breast, and stroked her belt as if not 
thinking what he did : but touching her breast, the 
lovesick god's right hand grew numb. Once in 
her childlike way, the girl asked the son of Zeus 
beside her who he was and who was his father. 
With much ado he found an excuse, when he 
saw before the portals of Aphrodite the vineyard 
and the bounteous harvest of the land, the dewy 
meadow and all the trees ; and in the cunning of 
his mind, he made as if he were a farm-labourer and 
spoke of wedding in words that meant more than 
they said : 

282 " I am a countryman of your Lebanon. If it is 
your pleasure, I will water your land, I will grow your 
corn. I understand the course of the four Seasons. 
When I see the limit of autumn is here, I will call 
aloud — * Scorpion is rising \\dth his bounteous plenty, 
he is the herald of a fruitful furrow, let us yoke oxen 

247 



N0NN08 

UXriiah€9 hwovai' irorc* tmtipopfuw 

avXaK€S atSivovaiv, ore hpoaoi ffc X^^"^ 

avofUvrp^ ^ateoyri.' #fol 'Apteahot iyy^ *A|Ufi|r »• 

;(c4^'''o^ ofiPprjiJoyros iSofr AptcToOpiH^ imfm* 

' hultaX^ noT€ yoid Aw niM^>frfff«A ^k/W-' 

' avB€a otto TtBfiXi' n&rt Kplm ml fAa rAAca; IN 

icoi ara4tv\riv opocjv B4p€o^ vopt^TOf M|^»* Mi 

' apiT^Xos r)fiwovaa irtifau^trtu fyfiOptH ifinnfS' 
inLp6€V€t auyyovos ^A^c* 

ir6r€ rpvy6ija^U9 Jjnapy ^ 

Ay^iov apriow araywt^po¥» cM^i 5^ Ai|o^ 

firjrpi r€7J p€^aipx BaXvata Ktm/x>yrv«^.' |M 

vp€r€pnr)s p€ Kopiaat ^vrr^KOpov o^poycMci}; , SM 

o^pa ^trrov in^^aipi ^ptofiiov, inupSUm W Mi 

optfpatca yivwuKio vtoSriX^a "jftpovf oi^^aot^* 
oZ3a, TTodev TTOTc /x^Aa TrcTrau'crai* oOa ^ rtfp m 
leoi wreXeriv ravv^vXXov €p€thoptvifv tcvwapioo^' 
dpaeva koX iftoiviKa yeyriB&ra Bt^I fuayw, 
Kai KpoKov, Tjv cWAt/s", irapa ptXojci tcaXi^ iiifw, SIO 
firj fiot xpt^^v dyois Kopi&rj^ X9P*^' 

ov XP^os 6Xpom' 
*■ 5urovat wort Roie, fc fe mww vor« rdd. 
248 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 288-311 

to the plow. The Pleiads are setting : when shall we 
sow the fields ? The furrows are teeming, when the 
dew falls on land parched by Phaethon.' " And in 
the showers of winter when I see Arcturos ^ close to 
the Arcadian wain, I will exclaim — * At last thirsty 
Earth is wedded with the showers of Zeus.' As the 
spring rises up, I will cry out in the morning — ' Your 
flowers are blooming, when shall I pluck Hlies and 
roses ? Just look how the iris has run over the 
neighbouring myrtle, how narcissus laughs as he 
leaps on anemone ! ' And when I see the grapes of 
summer before me I will cry — ' The vine is in her 
prime, ripening without the sickle : Maiden, your 
sister ^ has come — when shall we gather the grapes ? 
Your wheatear is grown big and wants the harvest ; 
I will reap the crop of corn-ears, and I will celebrate 
harvest home for your mother the Cyprus - born 
instead of Deo.' 

303 '* Accept me as your labourer to help on your 
fertile lands. Take me as planter for your Foam- 
born, that I may plant that lifebringing tree, that I 
may detect the half-ripe berry of the tame vine and 
feel the newgrowing bud. I know how apples ripen ; 
I know how to plant the widespreading elm too, lean- 
ing against the cypress. I can join the male palm 
happily with the female, and make pretty saffron, 
if you like, grow beside bindweed. Don't offer me 
gold for my keep ; I have no need of wealth — my 

" The Sun is in Scorpius in late October, the Pleiads set 
about the beginning of November, the plowing and sowing 
are for winter wheat. 

^ Arcturos (and Bootes) sets in the evening early in 
November, and rises in the evening about the beginning of 
March ; the latter is meant here, apparently : a sign of rain. 

" Perhaps this means " Virgo has risen " (Aug. 31). 

249 



NONNOS 

fuoBov €xo» ^vo firiXa, furjf €va fi6rpv¥ immpifft.* 
Tola fjLarrjv ayoptiH, koX ovtc ^Ifitro ffO^ 

Bojcxov firi voiovaa yvwu/ioWof ar^xa iMmf, 
•AAA«i 5oAa> hoXov oAAoF M^poBa^ E^pa^M^npt • ; 

Koi 3€p6rj^ dno x^^P^ ih^x^nno hltciva ^y^ff 

ota T€ ^a/i/SiJooy T€)fin{fio»«, wimtmL M IM^MP 

'• TiV d€6s €VTta raOra, tiV o^pavifi f€d§u r^n; 
rU Kdfi€ ; Koi yap dnurrov ixy* v6o¥t im rMoom ! 

ELirtv atcriXrjTOio mipanXdiw¥ ^p^ KO^pff^. 
KOI 7roT£ 'n€7rrap.ivuiv dvtiuttvtlbo^ (n^iB% ^4^X t mf 
joJSu/iov xmvov lavtv ovap h4 <h hrXtro MM^pif 
cifuiri wynf>ihl^t irtrrvKaafUyti. dirrirvno^ yip 
€pYOVf o nep tcA<€i tij /i' rjfiart, vwtrl ^O Wfrfli * 
povKoXo^ VTTvd>wv Ktpaov^ fioa^ tk vofi^ iXttU' 
SltCTva Brjprjrfjpi ^ctWrai o^i; 6%fipov 
Y€U>n6voi 5* ei>8orT€9 apor/Kuoyau' dpoiipagf 
avXoJca &€ cmeipovai ^plaraxyv' dj^aXifi S4 
avhpa p,€arj^ppi^ovTa Kardax^Txn^ al^otn ^(f^Q 
€t9 poov, €19 dfidprjv ciTrar^Ato; tmnx JA o i Wl * 
ourcu Kat /^toyvoost cx^f u'SoAfuiTa fufx^BM^* 
fUfiriXat 'rrr€p6€VTa voov Trdfincvcv (Wi^» 
' So Mss. t l^dwich iwipp94t9. 

* Dionysos is using the wrll-vorn p«r«Ilri of wooMni 
and field', man and plowman, (^ plov, but fWrot b too 
innocent to undtrstand (814). Halt the things he MJt Mc 
charged vi ith a d<»iible meaning ; Aphmditr'n harrcnl-home 
(300) would be niarrinjri-, or i>erhn|*H th** hirth of A diiid* tlie 

250 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. S12-334 

wages will be two apples and one bunch of grapes 
of one vintage."" 

312 All this he said in vain ; the girl answered 
nothing, for she understood nothing of the mad lover's 
long speech. 

315 But Eiraphiotes ^ thought of trick after trick. 
He took the hunting-net from Beroe's hands and pre- 
tended to admire the clever work, shaking it round 
and round for some time and asking the girl many 
questions — " What god made this gear, what heavenly 
art ? Who made it ? Indeed I cannot believe that 
Hephaistos mad with jealousy made hunting-gear for 
Adonis ! " 

322 So he tried to bewilder the wits of the girl who 
would not be so charmed. Once it happened that he 
lay sound asleep on a bed of anemone leaves ; and he 
saw the girl in a dream decked out in bridal array. 
For what a man does in the day, the image of that he 
sees in the night ; the herdsman sleeping takes his 
horned cattle to pasture ; the huntsman sees nets in 
the vision of a dream ; men who work on the land plow 
the fields in sleep and sow the furrow with corn ; a man 
parched at midday and possessed with fiery thirst 
is driven by deceiving sleep to a river, to a channel 
of water. So Dionysos also beheld the likeness of his 
troubles, and let his mind go flying in mimic dreams 

" planter of the Foamborn " a successful lover (304), and the 
trees and grapes have an obvious sexual allusion. Finally, 
the proposed wages (311-312) contain another pun; fii]Xa is 
properly apples, but can mean a woman's breasts, and a 
bunch of grapes is what one gathers at vintage, but to 
"gather the vintage" of a woman is to enjoy her favours, 
c/. Ar. Peace 1338-1339. 

'' The meaning of the epithet is unknown : but Nonnos 
connects it with pdnTeiv " to stitch " in ix. 23, which suggested 
the conjecture eVeppa^ev here for iire^pabev from vii. 152. 

251 



NONNOS 

Kal aKi€poi<n ydftounv 6fiiXf€y. iyp6§U90f hi SM 
napdtvov ovK €Kixr)a€, Kal rj$€X€¥ airwt to/Smr 
Kal K€V€r)v €K6fiiaa€ fiti'wSa^trf^ X4p^ <^>^» 
cvScjv €V TTtrdXoiai raxv^i^Uvrj^ Awj^iAwfl. 
fi€fi<f>€ro 8* dff>$6yYCJV ntraXan^ xjiow 

Tttvov ofiov Koi ''E^Kirra Koi iontpiiiif K^ptMrrpt S40 
rf^v avTt)v iK€rtV€v tScty irdAir &ftw A^fpow» 
<f>aafjLa ydyuov rrodtcjv airanfAior. ^^(t M ftiipTtm 
noXXoKi hdK)(o^ lav€, Koi ov ya^dait Ti^XfV 



At;aifi€Ai7; AioiOMTo; ^Aucro vvtd fupi^urfi, S4S 

BrfpoawTfv dv€<f>7)y€V' dKovriarrjpt Si Btipo^ 
oTLKra v€Oij^y€it»v (m^hvaaro b^pfuxra vtfipQt^, 
Xddpios €is h€p6rjv hthoKTifUvoi' urra^iiwov U 
napdevos dararov ofifia ^XaaaofUrri l^WÂ¥4o9m IM 
<f>do€l fiapfiaipovoav cfiv €Kpv^ tra^tifr. 
icai irXiov c^Acyc Ba#fvoi', an Sprjarijp€t 'E^cvrwr 
aiSop,€va^ €Ti /xdAAoi' oTriTrcuouat yvimira^, 
/cat irXeov lp.€ipovai KaXvrrrofitvoio ttpoaurwov. 

Kal noT€ yLouvwO^laav *\hwvtho^ <^CvKa mNJJMrMi 
dOpTjoas ax^hov ^XOf^ Kal dt^pofUyjs dir6 $ioa^tft 
cISoj €ov p.€rdpL€i4t€, KQx CO? ^€oy urraTO Koiff§' 
Kal ol iov yivos €Itt€ koI ovi-ofia, 

Kol ^6vo¥ *IinS«iir, 
#fai xopov d/iTTcAocinra, Kal rfSimorov ywnr oInw^ 
OTTi /xiv dvSpdaiv €vp€' <f>iXoaT6pyw hi fUvoUF§ StO 
Bdpaos dvaih^iri Kcpdaa^ dXXdrpiov aHhoOs 
roiqv rroLKiXofivdov imoaaalvwv ^ro ^ ^ai rrfp' 

** Tlapddvc, aov 8i' cporra Kal ovpavov ovKm vaUa* 
Gwv -naTipwv OTnjAi^yycy dp€iov€i tiaw 'Okuiunv. 
252 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 335-364 

until he was joined to her in a wedding of shadow. 
He awoke — and found no maiden, and wished once 
again to slumber : he carried away the empty largess 
of that short embrace, as he slept on the leaves of the 
anemone which perishes so soon. He reproached the 
dumb leaves there spread ; and sorrowfully prayed 
to Sleep and Love and Aphrodite of the evening," all 
at once, to let him see the same vision of a dream once 
more, longing for the deceptive phantom of an em- 
brace. Bacchos often slept near the myrtle ^ and 
never dreamt of marriage. But sweet pain he did 
feel ; and limb-relaxing Dionysos found his own limbs 
relaxed by lovestricken cares. 

34« In company with Beroe's father, the son of 
Myrrha, he showed his hunting-skill. He cast his 
thyrsus, and wrapt himself in the dappled skins of the 
newslain fawns, ever with his eye secretly on Beroe ; 
as he stood, the maiden covered her bright cheeks with 
her robe, to escape the wandering eye of Dionysos. 
She made him burn all the more, since the servants of 
love watch shamefast women more closely, and desire 
more strongly the covered countenance. 

3^^ Once he caught sight of the unyoked girl of 
Adonis alone, and came near, and changed his human 
form and stood as a god before her. He told her his 
name and family, the slaughter of the Indians, how he 
found out for man the vine-dance and the sweet juice 
of wine to drink ; then in loving passion he mingled 
audacity with a boldness far from modesty, and his 
flattering voice uttered this ingratiating speech ; 

363 " Maiden, for your love I have even renounced 
my home in heaven. The caves of your fathers are 

*» Venus, the evening star. 
* As being Aphrodite's plant. 

253 



NONNOS 

TrarpiSa ariv ifnX€ut irXiov al04poi* od 
Gtcrj'nrpa A109 ycwn^po^, oaov Bcp^iff 

vlicrapos €v6SfJLoio rtoi irwAOMn x*^<('^C* 
napd€V€, 6dfi$os <X<^ ^'^^ MT"'/" Kinr/Mr ^iroiSuir, 

(wyryovov €1x^9 'Epurra 

KOi od fioB^f otarpov *Kpunw^: S7I 
oAA* ^p^€i9 yXavicaymv dwc tfn^n/v 6fi€va£ut¥' 374 

voa^ yafiov pXdarrjat icoi 01) ydfAOt^ olBcv *A9i)»<i9* S76 
ou ac W#cc yAat;icam(9 ^ 'Aprtfus. aXXa oi, mn^# S7t 
Ktmpi5o9 alfxa <f>€povaa ri Kvvpihof ^PT^ ^f&ytt/t; S71 
117) y€vo9 axaxyyii^ prfTpuHOV' *AaavpuHf Sj S79 

afipa TcAeaaiya/ioio 5i5aairco Stafia TOKrjat» 

ical Y\a<f>l'qs ^oxrrijpi awr^Xuci ntidto KtOT^t 

Koi yaptwv n€<l>vXa(o hvaayTta firjyuf 'KptUrutir MO 

viyAccs €lalv "EpcoTcy, ore XP^of, oim6rt woiri^ 

dTTprJKTOV <f>iXdTrjros dTrairi^ovat yvHUicac* 

olcT^a yap, ws irvpotaaav dr^irjoaaa K u B i f ptf v 

pnaBov dyrjvopirjs 4>^Xondp$€vos wmao^ £^yf , 

OTTt <I>vt6v yeyavla voSt) bovaxw^i fiop^ 180 

€K<l>vy€ Ilavo; €poyra, noSoui 5* m Hopif <uAci* 

Kol dvydrqp Adhwvos, dci^o/Wvou TroroftoSb, 

€pya ydpxjjv crvyiovaahtpLas htx-hpittoaTO Ni^^^, 

€/x77voa avpl^ovua, kou d/x^i}cvri icopvfifiip 

^oipov XiKTpa <f>vyov<Ta Kofirjv corc^aro ^kUfiov. WO 

Kcu aif xo^ov SaaTTXrJTa if>vXdaa€o, prj at j^aXUfg 

dfpp^S "E/xoj PapvprjviS' d^c^v^oa 5^ it^ffS 

* So M5S. : Ludwach cwxi«ao«* 
254 



DIONYSIACA, XLIL 365-S92 

better than Olympos. I love your country more than 
the sky ; I desire not the sceptre of my Father Zeus 
as much as Beroe for my wife. Your beauty is above 
ambrosia ; indeed, heavenly nectar breathes fragrant 
from your dress ! Maiden, when I hear that your 
mother is Cypris, my only wonder is that her cestus has 
left you uncharmed. How is it you alone have Love 
for a brother, and yet know not the sting of love ? 
But you will say Brighteyes had nothing to do with 
marriage ; Athena was born without wedlock and 
knows nothing of wedlock. Yes, but your mother 
was neither Brighteyes nor Artemis. Well, girl, you 
have the blood of Cypris — then why do you flee from 
the secrets of Cypris ? Do not shame your mother's 
race. If you really have in you the blood of Assyrian 
Adonis the charming, learn the tender rules of your 
sire whose blessing is upon marriage, obey the cestus 
girdle born with the Paphian, save yourself from the 
dangerous wrath of the bridal Loves ! Harsh are 
the Loves when there's need, when they exact from 
women the penalty for love unfulfilled. 

383 " YoY you know how Syrinx " disregarded fiery 
Cythera, and what price she paid for her too-great 
pride and love for virginity ; how she turned into a 
plant with reedy growth substituted for her own, 
when she had fled from Pan's love, and how she still 
sings Pan's desire ! And how the daughter of 
Ladon,^ that celebrated river, hated the works of 
marriage and the nymph became a tree with in- 
spired whispers, she escaped the bed of Phoibos but 
she crowned his hair with prophetic clusters. You too 
should beware of a god's horrid anger, lest hot Love 
should afflict you in heavy wrath. Spare not your 

« Cf. ii. 118. * Daphne, cf. ii. 108. 

255 



NONNOS 

hi7rX6ov dfjL^'rr€ Biucxov owdava koX 
KoX Xlva aoio toktjo^ *A&cuM3ofr oi^r^f 
XfKTpov eyw arop^aoifu icoai\»n}n|f *A^foMnff. 
noid aoi €vvoaiyaiof <iird(ui Owpa KOfilofMt; 
'^ pa aoi fhva yduoio \iki(rrai aXfMp6Â¥ Ump, 
Koi GTop€a(i nv€iotrra SvaifBnL w^itnof d8|pM)r 
hipyuara ^kommv, Iloai^i^ mMa MUKflNnft; 
hippara ^otKOJutv p.^ 5/;(Wcyo* o«2o M WQOt^ 400 

BoKva; api6in6Xov^, l^rvpovf Btpdamnot iiwJiaom* 
h€(o poi €Ova ydpoio koI ofiirtXMOoar 6wwpi^' 
€i 3* c^cAct; Bopv Bovpov *AbafVtiot M TV t Mf ^, 

BvpGOV CYC 19 ipOV CVYOf* €0 yAoiXiKI Tpjlfalf. 

i^vyt, *f>iXr}, KOKov jx^ dmyj/fTwo ^aXigtnft^ 40i 
<f>€vy€ hvaavrqTcitv l\omi^iO¥ otarpim *F|pwruir 
oAAt; 'Apupwvn nap€Xi(aTO iCTW »uj |f tt/ n|f, 
oAAd yui^ /x€Ta Xttcrpov opwmppot IvAffO wrfy^* 
Kai ^kvXav trapixvt koI €iv<iXifj¥ Biro whwtp^- 
*A(rr€pi7jv o €huoK€, tccu inXtro vr^aof ^pywf* ^^ 
TrapdeviKrjv 5* EujSoiOV ivtppHuHn BoXii99§* 
o^os *Apvpwvrjv pvr)ar€V€r€u, d^pa «ml O^n^ 
AatVcT^v rcAccTT} fx^rd htpvtov ovros 6»df 9 0ti 
cBvov €<jjv daXdpwv dXiyov pdov ^ fip^^Off oAfti^ 
J pvdirfv Tivd Kox^ov. cya# W oot c&vjm puop^^ 415 
urrapai daxaXowv, riva gkh, riva h<Lpa ico§i4aauf' 
ov xaT€€i xpvaoio rcVoy XF^'^ 'A^poWfiif . 
dAAd (7ot cf *AXvPr)s K€ipTJXAa iroAAa icoyiioow* 
dpyvpov dpyvpoTrqxu^ dvaiyrrai. ccV o^ ffOfUooM 
8<<>/>a hiaarlX^vra <fKpavY€Oi 'H/mBomno* 4fO 

'HAtdSoiv 8* oAoi' oA/Soi' circuaxtw«& o^ M^f^ 

• Seexli. 11. 

* A rationalization : usually she b a 
but this was often explained away as a 
256 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 393-421 

girdle, but attend Bacchos both as comrade and bed- 
fellow. I myself will carry the nets of your father 
Adonis, I will lay the bed of my sister Aphrodite. 

396 " What worthy gifts will Earthshaker bring ? 
Will he choose his salt water for a bridegift, and lay 
sealskins breathing the filthy stink of the deep, as 
Poseidon's coverlets from the sea ? Do not accept 
his sealskins. I will provide you with Bacchants to 
wait upon your bridechamber, and Satyrs for your 
chamberlains. Accept from me as bridegift my 
grape-vintage too. If you want a wild spear also as 
daughter of Adonis, you have my thyrsus for a lance 
— away with the trident's tooth ! Flee, my dear, 
from the ugly noise of the neversilent sea, flee the 
madness of Poseidon's dangerous love ! Seabluehair 
lay beside another Amymone,^ but after the bed the 
wife became a spring of that name. He slept with 
Scylla, and made her a chff in the water. ^ He 
pursued Asterie,^ and she became a desert island ; 
Euboia ^ the maiden he rooted in the sea. This 
creature woos Amymone just to turn her too into 
stone after the bed ; this creature offers as gift for 
his wedding a drop of water, or seaweed from the 
brine, or a deepsea conch. And I, distressed for your 
beauty as I stand here, what have I for you, what 
gifts shall I offer ? The daughter of golden Aphro- 
dite needs no gold. Shall I bring you heaps of treas- 
ure from Alybe ? Silverarm cares not for silver ! 
Shall I bring you gleaming gifts from brilhant 
Eridanos ? Your beauty, your blushing whiteness, 

« See ii. 125. 

^ The nymph after whom the island was mythically named, 

being named originally Maoris (Long Island). Only Nonnos 

mentions her as Poseidon's love, and the identification of her 

with the actual rock of the island is apparently his own. 

VOL. Ill s 257 



NOVNOS 

XtvKov €p€vBi6€oaa, poXtut 5* dtnrippowoi n^Bf 
cuccAo; -qXttcrpip \Up67js d^offvaamu ^'^XJF • • • 
Kal Xidov aaTpairrovra- rtov XP^ •O^ Wyyt 
fidpfiapa Ti/xi/cvra- firi €U(€Xo¥ tiWomi A^||M <• 

Aux^iSa Goi KOfiiaoifu, oiXof w4fMMQPom mmpo/* 
fiTj KoXvKCJv poB6€yTo^ avatovotFTa ttopifitfiov 
aol poSa hwpa ^poifu, poStuwMs <Mt vopcuu.*' 
Toiov €rto^ KartXtft' koI ouarot Molb j co i yf 
X€t/>a? €p€iaafiivrj &i5u/ui9 <^pa{«r J i CO pd h» M 

/X17 TToAit' oAAoi' 'Hpcirrt fu/Av^Aora iMom 4tta49§9 
€pya ydfAOV arvyiovaa- noBofiXt/rt^ hk hmmi$f 
fMOxO(() lACyBov €fu(€. ri Kwrr€pi¥ iorw *E,pwrw¥, 
n orr€ BvfioPopoio iroBfn) Xvaoutbtl Kimptft 
av^pas ifi€ipoyTa^ dXvatcdiovoi yvroMrtf 430 

icoi n\€Ov oUrrpov ayovat <ja6^pO¥€t; 

_?tJtjfl.*J | l L l ill 

mwOOftmrOt Qm 

SmXoos €<rriv €p<jj^, orrt mifBivot d»^pa f t 4 y u , 
*Qs 6 fi€v olarprq€VTi noSav fuuFrHrro MfOTi^* 
napd€vuajs 8* dw€/ufivcv dpxrpoxlrwi^ hk '^^'^f'U 
avvSpOfiov dyptxHJOovra voov ir6fiw€V€¥ ^Jbfffip, MO 

KtVTpOV €X<JHV yXvKVTTUCpoV. 

dvtaavfiMvoi hk iaXiooift, 

ucfjua St^KxA€oio 3i* ovp€09 ^X*'*^ irdUAoir^ 
napOevitcriv p.dar€V€ Uoati&atMtv fimwdimft, 
dppoxov vSaTotirri 7T€pippcuyLJV x^oKt rapom' 
Kai oi ert aircvBovri napd fcAeraf €vfioTO¥ Abfr Mi 
ovp€0^ ojcpa Kaprjva Trobcjv cAcAifcro voJ^fi^ • • • 
€(9 BcpoT^v oKo-nia^t, KOi cV 7ro8o9 ovpt ira^ijpov 

KOVpTJS tOra/XOT^f hl€LUrp€€V €v6€OV 

o^v 8c AcTrroAcoio St c^xaros* otn m 
ofifxaGiv dnXaveeaai rvnov T€KfKup€TO 
old T€ yvpvwdevTa irapatcXihw dscpa 
S58 




DIONYSIACA, XLir. 422-451 

puts to shame all the wealth of the HeHades ; the 
neck of Beroe is Hke the gleams of Dawn, it shines 
hke amber, [outshines] a sparkUng jewel ; your fair 
shape makes precious marble cheap. I would not 
bring you the lampstone blazing Hke a lamp, for Ught 
comes from your eyes. I would not give you roses, 
shooting up from the flowercups of a rosy cluster, 
for roses are in your cheeks." 

*^ Such was his address ; and the girl pressed the 
fingers of her two hands into her ears to keep the 
words away from her hearing, lest she might hear 
again another speech concerned with love, and she 
hated the works of marriage. So she made trouble 
upon trouble for lovestricken Lyaios. What is more 
shameless than love, or when women avoid men who 
yearn with the heart-eating maddening urge of 
desire, and only make them more passionate by their 
modesty ? The love within them is doubled when 
a maiden flees from a man. 

^^ So he was flogged by the maddening cestus of 
desire ; and he kept away from the girl, but full of 
bittersweet pangs, he sent his mind to wander 
a-hunting with the girl with ungirt tunic. Then out 
from the sea came Poseidon, moving his wet footsteps 
in search of the girl over the thirsty hills, a foreign 
land to him, and sprinkhng the unwatered earth with 
watery foot ; and as he hasted along the fertile slope 
of the woodland, the topmost peaks of the mountains 
shook under the movement. . . . He espied Beroe, 
and from head to foot he scanned her divine young 
freshness while she stood. Clear through the filmy 
robe he noted the shape of the girl with steady eyes, 
as if in a mirror ; glancing from side to side he saw 
the shining skin of her breasts as if naked, and cursed 

259 



NOKNOS 

fia^wv Kp\mroy,tvwv ^ovtfrfjv iwtfUfH^m fUrpf^, 
hiv€vwv iXucqhov €pcjfiayi^ ofi^ wpo0mma9f 
irarrraLvuiv aKoprjro^ oXov S^'/iay oUnpOfUO^ M IM 
€ivaXirjv Kv0€p€t€iv aXof /mS/oit hnaixBvm 
fioxOiCo^v ix€r€iH, teal dypavXtft wap^ 
TTapOtvov lara^€\n)v ^tXU^ fiMtXifofro 

" *EXXdSa Ko^Xtywauca yvr^ ^da wtfoor A/^Xtt* 
ov IIa^9, ovKtTi \4afio^ arcSrrm, oMft K^i^^liD 
ovvofia koXXltokoio ^rt^rrcu* ovtein ^^ iXtfi m 
Nd(ov dtiSofifvrjv tvndfiStvw' dXXa teal aiti^ 
€19 roKov, ciV <o5mxf ivucrfBt) AaMtBaifum^' 
ov llanos', ovKtn Atapo^, *\^Vfu»Mnft U TlAl{*^ 
ai^oAiT; (TvXrja€V oXov tcXtot *Opxofi49oS0, <• 

fiovvrjv d^«fn€novaa fiiay \apa^' cmXtniff^ yd^ 
rpiaadojv Xapirwv Bcpoiy pXdarrfot rtrdpTfi, 
7rapd€V€, #caAAt7rc yami', o vtp ^//af* oi; cr^ M^f'V 
€K x'^ovo^ €^darr^€v, aXo^ Bvydrr)p *A^po3 / nf* 
TTorrov ^x^t? cfioi' cSi'oi' drtp^va, /Ki{o»a yv^ff* ^^ 
OTTcuaoi' €pibfiaiv€iv dXoxtf* Au>f, o^p^ nc ^Strfi» 
oTTi hdp.ap Kpoi'iBao Kai tMrtf Uimtnymdm 
TrdvTodi KOipavioxHJiv , cVct vt/^dt v r of ^Ok&iunm 
"H/m; aKTJTrrpov c^cc, B^poi; Kpdrof lojft ^JUtf<nyg. 
ou aoi BaaaapiSa^- fia^'Ki^cas* tyyvoXlfw, 47C 

ot) Sarvpor OKaipovra koI ov SciAip^ l^wtfffOW* 
oAAd TcAcaaiya/ioio tct}; OaXoftrfnoXoy €^rijf 
Il/Korca aoi #cai TXavKov vrrohprqoriyta TtXioatf 
ScxviHTO #fat Nrjprja koi, tjv idtXj)^, McAar^pn^r* 
/cat TrAaruv dcmou fUTpovfi€VOV dvrvyt K6afimf itO 
'l^covdv KcAo^oKra rcdv $€pdwovra KoXiaom' 
S60 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 452-481 

the jealous bodice wrapt about in many folds which 
hid the bosom, he ran his lovemaddened eye round 
and round over her face, he gazed never satisfied on 
her whole body. Then mad with passion Earth- 
shaker lord of the brine appealed in his trouble to 
Cythereia of the brine, and tried with flattering 
words to make friends with the maiden standing 
beside the country flock : 

^^ " One woman outshines all the lovely women 
of Hellas ! Paphos is celebrated no longer, nor 
Lesbos, Cyprus no longer has a name as mother of 
beauty ; no longer will I sing Naxos which the singers 
call isle of fair maids ; yes, even Lacedaimon is 
worsted for children and childbirth ! No more 
Paphos, no more Lesbos — the land of the rising sun, 
Amymone's nurse, has plundered all the glory of 
Orchomenos, for one single Grace of her own ! For 
Beroe has appeared a fourth grace, younger than 
the three ! 

*^ " Maiden, leave the land. That is just, for 
your mother grew not from the land, she is Aphrodite 
daughter of the brine. Here is my infinite sea for 
your bridegift, larger than earth. Hasten to chal- 
lenge the consort of Zeus, that men may say that 
the lady of Cronides and the wife of Earthshaker hold 
universal rule, since Hera has the sceptre of sno^vy 
Olympos, Beroe has gotten the empire of the sea. I 
will not provide you with mad-eyed Bassarids, I will 
give you no dancing Satyr and no Seilenos, but I 
will make Proteus chamberlain of your marriage- 
consummating bed, and Glaucos shall be your under- 
ling — take Nereus too, and Mehcertes if you like ; 
and I will call murmuring Oceanos your servant, 
broad Oceanos girdling the rim of the eternal 

261 



NONNOS 

col trorafioi^ (vfinamnf iwdopat Qpor 
ei h€ Kol dfuf>in6Xoii €nir4piwtai, tli ok mofJoom 
Ovyartpas Nrfprjof' avaiyofi^ S^ ytv^a&w 
fuxid ^iwyvaoio T€rj &aXa^ffw6Xifg *Ipw." 

rj€pi fivSov €€tnt x^cor ^fuuita ^t m n^' 

*' MvppTff 6X^14 Kovpf, Aa^oM^ tihojiZa ywMhff 
rifirjv fiovva^ <X't( hihvfiaova' ^utOms iworffir 

Tola fi€v €vyoaiyau>i Ifuiaorro tt ^v rop t «Mrr^* 
iroAAd 5c hwpa riraxv€¥ *M<MU tnX Kif#ipi%, 
Kovpirjs €hvov €purro^, ofio^X^trnp 5^ fUXiiiP^ 
oXfiov dywv Aioii/aof , oaov irapd yv/ropi V^eyyg 
Xpvao<f>a€i^ cjSivti tfiaujoantro fimiXXbt¥f 
noXXa fidrqv uctrtvt $€iXao<nJrp^ 'A^poMnp. 

dfuf>OT€pOV9 tltnrjGTJJpag th€tbuV' O/i^Or^pMr U 

laoTvnoiv opowoa rrodov tcaX if^Ko¥ *E^c«t«pr 
'Apct wfuf>ihia) Bcpi^f m^/HAffv ayctfuo 
#ccu ya/xo»' alxfirjTrjpa Koi l^p6€aoa9 *CnM». 
icoi fuv oAt^^ irvKaaacra ywaorct^ ru4 ir^O|i^ 
KvTrpt; cV* dxpoTrdAi^os' C179 iSpuoaro 
napdevov ap/fnipiarov aiBXiov afipov *] 

dfJul>OT€pOL9 Sc ^€OU7( /iUXV (ui\i6<ra7t> 

T^V /i€V 6<l>€lXofJL€VriV tVOoL^fioift, Tl^ M Aooilqp* 

oAA' cVct ou ycvd/xTyi' 5i5u;ii7rdiror, ot$6^ ffcAnfw 
0€Gfia ydfiwv dxpavra fjuav (wrfova 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 482-509 

world. I give you as a bridal gift all the rivers 
together for your attendants. If you are pleased 
to have waitingmaids also, I will bring you the 
daughters of Nereus ; and let Ino the nurse of 
Dionysos be your chambermaid, whether she hkes 
it or not ! '* 

*^^ Thus he pleaded, but the maiden was angry and 
would not listen ; so he left her, pouring out his last 
words into the air — 

^^^ " Happy son of Myrrha, you have got a fine 
daughter, and now a double honour is yours alone ; 
you alone are named father of Beroe and bridegroom 
of the Foamborn." 

*^i Thus Earthshaker was flogged by the blows of 
the cestus ; but he offered many gifts to Adonis and 
Cythereia, bridegifts for the love of their daughter. 
Dionysos burning with the same shaft brought his 
treasures, all the shining gold that the mines near the 
Ganges had brought forth in their throes of labour ; 
earnestly but in vain he made his petition to 
Aphrodite of the sea. 

^^"^ Now Paphia was anxious, for she feared both 
wooers of her muchwooed girl. When she saw equal 
desire and ardour of love in both, she announced 
that the rivals must fight for the bride, a war for a 
wedding, a battle for love. Cypris arrayed her 
daughter in all a woman's finery, and placed her upon 
the fortress of her country, a maiden to be fought for 
as the dainty prize of contest. Then she addressed 
both gods in the same words : 

^^ " I could wish had I two daughters, to wed one 
as is justly due to Earthshaker, and one to Lyaios ; 
but since my child was not twins, and the undefiled 
laws of marriage do not allow us to join one girl to a 

263 



NONNOS 

Ctv^ai BixOa&ioiaw ofLOifiaioif wapoMolfmg, AlO 

a/z<^t furj9 dXoxoio fi6$o^ yvtA^oar6Xos farm' 
ov yap ar€p Kafidrov UtpSrj^ ^X^' <W^ ^ "^K^ 
dfjufxv d€dX€vooirt ydfiov vpowlXtvBw iyAm' 
OS 8c K€ viKr}a€i» Btpdnrjv aycic8i*or d y Mm . . . 
dfi<t>oT€pois ifuXos opKo^' hnl irf^tScdia nco^jpiyf AUI 
y€irovos dfi^ troXtjoi, oirjj woXioOxof <i#roMu, 
TrarpiSa fir^ hfporjs li^por)^ Sui ir^AAor dMbow* 
GxwBtalas TTpd ydfioio rtXiaaart, fiif fierA )fil^i|r 
TToi^ioy ewoaiyaias dT€fifi6fi€vot vtpl r^n^ 
yatai' atarcoacicv €rjs yAa;x*»'« rpuianrff, UO 

fji-q Kor4wv Aiowaos *Afivfuuyfif irtpi. Xitcrptt¥ 
dar€os dpLn€X6€aaav dpLoXSwtifv oAcinfr. 
€vpL€V€€s ^€ ymoOt fura t(X&vQ¥' d^t^^fnp^ ^ 
iftiXrpov IrjXov c^oi^cf ofio^poawrff M B^Ofn^ 
KdXXel <l>aiSpor4pw Koofitfaart narpSba viSft^f^'*' 'V 
*Q$ if>api€vr)s fivrjarrjpti i-rrjjtto^' dft^tndpotif M 

icai Sn^iai paOdfiiyyts' tTriaTwafurro H MoSjpai 
Guvdiaias' koX Arjpts di^tro no^w^ *Epmr u m 
Koi KXovos' 

dpxf>or€povs hk yo/xoaroAo; unrXun TimBm, 890 
ovpav6$€v 5c fioXoyrts dnt'n€vr^p€9 ^yAfOf 
(Tvv All 7rdirr€9 €pLip,vov, oaot va€Trjp€S *OXifi'mHff 
pLdprrvp€S vcrpLivrjs AiPayrf&os vipoSi nirpnifs. 

"Ei^a (l>dvT) fitya arjfia iroBopXifnit Aaamiotp' 
KipKOS dcAAijcis* x^°^^^^ trrtpov ryxvo^ ojjpif; SU 
pouKopL€vrjv cSuuKc TrcAcio^a* r^v ^ ns if^ni 
€#f x^^^^^ dpnd^as dXiaUros ciV ^w<Wi» ^*Tlf» 
<l>€L8ofi€voLs oi'vx€aai pLtrdpaiov 6pv%» atipmif* 
264 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 510-538 



pair of husbands together change and change about, 
let battle be chamberlain for one single bride, for 
without hard labour there is no marriage with Beroe. 
Then if you would wed the maid, first fight it out 
together ; let the winner lead away Beroe without 
brideprice. Both must agree to an oath, since I fear 
for the girl's neighbouring city where I am known as 
Cityholder, that because of Beroe 's beauty I may lose 
Beroe 's home. Make treaty before the marriage, that 
seagod Earthshaker if he lose the victory shall not 
in his grief lay waste the land with his trident's 
tooth ; and that Dionysos shall not be angry about 
Amymone's wedding and destroy the vineyards ° of 
the city. And you must be friends after the battle : 
both be rivals in singlehearted affection, and in one 
contract of goodwill adorn the city of the bride with 
still more brilliant beauty." 

^26 The wooers agreed to this proposal. Both took 
a binding oath, by Cronides and Earth, by Sky and the 
floods of Styx ; and the Fates formally witnessed 
the bargain. Then Strife grew greater to escort the 
Loves, and Turmoil also ; Persuasion the handmaid 
of marriage, armed them both. From heaven came 
all the dwellers on Olympos, with Zeus, and stayed 
to watch the combat upon the rocks of Lebanon. 

^^ Then appeared a great portent for lovestricken 
Dionysos. A storms wift falcon was in chase of a 
feeding pigeon ; he drooped his breeze-impregnated 
wings, *> when suddenly an osprey caught up the 
pigeon from the ground and flew to the deep, holding 

<» How there came to be any so early as that Nonnos does 
not explain, f'^ui^ i« v*>k,«,j !.Wa*^ j-k« C*v*i» * » t^,«. *»-9'^ 

* i.e. he was just dropping on the pigeon, when the eagle * ' 
came under with a swoop sideways and caught it. 

265 



NONNOS 

€fnrr)9 3* «tff fioOov "^Xdtv, 



266 



DIONYSIACA, XLII. 539-542 

the bird high in gentle talons. When Dionysos beheld 
this, he cast away hope of victory ; nevertheless he 
entered the fray. Father Cronion was pleased with 
the contest of these two, as he watched from on 
high the match between his brother and his son with 
smiling eye. 



267 



AIOMTIAKHN TESrAPAKOITrON 
TPITON 

At^co rtaaapojcoarov in TpiTt>Â¥, 
*'\p€a taffiarotvTa teal a^trcAocooov 

"Q? o n€v iyp€Kv^oifu>^ 'hfmt, ^X^^^tY^ *F^ii»i 

icai yafJLiov noXtfUHO 6tfi4iXui ir^cy *EnM»* 

icai kXovov aWvoawv tvooix^*^ «fal Ai onfay 

dovpos c-qv *Tfi^vcuo9, ^? vafiunrjv hi ic y tA w 

;^aAif€o»' €yxo^ a€ip€V *AfiVKXairf^ ^K^piMfffi, 

"Ap^o^ apfiovirjv ^pvyiat fivKiufi4vof aiX^, 

Kal ^arvpwv paaiXrji Kai i7»'io;^ ^oXdotHfi 

napdeyos ^cv d€6Xoy di-aa-o^Uvi) M mWM§ 

clvaXiov fiinjarijpos 'X**** f^'ravfUmo^ cJl^ 10 

vypov xmoppvxiuiv <Vc&<i3i€ yt u /To y ^Eptirtt^t 

Kal nXdov rj6€X€ hajcxov iucro hi ^jpaP€i(ffj, 

yj noT€ wp.(j>Lhioio ntpiPpofUovro^ oyfMfOf 

•qdeXcv 'WpaKXrjaf Kal doraBtos myrnfUHO 

ioraro Seifialvovaa pooKpalpov^ vfitvalovf. IB 

Kat hpofiov axnoKiXivorov ixojv iXuctiahti ^'filf 
dw€<f>€Xos aaXfTt^c /icAoj TroAc/xiJiOV al0^' 
Kal pXoavpov p,vKT]p,a x^<^v Xwraw^i Xoi^i^* 
Aoavplw TpioBovrt, Kopvaatro Kvavovavnff, 
acltov TTovTiov €yxos. aTTciAiJaoy hi uaXdaofi 9B 



BOOK XLIII 

Look again at the forty-third, in which I sing a war 
of the waters and a battle of the vine. 

So battlestirring Ares, who leads the channel for 
Love, shouted the warcry to prepare for the bridal 
combat. Enyo laid the foundations of the war for a 
wedding : and lusty Hymenaios was he that kindled 
the quarrel for Earthshaker and Dionysos — he danced 
into the battle, holding the bronze pike of Amyclaian 
Aphrodite,** while he drooned a tune of war on a 
Phrygian hoboy. For King of Satyrs and Ruler of the 
Sea, a maiden was the prize. She stood silent, but re- 
luctant to have a foreign wedding with a wooer from 
the sea ; she feared the watery bower of love in the 
deep waves, and preferred Bacchos : she was like 
Deianeira, who once in that noisy strife for a bride 
preferred Heracles, and stood there fearing the 
wedding with a fickle bullhorn River. ^ 

1® Heaven unclouded by its own spinning whirl 
trumpeted a call to war ; and Seabluehair armed 
himself with his Assyrian trident, shaking his mari- 
time pike and pouring a hideous din from a mad 
throat. Dionysos threatening the sea danced into 

<» The Armed Aphrodite ; " Amyclaian " loosely for 
Spartan. 

" An allusion to Sophocles, Track. 9-27, cf. ibid. 503-530. 

269 



NOVSOS 

firjTpo^ op€aaiv6fioio naBrmtvof ^ipuart Pf/nr 
Kai Tiy a€(oti€yr) napa MvyMfOf imvya 8 / f jp O M 
dfiTTcAos ai>TOT<AcaTo^ oAoi' 5^fuif Icnrcvc Bajryov, 
PooTpvxO' fiiTpiijaacni Karaaicui <yv{iry« wgi»y' 
Kal Tiy yTTO {vyo^ca/ia ntpinXoteo¥ aij^iim ml 
Or^aXi^i xBovo^ axpa Xiotv ixapd^Qiro T9 ^ 9^, 

Kal Ppabv9 tfrnv^wv iXi^f napa ythom w^yj, 
opdiov dyydfinroio noSo^ OT^piyy^ icoW^^f^ 
op^piov d(aAcoM7tv cUif^uof wU<m» VM|p» 
KoX nooxoas ^paivt- KovtOfjAw¥ M fodtm 
Tnfyairjv dxirojva fitrifyayt hv^^Za Ndpi^kir* 
Kai Oto^ Cypofithwv itcopvoorro' fhipmotm U 



^v kXovo^' ucfiaXtoi hi SaXaaoaUti^ M^ 

datfiot'Cf iaroaroinvTO' rtunnrr6pBot9 hkjtpf4^%fimt 

Bwfia Uoo€ioawvo9 Ipaatnro, itottm 

KoX x^ovtov Ao^o<vT09 dpaoaofUvov 

•qfi€piB€9 Aifidvoio /x«royAi{orro rpia^v* 

#cat ri^a PouKOfitimjv fLtAav6xPOOÂ¥ if^ $ ^ 

€19 po€Tjv dycAf}!' WootSfHov aX^rt kifip^ 

Svidhcs €ppa>ovro' rawyA'hyoio 6^ Ttt^pOV 

17 fi€v €<f>a7rTop,€VT) pdxiy €Qxyt¥, ^ si fifrttfVOV 

bixOahirj9 drtWicTa BUBXaoiv dxpa K€paifff 

Kai TiS" dAoiT^TTjpi 5iCT/xay< yaaripa Bvpatp' 

dXXr) nXcvpov crc/x^v oAot" /3oo;* i}fii6lBUn|f M 

VTTTios avroKvXiaT09 intuiKXaat ravpOfg iifoiffj^' 

KOX P069 dpTiToyuoto KvXipSo^voiO KO¥i» 

17 fi€v onioBi^iovs no^s ccnraacv, 1} M XnBo9ou 

npou6i8U)V9 €pv€aK€, TToXtHrrpo^dXiyyt M /mtJ 

opdiov €G<f>aipoHT€V €s Tftpa Si{trya XT^^'^* 

KoU OT^Tt^9 ^lOWQOi €K6afl€€l^ I^IAOHfOCf 

270 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 21-52 

the fray with vineleaves and thyrsus, seated in the 
chariot of his mother mountainranging Rheia ; and 
round the rim of the Mygdonian car was a vine self- 
grown, which covered the whole body of Bacchos, and 
girdled its overshadowing clusters under entwined 
ivy. A lion shaking his neck entwined under the 
yokestrap scratched the earth's surface with sharp 
claw, as he let out a harsh roar from snarling lips. 
An elephant slowly advanced to a spring hard by, 
striking straight into the ground his firm unbending 
leg, lapped the rainwater with parched lips and dried 
up the stream ; and as the waters became bare 
earth, he drove elsewhere the Nymph of the spring 
thirsty and uncovered. 

^ Meanwhile, the lord of the waters prepared for 
conflict. There was confusion among the Nereids ; the 
deities of the waters came from the stretches of the 
sea to form array. Poseidon's house, the water of 
the sea, was flogged with long bunches of leaves ; the 
caverns of the mountains were shaken by the trident, 
and the vines of Lebanon were rooted up. With wild 
leaps the Thyiades threw themselves upon a herd of 
black cattle of Poseidon's, feeding near the sea. One 
with a touch cut through the back of a glaring bull, 
another sheared off from its forehead the two stiff" pro- 
jecting horns, one pierced the belly with destroying 
thyrsus, another slit the whole side of the creature : 
halfdead the bull sank down and rolled helpless on 
his back on the ground — as he rolled in the dust 
with these fresh wounds, one pulled off his hind 
legs, one tugged at the forefeet, and threw up 
the two hooves tumbling over and over straight up 
in the air. 

^2 Then Dionysos mustered his captains, and made 

271 



NOKNOS 

mo? *Ep€vBaXtwitK, o%' rjpoatv fyyfS^ TuS^om M 

<I>vAAi5o9 dy/MxuAotatt' o/i4Ai)oaf iSyi«Mi/Mr 
rrjs 8* €T€^? yyetro /ifAo/jfO*^ 'EXuaim^ 
^av6o<f>vr)<; poSiijai vaprjiaiy, <Sfi^ ft^ ^**^ 

OtVoTTtoii' Tfurdrri^t l.rdi^vXos wpOf»Ax*ii rrrnprfft, m 
Otvofidov hvo rdtcva, ^iXoMpitfroto TOff^Of* 



oi/ r€K€V Olvunnj Kiaarndf, a|4^ 

^VToXirj^ TrAcfaoa &vutO€of oitpa ■ tn ^twi 

OTrdpyava fiorpvotvra nipif €iXi(aro f^^r^, M 

ro(7; Kiooo^poiatv oiortvouoa BMwfOtt 
avvSpo^o^ d/iTrcAo<rrt ^oXay( itnfiomwo BdUrx^. 
Kat arpany^v 6top7j(€ x^oir Aaoo9^ ^X"^* 

" BaaaaptSc;. p.dpvaa6€' tcopvaooft^vem^ Avalem 70 

dvrirxmov <^cyf airo /x/Aof fwtc^ro^ le^A^, 
fcat 5i5u/xoi9 Trard/oiai ndBov voAiC^poor i)g(«# 
TV/XTrai'a Soinn/aeicv* 'EitKiAap M Xpp^Am^ 
TXavKov oLorcvatu h\dpu*y prff^tpopi Mjpo<q»* 7A 

*coi TrXoKayjovs Wpotrrio^ di/i0c& &i|oaT« m^o^f* 
fccu Oapcou Trdin^oco Atncov Aiyvvnov vSoip, 
V€PplBa TToiKiXovojTov t^ui^ firTQ. hdpfMTa ^titnff, 
aux^Va KvpTu>a€i€v tfioi Bpaaw' Ci Mfomi hi, 
JletX-qvw /jLfOvoirn KopvaataBw MfAiielpnff tO 

Kal va4T7)v TfiatXoio /icrd fipu6€yrag imiO^s tl 

yr)paX€ov ^opKuva 8t8df arc BfSpaoi^ Atiftw, tt 

d/xTrcAoci? Sc ycwtTo ytpatv ;(c/xraux oAoMlfr* 
fcai 2dn;/)09 p-evt^oLpp-fx; lov vdp$vft 
272 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 53-83 

five divisions for the watery conflict. The first line 
was led by him of the vine, Cilician Oineus, son of 
Ereuthalion, whom he begat near the Tauros of 
Phyllis, in the open air. The second was led by 
blackhair Helicaon, a blond man with rosy cheeks, 
and long curls of hair hanging down over his neck. 
Oinopion led the third, Staphylos stood before 
the fourth, two sons of a tippling sire, Oinomaos; 
Melantheus was captain of the fifth, an Indian chief 
and the son of Oinone the Ivy-nymph : his mother 
had wrapt her boy in leafy tips of the sweet-smelling 
vine for swaddlings, and bathed her son in the wine- 
press teeming with strong drink. Such was the host 
armed with missiles of ivy which followed Bacchos 
the vinegod ; and when he had armed them, Bacchos 
called to the host in stirring tones : 

70 " Fight, Bassarids ! When Lyaios is under 
arms, let my pipes of horn strike up a warlike 
tune, answering the booming sound of the conch, 
let the cymbals of bronze beat a loud noise with 
double clashings. Let Maron dancing in battle 
shoot Glaucos with manbreaking thyrsus. Go, tie 
up the hair of Proteus with ivy, something new for 
him ! Let him leave the Egyptian water of the 
Pharian Sea, and change his sealskins for a speckled 
fawnskin, and bow his bold neck to me. Let Meli- 
certes fight against drunken Seilenos, if he can. 
Teach old Phorcys to leave the seaweedy deeps 
and dwell in Tmolos holding a thyrsus, and let the 
old man become a vinegrower on land. Let the 
Satyr stand fast and brandish his fennel, and with 
VOL. Ill T 273 



NOKNOS 

bultaX€ov Nrjpfja /icrcumjo*** BaXdaam 
dypavXoiS rraXdfirfoi' #ceu dpri^uTWÂ¥ um^ tc^mttm 
pourpvxa furpwaaaSi IIaAa4^UN)Off o&wt ^^^/^t 
Kal fuv tmoSfrjaaoyra ^ur 'lo^/44^ftof fiM w a^iofi 
TTovTiov rjvioxrja Kouiaaart liwrian 'P**I?» 
iivoXixi fidoTiyi KvptfMnfnipa Aforrttir* 
ov yap ifjLov Kara novrov dvt^M^ tMr* idoow} 
ddpr^aui 5c <f>aXayya 5op m r iy ro i o ^Xit 
v€PpCSt. Koap.r)d€iaav dn€u>^Tj/o% oi Nl 
KVfipaXa NvjpctScaaiv S^aaaan' fufart 
'TbpidBag- BtrtSoi S4, Koi ci yhot i^fi i 
fJLOvvrj9 (€ivo^KOiO SuXafart oA§ta 



X^paaiTj &€ ^awum avi4uwopot EUU BdU(X9 

KoX fivOir) Ilat^cta rtvafa^vfi fiffiam iX^t:>ft 
Poorpvxa fJUTpcja€t€v tx^Mftm ftfiffafiw* 
Ei^d€Tj 8* cUVovoa irtpUpora pimrpa €xM m* 
Kol nodov laov €xovaa¥ ip€i»§uu4o¥n icai adr^ 
rU v€fi€ais raAdrciov vnoSaijootw Aumiotf, 
IBvov *Afivfiwyrjs BaXafLffiroXo¥ ^^jpa rgJUbvy 
iaronovw naXaprj \ifiavifi&i ir/vAor dMoon; 
oAAd y€vos ^rjpTJo^ cdoarc* norrom6pomg yop 
SpxoiSas ovK cWAoi, \i€poj) firi irjXoif 4vupm. 
KOI KOfiowv yXoix^^^ rahnmropdow fu rww otf 
Udv €p.6s ovp€ai4>oiro^ drtux^i X^ifH wWCcgr 
dr^aXej) 7rA7jfct€ \\oG€iBdu»va Kfpaifj, 
aripvov p.€aGarioio rvxtjv €VKa^n40w al)^uus 
rj OKoneXco Ao^ociti, ^lapp^tit b4 j^nAfluip 
hiGao<f>vrj TpiTwvog ofio^vya tcvifXo¥ lUtdifBrfs, 
TXavKos dXipp€KTOio Sidtcropo^ iwoatytUav 
3dKX(p U7roSp-q<ra€u , ntpucpora X^pohf ^Iptttf 
274 



DIONYSIACA, XLIIL 84-116 

his countryman's hands transport thirsty Nereus out 
of the sea ; enwreath Palaimon's hair with bonds 
of vine from newly planted gardens, and bring that 
charioteer of the sea from the depths of the Isthmian 
brine to be a servant for Mother Rheia and to guide 
her lions with his whip, for I will no longer leave my 
cousin in the deep : I will behold the host of the 
spearconquered sea decked out in the fawnskin. 
Give cymbals to the inexperienced Nereid Nymphs, 
mingle Hydriads with Bacchants — spare only the 
hospitable house of goddess Thetis, although she is 
one of the seabrood. Fit the unshod feet of Leuco- 
thea in buskins ; let Doris appear on dry land and 
lift my mystic torch along with the revelling Bac- 
chants ; let Panopeia shake off the seaweed of the 
deep and wreathe her locks in clustering vipers ; let 
Eidothea unwilling receive the rattling tambourine. 
What harm is there that Galateia should be servant 
to Dionysos, when she has a passion like his own mad 
love, that her hands may make a woven robe as a 
gift for the wedding pomp of Amymone the queen 
of Lebanon ? — No, leave alone the family of Nereus ; 
for I want no handmaids from the sea, or Beroe 
might be jealous. 

1^ " Let Pan my old mount ainranger, proud with 
the longbranching points on his forehead, press 
Poseidon with unarmed hand and butt him with 
sharp horn, strike him full in the chest with those 
curving prongs, or with a rocky stone, let him break 
with his hooves the ring of Triton's backbone where 
his two natures join. Let Glaucos the attendant 
of brinesoaken Earthshaker be servant to Bacchos, 
and lift in his hands the rattling cymbals of Rheia 

^ So MSS. : Ludwich etaeVi vdaaco. 

275 



NONNOS 

avx^vuo rtXayuuivt naprqopa n^ira»a 'Ptffff. 

ov fjLOvvT)^ S€porj^ 7T€pifA.dpvfiftai, dXXa. teal adrift 

larafi€vrjv drivaKrov aXof ^hitjom i vw Ay fitm^ 110 

elvaXirjv 7T€p €ovaav, dfuMwtu rpuwfjn, 
oTTi KopvaaoyLfvift Bcaprjfonai' d^A^on^or yJif, 
€t Xdx€ y€iTOva noyrov, cx<t ^vr6i l**!^ Bd gjpW S 
vUrj^ T)p.€r(pq^ arfp-qiov' dyx^^^^O^ y^ • • • 
oAAa naXaior€p7jv p€rd floAA^Sa itdffTVp^ B^'On* ^ 
KiKpcHJt aAAo9 ucocro hucaandXot, ^4p^ *^ a4n| 
dp-TreXo^ aciSoiro tf^pttrroXif, wf wtp iXahi. 
Koi rroAto^ rcAcaa; irtpov rvno¥ oC |iir V<(o«tf 
iyyvi dXds, Kpai-adi hi rx^AWÂ¥ pdf0ma moXmimg 
Y€iTova hrjptrroio yt^potow puB6tf aXfOfgt ISO 

Xtpoioaas OKontXouny dXof 9trpov§iMPO¥ viofp* 
rp-qxaX^rj Bt KtXfvdof lad^mu 6(di $6pa^, 
dXXd irdXiv pApvaadtt \\tpaXX&Â¥tt, i(M& wittm 
dapaaXtar Krapivwv hk vtdppvrov tj^ Vtymmtm 
v€ppU €/xi7 fjL€6€7Tov<Ta fuXtuvrnu* cWn h* a^r^ US 
dvToXiT] rpopi€i p€, kqX tU 94^am a^x^ KA^iwrti 
*lvS6s "Ap-qs, Bpopiu} Si Xin^ata hdxpva XUfimf 
bdKpva KvpxiTotVTa ytpcjv i^pi^v^ ITUffVllf. 
icat hi€priv p€rd &rjpiv €x<ov Ai/3avi|0a w^^^lp 
€v y€pas Ipelpovri xo^p^^opuu tvpoatyaltp' 140 

^v €d€Xr}, ^cA^ctev c/uuk {>p€vtua¥ 'E^MiTttir, 
fiovvov €pfj Bc/x% ^17 bdxfuoy oppta rap 4 o ajg." 

Totov €7709 ^carcAcfcv dntiXrpyjpi M pMtp 
K€pTop€(jjv ^lowaov dp€ifi€ro tcvayoxahrif' 

** AiB6p€vos, Aiowwc, tcopvoaopoA, &m rpuwnis 14$ 

* t.«. as King Cccrops decided in tkroor of 
276 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 117-145 

which hang by a strap beside his neck. Not for Beroe 
alone I fight, but for the native city of my bride. 
Earthshaker must not strike it, but it must stand 
unshaken, although it lies in the sea and he is lord 
of the sea — he must not destroy it with his trident 
because I will face him in arms : it is as much one 
as the other — if the sea is its neighbour, it has ten 
thousand plants of mine, a sign of my victory ; for 
close to the shore [are my vineyards]. But as for 
Pallas of old, so for the appeal of Bacchos, may a new 
Cecrops come as umpire, that the vine may be cele- 
brated as citysustainer, like the olive." Then I will 
make the city of another shape : I will not leave it 
near the sea, but I will cut off rugged hills with my 
fennel and dam up the deep brine beside Berytos, 
making the water dry land and stony with rocks, and 
the rough road is smoothed by the sharp thyrsus. 

133 " Come, fight again, Mimallones, confident in 
your constant victory — my fawnskin is red with the 
newly-shed blood of slain Giants,^ the very east still 
trembles before me, Indian Ares bows his neck to 
the ground, old Hydaspes shivers, and sheds tears 
of supplication, tears like his own flood ! When I 
have won my bride of Lebanon after the battle in 
the sea, I grant one boon to Earthshaker the lover. 
If he will, he may sing a song at my wedding, only 
let him not look askance at my Beroe." 

1*3 So spoke Dionysos ; and Seabluehair replied in 
threatening tones and mocked at him : 

1*^ " I am ashamed to confront you, Dionysos, 

she and Poseidon strove for Attica, so let someone in authority 
decide that Berytos belongs to Dionysos and not Poseidon, 

'' Some confusion on Nonnos's part ; the victory over the 
Giants is not till book xlviii. 

277 



NONSOS 
rjptaag alxfJirirrjpi <f>vya}v PovnXrjya A iw ww l yvmr 140 

KoAd ^lAofciVoi (oMxy/Ma SoiJrf tfa^£inF|y* IM 

ovK dyafMai nor€ roOro, a€XcuT^6p€' 

ufiTpQ^6mw yap U7 
€K TTvpo^ ipXaarriaa^, odtv wpii i(ta |S/{<«ff. 
aXXd, <t>LXoi TpiTwv€^, dfm(art, h i/jo a n BdKX^g 
TTovroTTopov^ r€\iaayT€^' ip€oawSXom Zk ^opfifot UO 
rvunava }L,€iXrivoio icaraxAi/{oiTO 0aXtiaa^, 
Kvpxxn Gvpo^€voio, Koi oihaivwni ^4$p^ 
vr)xofi€vov 'Larvpoio ^iXtikof oM^ 



cts* nXoov avrotXucTov iv Mhpff^ hk §i(tXMpm 
3aaoapiB€9 aropdatuiv iftii¥ A^(Of Wf4 Ammov. IW 
ov ;(arca> 'LarvpoiV, oi; SiauMof tli filMt OUctf* 
Ni7p<i5f9 ycyaoaci' d^a>i>«(* dXXA Miitraji 
Si^oAcai KpuTrroivro Mi/ioAA^i^r, o & wo ){tf rp » M 

Ktti Tt9 €XatnfOfi€V'Tj hi€pij Upurnjof djcwicg 160 

Baaaapt? airroK^vAiorrof oAiO^i^ofM 6laAiloO|||, 
6pxr)0fi6v Oaydroio tcvPiaiiju u a a AnfaXip, Ifl 

AlBiOTTwv hk <^aAayya9 tpvaaart teal crriyaf *Iii6c«r» les 
AT^iSa Nr^pciScaai, icaxoyA<i^ac70iO 5^ M^A^fiK 
AcopiSi 3ouAta TCKva Kofiujoart Kaao%tW€i^, 
TTOLvrjv o^ircAcoToi'- dfuufiotcdrtft bi fit^^pt^ 
^ClKeavog Twpofvra AcAou/icfoi' daripa, luii^iyr» 
Xrjvalrjs TrpoKiXivBov dxoifnjToio xoptifft, 170 

Zctpiov a/xTTcAdeiTa /x<ra<m/acicv 'OAvytvov. 
oAAd oru, Av8t€ Bcuc^c, x^P^^o*^ BvpoQ^ iioKk^ 
hit,€6 Goi pcXo^ dXXo, KOI atoXa ^'pfiara vtfipc^ 
Kdrdeo, Giov fi^Xdwv oXiyov oK^iras' odca^lov hi 
ci <7c Aios yafiiTj fuiuoaaTo wyu^thiii ^U(, m 

dpri TTvpl nroXefuC€, ttu/ht/k^j, 6ftn tnpawA 
278 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 146-176 

because you want to fight the swinger of the trident, 
when you fled from Lycurgos's poleaxe ! Look here, 
Thetis ! Here is a fine return for fife and safety 
that your fugitive Dionysos gives to the hospitable 
sea ! I am not surprised, Torchbearer : fire killed 
your mother when you were born, so you act Hke 
the fire. 

149 •* Up^ niy dear Tritons, help — tie up the Bac- 
chants and make them seafarers ! May the cymbals 
that mountainharboured Seilenos holds be swallowed 
up in the sea, may the wave drag him along, may the 
Satyr float on the swelHng flood and his Euian pipe 
toss on the rolling water ; may Bassarids lay the 
bed for me instead of Lyaios in my watery hall. — 
Nay, I want no Satyrs, I drag no Mainads to the 
deep : Nereids are better. But let the Mimallones 
quench their thirst in the sea and drown there ; 
instead of flowing draughts of wine let them drink 
my salt water. Let many a Bassarid driven by the 
wet pike of Proteus drift and toss aimlessly on the 
sea, tripping the dance of death for Lyaios. Drag 
down companies of Ethiopians and ranks of Indians as 
spoil for the Nereids ; bring the daughters of nymph 
Cassiepeia," that tongue of e\dl, as slaves for Doris 
in tardy expiation. Let Oceanos banish viny Seirios 
from Olympos, the leader of that unresting dance 
in the winepress, and bathe in his resistless flood 
the fiery star of Maira. 

i'^^ " And you, Lydian Bacchos, leave your miser- 
able thyrsus and seek you another weapon ; put off" 
your speckled fawnskins, the scanty covering of your 
limbs. If in that marriage the wooing flame of Zeus 
was your midwife, now fight with fire, O fireborn ! now 

« See XXV. 135. 

279 



NONNOS 

Trarpaxt) irpofidxiCf tcvP€ptnfrrjpi rpudmfft, 

Kal OTcponriv irot^fc koI aiyi&a itdXXi TWcfe f 

ov yap Arjpia&rj^ a€ p.4v€i np^ftot, od Afmoopyonf 

o^os dydfv, \Apafiwv 6Xiyof fi6Bot, iiXXk BaMawjg ItO 

ToaaaTiTj^. rpofitwv 5< «rai fWn w^Tior aixFv*' 

ovpavos rifi€r(prjv PvBirjv ScSaiyirfv *ErMa* 

Kal TTpopLOS if^uctXtvBo^ ipLfff TpMo¥TOf aJCOMC^ 

ntipijOrj Oac'^oiv, ore hvofiaxos Ofi^ KopiiSov 

ciV fJLodov dorepocvra uropuaarro worr i oi *Api|r* ItS 

vili(o$Tf St OaXaaaa nar* ai04pot, *QjrMU^ M 

Aouero 3i^df 'Afuz^a, ircu v5aot ytiropor ^EVnff 

Pdihas 6€pfia ymca KmiM' ^^y tro Mfl^pffg, 

icai PvBiwv K€V€6jvtf dyvifna»$ffaa¥ ivaiktm 

KVfjMTa mfpytoaayrt?, ifuutaoftJvmo M wAtov ISO 

ovpavui) AcA^m OaXaoatoi ^r r t ro htX^." 

Kal poOiw KtXdBovTi Koi oiSa/ram fwi$p^ 

r^ipa fiaari^ovr€^ ip6fiB€0¥ u^arcK 6Xttoi. 

Kal Si€pois ooicccaotv idwpi^)^^ orpar^ ^V*^* 'M 

#cai Pvdiov KpoFuoi'o^ aXtpp€Krtff irapd ^^nr^ 

€yx€iT)v cAcAifcv vnoppuxiTjy SUXuc^prmg 

i€V$a^ "ladfuov appxi, koi vypovocov pooiA^Of 

cyxoy oAtfCK^^iSi rraprjwprfotv dtnfirji, 

rpix^ahiT) yXwxLVi BaXdaoia vwra x^VM^omr, SOd 

^tv^ag "ladfjuov dpfia- Koi InntUft xP^ia^mapi^ 

^Ivhiowv KcXdbrjfia axn^TrXardyTfat AfOrvwr. 

#ca& hpofxov vypov tXauvt- rtrtuPOfUvoto M 8l'^yo» 

cuc/x>v i;8a>p dSiaiTo^ Mypa^ afipow Mbf. 

TpiVtov 8' €vpvy€vtio^ MKTvrrt BvUoi X^Pn» *• 

• The constellation CanU. vhirh cooUiat SMm (IIw 
DogsUr). For its story, sec xlriL iM ff. 
880 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 177-205 

battle with the thunderbolt of your father against 
the helmsman of the trident, hurl the lightning and 
wield your father's aegis. No champion Deriades 
faces you now : this is no contest with Lycurgos, no 
little Arabian fight, but your adversary is the sea so 
mighty. Heaven still trembles at my spear of the 
deep, Heaven knows what a battle with the sea is 
like. Champion Phaethon too in his celestial course 
felt the point of my trident, when the deep waged 
formidable war in that starry battle for Corinth. 
The sea rose to the sky, the thirsty wain bathed 
in the Ocean, Maira's dog" found salt water at 
hand to bathe in and cooled his hot chin ; the deep 
bottom of the waters was uplifted in towering 
waves, the dolphin of the sea met the dolphin of 
the sky ^ amid the lashing surges ! " 

1^2 As he spoke, he shook with his trident the 
secret places of the sea, roaring surf and swelling 
flood flogged the sky with booming torrents of 
water. The army of the brine took up their wet 
shields. Under the water beside the brinesoaked 
manger of Cronion, Melicertes shook the spear of 
the deep, and yoked the Isthmian team ; he slung 
to the side of the seaborne car the spear of the 
seafaring king, and scored the back of the water 
with its triple prong — he yoked the Isthmian team, 
and the roar of Indian lions resounded along with 
the neighing of the horses. 

203 He drove his watery course ; as the car sped, 
the hoof unwetted, unmoistened, scored only the sur- 
face. The broadbearded Triton sounded his note for 

^ The constellation of that name. Poseidon, besides his 
contest with Athena for Athens, had a more successful one 
against Helios for the Isthmus of Corinth, 

281 



NONNOS 

dXXo<f>vrj, vAoaouaav, an ifvof ovpi ttoff^jtnm 
rjfiLTeXTJ^- 6i€prj9 ^ tro/njopoy i(vo9 6^^ 

Kai Sifpfj fidariYi, BaXaaoaiii mp^ 4^*1V '1^ 

^cu^a? wKVTTopw iTt^topif^iiim ipiUL tfwAXn, 
FAauAcos- aviirrotrohotv Xo^ffv mfuCvTMy mmmf 
Kal 'Larvpov^ €hiwK€v. aXippoil^t hi JCv8oi|if 
ndi/ K€p6€i9, dfidroiaw iv viam tcfMot Mnff, 
dppoxo^ aiy€ir)aiv dvaxpovufv oAa }(i|Aailr» SIA 

dararog ioKlfrrqat, KoXavpomi w 6¥ro¥ imdootm^, 
TrqKTihi avpiCoJV rroX^fiov fUXof ip foB i on t M 
fup.rjXTjv diwv dvffJUoXiov curdHi ^c«H)f 

/xaoTcucov KTVxrov oAAoi'* vwrp^fuoi^ M Mol O^ri^ SSO 
TLKTOfi€vr] avpiyyi Stoiicrro irorrtaf 4x*** 
aAAo9 €VKpi!]TTiSa Xo^v mffotuor cAi^af 
plipev €<^* *TSpta5«aaii', aTrotrAovT^iOa M ^t^^ff"! 
^7)p€thwv €rivai€ UaXaifiovof €p&mmf aMl(r. 
t[purT€VS 8' 'Icr^fuoi' ol5/ia Aiirair 

[\aXXtpnhos SXptff SS 
flvaXlw BwprjKi Kopvaavro, btpfiart ^ vm ifi' 
dfjuf>i 8c fiiv orcffMiTibov tntpptov aSi^wtt *I*'8oi 

BdKXOV K€KXop.€VOlO, K€U OvXoKOfAWP OTlXiS OifhpOm 

ifxjjKacjv iToXvp-opiftov itr^xvvairro vopifk, 
a<j>iyyo^€vov hk ytpovrog €7]v mpoxpoof €U(iSm' S30 
Y\p<Mrr€vs yap p.€X€€Gai rvnov fufLffXov ^^faai» 
TTOpSaXis aloXovorrog irjv iarifaro /ammt* 
Kal <f>vT6v avTOT^Xcarov cm x^ovos opium IcFTif 
Sevhpwaag id yvia, Tivaaaofititav Si irm^Aair 
i/tevhaXcov ilndvpiap.a Bopcta8i avpui€V aJpff* iW 

Kai ypaTTTois <t>oXiB^aoi K€Kaap€va vurra jfopdfat 
282 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 206-236 

the mad battle — ^^he has limbs of two kinds, a human 
shape and a different body, green, from loins to head, 
half of him, but hanging from his trailing wet loins a 
curving fishtail, forked. So Glaucos yoked beside their 
manger in the sea the team that travels in the swift 
gale, and as they galloped along dryfoot he touched 
up the necks of the horses with dripping whip, and 
chased the Satyrs. In the loud sea-tumult horned 
Pan, lightly treading upon the untrodden waters and 
splashing up the brine with his goats-hooves himself 
unwetted, skipt about quickly beating the sea with 
his crook and whistling the tune of war on his pipes ; 
then hearing on the waves the shadow of a counter- 
feit sound carried by the wind, he ran all over the sea 
with his hillranging feet seeking the other sounds — 
and so the sea-echo produced by his pipes in the 
wind was hunted itself. Some one else tore up a 
firmbased island cliff and threw it at the Hydriads 
— the rock missed the Nereids and shook the hall of 
Palaimon among the seaweed. 

225 Proteus left the flood of the Isthmian sea of 
Pallene, and armed him in a cuirass of the brine, the 
sealskin. Round him in a ring rushed the swarthy 
Indians at the summons of Bacchos, and crowds of the 
woollyheaded men embraced the shepherd of the 
seals in his various forms. For in their grasp the Old 
Man Proteus took on changing shapes, weaving his 
limbs into many mimic images. He spotted his body 
into a dappleback panther. He made his limbs a 
tree, and stood straight up on the earth a selfgrown 
spire, shaking his leaves and whistling a counterfeit 
whisper to the North Wind. He scored his back 
well with painted scales and crawled as a serpent ; 



283 



NONNOS 

cffwc hpaKtov, fifodrov hi nt4lofi4vov 
cmelpav dyjr)wprja€v, vn* opxiprnJM M wuXft^ 
a.Kpa TiraivofjL€vrj^ €A<Ai(cto icvfcAaOOf 99jpi^, 
Kal K€<l>aXrjv wpSojod', dnonrvw¥ 0€ 
lov aKoirriarijpa k^x^i-oti avpun Xtufiy* 
Kal Scfia? dXXonpoatiXXov €yo»¥ otc%o€w4% 
<f>pl^€ Xiwv, avro Kanpo^, v5aip fid^' 

tnl X'>p6t *liMr 
vypov d7r€iXijrrjpi poov a^Kutoaro h€0§i^ 
Xcpolv oXiaChf^prjaiv cx<ov dnaT^Kuf¥ Stmf 
K€pbaX€o^ 5c ytpcjy iroAu&u5aAor «Oor fyt ifiam 
€lx€ UtpiKXvfuvoio noXuTptma iatiaXa uopi^> 



ov KTdp.€v 'WpojcXh)^, orrt h^JcrvXa, 
ip€vhaX€OV p,ip.rjp4i v6$rK IBpavat fMA/ooiW. 
Xfpoal-qv hi y€povTo^ itcvKXtoowno woptafif 
7r(x)€a KTfTiotvra, t^iXot/iapidBoiO hi dtota^ 
olyofi€vw Papvhovnoy vhutp itmrd^Xaat XatuAm 

SvyaTCpiov hi ^oAayya ^tXt\ko¥ wtf fiS$0¥ Amtr 
cy^^ci Kvp,ar6€VTi y^P^^ umXHrro NiM>fiJf , 
TTOvrotropw rpiohoyri KaraBptftatdMiv M^orrQir« 
hiivos ihflv' rroAAai hi nap* n($ra yimPlf S^fioA 
elvaXlj) Nrjprjog ihoxfiwBrfoav oxctfirj. 
Nrjpitowv hi y€V€6Xn awttcpovaturro 
VGp.Cvrjs dXdXayfia- Kal ctV u6$o¥ Ci^6$^ 
'fip.i<l>av7)s diTihiXo^ iPoKxtv&q X*^P^ 
Koi TiaTvpwv daChrjpof inataaovaa Ktfiout/^ 
dpxdLTjv inl Auaaav di€hpafjL€v dar a ros uiw, 
XevKov ipcvyop^vr) fiavtwhto^ d^pov t^v^Mff. 
Kal pXoavpr) tlavoncia hiataaovira yoAipifr 
yXavKCL daXaaaatrj^ €n€fid<m€ vuna XtahnK* 
Kal ponaXov hvatporros diipofUvri MoAvmiov 
ilvaXirj TaXdreia Kopvaaero XvQadhi B<ur;(27* 
884 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 237-267 

he rose in coils squeezing his belly, and with a dancing 
throb of his curling tail's tip he twirled about, lifted 
his head and spat hissing from gaping throat and 
grinning jaws a shooting shower of poison. So from 
one shadowy shape to another in changeUng form he 
bristled as a hon, charged as a boar, flowed as water 
— the Indian company clutched the wet flood in 
threatening grasp, but found the pretended water 
sUpping through their hands. So the crafty Old Man 
changed into many and varied shapes, as many as 
the varied shapes of Periclymenos," whom Heracles 
slew when between two fingers he crushed the 
counterfeit shape of a bastard bee. Flocks of sea- 
monsters ringed round the Old Man on his expedition 
to dry land, water splashed with a heavy roar from 
the open mouths of the sand-loving seals. 

2^^ Ancient Nereus armed himself with a watery 
spear, and led his regiment of daughters into the 
Euian struggle. With sea-traversing trident he 
leapt at the elephants, terrible to behold : many a 
neighbouring cliff along the shore toppled sideways 
under the seapike of Nereus. The tribes of Nereids 
sounded for their sire the cry of battle-triumph : un- 
shod, half hidden in the brine, the company rushed 
raging to combat over the sea. Restless Ino speed- 
ing unarmed into strife with the Satyrs, fell again 
into her old madness spitting white foam from 
her maddened lips. Terrible Panopeia also shot 
through the quiet water flogging the greeny back of 
a sealioness. Galateia too the sea-nymph lifting the 
club of her lovesick Polyphemos ^ attacked a wild 

<* A son of Neleus and brother of Nestor, to whom Poseidon 
gave power to take all manner of shapes. For Heracles' war 
with Neleus's sons, see II. xi. 690. ^ Cf. xl. 565. 

285 



KONNOS 

nofiniXo^ 'q(pra^€ St* vSaro^ afipoxpv 

ojj 8€ TiS" i7nr€Vitjv tXarrjp iW iomAA WJura* fO 

boxjJ-titoas oXov imrov dpumpo^ /yyoAl fMNFlff » 

8€fiTc/>o»' Kafii/Hif, napi4fUvou> yaAin>d 

K€V'Tpw tmcm/pxojv, npoWu»¥ nXfjfiWWOlF ^MttXsf/lf, 

OKXd^ivv iTTiKvproi, in* ayrvyi yoAmra Vlffsf 

l^vi KafiTJTop.ti'rj , Kai ittovavov iflnrar AmImmt fTt 

o/xfia paXoiV KaroniaOi , nftfi4XK0§UpO9 U 

hi^pov oniaOoTtdpoio ^uAaoocnu i ^w o ^ f ^ O f 

ci>; TOTc ST)p€tS4f ^upyjv ntpH vvoooj 

lyOvaq wKvnopoiaw toiKorn^ i^Aooar farwif* Mi 

oAAt; 5* ain-tKc'Acu^oK dAApofiC¥ ffyt W0|^f£|P M 

vwTti) b* ivOvo^vri KaBimrtvovaa yaAi|M|f Ml 

vy/>o/ia»^ dpo/ioi' €r;f<- ^i^if W nc ^ M ^ A^riff MA 
fi€aaoif>av'r)^ ^Xif/Zh-a^ o/i<>{uya( iayW€ QgJiw^. Ml 

Kat TTora/ioi ^ceAoSv^aav <f ^fwnfif AaOlifoov 
6ap<TVVovrt<; dvojcra, kqX d€vruu¥ Awi 

ayycAo? vop.un^^ IIoai5ifio? <*/3^|a< o^kmy^' 
Kai TTcXdyt] KvpTovro awoij^fidiorra rpuutf^' 
*\Kapup yXvprCooq iiTtTp^x**'* ^YX*^'^'^ ^ 
EoTTcpioj ^LapSifto^, 'M'iP iirtavprro KiXer^ 
olBaiiujv TTfAaycaai, ko* i}^a^ ^I'Xi 
BoaTro/x^s" dtmj/HKTo? €fAtyw€ uro^mSWir 
Aiyalov Se p€i6pa awatOvooovrts dMk§ 
*Iovir]^ k€V€6jv€^ ipaarlJ^ovro BaXiofnif 
avCvy€€9» ^iKcXrj^ &€ 7ra^ o^pd 0Ma3o( cX^rjf 
KVfiaai nvpyojd€laa Gvi'€Krvn€v *Ahp^a£ ^l)Wi| 
dyxiv€(l>ijs- Kol KoxXoy cAoiv vrro LvpTMOi mm^ 
286 



DIONYSIACA, XLIIL 268-299 

Bacchant. Eido rode unshaken, unwetted, over the 
water mounted on the back of a seabred pilot fish. 

2'^^ As a driver in the circus rounding the post 
with skill, turns about the near horse to hug the 
post and lets the off horse follow along on a 
slackened rein, goading him on and yelling horse- 
lashing threats — he stoops and crouches, resting 
his knees on the rail, and leans to the side : as he 
drives a willing horse with the sparing hand of a 
master, and a little touch of the whip, as he turns 
his face casting an eye behind while he watches 
the car of the driver behind — so then the Nereids 
drove their fishes like swift-moving horses about the 
watery goal of their contest. Another opposite 
handling her reins on a dolphin's back peeped out 
over the water, and moved on her seaborne course 
as she rode down the quiet sea on the fish in a 
wild race over the waters ; then tlie mad dolphin 
travelling in the sea half- visible cut through his 
fellow-dolphins . 

286 The Rivers came roaring into the battle with 
Dionysos, encouraging their lord, and Oceanos gaped 
a watery bellow from his everflowing throat while 
Poseidon's trumpet sounded to tell of the coming 
strife ; the deeps rounded into a swell rallying to the 
Trident. Myrtoan hurried up to Icarian, Sardinian 
came near Hesperian, Iberian with swelling waves 
rolled along to Celtic ; Bosporos never still mingled 
his curving stream with both his familiar seas ; the 
deeps of the Ionian Sea rolling with the stormwind 
beat together upon the streams of Aegean, and the wild 
Adriatic brine rose high as the clouds and in towering 
waves beat on the feet of the raging Sicilian. Libyan 
Nereus caught up his conch under the water by Syrtis, 

287 



NONN08 

cij/oAit; adXmyy^ Aifiv^ fivtriaaro Ni|^irfr 
Kai Tis" dvat^a^ poBUuv )^(p<7at09 Mrrft 
€tV OKOTTi-qv 7ro5a Xaiov iptiaaro, ht(mp^ M 
ovp€o^ Qjcpa Kaprji-a ro/uoi' ivoai^fiatn tv^MR^ 
MatmSof dtpavoToio ifany^fcWiff ira^njpoir* 
KQi /Su^tV rptoSoTi #carai)^<t{itfr Aionlwov 
dXfxaai fiyjrpwoiaiv €/5axx«w^ McAar/pn}f. 

€irc<rrpar^«rro Mi8o^i^» 

eiV fioOov vbar6€%rra Kopvourro ^tHXoJU mnrQ, 
dararos olarpiffitiaa no^ut¥ fitfripitom wuXft^' 
Tj 5^ ^dfiov Spniaaav vno am/iXvyya Kafitipm^ 
vaaaafuvT) At^voio n€LfHat€iprrf09W i^tnj if 
^dppapov aWvoaovaa fi4Xof Ko fw fi aw ribot iJ x o C f* 
dXXrj dno TfiwXoio Acj^omSo^ tS^ Xtairfft 
dpa€va p.irpaHjaaa KOfirjv d^uihtl b€a^, 
Maiovls dKpri8€p.vo^ vntppvxdro Mi^aoAAmt, 
Koi TTohoS IX^OS €7n)(€ furnopO¥ w ^6&€P ^xl^Vf 
fufirjXal^ y€inj€aaiv ima^piowoa ^aXdaojU. 
J!,€iX7)voi 5c KiXiaaav dra/9Ai${orrcr i^pa^ 
Mvyboviwv €XaTTJp€^ €$<op'qaaovro Aconwr^ 

dp.7T€X6€v 7TaXdp,T)aiv dv4axtBo¥ ip¥99 El«e6(« 
Koi TToXdfiag Tavvaam-o X€OVTtifi¥ hil 5 tyA » 
hpa^dficvoL TrXoKafilBo^, d^aificutdrcvf hi ^op/fjaif 
dapaaXeoi Xaaioiaiv dvtKpovaturro vaXuKHS* 
dpird^a^ hk rcvovra ;^apci5^nfcKro9 inaSkm 
T,€iXr]v6s noXcfu^f llaXaifLoyt, ^ToMfr M 
€yx€L KiGcrrjcvTi hi* vSaro^ ipiaa€P *Iw. 
oAAoj 5' dXXog €pil€' Kol ovK ff^aaoTO BScxfl 
Ovpaw dKovTLOTrjpi KaTotaaovaa rpioimfs, 
288 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 300-330 

and boomed on his sea-trumpet. Then one rising from 
the surge and stepping on land rested his left foot 
on a rock, and mth right broke off the top of the cliff 
with earthshaking tread and hurled it at a Mainad's 
inviolate head ; and MeUcertes lunging at Dionysos 
with his trident of the sea went madly along in leaps 
like his mother's. 

^^ Companies of Bassarids marched to battle. One 
shaking the untidy clusters of her tresses to and fro, 
armed herself with raging madness for battle with the 
waters, driven wildly along with restless dancing feet. 
One whose home was in the Samothracian cavern 
of the Cabeiroi, skipt about the peaks of Lebanon 
crooning the barbarous notes of Corybantian tune. 
Another from Tmolos on a Uoness newly whelped, 
having wreathed snakes in her own manly hair, a 
Maionian Mimallon unveiled, bellowed and set her 
foot on the lofty slope, with foam on her hps like the 
seafoam. Seilenoi spluttering drops of Cilician wine- 
dew equipt themselves as riders of Mygdonian lions, 
and danced with a din against the crowd from the sea, 
brandishing in their hands their viny warpole, as 
they stretched their hands over the Hons' necks and 
plucked at the mane and boldly checked their furious 
mounts by this bristly bridle. A Seilenos tore off a 
roof from a rocky hole and attacked Palaimon, and 
drove Ino wandering through the water with his ivy 
spear. One fought with another : a Bacchant did not 
shrink but cast a thyrsus hurtling against the trident, 

VOL. Ill U 289 



NONNOS 

BaKxrj OrjXv^ iovoa- npoaairi^uMf hi AoA^ooiff 
Wavl ifHXooKondXu) fitratfumot ifpum W i y t ^ i 

OV 8€ fllV €aTV<f>€Xt(€V' €1ttpx6lU¥€¥ hk SvoUjf 

TXavKov aKoiTitrrfjpi MdpuMf avtotiooiro Bjpotf, 
i»piv€<tyq^ 5* cAc^r fAfX€utv ivooiyfion «a^^ 
hiv€vwv oraTov ixy'oq dxa^n^i yoAmrog ^yx^ 

Kal ^drvpoi pwovro KvPumjrijpi irv8ot|if 
ravpo^vtU K€pd€aai iwrcw^tyrcf, iaavfUfoi^ M 
dXXo<f>ayri^ K^xdXaaro hi* ifuo; SfBiiOt ^4^*4 



TToaai ScvaJo/xVi-wf tnoxvifiivot t(ik rt 
mjfnTX€K€wv €B\i4i€ /i<Aof MvpMpoa¥ miXQtf, 
Kal nXoKafioui fiaXirfOi awo M oom f o a SvdXXaif 
Mvybovl^ cV^>oraAi{cv o^lvya ioififiaXa Bajrj|fif« 
Kal Xo<t>irjv iniKvprov €fidaru Xvaodiiof 4pimm 
6r)p6s xmoppvxii]^ dyTumo¥' dypor4pni hk 
nopSaXig ovp€oi<t>oiTOf iXavrtro K^vrop^ BfSpO^* 
KoU Tty dfjLfpaiiooio Kardaxrrof oAfUtrt Xvoaift 
tyv€at»' dpp€KToiaiv tntaKiprrfot ^aXdaajn, 
ota HoaeiSdiovog tniaKaipovaa KQfnfjiftf 
Xd^ nobl KVfjLara TC'*ft€v, itrrjrrtiXffat M vtfrry 
GiyaXco), Kal Kuxf>dv vBwp int^dtrm B'SpO^ 
BaaaapU vypcxftofyrjra^' and nXoKOpOiO hk wJft^nit 
a^^Acyco? ocAaytff Kar avx^vo^ aiMj^iaTOr trfljp, 
6dp,pos iScii'. KiwpT) 8f Trap* ^d^i Vftrori w6rnf 
il>vXo7nv cLoopdwaa BaXaaaofimnf AiovvoDV 
atvoTTad-qs Ta/ia^ noXirmp^a pffKoro ^ a w n{ p' 
" Et 0€Ti8o5 x^*' oltj^a 

KOU €vnaXdfLOv BpuzfifOf, 
290 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 331-361 

she, a Bacchant and a woman ; Nereus defending the 
sea came on land to fight with foaming arms against a 
rock-loving Pan ; a mountain Bacchant chased the god 
of Pallene " with blood-dripping ivy, but did not shake 
him ! Glaucos assailed Dionysos, but Maron shot his 
thyrsus at him and shook him off. A cloudhigh ele- 
phant with earthshaking motions of his Hmbs stamped 
about his stiff legs with massive unbending knee, and 
attacked an earth-bedding seal with his long snout. 
Satyrs also bustled about in dancing tumult, trusting 
to the horns on their bull-heads, while the straight tail 
draggled from their loins for a change as they hurried. 
Hosts of Seilenoi rushed along, and one of them with 
his two legs straddling across the back of a bull, 
squeezed out a tune on his two pipes tied together. 
A Mygdonian Bacchant rattled her pair of cymbals, 
with hair fluttering in the brisk winds ; she flogged 
the bowed neck of a wild bear against a monster of 
the deep, and the wild panther of the mountains was 
driven by a thyrsus-goad. One Bassarid possessed 
with mindrobbing throes of madness skipt over 
the sea with unwetted feet, as if she were dancing 
upon Poseidon's head — she stamped on the waves, 
threatened the silent sea, flogged the deaf water with 
her thyrsus, that Bassarid who never sank ; from her 
hair blazed fire selfkindled over her neck and burnt 
it not, a wonder to behold. Psamathe sorrowful on 
the beach beside the sea, watching the turmoil of 
seabattling Dionysos, uttered the dire trouble of her 
heart in terrified words : 

361 " O Lord Zeus ! if thou hast gratitude for 
Thetis and the ready hands of Briareus, if thou hast 

« Poseidon, cf. Thuc. iv. 129. 3. 

291 



NOKKOS 

et fidO€S Atyauow rtatv XP^^V^P^ 

Zev am, Ba*fxo»' ^P'J'^f M*M'7»"^' Ml^ 

SouAoovj^v Nr)pr}o^ tm VXavtcoiO TcXinrH|* 

/ii7 0€rt9 auvXo6axpt;f xnn^p^^tM A«M9»« SIS 

oipofjLcyrjv fi€ra troyrov, \xMia, hifMl, flllipipor, 

A€VKo0€'qv 8* (AcaifM yoi}/ioHi, rijr «o^aieoln|r 
yfa Xapwv c5ai(c, toi^ aordmNO itMr^ S70 

7rcu5o^»^i yAtuvrrcf <*5airp€voo«'ro uaw[fffiif** 
*0.S <l>a^€vr)i r)Kova€ hi al&4po$ C f tfu btmf Zcrfr* 

Kcu fi6dov (trpi^vv€ yofioaroXotr oip at M ti f y^ 

wfi^iBC-qv driXtarov dvaar^XXorrtt *Emfm S9S 

BaKYov dirctAiTn^pcv ^tcvtcXwoarro mp am m l. 

Kol $€6s dfjLTTfXotig ya^iUft i^hof^f^idpot l& 

Kovprjv /i€v ^€\'taivt' trar^p hi lUM h^miimif SMf 

Ppovrairj^ dviKorrrt fUXof ooXmYyat ipd/ 9 m^, 

Kol TTodov vafiiiTi^ di^atifMOt wdrptof ^X*** SSO 

d/cvoAcoi; 3c Ti-o^caacv <;^(cto vw$p6f oofmnf, 

arvyvo^ ottioBo^Xw hthotcrj^Uvof ^ifUtfi i KO ^p y 

ovaai S* alhofiii'Oiaiv d€iho^4vufy o4 » frr y 

Ji^Aoi' cxoij' tJkovcv *AfWfuuvTf^ vfuvalam. 

Kol ydfiov 7)fiiT€X€arov aXifipo^iof mrvf avptyf, SSS 

/cat Sovcciiv da^arov cV uSooi miiyAor trljp 

TraoTov * AyLvyujjvT)^ ^oAa/xi/troAo; i|fini« Ni|pfi^, 

ICai fl€XoS €7rX€K€ ^OpKV^' d/io{i}A^ 5^ wop€iif 

TXavKos dv€aKiprrja€y, ipaK^tv^ M€Xuc4fnrfS' 

Kal ^vyirjv raXdrtia StaKpovovoa X0P*^V^ 390 

doraro? opxrjcrrfjpi nohatv cAcAi^rro iraA|i^, 

Kat yd/iioi' /xeAo; efTrcv, cVci fiddt tcaXa XtyaUtUf 

7roifJi€vlrj avpiyyi hihaoKOfUvrj IloAv^ij^cov. 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 362-393 

not forgot Aigaion the protector of thy laws," save 
us from Bacchos in his madness ! Let me never see 
Glaucos dead and Nereus a slave ! Let not Thetis 
in floods of tears be servant to Lyaios, let me not see 
her a slave to Bromios, leaving the deep, to look on 
the Lydian land, lamenting in one agony Achilles, 
Peleus, Pyrrhos, grandson, husband, and son ! Pity 
the groans of Leucothea, whose husband took their 
son and slew him — the heartless father butchered his 
son with the blade of his murderous knife ! " 

^'^2 She spoke her prayer, and Zeus on high heard 
her in heaven. He granted the hand of Beroe to 
Earthshaker, and pacified the rivals' quarrel. For 
from heaven to check the bridebattle yet undecided 
came threatening thunderbolts round about Dionysos. 
The vinegod wounded by the arrow of love still craved 
the maiden ; but Zeus the Father on high stayed 
him by playing a tune on his trumpet of thunder, 
and the sound from his father held back the desire 
for strife. With lingering feet he departed, with 
heavy pace, turning back for a last gloomy look at 
the girl; jealous, with shamed ears, he heard the 
bridal songs of Amymone in the sea. The syrinx 
sounding from the brine proclaimed that the rites 
were already half done. Nereus as Amymone's 
chamberlain showed the bridal bed, shaking the 
wedding torches, the fire which no water can quench. 
Phorcys sang a song ; with equal spirit Glaucos 
danced and Melicertes romped about. And Galateia 
twangled a marriage dance and restlessly twirled in 
capering step, and she sang the marriage verses, for 
she had learnt well how to sing, being taught by 
Polyphemos with a shepherd's syrinx. 

c cf. II. i. 396 ff. 



NONNOS 

Kat B€p^ hi€poiaiv ofiiXi^aaf vfUMiioiC 
Wfi^(o9 iwoaiyauK c^cAaro narpAa. w(y i ^»; f * SM 

Kol 3€p6rj^ vatrjfaiv €rj^ irci^i}Aior c^H)r 
''Apcos- €i»^tbio daXaaaairjy w6p€ vltOff. 
KoX ydfios oXfiios ^€v, imi fivBltp WQp^ wm^rA 
aiiov fhvov 'Epcirrof 'Xpatfi itcoftlaoairo Nig^m» 
'HffKLioTov aoi^y €pyov, *OMfinta haCbaXt i , » J|i ^| | , 40O 
opfiov dywv KaXvKa^ rt ^pui¥ ^Xutds rw rtmumay, 
OTnroaa NTy/KiS^aaiv a/iifi7r^ tcd^ ^'jfT? 
At^/xvio; ipyoTTovo^ napd tcvftaat** ffol Iti9€m ^^Mff 
€finvpov dxfiova 7raXX€v xmofipvxjhfy TW w i yd ^ypy , 
^voaXiov x^dyoio 9rcpt5/x>/ioK &j0fMa Ttra/kur 40f 
9roi7rors> di'€fxoiaiv, di'airTOfi^yrK 5^ fnyifrrrv 
^ poBiois da^arov ^p6fifif€v M6§MJifX0tf «IW* 
Nt7P€U9 /ici' Ta5€ &a^/>a iroAin'poira, Somm Mieoilipo 
n€/>auc6s> EwftprfTTj^ TroAu&uSoAor c28or dlpiCjp'ifr' 
XptMTow 'I/Siyp TTopc 'P^w>9' ix^icrtdv%aM^ hk li^riXXuty 410 
i7At;^ev cixeAa ScDpa ytpotv IXaKTtMtXoi dMlptmtf 
X^P<'*' <f>vXa(mop€vrioiv , ori np6fiO¥ irp€fu AMh 
BoKxov tov PaaiXrja, teal trp€p€ ytho^a *P*^ 
MvySovirj^ noXiovxov C17? x^ovo^' *Hptiap6s M 
'HXidBwv rjXcKTpa pvrf<f>€vtwy dv6 hMptaif 4U 

hwpa n6p€ ariXfioyra' $cal dpyvpiijs dw6 ^hfm 
'Lrpvfiwv oaaa /xcroAAa icai oinrooa FdSlf M%pft, 
fhvov *ApvfM(i)Vf) 3o>p7^ro Kvayoxairrit, 

^Qs 6 p€V dpTlx6p€VT09 VITofipV)^ WOpii WOOTtft 

yqdcfv twomyaio^- dpahrfrtp hk AtNiXy 4S0 

yvwrros "E/xo? <f>$ov€oiTi napi^fyf>po>if Mij^ 



* A rap in M and other m<4. : F"* rtacb c^^mm, Gracfe, 
followed by Ludwich, rt^torcs K»»ptU. 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 394-421 

39* After celebrating Beroe's wedding in the sea, 
her bridegroom Earthshaker was a friend to her 
native place. He gave her countrymen victory in 
war on the sea as a precious treasure in return for his 
bride. It was a wealthy wedding. Arabian Nereus 
brought to the bridechamber in the deep a worthy 
gift of love, a clever work of Hephaistos, Olympian 
ornaments, for the bride ; necklace and earrings 
and armlets he brought and offered, all that the 
Lemnian craftsman had made for the Nereids with 
inimitable workmanship in the waves " — there in 
the midst of the brine he shook his fiery anvil 
and tongs under water, blowing the enclosed breath 
of the bellows ^ with mimic winds, and when the 
furnace was kindled the fire roared in the deep 
unquenched. Nereus then brought these gifts in 
great variety. But Persian Euphrates gave the girl 
the webspinner's embroidered wares ; Iberian Rhine 
brought gold ; old Pactolos came bringing the like 
offerings from his opulent mines, with cautious hands, 
for he feared the Lydian master, Bacchos his king, 
and he feared Rheia his neighbour, the cityholder 
of his country Mygdonia. Eridanos brought shining 
gifts, amber from the Heliad trees that trickle riches ; 
and from the silver rock, all the metals of Strymon 
and all that Geudis has were brought as a marriage- 
gift to Amymone by Seabluehair. 

*i9 And so the dances were over, and Earthshaker 
was happy in the bridechamber beneath the waters ; 
but Lyaios never smiled, and his brother Eros came 
to console him in his jealous mood : 

" This was when he was thrown out of heaven, and rescued 
by Thetis and Eurynome. Horn. II. xviii. 398-405. 

^ Literally, windy pipe : but Nonnos seems to have con- 
fused bellows with melting pot. 

295 



NONNOS 

dpfitvos ^v y^nuK o^ro^» on Pp^X^rj^ *A4pMnft 
TTOuSa Xajpwv cfciifa OaXaatiowoptp mpOKoiri^' US 
dPpoT€priv 8* ^^wAof o TfOiff aaAi4uMC 'A^tA^, 
€#f y€V€iji Mivwo^ ofioyytcv' Of^n&n^ M 
novTiov alfia ^povaav 'Afu^fuunp AIm w4tfr^, 

tfcot €iV ^pvYirjv €vndp$€vo¥, ^xf ^ l^^f»^ <•• 

dppoxov 'HcAuxo A<xoj TiT^viSoj Alfpi|f* 
Ktti Gr€tf>o^ datcijaaaa f^xt^ *"** «airrd5a «tioi(pi|ff 
Spfj^KTi wfii^KOfJLOi at S€&4(€rai, iJxt «al tt^fi^ 
UaXXijirq KoAc'ci ac bopvaaoof, ^ «a^ «a9r^ 
d6Xo<l>6pov ya/itoiac rrtpunii^w 0€ KOp/ipifiott 4St 

ifUpTrfv rtXlaavra rraXaiafioawrip *A^jpoSln|f •* 

dovpos "Epcjs- -nrtpvyiMtv hi vuptitUa fi6§»fie¥ U^Xtmf 
"^pif) vodos opvi^ dvT)wpfjro noptifi, 
Kol Acos- €tV hofiov ^$€v. an *Aowplmo ^ it^Asov 440 
dfipoxiTotv Aioyvoo^ avijicv ctf X^*^ Av8«^ 
riaiCTCoAot} napd wcjav, OTTiy XP^^^^^'^^T^^ ^'V^ 
djf>v€irjs riTaioio fUXav ^oiviaomu uSaijp* 
Matoviris 3* CTTCjScuvc, urcu urrsTO ftffrdpt 'P<% 
'Ii'Sajr;? opeywv /ScunA^ta Soipa 0aAdSo«n|r* 445 

Ko^ciipa^ 5c p€€6pa PaBvnXofSrov worofuio 
Kol ^pvyiov K€V€dtva Kai appoPiu¥ yhn^ SSp&f 
*ApKran]v irapd ttcJov ei7v i^VT€va€¥ Swwpnp^t 
Evpwtrqs iTToXUdpa ficT* 'AaiSof ooTfa fiatvom* 



290 



DIONYSIACA, XLIII. 422-449 

*22 " Dionysos, why do you still bear a grudge 
against the cestus that makes marriages ? Beroe 
was no proper bride for Bacchos, but this marriage 
of the sea was quite fitting, because I joined the 
daughter of Aphrodite of the sea to a husband whose 
path is in the sea. I have kept a daintier one for your 
bridechamber, Ariadne, of the family of Minos and 
your kin. Leave Amymone to the sea, a nobody, one 
of the family of the sea herself. You must leave the 
mountains of Lebanon and the waters of Adonis and 
go to Phrygia, the land of lovely girls ; there awaits 
you a bride without salt water, Aura of Titan stock. ** 
Thrace the friend of brides will receive you, with a 
wreath of victory ready and a bride's bower ; thither 
Pallene also the shakespear summons you, beside 
whose chamber I will crown you with a wedding 
wreath for your prowess, when you have won 
Aphrodite's delectable wTestling-match." 

*3^ So wild Eros spoke to his lovemad brother 
Bacchos : then he flapt his whizzing fiery wings, and 
up the sham bird flew in the skies travelling until he 
came to the house of Zeus. And from the Assyrian 
gulf Dionysos went daintily clad into the Lydian land 
along the plain of Pactolos, where the dark water is 
reddened by the goldgleaming mud of wealthy lime ; 
he entered Maionia, and stood before Rheia his 
mother, offering royal gifts from the Indian sea. 
Then leaving the stream of this river of deep riches, 
and the Phrygian plain, and the nation of softliving 
men, he planted his vine on the northerly plain, and 
passed from the towns of Asia to the cities of Europe. 

" Hyperion, father of Helios, was a Titan, so the reading 
may pass. 



297 



AlONTSIAKllN TESTAPAKOCTON 
TETAPTON 

T€aoapajcoar6v v^va to Wr^ror, ^jn ymmtKQ§ 
h4pK€0 fiaivofiivas xal UtMot Sy^toi^ awiA^. 

'H^ 5* *lXXvpjff^ AouAornor i0w ^0»y 
Kol ir4hov Aifiovirj^ irai FI nAcor iMpcm mam 
'EXXahos tyyv^ ucavt, koX Aor^ ira^ vilb 
arrjo€ xopov^. dlwv Si fUXof fiMm^frop9t moXtQ 
llavl Tai^ypauA* Biaaov^ iar^aaro vo^Mfr* • 

KoX Kprnrq K€XdoTja€V, orrjj ^Bwof dxptm dfidfog 
iJypos owi i7nr€io^ tnanvfiov iyXv^€V fl^wy* 
^AacjTTos 3* €xdp€V€ TTvpim-oa x^vfiara oi i ptitif 
KOi irpoxoa^ tX(Xi(€' ovv *\a^rjv^ M TOiril}i 
irvfcAoSas' aldvaaovaa poa^ utpx^^oaro dJptcfl, 10 

Kal nori riq hpvotvro^ di-at^aoa tcnp4tta09 
rip4i^vri9 €Xiyaii^€v 'AfxaSovd^ ^i^6Bi Mp8f09« 
owofia KvSaivovaa Kopvfipo^opov Aiovifamr* 
wrjyairi 5* ofioifKovo^ aadpfiaXo^ ui)fc fifSftdfif, 

Kcu irrtmo; ovp€ai^iro^ dh€^rfiTtHO /SMnff 1^ 

IIcv^cos^ d(77roi'5o(aii' €iT€afiapdYffatv ^jeovatr* 
olvo^pw 8* ddcfiiaro^ dva( ^trc;(cu<mTO BdUrra, 
#fcu orpaririv cKopvaat /xa;^fUN«a, xdicXtTO 5* ttOTOt'T 

« lliere are TauUntians in Strabo and Ury, aa 
vL16. 

196 



BOOK XLIV 

The forty-fourth web I have woven, where you may 

see maddened women and the heavy threat 

of Pentheus. 

Already he had passed the Daulantian " tribe of 
lUyrian soil, and the plain of Haimonia and the Pelion 
peak, and was nearing Hellas ; there he established 
dances on the Aonian plain. The shepherd hearing 
the tune of the drooning pipes formed congregations 
for Pan at Tanagra. A fountain bubbled on the 
spot where the horse's wet hoof scratched the sur- 
face of the ground and made a hollow for the water 
which took its name from him.** Asopos danced 
breathing fiery streams, as he swept his floods along 
and twirled his waters. Dirce danced, spouting her 
whirling waters along with her father Ismenos. At 
times a Hamadryad shot out of her clustering foliage 
and half showed herself high in a tree, and praised 
the name of Dionysos cluster-laden ; and the unshod 
nymph of the spring sang in tune with her. 

1^ The noise of the raw cowhide resounded over the 
mountains, and reached the ears of irreconcilable 
Pentheus. The impious king was angry with winegod 
Bacchos, and he armed a hostile host, calling to the 

* Hippocrene. 

299 



NONNOS 

d(TT€os €7rra7T6poio Trfpi^pofoi wvXiwvaf 
ol ^€V €TT€f<XrjiGaav dfioifiabif, 4(aniyrjt hi ^ 

avrofiaroi kAt^iSc? antoiywyTO wXdw¥, 
Koi SoXixov9 nvX€U)vi fidrrw /W/SoAAor 4t4v 
rjcpioig d^pdrroyrts tpiSfiaiyovrtf aTTOif. 
ov Tore Tts* nvXawpoi iSoif awofipaof B^KXip* 
l,€iXrjvovs Bi ytpovnxf drtvxi^^ a4nrAdrB* • 

€Tp€p.ov alxiJ^rjrrjpti' o/ioyAu>aa(^ 5' <IAaAifr^ 
K€KXofi€vov PaaiXrjo^ d4>€thi}aamf <SirfiA^ 
TToAAdirif co/>xwcunro, cn>v fiVrvurrocf M fiotloif 
KVKXdSos €cmjaaiTO aaxtandXov aX^ voptbft^ 9$ 
diTiTVTTov uqirjfia ^cAoofui/Mtyuir KoM/pimmt, SS 
<f>pucaX€ai o laxTjaay iv ovp€<n XtfOOoBtt dptCTOi* 90 
Kol y€wv alBvaoovaa icai ^ImronjTov ifnfiff ^1 

7rdp3aAi; mop-qro' Xiwv hi rii ofijpOÂ¥ MSpoHF 9S 

p.€iXixiov ppvx^fia (nno/AiXi nifivt Xmlwjl, 94 

"HSr; 8* ai>To<Ai#fTo^ iatUro \\€¥$iot oJiAl) *^ 

dicAti'ectii' o<fxupi)h6v dvotaaovoix ^fid&Xtmr 
Kol 7wX€d}v b^Boyjp-o Oopdfv €vooijfioi¥^ woXftA, 
TTJpLaros €GaopL€yoto npodyytXof €uir6§tia(rat M 
Xaivo9 *OyKairj^ cAcAi^c ro )3umo( *AMri|r* 
ov TTOTc Kd5/xo5 cSci/xcv, oT€ ppoivwmmt ftm§ 40 

fjLOcrxov TTVpyobofJLOio ^p€TrroXif titcXaum X'M' 
dp,(f>l 5c ^cio)^ dyoA/ia 7roAi<raoif;(Oio dlt oiri/i 
avTOfidTr) paddfiiyyi 0€6aGVTo^ iOXtMlf thfitg 
hcLfia <f>€pwv vai-njar koI €k irooof &XP^ tcoff^ffoo 
dyycAos' €GGop.€vwv ppira^ *A/>€oy ^Pp€€ XuBpm,. 45 

Kat vaerai B€h6vr)yTO' 4^fiu> 5* cXcJU^cro /iiirv 
ricv^coj au;(^c>Toj, c)3ouc;(ci^ 5c /x<iiou^« 
fimrjGaficvr] -nporipoio Sa^cMn^€VT09 o^ipav 
TTiKpa TrpoOeGTTL^ovTos, CTTCi Ttdfo^ ^^toii JUjct^MT 
cf oT€ KOipavirjv naTpwiov rjp7TaG€ nci<^lci^, SO 

300 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 19-50 

people to bar the portals of the sevenway city. One 
by one they were shut, but the locks of the gates 
suddenly opened of themselves ; in vain the servants 
resisted the winds of heaven and set the long bars 
at each gate. Then no gate warden could check 
a Bacchant if he saw her ; but shielded spearmen 
trembled before old Seilenoi unarmed — disregarding 
often the threats of their clamouring king, they 
danced with singlethroated acclaim ; with their well- 
made oxhides they danced the round in shieldshaking 
leaps, the very picture of the noisy Corybants. 
Terrible bears growled madly in the hills, the panther 
gnashed her teeth and leapt high in the air, the lion 
in playful sport gave a gentle roar to his comrade 
lioness. 

35 Already the palace of Pentheus began of itself to 
tremble and quake, and started from its immovable 
foundations all about ; the gatehouse quivered and 
sprang up with earthshaking throbs, foretelHng the 
trouble to come. The stone altar of Oncaian Athena 
tottered of itself, that which Cadmos had built, when 
with slow-convincing movement the heifer's hoof sank, 
to bid him build a wall and found a city ; over the 
divine image of the cityholding goddess, godsent 
sweat beaded in drops of itself, bringing fear to the 
people — from head to foot the statue of Ares ran 
with gore, telling of things to come. 

*^ The inhabitants also were shaken. The mother 
of boastful Pentheus quivered with fear, mad with 
anxiety, remembering that bloody dream of old with 
its prophecy of bitterness ; how once, after Pentheus 
had seized his father's sovereignty, Agaue slumber- 

301 



NONNOS 

mvwxov (mvaXioi^ oapoig cvSomfcv 'Ayutfip 
^cuT/iara fUfirjXoio bt€m'oirfinv ^(pov, 
anXav^o^ dpwoKom'a hi* €vtc«pdo» m w X t An v 
tXntro yap flcv^iTc x^polrvnov ifip^ 4Wn|r 
dpa€va KoofirjuavTa ywaitctuf* XP^ W wA y §6 

pl^ai 7rop<f>vp6vwrov M x^((ya ^pot dpdimm, 
Bvpaov €Xatftpi^oirra teal od aicijwrpoto ^Of4fa' 
Koi fuv iScii' cSo^nyac iraXiy Ka5/<72f 'Ayatfif 
eiofXfvov OKupoto p.€rapatO¥ iift6Bi bMpam' 
Koi ff>UT6v vtpixdprjvoy, oirjf Bpaadf /{#70 n«l#ff^« 90 
$rip€S itcvKXiUKiayro, Kal aypw¥ c^TOi' ^^^'4'^ 
hh^pov an€tXrjrrjpi /xcTo^Aiforrfr oh6m, 
rpTixaX^axs y€VV€aar rtvaatjofi^voto M hMpao 
KVfipaxos avTOKvXi<rrof €Xi( 5u«<n)rro fltrSnt, 
Kai fuv ibrjXriaayTo S€hotm6ra XuoiMtt iptCTOi' M 
aypoT€trq hi Xtawa Karataaovoa vpoomwom 
7Tpvp.vod€V €<maa€ X*^P^» 

Koi daxrrauatvo^An^ 0i^ 
nfUTOfiov l\€v&fjo^ to€iaafi^ w6oa Aai^ 
drryoXioii ovvx^aai oUBpiatv dv64p€w¥n, 
atfuxAcoi' Bi Kaprjvov €Kov^uny dpwoyt Topoy to 
oltCTpd Sa'i^ofifyov, Kal c5cmcwc fxdmfpi Km§u» 
naXXopJvf), ppoT€rjv h* dXirq^iova p'tjfaro ^ ti rqif' 

" Elfju T€ri duydrqp Orjpoicrovoi' €ifd 8^ M^*)*^ 
ricv^eos' oXpiaroio, rtrj <fnXor€Kvoi *Ayo4^. 
ttjXIkov coAcaa Bripa- X€ovro^voiO hi ^itciff 75 

hdx^^^o TOUTO KapTjvov €fiTk irpundypum dXtcffs* 
rqXucov ov ttotc dijpa KartKrayt wiyyffvot *lKtf, 
ov Krdv€v AvTovorj' av hk avfifioXa noi&ot 'Aywfft 
Trfjiov apiaroTToi'OLo t€o6 npondpoiBt fttXJBpov.** 

Tolov ovap pXoavpcjnov vnoxXoof cOcr 'Ayainf. 80 
ivdev ipiTTToiTjTos dnuM7afjL€i^ TTTtpdv Tirwow, 
302 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 51-81 

ing on her bed had been terrified all night in her 
sleep, when the unreal phantom of a dream had leapt 
through the Gate of Horn which never deceives," and 
whispered in her sleepy ear. For she thought she 
saw Pentheus a dainty dancer on the road, his manly 
form dressed up in a woman's robe, throwing to the 
ground the purple robe of kings, bearing the sceptre 
no longer but holding a thyrsus. Again, Cadmeian 
Agaue thought she saw him perched high up in a shady 
tree ; round the lofty trunk where sat bold Pentheus 
was a circle of wild beasts, furiously pushing to root 
up the tree with the dangerous teeth of their hard 
jaws. The tree shook, and Pentheus came tumbling 
over and over of himself, and when he dumped down, 
mad she-bears tore him ; a wild lioness leapt in his 
face and tore out an arm from the joint — then the 
mad raging monster set one paw on the throat of 
Pentheus cut in two, and tore through his gullet 
with her sharp claws, and lifted the bloody head 
in her ferocious paw piteously lacerated, and 
showed it to Cadmos, who saw it all, swinging it 
about as she spoke in human voice these wicked 
words : 

'3 ** I am your daughter, the slayer of wild 
beasts ! I am the mother of Pentheus, happiest of 
men, your Agaue, the loving mother ! See what a 
beast I have killed ! Accept this head, the firstfruits 
of my valour, after victorious slaughter of the lion. 
Such a beast Ino my sister never slew, Autonoe 
never slew. Hang up before your hall this keep- 
sake from Agaue your doughty daughter." 

^^ Such was the horrible vision that pale Agaue 
saw. Then after she had shaken off sleep's wing, 

« Qf, Horn. Od. xix. m^ ff. 

303 



NO>WOS 

opOpwfi KoMtraaa BcrjYopw vta XapucXoBt, 
fidm'ias €aaofi€vwv tfoyiovi tSdaftr Jui^povf ' 
Tei/>€(7ia9 5' €K€Xtva€ Btonpanos ^ip9€¥a f4fm 
ravpov, doaariTrjpa ha^ounfftvroi 6¥9ipov, •• 

Zrjvos oAcf iKoxoto BtoKXrfTot vnp^ fioHiA, 
firfKcSavrjs cAqti;; napa Avop€0¥, ^(i KlAiyfiW 
WrrraTcu vfpitcdprjvo9' 'AuaJpiMtaot hi Nliyi^lg 
^At/i' oil' oT^fiaivt OvtirnXitw wopA A^IQra* 
eyvco 5* €fnf>pova Bijpa Koi aypctfOOOWFoy A/aifi|p iO 
yaarpos irk whlva koX atXto i T4tem¥ a yC mf a 

Kpwlf€v 6v€tp€irfs dnan^XuMf tmin run|f» 
riev^ca fiij Papvftrjvw iov fioinkfja y u^ ^ g * 
7T€idofUv7j 5c ytpovri ao^^ ^tX&rt Kv ot *Ay9Vff M 
€iV opo^ witucdprjvou oficaroXof ijt4 KdB§ui0 
\\ev6w coTrofWuoio* #(ai cdirc/Mia» «a^ / j ittiy i ^ 
^Aw oti' Kfpo^yri awtfitrom apowm rwif^g 
•^i Ato; TTcAcv oAao; 6p€uiSof iiLwXnm Aiff« 
Ziyvi Kai 'ASpvdb^aat ^dau (iWow ^VlMi' 1<A 

Ka3/io; ^AyrjvopCBrj^, Otortpnia /3aMi3r d»di^ag, 
p€^u}v dfJLtl>oT€poiaLv dvaTTTopJvoiO M irvjpaou 
lO'tcny /X€v 7r€pi(fKnro^ iXif owwi^vcTO iraviMw 
cuoSfUii OT/x)^^tyyi, &ai{o/UM>u o' apa Taip09 
opdios ai/xoAcT^y ai>Toa<rvroy ouAof ^^M'^ '^ 

X^tpo-s €p€vdi6wvTt ^x'w ir6p^vp€P *AywSns • • • 
auxcViov 8€ rivovra -ntpt^ aT€^>ayffi6m iX^af 
oi^aXerjv iiritcvpTOv ir^v boxfuooaro 5tipi)r 

flflX^XO? CtAtKOCVTt SpOKWV fUTpOVfitVOf ^^^» 

ordfifiaTi 8* oXKaiw K€^aXrjv KwcXwaaro K&f»ov UO 
TTprqvs o<f>i£, Kai yXtouaa trtpif Xixpa^tl^ 
fieiXix^v <f>lXov I6v dTTOTTTvovaa yov/oir 
oiyofievwv Koi BijXvs 0^9 furpwaaro K6pmp 
804 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 82-113 

trembling with terror, in the morning she called in 
the seer, Chariclo's son, and revealed to him her 
dream, the bloody prophecy of things to come. 
Teireisias the diviner bade her sacrifice a male bull 
to help against the bloody dream, at the altar where 
men call upon Zeus the Protector, beside the trunk 
of a tall pinetree where Cithairon spreads his lofty 
head ; he told her to offer a female sheep to the 
Hamadryad Nymphs in the thicket. He knew the 
beast as human, he knew Agaue hunting the fruit 
of her own womb, the struggle that killed her son, 
the head of Pentheus ; but he concealed in wordless 
silence the deceptive vision of victory in the dream, 
that he might not provoke the heavy wrath of 
Pentheus his king. Agaue the tender mother obeyed 
the wise old man, and went to the lofty hill together 
with Cadmos while Pentheus followed. At the horns 
of the altar Cadmos Agenorides made one common 
sacrifice to Zeus and the Hadryads, female and male 
together, sheep and horned bull, where stood the grove 
of Zeus full of mountain trees ; he lit the fire on the 
altar to do pleasure to the gods, and did sacrifice to 
both. When the flame was kindled, the rich savour 
was spread abroad with the smoke in fragrant rings. 
When the bull was slaughtered, a jet of bloody dew 
spouted straight up of itself and stained the hands of 
Agaue with red blood. ... A serpent crept with its 
coils, surrounding the throat of Cadmos like a garland, 
twining and trailing a crooked swollen collar about it 
in a lacing circle but doing no harm — the gentle crea- 
ture crept round his head like a trailing chaplet, and 
his tongue licked his chin all over dribbling the friendly 
poison from open mouth, quite harmless ; a female 
snake girdled the temples of Harmonialike a wreath of 

VOL. m X 305 



K0XN08 

Koi hihv^iwv 6<f>itjji' ntrpivaaro ywa Kfm i tm', lU 

orri nap* *\XXvpiKolo boascotrrop^rtfv OT^fiA Wrroo 
'AppLovirj Kal Kddfio^ afi€ifioiiJwoio mpoourmm 
Xalv€i)v TJfi€XXoy ix^iv o^iiuSco lU^Mjjif. lit 

Koi <l)6Pov oAAoi' €xovaa fitra nporrJpov ^ifitm Amw 111 
v6(mp.o^ c(V hofiov ^A^c aw vUi ttaX yiNi(|pi. I2S 
IloIov iScv iroTc ^Ofxa, tcai 6it4f^fwrfH i m l fou 119 
fiiTiaafUvt) h€b6vrjro ^ofitft ^iXoTtKVOf *Aya^. I» 

"Whr) &* i-nraitopoio hi dartof Ivroro ^lynf lA 
of>yia K-qpvaaovaa xopcmXtrndot AiomIoov* 
oi)de ri9 i^i' d^opcvrof^ am irrtUir* ijj^ow^mp M Hi 
€lapivois TTtraXoiaiy *fUTpa/^ffaot^ iymal* 
Kal OaXafiov ^fitXtf^ ;(Ao€fMp OKt^otaa iwf^ifa 
wpA^ihiov irmvOrjpo^ rri trwuirra §nptaHfO0 
avTO<f>vr)i tp.€Ovaa€v cAi( ciWu^ff KQpm^» 
<t>piKTa 6c TraTrrao'cui' 9roAtwt5€a An^yiirra B^ir^^ov, 190 
^17^0^ €;^a»i' xmtponXov, dirxf imyAaiWro flfn^vr* 
icai K€V€rjs TTpoxtwy imfpT]tr>oa ic6fiWD¥ ^km^tk^t 
rotov €7ros hfiwtaatv aTaaBaXof t^X* ncv^frfr* 

"At;8o»' c/xov 0€pdnovTa KOfiiaaart, 

haiwp.€vov U€vOrjo^ wroSfrqirHfpa rpamd^ifs, 196 

otvoBoKw rroTov dXXo hiaard^ovTa KVW^U^g 
rj yXdyos tj yXvKv ;(€U/xa'- tcaatyyijrnfv M TtMOVOflt I9S 
AvTOVOTjv TrXrjyfjaiv dfioifiaijfaiy t^idoow, U7 

Kal nXoKap^ovs rfi'i)(wfi€v dK€pouc6§imf AionSdov* 199 
KVfipaXa 8* rixi]€vra hiappl^tavrt^ ai/roi; 140 

Koi ndrayov BcpcKwra koi EJka rvfiwaan 'P^Afi 
€Xk€T€ haaaapiba^ fuxvuo&ca?, cAiccTf Boirxof, 
d/x^tTToAou? Bpo/xioto oinojAy^aj, ay A4 0^^2| 

^ Ludu ich niark» • lacuna here. 
S06 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 114-143 

clusters in her yellow hair. Then Cronion turned the 
bodies of both snakes into stone," because Harmonia 
and Cadmos were destined to change their appear- 
ance and to assume the form of stone snakes, at the 
mouth of the snakebreeding Illyrian gulf. Then 
Agaue returned home with her son and her father, 
having a new fear besides the fear of the dream. 

^^ Such was the vision which Agaue had seen, and 
remembering this ominous dream the fond mother 
was shaken with fear. 

123 Already Rumour was flying about the seven- 
gated city proclaiming the rites of danceweaving 
Dionysos. No one there was throughout the city 
who would not dance. The streets were garlanded 
with spring leafage by the country people. The 
chamber of Semele, still breathing sparks of the 
marriage thunders, was shaded by selfgrowing 
bunches of green leaves which intoxicated the place 
with sweet odours. King Pentheus swelled with 
arrogance and jealousy to see the terrible wonders 
of Bacchos in so many shapes. Then Pentheus 
uttered proud boasts and empty threats to his 
servants in these insulting words : 

1^ " Bring here my Lydian slave, that womanish 
vagabond, to serve the table of Pentheus at his 
dinner ; let him fill his winebeaker with some other 
drink, milk or some sweet hquor ; I will flog my 
mother's sister Autonoe with retributive strokes of 
my hands, and we will crop the uncropt locks of 
Dionysos. Throw to the winds his tinkling cymbals, 
and the Berecyntian din and Euian tambourines of 
Rheia. Drag hither the mad Bassarids, drag the 
Bacchants hither, the handmaids who attend on 

<• Imitated from 7Z. ii. 319, but given a new meaning. 

307 



NONN08 

^lafirjvov hi€pOiaiv dxoirril^oyTtf hfwSXoit 

iJAiKa?, 'AhpvdBas &€ y/ijoir Wfuro Ki«M^ I4i 
aAAai9 'ASpud&<aaiv ofioivya^ cM Avoipv. IM 

ofare Trup, ^cpaTroKTcy. ^trtl irocin|TOp» 9mii^, I4« 
€V TTvpo? €4 rrcAc Boifxo^. iyw nvfi BdKXor Moow* 

et Sc /cc TTcip^acuTo koI ri^uripoio KynvvoGg 
YvcjG€Tai, otov €x<*» x^6vto¥ otAaf * oApoUom yup 
B€pyLor€pov^ aTnvOi)pai i^tc¥ XiY€9 d yrlrv m m wip* 
GTjfiffMv al0aX6€yTa rov apw^Xiarra TvAiipBW. 
ci 5c fioOov OTY^ccc /iayY)/iora 0tSpoo¥ Aitptm, ^ 

ou TToSos", ou Xayovwv, oi} <mJdfoj', od wfMuiMiP 

dn€iX'qv pLtBiitovra' tcoX ov PounXrjyi $at(o» 

KvpTOL PooKpaipoio Ktpaara hufoa firrwum/^ 

ot)5€ hiarprj^cj pAaov a^x^vof iXXd 4 liiffm '•• 

€Y\€'C ;(CiAK€taj rtroprjfitvov tU WTl^jfa firjpoO, 

orr^ Aio; pAyaXoio yoi'iiy i^ftikfaro p^pov 

Kox tToXov (vs iov ohcov iytjj h4 fiu^ dirrl u/MBpon 

avrl Ato? TTuAccui'Oi' Ivtprtpov 'AiSi w^Aupm, 

r)€ fuv avTOKvXitrrov oXvaKa^oyra KoXiint >•• 

Kvp.aaiv *lap,Tf]i'oio, koI ov XP^^ 4otX BaXdamff, 

ov 8exo/xat ^porov di'hpa v66o¥ 0t6¥' Ci $4pAf iiirco', 

ipevao pxii, (jjs ^lowaos, €px>v ytvos' otMC a«o KiCBfaov 

alfia <l>€po) x^ovioio, Trarnp h* tpos, opxofUK darptmf, 

'HcAlOS- /X€ <l>VT€Va€, KOI OVtC €(m€ip€¥ ^l^XU""^ ^^ 

TiKT€ ScAiyvoii; fi€, Koi ovK ^Xox^tMnv *Ayoi^' 
6i/xi y€vos Kpov&ao, Koi alBipo^ tlpx «oArnf(* 
ovpavos aar€p6<f>oiros €/xi7 woAiy iXarc, O^^Jcu* 
noAAas* eV?) TTapoMoiri^, ffirj 5<x/iap ofi/^poTOf *H/ii^* 
Ilcv^ct ftajoj' opcfc /KT* *\p€a 0€<nwrts 'Hpfi, 175 
308 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 144-175 

Bromios — hurl them into the watery beds of Ismenos 
here in Thebes, mingle the Naiads with the 
Aonian rivernymphs their mates, let old Cithairon 
receive Hadryads to join his own Hadryads instead 
of Lyaios. Bring fire, men, for by the law of ven- 
geance I will throw Bacchos into the fire, if he came 
out of the fire : Zeus tamed Semele, I will destroy 
Dionysos ! If he would like to try my thunder 
also, he shall learn what fire I have from earth ! " 
For my fire has hotter sparks to match the heavenly 
fire. To-day I will make the viny one a scorchy 
one ! If he lift his thyrsus and give battle, he shall 
learn what kind of a spear I have from earth. I will 
destroy him without a wound in foot or flank, breast 
or belly ! I will not cut off the two crooked horns 
from his bullhorned head with a poleaxe, I will not 
cut through his neck : I will pierce the fork of his 
thigh with a blow from a spear of bronze, because 
of his lies about the thigh of great Zeus, and heaven 
as his home. Instead of the palace of Zeus, instead 
of his gatehouse, I will send him down to Hades, 
or make him roll himself helpless into the waves of 
Ismenos to hide — we can do without the sea ! 

167 *' I ^rjii jjQt receive a mortal man as a bastard 
god. If I dare say it, I will deny my ow^ breeding, 
like Dionysos. I have not in me the blood of mortal 
Cadmos, but my father is the chief of stars — Helios 
begat me, not Echion ; Selene brought me forth, not 
Agaue ; I am the offspring of Cronides and a citizen of 
heaven, the sky with its wandering stars is my home — 
so forgive me, Thebes ! Pallas is my concubine, im- 
mortal Hebe my consort. Queen Hera gave me the 

" He is " from earth " as being descended from the earth, 
born Spartoi. 

309 



NONNOS 
teal iioBh^ fura ^oifioy ty^ivaTo FIcvMb Aiyf«ft* 

cos- TTorc <^Tpov €<f>€vy€v tiff funfforijpa mpthft, 
fiwfiov dXiHjKd^ovaa Kaatyyil/Tam ^^uwafoir. 

6n\o<f>6p<H K€V€6iaw ipthfUkifoimt ^bfraiff* Its 

Kou arparos aoTttro^ i^ /aw vtrvcmot Ai}f , 

''0<f>pa fi€v cw-acTi^aiv cmif ^vrrAAcTO flo^lfilir* 



TOiov Jnos -npos 'OXvfinw avuxyc wwdyBl Ml4^* |90 



"*Q r€Ko^ *HcAtoto, noXvoTpo^tt 
apfiaro^ dpyvptoio Kv^pvrfrtipa ILMjmit 
€1 <w TTcA^i? 'KKarq TToXiHuyvfiOf, A> w^6 y hi 
'nvpao<f>6pw TToXdfiyj boi-t€is ftaOttiSftt WvAnfr^ 
€px€o, vvKTinoXo^, OKvXcuccrpo^, &rri o« ripmti IM 

Aprr€pis €l av TTtXti^ IXau^piXot, hf S m 
V€Ppo<f>6ya) (m€vSovQa awaypoHia^f 
€aao fcaatyvT^roio PorjOoo^' a/>;(cyrWv ydp 
alfia Aa^oi^ Ka5/xoio biwKopai itcroBi O^^ifT* fOO 

fn)Tpo9 €/i^9 l.€fi€Xrj^ dno 7rarp«8oy cM|«Mor yip 
dvrjrog dvrjp kXov€€i fit ScqfidxoS' Off VPXPl ^ 

• t:vident)y a folktale cxpUining why S«a (AsoB^-lidkiii) 
and Moon ( ArteinU-Selenc) arc nrrcr togrtbcr: jnrmafviwli 
stories, see A. H. Krappe, U Gtmim dst mpthmlFth. PkfoL 
1938). pp. 1:^9 ff. ,- y ^ j^ 

810 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 176-202 

breast after Ares, divine Leto brought me forth after 
Phoibos. I will woo Artemis, who wants me — she 
does not run from me as she did from Phoibos, the 
wooer of her maidenhood, because she feared blame 
for wedding with a brother.** And if the heavenly- 
flame did not bum your Semele, Cadmos did burn his 
house for his daughter's shame, and gave the name of 
lightning to the earthly fire he kindled, called the 
flame of torches the spark of the thunderbolt." 

184 When the king had spoken, his men of war 
mustered in arms to fight the empty winds ; there 
was an infinite host in the pinewood, seeking the 
tracks of Lyaios ever unseen. 

1^ But while Pentheus was giving his commands to 
the people, Dionysos waited for darksome night, and 
appealed in these words to the circHng Moon in 
heaven : 

1^1 " O daughter of Helios,^ Moon of many turnings, 
nurse of all ! O Selene, driver of the silver car ! If 
thou art Hecate of many names, if in the night thou 
dost shake thy mystic torch in brandcarrying hand, 
come night wanderer, nurse of puppies because the 
nightly sound of the hurrying dogs is thy delight with 
their mournful whimpering. If thou art staghunter 
Artemis, if on the hills thou dost eagerly hunt with 
fawnkilling Dionysos, be thy brother's helper now ! 
For I have in me the blood of ancient Cadmos, and I 
am being chased out of Thebes, out of my mother 
Semele 's home. A mortal man, a creature quickly 
perishing, an enemy of god, persecutes me. As a 

*• So first in Eurip. Phoen. 175, of surviving works, but 
the scholiast there says it comes in " Aeschylus and others of 
the more scientific {(f>vaiKa>T€poi) .writers." It is indeed more 
astronomical than mythological, since the moon's light is 
from the sun. Usually she is the sun's sister. 

311 



NONNOS 

€1 §€ ai U€pa€4>6vtta yttcvaaotK, vfJrtpat M 
ilwx^ Tafnapioiaiv vrro&p^oaovm Boamoif, »(> 

v€Kp6v Soi ricK^. teal axyviUvmt ikumnioov 
Sdtcpvov €wrja€i€ r€o^ ifnfXwrr^Xot *E^ll^ 

Taprapij) /iacrriyi XaBi^pova maOomf chrtiA^r 
Triy€V€os II €1'^^, cVei hvaiiTixBUfOi 'H^ tlO 

oipiyovov TiTiTva v^<f9 Outpffift Al«/9». 
oAAa aif <f>wTa bdfAa€Tao¥ Mofuov, &^pa y^^aiffgf 
apx^yovov TLaypfjo^ itrurtrvfilrpf ^UM^ioov, 
Z€v dva» fcai av hoKtvt fitfiriv^ros Mp^ ^vriAi{r* 
kXvBi, irdrtp kou iirfttp' iXtyxQiUvov W Avalov 216 
arj ar€po7rq yofuiy £</i/^v^ n^v^Ojpof iarm." 
*Q? <f>ap€i'ov ravporrtu: dvlaxtv &f6$i lfi|M|* 

<n}y (rra<f>vXij^ aXtyil^t' fAfXti W fUH Sfya Bd^xov, 
vfxer^pwv ort yaia ^nnutv cudcKi wtwah'n 290 

fiapfiapvyqv hpoo6€aaai' (uroifii^roco £tXi)n7( 
86;^/Lio'T^- <ru 8<', Iiaif;^€ x9polrw€, Bvpoa rtrab^wv 
arjs ycvtrrjs oAc'ytJc, *fa4 ov rpo^tis y^vof aa«8|pafr 
dSpai'caiv, of; kov<^ act i^oof, cur «rai (MyK|| 
Eu/ieviBiu^ ftaoTtyc; a»*a<rr<AAov(nv autiXis, gg 

ovv aot bvap.€V€€oai tcopvaaofiof taa M Bciiryy 
KOipav€W fxavirj^ €T€p6^povof' cij^l M Mijny 
BcMc;(ia?, ovx ore /xotrtT>»' rv aW4p*. fiijmit iXiaow, 
dAA* ori #cai fiavirj^ fifS^ut Koi Xvaaop iytlfm* 



• Cj\ on 15i. 
312 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 203-229 

being of the night, help Dionysos of the night, when 
they pursue me ! If thou art Persephoneia, whipper- 
in of the dead, and yours are the ghosts which are 
subservient to the throne of Tartaros, let me see 
Pentheus a dead man, and let Hermes thy musterer 
of ghosts lull to sleep the tears of Dionysos in his 
grief. With the Tartarean whip of thy Tisiphone, 
or furious Megaira, stop the foolish threats of 
Pentheus, this son of earth," since implacable Hera 
has armed a lateborn Titan against Lyaios. I pray 
thee, master this impious creature, to honour the 
Dionysos who revived the name of primeval Zagreus.^ 
Lord Zeus, do thou also look upon the threat of this 
madman. Hear me, father and mother! Lyaios 
is contemned: let thy marriage lightning be the 
avenger of Semele ! " 

21' To this appeal bullface ^ Mene answered on 
high : 

218 " Night-illuminating Dionysos, friend of plants, 
comrade of Mene, look to your grapes ; my concern is 
the mystic rites of Bacchos, for the earth ripens the 
offspring of your plants when it receives the dewy 
sparkles of unresting Selene. Then do you, dancing 
Bacchos, stretch out your thyrsus and look to your 
offspring ; and you need not fear a race of puny men, 
whose mind is light, whose threats the whips of the 
furies repress perforce. With you I mil attack your 
enemies. Equally with Bacchos , I rule distracted 
madness. I am the Bacchic Mene, not alone because 
in heaven I turn the months, but because I command 
madness and excite lunacy. I will not leave un- 

^ With this string of the moon's identifications with various 
goddesses, cf. the similar list of the sun's names, xl. 369 ff. 

* So called because her exaltation {vipcofia) is in Taurus ; 
this is astrology, not myth. 

313 



NONNOS 

ov x6ovir)v atdtv vfipw iyut tn^woum^ 

TJSrf yap KvKOOpyo^ an€iXrmf AmmSv^* 

o TTpiv tojv raxvyowo^, 6 Sicuumaf S(v \ 

TiM^Ao? oAttcwci fcal Scvrnu i)yf|uir^. 

rjSrj 8* dfjL4>l r€voyTn^ ^EpvBpalmf hot m ie^i m f 

K€KXiTai €v6a teal Ma, rtijf oM^rytkH iXxtjit, «» 

a<l>pova ^rjpiaSrja narrip tKpw^ *X%i9Wlft 

€yx(ii KiGcrq€VTi r€rvfifUvov airap 6 ^tfiytatf 

irarpww fiapvdoyri tcarrf^i vtvrc fi^pq^* 

Tvparjvol 3€&ia<7t r^ov ad^POf, ^m 6f t mfAf MO 

6p0iO9 laros ofuiirro jcoa aftWtX6€t/f tr^W 4pvi|f 

aiVroTcA^?, to Si XaZ^ M amttpeioi â–  < ii^wg 

rip,€piBwv €u/3oTpv9 camdfifTO imMrTpif, 

K-at irpoTovoi avpi^ov 4YiMf€m teopf^fkp 

lo^Xoi, pportrfv Si ifwfp^ tcoi ix44ljpoim fiaMj^ ^^ 

Svap,€V€€^ pHiaxTt^ a^ifiofUvo40 wpOO WW 09 

curcri #ccii/xa{ou<n iroi iv poSloif ^imwHfpg 

ota KvPuTTrjr7Jp€^ iiriaKaipovai yoX% 

KoX V€KV^ vp,€r€pcj ^^oXrjfUvof i(4i 

X€Vfiaai,v *Aa<Tvpioim KoXiirrtrtu *I»«5of *0|ptfrriK» 

€ta€Ti Scifiaivujv Kal cV vSaaw ovMyia l^dtqfov. ' 

o^pa /i€v ciWrt lioK^oj 6p.iXt€ tamX£U iAi^f), 
r6<l>pa Sc Kal Zayprji ;^apc{o/ACKi} AlOMfoto 185 

Il€pG€<l>6vr) Owpr^^tv *Efx»aAa9, dxvu|«<^ M 
Q^iyovw -xpaiayiria^ Kaatyvi^tp ^^io¥vatp. 

Ai Si Acos ;(0oi'u>io ^vadvrci V€i^/«aTt KOpaif^ 
Eu/Li€v^€9 IIcviJiToy infarpaTOiifyro fJLtXoBpqt, 
d>v 7) fiiv ^o<f>€poio SiadpwoKovaa fUpiBpov 200 

Taprrapiriv cAcAiJcv €;(i5i^<7a(iv liiaaBXfff^ 
314 




DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 230-261 

punished earthly violence against you. For already 
Lycurgos who threatened Dionysos, so quick of knee 
once, who sharply harried the Mainads, is a bUnd vaga- 
bond who needs a guide. Already over the stretches 
of Erythraian reedbeds a crowd of Indians lie dead 
here and there, dumb witnesses to your valour, and 
foolish Deriades has been swallowed up in the un- 
willing stream of his father Hydaspes, pierced with 
an ivy spear — yes, he fled and fell into the sad stream 
of his despondent father. The Tyrsenians learnt 
your strength, when the standing mast of their ship 
was changed, and turned into a vinestock of itself, the 
sail spread into a shady canopy of leaves of garden- 
vine and rich bunches of grapes, the forest ays whistled 
with clumps of serpents hissing poison, your enemies 
threw off their human shape and intelligent mind and 
changed their looks to senseless dolphins wallowing 
in the sea — still they make revel for Dionysos even 
in the surge, skipping like tumblers in the calm 
water. Indian Orontes also is dead, struck by your 
sharp thyrsus, and drowned in the Assyrian floods, 
still fearing the name of Bacchos even under the 
waters." 

2^ Such was the answer of the goldenrein deity to 
Bromios. But while Bacchos yet conversed with cir- 
cling Mene, even then Persephone was arming her 
Furies for the pleasure of Dionysos Zagreus, and in 
wrath helping Dionysos his later born brother. 

258 Then at the grim nod of Underworld Zeus, the 
Furies assailed the palace of Pentheus. One leapt 
out of the gloomy pit swinging her Tartarean whip 
of vipers ; she drew a stream from Cocytos and 

^ 'PeCrjs MS. : Kovprqs Koch, Kopaiqs Graefe, Ludwich. 

315 



NONNOS 

KojKVTov Be pifBpov apvtro ical £ruyof Att^, 
KoX x^ovijj paBdiuyyt Sofuwf ipotuvtv *A\wkfg . • • 
ota TrpoQeaTrl^omu yoov Ktd ooKoua Of^pffg' 
^Atcral-qv 8c udxaipav dn 'Ar&Ao9 i^yoyv BaifUtt¥, Mi 
dpxd^rju 'InMoio fuai^dvw, f wont fti^^ 
UpoKvrj BvfioXtaiva aw ia^po^infm OiAo/ii^A]} 
TrjXvy€rqv wStva Scarfii/fcum tn^pip 
TToi&opopu) Trjpfji ^iXriv hiUTp€vaaTO ^ojMfr 

dpx€KdKoi9 dyvxtaat StayA u ^ ^ o a iiQvftff 
^ArriKov €Kpv4f€v dop dp€mn4ihm ^^^^JftlB 

fUXX€ dapthf dxdpnjvQi- ^ira|ii{aaoa hk tfSf)^^ 
Topyovo^ dpruf>6voio rtdppvrov aXfta M^oa^arft Tt$ 
iropi^vp€at9 txpiot Aifiwrriin hMptm idotmne, 
KOX rd fi€v iv OKondXoif rc^^i^i^oaTO M<>*PBf ^F^iiTj. 
*0p6valois ht noBtaat 5o^uiir i w M jtm/ro UBfiov 



alBvaawv Kpovirjv fLaviw^a 11 a<^ ^pioomjr* 
poKx^voas o dxdXivov Wpiaraioto yvraaro 



AvTOVOTjv €KdX€aa€, Kol tax* Bvidhi ^ff^' 

vUo9 ci9 vpi€vau3v tpthpLoivtif Kol *(MdlMmtfi' 

al$€pos rjpnaoa^ ^^X^» <*^<^ ^X^ ^^9^ dtcoitrff SM 

'ApTCfjiis *AKraujjva #ccu *E»<Spftiaim £iAifny« 

ov 6dv€v ^Atcraiwv, ovk cXAa;^ ^^P^ 

ov OTiKrij^ cAa^oio rcuofyAc^y^*^ kc/w/tt, 

ou vo^oi' efSos* cScffTo, fcoi ovir 



• Since all this was in Thrace, it b hard to Me bovllMkBiiB 
got to Attica« even though the two 

S16 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 262-290 

water from Styx, and drenched Agaue's rooms with 
the infernal drops as if with a prophecy of tears 
and groanings for Thebes ; and the deity brought 
that Attic knife from Attica, which long before 
murdered Itylos, when his mother Procne with heart 
Hke a lioness, helped by murderous Philomele, cut 
with steel the throat of the beloved child of her 
womb, and served up his own son for cannibal 
Tereus to eat.« This knife, the channel of blood- 
shed, the Fury held, and scratching up the dust with 
her pernicious fingernails she buried the Attic blade 
among the hillgrown roots of a tall fir, among the 
Mainads, where Pentheus was to die headless. 
She brought the blood of Gorgon Medusa, scraped 
off into a shell fresh when she was newly slain, 
and smeared the tree with the crimson Libyan 
drops. This is what the mad Fury did in the 
mountains. 

278 Now with darkling steps night-illuminating 
Dionysos entered the palace of Cadmos, wearing 
the head of a bull, cracking Pan's Cronian ^ whip 
of madness, and put madness into the unbridled 
wife of Aristaios. He called Autonoe and cried in 
wild tones — 

^^ ** Autonoe, happier far than Semele — for by 
your son's late marriage you can rival Olympos 
itself! You have seized the honours of the skies, 
now Artemis has got Actaion for her dainty leman, 
and Selene Endymion ! Actaion never died, he 
never took the shape of a wild creature, he had no 
antlered horn of a dappled deer, no bastard shape, 
no false body, he saw no hounds hunting and killing 

^ Because Pan is descended by one way or another from 
Cronos. 

317 



NONNOS 

oAAa KaKoyXatautav arofidrww ircvt^^popi fM^ 
vUo9 vfJL€r€poio fiopov ifttvoayro Porijptf, 
yvix<f)iov (xOaipoiTi^ dyvfi^€ihoto $€iihnft» 
oZ3a, n66€v SoXoi o^of' iv iXXoTalot€ Spumiotf 
€(V ydfiov, ciV Ila^'i/v {i^ijj^ioWir <t<9t ytwoorcr. 
dAAd 6v€XXij€yTi hia0pil>at€owm, ««SA^ 
a7rcu5€ /ioActv oKiXfJTOf it ovpta' MuB9i 
6ili€ai Wtcrauvva ovi^ypcuooorra Avn(^, 
"Apre^v ryyvf ^xovra, koI aioXa hiimm ^^pft 
ci^po/u5a9 4>op€ovm, kqX dfi ^ ^6t m ¥T a ^optfrpip. 

ciV ydfiov €pxofi4i^ invpi^ w4Xtt taj^aifUfr 
*\vovs KoXXiTOKoio fiOKOpr^pffi, &m 0(oa^ 
ao9 9rai9 cXXa;(C Xttrrpa, rd /i^ A^ycr^Qrof ^yi^Mi^. 
ov dpaavs *iiputtp ntXt iifpi^lof wXiO^py. 
Xdpfiari 8* TjPi^af aiOtv vUoi f&ctn 

a^iwv ri€pioi9 aW/uuf ;i^ioM(f5€a ;^Tip. 

€Yp€Ot Koi (TV ytvoio Yafi€xrT^Xof, ciAoyf fi^frtfp' 

dppL€vos ovTO^ 'Epcj^, ort yvfA^io¥ 'A^rc/uf dyrij SIO 

vfa #caCTiyj^oto, koI ov f/ww cfx^ <l*fo/Ti|r. 

oAAd ^€d ^yyc>5€^»t>9 ctttJi' irorc frcuSa AoxttiO|y, 

vtca Kov<f>i^ov<ra aaoiftpovo^ loxtoipfff 

'Tqx^i naiSoKOfJUp ^-qXrifioix htlfov *Ayai^. 

ri9 v4pL€aU TTort toOto, Kwoaaoog tl vo^ «o<rr«|9 Sid 

rj$€X€ Br^prjTTJpa XaywPoXov via XoxtBao^ 

cuccAoi/ *A/cTata>»'i <j>LXo<jK<yn4Xip T€ Kiipi(r||« 

firjrpwwv IXdffxjov €7roxrjfUvov cuWi U^p^;" 



318 



DIONYSIACA, XLIV. 291-318 

him. No, these were all herdsmen's lies, empty- 
minded fables of malicious tongues about your son's 
fate, because they hated the bridegroom of an un- 
wedded goddess. I know where this invention came 
from : women are jealous about marriage and love 
in others. Come, leap up with stormy shoe ! Make 
haste, speed into the mountains ! There you shall 
see Actaion beside Lyaios on the hunt, with Artemis 
not far off, woven nets in his hands and hunting-boots 
on his feet, fingering his quiver. Happier far than 
Semele, Autonoe ! for a goddess came to you for 
marriage, a goddess became your gooddaughter, the 
Archeress herself ! More blessed than that mother 
Ino proud of her son, for your son got the bed of 
a goddess, which proud Otos never got. Bold Orion 
was never bridegroom of the Archeress. Your 
Cadmos is young again with joy for your son's bride, 
and holds revel beside their bridal bed in the moun- 
tains, with his snowy hair fluttering in the airy breeze. 
Wake up, and make one in the marriage company, 
happy mother ! This is a proper love, for holy 
Artemis has a brother's son for bridegroom, not a 
stranger husband. And when the goddess who hated 
marriage brings forth a child, you shall dandle the 
son of the chaste Archeress in your cherishing arms 
and make Agaue jealous at the sight ! Why should 
not the huntress be pleased to bear a son in her bridal 
chamber, a hunter himself and a marksman, like 
Actaion, or Cyrene who loved the mountains, and 
let him ride behind his mother's team of swift deer .'' " 



319 



AIONimAKaN TEXSAPAKOITON 
IIEMIITON 

n€fi7rrov TcatrofKucooTor i w6 ^ a A, 

ompoM IICMWpy 
Tovpov irtio^yyti KtptuXiUof ibrri AmUov. 

yvfnf>iov *A#rrauuKt trapi)/i€Mir M^ptaXpH* 

ciff opo5 aicp7^/iM>f ofuifTtM luwf^f Ayoviy, 

aGKonov ippoiphr^at fiffifj¥6n X*^^ ^imA^' 

dapaaXtTjv ot4 Ko^/iOf *A/ia{opa rCifrfr A)^BVi|r. 

#cat yv/zi^y naXdfirjatv oAor McvMi 8a|i 
icai arpari-qv €VonXov drtvx^i X^ifl ootfm, 

dvpOOV €XW p,€\lTJ^ OV BtVOfJUU, o6 b6pl9 W«MB0* 

ryp^cl' 5* d/xTTcAoci^i Sopuoodor ai^lpa /nMm* 
ou <f>op€w OatprjKa, Koi €vdwfn)Ka on|*rflWW»» 
Kvp.paXa b* aWvoaovaa kcu ofi/^wX^fya fiothff 
KvBalvcj Aios via, koI ov 11 cv^^ ytpaipm. 
AvSid fioi 8oT€ poirrpa- ri fUXXm, $viai€t «p<w; 
i^ofjLai €iV a/coWAoi;?, o^t MoutiScf, ^x* ywi^ofcf 
320 



BOOK XLV 

See also the forty-fifth, where Pentheus binds the 
bull instead of stronghom Lyaios. 

When Bromios had spoken, the nymph rushed from 
the house possessed by joyous madness, that she 
might see Actaion as bridegroom seated beside the 
Archeress ; along with her as she hastened swift as 
the wind sped Agaue to the mountain, with stag- 
gering steps, unveiled, frenzied, the sting of the 
Cronian« whip flogging her wits, while she poured 
out these heedless words from her maddened lips : 

® " I rebel against that ridiculous Pentheus, to 
teach him what a bold Amazon is Agaue the daughter 
of Cadmos ! I too am chockfull of valour. If I like, 
I will tame all Pentheus even with my bare hands, 
and I Mill destroy his well-armed host with no weapon 
in my hand ! I have a thyrsus ; ashplant I want not, 
no spear I shake — with viny lance I strike the spear- 
shaking man ! I wear no corselet, but I ^vill tame 
the man who wears the best. Shaking my cymbals 
and my tambour which I beat on both sides I magnify 
the son of Zeus, I honour not Pentheus. Give me the 
Lydian drums — why do ye delay, ye hours of festival ? 
I will come to the hills, where Mainads, where women 

<* Hardly more definite than " divine," all the Olympians 
being related in one way or another to Cronos. 

VOL. Ill Y 321 



NOKNOS 

TJXt,K€9 aypwaaovTi awaypotatjown A twi/ y, It 

etV QKOTr€Xov9 d/ftxT/TOf (Acmto/mu, ^^IP^ *®^ «^"i 

ovK€Ti Porpv6€iTo^ d»xim>/uu ojpvta BdUryov, M 

ouKCTt BaaaafH^i" arvydut XPf^' ^^^ '(â– â– ^ *^^ 

6^ Aios* vdtipthovroi dYvrXwoarro K^pmmmL 
€aoopai tJKxmthiXof , oui^AvSof ^yto^Wf 

%ls ^fUvri irtfTOTTiTo v4fi ottalpovoi 
XrjvaiT)^ fuBinovoa ^cAnnor oA^ voptifftt 
BoKYoy dvcvdfouoa «rcu cUaSoimio &i ww i> y 
Kou iLcficAi;!' vnartHo Aao( irurAiyam ^wmbSmk, 
Kat acAaf €v<f>a€a>v yafLuu¥ iXiyaum i ryaii wflr. 3S 

Kat x^P^^ <^ OKOvdXoioiP im woXit' 

laxov i-rrramjXov 5c ncSoi' «c/MM|pOii« 041^ 

i};^ noiKiXofiop^o^- ofioyXutaat^ 5* AoAjpiA 

fji€X7TOfi€V(vv PapvSovnoi iirtafAOf^ytfot KmOipfSm* 

Kai bpoo6€i9 KcAd^TTacv aXof tcrvwog' ^ 3J a«^)o«U 40 

h€vhpâ