Theodore Metochites's Poems 'To Himself': Introduction, Text and Translation 3700128533, 9783700128533

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JEFFREY

THEODORE

MICHAEL

METOCHITES’S

FEATHERSTONE

POEMS

‘TO HIMSELF’

BYZANTINA

VINDOBONENSIA

Herausgegeben von der Kommission fir Byzantinistik der Osterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und vom Institut für Byzantinistik und Neográzistik der Universitat Wien Band

JEFFREY

THEODORE

XXIII

MICHAEL

FEATHERSTONE

METOCHITES'S "TO HIMSELF’

POEMS

Introduction, Text and Translation “ὡς

wie

"s

VERLAG DER

OSTERREICHISCHEN

AKADEMIE WIEN 2000

DER

WISSENSCHAFTEN

Vorgelegt von k. M. JOHANNES

KODER

in der Sitzung am 2. Oktober

1998

Gedruekt mit Unterstützung des Bundesministeriums für Wissenschaft und Verkehr in Wien

Redaktion Martin Hinterberger und Woltram

Hórandner

On the cover:

Donor portrait of Metochites in the narthex of the Kariye Djami, Istanbul. A

ye

φέρων

ἀνάθημ᾽

ἐδόμαν

τόδ᾽

Poem XIX, 387

Alle Rechte

ISBN

ἴσως

ἥδιστον.

vorbehalten

3-7001-2853-3

Copyright © 2000 by Osterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Wien Gesamtherstellung: Weitzer & Partner, A-8045 Printed and bound in Austria

Graz

Contents

Foreword Introduction

. . . ....

Text and Translation

. ..

le

ll

....... νυν νιν νιν νυ νιν νιν ως

Index, compiled by Martin Hinterberger Plates...

....

2.2

loser

...............

4 eR.

19

145 151

Foreword

Not inappropriately likened by a contemporary to ‘undisentanglable snakes’, Metochites’s littl Poems frightened off not a few whom we asked to assist in the project of taming them. With the sponsorship, however, of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the kind encouragement of Professors W. Hórandner, H. Hunger and P. Schreiner, and the acceptance by the Austrian Academy of Sciences for publication

in Byzaniina

Vindobonensia,

we here exhibit

these specimens to the public view as best we can. Many, many thanks also to Dr Martin Hinterberger for compiling the index and for his suggestions and improvements in the text.

Patmos.

St Michael and All Angels 1998"

INTRODUCTION

Introduction

11

Born in 1270 to George Metochites, Archdeacon of the Palace under Michael VIII, Theodore Metochites had had to leave the Capital with his family ca 1285 when his father was banished by the new Emperor, An-

dronieus II, on account of the róle he had played in the now repudiated Union of Lyons. But during a visit to Asia Minor in 1290 Andronicus was impressed with the young Theodore’s scholarly achievements and invited him to court. In the course of the next three decades, despite the difficulties posed by his father’s continued imprisonment, Metochites progressed from one imperial office to another, becoming μεσάζων, or Prime Minister, in 1306, and finally Grand Logothete in 1321. Having amassed great wealth, by means which he would later regret, Metochites was one of the leading political and intellectual figures in the Empire, and he is

remembered even to-day for his patronage of the magnificent decoration of the monastery of the Chora. With the marriage of his daughter to a nephew of the Emperor, the family's fortunes rose to new heights. But like his father, Metochites was to have an unhappy end. His imperial son-in-law, the Caesar John, died in 1326; and his own sons changed sides in the civil war between Andronicus and his recalcitrant grandson, the future Andronicus

III,

which ended in Metochites's banishment from

the Capital in 1328. Deprived of everything, Metóchites was allowed to return

to live in the

Chora

in

1330,

and

he died

there

two

years

later,

having become the monk Theoleptus.! Statesman by day, scholar by night, Metochites was called a ‘living library’ by his protégé Gregoras, but mocked as a corrupter of belles lettres by such friends as Xanthopoulos and enemies as Choumnos alike.? His literary output, much of it still unedited, was considerable, in-

cluding Paraphrases of Aristotle, Orations, an Introduction to Astronomy, Essays, Letters (inextant), and Poems.’ Though inordinately proud of all his works, Metochites particularly loved his Poems, the offspring of his

!' About Metochites see H.-G. Beck, Theodor Metochites, die Krise des byzantinischen Weltbildes im 14. Jahrhundert, Munich 1952, 3-25; I. SEgvCENKO, Theodore Metochites, the Chora,

and

the

Intellectual

Trends

of His Time,

in P.

UNbERwoOD,

ed.,

The

Kariye

Djami,

Prineeton 1975, 19-55; Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit (PLP), no. 17982; Eva DE VRIES-VAN DER VELDEN, Théodore Métochite: une réévaluation, Amsterdam 1987, 31-104. ? Nicephorus Gregoras: in his Historiae VII, 11, ed. L. ScHoPEN, Bonn 1829, 272,3-4.

For Metochites's detractors, see SEVCENKO, Études sur la polémique entre Théodore Métochite et Nieéphore Choumnos, Brussels 1962, 21-67. . * BECK's Theodor Metochites (as in n.1) is mainly about the Essays. For Metochites's other works,

see SEVGENKO,

Theodore

Metochites

(as in n.l), passim;

H.

HUNGER,

Die hoch-

\

On Culture bv D. PoueMIS, Θεόδωρος Μετοχίτης, Ἠθήκὸς ἢ περὶ παιδείας. Athens 1995.

*- ome, e

sprachliche profane Literatur der Byzantiner, Munich 1978, I, 172sq, 192sq, II, 67sq, 248sq; DE VRIES-YAN DER VELDEN (as in n.1), 259-264; and most recently the edition of the Oration

-.-.--σι-τθἫ-

ana

12

Introduction

Spirit, as he called them. Of these twenty horrendously precious works in hexametre, the first two are mainly religious in character and celebrate the monastery of the Chora; two others are written in honour of saints (V&VI); three others are funerary (VII-[X); one is devoted to the science

of mathematics (X); five are missives to friends and relatives, boasting of the author’s achievements but also complaming of the insecurity of his position and soliciting support (III&IV, XI-XIII); and the last seven, of which we here present a first edition, are addressed ‘To Himself’.* Three of these latter appear to have been written just before, and four after, Metochites’s banishment from the Capital. Now near the end of his life and bereft of everything but his memories, Metochites took solace in his poetic compositions, and the book containing them appears to have become his dearest possession. It has come down to us intact: Par gr 1776 (olim Herault-Reg 3359), and in many ways it reflects the fortunes of Me-

tochites’s life. Parchment. jumn

Let us begin with a description: XIV

s. (finished before 1332).

9,5 x 14 (foll. C — 216v)

240 (revera 244) folia. 18 x 24,5, writing co-

to 10 x 18 (foll. 217-240).

One

scribe: light-to-dark

brown

ink;

Pinax and titles of Poems and initials in text ip red; corrections by Metochites in black ink. i and 9 sometimes; t-subscript often added. The one quires (foll. 1-240 [the second quire, fol. at the beginning (numbered C-D) and another Leroy OOD1; 32-208, Leroy OOA1; 209-240,

codex consists of thirty three gatherings: thirty 9-15, has only seven folia]) and two bifolia, one at the end (unnumbered). Rulings: foli. C -- 31, Leroy OOCL. Two fly-leaves of the same paper

as that pasted on the inside of the binding have

been added at the front; there follow two

older paper leaves, numbered A-B; another fly-sheet of this same paper has been added at the back. Seventeenth-century binding in brown leather, with number '288' (internal classification in the Bibliothéque du Roi) added by hand on spine. Contents: foll. C-D, Tlivaé (with titles of Poems as they appear in the text); foll. 1-35,

A Δοξολογία εἰς θεὸν καὶ περὶ τῶν καθ᾽ αὑτὸν koi τῆς μονῆς τῆς Χώρας (ed. TREU [as in n.2], 1-37); foll. 35v-51v, B Eig τὴν θεοτόκον Kal περὶ τῆς μονῆς ἔτι τῆς Χώρας (ibid., 38-54); foll. διν-ῦθν, T Εἰς Γρηγόριον τὸν χρηματίσαντοα ἀρχιεπίσκοπον πάσης Βουλγαρίας (edd. SEVCENKO- FEATHERSTONE

[as in n.4], 14-26); foll. 59v-69, A Εἰς τὸν σοφὸν Νικηφόρον τὸν l'pn-

γορᾶν xoà περὶ τῶν οἰκείων συνταγμάτων (ibid., 28-44); foll. 69-81v, E Εἰς tov μέγαν ᾿Αθανάσιον (BHG? 186b); foll. 81v-100, ET Εἰς τοὺς τρεῖς ἱεράρχας Βασίλειον τὸν μέγαν, Γρηγόριον τὸν θεολύγον καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν χρυσόστομον (BHG* 748v); foll. 100-108v, Z Ἐπιτάφιοι εἰς τὴν αὐγοῦσταν Εἰρήνην τὴν σύζυγον τοῦ θειοτάτου βασιλέως ᾿Ανδρονίκου τοῦ Παλαιολόγου; foll, 108v-119, H Ἐπιτάφιοι εἰς τὸν νέον ἄνακτα Μιχαὴλ τὸν Παλαιολόγον τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θειοτάτου βασιλέως ᾿Ανδρονίκου τοῦ Παλαιολόγου; foll. 119-125v, 1 Περὶ τοῦ μαθηματικοῦ εἴδους τῆς φιλοσοφίας καὶ μάλιστα περὶ τοῦ ἁρμονικοῦ;: foll. 126-153v, O Ἐπιτάφιοι εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ * For the Poems see M. TREU, Dichtungen des Groflogotheten Theodaros Metochites, Potsdam 1895 (Amsterdam 1966); R. GUILLAND, Les poésies inédites de Théodore Métochite, Byzantron 3 (1926) 263-302; M. GIGANTE, Il ciclo delle poesie inedite di Teodoro Metochites a se stesso o sull' instabilità della vita, Byzantinasche Forschungen 2 [Polychordia, Festschrift Franz Dólger, 2]. Amsterdam 1968, 204-224; I. SEYCENEO-J. FEATHERSTONE, Two Poems by Theodore Metochites, Greek Orthodox Theological Review 26 (1981) 1-18. *

The only other MS

V in Ambros gr 741

of the Poems,

(foll. 52-63)

Par Gr 2741,

was copied from

this one, as

was.

Poem

Introduction

κηδεστὴν τὸν Koicapa Ἰωάννην

πουλον

τὸν Παλαιολόγον;

13

foll.

153v-162,

LA Εἰς τὸν σοφὸν Ξανθό-

τὸν Θεόδωρον καὶ περὶ τῶν Kad’ ξαυτὸν δυσχερῶν (ed. auth.,

Eleventh

Theodore Metochites's

Poem, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 81 [1988] 253-264); foll. 162-170v, IB Εἰς τὸν σοφὸν

Ξανθόπουλον τὸν Νικηφόρον καὶ περὶ τῶν οἰκείων συνταγμάτων (edd.

M. CUNNIXGHAM- 8. GE-

ORGIOPOULOU- J. FEATHERSTONE, Harvard Ukrainian Studies 7 [1988] 253-264); foll. 170v-179v,

IT Εἰς tov ξαυτοῦ ἀνεψιὸν τὸν πρωτασηκρῆτις «Λέοντα τὸν BapSaAnv>® καὶ περὶ τῆς προτέpas αὐτῶν διαγωγῆς (ed. auth., Theodore Metochitess Poem to His Nephew the Protasecretis , Philohistór. Miscellanea in honorem

C. Laga [Orientalia Lovaniensta Analecta.

60], Leuven 1994, 451-468); foll. 179v-187v, IA Εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ περὶ τῆς δυσχερείας τῶν κατ᾽ αὐτὸν πραγμάτων; foll. 187v-198, IE Εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἔτι καὶ περὶ τῆς δυσχερείας τοῦ βίου ; foll. 198-206, ΙΣΤ Εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἔτι καὶ περὶ τῆς ἀνισότητος κατὰ τὸν βίον πραγμάτων ; foll. 206-21 ὅν, IZ Εἰς ξαυτὸν μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν τῆς κατ᾽ αὐτὸν τύχης; foll. 216v-225v, TH Εἰς tawtov ἔτι μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν τῆς κατ᾿ αὐτὸν τύχης; foll. 225v-235, IO Εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἔτι μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν τῆς KAT’ αὐτὸν τύχης (edd. part. R. GUILLAND, Le Palais de Théodore Métochite, Revue des Etudes Grecques 35 [1922] 82-95; DE VRIES-VAN DER VELDEN [as in n.1], 253-258); foll. 235-240v, K Ἔτι

εἰς ἑαυτὸν μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν τῆς KOT’ αὐτὸν τύχης. On fol. A: list of contents with Royal Library number 3359; fol. Bv, in middle of page: Theodorus metochites; foi, C (Plate 1), in upper margin, by 14/15th-century hand: trà ἔπη τοῦ σοφωτάτου AoyoféTov-, at right: CCLX X XVTIJ, 288, Theodorus metochetes 3359 (internal and general classifications of the Royal Library), in lower margin: Theodori metochiti omilie, 81

(number

ἀπριλλίίω)

in the

library

e. (ἱνδικτιῶνι)

of Hérault);

€. τῆς

fol.

διακαινησίμου

D

(Plate

3),

ἑ(βδο)μίά)δος

after

Pinax:

a’.

ἦλθε

ἔτους

κατὰ

ς ξα.

τῆς

μηνὶ

βασιλίδος

τῶν πόλεων, ὁ eUlda. corrjaeBis μαχάμετ πολιορκήσων αὐτὴν :ϑιὰ γῆς τε, καὶ διὰ θαλάσσης. ἐπισυρόμενος στρατὸν μὲν, uupid(vOpuwm)ov καὶ μηχανὰς ἅτι πλείστας, καὶ ἑλεπόλεις. στόλον δὲ, καὶ αὐτὸν ὅτι πλεῖστον. καὶ περιστοιχήσαι αὐτὴν πανταχόθεν, in right margin: 1453; fol. 1 (Plate 4), in upper margin: αὐτῇ βίβλος λιανωρου, CCLX XXVIII, and just above title of Poem I, in the hand of Gregoras: τοῦ σοφωτάτου μεγάλοι; λογοθέτου κυροῦ Θεοδώρου τοῦ Μετοχίτου, cf. n. 8 below.

By examining the make-up of this MS, the ink, the number and length of lines, and the form of letters, we can perhaps re-construct its history. Though copied by the same scribe throughout, the Poems were added to the book in the course of time. Originally it contained only Poem I, and comprised only the first five quires (foll. 1-39v, NB the different rulings in the quires which follow). The scribe made a cross in the middle

of the such a of the copied

page cross book, very

beneath the last line of the Poem (fol. 35v). As we shall see, occurs later in the codex, at what had again become the end before it was added to yet again. Poem II was probably soon after Poem I, since the script in the titles of both is iden-

tical, consisting of very grand, large uncials. Also, there are three vertical

points at the end of the first title; and three such points recur at the beginning of the second title. To these two Poems was then added the Third, whose title is written in much smaller, mixed title capitals, with two cruciform ornaments on either side. Then Poem IV was added, its title written in fancy uncials, like those of the first two Poems, but smaller, and $

Though

Bardaless

Plate 2), the bottom

name

has

also

been

seratched

out

in

the

stroke of the lambda is still elearly visible there.

Pinax

(fol.

Cv,

see

14

Introduction

with two of the same cruciform ornaments as in Poem

III. It was appa-

rently now that the bifolium (foll. C-D) was added at the beginning of the codex for the Pinax: the first four titles here appear to have been written at the same time, more delicately than those which follow, with very fine uncial

initials; and on either side of the title ΠΙΝΑΞ

we find the cru-

ciform ornaments which flank the titles of Poems III and IV in the text (see Plate 1). Poem V followed, its title written above the text in the same

large uncials as the first two Poems, with no cruciform ornaments, but again the three vertical points. The title of Poem VI is written in smaller uncials, like those in the title of Poem four, but without the cruciform ornaments. The titles of these two Poems in the Pinax are the last to have uncial initials (see Plate 1). The titles of the following six Poems, both in

the text and in the Pinax, are written in the same mixed script used in Poem IH. It is not clear why Poem X was copied before IX; but the horizontal ornament across the page at the end of Poem X (fol. 125) was perhaps meant to alert the reader’s attention. Another of the cruciform ornaments we have already seen was added, in the centre of the page, above the title of Poem XII in the text; perhaps this is evidence that this Poem was copied some time after the previous one. The titles of Poems XIII to XVI are also written in the same mixed script, with no distinguishing features either in the text or the Pinax. But a cross by the scribe in the centre of the line after the text of Poem XVI (fol. 206, see Plate 5), and another (red) cross in the centre of the line after the title of this Poem in the Pinax (at the bottom of fol. C, see Plate 2), show that

at one point in time the book ended here, three folia before the end of the twenty-seventh

quire. Later, four more

quires were attached for the ad-

dition of the last four Poems (foll. 209-240v, NB the change in rulings). The titles above the text of all four are written in the same

(red) mixed

script as the previous seven, but the initials in the first lines are much inferior to the rather grand designs in all the previous sixteen Poems (see, e.g., Plates 5 and 4); and the titles in the Pinax, all strongly resembling one another, were obviously added later, at the top of fol. D (compare Plates 3 and 2). The ink in the last four Poems is also much darker; there

are more lines to the page, and the writing column becomes wider. We cannot know when the last bifolium was added it has no rulings.

at the end of the codex;

Throughout the codex the scribe added what are apparently Metochites’s earlier emendations to the Poems, with the usual sign IP,

margin.

in the

The emendations are signalled in the text by various marks. In

Poems One to Sixteen, the marks are most often made in red, but in the last four Poems simply in the same ink as the text (see, e.g., Plate 5).

Introduction

15

However, these properly recorded emendations were not to prove adequate, for throughout the text of all twenty Poems innumerable others were made subsequently by Metochites himself (see, e.g. Plates 4 and 5)': fussy, indecorous alterations which well illustrate the author's

great care for these texts and, as with the additional lines to the page and the very modest initials in the last four Poems, the measures of economy to which he was in the end constrained. The codicological deterioration mirrors the decline of Metochites's fortunes. It is likewise with the content of the Poems. Amidst the lofty considerations of the first two Poems we are still in the palmy days of Metochites's prosperity; but already in Poems HI and IV(mid-1320's), to Gregory of Bulgaria and Gregoras, Metochites had sensed the precariousness of his situation. 'The tone becomes urgent in the missives to the brothers Xanthopouloi (after 1326), and even more so in that to Bardales. The utter desperation in Poems XIV-XVI shows that they must have been composed just before the debacle of 1328, but it would appear that they had already been added to the book before Me-

tochites's banishment from the Capital. The book probably remained in the Chora, with the rest of Metochites's library;? and it would then have been on his return there in 1330, during his last two years of life, that. the last four Poems, XVIi-X X, each inscribed ‘after the reversal of his

fortune’, were added to it. Metochites had probably already written them in his exile in Didymoteichos.’ In any case, it was certainly now that he pored over and over all twenty of these ‘medicines for his aching spirit’, blithely gouging out and inserting single words or whole verses in the parchment,

mostly in order to improve faulty prosody.”

7 The hand here is the same as that in the first-person remarks in the margins of the MS of the Essays, Par gr 2003. 8. [n Poem IV Metochites had implored Gregoras, whom he had installed in the Chora, to keep safe all the books he had gathered there: ll. 340—348, edd. SEVCENKO-FEATHERSTONE

(as in n. 4), 42-44;

and in 1330 Metochites sent a long letter to the monks of the Chora from

his exile, exhorting them to look after the monastery's interests and preserve his books: text of letter in δενζενκο, Theodore Metochites (as in n. 1), 58-88. ? These are perhaps the poems Gregoras (Historiae. VIII, 5, ed. SCHOPEN [as in n. 2], 309,

10-11}

his exile;

has in mind

in Poem

IV

when

he says

(il. 291-293,

edd.

that

Metochites

wrote

letters

SEVORENKO-FEATHERSTONE

and

poems

[as in n.4], 26),

to him the

from author

still occupies a ‘glorious position’. © Beginning with the very first word of Poem I: μονογενὲς to μουνογενὲς (see Plate 4). Similarly untidy autograph emendation was practised by Manuel Palaeologus (in his Letters, ed. G. Dennis, The letters of Manuel II Palaeologus, Washington 1977, xxi-xxii, and in the Dialogue on Marriage, ed. A. ANGELOU, Manuel Palaiologos, Dialogue with the EmpressMother on Marriage, Vienna 1991, 13-19) and by Isidore of Kiev (in Par suppl gr 309). — It must have been now, too, that Metochites re-read his Essays, in Par gr 2003, remarking in the

margins that what he had written had indeed come to pass; cf. nn. 7 and 12.

16

Introduction

Though probably written with Gregory Nazianzenus’s autobiographical hexametres

in mind,

Metochites’s

verses to himself owe

little to Gre-

gory. In Metochites’s hexametres, as in those of Prodromos, quantity of vowels is observed — if it is observed at all — only insofar as it is visible to

the

eye:

through

long

vowels,

diphthongs,

or

double

consonants

(mutes with liquids being ambiguous!); nor 1s the late-Antique tendency to place the diaeresis after the third foot much in evidence. These showpieces

of antiquarianism

were not written

to be recited

aloud,

but

only to impress the reader: rather like literary counterparts of the Chora mosaics, striking images and metaphors are presented in a mixture of Epic,

Ionic,

Aeolic

and Doric

forms reminiscent

of Pindar

but without

precedent in extravagance.!! In the earlier Poems Metochites repeats much of what he had already said in the Essays about the instability of all things in this world. Again and again he had regretted his earlier, private life of study, before he came to occupy a position of state. But in the Poems to himself, particularly the last four written after all had been lost, there is a poignancy rarely found in Byzantine letters: a nostalgia for things lost forever, but also à genuine resolve to aceept all that Providence has brought to pass. Poem XIV eontinues in the vein of complaint expressed in the previous three Poems on the fiekleness of Fortune and instability of all worldy

things,

even

of the

Empire

itself.

He

had

said

similar

things

already in his Essays, but the tone here is much more urgent.” In Poem XV Metochites muses on his familial misfortunes: on the difficulties he has had with his children. The two whose early death he mentions cannot be any of those named in the Prosopography. He also refers to the death of ἃ wife, who had left 'orphans' (179/80), and, apparently, to the death of his father (in 1328 in prison, where he would not have seen him; 248/55). Metochites had already complained in Poem IV that God had deprived him of intellectually gifted children.’*

! Gregory Nazianzenus: De sc ipso,

PG 37, 969-1452. For Prodromos's hexametres, see

W. HORANDNER, Theodoros Prodromos. Historische Gedichte, Vienna 1974, 124, and M. LauxTERMANN, Jahrbuch der Osterr. Byz. 49 (1999) 365—370, esp. 367. — Metochites’s Poems were too rieh even for Byzantine tastes: the verses mocked by Xanthopoulos as 'writhing, undisen-

tanglable serpents’ were most likely these same, see auth., Three More Letters of Nicephorus Calistus Xanthopoulos, Byzantinische Zeitschrift 91 (1998) 27. 7 Essays: Ch. G. MULLER, Th. KiEssLiNG edd., Theodori Metochitae Miscellanea philosophica et historica, Leipzig, 1821, chapp. 27-29 (pp. 177-207), 37-40 (pp. 230-250), 77 (pp.

413-442), 112 (pp. 751—757), 115-119 (pp. 775-820). 7? PLP ved

(as in n. 1) nos. 5972,

of intellectual

children:

Poem

17977, IV, ἢ.

17980, 17985 and 17986 were all still alive. Depri13-14,

edd.

SEvGENKO-FEATHERSTOXE

(as in n.4), 29.

Introduction

Poem

XVI,

the last to be written

17

before the disaster, again

takes up

the theme of the instability and unfairness of Fortune. Deploring the calamities of the time

in which

he lives, viz. the civil wars

between

the two

Andronici, and his perilous position of state — he must have understood that he was on the losing side —, the author entreats Christ for a miracle at the last hour. Poems

XVII

and XVIII,

the first of those inseribed

‘after the rever-

sal of his fortune’, must have been written very shortly after the debacle of 1328: the author's desperate insistance on his calm acceptance of divine

providence

is

belied

by

the

distraction

of thought

here,

even

greater — impossible though this may sound - than in the other Poems. Metochites commands his soul to consider his losses as gains: expiation for the many sins he has committed in this life, in order that he may avoid worse punishment in the world to come. In XIX a more composed Metochites consoles himself with his memories: he has lost everything, yes, but he has also had more good things in his life than most men; and he insists, with a certain smugness, that everything he once had, his house, his riches, his glorious position, is

stored up intact in his mind forever; thus he has noésreally been deprived of anything. His only worry is for the Chora: lest the rabble which has destroyed

his house should destroy it as well (369/90).

that after Metochites

Gregoras relates

had returned to the Capital, installed quite happily

in the Chora, he went to his former house and looked with horror on the

scene of desolation: even the floor had been torn up, sent as a present to the ‘Western Scyths'.'* In Poem XX , half the length of the others, death is near. Here again Metochites

expresses

his resolve to remain

calm

amidst

even

the worst

sufferings. But out of keeping with the previous Poems, where the arguments for this acceptance of his lot are expressly Christian, the name of Christ does not appear here: the author addresses only ‘Lord God’, who does everything with Reason. The ethic of the piece is ostensibly Stoic, the examples

drawn

from

Classical

antiquity:

others

have

suffered

the

same fate and have borne up, so must Metochites. Soul must hold fast to Mind’s helm through whatever tempests Fortune throws up, unto very Death, which comes to all inexorably. Playing the late-Antique philosopher to the end, it is only in the last two words that Metochites lifts the veil, obscurely.

"

Gregoras:

Historiae,

IX,

13, ed.

SCHOPEN

(as in n.2), 458,23 — 459,24.

18

Introduction

In this edition we present the Poems as Metochites left them: only unavoidable concessions have been made to Classical orthography, e.g. the regularisation of the iota-subscript; otherwise we have followed the practice, as we understand it, of the scribe and Metochites. 'Irregularities’ and certain inconsistencies in the accentuation of nouns and encli-

tics have been allowed to stand (e.g. μελεδωνή, passim; the ubiquitous pd; ὦκα τὲ ῥεῖα Te, XVIII, 139; λευγαλέά τε, XV, 236; NB compounds of “τί

more

and

“δέ

+ enclitic), though we stop short of treating δ᾽ as one

of the latter. If the translation seems capricious and at times unintelligible, we can only assure the reader that it is likewise with the Greek.

SIGLA P Par gr 1776 M

Correctiones

Metochitae

TEXT

AND

TRANSLATION

20

Poem XIV

(f. 179v]

an

1

ΙΔ

Εἰς

ἑαυτὸν

τῶν

κατ᾽

Δύσμορος οἷα πέπονθα δέδορκά τ᾽ ἐγὼν ἀνόϊστα, δεινά, πέλωρ᾽ ἀκουέμεν, ἀργαλέ᾽ ἄφατ᾽ ἀληθῶς ἔθνεος ἡμετέροιο παρ᾽ ἐχθίστων φθοροποιά.

τοὔνεκα

δῆτ᾽ ἐπίδηλον

Χριστὸν

ἄνακτα

πὰρ φύσιν ἐς ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὅμως

10 [f. 180]

kai περὶ τῆς δυσχερείας αὐτὸν πραγμάτων

τεῇ

ἁμαρτάσ᾽ φύσιϊ

νύ

ἵλαον, τ᾽

ἀγαθὸν

ἀπειρεσίῃσι

χόλον αἰνὸν τρέψαμεν ἡ μάλ᾽ ἄκοντα, κάρτ᾽ ἔνδικ᾽ ἀτάσθαλα δὴ βιόοντας

ἠδὲ παρ᾽ ἔκνομον ἕρδοντας ἔς κ᾽ αὐτοῖο ἐφετμάς, τὰς πρόφατ᾽ ἀγαθὰ βουλόμενος, προνοέων θ᾽ ἁμῖν δῆτ᾽ ὀλέκοντα ῥέ᾽ αὐτίκα κύδεσι λευγαλέοισιν᾽ οὐ γὰρ ἑκών ποτ᾽ ἐπιφέρετ᾽ ἀνδρόμε᾽ ἀνιηρα,, ἀλλὰ πολὺ προπάροιθ᾽ ἀμείνονα δὴ πιφάσκων

ὅσσα

τ᾽ ἐφεσπόμεν᾽

οὐλόμενα

15 τοῖσι

χαλεπὰ

τάδ᾽

ἑξῆς

ἀλεύασθαι

βρουτοῖσιν

οὔτι

μέμηλε

χρειὼ

ἀλιταίνουσι-

μετὰ

φρεσὶν

ὥς

κ᾽ ἐπέοικεν,

ἀλλ᾽ ἀδεεῖς ὁρμαίνουσ᾽ ἔκνομα ῥέζειν αὐτοί, πήματ᾽ ἔδωκε μεθύστερον ἀμπλακιᾶν τίσιν.

τὰ

μὲν

ἄρ᾽ ἡμέες

παρτιθέαμεν

20 ἀφρόντιδες

ἀκούοντες

ἀναιδέες,

ἔτι μάλα

προύτερον

ἀφρόντιδες

αἰεὶ

Edwyv,

τά γ᾽ ἔσεθ᾽ ἑξῆς λυγρά’

τὰ δὲ νῦν ἀμφαδὸν ἢ μάλ᾽ ἕκαστα τελεῖται ἅμμιν κρίματα δεσπότεω ῥὰ τελεσφόρα, τὰ προύφατο. καί T' ἂρ ἐγὼν ἔτι δείδεια καί μ᾽ ἀσπερχὲς τάρβος πουλὺ μέγα φρένας ἄτροπον αἰεὶ δάμνησ᾽ ἐντὸς 25

ἔσχατ᾽

ὀλέθρια

ἠῦτε

κακὰ

δὴ παρεόντα

πήμασί

τε

φθάσασι

πανώλειαν ἀνίατον εἰν ἄρ᾽ ἁπάντεσσι |f. 180ν] 30.

κλεῖος

ἤτοι εὗτε

φέροντα

τοῖσι

ὑπέρτατον

μετ᾽

δέδορκ᾽,

τοῖσδ᾽

ὄμμασιν

αἰεί,

ὀΐοντα

ἑἐσπομένην

ἑξείης

ἔθνεος, οἷο πάροιθεν γενέεσσι μέγα βοάατο ἄφθιτον

ἀνά

γε

δὴ

πάντα

αἰῶ.

τάδε μὲν αὑτὸς ἐγὼν δόκεον πάρος αἰεὶ γινάμην πρη«γ»μάτεων ὁτιοῦν ἐν πείρῃ,

νουσερὰ

γὰρ

βιόουσιν

ἀφοῦ

χρόνος

οὔτι

γ᾽

ἅμμες ἐοίκαμες οὐλιγοδρανέοντες ὕποπτοι 85 πουλὺ κακῶς πρᾶξαι μετὰ λυγροῖς πράγμασ᾽ ἀντιάσασιν ἄφαρ, νυνὶ δ᾽ ἐπὶ μάλα

πείθομ᾽

ἄφατ᾽

ὀλοὰ

ὀλίγος

ὁπηοῦν

ἅθ᾽ ἑκάστοτ᾽ ἔωθε γίνεσθαι: καί T' ἄρα - μήποτ᾽ ὄφειλον

συνεχέα

διάδοχ᾽

ἑξῆς

ἔμπης

-

Poem

XIV

21

XIV To Himself and Concerning the Misfortune of His Affairs (1) Wretch that I am! What unbearable things I have suffered and seen, griefs monstrous even to hear, truly unspeakable calamities for our people at the hands of bitterest enemies! (4) Wherefore it is clear indeed that by

our enormous sins we have brought the Lord Christ, merciful and good by His Nature,

to dire anger,

quite unwillingly and

contrary

to nature

though nevertheless most justly, against ourselves, we who live arrogantly and do offence to His commandments; the which He proclaimed wishing us well and warning us of deadly things straightway through terrible reports. (11) For He never willingly bringeth on human woes, but prescribeth long beforehand better things and all the ruinous, dire consequences to be avoided by sinning mortals. (15) The latter take no care in their minds for these things as they ought, but rather, they

fearlessly rush to do acts of unrighteousness; and afterwards He gives them the reward of their sins. Hearing of these things formerly, we always shamelessly looked aside, heedless of good things, (20) heedless moreover of the griefs to follow; and each and every one of¢these same are now clearly visited upon us, final judgements of the Lord, which He foretold. I am

afraid ever yet; and great, dreadful fear torments

me from within

always, (25) having constantly before my eyes the direst possible evils, as though present at former calamities-I have seen, thinking of the incurable, utter destruction to follow upon the people whose excellent, imperishable

glory was vaunted greatly of old amongst all peoples in every age. (31) Indeed did I always think these things formerly, ever since I acquired some experience of affairs; for it was no short time ago that we, in a state of weakness, became like those suffering from disease, suspect of dealing badly with grievous affairs which have arisen somehow of a sudden, as is wont

would

to happen

that

each

it were

time;

not

(37) and

so!

-,

I am

seeing

convinced

unspeakable

now

woes

especially

—

constantly

2 ἀληθῶς] e corr. M 7 βιόοντες a. eorr. M 8 ἕρδοντας ἔς] ἕρδοντες a. corr. Mk’) add. p. corr. M 13 χρεὼ a. corr M 34 ὀλιγοδρανέοντες a. eorr. M 32 πρημάτεων P 36 γίγνεσθαι a. corr. M

37 ὄφλον a. corr. M

Poem

40

δερκόμενός γ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἀμφ᾽ ἑτέροισιν, ἅτε κύματα δὴ βρέμουσι χαλεπὰ παρὰ Otv' ἁλὸς ἄγρια τηλόθ᾽ ἀκουόντεσσι πολὺν ὀρυμαγδὸν ἅμα τε τάρβος ἰάλλοντα μετὰ φρεσὶν ἀδρανέεσσι" τοῖον ἄρ᾽ ἀμφ᾽ ἐμὲ νῦν δέος ταράττει ἀδρανεῖς

τάχα 45

XIV

μέν, ἴσως

δ᾽ οὔ, φρένας,

ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐοικότα

τάδε νοεύσας καίριά θ᾽ ὅστις ἔπι πείθοιτο δὴ πραπίδεσσι νοάμοσι διὰ πρήγματα κόσμου.

ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν ἀπόφημι, μάλ᾽ εὐχόμενος ψευδῆ τάδ᾽ ὀΐεσθαι καί τ᾽ ἀλιταίνειν γνώμας ἐμοῖο [f. 181]

50

55

κάρτα

καί

τ᾽ ἀφράδμονα

δείματ᾽

ἔχειν

ἀλόγιστα

γε

κενά. Te,

καί γε τὸ κέρδιον ἰδίᾳ δή μοι πᾶσί θ᾽ ἅμαδις οὔ με σαόφρονα τοῖσδε λογισμοῖς ἔμμεν᾽ ὡς πρίν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀπατηλὰ δειδιότ᾽ évO' οὔτι γε τάρβος ἀτρεκέως πέλεται, κραδίη τε ὀλίγη δείδιε τά πέρ ἔασ᾽ ἀπεοικότα ῥεῖα δ᾽ ἀλεύασθ᾽ ἐντίἀτὰρ ἐγὼν ἢν μήτε τάδ᾽, ὥς ke δείδι᾽ ἑξείης, αὑτίκα δῆθ᾽ ἕσποιτο τεράστια διὰ θεοῖο

θωύματά τ᾽ ἀνόϊστά τ᾿ ἄελπτά τε μάλ᾽ ἔκπαγλα πολλάκις, WS κεν ἔωθεν ὑπέρτατα πὰρ μερόπεσσιν ἔργ᾽

ἀδόκητα

60 λουγισμοῖς, τίπτ᾽

ἐρέω;

ἠύτε

ἀνὴρ

πνείων,

ῥέζειν,

δαμνόμενος

ἅτ᾽ ὀστέα

δάμνουσ᾽

τίνα

νοσερὰ

αὐτόθεν

πολυπενθέ᾽

παρ᾽

ἐνὶ

ἔνδοθι

ἀνύτω

ἔσχατα

ἔλπετ᾽

τοῖσδ᾽

ἀεὶ

σῆτες,

Cody,

μάλ᾽

ὀλίγον

νεκάδεσσιν

τι

ἔμμεν,

τάχα μάλ᾽ ὦκα διαδράν᾽ οὔποτ᾽ ἐὸν θάνατόν τε 65 ἠδὲ τελευτὴν pad βιότοιο παλίνστροφον οὔὕπως αὖθις ἐοῦσαν δφρα βρουτοὺς γαῖ᾽ ἄρα βόσκει ὑπερίων

[f 18lv] 70

τοῖος τοῖσδε ἥματα

δ᾽ ἀέλιος

ἐμοὶ

νόος

λογισμοῖσι πάντα διὰ

τὰ

ἠδὲ

στροφάαται

δόκησις

κύκλα.

ἔτ᾽ ἄτροπος

βιόων μάλα τείρομ᾽ ἄπαυστα, δὲ πάσας νύκτας στοναχίζων

καί τε μάλισθ᾽ ὅτι πέρ προμεμηλέν᾽ . τῆσδ᾽ ἐπὶ τάξιος ἄρα πολυφρόντιδος

ἔμοιγ᾽ ἐόντι,

“ἃ

ca

τὴν μὲν ἅπαντες ἀγάτιμον ᾧοντ᾽ εἰν πουλυέρατον. ἀτὰρ εἰ πάρος ἔην, οὐκ

δύναμ᾽

ἐρεῖν

νῦν,

αἰέν:

ὡς

δὲ

δοκεῦσ᾽

ἕτεροι

ἀνάγκη

μερόπεσσι ἄρα

φασκόντων"

νυνὶ δέ μοι πολυώδυνα πουλλὰ μελήματα λυγρὰ φρόντιν ἄσχολον ἠδέ Te μέρμερα δείματ᾽ ὀλουά, ἴδια κοινά τε, τὰ δέ τε λευγαλέα μάλιστα βρίθοντα, φέρετ᾽ ἄσχετ᾽ ἄπαυστα διαμπερὲς αἰεί.

Poem

succeeding

one

another

like

XIV

savage

23

waves

roaring

fiercely

upon

the

seashore, sending off great din and dread to those who hear from afar with listless minds. (43) Whether or not such fear as now grips me alarms listless

minds,

nevertheless,

anyone

who

trusts

those

who

understand

affairs of the world would think these things likely and pertinent. Yet I refuse, longing to believe them to be false and my opinions to be mistaken, and

that

I have

senseless,

irrational,

vain

fears;

(50)

and

it were

more

advantageous for me privately and for everyone withal if I was not sensible in these considerations as formerly, but rather, feared deceivedly

where verily no danger was and the small-hearted feared unlikely things easily to be avoided; forthwith monstrous

(55) unless, as I fear in turn, there should follow miracles from God, unthinkable, unexpected,

astounding, even as He is wont to work extraordinary, unlooked-for things upon

mortals.

Tormented

as I am

always

by

these

considerations,

as if

moths were knawing at my bones within, (61) how shall I tell of what a miserable

life I lead,

like

a man

with

the

worst

of illnesses,

scarcely

breathing, expecting forthwith to be amongst the dead, it being impossible, no matter how swiftly, to outrun death (65) and life's which in no wise returneth again so long as Earth neurisheth mortals Sun Hyperion revolveth in his orbit? Such has^been my mind

ever end, and and

thinking, ever unchanged: living with these considerations I am constantly worn down, (70) moaning every day and every night, especially because I must needs take forethought about these things, being in this wearisome

office which all amongst mortals thought honourable and much-desired. Whether it was so formerly, I cannot now teil; let others say what they think. (76) But upon me now it brings always, without respite or ceasing,

many painful, dire cares, relentless concern and horrible, deadly terrors, both private and publick, griefs which weigh down sorely.

40 βρέμ(ουσι)}] e eorr. M 43 (ταρραάττ)ει a{Spaveic)} e eorr. M 44 ἐπεοικότα a. corr. M κάρτα] add. M 45 (πείθ)οιτο] e corr. M 47 (ψευδ)ὴῆ] e corr. M — ye] add. M 48 yvogu(ag)] e corr. M ἐμοῦ a. corr. M 49 τὲ] add. M δ0 δή] e corr. M 51 pe] e corr. M (ἔμμ)εν ὡς πρὶν] e corr. M 52 δεδιότ᾽ a. corr. M — ye] add. M 59 ῥέζειν] p. hane vocem punet. M θῦ λογισμοῖς a. corr. M — 623 ἔμμεναι a. corr. ΜΙ θά τε] p. hanc vocem punct. M 65 βιότοιο] p. hane vocem punct. M 66 (αὖ)θις)] e corr. M B(p)ov(t)ov(c γ)αί᾽ ἄρα βόσκει e corr. M— 71 προμέμηλεν a. corr. M 74 ἄρα] e corr. M 75 (Ep)eiv νῦν] e corr. M 77 ὁλοῦ] a. corr. M

Poem

80

85

If. 182]

90

XIV

à ποσάκι μάλ᾽ ἐγὼν κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἠρασάμην ἑξωυτοῦ μήποτε τῆδε λελαχέμεναι περιφάντῳ ζωᾷ μὴ δέ τε τοσσατίῃσ᾽ ἀχθηδόσι δὴ μελεδωνῶν διὰ πρήγμασιν ἀργαλέοισι, τελεσφορέουσιν ἔσχατα δεινὰ πέλωρα πανώλειαν ἄγχιστ᾽ αἰεί: ὅττι κε δὴ πολὺ φέρτερον ἀφανέα βιόοντα

μοῦνον ἑωυτὸν ἀμφιπονείειν ἀκύμονά τε ζωὰν ἀνυτέμεν᾽ ἠὲ μάλ᾽ ἔξοχον ἀρίτιμόν

τε

πὰρ μερόπεσσ᾽ ὁμοπατρίοισιν éóvT' ἀμφαδὸν δυσχερέεσσιν ἐνὶ καιροῖσι παλαίειν αἰεὶ πρὸς μυρία κοινά τ᾽ ἴδιά τε πρήγματ᾽ ὀλουά,

χρεῖος ἀντία

ἔχοντα δὴ

τόδ᾽

πᾶσιν

ἀναγκαῖον

ἵστασθαι

ἐπείγεσθ᾽

πρόμον

ἃ

αἰεὶ

φθοροποιὰ

κατ᾽ ἂρ ἔασ᾽ ὁτιοῦν τῆς γ᾽ εὐπραγίης ἁπάντων “Ρωμαΐδος γενεῆς βασιλῆός θ᾽ ἡμετέροιο, ἥματα πάντα, νοῦον ἔχοντα λώϊον ἔμμεν᾽ πρήσσοντά TE πρός τε θεοῦ 100

δὴ

μερόπων

βρουτῶν

οἵ θ᾽ αὑτῷ ἔξοχον ἀλλ᾽

τοῖσιν 105

[f. 182v]

110

τόδ᾽ ἄφυκτον

πολὺ βέλτιον

ἔμμεν᾽

ἤτοι

νύκτας ἁπάσας ἀμφὶ μάλα σφιν διαμπερὲς ἄτροπον ὅττι κε μέλλει ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βουλόμενον μάλ᾽ ὁπηοῦν λέγοντά τε, ἀσπερχὲς πονέοντα, πρός T' ἀμύμονος βασιλῆος πρός τε

ἄλλων

ἔχοντ᾽

ὄφλημα.

εἰν εὖ πρήγμασ᾽

ἔχουσιν

πουλύτιμον

τὰ

μὲν

ὥς

ἄρ᾽

ἔδωκε

θεὸς

πρός

ἔχει

γε

βιόοντα, μογερὰ

πολλῶν

μάλ᾽

ἐόντα

ἵστασθ᾽

ἄλλων,

ὥς K’ ἐπὶ τάξιος ἵσταμ᾽ ἔγωγε τῆσδ᾽ ἐνὶ καιροῖς οὐλομένοισι περίφαντος πρήσσειν ἅτ᾽ ἔνεστι

κάρτ᾽ ἀπαράβατον ὄφλημα πονέειν δὴ λαχὼν σύν T' ἀνιᾶσθαι πρώτατος εἴν γ᾽ ἄρα λευγαλέοισι τοῖσδ᾽ ἃ τόσ᾽ ἅμαδις ἄελπτ᾽ ἄφαρ ξύμπεσεν ἅμμιν. ἀτὰρ ἐγὼν τόδε, νημερτὲς δ᾽ ἔμπης, εἴποιμι, σὺν δὲ θεὸς μέγας ἀόρατος πάντ᾽ αὐτὰ ὁράων μάρτυρος ἔστω -- τολμήεις λόγος! ἵλαος, ἄναξ, ἀφραδίῃσιν ἔῃς νύ T ἐμῆσι λόγῳ Te θρασεῖ —

ὡς οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἑτέρου βιότοιο χαμερπέος ἄρ᾽ ὦν, τάσδ᾽ ὀλοὰς τύχας ἡμετέρης γενεῆς παπταίνων, ἔκ τ᾽ ἀπάτερθε βιοὺς ἅμαδις πρηγμάτων κοινῶν, ἔκ τ᾽ ἀπάτερθ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν πάντων ἄντερος αὖ ὦν, ἀνσχέσθ᾽ οἷος ἂν αὐτὸς ἔην ἂρ πράγεα δεινὰ τάδ᾽ 120

ἐπίκοινα

διάδοχ᾽

χαλεπὰ

ἀλλήλοιϊν

τοσσάτια

ἐπιετανόν

δῆθ᾽

ἑξῆς

γ᾽ ὀλέκοντα.

Poem XIV

25

(80) O how often have 1 cursed myself for ever having attained to this conspicuous life and so many worrisome cares on account of troublous affairs resulting in the worst possible, monstrous evils ever nigh to total ruin! (85) For it is much better for one to live inconspicuously, taking

care only for oneself and leading a quiet life, rather than to be distinguished and honoured and conspicuous amongst one's mortal countrymen and to struggle always in difficult times (90) against countless deadly affairs, publick and private, having always this necessary task of confronting, of standing forward against whatever is harmful to the wellbeing of all, the Roman people and our Emperor, (95) taking thought for them constantly, every day, every night, intending in one's mind to do and to say whatever will be most useful, labouring tirelessiy, having this ineluctable obligation before God and before the blameless Emperor and before mortal men. honourably and

~

circumstances,

but

(101) For oneself it were distinguished amongst such

are these

toilsome

much the better to live others in prosperous

things

which,

in addition

to

many others, God hath given to withstand: (105) that I should stand in this office in troublous times as I am able, having obtained the inescapable obligation to labour and to be first to suffer in theserievous affairs which of a sudden have unexpectedly befallen us in such number. (110) But now let me speak the very truth, and may great and invisible God, who seeth all these things, be witness — Bold the word! .Be Thou merciful, Lord, unto me in my follies and arrogant speech! — : that even if 1 had another

sort of earthy life, (115) beholding these deadly fortunes of our generation whilst living altogether removed from publick affairs and keeping far away, beyond all griefs, 1 should not be able to bear these frightful, difficult, truly ruinous publick affairs, so many in number, one after another in succession.

86 ἀμφιπονέειν a. corr. M 90 φρεσὶ] e corr. M ,μμάλ᾽ ὁπηοῦν] corr. M 107 λα(χὼν)] e corr. 1}1 (παν)τ᾽ αὐτὰ ópó(mv)] e corr. e eorr. M

ὁλοῦ] a. corr. M 93 πάνττων (sic) à. corr. M 97 evi e corr. M 101 εἰν] e corr. M 102 (£upev)' ἀλλίων)] e M 110 νημερτὲς ἔμπης a. corr. M εἴποιμι] e corr. M M 117 αὖ] add. M 118 ἄρ] e corr. M (np)àCyeo)]

26

Poem

τοῦτο

δ᾽ οὔτι

ob δοκέει

[f. 183] 125

μέγα,

καθόλου

XIV

μέγα

τῷ

δ᾽ fà μάλ᾽

παντὶ

κακῶς

ἀβέλτερον

ὅστις

πρήξαντι

πᾶσαν ἔπειθ᾽ ἑξείης αὐτόθεν ἔμμεν᾽ ἀνάγκην σύν γε κακῶς πρῆξ᾽ ἅμαδις ἃ μέρεα νύ τ᾽ ἔνεστι" πῶς δ᾽ ἂν ἔτι ζώωσι χέρες Te πόδες Te ἠέ τι

ἄλλο

μόριον

ἐνὶ

ζῴῳ

φθάντι

θνήξαντι;

τοὔνεκα δ᾽ ἢν μή μ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀφείλετο δὴ θεὸς νοῦον, ἀσχαλάαν πᾶσ᾽ ἀνάγκη σύν γε κακῶς πρήσσουσι πουλὺ μάλ᾽ αὐτόθεν ἅμαδις ἀμφὶ πρήγμασι κοινοῖς

130

θνῃσκόντεσσί.

τ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽

ἄρα

σύν

γε

Ovüokovr'

αὐτόν.

τίς δ᾽ ἔτι γένεος καί τ᾽ ἀλλοδαπὸς τοῦδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὧν ἠδ᾽ ἀπάνευθε βιοὺς κινδύνων τοῦδε κοινῶν οὗ μάλ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀχέεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι δαμείς,

ἀχθόμενος

γοόσοιτο

δακρυόφιν

ὑπέραντλος,

135

ἀμφ᾽ ὀλοῇσι κακοπραγίῃσ᾽ ἐσχάταις τοῦδε δερκόμενος πρὶν ἀεὶ βιόοντος πρώτιστ᾽ ἄλλων εἴν γε πᾶσ᾽ ἔθνεσιν ἔξοχ᾽ ἐόντος κυδαλίμοιο, διὰ πρήγματα πάντα πέρι μάλα τοῦδ᾽ ἐόντος

140

εἴθνεα

ἐξ

ἄρ᾽ ὅθεν δὴ

γεγόνει μερόπων

πάντα

ἀφρήτωρ, ἀθέμιστος ἀνήρ, τάδέ γ᾽ ὁράων, ἀνδρόμεον [. 182v]

145

180

155

γαῖα

βρουτῶν

δέ

ζείδωρος

τε

βόσκει

ἐπ᾽

αὐτῆς:

ὃς ἐσεῖτ᾽ ἀπαθὴς μετ᾽’ ἄρα τ᾽ ἀλλάξας

ἐς λίθον, ἄζωον φύσιν, HE μάλα νημερτὲς φάμεν᾽, ἐς οὔλων δαιμονίων φυὰν ἡμετέροιο

πουλεμίαν γένεος μερόπων αἰεὶ κοτέουσαν ἡδομένην κρύφα τ᾿ ἀμφαδὸν ἡμετέροισι κακοῖσιν, ἄντα θεοῖο νύ θ᾽ ὑψιμέδοντος ἀεὶ πρήσσουσαν᾽ τῷ γὰρ ἀεὶ φίλον οὐσία μούνιμος ἕδρα τ᾽ ἐόντων, τοῖς δέ τ’ ὀλῦναι δὴ μεμάουσ᾽ ἄμοτον φύσις αἰνή. καὶ τὰ μὲν ads ἄρ᾽ ἔχει ἀτὰρ εἰνθάδε τίπτε φαίην; ἔμμεν᾽ ἄμεινον ὅτι πολὺ δὴ μάλ᾽ ἐὼν πρώτατος εἰν τοῖς πρήγμασιν κἄνθεν μάλ᾽ ἄρα πουλύ τι πουνεῖν ἀμφί γε τοῖς κοινοῖσι πολύφροντις ἀλεγεινοῖς

(τήνδέ τε καὶ μάλ᾽ ἀναγκαίην φέρομ᾽ ἀνιηρὴν) ἠέ τινος βιόων τύχης ἐπὶ βαιᾶς ἀφανοῦς αὐτόθεν ἄρ᾽ ἀπάτερθε ζώειν φροντίδος αἰνῆς; ἀμφ᾽ ἑκάτερθε γὰρ ἕσπεθ᾽ ἅμα τ᾽ dyed Te πόνοι

TOlg 160

γ᾽ ἄρα

κοινοῖσι

παθέεσσιν,

ἐπεὶ

φάμεθ᾽

αἰὲν

τὰ pepe’ ὀλλύμεν᾽ ἀμφαδὸν αὐτίχ᾽ ὁράασθ᾽ ἅμα: τοῦ γὰρ ἑνὸς βιότοιο δοκεῖ περ ἔμμεν᾽ ὄνειαρ

ἡ τιμά,

τὰ

περίφαντά

τε

δὴ

kde’ ἐνὶ

πολλοῖσιν,

τε

Poem

XIV

27

(121) But this is nothing great. Great is the foolishness of whosoever thinketh not that everyone who doeth any harm must needs thereby forthwith do harm

to all parts there are withal.

(125) How

could hands

or feet or any other part still live in a being which is already dead? Wherefore, unless God hath deprived me of my senses, there is every need to be vexed at those who do great harm in this wise to publick affairs, even

if they

die thereafter,

for one

dieth

along

with

them.

(131) Who

being even a foreigner to this nation and living far away from its common dangers would not be overwhelmed by monstrous pains and would not wail in grief, drowning in tears, (135) at seeing the ruinous, worst possible failures of this people which formerly lived foremost amongst others, by far the most glorious of all, excelling in all matters, ever since any people came into being and fruitful Earth nourished it upon her?

(141) Asocial,

lawless the man who would remain unaffected seeing these things, having exchanged human for stony, inert nature or rather, to speak the truth, for the nature of destructive demons, hostile to our mortal race, forever maliciously rejoicing, in secret and openly, in our woes, forever acting in

opposition

to

lofty-treading

God.

For

to

Him

is

pleasant

a stable

existence, a foundation of things, whereas they, rushthg eagerly to destroy.

have a savage nature. (150) So are these things. But what should 1 say withal? That it is better to be chiefest in affairs and thereby have the task of attending to publick misfortunes (this is the woeful necessity I bear!),

(155)

or to occupy

a small,

modest

station

and

thereby

live

far away from grievous care? For on either side alike follow pains and toils together upon publick sufferings, since we always say that parts are clearly seen to perish all together at once. (160) The dream of one

life seems

to be honour

121 to(®to δ᾽} e corr. M

δὴ] e corr. M e corr. M

and

122 καθόλου]

(θε)ὸς votov] e eorr. M 149

πουνεῖν} e corr. M

(OA)Ovat

conspicuous

e corr.

M

renown

amongst

a. voces τῷ παντὶ transpos. M

131 (109)6' ἄρ] e corr. M 152 (κἄν)θεν μάλ᾽ &(po)]

158 παθέεσιν a. corr. P

the many;

127

(ἀφείλ)ετο

132 ἠδ᾽ ἀ(πάνευθε)] e eorr.

M

(πουλ)ύ τι

28

Poem

[f. 184] 165

XIV

ἀτὰρ τοῦ γ᾽ ἑτέροιο, τό Tp δῆτ᾽ ἴσμεν ἅπαντες, ὅττι κε δὴ βιεῦν ἄνετ᾽ ἔχει τις ἔκ τ᾽ ἀδινάων δὰ μελεδωνῶν ἔκ τ᾽ ἀνιηρῶν ἔνθεν πλεύνων. τί δ᾽ ἂν ὅμως ἐνὶ πανδήμοισι κακοῖσιν ἔῃ δὴ ὁττῳοῦν ὁτιοῦν ποτε φέρτερον ἄλλῳ γ᾽ ἄλλου; τί γὰρ ἔμοιγε φέροιτ᾽ ἐρατεινὸν ὅδ᾽ ὄγκος τύχας ἀφνειὸς

βιότοιο

τιμήεις

δῆτ᾽

ἐρίδοξος;

τί δ᾽ ἔτι βέλτιον οἷον ἐόντ᾽ ἀπάτερθε πολλῶν σύν θ᾽ ἅμαδις ἅπασ᾽ οὐλέσθαι παθέεσσιν ὁμοίοις πανδήμοισιν βαθέϊ φύζαν

175

σκοῦτος

ἀμαυρὸν

πάντοθεν

ἔμμεν᾽

If. 184v]

ἁπάντεσσ᾽, ἔοικε,

τὰ

ἀγνὼς παρόντ᾽

δῆ

δὴν

μερόπεσσι

ἀλενάασθαι

δυσχερέα δὴ πρήγματα γείνεος ἡμετέροιο λυγρὰ διαμπερὲς ἀδύνατ᾽ ἀμήχανά θ᾽ ἅπασι, καί θ᾽ ἁμέες λελάχοιμεν ἐνὶ καιροῖς ἄθλιοι

τοῖσδ᾽ 180

ἄφυκτ᾽, εἰ καὶ μόνος εἰν ζόφῳ ἕλοιτ᾽ ἐσσάμενος ἀφανείης

ἄρ᾽ ἕκαστοι,

πείρατ᾽ ἄναντά

ὅστε

τύχης

εὖ, ὅστ᾽ ἔμπαλιν

ἀνήδον᾽ adavéa βαιά τε κυρήματα, T€ κάταντά τε νειμούσης ἅτ᾽ ἔθισται:

τὴν μὲν ἔγωγ᾽ εἰδὼς διδοῖσαμ ἀεὶ νύ τ᾽ ἀϊδνῆ, οὔτι πολὺ δοκέω χαίρειν ποτὶ δώροις αὐτῆς, ἅ μοι συνεχέ᾽ ἑξῆς διάδοχ᾽ ἀλλήλοιϊν δῶκε πολυδότις ἔμμονος ὀφθεῖσ᾽ ἄτροπος alév: ἀλλά τ᾽ ἐοῦσαν ἄπιστον ἀπαγέ᾽ εὖ μάλα εἰδὼς οὔτι οὔτι

μάλ᾽ ἀμφαγαπάζω τοῖσδε δόμασ᾽ ἀγανοῖς, κεῖαρ ἐμὸν τάρπεσθ᾽ ἀϊδήλοισ᾽ ἐσθλοῖς

οὔτι βέβαιον ἔχουσι ῥέα δέ τε θυέλλῃσι δῆθ᾽ ἁπάσῃσιν ἔκ τ᾽ ἐνθένδ᾽ ἄρα κεῖσε τάχιστα 190

udi στροφάουσ᾽ ἠλπικότας αἰσχύνουσ᾽ ἁμέας dp κέκρικα, τόνδέ T' ἐγὼν μάλα δείδια χαλεπὸν ὄγκον ἀμφί γε τοὐμοῦ γείνεος εἵνεκα πολλὸν χροῦνον

ἤδη

τειρομένοιο

ἔσχατα 195

διαμπερὲς

κηρεσιφοῦρα

πράγε᾽

ὀλλυμένοιο, ἔχοντος

ἀγχοῦ"

τὰ δέ με κεῖαρ ἀεὶ δάμνησιν ἥματα πάντα καί τε μεθ’ ἥματα νύκτας ἁπάσας ἄνπνον ἐόντα φροντίσι λευγαλέοισι τρυχόμενόν τ᾽ ἄτρουπα πρός γ᾽ ὅσσοισιν ἐνώπια νωλεμὲς ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,

δερκόμενον διὰ χείμασιν ite νῆα μεγάλην 200 ἡγεμονίαν ἀγακλεᾶ τήνδε διὰ πάντ᾽ αἰῶ [f. 185] σμερδαλέα βράσσουσ᾽ ὑποβρύχιον τεύχ᾽ ἰοῦσαν. πῶς

ἂν

ἔπειθ᾽

ἑτέρην

τοιοῖσιν

ἐγὼν

ἄρ᾽

ἀχνύμενος

δὴν

Poem

but

of the

other,

as we

all know,

XIV

that

29

he

might

live

relaxed,

far from

pressing cares and the great many resulting woes. (165) But in the case of general ealamities, what could in any wise ever be better for one than for another? For what delight could this dignity granted by Fortune, rich

in substance, honourable and glorious, bring me? Or would it be any better for one far removed, as it were, from the throng (170) to perish in the general sufferings, inescapable for everyone, even if, choosing flight alone

in deep darkness, shrouding himself in dim, invisible obscurity, he appear to be altogether unknown to all mortals, in order to escape our nation's present unfortunate affairs? These same are dire, thoroughly impossible, intractable for all, no matter whether one or another of us, wretches whose lot it is to live in these times, enjoy bounties or, contrariwise, unpleasant,

obscure, scanty presents from Fortune, she making her distribution in higgledv-piggledy fashion as she is wont. (181) Knowing that she gives inscrutable things, I think it better to rejoice but little in her gifts, which

in her generosity she hath always given me with unswerving constancy, one

after another

m

succession;

(185)

for I also know

her to be faithless

and quite fickle, and 1 neither eherish these splendid gifts, nor have I judged it good that my heart should delight in these obscure bounties which have naught of firmness but easily cast us who set hope in them this way and that, at random, as if in all manner of tempests, bringing us to shame; 1 am afraid of this weighty dignity (192) and also for the sake of my nation, already long exhausted and brought to the very brink of ruin, having the worst possible, baneful matters now hard by. (195) These same beset my heart every day always, and after the days, all the sleepless nights, wearing me down with all manner of grievous cares

relentlessly, constantly looming nigh, as I behold this glorious Empire which has made

its way through every age, like a great ship, foundering

amidst fearfully churning storms. (202) How, then, could I, long aggrieved

162 Etépo1o] p. hane vocem punct. M 165 δὴ] add.

δὴν]

add.

M

188 θυέλλῃσε)

M

166 ὁτωοῦν

172

a. corr. M

(ἔλου)τ᾽ £oo(Guevog]

p. hanc vocem

punct. M

τό περ] τό τε ἃ. corr. M 170 ὀλέσθαι

e corr. M

a. corr. M

163 βιοῦν a. corr. M ]71 £V a. corr. M

185 εὖ μάλα dó(Gc)]

190 αἰσχύνίουσ᾽") ἀ(μέας)}] e corr. M

M 192 χρόνον a. corr. M — 194 κηρεσιφόρα a. corr. M M 198 πρός] πρό a. corr. M — 201 βράσσο(υσ᾽] e corr. ἀ(χ)νύίμεν)ος} e corr. M

e corr. M ἀρ] add.

197 τρυχόμενον &tpoxa a. corr. M τεύχ᾽Ἱ e corr. M 202 ap’

30

Poem

ἄπαυστα

ἐλπίδα 205

ἀντὶ

κλονέουσι

T' εὐχήν βιώσιος

XIV

λογισμοῖσ᾽

θ᾽ ἅμα

ἱμερόεσσαν

κρέσσον᾽

ἀλλάξασθ᾽

ἐν

ἔχοιμ᾽ ἢ μοῦρον

᾿Αἴδου

βιβάς;

^ γὰρ ἄμεινον ἐνὶ φθιμένοισι γενέασθ᾽ ἠὲ ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ἰδέσθαι τήνδ᾽ ἁρπασθεῖσαν βιότοιο παντὸς ἀρίτιμον ἀρχὴν ἔξοχον, ὑπερτάταν τῶν

210

γ᾽ ἄρα

δὴ

πασάων

ἔκ τε δὴ μέροπες Χριστὲ ἄναξ, εἰ σύ θέσπισας ἡγεμονίαν ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ἄϊστον ἄφαρ τοῦ μὲν ἄρ᾽ αἴτιον

215 ἡμετέρων πολλύ

γε

κατὰ

γαῖαν

ἧσί σε μηνίσασθαι

κ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἂρ ἡμέας μάλ᾽

ὁπόσαι

γεγάασ᾽ ὥφθησαν βίῳ. γ᾽ ἐτεὸν βίβλοιο τεῆς δὴ ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ὀλέσθαι τήνδε βιότοιο τέλειον θέσθαι, οὔτι πέλει γ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἠὲ πλῆθος

ἀμπλακιᾶν,

τοσσάτιόν

ἑτέρων

πρὶν

ἔκτοθι

ἀλιταίνοντες

σεῖο

φύσιος

κινήσαμες

ἅμμες,

τόν κεν ἀόργητον παρ᾽ éavróv, οἶκτον ἕτοιμον, ἐς δ᾽ ἔλεον ῥεῖα μάλ᾽ ἑωυτὸν κλίνοντ᾽ ὦκα, [.185e] 220

μῆνιν

ἀπ᾽

ἄρ᾽

ἀτὰρ

ἵλαος,

μνησάμενος

ὠθεύμενον

ἵλαος

ἔτι

φύσιος

ἱμερόεντι

γε

σῆς,

νῦν

νούῳ.

ἅμιν

γίνου,

μνησάμενος

προτέρων

σῶν

θωυμάτων, τά περ αὐτὸς ἔοργας ἀειδόμεν᾽ αἰεὶ ἔργ᾽ ἄφατά τ᾽ ἀνόϊστα φιλανθρωπίῃ Tefj σεῦ, 225

καί

T€

μεγάλων

ῥύσαο

πανσθενέϊ

κράτει

πρὶν

πολλάκι δὴ μέροπας κινδύνων ἄλλοτ᾽ ἄλλου ἠδὲ θανόντεσσι νεκάδεσσ᾽ ἄφαρ ἀμπνοὰν αὐτὸς

230

δῶκας, "AtSos ἀλαπάξας ἐκ δὴ κευθμώνων ἔκ τε βασιληίων σκούτεος ἔκ Te δεσμῶν᾽ θάμβος ἔχεσκε τόθ᾽ οὑράοντας, θάμβος ἔτι

νῦν

ἡμέας ὀψὲ νῦν ὕστερον ἀκούοντας ἴσχει. τῶν μὲν ἄρα σὺ μνησάμενος τεράτεων νῦν σεῖο, δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ, ἅμα Te κράτευς ἅμα σύν τ᾽ οἰκτιρμῶν tz

we

Gr

ὧν

πρότερόν

παυσάμενός ἴσχεο

[f 186] 240

δὴ

κεν

τε

ἔοργας

χόλοιο

κακότητος

ἔτι

δὲ

δυσεργέος τήν

Trep

νῦν

ἕρδεις

ἀμφ᾽

ἔνδικα

αἰέν,

ἀλιτρούς, ov

γε

κέκρικας ἡμῖν ἐνεῖκαι κηρεσιφοῦρον δεινὴν ἔσχατ᾽ ὀλουά, σμερδαλέα τέλε᾽ ἀπειλεῦσαν᾽ τρέψον δ᾽ ἔμπαλιν εὖ μάλ᾽ ἄελπτ᾽, ἀγαθὰ βίοτόν νήνεμον εὐδιόοντα, λύσας ἕκαστ᾽ ἀλεγεινά, μὴ δ᾽ ἔτι δαμάα σὸν λαὸν ὄλβιον ἀπείριτα κακὰ πέλωρα, διωλύγι᾽ ἔνθα δὴ καὶ ἔνθα πάντῃ πάντοθεν ἀσπερχές τ᾽ οἴκτισθ᾽ ἅτε

κυσὶν

τε

Poem

XIV

31

by these ceaselessly wavering considerations, have any lovely hope or better wish than to exchange death for life, descending to Hades? (206) For it is indeed better to join the dead before seeing plundered of all substance this excellent, venerable State, surpassing all others which have appeared on Earth since mortals came to life. (211) O Lord Christ, if Thou hast verily decreed that this Empire should be blotted out of Thy book, to disappear forthwith completely, there is no other reason for this than the multitude (215) of our sins; by which we, much transgressing, have moved Thee to such great anger against us, contrary to

Thy

nature,

compassion,

Thou

quickly

who

disposing

anger with a cheerful mind. toward

us,

art

remembering

free

of

Thyself

wrath

to mercy,

m

Thyself,

(220)

ready

thrusting

of

away

Propitious, be Thou once again propitious

Thy

nature,

remembering

Thy

miracles

of

old, which Thou wroughtest in Thy love of mankind, deeds ever glorious, ineffable, unfathomable; (225) and remember also the great calamities, different

at different

times,

from

which

Thou

deliveredst

mortals

of old

with Thy all-powerful force, granting revival forthwith to heaps of the slain, wresting them from the abysses of Hades, from the palaces and bonds

of darkness.

(230)

Wonder

seised

those

wiio

then

beheld,

and

wonder still holdeth us now who hear the report. Remembering now these Thy marvels, O Lord and Master, which Thou, with might and mercies wroughtest

of old and

still workest

now

always,

(235)

cease from

Thy

bitter anger against sinners, and withhold the baneful, dire misery which

Thou

hast

justly

decided

to

bring

upon

us,

foreboding

the

worst

possible, deadly, most wretched things. (239) Once again change our lives for the better, beyond all expectation, to calm and serenity, banishing al] griefs: (241) beset no more with boundless, monstrous, all-encompassing

evils Thy happy people, exposed most wretchedly, on this side and that,

204 εὐχὴν (sic) a. corr. M 207 ἁρπασθεῖσαν] e corr. M 212 ὀλέσαι a. cor. M 213 τέλεον a. corr. M 214 πέλει y] πέλετ᾽ a. corr. M 216 κ᾽ ἐ(π}] e corr. M 219 ἑωυτὸν KAivovt’} e corr. M 220 vom a. corr. M 221 (y)i(vov)] e eorr. M 222 σῶν] add. M 224 σεῦ] add. M 225 πρὶν] add. M 228 δὴ] add. M 230 ὁράοντας a. corr. M 231 U(otepov)] e corr. M 232 νῦν] add. M 233 σύν] e corr. M 235 ἀμφ᾽ e corr. M 236 κακότητος] p. hane vocem aliquid eras. M σύ ye] add. M 237 κηρεσιφόρον a. corr. M 238 OAo€] a. corr. M 243 ἀσπερχὲς) a. corr. M v'jadd. M (οἴ κτι)σθ᾽ ἅ(τε)] e corr. M

22

Poem

245

XIV

ἐκ TE κειόμενόν γ᾽ ὠμηστῆῇσι moAXeutototv ἅπασ᾽ ἀεικέλιον ἴφ᾽ ἕλκηθρον, σῆμα νεκρόν. τοῖον ἐπαμείψαμεν ἀβίοτον ἄρα βίοτον

ἀνθ᾽ οὗ πάρος ἔημεν ἀγακλεέες, περίφαντοι, αἰδοῖοί τε φοβηροί θ᾽ ἅμαδις εἰν μερόπεσσιν ἅπασι βασκαίνουσί τε ἠδὲ φιλέουσ᾽ ἡμᾶς" οἷσι μάλ᾽ ἅπασιν ἀναγκαίη πολλὸν ἔπειγεν, ἀμφοράασθ᾽ ἡμῖν φίλα τε φρονέειν κοινά τε πρήγματ᾽ ἔχειν, ἅτ᾽ ἐὸν σφίσι κάρτα τόδ᾽ ἀρίδοξον. καὶ νῦν ἐγὼν τάλας, ἄθλιος οἷα δεδόρκεν ἔτυχον

οἵοισι 255

λελάχοιμι

ναυάγιά

τε

πρήγμασι

πολιτεύεσθ᾽

κοινὰ

ὀλοὰ

πουνέειν

βασιλείης

τῆσδε πάρος κ᾽ εὐδαίμονος ἱστίοισ᾽ νηχομένης ἀήταις οὔρια πλησμίοισι [f.

186v] 260

ἀμφαδὸν

κατ᾽ ἄρα ταρπομένης πολυφλοίσβοιο θαλάσσης κύμασι πορφυρέοισ᾽ ἱλαροῖσι, θέημ᾽ ἥδιστον.

τῆς κεν ἐγὼν μετὰ χείματα πάντ᾽ ἄφαρ δείδεγμαι, ὥς κε φάτο πρὶν ᾿Αθήνῃσι Δημάδης ῥήτωρ, vauayl’ ἀρχῆς λευγαλέα πολιτεύεσθ᾽ αὐτός, ἄγχι μάλιστ᾽ ἐὼν διαμπερὲς ᾿Αἴδαο βρασμοῖσί θ᾽ ἁλὸς ἠδέ τε θυέλλῃσι δειναῖς, di ζοφόεντα νέφη καί T' ἠέρα ἅμ᾽ ἐρεβεννὴν κύκλοσε θήκανθ᾽ ἅπασαν ἐς δέ τ᾿ Ὄλυμπον ἄνω, σκοῦτος ἀέρθη, πάντα μέλαιν᾽ ἀμφικαλύπτει

νὺξ ἀόρατα σὺν δέ τ᾽ ἐρίγδουπα πατταγήματ᾽ ὀρίνετ᾽ ἀκουόντεσσι 270

ἅμα

ποεῦντ᾽

ἐκπαγλοσύναν

τε

βροντάων δεῖος

μετὰ

φρεσὶν

ἔνθεν.

Tolg δῆτ᾽ ἐνὶ δυσχερέϊ κλύδωνι παρεὼν ἄρ, ἡγεμονίῃ τῇδε διαμπερὲς αἰὲν ὕποπτος ἄγχιστα θανάτοιο βιώσκων ἥματα πάντα τείρομ᾽ 275

ἠΐτε

διάδοχα

(f. 187]

ἐλπίδος

μέρμερα,

κυρτούμεν᾽

ἁμόθεν

χαλεπὰ

ἑκάστοτ᾽

ὠθεύμενα

βένθεά

εὐδιοέσσης,

ἄλλο ἔχων

ἀπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀλεύασθαι, τὰ δὲ μήποτε συνεχέ᾽ ἀμφ’ ἄλληλα περικλύζοντ᾽ ὀκρυόεντ᾽

280

ἀπάτερθ᾽

κύματα

γ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλῳ ἀνάγκην

δὴ παύονται ἐς βυθὸν

τ᾽ ἀτρυγέτοιο

πόντου διδόν᾽ ἄφυκτα διά Te μέλαθρ᾽ 'Aí8ao. τοῦδ᾽ ἔτι τίς ἂν ἔῃ βίοτος ταλάντατος ἄλλος; ζωὰ μάλα περιώδυνος, ἀθλί᾽ ἀπευκταία τῇ μ᾽ émé8no' Odd’ ἁμαρτάδων πλήθεα

τὰ

μὲν

ἐγὼν

ὁράων

ὅσα

σύνοιδ᾽

ἑωυτοῦ

τε, λυγρά“

δὴν

Poem

XIV

33

to all savage enemies, like unseemly prey for dogs, a dead mound. (246) For such an unlivable life have we exchanged the one we had before, when we were famed, glorious, revered and feared alike amongst all mortals, both those who envied and those who loved us: (250) necessity sorely pressed us to take care for all of them, to be well-disposed and to hold publick office, this bemg quite honourable in their eyes. And now — poor wretch that I am! — it hath turned out for me even as 1 had seen: to manage such publick affairs as have fallen to my lot and (255) to govern

the deadly

wreck

of this Empire

which

was

prosperous

of old,

borne conspicuously under sail with ample favourable winds, rejoicing in the propitious purple waves of the loud-roaring sea, a sight most pleasant; (260) but 1 accepted to govern the woeful wreck of this State straightway

after all the storms,

as the orator Demades

said of old at Athens,

on the very brink of Hades and the churning sea and dread tempests; (265) the which have set black clouds and gloomy air all round about, even unto Olympus on high: darkness is risen up, black night invisibly covereth everything, and roaring crashes of thunder raise fear in those who hear and strike terror within their minds. (271) Abiding, as it were,

in

such

a

troublous

storm,

ever

suspeet

to

this

office

of

Empire, living every day nigh unto death, 1 am^exhausted, removed from any calm hope whatsoever, (275) as though I must needs each time avoid terrible, dangerous waves breaking in succession one upon another: dashing constantly about, forcing their way to the horrid deep, these same never cease in their offering to the ineluctable depths of the barren sea and halls of Hades. (281) What other existence could be more wretched than this? Life is most painful, wretched,

abominable; to which myriads of deadly, grievous sins have bound me. Beholding these same I have long acknowledged all of them,

260/263 cf. Demades,

Sauppe,

I, 9 (p. 314)

244 EK Te κειόίμενον)] e corr. M — 245 GelKéAL(ovid’)] 6 corr. M — 248 φοβεροὶ (ace. sic) a. corr M 262 ἐρίδοξον a. cor. Μ 254 πονέειν a. corr. M 256 K (sic) add. M 205 (νέφ)η xoi t] e eorr. M — 271 ἀρ add. M 277 παύεται a. corr M 280 διδό(ν᾽] e corrM (μελ)αίθρ᾽ 'Aió)o(0)] e corr. M 989 ὄθλι᾽ a. corr. M 284 δὴν] add. M

94

Poem

XIV

ἔκ TE γινόμαν ἔς τε νῦν ἄτροπος ἀλιταίνων διὰ πασάων ἐντολάων ἄνακτος ἀγαθοῦ Χριστοῦ παμμεδέοντος, ὅτεω νήριθμ᾽ ἔγωγε

290

ἔσθλ᾽ ἀπηυράμαν. ἀτὰρ ἀνάξιος ὥραμ᾽ αὐτὸς ἀφραδίῃσιν ἐῇσιν éáov ὁππόσ᾽ ἔλαχον: αὐτόθεν ἀπογνώσιος ὦκ᾽ ἐς βένθεα πίπτω, μήτί

295 (f. 187v]

ποτ᾽

ἐσθλὸν

ἔπειτ᾽

ὀΐων

ἔμοιγ᾽

ἐς

αὖθις

σὺν δίκᾳ δεσπότεω πολυδούτεω ἔσεσθ᾽ ἑξῆς. ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν ἔμπης, πανάγαθε, Aiton’ ἐς αὖθις, δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ - τί γὰρ ἂν δρῴην; ποῖ 8’ αὖ ποτ᾽ ἴδωμαι; --, λίτομ᾽ ἄναξ, ἐλέους ἀείναε δὴ πηγαία, ἄνσχεο σεῖο χόλοιο, τὸν ἔνδικα πολλὸν ἄμμες ἄμφ᾽ ἂρ ἡμέας ὀτρυνόμεσθ᾽, ἀνίατα κακίης ἕλκεα πάσχοντες Ψυχάων φθοροποιά, δίδου τε

τῶνδ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν 300

πράγεα

λιαρὰ

σὴν

λευγαλέων διὰ

χεῖρα

ἕτερ᾽ αὖ ἥδιστα πολυδότιν

ἐσθλῶν.

Poem

XIV

35

relentlessly transgressing, from the time I was born until now, (286) against all the commandments of the good Lord Christ, the All-Counsellor, whose countless bounties [ have enjoyed. Through my follies I have been shewn unworthy of all the good things I have obtained: (290) forthwith do I fall into depths of despair, thinking that by judgement of the generous Master I shall never have any good thing ever again. But all the same I beseech Thee anew, All-Holy One, Lord and Master — for what

shall I do? whither shall I look for help? — (295) I beseech Thee,

Lord,

"N

eternal Source of mercy: withhold Thy anger which we have sorely incited against ourselves, suffering incurably from the deadly ulcers of wickedness; and in exchange for these griefs, give again other things most sweet and balmy, with Thy hand so generous in bounties.

285 ἔκ τ᾽ ἐγενόμαν a. corr. e corr. M corr. M

292

M

(πολυδούτ)εω)]

287 ἔγωγε] ἐγὼν a. corr. e corr.

M

207

ἀμφ᾽

M

288 ὅραμ᾽ ἃ. corr. e corr.

M

298

M — αὐτὸς]

nacy(ovte)c]

e

90

Poem

[f. 187v]

IE Εἰς

or

1

Τίς μ᾽ πλήρεα οἰκτρὸν ἄνακτος τίς ἄρ᾽

ἑαυτὸν

ἔτι

XV

καὶ

περὶ

Tfjg

δυσχερείας

ὀλοοῖς ἀχέεσσι διαμπερὲς ἄρ᾽ ὀϊζύος κωκύοντά τε στεναχίζοντά τε ἐνὶ παθέεσσ᾽ ἄθλιον ἕλοιτ᾽ ἐλεαίρειν δι᾽ ἐφετμὰς Χριστοῦ παμμεδέοντος; ἔπειτ᾽ ἀγαθός περ ἐών, ἢ τάχα κεν

τοῦ

βίου

οὐδείς,

ὅττι Pa μὴ δ᾽ ἐμέ γ᾽ αὐτὸν ἔγωγ᾽ αὐτός γ᾽ ἐλεαίρω: ἦ γὰρ ἂν οἰκτείρειν μάλ᾽ ἐράων ἑωυτόν, ἅτε χρειώ τις ἄρ᾽ ἔην, νύ τ᾽ ἔδραον ἄντερος αὖτε βίοον

10

If. 188]

μήποτε

ἔνθεν

ἀνιηρῶν,

τειρόμενος

διὰ

κήδεα

χαλεπά,

rà

πάντα

φέροιτ᾽

ἐξ

ὕλας

τῆσδέ τε μέρμερ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοις ἄλλα μήποτ᾽ ἔχοντα τερπνὸν ἀληθῶς, μήτι T’ ἄτροπον ἑσταὸς αἰέν᾽ ἀλλά T' ἔγωγε ὁπόσοι τε κέλευθα δὴ βιότοιο ταὐτά γ᾽ ἐλοίατο κατ᾽ ἂρ ἐμὲ κλουνεύμεθ᾽ ἄπαυστα

15 ἀστατίοισι τῆσδε

ῥοήμασιν

πολυφλοίσβοιο

ἄναντα

κάταντα,

θαλάσσης

κόσμου

dag,

οὔποτ᾽ ἐνὶ σφίσι γαληναίαν ἔχοντες ἔνδον, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα δὴ καθάπαξ vóov ἐνθάδ᾽ ἅπαντα θέντες ἔνθα τὲ καὶ ἔνθα φερόμεσθ᾽ ἄχε᾽ ἄρα πολλὰ 20

δειλάμονες διάδουχ᾽ ἑξείης δέγμενοί τε παίγνι᾽ ἀήτησι στροφάουσ᾽ ἀτέκμαρτ᾽ αἰεί’

ὃς δ᾽ ἐπιπείθετ᾽ ἀνέμων πνοῆσ᾽ οὕποτ᾽ ἐσεῖται κάρτιστα φρονέων οὐδ᾽ εὐπαγέσι ῥὰ πεποίθων πρήγμασιν, ἀλλά τε λοῦγοι φαντί γ᾽ ἀνεμώλια, 25

οὐδενόσωρ᾽

ἀμενηνὰ

διαρκὲς

μήποτ᾽

ἔχοντα,

τά κεν ἀϊδνῆ T' ἄστατά τ᾽ alév ἐύΐστροφά τ᾽ ὦκα, Hite δὴ χόας αὖραι ἔνθα τε καὶ ἔνθ᾽ ἀεὶ μὰψ ῥέα μήτί ποτ᾽ ἔμπεδον ἀείρουσι κινεῦντες, τοῖς μὲν ἐγὼν ὁπόσοι δέ τ᾽ ἐμοὶ πάρ γ᾽ obpolta 80 δῆτ᾽ ἀλαλήμεθα πιστεύοντες ἄρ᾽ ἀφραδέως ὦκα μάλ᾽ ἀεὶ δὴ τροπαλιζομένοις ὅτ᾽ ἔχοιντο [f. 188ν]

ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ἀγαθῶν ἔμπαλιν ἐς ῥὰ χερείονα λυγρά, μαψιδίως πάρος ἀμφί γε ταρπόμενοι ἐσθλοῖσιν ὥς κε μενοῦσ᾽ αἰεὶ διαμπερὲς ἄτροπ᾽ ἄνουσα

35 αὐτίκα ᾧμεθα

πόλλ᾽ μήτι

ἀκαχήμεθ᾽ γ᾽

ἀπούρασθ᾽

ἀπ᾽ ἄρ γ᾽ αἱρεόμενοι ἡμέας

ἔμπεδ᾽

ἐόντα,

καί T' ἀνίη Saya ἔνθεν dyed τε στουναχαί τε κεῖαρ ὑπὲρ μάλα τῶνδ᾽ ἀπρὶξ τέως ἔχοντας" KOUTLS ἔπειτά ποτ᾽ ἐνθεῦτεν πέλετ᾽ οὐδυνάων

τὰ

Poem

XV

X¥

37

To Himself Again and Concerning

the Difficulty of Life

(1) Who would have pity on me as I. full of misery, midst deadly griefs, moan and wail, wretched, hopeless by the decrees of Christ the AllCounsellor? (5) Who would be so good? More likely there were no-one, since I myself have no pity on myself. For I should desire to be merciful unto myself, as one ought and as I did formerly when (9) I lived free of

griefs, never worn down

by all the harsh cares that are brought forth

from

and

this material world

the dread woes,

never have any true joy nor aught that I and whosoever hath chosen the same (15) in unstable currents, up and down — sea of the world: never have we serenity

one after another,

which

abideth unchanged forever. But path as I are shaken ceaselessly I mean those of the loud-roaring within ourselves but, setting our

minds absolutely upon the here and now, we are borne hither and thither, wretches that we are, recelving a great many woes, one upon another in succession: (21) playthings which turn forever bafflingly in the winds.

Whosoever trusteth in the blasts of the winds shall never be of sound mind, nor believe in steady things; but as the saying hath it, vain, worthless and transient, with nought of permanefice, are the obscure, unstable, always quickly changeable things which ‘they forever idly stir up with absolute incessancy, hither and thither, even as do winds with the dust.

(29) It was

in these things, then,

that I and those hke me were

foolishly deceived into believing: things which always quickly change when

one hath them from bounties into the worst of woes; vainly rejoicing of old in good things, as if they would always remain thoroughly, unchangedly harmless, (35) forthwith have we let out à great groan when

deprived of what we thought permanent, never to be taken away; and hence griefs and moans and distress overwhelm us, our hearts borne down by these things relentlessly ali the while. Nor ts there any respite from

21/22 cf. Leutsch-Schneidewin 2, 290,13

1 ἀρ add. M (éujé] e corr. M 19

ἄχε᾽

dpa

8 χρεώ a. corr. M 10 φέρετ᾽ a. corr. M 12 μήτι γ᾽ a. eorr. M 14 κλονεύμεθ᾽ a. eorr. M (ἀγταυστα] e corr. M 18 (O€vres] e corr. M πολλὰ]

vocem aliquid eras. M eras. M a. corr.

M

ἄχεα

πολλὰ

T€] add. M

a. corr. M

20 διάδοχ᾽ à. corr M

2] alei e corr. M

ἑξείης]

25 μήποτ᾽] μήτι γ᾽ a. corr. M 27 abpai] marg. subst. voci ἀῆτ᾽ P 35 (ἀκαχήμε)θ᾽ ἀπ᾿ do y'] e corr. M 37 atovayal a. corr. M

ἔχοντας] e corr. M

p. hane

22 mvoftjo'] p. hanc vocem aliquid 29 ὁμοίία 38 τέως

Poem

40

XV

ἀμπνοά- τὰ μετ᾽ del yàp βέβλητ᾽ ἀστατέοντα τοῖσιν ἐχοίμεθ᾽ NUT’ ὀνείρων φάσματα T",

Kat’ ἂρ ὑπερβολὰν TWiT’

ὀνείρατ᾽

εὖ φάμεναι

ἀάπτου

σκιῆς

πάρος

κάρτ᾽

τίς ἂν ἔπειτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀνιηρῶν βιότοιό 45

ῥηθεῖσαν,

ἀμενηνά.

ποτ᾽ ἐκτός,

KEL μάλα τύχης ἵλεω τεύξοιτ᾽, αὐτὸς ἔσοιτο τοῖσδ᾽ ἐνὶ δεσμοῖς ἀμφιπλέγδην πείρας ἑωυτόν,

ἢ πότ᾽ ἐνὶ κραδίῃ τε λογισμοῖσί τε γαλήνην ὄψετ᾽ ἐοῦσαν am’ ἄρα κυμάτων τῶνδ᾽ ὀριμαγδοῦ, τὰ

50 if. 189]

55

κινέουσ᾽

ἅπαντες

ἀῆται,

τῶν

κ᾽ ἀπάτερθε

μήποθ᾽ ὅραται πόντος ἐρίγδουπός τ᾽ ὀρινόντων, ἀλλά T' ἀῆται διάδοχα στροφάουσι θάλατταν ἄλλος

ἐπ᾽

ἄλλῳ,

κοὔποτε

κύματ᾽

ἀπ᾽

ἄρα

πέπαυται,

ἄλλοτε ἄλλοθεν ἔκ γε φρίσσοντ᾽ οἴνοπι πόντῳ ἀντία δὴ κυρτούμενα συνεχέ᾽ ἀλλήλοεϊν; ὡς δ᾽ αὕτως χαλεπὰ βιότοιο κύμαθ᾽ ἑξείης ἄλλο ἐπ᾽ ἄλλῳ δῆτ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν ἀειρόμεν᾽ ἀεὶ ἅμμιν

ὀρίνετ᾽

ἄπαυστ᾽

ὀκρυόεντ᾽

ἀλεγεινά.

τίς ἂν ἅπαντα κατὰ θνητῶν τάδ᾽ ἐείποι βρουτῶν πολλά τ᾽ ἐόντα γνωτά, τάδ᾽ αὖθις ἐόντ᾽ ἀδόκητα e)

παντάπασ᾽

ἀτέκμαρτα

διαμπερὲς

ἀκίχητα

κήδεα, τὰ μὲν ἴδια, τὰ δ᾽ αὖ κοινά; τάων δὴ καί θ᾽ ὁπόσοισι νοῦος ἀρείων πράγεα δεινὰ πλείονα

65

δῆτ᾽

φίλα

τε

μάχιμά

κρυφαδίως τάδ᾽

τὸ if. 189v]

ἄχεα

γόοι

τε

κηρεσιφοῦροι

εἰν κραδίῃ φέρετ᾽ ἀνιαρώτερ᾽ ἁπάντων ἄλλων: ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κότοι τ᾽ ἔριδές τε παρ᾽ ἀλλήλοισι,

ἄρ᾽

Te

φθοῦνοί

ἐξάλμενα ἅπανθ᾽

τ᾽

ἰόεντα

εἰν σκοτόεσσι

ἅμα

σὺν

δὲ

βέλεμνα

μυχοῖς.

πλεῖσθ᾽

ἕτερ᾽

ἄφατα

τοῖσι πέδηται εἰνθάδε νοῦος ἄνωθ᾽ ὑψοῦ μήποθ᾽ ὁράων, τάδέ τε μοῦνα παρόντα πουθῶν δαμάα πουλὺ λογισμοὺς δειλάμονας μερόπεσσιν᾽ οὗποτε

γὰρ

ἀπάτερθε

τῶνδ᾽

ἑνὸς

ἠέ

θ᾽ ἅμαδις

σύν τε πολλῶν βιόεν ἐντὶ διαμπερὲς αἰεὶ πάντας, καί θ᾽ ὁπόσοισι μακάρτατα δῶκε ῥὰ 75

πρήγματ᾽ ἐνὶ βιότοιο παλινστροφέουσι κεδνά τ᾽ ἀρίτιμα, ὄλβιά τε πλεῦν ἠὲ

ἀλλά σὺν

T' ἀναμὶξ δὲ

χερείω,

δὴ τάδέ

πέλεθ᾽ τ᾽ ἀεὶ

ἁπάντεσσιν πέλεται

θεὸς

κελεύθοις κατ᾽ ἄλλους

ἀγαθά, πλεῦν᾽

ἐσθλῶν.

ἀτὰρ ὁ μέν γε ποιητὴς φάτο δύο πάρ᾽ ἐσθλῷ, a9 δῆθ᾽ ἑνὶ πήμαθ᾽ ἕπεσθ᾽ ἅμαδις κράματ᾽ οὐλέθρια"

φατά,

Poem XV

woes ever after, for these unsteady to them

we

cleave even

39

things are always

as to phantoms

of dreams

transformed:

or, to speak

(41)

aptly, as

Hyperbole said of old: even as dreams most fleeting of intangible shadow. Who

would

ever

be free of the woes

of this life, (45) even

were

he to

attain to propitious fortune, once he had transfixed himself, twined round about

in these fetters?

Or when

would

he see serenity in his heart and

thoughts, away from the din of these waves stirred up by all manner of winds, (50) without which, in agitation, the loud-roaring sea is never to be seen? In succession do these winds churn the water, one after another, and the waves never cease, stirring the purply sea now here now there, constantly swelling up in contrary wise against one another. (55) Even

thus do the harsh waves of this life, always rising up one upon another in turn, bring dreadful woes incessantly upon us. Who would tell men of all these things against mortals, many of them known, but also those which are unexpected,

(60) in every wise obscure, thoroughly inscrutable,

some private, others publick? To those with nobler minds are there more dread affairs, woes: here banes are brought, and griefs borne in the heart

worse than all others. (65) Then there are grudges and jealousies one beside another; friendships and quarrels, and envies and poisoned darts launched furtively in dark corners. All these things as well as ἃ great many others, said and unsaid, whereby Mind is bound up here, never looking up on high, and desireth only these present things, (71) oppress greatly the weak thoughts of mortals: for it is thoroughly impossible for one to live removed from

all or even

most

of these

same,

even

for those

whom

God

hath

granted blessed things, valued and honoured, fortunate beyond others in the ways of this life; for to all men come good things along with bad, and there are always more of these latter than the good ones. The Poet said: ‘Two upon a good thing’, (80) to wit, upon one woe follow a mixture of miseries all together.

42/43 οἵ. Leutsch-Schneidewin 2, 771,16

79 cf. Q 530

42 pndetolav)| e eorr. M 49 ἀ(ῆταλι" [1 e corr. M 51 στροφάουσι] marg. subst. voci κλονέουσι P 53 ἄλλοτε] p. hane vocem eras. γ᾽ M €K ye] e corr. M οἴίμοπι)] e corr. M 56 ἀειρόμεν(Ἶ] e corr. M 57 óp(ve(r)] e corr. M 58 (ἐ)εί ποι] ut vid., e corr. marg. difficillima lectu M 62 vóog a. corr. M 63 yoo. Te κίηρεσιφο)θίρ)οι] e eorr. M 67 (κρυφαδίω)ς ἐξάλίμενα)) e corr. M ἐξάλμενα) p. hane vocem eras. γ᾽, ut vid., M 69 (ὑψ)οῦ] e corr. M.

70 ποθέων 4. corr. M p. hanc vocem eras. y' M

71 (uepiónecoiv| e corr. M

74 (ua(kd)glrara)] e corr. M

79 πάρ

40

Poem

XV

ἀτρεκέως δὲ μάλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ópáav μήτοι ye μόνοισι δυσὶ λευγαλέοισιν ἅμα μίγνυσθ᾽ ev ἄρ᾽ ἐσθλόν, ἀλλά τ᾽ ἐνίοτε καὶ διαμπερὲς ἐστὶ πλείστοις μίγνυτ᾽ ὀλουοῖσι βαρυπότμοις ἄφαυρόν γ᾽ ἕν. τοιγὰρ ἀεὶ στοναχῶν τε γοῶν τ᾽ ἔασι μάλ᾽ ἀφορμαὶ δειλοῖσι μερόπεσσιν: ἁμέας δ᾽ οὔποτε λείπει

πράγεα

[f. 190]

90

δυσχερέα,

Tay’

ἑκάστοτε

συμφορέονται

ἡμετέρῃ κακότητι, μάλιστα δ᾽ ἀφραδίῃσι νουός: ὃ γὰρ ἃ γεγάασιν ἄπιστ᾽ εὔσειστά ἀμφιέπων μάλα λοιπὸν ἀμερθεὶς ἀσχαλάα. τέθναε

πατήρ,

τέθνα᾽

ἄκοιτις,

τέθναε

τε

πάϊς

φίλος ἴσως κατ᾽ ἂρ εὐχὴν ἢ τύχαν ἠὲ τροῦπον ἠέ τιν’ ἄλλην εὐδοκίμησιν κλεῖος ὀπάζων ἅμμιν ἱμερόεν πολύτιμον ἐνὶ μερόπεσσιν, 95

100

αὐτίκα πένθεα λυγρὰ πέλωρα oTOovvaxadi τε πάνθ᾽ ἅμα δεύτερ᾽ ὀϊομένοισι τά κεν πέλετ᾽ ἐσθλά, πουλλά τε παντοῖά θ᾽ ἕτερα παρεόντ᾽ ἀσύλητα᾽ ἀτὰρ ἐνίοτε καὶ τάδ᾽ ἄφαρ γίνετ᾽ ἔμπαλιν ἅμα τραπόμεν᾽ ἐς χερείον᾽ ἀτερπέα δή τιν᾽ ἕξιν.

τίς

ἂν

ἔπειτα

κατὰ

θνητῶν

μερόπων

λογίσαιτο

ὁσσάτι᾽ ἐνθεῦτεν δράματα πολυτειρέ᾽ ἀνίης ἅπαντα βίοτον κροτέει βοάοντ᾽ ἐν ἀγυιαῖς, εἰν στενοποῖς, ἀγορῇσί τε μακρὰν ἄγχι τε οὖσι; τοῖσι δ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽ ἁμέων τάδ᾽ ἤνταε πράγεα λυγρά" 105

ἐξ

ἄρα

ἀθρό᾽

[fol. 190v] 110

πολλάκι ἐπιγεγαότα

τῶνδ᾽ ἅμαδις τάδε

μάλιστα

φρένας

ἤρατ᾽

ἄελπτα

σφίσι"

τοῖσιν ἄρα δόκεε τάδ᾽ ἄφθιτα πάρος ἐόντα ἀφραδίῃσι τεῇσιν ἔρωτι δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν πολλῷ, τῶν δέ τ᾽ ἐνίοτε καί τ᾽ ἔκπεσσ᾽ ἕρκους νύ τ᾽ ὀδόντων ῥήματ᾽ ἀναιδέα, βλάσφημ᾽ πάρτροπ᾽ ἄδικα προυνοίης

ἐς θεὸν ὑψιμέδοντα, μεγάλοιο ἄνακτος

ἅπανθ᾽ ἀμφοράοντος ἄνωθεν, σὺν δὲ λούγῳ τε πάντα κινεῦντος, OTTEW βένθεα γνῶσθ᾽ ἀδύνατα. 115

120

τίς γὰρ δεσπότεω νόον ἔγνωκ᾽ ἀνδρόμεος νοῦς: ἀγνοέοντες ἔπειτα δ᾽ ἔνιοι δμῶες ἀλιτροὶ τά Kev ὅραντ᾽ ἀνόϊστα μήδε᾽ ἄληπτα θεοῖο,

τοῖσιν ἄρ᾽ ἐντεύξοιντ᾽ ἀλεγεινοῖς ἀσχαλόοντες ἄδικ᾽ ἀναιδέες κατανίστανται προυνοίης, αὐτόματα φέρεσθαι μαψιδίως ἐσθλά τε λυγρά T' ἐπὶ μέροπας δοκέοντες ἀπροτίοπτα᾽ τοι μὲν ἄρα τόσον ἐκτροπαλίζοντ᾽ ἀχέεσσι

Poem

XV

4]

And verily can one see that one good thing is never mixed with only two woes, but sometimes it is quite possible that one feeble good be mixed with a great many deadly evils. (85) Therefore have unhappy mortals always grounds for groans and laments: we are never without unfortunate affairs which

are brought on by our wickedness, or rather, our follies of

mind. For he who taketh care for things which are faithless and easily changed morneth them greatly when deprived of them. (91) If a father

die, a spouse die, a dear child die, gaining glory — a thing lovely and much valued amongst us mortals — through some vow or chance or some other turn or distinction, (05) forthwith have we dire, monstrous griefs and moans, considering as secondary everything which is good, all the very many

other

things

we

still have

intact.

Yet

sometimes

are

these

also

changed anew, becoming evils of an intolerable sort. (100) Who, then, could recount all the many grievous dramas of woe for mortal men that strike every life, noised abroad in streets and lanes, in market places nigh

and far off! Whereupon these grievous matters befall us: oftentimes because of these are men’s senses taken away when they occur unexpeotedly, of a sudden, unto them. Formerly thought they these things

to be imperishable in their foolishness and their lote of them; and from some it happeneth that unseemly words escape the" barrior of their teeth, blasphemies against the God of High Counsels, (111) perverse and injust

toward the providence of the great Lord who beholdeth all from on high and moveth all with reason, whose depths it 1s impossible to know -- for what human mind hath known the mind of the Master? (115) For certain

‘sinful

slaves,

in

their

ignorance

concerning

the

unfathomable,

incomprehensible counsels of God, grieving over the woes that have befallen them, shamelessly set themselves with injustice against

Providence, thinking that good and bad things are brought of themselves, pell-mell, without any foresight, upon mortals. (121) So deranged are these

83 ἐστὶ [ ἐπὶ a. eorr., p. quam vocem punet. M 84 y'] add. M 87 συμφορέεται M 91 τέθνα᾽ a corr. M 92 τρόπον a. corr. M 96 ὀϊμένοισι a. corr. M 101 e corr. M 104 ἤϊντα)ε] e corr. M 106 (ἐπιγ)εγαότία)}} e corr. M μάλιστα] μάαλα M 109 ἔκπεσε a. corr. M ἔρκους 1 corr. s. ]. ex ἔρκος M 112 δὲ7 e corr. M corr. M T€] add. M 113 ὅττεω] ὅτω a. corr. M 114 ἔγνω γ᾽ ἀνδρόμεος a. 118 «ar(íavicravrau] e corr. M 121 (ἀχ)έεσσι Ἐ e corr. M

à. cort. (dns | a. corr. λόγω a. corr. M.

42

Poem

[25

ἄφρονες, oi μετά γ᾽ ὕστερον ἀντιόωσι TLOLOS τῶνδ᾽ ἀπεοικότ᾽ ἀτάσθαλα τοιάδε τολμάοντες. τοῖσι μὰν ἔμπεδα νοῦος ἔτ᾽ ἀχνυμένοισι μίμνει oldé T' ἀποστροφάουσ᾽ ὑπὸ δείους αἴσυλα τολμᾶν

τοιάδ᾽ |f. 191] 130

XV

ἀνούσια

θεοσεβείης

δεσπότεω

οἵδ᾽ ἄρα καὶ αὐτοὶ μάλ᾽ ἀκάχηντ᾽ τοῖσιν ἑκάστοτε βίου συμφορέοντ᾽ κοὔποτ᾽ ἄρα σφέας ἔστ᾽ ἀπάτερθ᾽

οἷς δὲ μόνοις ἅπαν

σφῶν ἔμπης ταὐτὰ ἀλεγεινοῖς, ὁράαν ἀνιηρῶν᾽

ἐς θεὸν ἔλπαρ ἠερέθοιτο,

τοὶ στυγερά περ ἅπαντα πράγεα TUT’ ὀνείρων φάσματ᾽ ἀνούσια ἠέ τε δράματ᾽ ἐνὶ σκηνῇσι τάδ᾽ ὀΐοντες ὑπὸ κρίσιος λυγρά τ᾽ ἐσθλά τε οὔτί

ποτ᾽

κρίνουσ᾽

140

ἀτρεκέως

ἐόν,

ἔμμεν

ἐοικός,

κάρτα

δ᾽ ἔασ᾽

ἀπαθέες

ὑψόθι

ῥὰ

βιβάοντες

οὐδέ

οὐδέ

τε

τοῖσδ᾽

ἄχνυσθαι

τ᾽ ἐχέφρονος

πυκινὰ

ἀνδρός,

φρονέοντες,

ἐς οὐρανὸν

ἔκτοθι

γαίης,

τάδ᾽ ἀλλότρι᾽ ἀθύρματ᾽ ἀπατηλὰ βιότοιο ἠμὲν ἀμείνονα ἠδέ Te λευγαλέα δοκέοντες τάχα μάλ᾽ ἅτε πάροικοι δὴ παροδεύειν αὕτως πλάν᾽ ἀλόγιστα πονάματα μαψίδι᾽ ἀνδρῶν τύρβης" ἠῦτ᾽ ἐνὶ νεπόδεσσι δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἁλὸς ἀτρυγέτοιο

ὀλλῦσί τ᾽ ὀλλυμένοις, πλάνον ἀνήνυτον ἔχουσιν, ἀμφ᾽ ἄρα νηὸς éUgéAuoto Pd ποντοπορείης 145

[f. I91v]

ἔμπορος εὖ διὰ οὔτινα ποιέεται

ἰχθύες

μήδεα λόγον

oly’ ἀλάληντ᾽

νηχόμενος φιλοκερδῆ ἅττα πρήγματ᾽ ἔχουσιν

ἐνὶ

βένθεσι

δὴ

πόντοιο᾽

τὼς οὐράνια ἀμφοράοντες κέρδεα TSE νοῦον ἔχουσ᾽ ἀνεπίστροφον ὥς κ᾿ ἀλάληνται 150

μὰψ

ἀγαθοῖσί

τ᾽ ἀνιηροῖσί

T€

BpovTol

πουλυπλάνοις,

οἵγε τὰ δὴ παρεόνθ᾽ ἅπαντα μηδενόσωρα δουκεῦντες παρόρανται κέρδεα πουλίτιμ᾽ ἄνω,

μούνιμά τ᾽ ἔμπεδον εὐπραγέ᾽ ἑσταότα ποθέοντες ἄνδρες ἐχέφρονες ὧδ᾽ ἀπαθέες ὑψιβάμουνες. 155

τοὺς

ἴδριας

μὲν

ἐγὼν

θηεύμενος

ἀληθείας

ἐνεργοὺς

εἰνθάδε

δέρκομ᾽

ἅμμες δ᾽ ἀπροτίοπτα κάρηνα χέρας yuia θ᾽ ἅμαδις ἅπαντα πεδήσαντες

ἀρρήκτοισιν 160

ἑκόντες

ὀλίγους

ὧν νοέουσιν᾽

ἀέκοντές

τε πόδας δεσμοῖσιν

τ᾽ ἐχόμεσθα

KOUTL δυνάμεθ᾽ ἔπειτα ῥέα τῶνδ᾽ ἂν ἐμὸν νόον ἱκάνεται πόθος ἐκ

ἀλεύασθαι’ θεόθεν γε

φυγέμεν᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀπὸ δέσμια τάδ᾽ αἶψα

ῥήξαντα,

τέ

Poem

XV

43

same by griefs; and later they receive retribution for the unseemly things they mindlessly dared to do. But even those whose mind remaineth fast

when they are agrieved, and who turn away, out of fear, from attempting such unrighteous impieties unto the reverence of their Lord, nevertheless do these same also moan, each time they are caught up in the woes of this life, and it is impossible to see them ever removed from griefs. (130)

It is only those who pin all their hope on God who through judgement consider all these sorrowful things even as inessential phantoms of dreams,

or dramas on the stage, and that both woes and good things are truly nought whatsoever; (135) nor do they judge it fitting or the conduct of a prudent man to grieve over these things. Rather, they are quite impassive, with shrewd minds, walking aloft toward heaven, far from earth, thinking it best, as if travellers, to pass by these tricky playthings of life, both the good and the bad ones, as deceptive, irrational, vain works of the throng of men: (142) like the merchant sailing with his plans

for profit amidst youths on a voyage aboard a well-oared ship who plunder and perish on the barren sea reaping no advantage by wandering: he taketh no account of the affairs the fish who wander about in the depths of the sea, and even so do these men with shrewd #ifinds, looking toward heavenly

profit, keep their minds on this, without regard for how mortals

vainly wander about through good and grievous and deceptive things, (151) taking thought for all the worthless things of the present and overlooking the precious profit above; prudent men desire permanent, enduring fortune: they are impassive here, treading on high. (155) Admiring these latter, I observe few here with knowledge of the truth who act upon that which they think: unconsciously do we bind heads, hands, feet and limbs all together and are held, willy-nilly, in unbreakable bonds, (160) and thereafter we can do nought to be easily rid of them. Into my mind cometh desire from God to break suddenly out of these fetters and to flee.

124 ἔμπεδον a. corr. M ἰἀχνυμένοισλι utu(veU] e corr. M 126 σφῶν | add. M. 127 ταὐτὰ] e eorr. M 130 (ἠρέθ)οιτο] e corr. M 133 Avypid)] e corr. M écO0Xd)] e corr. M 143 πλάνον] a. vocem ἀνήνυτον transpos. M 154 ὧδ᾽] e corr. M ὑψιβάμονες a. corr. M. 161 ὃν

ἐμὸν

νόον

ἱ(κάνετ)αι

πόθος

ἐκ

(θ)είόθεν)

ye] c corr. M

44

Poem

τὰ

μὲν ἴσως

δέσμια

168 jf. 199]

λυσάμην

- τάδ᾽

ὧν

ἀἄφυκτα

δὴ πλέκετ᾽ ἄφαρ οἵδέ Te πείραντ᾽

XV

φθάσας

ἐγὼν

πέλονται,

ἀνόϊστα ἀκριβῶς

σὺν

πέδημαι

δὲ

vé'

ἄλλα

διαμπερὲς ἑξῆς πλεῖστα, τάδ᾽ ἕκαστ᾽ ἴσασιν -,

ὅφρα δ᾽ ἐγὼν ὀϊσάμην καιρὸν ἀπὸ πρήγματα ἔμμεν᾽ ἀλεύασθαι τάδε, αὐτίκα δέσμια καινὰ

ἠὲ 170

πάρος

μάλ᾽ ἐρύκουσι

μεμάοντ᾽

ἐς φυγήν:

ἠέ τις ἀναγκαίῃ δεσπότεω νύ τ᾽ ἄφυκτος πίστιν ἐπίχρεον εἰλικρινέος ἤθεος ἐσθλοῦ

πραττομένη καί

τε

μετ᾽

πλεῖν

ἂρ ἄνδρεσι

ἀπέοικ᾽

τοῖς

ἀποφάν᾽

ὀφλήματ᾽

ἀγνώμονα

ἔασι,

vobov,

δραπέταν εὗτε καλέει δεσπότεω δὴ χρειώ, ἤ γ᾽ ἐνὶ φυλόπιδι λιπέειν τάξιν ἐπ’ dpa τῆς ἑστάμεναι

ἠέ

τις

πάρ 180

νόμων

τις

τις

ὑπαὶ πάρ

μοῦρος

αὖ τρόπος

ἀποτραπείς"

τοῖσδ᾽

ὄφλει

ἄρ᾽

ἐφετμάων

T

ἀκοίτιδος

ἕνεκ᾽ ὀρφανικῶν, εἵτερος

δείους

μελεδωνή-

φύσιος,

τ᾽ ἐνίοτε

νηπιάχων ἠέ

[f. 192v] 185

αὖ τεκέων

τε

τήνδέ

λελάχοι

αὖ

τις θεοῦ,

ἀέξει

vols ἕσπετ᾽ οἶκτος" οἱ μάλ᾽ ἔασι

πολλοί,

φίλα τε μάχιμά τ᾽ ἀνθρώποισι πρήγματ᾽ ὀλουά σὺν δ᾽ ἐριδές τε κότοι τε θυμοφθόρα πάθεα δεινά, σὺν δὲ φίλαυτα φιλούνεικα σπουδάσματα πουλλῶν οὐκ ἐθελόντων φευγέμεναι δοκέειν ἐχθίστων

κράτεα,

καί

θ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἂρ

ἐξίστασθαι

σφίσιν

ἄμετρα

γαυριάουσι διὰ βιότοιο τάδ᾽ ἀέθλια, νικᾶν ἐπειγομένοισ᾽ ἐπιδείκνυσθ᾽ αὐθαδείῃ. τοῖα γὰρ εἰν μερόπεσσι μαψιδίως ὀρίνονται 190

βραχυβίοισι γελοῖα πονήματα, ὥς K’ ἐπίμουνα ὑπὲρ ὄνου κατὰ τὸν λόγον εἰνθάδε μαρναμένοισι σκιῆς, πρήγματ᾽ ἔχουσιν ἀεικέλια τάδε πολλά. ὦ κενεοί, δειλάμονες ἄνθρωποι πονέοντες ἀμαθέεστ᾽ ἀβέλτερα, τίπτ᾽ ἀλάλησθ᾽ αὕτως, ἅττ᾽ οὐ μήποτ᾽ ἔασιν ὀριγνόμενοι, ζητοῦντες τὰ μὴ παρέασι, καί T' ἄρα μάτην πονέοντες,

ὥς

κε

λόγοι

φασίν,

ὕδατ᾽

ébpo'

ἐπισχόντες

μάψ

τάδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀεὶ μενεαίνει ἄναντα κάταντα, ἅτ᾽ ἐνί γ᾽ εὐρίποισι στρουφαλίσμασ᾽ ἄπαυστα 200

ἀνθέρικόν

te

θερίζοντες

νύ T' ἀκερδέ᾽

τόν τόν

κε ταμιεύοντες ἀνούσιον ἔλπαρ ἔχοιμεν, κ᾿ ἀποριπτάζοντες ζημίαν οὔτιν᾽ ἔχοιμεν"

ἴσα

γὰρ

ἀμφ᾽

ἑκάτερθεν

οὐδενόσωρ᾽

^,

ἀμητόν;

ἔασι

ἄμφω

-

Poem

XV

45

But even if I could get loose of the bonds by which I have already bound myself — unbreakable are these, and with them are forged forthwith, quite mindlessly, a great many new ones: (166) those who have experience of

them know each one! —, no sooner do I decide it is time to these affairs than fresh bonds restrain me more than before for flight: (170) be it either some inescapable necessity exacting dutiful faith of noble character from men under it is most unfitting for the servant to shew an ungrateful

free myself of in my striving of a master’, obligation, for disposition, to

flee when the master's need calleth (175) or, beset by fear, to leave in battle the line in which it falleth one's lot to stand; or be it some concern

for the children: to these one is obligated both by nature's laws and God's decrees, and sometimes the death of a spouse increaseth

the need for this,

for the sake of orphaned infants on whom one hath pity; (181) or be it for any of the many other reasons which there are: friendly or hostile, ruinous affairs of men, or else rivalries and quarrels and dire, soul-

destroying passions, or else the selfish, contentious strivings of the many (185) who do not want to be seen to flee the power of enemies and to give place to them in their inordinate rejoicing over these wretched things in life, endeavouring to prove themselves vietorioB$ in their willfulness. (189) Such then are the ridiculous works which aré striven after in vain

amongst short-lived mortals, as if stubbornly contending here, so the saying hath it, over an ass's shadow: these are the many unseemly things they have.

O vain, wretched

men,

who

in your ignorance toil over stupid

things! Wherefore are ye so deceived, (195) reaching out for things which

have never been, seeking things which do not exist? Toiling to no avail, as the saying hath it, vainly holding back flowing waters — these latter rage with fury up and down, ceaselessly, as in narrow whirlpools —, (200) and sowing & useless crop and harvest: from the which, in storing it up,

we derive empty hope and, in throwing it away, we suffer no damage; for

! viz. the Emperor

191/192

οὗ, Leutsch-Schneidewin

1, 566,3

164 πέξλονται7 e eorr. M 165 πλεῖστα] add. M 167 óictáum)] e eorr. M 168 καινὰ} c corr. M 173 vóov a. corr. M 177 (Tjoic8' (óóelAek τις] e corr. M 178 ἄρ᾽ add. M

179 αὖ] e orr. M a. corr. M M 200

νύ

180 οἰκτίος)] e corr. M

194 ἀμαθέες τ add. M

18] of μάλ᾽ &lacU] e corr. M

γ᾽ a. corr. M 197 μὰψ] add. M 202 (óTo)purráCovres] e corr. M

189 ὀρίνεται

199 στροφαλίσμασ᾽ 203 ἄμφω] add. M

a. eorr.

46

Poem

[f. 193] 205

210

AV

τέρματα, ἠμὲν ἂρ ἐσθλὰ ἠδὲ χερείον᾽ ἅμαδις. ἀλλά γε δῆτ᾽ ἔμπης ἐχόμεσθα διαμπὰξ τοῖσδε μηδὲν ἔχουσ᾽ ὑγιές, μήτ᾽ ἔμπεδον ἑσταὸς ἐσθλόν. ἣν δέ τινος στερώμεθα, διωλύγια δεινὰ πράγε᾽ ἀνύποιστ᾽ ἄδικα πάσχειν δὴ δοκεῦμεν οὐκέτ᾽ ἀνεκτά, μανιώδεσί, τ᾿ ἔκφρονες ὁρμαῖς πρήσσομεν ἅττ᾽ ἀπέοικε. τάδ᾽ οὔποτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἡμᾶς λείπει, ἄλλα γ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄλλοισι διάδοχ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν αἰεὶ ὑπομνήμαθ᾽ ἔοικε σαοφροσύνης διδόοντα ἅμμιν ἐπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀβεβαίοισ᾽ εὖ μάλα μήτι πεποίθειν,

ἀλλά γ᾽ ἑκάστοτε νῦν τάδ᾽ ἀτρεκέως ὀΐεσθαι ῥηιδίως κεν ὀλούμεν᾽ ἄελπτ᾽ ἀγαθὰ διὰ τύχης τισὶ φορήμασιν: οἷα τάγ᾽ αὐτῆς ἄστατ᾽ ἔασι, X ὅστις ἔπειτ᾽ αὐτῆς ἐπιπείθετ᾽ ἀπατηλοῖσι

220

[fol. 193v] 225

230

δούμασ᾽ ἀβέλτερ᾽ ὀΐων αὐτόθεν αἰσχύνοιτ᾽ ἂν αὕρῃσιν ἀνέμων παλίνστροφα trap’ ἑκάτερθεν πνειόντων ῥέα παιζόμενος σφετέρῃ ἀμαθίῃ. τὰ μὲν ἐγὼν νοέων, ἀτὰρ ἤπειτ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ αὖθις

δύναμ᾽ ἀλεύασθαι φθὰς δέσμιος ἀφραδίῃσιν ἡμετέρῃσι γεγαώς, σὺν δέ θ᾽ ἑκὼν ἀέκων τε μὰψ φέρομ᾽ ἅπασιν ἔνθα τε καὶ ἔνθα στροφάουσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐτεόν γε διαμπερὲς ἄλγε᾽ ἔχων νήριθμα, μὴ δὲ γὰρ ἔμμεν᾽ ἀποδραπέτην φυγέμεν πρήγματα λευγαλέα βιότοιο τάπερ πᾶσ᾽ ἔπεσθ᾽ ἀνάγκη, ὥς κ᾽ ἐφάμην πάρος, ὅστις ἄρ᾽ εἰνθάδ᾽ ἵκητ᾽ ἀγνονῶν.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἄλλ᾽ ἐάσειν δοκέω τά με δάμνησι κοινὰ τάδ᾽ ἄχεα, τοῖσι τάξις ἐπίφθονος ἥδε

vov

ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους πλεῖν ἐμὲ μάλα πέδησ᾽ ἄφυκτα πρώτατον ἀμφιμογέειν, ἠδ᾽ ἀνιάασθ᾽ αὐτὸν τοῖσδ᾽ ἅγε νῦν ὅδ᾽ ἐνείκατο βαρύποτμα χροῦνος κάρτ᾽ ὀλοὰ τόσα καὶ τόσα πάντοθεν ὁρμαίνοντα. ἀτὰρ dy’ ἕσπεσθ᾽ ἅπασι μερόπεσσι Bpovtots

ἰδί᾽ ἀτερπέα πολλὸν ἀκούσια λευγαλέά Te: πῶς ἐρέων νῦν ὅσ᾽ ἤντατ᾽ ἔμοιγ᾽ ἔθιμ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ ἦτορ ἐμὸν δαμάοντα νωλεμὲς ἄκρατον οὐδὲν 240

(fol. 194]

ἡδὺ διαμπερὲς ἔμμεν᾽ ἐῶντα, τοῖσιν ἔλαχον πλεῖν ἢ μάλ᾽ ἕτεροι τύχον, otrT' ἅμα βιεῦσ᾽ ἔμοιγε: ἢ γὰρ ἐγὼν πολέων κύρησ᾽ ἀγαθῶν βιότοιο πουλυεράτων, ἠμὲν ἐμοὶ πάρος ἠδ᾽ ἑτέροισι, πὰρ δ᾽ ἅμα κήδεα πουλλὰ σφίσιν ἐφεσπόμεν᾽ αἰεὶ

φλαῦρ᾽

duevnva,

τὰ

δείκνυσ᾽ à σύμμιγ᾽ f

ἔασ᾽

ἀγαθά:

Poem

XV

47

in either wise both results are of no use, be they good or bad withal. (205)

But nevertheless do we cleave to these things which have nought sane, no permanent good in them; and if we be deprived of aught we think ourselves to suffer heinous, dreadful, unbearable injustices, no longer to be endured

what

is

and,

out of our minds

unseemly.

These

things

with frenzied impulses,

(210)

never

but

leave

us

alone,

we do

always,

succesively in turn upon others, do they appear as reminders of prudence, causing us to trust nought in uncertain things, but on each occasion to

consider anew the deadly, unexpected bounties brought us by certain currents of Fortune: how these things of hers are unstable, and how whoever thereafter, thinking foolishly, trusteth in her deceptive gifts, might be put to shame, becoming through his ignorance the playthings of the gusts of wind blowing in contrary wise from this side and that. (221) These things do I discern, but it is no longer possible for me to escape, having already become prisoner through our follies, and I am

borne on randomly,

willy-nilly, by all these things turning hither and

thither. (225) Truly have I griefs without number, for as 1 have said before, it is impossible for one to flee as a runaway the grievous affairs

of life which by all necessity pursue whoever cometh to them unawares. Now, I think it best to leave aside one lot of things which at present vers helm me: (230) these are the publiek woes to which this enviable office of mine hath inextrieably bound me, more than others: to be first

to look after and to grieve over these unfortunate things which these times have brought forth, so many of them most dire, wreaking havoc everywhere.

(235)

But

then,

what

of

the

private

misfortunes

and

involuntary woes that befall all men: how, I ask, have so many of these common griefs occurred unto me, oppressing my heart cruelly, leaving no

unmixed delight whatsoever? More of these have fallen to my lot than that of others living in my time. (241) For formerly 1 obtained many delightful good things in this life, for myself and for others, but therewith also the many concerns which always follow upon them, shewing how paltry and feeble these mixed goods are:

208 (&ox)et(uev)] e corr. M 210 QcÜnei] e eorr. M. 211 ἄλλα y']e corr. M. 215 οὐλόμεν᾽ a. eorr, M 218 won a. corr. M (αὐτόθ)εν αἰσχύνοιτ᾽ ἂν] e corr. M 219 ἰἐκάτερ)θεν e corr. M 220 (bEa] e corr. M 232 (ἀνιά)αίσϑ᾽] e corr. M 232 χρόνος a. corr. M 235 βρουτοῖσιν a. corr. M 236 Te] et ult. acc. s. vocem λευγαλέά add. M 240 οἵτ᾽ οἵ γ᾽ a. corr. M —yc] add. M 243 ἐφείσπόμενἢ] e corr. M 244 (δεί)κνυσ᾽ à] e eorr. M

48

Poem

245

250

255

νοῦσοι οἴκαδέ

πολλάκι βαρύτατ᾽ ἄγχιστα θανάτοιο τε κλύδωνας ἐνείκασαι μάλ᾽ αἰνοὺς

καί

τ᾽

do

τὰ

γὰρ

ἐπ᾽

ἀλλοδαποῖσι

ἁπάντεσσι

ὦ

260

265

ῥὰ

πλεῖν

ἔτι

τελευτάουσ᾽

δυσέλπιδες"

εὐκταῖα

φίλταθ᾽ ὁράαν ἐνώπια, τῶνδέ τ᾽ ἐπιμελείης εὖ λελαχεῖν περί τε ψυχὰν ἠδ᾽ ὅσα εἰνθάδ᾽ ἔασιν, ἅτε νόμιμα παλαιὰ μερούπεσσι βρουτοῖσιν ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ὅτου βιόουσ᾽ ἐπὶ γαῖαν θνήσκουσί τε. ἀτὰρ ἐμοὶ τόδ᾽ ἀνιαρώτατον ἔμπης ἦεν τηλόθι πολλάκι δῆτ᾽ ἀπάτερθ᾽ ἐμῶν φιλτάτων ἀμφί γε τέρματα γίνεσθ᾽ οἰκτρότατα βιότοιο. βαρύτατα

τάδ᾽

Tad’

ὧνπερ ἀνὰ νόον αὐτόθεν ἅμα τε ἅμα T' ἀνυμνέω [f. 194v]

X¥

ἀπ᾿

ἄρα

ἃ

τῆμος

ὅραμαι

πικρα!

ἀεὶ μνῆστιν ἐγὼν λαμβάνων, φρένας ἄπνους γίνομ᾽ ἀμερθείς, θεὸν ἄναχ᾽, ὅς μ᾽ ἐσάωσεν

τῶνδε

πρηγμάτεων

χαλεπῶν

ἀνόϊστα.

καί τε τόδ᾽ εἴη, δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ θεέ, λώιον δή μοι, ὅττι κεν δραπέτευσα τότ᾽ ἄρα τέλη μόρσιμα ἐκ βιότοιό γ᾽ ἔπειτα τῶνδ᾽ ἐτέων ἑξείης ἀπὸ ῥύπους ἁμόθεν νύ τ’ ὀμόρξασθ᾽ ἁμαρτάδων ἡμετέρων, ἅτ᾽ ἔοργα παρέκτροπα φαῦλ᾽ ἀθέμιστα ἀντί᾽

ἐφετμάων

Χριστοῖο

παμμεδέοντος.

ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα δείδι᾽ ἐγὼν ὅτι δῆτ᾽ ἔτι τοῖς γε ἀνοσίοισιν ἐοῦσιν ἔπειθ᾽ ἕτερα προσθείμην, φόρτον

270

ἐπὶ

οὗπερ

προτέροισιν,

ἑτοιμάσατ᾽,

ὕλαν

πυρός

ἔνδικ᾽ ἄναξ,

τὰ μὲν ἐγὼν δείδια ἀτὰρ ἐνίοτε κέρδιον

- ὦ

τίσασθ᾽

πάροιθεν

τάλας

ἀλιτρούς:

διαμπερὲς ἐς νῦν ἐκεῖθεν, ἔλπομ᾽ ἐπειὴ λεῖμμαι,

ἄλλοτε δ᾽ αὖ μ᾽ ἀποέργει τῆσδ᾽ ἀγαθῆς ἐλπίδος, ἅττ᾽ ἐπιτίθεμ᾽ ἑκάστοθ᾽ ἁμαρτάδων ἀδινὰ 275

τοῖς

προτέροισιν

κοὔποτε οὔτ᾽

ἐπιμηθέα

νοῦον

ἐοῦσιν

νῦν δὴ

ἔτ᾽ ἔσχον

ἀλλά

[f. 195] 280

μέχρι

γε

δὴ

ἄχθεα

ἔτ᾽

ἀλιταίνων

μεταβαλὼν

τοῖσιν

δακρυόφιν

δοίη

ζωὸς

ἀφέστα᾽

θεὸς

ἔς

πλυντῆρα γε

τόδ᾽

ἄρ᾽

ὦν:

ὀψέ, ἔπειτα

ῥύπων. ὑστάτιον,

ὅς κ᾽ ἔρατ᾽ ἀεὶ μήτι ye μοῦρον ἀλιτρῶν βρουτῶν, ἀλλά τ᾽ ἐπιστροφὴν ἐθέλει βιότοιο λαβέσθαι τάχα

δ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽

ἤτοι

τάδε

ἄλγεα

985 σι

μὲν

τῆμος

ἐνθεῦτεν

Gg ἔχων

ὀρέξαι

ἄρ᾽ ἔασιν. βαρύτατα

πάλαισ᾽ εἰν ᾿Αΐδεω πύλῃσι

σωτηρίην.

αὐτὰρ μετὰ

ἔγωγε νούσοισιν

γεγαώς,

αὐτός!

Poem

XV

49

(245) gravest illnesses often most nigh unto death which bring. terrible disturbances at home and are even more cause for despondency

to those

abroad; for it is the wish of all who are dying to behold their dearest before them,

and

to receive their sohcitude

both for their souls and for

all their things m this world, (251) even as has been the ancient custom of mortal men ever since they have lived and died upon

the earth. This

was most grievous for me, to be often distant from my dear ones at the mornful end of life. (256) O grievous days when I saw these bitter things! Taking up the memory of them in my mind 1 become forthwith breathless, deprived of my senses, and I praise the Lord God who delivered me, unthinkably,

(260) from these difficult affairs. And be this, Master, Lord

God, the better for me, that 1 escaped then the day of doom in order to wipe away afterwards the stains of our life during those years along with our sins, on account of the perverse, mean, unlawful things I did contrary to the commandments

of Christ the All-Counsellor.

(267) But I fear lest

I should then have added other impieties to those which went before: further weight, fuel for the fire —- O wretched I! — (270) which hath been prepared,

righteous Lord,

to requite sinners.

I have feared

these things

since then until now. At times 1 have greater hopes because I have been left alive, but at others

again,

the heavy

weight

of sins I add each time,

being still alive, to my earlier ones keepeth me back from this good hope. I never ceased sinning from of old to this very day, nor turning ἃ thoughtful mind did I obtain ἃ laver of my sins through tears. But may God grant this even at this last hour! (280) He who desireth always not the doom of sinful mortals, but wisheth to receive their return and to offer them salvation forthwith. So are these things. But then 1 had most serious pains from the illnesses (285) by which I was oppressed, being brought to Hades's gates.

250 cujadd. M 281 μερόπεσσι a. corr. M 253 ἦεν] e corr. M 260 τῶνδε] marg. subst. voc: τῆμος P 261 δή μοι] ἐμοὶ a. corr. M 202 ὅττι} e corr. M τέλη] transpos. a. vocem μόρσιμα M 269 (τάλας αὐτὸς} e corr. M 272 éviore] e eorr. M 274 ἅτ᾽ a. corr. M 275 (Évr' Gp’ dv] e corr. M 277 (μετα)βαλὼν] e corr. M

Poem

390

XV

τάπερ ἔσαν ἀμφί γ᾽ ἐμὲ ἢ πρό γ᾽ ἔσαν émínpac ἀλογέων δόκεον μὰψ νητρεκέως ἀλάλησθαι, ταρπόμενος βιότοιο δόμασι τοῦδ᾽ ἀπατηλοῖς" ἀμφὶ τεκέων, τί δ᾽ ἂν ἔπειτ᾽ ἐρέω θανάσιμα ταχινὰ τέρμαθ᾽ ὁπλοτέρων δὴ φιλτάτων μοι ἄμφω, ἠμὲν ἄρα φυὰν ἠδέ Te νοῦον ἀγητῶν,

οἷσιν

ἐγὼν

ἀμφικέχυτ᾽

τῶνδ᾽

μάλ᾽

ὅραον

ἐλπίδας

ἔμ᾽ ἄμερσε

γλυκερὸν

ἔχοντος

θεός:

τὸ

ἠδ᾽ ἐμὸν

ἐνὶ

δὲ

σφίσιν

λώιον

σφίσι δέ τ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἠδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔμοιγε πὰρ δ᾽ ἔτι πόλλ᾽ ἐμόγησα, σὺν δέ

[f. 195v]

ἦτορ

ἐσθλάς;

ἔμμεν᾽

ἔοικε

σφείων πατρί. T’ axe’ ἄρα πλεῖστα

δέγμαι οὕνεκά

ἠδέ τ᾽ ἐπασσύτερα φρουντίσματα νούσων T’ αὐτῶν ἀμφὶ παραλλὰξ τοῦ μετ᾽ ἄρα τόν,

σὺν

θ᾽ ἅμαδις

δέ

ἀναγκαίη

ἔσθ᾽

κἀμὲ

ὅτε

ταὐτά

δὴ

νοσεόντων

θ᾽ ὁμοίτα

πουλλῶν

300

οἷσιν

305

ἀτὰρ ὅσα μελεδωνῶν πρήγματα σύμμιγ᾽ ἄλλα ἀμφὶ τέκνων φρούντισα παιδείης T' ἀγαθῶν τε πάσης κτήσιος ἅτ᾽ ἔασι Ψψυχᾶς ἀθανάτοιο σὺν δέ θ᾽ ἃ σώματος εὐπραγίης θ᾽ ἅμα δὴ βιότοιο, τίπτ᾽ ἐρέω διά θ᾽ ἥματα πάντα διά τε νύκτας

κάμνειν.

τηκόμενος κέαρ τῶνδ᾽ ἀδινάων μεριμνάων δήν, πῶς ἄρα τι σφίσι βέλτιον ἅμαδις ἀμφί γ᾽ ἕκαστα γίγνοιτ᾽ ἀγαθὰ ἠδέ τ᾽ ἀλεξίκακον μάλ᾽ ἅπαντα 310

315

[f. 196] 320

λευγαλέα, τά κεν ἐμπίπτοι μερόπεσσι βρουτοῖς ἐνθάδε διαπρήσσουσι βιότοιο κέλευθα; τὰ μὲν ἐπίδηλ᾽ ἀμφαδόν, τὰ δ᾽ ἄρα σκοτόεντα τύχας ἀτεκμάρτοισι φορῇσιν ἅμα τ᾽ ἐχθίστων

δὴ

βελέεσιν

τὰ

πρό

τε

ἀφανέ᾽

ἔφεδρα

μέμβλειν

αἰὲν

τοξαζόντων, ἔμοιγε

μάλ᾽

ἀναγκαίη

ἔς te νῦν ἰὸν ἑκάστοτε, ἔς τε δ᾽ ὄπισθ᾽ ἑξείης" τοῖσι γὰρ ἅμμες δειλάμονες μογεῦμεν βρουτοὶ πρήγμασ᾽ ἀεί, τοί κεν βιότοιο πεδήμεθα δεσμοῖς τοῦδε πολυπλάγκτοιο, τέκεά θ᾽ ἅμα ῥὰ φύσαμεν φροῦντιν ἄπαυστον ἐνὶ κραδίῃ περὶ τοῖσιν ἔχοντες, as κε βιώσιος ἅμα ῥάονός T' ἀπόνου τε σὺν δέ τ᾽ ἀτειρέος οἵδε λάχωσιν ἀπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐχθίστων

ἔς θ᾽ ὅσον ἐντὶ μάλ᾽ ἐπιδόξου, κυδαλίμοιο" τοῖσδ᾽ ἀλαλήμεθα πάντες, τοῖσδ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἀλάλημ᾽ αὐτός. ἀτρεκέως μάλ᾽ ἐρῶ’ χ᾽ ὅστις βούλοιτ᾽ ὀνόσασθαι 225

ἔνδικα τάδ᾽ ὀνόσαιτο μάται᾽ ἄστατ᾽ ἀβέβαια σπουδάσματα διὰ μερόπεσσ᾽ ἅπασιν ἀσπερχὲς

Poem

XV

5I

Earlier, the things in my life had been delightful: in folly was I minded to wander about randomly, enjoying the deceitful gifts of this life. (289) But what shall I say of the sudden mortal end of both my dearest

younger children, remarkable for their beauty and intelhgence, upon whom I looked with sweetness, good hopes for them being poured round my heart? God deprived me of them; but this seems better for them themselves

and

for

me

their

father.

(200)

Dy

and

by

was

1

much

distressed, and I had a great many griefs and cares one upon another on account of their illnesses, that of one and then the other in turn; and at times many of them were ill, (300) and I, too, was of necessity afflicted even as they. And whatever shall I say of all the many other matters of

caring for children, of education and the acquisition of every good thing, both

for

their

immortal

souls

and

for

their

bodies,

as

well

as

their

prosperity in life, wearing away my heart day and night with these constant worries of how best to provide them with every good thing and ward off all the griefs which befall mortal men

(310) as they make their

way here on life's paths? Some of these latter are visibly clear, but others are obseured by the inserutable currents of fortune together with the missiles of enemies

charging

their bows

with

invisible snares.

For these

have J always had to take care beforehand, (315) on each occasion, coming down

to the present and hereafter.

For

we wretched

mortals

all weary

ourselves with these things always, we who are bound by the fetters of this much-roaring life; and we beget children and have constant concern for them in our hearts, (320) that they may have an easy life, one painless,

unscathed by enemies and, insofar as possible, respectable and illustrious. We are all deceived into these things, and I too was deceived. I shall say truly: whoever might wish to find fault (325) would with justice find fault with these vain, unstable, uncertain pursuits which are forever constantly,

290 ἰδὁπλοτέρ)ων

8n] e corr. M

corr. M 306 δήν] 323 αὑτὸς e corr. M

add.

296 ἄρα] add. M M

314

ué(uBAekv]

301 dAMa)] e corr. M e

eorr.

M

318

ἅμα

302 τεκέων a. ῥὰ]

e

corr.

M

Poem

330

XV

ἄτροπ᾽ del διαμπερὲς idt πονεύμεν᾽ atavoTa’ τὰ μὲν dp ds Epatat tis οὐ ῥάδια πέλετ᾽ ἔρδειν, σὺν δὲ πόνοισιν ἔρισί te καί τ᾽ ἀχέεσσι πολλοῖς μαρναμένων κρύφα τ᾽ ἀναίδην ἐχθίστων ἀνδρῶν.

τοῖς μὲν ἐγὼν τολύπευσα μάλα τεκέεσσ᾽ ἐπὶ εὖ δέ τ’ ἀνύσας éuoio δεσπότεω διὰ νοῦον πουλυδότην €áov διὰ πάντεσσι πρήγμασι 8385 [f. 196v]

340

πολλοῖς

τὰ φέρεται χάριν μοι πάρ ye ϑθεσῖο κινεῦντος" ἢ μὰν ἅπαντα παρά γε θεοῖο κινευμένοιο, ov γὰρ ἂν ἄλλως ἄλλος ἐρέοι τις οὔτ᾽ ἔγωγε ἢ φρεσὶ δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐμεῦ, ἢ διὰ τύχας δοτίνοισι: πρήγματα πόλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὅμως ἔχον ὄφρ᾽ dvuc' ἀδράστεια

ἔρρ᾽ am’ ἐμεῦ, ὀλοὲ φθόνε! - καί θ᾽ ἑξείης ἀμφ᾽ ἄρα τῶν μελεδωνῇσι διαμπερὲς αὐτὸς

αὖθις

du

Ct

c2

κεῖαρ ἐμὸν δαπανάω, δάμνομ᾽ ἐπασσυτέρῃσι φρουντίσι κάρτα μέλων ὅσα κε σφίσιν ἔσσοιτ᾽ ἐσθλὰ νῦν τ᾽ ἐσέπειτα διὰ ψυχὰν ἠδέ τε σῶμα, τά τ᾽ ἐκτὸς εὐκταῖα βιότοιο ταλασίφρουσι τοκεῦσι"

τοί γ᾽ ἀκόρητ᾽ ἀγαθὰ μογέουσι τεοῖς τεκέεσσιν, ἀθάνατα σφίσιν ἔνθεν ἑωυτοῖς ὀΐοντες ἔμμεν’ ἀγαθὰ δι᾽ ἄρα ἀμφὶ γὰρ ἡμετέροισιν

350

[f. 197]

ἀμφί

πονέοντες

γ᾽ ἑωυτοῖσι

ἀεί

τ᾽

ἄρ᾽ ἔνθετο

εὐκταῖ᾽

μογεῦντες,

ἅμμες τεθνεῶτες ζώοντες ὅττι κ᾿ ἐνὶ σφίσι διάδοχ᾽

τοῖον 360

τεοῖς τεκέεσσιν᾽ ζῶμεν τεκέεσσι

καὶ βιότοιο τελεύταντες μέροπες δὴ βρουτοί. ἀτὰρ ἀεὶ φίλαυτ᾽ ἀκόρητά κεν φρονέοντες ἅμμες ἐνί ye τεοῖσι παισὶν ἐπειγόμεθ᾽ αἰεὶ κτάασθ᾽ ἀγαθὰ μούνιμ᾽ ἀτέρμον᾽ ἄπαυστα δι᾽ αἰῶ πάνθ᾽ ἑξείης: τοὔνεκα πόλλα περὶ τεκέεσσι τειρόμεθα

355

φίλοισι ἔτ᾽ αὖ

φύσιος

ἐπεί

ἐρίηρα

γ᾽ ἔασ᾽

αὐτοὶ

ἀθάνατοί τε, ἀθάνατα ζώομες

ἄρρηκτον

pa’

συνεχῆ

τε

δεσμὸν ἄναξ θεὸς πατρί τε παισί Te, καί τ᾽ ἐνθαῦτα ἡδόμεθά τε πολὺ σὺν δὲ φρεσὶ κάρτα πονεῦμεν

ἀμφί

γε παισὶ

αἰὲν

ἑκάστοτ᾽

τεσῖσι ἄρα

περὶ

σφίσι τ᾽ αὖ δείδιμεν,

τρομέοντες

μήτι

πάθοιεν.

τοιγὰρ ἐγὼν ἥματα μογερά, νύκτας ἀὔπνους πολλάκι μάλ᾽ ἀλεγίζων οὕνεκ᾽ ἄνυσα σφείων 365

ὥς

κεν

ἀπήμονες

σαώξοιντο, ὥς

κεν

ἀἄγχιστ᾽

τιτυσκόμενός

ἐνίοτε

διὰ

μάλα

ἀντιόοντες

γ᾽ ὧν

κε

προβιβάωσ᾽

δεινοῖς

σφίσι

δεῖ

ἐσθλοῦ

-

Poem

XV

53

absolutely without pause followed by all mortals. Nor is tt easy to accomplish them as one would like to, but only with toils and strifes and

many struggles (330) of hostile men contending openly and in secret. Now, ] achieved these things for my children, having managed well by the resolve of my Master’, generous in bounties, through

all manner

of affairs

which afford me grace from God the Mover -- yea, everything cometh from

God when He is moved! For no-one, neither I, would say that it was through my intelligence or the gifts of Fortune, but obtain 1 did many things for my children, until Nemesis hastened along — get thee away from me, ruinous envy! —, and ever since (340) do I constantlv wear down my heart with concerns over them. I am overwhelmed with worries, one upon

another, taking thought as to how everything may turn out well for them, both now and later, for their souls and bodies, as well as for the external

things of this life prayed for by stout-hearted parents. (345) These latter strive insatiably to attain good things for their children, thinking to have thenee eternal goods for themselves through their dear children; for through our children we mortal men still live even after we have left this life. (350) Forever selfishly and insatiably minded we strive through our children to acquire permanent, enduring good thirígs to last through all ages to come. Therefore do we always wear ourselves down in toil for our children, striving for lovely, desirable things for ourselves: when we ourselves are dead, they are yet alive and immortal, (357) for in them we live an immortal life. Such 1s the unbreakable and continual bond of nature which the Lord God put into the father and his children: wherefore (360) do we delight greatly and take exceeding care in our minds about

our children, and for them we fear, forever trembling on each occasion lest they should suffer aught. (363) Therefore have I often spent toilsome days,

sleepless

unscathed

when

nights worrying

about

coming nighest unto

them,

that they

dangers,

might

be saved

determining that which

they need in order to advance in excellence to the glorious, desirable things

* again, the Emperor

336 ἔγωγε] ἐγὼν a corr. M

340 αὐτὸς} e corr. M

302

(ekáorvoT)

doa] e corr.M

δά

Poem

XV

δὴ βιότοιο κυδάλιμ᾽ éparà πρήγματ᾽ ἔχοντες, διὰ μάλ᾽ ἀντί᾽ ἐρίσδουσι κοτέουσ᾽ ἐξάντες γινόμενοι μενοεικέα μείλιχα καθ᾽ ὅσον ἐντί, δυσμενέεσσιν ἅμα κρύφα τ᾽ ἀμφαδὸν ἀεὶ μέμβλων ὥς K' ἀποπαύοιντο φθόνου φθισήνορος αἰνοῦ.

ἴσασ᾽ ἅπαντες [f. 197v] 375

ὅσσ᾽ ἕπεταί σφιν ἅμ᾽ ἱμερόεντά τ᾽ ἀνιαρά Te πλεῦν᾽ ἀνιηρὰ μάλ᾽ ἀτρεκέως φάμεν οὔτι γ᾽ ὁμοῖα" ἣν δέ τε πολλάκι γιγνόμενον τόδ᾽ ἑκάστοθ᾽ ὁρῶμεν

συμβαίη

380

385

νύ τ᾽ ἀπειθέας

ἔμμεν᾽

ἀνὰ

μήδεα

δὴ

πατρώια, ταλάντατον ἔπλετ᾽ ἄρα τὸ βρουτοῖς οὐλομένοισι τοκεῦσι μάχεσθ᾽ ὑπέρ τε σφείων ἄλλοις ἠδέ θ᾽ ἅμα σφίσιν οὕνεκα δῆτα σφείων: τίς κεν ἔτ᾽ ἄρρητ᾽ εἰνθάδ᾽ ἀπηγήσαιτ᾽ ἀνιηρά: ἀτὰρ ἐγὼν ὀλίγιστα φάμην βιότοιο τοῦδε

λευγαλέα, τῶν πλεῦνα περὶ τεκέεσσι φάμην, τἄλλα δ᾽ ἐῶ νῦν, οἷσι πέδησ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἑωυτὸν ἄφρων" ἅ γ᾽ εἴ τις ἂν ἐμοὶ πρόφατ᾽, οὔποτ᾽ ἂν εἰνθάδ᾽ ἱκέσθαι πάρος

ἧς

ἐγὼν

ἔλαχον

οὐδ᾽

εἴ

ἥν

ye

ἑλοίμην

πᾶσι

κε

πρήγμασ᾽ 390

ὅσοις τέκεα γίναντ᾽ ἄνθρωποι

τῆσδ᾽

δὴ

δοκέων

πλεόνεσσιν

ἐρατεινοῖσιν,

τέως

ἄπονά

οὕνεκεν

εὐπραγίης

μακάρτατα

ἔτ᾽ ἦν

βιοῦν,

συντυχέμεν

ἐλευθερίην

ἐσθλοῖς

ἀλλάξας"

κ᾿ ἀπράγμονα

βιοτὰν

εἶχον,

ἠμὲν dp’ ἔκτοθ᾽ ἀτειρέα δὴ βελέεσσι φθούνου, ἠδέ τε πὰρ κραδίην ἐμὰν ἄνετον ἀκύμαντον ἀστυφέλικτον

if. 198] 395

μή

εὐπαθέα

διδοῖσαν κατ᾽ dpa ἄνδρας ἀλάστορας

τῆς

400

τινος

ἀπ᾽

μὲν

ἐγὼν

ἄρ᾽

ἁπάντων

pé' ἀλγεινοῦ,

πρηγμάτεων

μή

τινα

Shp,

χώραν

κρατέειν νύ τ᾽ ἐμεῦ ὀλετῆρας ἠέ τ᾽ ἐλευθερίης ἐμᾶς ἐχθρούς.

βιοτῆς

ἁμαρτὼν

δύσμορος

οἷα

πάθον ἔπειτ᾽ οἰκείῃσ᾽ ἀφραδίῃσιν ἄελπτα δεινά! Χριστὲ ἄναξ, σύ με póev νοῦον ἀσινῆ σῆς ἀγαθῆς ἐλπίδος, ἔκ τε παγίδων σάου.

Poem

XV

55

of life, and to get past as pleasantly and gently as possible the resistance of those who strive and quarrel; (371) with those who are hostile I have always

taken

care, both openly

and in secret, that they might

cease from

their deadly, dread envy. All men who have children know how many lovely and grievous things follow upon them — (375) rather more of them grievous we would say in truth, and not at all similar in degree. And oftentimes,

when

we

see

it

happen

on

eaeh

oceasion

that

they

are

disobedient to paternal counsels, it is ἃ most unpleasant thing for wretched mortal parents to fight for them against others and also with them

themselves for their sake. (381) Who

could relate the unspeakable

woes in this regard? But I have spoken of very few of this life's griefs: I have

spoken

mostly

the others whereby

of those

in my

concerning

folly I bound

children;

myself.

I leave

(385)

aside

for now

If anyone had

foretold these to me, I should never have chosen earlier to come to this

position for the sake of the prosperity I have attained, appearing as | do to all to live à most blessed life — not even if it were possible to attain yet more lovely good things by exchanging the freedom that was (390) the life I then lived, painlessly, and carelessly, unscathed by the darts of

envy, with my heart at ease, untroubled, untrammejed by any affairs at all, susceptible to no grief, giving no ground to hostile, destructive men or enemies of my freedom to prevail over me. (397) Having lost that life,

wretch that 1 am, what woes did I then suffer through my own follies! O Lord Christ, deliver me, with mind sound in Thy hope, and save me from snares,

369 (kotéova) ἐξάντες] e corr. M 370 ἐντί] e corr. M 371 ἱμέ)μβλων] e corr. M 373 ὅσοις] ὅσοι a. corr. M 377 δὴ] add. M 378 dpa τὸ] e corr. M 381 (ἀττηγήσαιτ)" ἀνιηρὰ e corr. M 387 (μ)ακάρίτατα)] e corr M 388 (Ór' ἦν] 6 corr. M σύν ye τυχέμεν a. corr. Μ ἐσθλοῖς] add. M 390 εἶχον} e eorr. M 392 (dkópavhov] e eorr. M 393 61v] add.

M

398 (Érevr! olket(no)] e eorr. M

56

Poem

tf. 198]

1

Θώυμ᾽

XVI

IZT

Εἰς

ἑαυτὸν ἔτι καὶ κατὰ τὸν βίον

ἔχει

pe

μέγα,

τί

περὶ τῆς ἀνισότητος πραγμάτων

ποτ᾽

αἴτιον

ἔστ᾽

εἰν

βίῳ

τοῖς μὲν ξυλλελαχεῖν μερόπεσσ᾽ ἀπράγμονα τύχαν ἀκύμον᾽ ἔθνεος ἀγωγὴν σφετέροιο διαρκῆ βιόεν εὖ ἀπάτερθ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν δὴ πρηγμάτων, 5 ὥστ᾽ ἐνὶ γαληναίῃ καὶ σφέας εὐδιόεντα βίοτον ἀνυτέμεν τοῖσιν ἔλαχ᾽ εὐπραγίη,

10 [f 198vj

τοῖς δ᾽ ἐτέροισιν ἔτ᾽ αὖ μερόπεσσι δὴ βρουτοῖσι ξύμπεσ᾽ ἐνί γε λελαχεῖν πρήγμασι λευγαλέοισι γείνεος ἠδέ τε τεῆς πάτρης γειναμένοισι ἄθλια, χαλεπά, δεινὰ διαμπερὲς ἀμφοράουσιν αἰὲν ἐπικλύζοντα διάδοχ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοιϊν

ἄλλο

μετ᾽ ἄλλο

ξὺν

πάντοθεν ἀμφί τοῖσδ᾽ ἂρ ἐπεί 15

καιροῖσι,

τίποτ᾽

πρήξας,

20

θ᾽ ἅμαδις

ἀολλέα

πουλλὰ

αὐτός

γ᾽

γηθόσυνος

μάλ᾽

ἔσοιτ᾽,

εὐδαίμον᾽

τεοῖσιν εἰ

μή

ἰδίᾳ

ἀγαθοῖς

τις

ἀνούστατος

ἀνδρῶν

αὐτὸς ἔῃ τὸ δὲ νητρεκέως ταλάντατον ἄλλων ὁκκόσ᾽ ἐνὶ, πέλεται βρουτοῖσι πρήγματ᾽ ὀλουά" τίς δέ τ᾽ ἔσοιτ᾽ ἀφράδμονι μακάριος βιοτὰ Srv;

τὰ

25

ἄν,

ἔπειτα

ταρπόμενος

δέ

τ᾽ ἀειρόμενα φθοροποιά, πέλωρα. τις συμβιόεν λελάχοιτ᾽ ὀλοοῖσι

μὲν

ἐγὼν

ὡς

μάλιστ᾽

ἀπορέω

βένθεα

συνιέμεν,

πλὴν ὄττι

ἄρ᾽ ἀνὰ καί

νοῦον

T' ob

πῶς

ἀεὶ

δύναμαι

τάδ᾽ ἀκίχητ᾽

OTL νημερτὲς τόδ᾽ ἐγὼν pa κεν ἀμφί γ᾽ ἑκάστοισι θεὸς

ἔνδικά

τ᾽ ἔρδει,

τά

κεν

ἁμέες

λαμβάνων, προυνοίης

ἔασ᾽ ἔργα. πέποιθ᾽ ἔλλογα

ἀπλανῶς: σουφὸς

φράσασθ᾽

ἔμπης

οὕπως δύναμεθ᾽, ἀπορέοντες εἴν γε λογισμοῖς. ἄλλα θ᾽ ἑκάστοτε πουλλὰ καί θ᾽ ὃ νῦν ἵκετ᾽ ἐμοῖο

[f. 199] 30

νοῦον ἰλιγγιάοντα περὶ οἷσι δέρκομ᾽ οὕτως πρήγμασ᾽ ἄνισα βεβάουσ᾽ εἰν μερόπεσσι βρουτοῖς" τοὶ

δῆτα

μὲν

ὅρανται

τυχόντες

πράττουσι

κύκλοσ᾽ 35

γὰρ

ἀνὰ

βίοτον

civ ἄρ᾽ ἔθνει

μάλ᾽

ἄπαυστα

ἐπίπονα

ἐς

δυσχερέεσσι

δαμνομένοισι

φάος

πατρίδι

πουλλοῖς,

διαμπερὲς

πουλεμίοις ἀσπόνδοις ἠνορέῃφι πέλωρα, μέρμερ᾽ ἐπί σφας ὑπερφίαλ᾽ ὁρμαίνουσ᾽

πάρτροπα

φύσιος

ἀνδρομέης,

δι᾿ ὅρκια

τά

κρατύναντες

πέρ

αὐτοὶ

θ᾽ ἅμα ἑξῆς ἀλόγιστα

ἀσύμβαθ᾽

ὁπηοῦν᾽

ἔπειτα

βρουτοὶ

Poem

XVI

57

AVI To Himself Again and Concerning the Unfairness of Affairs in Life (1) Great wonder seiseth me at what might be the cause that in life to some mortals falleth the easy, untroubled lot of leading the selfsufficient life of their people, well removed from grievous affairs, (5) so that they

who

obtain

prosperity live a calm

falleth to the lot of other mortal affairs of their people and fatherland, wholly dreadful woes which swell up and, with them, all manner of deadly round,

ruinous,

monstrous!

When

life in serenity;

whereas

it

men to be born amongst grievous beholding always wretched, difficult, in succession (12) one after another terrors from every side, looming all

it is one’s

lot to live in ruinous

(15)

times, what then? — once having made one’s good fortune privately, one would

then

joyously

exult

in one’s

own

prosperity,

unless

one

be the

most foolish of men (and this is truly the most wretched of all other deadly things amongst mortals: (20) for what blessing could there ever be in life for the fool?). Collecting these things thus always in my mind, I am

at

depths:

ἃ

complete

how

loss,

is it with

and

these

I

am

unable

inscrutable

to

fathom

deeds?# But

Providence’s

I am

soundly

convinced that this is certain: (25) that wise God worketh reasonable and just things for everyone, though we ean in no wise explain these

same or many others each time they arise, being at a loss in our thoughts. And

this, too, now

cometh

into

my

mind

as it reeleth

in confusion

over

the things I see occurring with unfairness amongst mortal men. (31) Some of these latter during their lives make

their appearence

in publick and

attend to the many difficult affairs of their people and fatherland with diligence,

implacable dreadful,

but

arc

in

turn

enemies

on

all sides

ceaselessly,

thoroughly

contriving

senseless offences against them,

with

overpowered

violence

(37) contrary

by

monstrous,

to human

nature,

altogether irreconcilable. Confirming these events with oaths we mortals

| ἔχει

με] e corr. M

ἔστ᾽ e corr. M

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58

Poem

εὖγε 10

πέποιθμεν

ἑκάστοτ᾽

ἥματα

τοσσάτι᾽

ἐκ δέ

τ᾽ ἔσωθεν

ἐκ

τε

πᾶσαν

σύμφρονά

T' αὖ

δέ

XVI

εἰνθάδ᾽

ἀτὰρ ἀνὰ

ἐρίσδουσ᾽ ἐπίχρεον

βιότοιο

μέρος

ἄμοτον ὠθεῦσι

μελεδωνὴν ἀμφ᾽

περᾶναι

ἄσειστ᾽

ὄχλων.

ἀλλήλοιϊν, γαλήνην

ὅσ᾽ ἔασι

σφίσιν

ἐσθλά T' ὀνήσιμα πᾶσαν ἀλαλκεῖν δὴ κακότητα, κήρεσι φοῦρον, κοινοῖς πρήγμασι κοσμολέτειραν. τοὶ μεν ὅρανθ᾽, ὡς ἄρ᾽ ἐφάμην, τοῖσδ᾽ οὐλομένοισι καιροῖσι

δειλάμονες

ἀπευκταιοτάτοισι,

μηδὲν ὅτι πρὶν ἐοργότες οἵδ᾽ ἀρετῆς ἀθέμιστον, Ws κε τάδ᾽ ἄποιν᾽ ἔμμεν᾽ ἁμαρτάσι προυτέρῃσιν ἃ τληπαθέες ἄθλια πάσχουσ᾽ ἅμαδις ἄλλοις, ὅττι KEV ἀναγκαίη σφίσιν ἐνὶ κοινοῖσι συμφορέεσθ᾽ ἀλεγεινοῖς ἠδ᾽ ἅμα τ᾽ ἄχνυσθ᾽ ἄλλοις

jg:

Iti

καί τε μάλιστ᾽ αὐτοὺς νοέοντας ἴσως ἑτέρων πλεῖν, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔχοντας OTL ποτ᾽ ἄμεινον πειθέμεν ἄλλους. ἣν δέ τε καί τινος εὐπραγίης ἐπιτυχέες αὐτοὶ γένοιντ᾽ ἠὲ μετά γ᾽ ἑτέροισι δόκιμ᾽ ἀνύτοντες

οἷς βιόουσι σὺν ἅμαδις ἢ διὰ τυχηροῖς ἀστάτοισι φορήμασιν ἤ τινί κ᾿’ ἄλλῳ τρούπῳ, πῶς 60

ποτ᾽

ἀκηδέες

τοὶ

δ᾽ ἕτεροι

εὐπραγέουσι

65

jf. 200] 70

ἠδ᾽

ἀπάτερθ᾽

dit’ ἐπίκοινα ἔασ᾽ ἅπασιν πάλιν

πολὺ

αὖ

διὰ

ἐνί

ἔσοιντ᾽

ὀδυνάων,

οἷς συμβιόουσι: γ᾽

ἔθνεσι

πάντεσσι

συλλαχόντες

προέχουσιν

ἔθνεσιν ἄλλοις, ἀρίτιμά τε κύδιμά τε κάρτα οὔρια διὰ πρήγμαθ᾽ ἅπαντα διαμπερὲς αἰὲν νηχομένοισ᾽ ἐνὶ κύμασ᾽ ἁλὸς πολυπλάγκτοιο τοῦδε βίου πᾶσιν ἱστίοισ᾽ ἀνέμου πλήθουσιν᾽ ἄπονά 8’ οἱ πλείους βιόουσιν ξορτῇ ζωῆς

ταρπόμενοι, μενοεικέα θυμὸν ἔχοντες ὅστ᾽ ἐνὶ τοῖσδ᾽ ἄρα καιροῖσι λελάχοι μακαρίου

ἢ μάλ᾽

βιότοιο

τύχας

ὅδ᾽ ἐμφανέως

ἀριτίμου

ἀγάλλεθ᾽

αἰεί. τευ ἐσθλοῦ

κεδνῆς

ὁμηλίκεσσι

“1 or

καιροῦ, κύδιμος ἀνύτων βιότοιο κέλευθα ἡδὺς ἑωυτῷ πολὺ μάλισθ᾽ ἡδὺς ἀγαθοῖς παγκοίνοισι γένευς σφετέροιο μακάρτατος

ὄντως,

ἄτροπα νωλεμὲς ἀμφ᾽ ἑκάτερθ᾽ εὐδαίμονα βιούς, ἴσως οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὃς οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὅσοι γ᾽ ἅμα βιοῦσ᾽ αὐτῷ φθάντες ἐνείκαντες φορὰν ἠδέ τε θύματα ἀγαθὰ ὑψιμέδοντι θεῷ τῆσδ᾽ εὐπραγίης ἄξια, εἰς

ὃν

ἀν᾽

ἅπαντά

γέ

θ᾽ ὅσα

δράουσι

βρουτοὶ

Poem

then

convince

XVI

59

ourselves on each occasion

that we shall in turn pass so

many days free of turbulence. (41) But thereupon they struggle viciously from within against one another; thereupon

serenity and common

they thrust away all needful

concern for things good and useful in warding off

all wiekedness, Death's tribute, bane of publick weal. wretches, as l have said, make their appearence abominable times, having done nothing in violation of so that the afflictions they miserably suffer along with for sins of old; (51) for they are forced to share in the to

grieve

because

with

they

others,

have

more,

no better

they

may

counsel

indeed

to give

(46) Others, poor in these deadly, virtue beforehand, others are ransom common woes and

consider,

others.

than

the

(55) Even

rest,

if these

same should attain to some success or achieve notoriety amongst others with whom they live through a fortunate turn of unstable currents or in some

other wise, how

could

they ever be free of care or removed

from

the pains (60) which commonly beset all with whom they live? Yet others chance to be born amongst a prosperous people, excelling all other peoples,

sailing always most honourably and all affairs amidst the waves of the sails filled with wind: (67) most of the feast of life, with spirits forever

gloriously with à fair breeze through loud-roaring sea of this life, all their them live withéut pain, rejoicing in calm. Whoever' chances to obtain in

these times a noble, blessed life of honoured

good fortune, will manifestlv

delight in his contemporaries of the age, making his way with glory along life's paths, pleased in himself and quite pleased in the general well-being of his people; most blessed indeed, he lives out his life without ceasing in eontinual

happiness.

(76) In like manner,

neither he nor those who live

with him could be too quick in bringing tribute ànd good offerings unto lofty-counselled God, to whom go up on high all things mortals do,

45 φόρον corr. M

a. corr. M 57 σὺν] p. hanc vocem eras. 6’ M 60 émíkowa] p. hanc vocem aliquid eras. M

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(sic) a. corr. M

77 (ἀγγαθὰ] c corr. M

58 «’] add. M 61 συλλαχόντες)]

e

τρόπω corr.

a. M

60

Poem

δ0

οὗ πάρα

πάντ᾽

XVI

ἀμοιβαδὸν

ἕσπετ᾽

ἐοικόθ᾽

ἑκάστοις.

ὦ μέγα θώυμ᾽ ἕξει μ᾽ ἕκατι τῶνδ᾽, ἄναξ Χριστέ, πῶς τάδ᾽ ἔασσ᾽ ἔργα διὰ σεῖο μήδε᾽ ἄλῃηπτα στάθμι᾽ ὅττεῳ πάντα ἐΐσ᾽ ἔασι μετὰ πᾶσι

βρουτοῖς 8ῦ

if. 200¥]

τοῖσδ᾽ 90

ἠμὲν

ἑάων

ἐσθλῶν

ἠδέ

τε

AvypQv:

πῶς ἄρα τοῖς μὲν at’ ἀρχῆς ἐς τέλος εὐδιόοντα δὴ βίοτον πόρες ἀκύμονά τ᾽ ἀπάτερθ᾽ ἀνιηρῶν τυχηρᾶς κακότητος ἀνηνύτων ἀλεγεινῶν,

ἔτ᾽ ἂρ ἔμπαλιν

ἥματ᾽

ἄπαυστα

μογηρὰ

καθάπαξ

δουλόσυνον φρόντιν ὑπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐχθροῖσι στονόεσσαν. οὔτί ποτ᾽ ἄνετον, οὔτί TOT’ ἔκτοθι τληπαθείῃς ἀμφ᾽ ὀλοοῖσι μάλα παραβαλλομένους πραγέσσι τοῖσδ᾽ ἑτέροις μετὰ τάδ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἀεὶ χερείοσι Avypot: ὅφρα κεν ἀλεύασθ᾽ ἔσοιτο τὰ πάρος ἐνί σφιν,

ξύμπεσ᾽ σὺν

ἐφεσπόμεν᾽

δὲ

τ᾽ ἐνίοτ᾽

ἄλλα

ἀολλέ᾽

τ᾽ ἔχουσι ἅμαδις

κύντερα,

πλεῖστ᾽

δεινά,

ὀλέκοντα

κύκλοθεν nre λύκοις ὠμοφάγοις ἐχθροῖσι νηλέϊ χούλῳ δαρδάπτοισι διαμπερές, οἶκτον

100

οὔποτ᾽

ἔχουσι

τοιάδ᾽

ὁράομεν

φύσιος

εἰν

πρήγματ᾽ ἄνισα διάνδιχα ἀμφαδὸν ἐμπίπτοντα, τὰ

δεπότεω προυνοίης τά περ ἄρ᾽ ἄμμες 105

|f. 201]

βρουτείης.

πολλάκι

κόσμου

πὰρ μέρος ἄλλα τ᾽ ἄλλοις δ᾽ ἔμπης ἄρα νέμεται

δι᾽ dpa νούμιμ᾽ ἄληπταἐτήτυμον οὐ νοέοντες, ἔπειτα

ἀπουρέομεν πῶς ποτε τάδε πρήγματ᾽ ἔασιν. ἀλλά T' ἀναγκαίη pa πεποίθεν ὅσοις τοι νοῦος ἔστι σαόφρων οὐδ᾽ ἀλάλητ᾽ ἀτάσθαλ᾽ ἄναρχος ὅττι κε τάδ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἔλλογα πάνσοφ᾽ ἔπειτα θεοσῖο διὰ κρίματα, τά περ ἴσως ἀνόσιον ἐρευνᾶν δούλους

110

ἐπικοίνου

μερόπεσσι

ἡμέας

ὄντας,

ὁτιὴ

τά

γ᾽

ipà

φαντὶ

λούγια μήτι γ᾽ tópev ἄνακτος μήδε᾽ ἄρ᾽ αὐτοῦ δοῦλον: ὃς ἤν ποτ᾽ ἴσως λελάχοιτ᾽ ἀμείνονος tdi

τάξιος

ἠδέ

ἄντερος

τε

ὕλας

χάριτος δεσμῶν

βένθεα, θωύματα

ἀπ᾽ ἄρα ὄψειεν

προυνοίης,

τῶνδ᾽

ἄφατα

οὐδὲ

ἀερθεὶς

θεοῖο

μὰν αὖ γε

παντελέα, πολὺ γὰρ ἔτι λεῖπται δῆ πελάγευς βάθος ἀπειρέσιον σοφίης ἀΐδηλον ἄνακτος. ἤτοι τὰ μὲν ἄληπτά γ᾽ ἔασι κρίματα θεοῦ ἄνισά περ δοκέοντα μερούπεσσι βρουτοῖσι,

μάλ᾽ 120

éto’ ὄντα

ἀσχαλάαν

δὲ

μετ᾽ ἄρα πεφύκασ᾽

λόγοις ὅμως

ἐνὶ

ἀγνώτοις Avypoig

σουφοῖς, ἄνδρες

Poem

XVI

61

(80) and from whom follow in turn all that is fitting to each and every one. Oh the great wonder that seiseth me, Lord Christ, on account of

these things: how through Thy incomprehensible counsels all measures are equal for everyman amongst all mortals, both of good things and of griefs; (85) how it is that to some Thou grantest a life calm from beginning to end,

unperturbed,

far removed

from

the

miserable

fortune

of endless

woes, whereas to others ceaseless days of toil, slavish, mornfu] anxiety at the hands of enemies. (90) Never have they any respite, never are they

removed another,

from misery, exposing themselves to one deadly affair after forever more grievous: just as they manage to get rid of

those they already have, they get still gthers following thereupon, dire and dreadful. (95) There are also times when these griefs come in shoals, all together, deadly, all round about like savage, hostile wolves,

thoroughly the

mortal

we

often

now

these,

ravenous nature

see

with they

amongst now

others,

pitiless share

mortals with

with

rage,

with

others.

no (99)

of this world: clear

compassion

unfairness

Such

are

alternately in

turn.

ever for the

affairs

they

befall

Nevertheless,

these same are distributed by the incomprehensible usages of the Lord’s providence. In truth we do not understand these latter, and therefore are we at a loss as to how these affairs really are. (105) But necessity has convinced those whose mind is wise and not unutterably, recklessly disposed, that these are surely reasonable, perfectly wise things by God’s judgements, the which it is likewise impious for us His servants to question. For holy Writ saith that the servant knoweth naught of his master’s counsels: if ever he should obtain (112) a better station and grace, raised up above these bonds of matter, he would see into God's ineffable depths, the marvels of Providence, - though not (115) completely, for the infinite deep of the sea of the Lord’s wisdom still remains. Now, these are the incomprehensible judgements of God which appear unjust to mortals but are indeed quite equitable for unknown,

109/111

wise reasons.

(120) But it is natural for men to grieve in their

cf. Sap. 4, 17

83 OTew a. corr. M πάντ᾽ ἐΐσ᾽ a. corr. M 86 ἀνιηρίῶν)}) e corr. M 91 πράγεσι a. corr. M 92 Avypot} add. M 94 τ e corr. M 101 νέμεται e corr. M 104 ἀπορεῦμεν a. corr. M 108 (πεπολίθεν} e corr. M 108 &í(à)] c corr. M 109 ἱερὰ a. corr. M 114 avd] e eorr. M ye] add. M 115 πελάγους] a. corr M 118 μερόπεσσι a. corr. M

02

Poem

[f.201v] 125

τειρόμενοι μάλ᾽ émLeravóv δειλάμονες οἵτε νοῦον ἔχουσ᾽ ἐχέφρονα δὴ τλησικάρδιοί τε δερκόμενοί γε μάλισθ᾽ ἑτέρους προτέρους, οἵτ᾽ ἐγγὺς δὴ βιόουσ᾽ ἀκύμονα βίοτον ἀνύτοντες ἄνδρες ἐνίοτ᾽ ἀλιτροί, ὅρκια μὴ τιμάοντες μὴ δέ τιν’ ἀνδρομέαν πολιτεύσιμον εἰν μερόπεσσι σεμνοτέραν αἰδήμον᾽ ἀγωγὴν ἀκύμονά τε,

οἷδέ 130

XV]

τε

δὴ

λείουσιν

ἐοικότες

ὠμηστῇσιν

ἀδρανέας ἅρπαγμ᾽ ὑπερφίαλοί γε τίθενται λαφύσσοντες ἀναιδέες ἅττα γ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἀολλέ᾽

ἐγγύς,

νοῦμον ἕνα μόνον ἅττα δύναιντο δράαν ἔχοντες, ἔνδικά T' ἄδικά T' αὖ ἐόντα δοκέοντά θ᾽ ἅπασι

135

πρός Te θεοῦ πρός τ᾽ ἀνδρῶν οἱ τιμάουσι θεοῦ δίκας ἄνακτος ἠδέ τε θέσιμα φύσιος αὐτῆς οὐδὲν ἐνώπιον οἰόμενοι χρῆναι τιθέεσθαι,

χείρεσι τοὺς

ἠδέ

TE

ἢ τό 140

145

σφετέρῃσι ὁράοντες

ῥηιδίως

γε

ἄλλους

ἡδὺν

[f. 202]

δὲ

μὲν

ἀνύοντας

διὰ

ἠνορέῃ

ἀνείκελα

εὐδαίμονα

δεύτερον ἰόντας

πεποίθειν

τάδ᾽

δὴ

τε.

φρονέοντας

πράσσοντας,

ἔμπης

οὔτιν᾽ ἀρετᾶς

τίμια

νούμιμα

βίοτον

οὗδὸν

θεσῖο,

πολνήρατον

αἰεί,

οἵγε διαμπερὲς ἀμφ᾽ ὀλοοσοῖσι δὴ κάμνουσι πρήγμασι, βιόοντες λευγαλέοισι πουλλοῖς, ἀχνύμενοι μάλα διὰ κέλευθα βίου dopéovTat’

οἷς ὅτι δὴ

βαρύποτμα

νεμήματά

σφιν

ἔλαχε

ζώειν ἄθλια κυματόεσσιν ἀεὶ κλύδωσι βρασσομένοισι σμερδαλέ᾽ ὀκρυόεντα δεινὰ δὴ φορέουσι διαμπερές, ἄτροπα κοπτόμενοί οὔποτε γαλήνι᾽ εὐήνεμα δὴ πλώοντες,

150

εἰαρινῆσι

διὰ

τοὔνεκα

155

μάλ᾽

κεῖαρ

ἐπίπονα

αὐτοὶ

καί

πνουῇσιν ἀχέεσσι

ἱμερτὰ

θ᾽ ἕτεροι

ἀκύμονα

βιόεν

τῶν

ἐγὼν

μήποτ᾽

μὲν

ὡς

ὄφειλον

αἰὲν

λευγαλέ᾽ ἡμετέρῃ

οὑμοίία τάδ᾽ dpa γενεῇ τῇδ᾽ ἀδινὰ

τάξιν

παπταίνων ἐπιλελαχὼν

ἀγάτιμον

ὀλοὰ

τυχηρὰ

ἔσωθι

ὁράουσιν ζωῆς

eby’ ἀπάτερθ᾽

νωλεμὲς

τοῖσιν

ἀμοιβαδὸν

σφιν

ἃ νείμανθ᾽

ῥηίδια

γε

βιεῦντες.

δάμναταί

τοσσάτι᾽

πρήγματ᾽

ἔσχατα 160

γε

ἀνιηρῶν᾽"

πείραμ᾽

ἔκ θ᾽ ἑτέρων

ἐφ᾽

ἕτερ᾽

αὑτοῦ

αὖθι

χέρει᾽ ἑξείης βρνάοντα

θανάτοιο

ἀμφιπονέειν

εἰν προτέροις

τὰ

μάλ᾽ ἄγχι, κοινὰ

ἐτέεσσ᾽

ἐρατεινήν.

Poem

XVI

63

distress amidst woes, poor wretches indeed. And those with prudent minds

and stout hearts observing others of old, and also those who live hard by, leading calm lives, (125) are at times sinful men, dishonouring oaths or any noble human or civic modesty and probity of conduct amongst mortals; like savage, overweening lions they make the weak their prey, (130) shamelessly gulping down whatever is nearby. They have only one

law: whatever they might be able to do. Of the things which seem righteous or unrighteous to all, before God and before men who honour the justice of the Lord God and the laws of nature itself (135) they think it unnecessary to take any account, but only to trust in their own hands and force. Seeing these latter, then, as they devise unseemly things and easily make a happy life for themselves, or else others who follow no virtuous

path

through

God's

laws

(140) but nevertheless lead pleasant,

ever lovely lives, those who live in constant distress over many deadly, dire affairs make their way grieving through life's paths; (145) for to them hath fallen the ill-fated lot to live wretehedly amidst ever turbulent, churning storms, bringing constant, frightful, horrid dangers; they are shaken

relentlessly,

never

sailing

serenely

delightfully amidst spring breezes. Wherefore

or

calmly,

(150)

nor

living

their heart is broken within

seeing the many painful things which are distr ibuted to them, whilst others live happy lives of untroubled affairs, well removed from woes. (155) Would that I had never had experience of the latter, constantly in turn,

one lot after another,

all alike: as 1 beheld

them boding ever worse,

deadly things for our people always nigh unto death, to my lot fell this

office, honoured and much desired in former years, of looking after publick affairs.

122 δὴ] add. M 130 (ὠολλέ Ἴ e corr. M 132 (ἀδικ)ά τ᾽ αὖ éóv(ra)] e corr. M 133 ye] add. M 139 ἀρετῆς ἃ. corr. M 145 ois] p. hanc vocem littera una (y seu T’} eras. M (odkv] e eorr. M 146 κυματόεσσ᾽ a. corr. M 148 γε] add. M 150 πνοῆσιν a. corr. M

153 ζωῆς} e corr. M corr. M

160 (τοῖσιν

155 ὄφελον a. eorr M ἐπιίλελαχῶ)ν} e corr. (σιν

(Ex!

αὑτοῦ] e corr. M

ἐπι) P et (v) M

158 βριάοντα a.

Poem

[f. 202v] 1656

XVI

ἀτὰρ ὃς ἤπειτα νῦν ἐράσαιτ᾽ ἀνούστατος δὴ πέλετ᾽ ἀνδρῶν τῆσδ᾽ ἐνὶ τοῖσδ᾽ ὀλοοῖσι καιροῖς" ἦρι γὰρ ἀσινέας μετ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἄλλους δὴ πλώσαντας πρηγμάτεων ῥὰ γαληναίων ἐπίηρ᾽ ἄπονά τε, αὐτὸς ἐγὼν ποτιδέγμαι χείματα ναυάγιά τε

νωμῶν

οἰάκια

ταλασίπορος οἴδμασιν

μέρμερ᾽ ἐπικλύζουσιν ἀνήμερα ἄν T' ἀκάματος ἐπειγόμενος,

170

175

[f 203]

ἴσχων,

σύν θ᾽ ἅπασ᾽ ἄφαρ ὀλοίμαν, τῷδε τέλει καταλήξας πᾶσαν ὀϊξζὺν σὺν δ᾽ ἀπειρέσιά τ᾽ ἀλεγεινά. al τίς ἂν εἴν ye λογιμοῖσι τάδε μερμερίζων, τάδε διαμπερὲς ἔνδοθι κεῖαρ ἀμύσσοντ᾽ αἰνὰ φρουντίσματ᾽ ἄρα διὰ νοὸς στροφαλίζων αἰεί,

ἂν ἤπειτ᾽

ἔσθ᾽ ὁτιοῦν

γλυκερὸν

δοκέεσθαι,

nór' ἐπὶ φιάλης μέλι χείλεσι δὴ χρωτίζων ἥν κε μάλ᾽ ἰοῦ πλήρεα πινέμεν ἄφυκτ᾽ ἐστί:

τοιάδ᾽

ἐγὼν

πόματ᾽

ἄτοπα

ἠέ

μάλ᾽

ἐρέειν,

ἰώδε᾽

τε

ἀείναα 185

διαπρήσειν, νόον ἀμφὶ μάλ᾽

ὄφρ᾽ ἂν ἱκόμην ἐς λιμέν᾽ εὐδιόοντ᾽ ἄελπτος διὰ τέρασσι θεοῖο: διὰ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐλπωρῇσιν οὔτισιν ἄλλῃσ᾽ ἠέ θ᾽ ὑποβρύχιός τ᾽ ἐς βυθὸν.

οἷος 180

αἰεὶ

διάδοχα

καί

τύχης

κράματ᾽

ἄκρατα

τ᾽ ἄλλο

πίνειν

πρό

ὀλουά, τε

γ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλου

ἀνάγκην ἄρ᾽ ἔχων, τὴν οὔποτ᾽ ἀλεύασθ᾽ ἐστί. τίνά ποτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀκεσώδυνα σύμμιγ᾽ ἅμαδις σφίσιν

εὑρέμεν

ἢ παρά

Tov

πορίσασθαι

φάρμακ᾽

ἔχοιμι,

τὰ κραδίην ἐμὰν ἰαίνοντ᾽ ἀλλάξαιθ᾽ ὁπηοῦν πικρίας ἀηδοῦς, πολυχεύμονος ἀείρρουα

190

δὴ κρατέοντ᾽ ὀλοὰ πόλλ᾽ ἄτροπα κάρτ᾽ ἀνίατα; πάντα γὰρ ἅτ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἡδέα νῦν τάδ᾽ ἀμφαδὸν dp φλαῦρά TE μηδενόσωρα χραίσμειν τίς δ᾽ ἂν ἐμοὶ δῶκ᾽ ἀμφοτεράων

καί

κεν

ἀλλά

195

μ᾽

ἐμοὶ ὀλονὴ

τόδε μοῖρα

κέρδιον

ἂν

πέδησε

Τοῖσδ᾽ ἐνὶ καιροῖσι, τοὺς μήποθ᾽ ὑπέρ γ᾽ εὐπράξας

εἰνθάδ᾽ ἔασι. ἔκτοθι βιοῦν,

ἦν A μάλα βίου

πουλύ:

λελαχέσθαι

μήποτ᾽ ἰδέσθ᾽ ὄφειλον, ἀοίδιμος ὀψιγόνοισιν

ἔμμεν᾽ ἔπειτα περίφαντ᾽ ἐσθλὰ περίφαντά τε βαρύποτμ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ πρήγματα σύμμιγ᾽ ἅμαδις εὑράμενος, γεγαὼς ἅμα νῦν μερόπεσσ᾽ ἑτέροισι.

200 Χριστὲ [f. 203v]

ἄναξ, οὗ βένθεα δὴ σοφίης

ἀκίχητα

πάντα δέ θ᾽ ἁμέας ἄφρονας ἔλλογα λήθεις θυμὸν ἀπόεργ᾽ ἔνδικον ἀλιταίνοντ᾽ ἔμοιγε

ποιῶν,

μοι

Poem

XVI

65

(162) But whoever would desire this in these deadly times is the most mindless of men. For after others who sailed unharmed in a spring of serene affairs, most delightfully and effortlessly, (166) I have taken over

storms and shipwreck, steering a course, wretch that swells forever frightfully and wildly billowing, though without turbulence, maintaining my purpose (170) until unexpectedly to calm harbour through God's miracles; expectations other than that I should perish forthwith

I am, through I long to pass I should come but I have no with everyone,

drowned in the deep, by such an end quitting all grief and countless woes

withal. (175) Alas! Who, whilst lamenting in his thoughts these things which constantly rend the heart savagely within, would be able thereupon to think of anything sweet at all, as if smearing honey on the rim of à bowl filled with poison which it is inevitable that one should drink? (181) Such are the undrinkable drinks or, one might say, poisonous concoctions,

ever-flowing,

one following another,

which

necessity,

never

to be eluded, forceth me to drink. (185) What pain-remedies could I ever find amongst them, or medicines procure from anyone which might somehow warm my heart and relieve it of the many overpowering woes, ever-flowing, relentless and incurable: of -streaming, nauseous bitterness?

(190) For everything which

is pleasant ‘pow,

it is evident to

me, is trivial and availeth little here. If anyone had granted me to live apart from both sorts of affairs, this would have been of much more profit to me indeed. But deadly fate fettered me to the lot of living (195) in these times. Would that I had never seen them nor, having succeeded beyond

measure, been famous amongst late-born men, thereupon finding

notorious bounties and also notorious, grievous woes, mingled all together,

seeing that 1 am now become like other mortals. (200) Lord Christ, the depths of whose wisdom are unfathomable and who unbeknown to us makest all things with reason, check my spirit in its transgression

164 δὴ] add. M

~—s tAolcavtes a corr. M

167 (ταλασί)πίορος)}] e eorr. M.

e corr. M 169 iox(ov)] e eorr. M 171 τέρασι 177 νοὸς a. corr M 178 (ἤπλειτ᾽ éc9] e corr. M

181 ὀλοὰ e corr. M

182 (πίν)ειν Te] e corr.

M

168 ἀνήμερα]

a. corr. P 172 (οὔτι)σιν e corr. M 180 κεν a. eorr. M ἐστὶ e corr, M

. 183 (διάδοχ)α

καί

τ᾽ - ἄλλου] e corr. M

185 ἅμαδι a. corr. M 188 ἀείρροα a. corr. M 190 ἀμφαδὸν ἐμοὶ a. eorr. M a. corr M 194 ÓXo a. corr. M (λελαχέ)σθαι} e corr. M 195 ὄφελον 196 y'] add. M 201 ποῶν a. corr. M 202 ἐμοὶ a. corr. M ye] add. M

a.

191 ἐνθάδ᾽ corr. M

66

Poem

205

XVI

τοῖσδε λόγοισιν ἐμοῖς Tolg ἀπροτίοππ᾽ éevma, ἅττ᾽ ἀπέοικε pd τολμάων ἀνοσίᾳ γλώττῃ δῆτ᾽ ἀδεῶς προφέρεσθαι, κρίματά κεν διφάων κρυπτάδια σέο’ τοῖσιν ἀσχαλόων ὀχθίζω,

δυσχερέα δοκέων οἷς ξυνέλαχον πρήγμασιν, ἅττ᾽ ἀπέοικε δμώεσ᾽ ἀβέλτερα πάρτροπα ῥέζων: 210

πάντα γὰρ ἅττα δεσπότεω διὰ μήδεα δούλοις ἕσπετ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ γλυκερά TE φέρειν ὄφλουσι. τοὔνεκα δή σε λιτέομ᾽, ἄναξ, μὴ σύ μ᾽ ὀλέσειας,

πὰρ δέ T’ ἐμῆς Opdwy γλώττης ἀεικέλι᾽ εἴπεα φλήναφά T' ἀτάσθαλά Te, χοῦλον ἔρυκ᾽ ἔνδικον, ἠδέ τ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν αἰνέσιμα διὰ στόμ᾽ ἔχοντα δουλόσυνά τ᾽ ἐπεοικότα δείκνυέ γ᾽ αὐδάοντα᾽ εἰ δέ τ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀμείνοσι δοίης πρήγμασιν ὑμνεῖν

ἀλλοιώσιος οὕνεκ᾽ ἀπ’ ἂρ λυγρῶν ἐς ἐσθλὰ πανσθενέα σέο δεξιτερὴν δὴ παμμεδέουσαν, ἢ [f. 204] 220

μέγ᾽

σεῖο

τὸ

δυνάμεως

ἔσετ᾽

ἔργον

εὖ μάλα ῥηιδίως ἅττα νοέεις ἀνύτοντος, τά T€ χέρεια tay’ ἀμείβοντος ἐς ἄκρα τ᾽ ἐσθλά, τά τ᾽ ἀγαθὰ παρεόντα παλίνστροφα λυγρὰ τιθέντος, πάντα

225

ἄελπτον

δ᾽ ἀραρότα

ἠδ᾽ ὅσα σὺν evy’ ἀδόκητ᾽

διὰ

λόγοισι

κινεῦντος

σουφοῖς,

Sik’ ὀλούμενα πολλάκι πὰρ μόνον ἄφαρ ἀπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ αἱρέοντος δεινῶν

οἶκτον

ἐς μάλ᾽ ἀμείνον᾽ ἀμοιβὴν δι᾽ ἄρα σοῖς τεράασι. καί τε νῦν, ἄναξ, ἵλαος ἅμμιν ἄελπτα γεγαὼς σάου τῶνδ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν, τρέψας ἅπαντα λυγρά" καί τε γαληναίην ἀκύμονα βίον ἴδοιμι, 230

Kal

τε

τάδ᾽

ἡμετέροιο

γένευς

νανάγια

παύσαις,

οἷσιν ἐγὼν λελαχὼν μάλα δείδια δύσμορος ἐγγὺς πρός θ᾽ ὅμμασιν ὁράων τέρματα πανωλείης, ἄθλιος ἄλγε᾽ ἄπαυστα yoóov: τὰ σύ ye παύσαις δέσποτ᾽ ἐλέου δὴ μοῦνε θελητὰ διὰ πάντ᾽ αἰῶ. ἣν δέ μ᾽ ἁμαρτάδων νήριθμα πλήθε᾽ ἐρύκῃ avrov

ἰδέσθ᾽

ἐρίηρα

γείνεος. ἡμετέροιο ῥᾷον [f. 204v] 240

ἀκύμονα

μετὰ

δαρὸν

βιοτὰν

βιόουσιν

ἐόντα,

δὴ τρυχομένοιο,

ἀπάτερθ᾽

ἀλεγεινῶν,

τὰ μὲν ἄρ᾽ ἀμφί γ᾽ ἐμοί, ζωά τε μόρος τε, σεῖο κρίσιὶ κείσθω: στεργόμεν᾽ ἀναγκαίη πᾶσιν. ἀτὰρ ἐοικότα σῇ φύσιϊ μάλ᾽, ἄναξ, σύ γ᾽ ἐοργώς, ἵλαθι τῷδε yével κεν σφίσιν ἐπίσχεο δεινὸν

σὸν βαρύτατ᾽ ὀλέκοντα

χόλον

τόνδ᾽ ἔνδικον αἶψα,

Poem

XVI

67

through these my words which I have inadvertently uttered, (204) daring boldly to pronounce unseemly things with impious tongue whilst

pondering Thy hidden judgements; vexed with these latter I grieve, thinking the affairs which have fallen to my lot to be difficult, thereby doing

what

is unseemly

for servants,

fatuous,

perverse:

for all things,

woeful and pleasant, which befall servants through the Lord's counsels, do

they

deserve

to

bear.

(211)

Therefore

I entreat

Thee,

Lord,

do

not

destroy me. Disregarding the unseemly words of my mouth, idle and silly, avert Thy righteous anger, and grant in turn that I might have words of praise in my mouth and might proclaim things befitting a servant. (216) And if Thou shouldst grant that, in better circumstances through a change from woes to bounties, 1 might sing of Thine almighty, all-provident right

hand. this shall mdeed be a great and unexpected work of Thy power: (220) Thou who most easily bringest to pass whatsoever Thou devisest, swiftly changing the worst of things into supreme goods and turning goods back again to woes. Thou movest all things fittingly through Thy wise counsels, including all woes justly deserved, oftentimes removing them quite suddenly in a change from dreadful to better things through Thy miracles. Lord,

(227)

and

save

Likewise us

from

unexpectedly

be Thou

woes,

all griefs away;

chasing

noe propitious and

unto us,

may

I see a

serene, calm life. Put a stop to these disasters of our people which it has

fallen to my lot to attend, wretch that I am, fearing them greatly, beholding utter destruction before my eyes, with misery, ceaselessly bemoaning griefs. Put Thou a stop to these latter, Lord, sole desirer of mercy through every age. (235) If countless multitudes of sins prevent me from

beholding

an untroubled

life, far from

woes,

with

those who

live in

ease, seeing that our people hath long been afflicted with distress, let these things be so with me, my life and fate, subject to Thy judgement, which everyman must accept gladly. (241) But acting in accordance with Thy nature, be Thou, Lord, propitious to this Thy people, withhold from them forthwith this Thy righteous, dreadful, most grave, deadly wrath,

203 ἔειπα] e corr. M 204 ἀνόσια a. corr. M 205 ἱπροφέρε)σθαι] e corr. M κεν διφάων] c corr. M 206 ὀ(χθ)ίζω] e corr. M 210 (ὄφλ)ουσι] e corr. M 211 λίτομ᾽ a. corr. M 212

εἴπεα]ὔ ἔπη a. corr. M corr. M

217 ἀπὸ Avypüv a. corr. M

234 δὴ] add. M

218 δὴ] add. M

240 πᾶσιν] marg. subst. voci πάντως

P

225 (αἱρέο)ντίος)] e 242 κεν] add. M

Poem

945

250

XVI

ὥς K' ἐνὶ σοῖς τεράασι παλαιοῖς συμβοάοιτο τάδε νεουργέα θωύματα, πυλάων ᾿Αΐδαο ὅττι ep ἅρπασας εὖ δέ τε δῶκας ἀμπνοὰν ἄφαρ τῷδε γένει δὴ πάρ ye νεκάδεσιν ἀζώοισιν ἤδη σύμμιγ᾽ ἐόντι κυδάλιμα πάνθ᾽ ἅμαδις ἀμερθέντι πολυετέεσσ᾽ ἀλεγεινοῖς οἰκτρῶς, πάντοθεν ἠῦτε σῶμ᾽ ἄπνουν κυσὶν ὠμοβόροισιν

οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσιν, ἀμύνασθ᾽ οὐκ ἔχον αὐτό, κάρτ᾽ ἐκκεόμενον ἄρ᾽ ἀδεῶς δαρδάπτειν ἐχθροῖς, σπάραγμ᾽ ἀμφαδόν, ἢ μάλ᾽ ἀεικέλιόν τ᾽ ὅσσοισι 255

δερκομένοισι διατμαδὸν ἔνθα τε δὴ καὶ ἔνθα, ἄτιμά τ᾽ ἠδὲ λυγρὰ διαμπερὲς ἑλλώρια. ὦ τίς ἂν ἀμφὶ τὰ λεύσων, τίς ἂν ἔπειτ᾽ οὔασι

τάδ' |f. 2056] 260

ἀΐων

ἀπαθὴς

κέαρ

ἀνάλγητος

ἔσοιτο,

πέτρης ἐκγεγαὼς ἀδάμαντος ἀτειρέος EK TE δῆτα σιδήρου, τοῖσιν ἔασι φύσιες ἄνευθεν φραδμοσύνας αἰσθήσιος ἑσπομένων τε παθῶν;

ἀλλα σύ, δέσποτ᾽ ἄναξ, σθένει τάδ᾽ ἀφάτῳ σεῖο ῥεῖα μετ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀλλάξας, ἀμείνονά τ᾽ ἔμπαλιν δοὺς ἡγεμονίην τήνδ᾽ ἀγάτιμον ἀφοῦ μερόπεσσι βρουτοῖς γαῖαν ἀπείριτον ἀμφινέμεσθαι δῶκας,

265

ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ἕλεό γε πρηγμάτεων ἀπήμονα τῶνδε ἢ μάλα λευγαλέων κινδύνοις ἐσχάτοισι τήνδ᾽

270

275 [f 205v]

280

ἅπερ

ἄγχι

γενέσθ᾽

ov μὲν

ἂρ ἐξάντης

κράτεος

ὑμετέροιο

ἐπίδηλον

ἔσεται τά

ἔασ᾽

αἴτια’

τῶνδ᾽

οὕποτ᾽

T' ἄελπτα

priora

ἄτερθεν

πανσθενέϊ χερὶ μάλ᾽ ἀνύτοντος, ὥς κεν ἕλειο, ὥστε κ᾿ ἀφ᾽ ἡμέας αὐτοὺς ἀντί᾽ ἄελπτα ὁρῶντες θώυμ᾽ ἔχειν ἔτι ἀμφί γε σεῖο μάλα προυνοίῃ. ἢ γὰρ ἔημεν προύτερον dupes ἀνὰ βιότοιο τοῦδε φορήμασ᾽ ἀνίσοισι μάλ᾽ ἐπιφανέα δὴ εἰν μερόπεσσ᾽ ἔτεα πόλλ᾽ ἔξοχ᾽ ἄρα πρήσσοντες ἠὲ Kat’ μάκαρες

ἄλλους, κὐδιμά τ᾽ ἀοίδιμά Te’ πολλὸν εἰν πᾶσ᾽ ἐπίφθονοι δὴν πρήγματα πάντα,

βάσκανά

τ᾽ ὄμματ᾽

ἐφ᾽ ἡμέας

ἀνδρόμεα

κινεῦντες"

ἐς δ’ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κάκιστα πράξαμεν ἔμπαλιν ἢ πρὶν λευγαλέοισιν ἀπειρεσίοισι τειρόμενοι πλεῖν, ἄγχι μάλα ἰαύσαντες πύλῃσιν ᾿Αἴδαο, ὥστε γε πὰρ βραχὺ τόνδε παροικεῖν τάλανες ἄφαρ.

τάδέ

τε

πρήγμασι

πάντ᾽ δι᾽

ἄνισά ἄρα

τ᾽ ἀλλήλοις

μήδεα

τά

κεν

ἠδέ ἔασ᾽

τε

ἄλλων

ἄγνωτα

Poem

XVI

69

so that together with Thy wonders of old these new miracles might also be celebrated: (246) to wit, that Thou snatchedst away from Hades’s gates and gavest respite forthwith to this people already counted amongst the lifeless dead, pitifully robbed of all its glory through misfortunes of many

years, (250) in every wise like an inanimate body before savage dogs and all manner of birds, unable to defend itself as it heth shamefully exposed, to be devoured by enemies: obvious prey, rent asunder hither and thither in most unseemly fashion by all who catch sight of it, dishonourable,

altogether wretched carrion, (256) Oh, who upon seeing these things, or who hearing of them by ear would remain unaffected, insensible at heart?

— only one become indomitable, unyielding as stone or iron, whose nature is without

understanding,

perception

and

resulting

passions.

Thou, Lord Master, changing with ease these affairs by strength and granting anew better ones, save this Empire, since Thou gavest unbounded Earth to mortals to inhabit, woes which are clearly to blame for its being nigh to the dangers:

(268)

it shall

not

recover

from

these

same

(261)

But

Thy ineffable held in honour from the great worst possible

ever

without

Thy

power, which accomplisheth with almighty hand unhoped for things, as Thou

mightest

choose.

(271)

Do

this,

that

we

whadook

for unexpected

turns of our affairs might marvel again at Thy providence. For of old, in the unfair currents of this hfe, we fared for many years more remarkably amongst mortals (276) than any others, in glory and great splendour: we

were blessed and envied amongst all for all things and attracted to ourselves men's jealous eyes. But afterward we fared much worse than before, (280) exhausted by countless griefs, yea, slumbering nigh unto Hades's gates, so that we shall soon in but à short while, wretches that we are, be inhabitants there. All these things are unequal one to another

245 ἀΐδεω a. corr. M 247 δὴ] add. M ékkeópevov] p. hane voeem aliquid eras. M T'] add. M e corr, M

M

249 πολυέτεσσ᾽ a. corr. M 252 κάρτ᾽] add. M ἀ(δεῶς}} e corr. M 258 ἀεικέλιον a. corr. M

264 δερκόμενοι a. corr. M 255 atid T ἠδὲ] ἄτιμά Te a. corr. M (EAXjopia] e corr. M 256 tis!] e corr. M τὰ e corr. M τίς

οὔασι! p. hane vocem add. et deinde eras. κεν

M

267 κείαρ a. corr. M

ἰλυγρ)ὰ] dv] e eorr.

260 (παθ)ῶιν)]

e corr. M 261 σεῖο] e corr M 265 yc] add. M 267 ἄγχι] p. hane vocem aliquid eras. M 270 χειρὶ a. corr M 271 ἄελπτα] p. hane vocem eras. γ᾽ M 277 ἅπασ᾽ a. corr. M δὴν] add.M 280 πλεῖν] e corr. M 281 latcavtes] e corr. M (Ai8)go] e corr. M

283 dAMov)] e corr. M

70

Poem

285

παμμεδέοντος

ἄνακτος

XVI

ἠμὲν

dpa

ζώουσιν

Té τε αὖθι νεκάδεσιν, εὖ T' ἢ μὴ πρήσσουσιν᾽ εἰ δέ τ’ ἄελπτα νῦν ἐξ ἄρα τάδ᾽ ἀθροῦ᾽ ἀλλάξαις, ὑψιμέδων μακάρτατ᾽ ἄναξ, ἵλαος ἰδών, τί μὲν ἐσεῖτ᾽ 290

ἀμφαδὸν

obpáav

αὕτως

πραὔΐθυμος ἅμμιν ἀδόκητ᾽ ἀγαθά, τὰ

εὖ δέ

τ᾽ ἐρίηρ᾽

ἅμμιν,

τί δέ τ᾽ ἐσεῖτ᾽ ἔθιμα τὰ σαόφροσι δὴ μερόπεσσι σῆς ἀγαθουργίας ἠδέ τε δυνάμεως πρήγματα" τάων ἀφοτεράων ἔσθ᾽ ἀπείριτος ἅμμιν λοῦγος 295

[f. 206]

300

ἀκίχητος

διαμπερές,

οὔτισι

ληπτός.

ἀτὰρ ἐμῇσι λιτῆσι, παμμεδέων ἄφθιτε, μήτι γ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ὀχθήσας ἀναιδέος ἀπ᾿ ἂρ γλώττης ἔς τέ σ᾽ deipouévgoi, τεῷ δ᾽ ὑποείξας νούῳ πρός γ᾽ ἔλεόν θ᾽ ἑτοίμῳ, πολλὸν ἀεί τε μέλοντι πὰρ μερόπεσσι λῴονα, δίδου τῷδε γένει σὺ λυγρὰ τάδ᾽ ἀλεύασθαι, τῶνδ᾽ to” ἀμείψασθ᾽ ἐσθλά.

Poem

XVI

7]

and also to the affairs of others, through the counsels of the all-provident Lord which are unknown to both the quick and also the dead, fare they well or not. (287) But if Thou wouldst now unexpectedly change these things of a sudden, most blessed Lord of high counsels, with gentle spirit toward us and propitious regard, we should then have either unlooked-

for bounties, (290) obvious for us to see at once and most pleasant, or else

those

things

prudent

men

are

accustomed

to

have

from

Thy

beneficence and power; the reason behind both of which is inexplicable to us, completely unattainable: it is comprehensible to no one. (295) But through my prayers raised up unto Thee, O immortal, all-provident One, be not vexed

with

my

shameless

speech

and,

yielding to Thy

mind

so

Ws bee

ready for mercy and ever caring for mortals, grant to this Thy people to escape these grievous things and to exchange them for correspondingly good ones.

288 μαρκατατ᾽ (sic) a. corr. M (πρ)αύθυμίος}} e eorr. M M νούμῳ] (νόμω a. corr. M) marg. subst. voc] vow (votw 299 cv] add. M

289 τὰ] add. M p. corr. M) P

297 ἕς a. corr. 298 6 add. M

12

Poem

IZ

(f. 206]

Eis

ἑαυτὸν

XVII

μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν αὐτὸν τύχης

τῆς

κατ᾽

Νῦν δ᾽ ἄγε ἡμῖν ewttots χαρισαίμεθ᾽ ἀνίης εἰν ἐπέεσιν ὁτιοῦν φάρμακον ἠέ τιν᾽ ἔμπης δρουσερὰν

ἔνθεν

τῇδε

ἀποαιρεύμενος

γὰρ

νοῦος, ἅ κεν πάντ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ

κατ᾽

10 [£. 206v]

ἀκηδίας

ἀμπνοὰν

ἔρδειν

μάλ᾽ ἔχῃησιν εἰν πεφυότ᾽ ὀδύνῃσι

ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽

ἐνθεῦτεν

ἀσχολίαν

ἐξ ἄρα

Te:

πάντων

σφίσιν ἄτροπον βρυάοντα,

ὁτιοῦν

πάντ᾽

αὐτὸν

ἀλεγεινῶν

ληθόμενος δαμάοντα πρήγματα εἰνθάδε πουνῶν, ἔστε χαρίτεσι ταῖσδ᾽ ἐπέων τερπάζετ᾽ ἀείδων, ὡς ὅτε τις ἐνὶ δυσχρήστοισιν ἀλύων δράμασι, ζουφώδεσσί τε κακοθεήτοισί τε καθάπαξ

πάντ᾽

ἀηδέεσσι

μάλ᾽

ἄφυκτα

τῇδε

πεδηθεὶς

τρέψασθ᾽ ἁμόθεν ὄσσε δύναιτο παρ᾽ ἀνθεμόεντα λειμῶν᾽ ἱμερόεντα, κέαρ γαλήνιον ἔνθεν, 15

20

φλεγμονὰν ἀλθαίνοντ᾽ ἀχθηδόνων, ἄρα βαιόν, ῥεῖα τιθεύμενον ἀπό γ᾽ ἔπειτα δυσθεήτων δήν, τριβῆς πουλυνόσου f) μάλ᾽ ἀηδοῦς κακοσχόλοιο παρπλήσιον, ἄρ᾽ ἐς ῥᾳστώνην ἕσπεσθ᾽ ὁπηοῦν. ἔνθεν ἔμοιγ᾽ ἐπέων τῆσδε χρήσιος ἱμερτόν᾽ ἣν δέ T' ἀνὰ χρόνον οὐλίγον £m. οὐδ᾽ ἄρα τὸ καὶ ἂν τόδ᾽ ἔῃ κέρδιον ἐπιετανὸν κάμνουσι"

φευκτόν,

τίς δέ τε δὴν κεκλεσμένος εἴν γε μάλ᾽ εἱρκτοπέδῃσι, τίς δέ τ᾽ αὐχέν᾽ ἀεὶ στενούμενος ἀγχόνῃσι οὐκ ἄρ᾽ ἐὸν βραχὺ τίποτ᾽ ἐλεύθερον ak’ ἀμπνῦσαι, οὐκ

ἄρ᾽

ἐὸν

δέσμια

τοι

φορέωσιν ἂρ

μὲν

eby’

ἄρ᾽ ἀτρεκέως

φίλαυτ᾽ ἀπατέοντες δὴ τεκέεσσιν ἀλαὰ

πάρτροπ᾽

ἰαλμένον

dtovtes

ἀλαθείης

μερόπεσσι

dv:

ἐγών, τί δ᾽ ἐγὼν φαμί; πάντες ὅσοι νῦν πάροιθεν γεγάασ᾽ ἄνθρωποι περὶ λόγους, ἔχοντες κἀνταῦθ᾽ ἡδόμενοι πονέεσθαι, τόδ᾽ ἥδιον ἠὲ πρήγματ᾽ ἔχουσ᾽ ἅπαντα ἀνὰ βίοτον πολνέρατα βρουτοῖσιν, KEV ἐκτόκιον λογοτούκων ὠδινάων

βίῳ

ἄρ᾽ ἔχει

ἕλοιτ᾽

ἀτὰρ olte νοῦον μάλα ἄλλ᾽ ὅττι νουὸς

ws

βαιὸν

τάδε

εἰν

μὲν

λύσασθαι

ἤτοι

βρουτοῖς" ἔασιν

ἐκ σφετέροιο

ἕκαστοι

κάρτ᾽

ἔμεν

ὀΐοντες

ὁτιοῦν,

Tov

ἐσθλόν:

δὲ

ἑωυτούς, ἀμφὶ Teotot πέλοντ᾽ οὔμμαθ᾽ ἅπασι

τά

περ

οὐκ

ἔασ᾽ ὅττι

ποθεῦσι

Poem

XVII

To

XVII

73

Himself After the of His Fortune

Reversal

(1) Now let us afford ourselves some remedy in verses, or rather, a bit of dewy respite and ease from despair! (4) For hereby the mind, which is hindered from action on account of all the things which hold it fast — all of them griefs oozing with afflictions — then somehow forgetteth all the woeful affairs which oppress it, the pains therein, and singing is well gladdened by the graces of these verses, (10) as when one languishing in distraught

visions,

dark

and

ill-boding,

altogether

odious,

fettered

here

inextricably, were able somehow to turn his eyes toward a flowery, lovely meadow:

his

heart

thereby

serene,

(15)

assuaging

somewhat

the

inflammation of griefs, causing him somehow to proceed thenceforth from things difficult to behold, nigh unto a path of many illnesses, unseemly and mischievous, unto leisure. Hence my pleasure in this use of verses; (20) and even if it be short in time, neither is it to be shunned, and it would be of the greatest profit to those who are wearied: for who, being shut up in fetters, who forever straightened by strangulations would choose, were it possible, not to breathe freely but a d#ttle, not to be loosed,

were it possible, but slightly from his bonds? (26) Só are these things with

mortal men; but what do I say? All those who are now and have been previously men of letters, being reasonable and thus taking delight in composition,

(30)

hold

this

latter

to

be

sweeter

than

all other

things

desired by mortals in life; for they carry about in their lives the product of literary labours, brought forth from their minds, each of them thinking jt to

be

quite

good.

(35)

Some

of these

latter

think

so truly,

others

conceitedly deceive themselves: in what regards their offspring their eyes

] ἑωτοῖς a. corr. M 24 ἀμπνύσαι a. corr M

ἢ ἔστε] marg. subst. voci ebte 25 (λύσασθ)αι]7 e corr. M

P

IO ὅτε] marg. subst. voci dpa P

74

Poem

κρινόντεσσι, 40

ὅστις

ἐπίφρων

εὖ

μάλ᾽

ἑκάστων,

τάρπονταί T' ἐνί γε σφίσιν ἥδιστ᾽ ἀνούστατοι καί τ᾽ ἐρίηρ᾽ ἀμαθαίνουσι περικαλλέ᾽ ὀΐοντες. τοὔνεκα καί T’ ἂρ ἔγωγε ddunv τοῖσδ᾽ ἐν ἐπέεσσι,

νουὸς 45

κἂν

XVII

ἐμοῖο

τεκέεσσιν,

ἐσεῖθ᾽

ὁτιοῦν

φέρον

εἴσω

κραδίην ἐμὰν ἡδύ θ᾽ ἱμερτὸν ἄμπνυμ᾽ ἀκηδίης δι᾽ ἄρα τόσσα τε, τόσσα τ᾽ ἀπείριτ᾽ dye’ ὀκρυόεντα, ξυμφορήματα πολυάϊκος, ἀπίστου τύχης

ἄναντά

T€

κάταντά

Te

παιζούσης

τ᾽ ἀνθρώπεια

πρήγμαθ᾽ ἅπαντα, ἅμα τ᾽ αὐτοῖς ὁπόσοι Kev ἐξ αὐτῆς δοκέουσιν ἄσειστον ὁτιοῦν ἑστῶς,

βρουτοὶ

[f. 207v] 50 SE T' ἄελπτον ὁτιοῦν ἀμφ᾽ dp’ ἱκέσθ᾽ ἀνθρώπους ἠμὲν ὑπέρ γ᾽ εὖ ἐσθλόν, ἠδέ θ᾽ ὑπὲρ μάλα λυγρόν. ἀτὰρ ἔγωγ᾽ ὅμαδον τόνδ᾽ ἡμετέρων ἀνιηρῶν ἄθρουν ἀντίπαλον πάρος ἧς ἔχον εἰν ἔτεσφιν συνεχέεσσ᾽ ἀδινοῖς μάλ᾽ εὐπραγίης ἀκυμάντου, ἀριτίμον, μεγάλης μέγαν ἀντισταθμάοντα πρήγμασι λυγροῖς, τόνδ᾽ ἑτέροις μὲν ἄελπτον ἴσως

60

ξυμπεσέειν νύ τ᾽ ἔμοιγ᾽ ὀΐω, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔμοιγ᾽ οὐδ᾽ ἔτι μὴ ἀδόκηθ᾽ ἕτερα πρός γ᾽ ἀνιηρά, οὐδ᾽ ἀδόκητ᾽ ἄρα λῴονα αὖ, εὗτε ζώοιμι,

οὐδαμά,

ὥς

ἀπίστοις

κ᾽ ἐνὶ

ὄλβιον τόνδ᾽

εὖ μάλα ἕν᾽

τάχ᾽

ἐμὸς

κοὐδὲν

ῥεῖα,

κύβων

ἔην

πάρος

ἀμφότερα

στροφαλίσμασ᾽

πενέστατον

δεικνῦσ᾽

κοὐδὲν

νόος

ἔτ᾽ ἠὲ ἄρ᾽

ἠδὲ

ἑκάστοτε

ἀπρόσκοπα,

τοῖος κατ᾽

πεττοῖς

ἐνὶ

τοῖς

πάρος.

νῦν μάλα

καὶ

μετὰ

ἔτ᾽

ὅτι

ῥεῖα

τάδ᾽

γίγνετ᾽

τοῖος

πλεῖν, ἠὲ

ἢ μάλα

ἄνδρα,

ἐναλλὰξ

ἄελπτον.

ἐστὶ

νῦν

τε,

πείραμαι

πλεόνεσσιν

εἴθιστ᾽ ἄνδρεσιν, εὖ νύ τ᾽ ἀγακλεέα, περίφαντα πρήξας ἐτέεσσι πουλλοῖς διὰ πρήγματα πάντα καί τε μετέμπαλιν αὖ ὑπὲρ μάλ᾽ ἀολλέ᾽ ἀμείψας

(f. 208] 70 πράγεα δεινά, πέλωρα, τά περ λεύσουσ᾽ ἅπαντες" τά κε φάασθαι δυσχερὲς ἀνίκελα τάδ᾽ ἐόντα τοῖς γ᾽ ἑτέρων χαλεποῖσι πρήγμασιν οἷς ἄντατο ξυμφουρήματα βίοτον ἀνὰ τόνδ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ καί

τ᾽ ap’ ἴσως

λευγαλέα

πάροιθ᾽

ἠδ᾽

ἔτι

καὶ

νῦν.

ἢ γὰρ ἀληθὲς ἔοικ᾽ ἔμεναι τόδε παλαιοῖς τε κάρτα σοφοῖσιν ἄνδρεσιν ἠδὲ νέοις ἔθ᾽ ἑξῆς ἠδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐμοί T' αὐτῷ πάρος ἢ τοῖσδε ξυλλαχεῖν, σφόδρ᾽ ὀλοοῖσι πρήγμασι ταῖς γε τύχῃσι μεγάλῃσιν

σάφ᾽ εἰρημένον ὁτιὴ εὐδαίμοσ᾽ ἕωθεν

Poem

XVII

75

are blind, averted from truth, from all those who pronounce in favour of whatever they do not desire, even if any of them be most shrewd: (40) most irrationally do they take the sweetest pleasure in these offspring and

like ignoramuses do they deem them most beauteous. Wherefore said I also that in these verses, the offspring of my mind, there is something sweet and lovely, bringing into my heart respite from despair (45) on account of so, so many, countless, horrible woes, the currents of

impetuous, faithless Fortune, which playeth with all. human affairs in higgledy-piggledy fashion and along with them as many mortals as think that aught whatsoever from Fortune standeth unshaken, (50) or that aught unexpected, be it ever so good or ever so grievous, cometh upon men. As for me and this throng of woes, this sudden reversal, this great counterbalance through grievous affairs to the great prosperity, calm and honourable,

which was formerly mine for many

continuous years, — this,

I think, might perhaps have befallen others unexpectedly, but never me; (58) nor yet will there be any other unexpected woes, neither unexpected

griefs, as long as I live: (60) even as in draughts and the fickle turning of dice, Fortune maketh one and the same wealthy and then poor with the greatest ease each time, and then blithely contrariwise, and there is naught

unexpected in this. Such was my mind formerly, and such is it now; (65) and now more so than formerly, for I have experience of both more than is customary with most men, having attained fame and glory in all things

for many years and then, contrariwise, having exchanged all for (70) dire, monstrous affairs, which all observe but which it is difficult to demonstrate,

since they are unlike the grievous affairs of others when they have met with woeful events and, likewise, griefs in this life, both of old and still

now. (75) For true appeared the saying, both to the most wise men of old and again to more recent ones and to me as well, even before these things

fell to my

lot, that

upon

fortunes

great and

prosperous

by

morning

76

Poem

80

XVII

ἕσπεσθ᾽ ἑξείης ἐφάμιλλ᾽ ἰσοτάλαντ᾽ ἠέ τε πλείον᾽ ἐνίοτε λυγρὰ μεταβλήδην éboTpouda. τὰ γὰρ ἐναντί᾽ ἕκαστ᾽ ἐς ἐναντία δὴ πεφύκαντι, ἡνίκ᾽ ἄφαρ τρέποιθ᾽ ὥσπερ κατὰ φύσιν ἔασι, πάντα ῥηιδίως τρεπτά τέ μεταβλητά TE

d0pó' ἄρα τρέπεσθ᾽ ὥστ᾽ ἀνάλογ᾽ ἀλλήλοιϊν, ἔκ T€ μεγάλων pa μεγάλ᾽, ἔκ τ᾽’ ἠβαιῶν ἠβαιά[f. 208v] 90

ov γάρ κεν χωρέεσθ᾽ ἔνι πουλυμήκε᾽ ὀλίγῃ τύχᾳ πέλωρά τ᾽ ἐναλλὰξ τραπήματ᾽ ἀλεγεινά, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπερμενέ᾽ ἐσθλὰ πολλάκι διὰ μεγάλης ἀκμῆς ἄλμενα κατὰ φύσιν τρέποντα πεσεῖσθαι"

ἢ μάλα πτῶμα

οἷσι

πολλὸν μέγα,

δ᾽ ἐνὶ

ἴαχε, σήμανε

στεινῷ

κατὰ δὲ

δὲ

μόρμυρ᾽

ἀκοήν,

χθόνα

κύκισεν’

πρήσσουσιν

ὁττηηοῦν,

πουλύ,

βίοτος

ἔνθεν ἀμοιβαδὸν ἐς τὸ δ᾽ ἐναντίον εὖ τε ἀσήμαντα στάδι᾽ ἔασσι, τρουτῆς δοῦπος

ἕσπετ᾽ οὐδ᾽

ὀλίγος

οἱ

ἄρ᾽ ἔνθεν

ναιετάουσι

εἰν μερόπεσι

γείτονες

καὶ

μὴ

βρουτοῖς,

οἰκήια

εὖ μάλ᾽ ἀτεχνῶς αἴσθονθ᾽ ὡς γίνεται τάδ᾽ ἕκαστα εἰν σφίσιν, ἀμφότερ᾽ εὐπραγέα τε δύσμορά θ᾽ ἑξῆς. 100

τοῦδ᾽

ἕνεκα

πρό

τ᾽ ἔφασαν

ἄλλοι

σὺν

δ᾽

ἔθ᾽

ἅμα

αὐτὸς

ὥστ᾽ ἐνὶ τύχῃσι μεγάλῃσ᾽ ἔἕπετ᾽ ἄλγε᾽ ὁμοῖα δὴ περίφαντα, μέγιστ᾽, ὁλοὰ παρπλήσι᾽ ἀντία: τοιγὰρ ὅσοις κάρην᾽ ἔνδοθι νοῦος οἰκέει σαόφρων, ἐν 105

[f. 209]

110

115

τῇσι

εὐπραγίῃσιν

ἔπειτα

ἑσπόμεν᾽ ὀκρυόεντα πρήγματα πᾶσ᾽ ἀνάγκη ἔσθ᾽ ὁτιοῦν dp ὄνειαρ, ἐπεὶ Tay’ οὕποτ᾽ ἄελπτα εἶσιν ἐπ᾽ ἄνδρεσιν ὡς ἂν ἄμετρ᾽ οὐκ ἀσχαλάαν'᾽

ἅσσα

120

μεγάλῃσιν

δεῖος ἂν ἕσποιτ᾽ αὐτόθεν ἠδ᾽ ἐπίδοξ᾽ ἀλεγεινά, ἢ μάλα δὴ πολυτειρέα, δυσχερέα τάδ᾽ ἐνεῖκαι, κἂν ὃς ἔῃ ῥὰ τλησικάρδιος ἠνορέηφι κάρτα πεποίθων κράτεϊ τ᾽ ἀδμήτοιο νουός, οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἔωσ᾽ ἀφρονύντιδες εὖ μάλα τοὶ βιόοντες, εἰδότες οἷα νύ T' ἔασι τἀνθρωπήια πρήγματα πουλύνοσ᾽, εὔστροφα, pé' εὕριππ᾽ εὐδρομέοντα τροντῇ, ἠδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐνὶ σφίσι πόλλ᾽ ἀέξει τὰ γχέρεια τρουτπή. ἀλλὰ τῆσδ᾽ ἔμπης προγνώσιος ἀμφὶ τάγ᾽ ἑξῆς

γὰρ

εἶσιν

én’ ἄνδρεσ᾽

ἄελπτ᾽

ἀδόκητ᾽

ἀλεγεινά,

κάρτα πέλωρ᾽ ἄφρα ἐμπίπτοντ᾽ ἐξίστησι νοῦον, nór' ἀήθεα παταγήματα δὴ βροντάων βρίσαντ᾽ ἀθρόα κατ᾽ ἂρ ἔπειτα σβέσσ᾽ αἴσθησιν

Poem

XVII

T4

(80) there followeth later like and equal or even, sometimes, greater griefs in easy exchange; for opposites are inclined to their own opposites whenever, of a sudden, they are changed, in accordance with their nature, all of them being changeable and transformable, so as to change duely one with another: great from great, small from small; (87) for very big

things cannot fit into a small fortune nor, in turn, can monstrous turns of misfortune, whereas overwhelming good fortune, changing in accordance with its nature,

can often fall precipitously, leaping through

great heights: (91) there was a great din, and a great fall deafened the ear; the signal was sounded and it stirred up the earth. But to those whose life

passeth somehow in straightened circumstances, where there is but insignificant area for turns for the better or worse, there resulteth but little din from the change against mortal men; (97) nor do neighbours who dwell in the house perceive at all that these things, be they fortunate or unfortunate, are occurring in their midst. (100) Therefore have others, and

also I myself, said formerly that upon great fortune follow commensurate griefs, notorious, most great, ruinous to the same degree that the others

were good; and thus upon those in whose head dwelleth a sound mind there would come, in the midst of great prosperity, fear lest this same should forthwith bring notorious, right wearisome, troublesome griefs — (107) even if one be of stout heart, confident in his strength and the power of his indomitable mind —, even if they live quite carefree lives, (110) for they know that human affairs are inclined to illness, fickle, unstable, easily liable to change, and that in them waxeth greatly change for the worse. There is great need of this foreknowledge of dire things to follow: (115) a sort of dream, as it were, since these never to be unexpected things come upon men as if they would not bring immeasurable distress. For certain griefs do come upon men unexpectedly, in unlooked-for fashion, until they fall upon one monstrously and frenzy the mind: just as strange rumblings of thunder (120) bear down all at once and then blot out the perception,

103 κάριν᾽ P ἀσχαλάαν P

116 ὡς dv

ἄμετρ᾽

οὐκ doxaddav] marg. subst. vocibus ὥς kev

μηκέτ᾽

ἄμετρ᾽

12

ὧτ

Poem

If. 209v]

130

ἄψυχά τ᾽ dvoá θ᾽ ὡς ἂν ἀνδρίκελα ξόανα θήκατο τοῖσιν αὐτίκα συγκύρησε βρουτοῖς, ὡς δ᾽ αὕτως τά τ᾽ ἔπεισ᾽ ἀδόκητ᾽ ἄνδρας τὲ πέλωρα λευγαλέ᾽ ἅμαδις, αἰνά T' ἀήθεα, αὐτίκα γὰρ φρὴν πάρ γ᾽ ἐτράπετο δῦν᾽ ἐκπαγλοσύντ τ᾽ ἐς βυθόν, νοῦος ὑποβρύχιος ταλάντατος ἀμηχανίης.

τὰ

μὲν

ἐγὼν

ἔτι

μάλ᾽

ὡς

ἄνποτέ

τις

εὖ πρήσσων

βαλλόμενος νόον εἴσω, τρίβων εἰν σφίσιν aiet, φρουντίσι κοπτόμενος, νῦν μήτ᾽ ἀδόκητα πέπονθα ἄελπτά θ᾽ ἃ πέπονθα μετ᾽ ἂρ ἅπασαν ἀμείψας οἰκτρότατ᾽ εὐπραγίην, κλέος, οὐσίην τε μακράν, μήτε βαρυστενάων dpa’ ἔνθεν ἄπαυστ᾽ ἄκρατα᾽ τὰ γὰρ πρόσθ᾽ ἐδόκεον πρό τ᾽ οὔμμασ᾽ ἑκάστοτ᾽

ἥξοντ᾽

ddopav,

οὐδέ

τ᾽ ἀηδῶς

135 βίευν: ἢ τάδε πάντα τάδ᾽

140

XVII

ὅραμαι:

νέον

τῶνδ᾽

ἀεὶν

ἔκτοσθεν

τελεῖται, καί θ᾽ ἥκοντα

οὔποθ᾽

ὁτιοῦν.

ἢν

δ᾽ ἕτερός

τις

τὰ νέα δέρκετ᾽ ἀνόϊστα, ἢ φίλος ἠέ τις ἐχθρός, τόνδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν ἅμα T' ἔξω πρηγμάτεων βιότοιο τοῦδε πολυπλάγκτοιο ῥέα τάδ᾽ ἐναλλὰξ αἰὲν ἄστατα στροφάοντος ζώοντ᾽ ἀπροτίοπτα

δὴ μάλ᾽ ὀΐω σὺν δ᾽ ἔθ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἄϊδριν ἔμμεν᾽ ἐμοῖο. τίς γὰρ ἔμοιγε ξύν τ᾽ ὀλίγον γεγονὼς ὁμιλίῃ, ξύν τ᾽ ὀλίγον πειράμενος ἡμετέρων bà λογισμῶν, γνώμης

145 [f. 210]

150

T' ἠδὲ

κρίσιος

ἀμφὶ

ἠὲ

κατ᾽

ἄρ᾽

ἀμφοῖν

θάτερον

ἐκτόκιον νοὸς ὠδῖνος, ὡς ἢ γὰρ ὥστε φίλος τάπερ νῦν

155

πρήγμασι

κόσμου,

καί θ᾽ ὧν πρὶν ἔλεγον πρὶν ἢ τάδ᾽ ἰδέσθ᾽ ἀλγεινά, ἀτὰρ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀδόκητ᾽ ἀργαλέα τάδ᾽ ἔμ᾽ ἱκέσθαι ἠδ᾽ ἄελπτά τε ξυλλελαχεῖν δῆτ᾽ ἀθρόα φήσαι; ἦ νύ κεν οὔποτ᾽ ἂν ὅστις ἐρέοι, ὅστις ὀΐσαιτο, τάδ᾽ ἄλλως ἐρέοι, τάδ᾽ ὀΐσαιτ᾽ αὖθι. μάλ᾽ ἄλλως

ἀδόκηθ᾽

ὁράα

δαρὸν

κραδίης

πίνακ᾽

ἔμπης

ἂν ἔνδον ἔχησιν: οὐ πρὶν βούλετ᾽ ἀπιστῶν ἔνδοθ᾽

ἀχνύμενος

κῆρ,

ἠξ μάλ᾽ ὥστ᾽ ἐχθρὸς τάπέρ ἤρατο καί τ᾽ ἠράατο κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐμεῦ ἰδέσθ᾽ ὁράων βαρύτατ᾽ ἀνύποιστα ἔμμεν᾽ ἔμοιγε δοκεύων οἴεθ᾽ ἅ κεν θέλησιν: NS’ ἐτεόν y' ἐφάμην ὅτι τῶν πρό τ᾽ ἐγὼν ἀνιηρῶν εὖ μάλα δὴ πρήσσων τάδ᾽ ἀνὰ νόον ἔστρεφον ὥς κεν ἑσπόμεν᾽ ἀσπερχὲς δι᾽ ἄρα μεγάλῃσι τυχῃσιν.

160

εὖ τόδε δῆλον ἀπ᾿ ἂρ ὧν σύνταγμ᾽ εἶν τ᾽ ἐπέεσσιν εἴν τε λόγοις ἑτέροισι ῥέουσ᾽ ἐλεύθερ᾽ ἀμέτροις"

Poem

XVII

79

of soul and mind, leaving those mortals whom they befall as human statues, even so do these unexpected monstrous griefs come upon mortals all at once, dreadful

and

strange; for in amazement

the mind

is forthwith

(125) brought to plunge into the abyss: the intellect is most wretchedly submerged in helplessness. Seeing that I laid all these things up in my

mind already when | was prosperous as anyone ever has been, occupying mvself with them constantly, worn down with cares, I have not now suffered unawares the unexpected things which I have suffered, having most wretchedly exchanged prosperity, glory and great prosperity; (132) nor am I seen to be sighing heavily, without ceasing or control, on this account, for I kept these things before my eyes and thought always that they were coming; nor did I live in unseemly fashion removed from them. These things are all brought to pass, and I see that they come: naught whatsoever new! And if anyone else, either friend or foe, regard recent events as unthinkable,

(138) I think that he must live removed,

oblivious

to the affairs of this loud-roaring life which is forever shifting these things hither and thither and, moreover, that he is unacquainted with me. For who, having been but a little in my company and having had but a little experience of my thoughts, opinions and judgement, of the affairs of the world, (145) and of the things I said before seeing these griefs, would say that these things came upon me unawares, that they all occurred unexpectedly? No one who would speak, no one who would think would speak of these things otherwise, would think of these things otherwise than as the other side of the tablet of the heart, the offspring of mind’s travail, as it is within. For the things which the friend formerly did not desire, he now seeth with disbelief, grieving within his heart; and the things which

the enemy

desired and

longed

(155) to see happen

to me,

upon seeing them, deemeth he most grave, unbearable the things he desired. Truly have I said that even prior to these griefs, when I was prosperous indeed, I considered these things in my mind: how they follow unceasingly upon great fortunes. (160) Is this not clear from what I have

composed both in verses and in other tracts which flow without metre?

134 ἀειδῶς

ἃ. corr M

151 νοὸς] marg. subst. voci ψυχᾶς

T

ἂν} marg. subst. voci ἂρ

P

80

Poem

[f.210v] 165

170

TOUS ὃς. ἂν alpéntat δίζεσθαι, ῥᾷον ἔπειτα πολλάκι τάδ᾽ ἀγορεύοντας σάφα, πολλάκι δῆτα μναομένους ἐνὶ KaLpoto” ἄλλοτε τῶνδ᾽ ἀλλοισι ἡμετέρης βιώσιος ἀμφί Tov pa χρήσιος, ἁπλοϊκῶς ἐπιὸν μάλ᾽ αὕτως διακριδὸν ἔνδοθι νοῦον ἐμὸν γλώττης διαπροϊόντας, οὑράαν, ὥς τί ποτ᾽ ἄλλο τῶν ξυνίησ᾽ εἰν κόσμου πρήγμασ᾽ ἑκάστοις ἀνδρομέα παπταΐνουσα φρὴν

φιλοσόφου τά

ἄρ᾽

ἢ μάλ᾽

180

[f. 211] 185

προθέσιος,

τ᾽ ἔασι

ἄναντά τάδ᾽ 175

τε

πάντα,

ἀπ᾿ τά

κάταντά

ἕκαστ᾽

ἐρωῇσ᾽

ἄρ᾽ ἀΐσσουσ᾽

τ᾽ γίγνεθ᾽

τε, σύν

ἐναλλὰξ

T’ ἀήθεά

ἀμφὶς

ἀτεκμάρτοισ᾽

ἐτάζειν

ἕκαστ᾽

εἰν

βίῳ

τ᾽ ἔθιμά

Te

ἐυστρούφοισιν

ἔνθα

καὶ ἔνθα,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐτεόν γ᾽ ἐρέειν, διὰ μήδε᾽ ἄφατα θεοῖο. τοῦπερ βένθε᾽ ἀκίχητα νύ τ᾽ ἔασι σοφίης προυνοίης θ᾽ ὅρια στάθμιά τ᾽ ἀραρότα μέτροις

πάντα διά Te λόγοις ἰόντα“ μηδὲν ἀεικές, πάντα δὲ ὥστε ἔασ᾽ ἀρείον᾽ ἐνὶ μερόπεσσι, οἷς ἂν ἕκαστα φέροιτ᾽ εὐηνέα καί τ᾽ ἀνιηρά, ἥδιστά T' ἀγανὰ μετ᾽ ἐθίμοις δυσπραγίῃσι. τὰ μὲν ἄρ᾽ ἅτε πατὴρ τεκέεσσ᾽ éoto πάνσοφος ἄνωθεν πορσύνων βρουτοῖσι κιρνᾷ ἔχων ποτήριον, ὥσθ᾽ ἱερὰ φασὶ

φίλοισι θεὸς λόγια,

χειρὶ τεῇ πλῆρες κεράσματος, ἠδὲ κλίνει ἐς τάδ᾽ an’ ἄρ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν αἶψα τῶνδ᾽ ἑξείης ἀμφοτέρωθεν

τὰ 190

XVII

δὲ χορεύει

ἐς

ἔσθλ᾽

διάδοχ᾽

ἀπὸ

λυγρῶν,

εἰν βιότοιο

λυγρά

τ᾽ ἀπ᾽

τοῦδε

σκηνᾷ διαμπερὲς ἠὲ θεάτρῳ τε πανηγύριϊ τε. τοῖσδε γὰρ εἰκάζουσι κόσμον ἐχέφρονες ἄνδρες, κάρτ᾽ ὀλιγαρκέ᾽ ἐφήμερα τά οἱ πρήγμαθ᾽ ὁρῶντες

ἅμα

δέ τ᾽ ἔνθεν

ἄρ᾽ ὠνητὴν

ὀΐοντες

ἔμμεν

πᾶσι παρασκενὴν ἐς βίοτον ἄφθιτον ἄλλον ἄτροπον, ἀτρεκέα τε βέβαιον μίμνοντ᾽ αἰέν, ἔμπεδά τ᾽ ἀγαθά, ἔμπεδά T' οὐλοὰ ἠδ᾽ ἀπέραντα᾽ τάδ᾽ ὥς τις ἂν ἑλοίατο τῇδε βιοὺς πρίασθαι

τηρεῦνται πρό τε κείμενα πραγματείαν βρουτοῖς ἢ μάλα δὴ πολυκερδέα ἠὲ πολυζήμιον ὡσαύτως πινυτοῖσι γὰρ ἄφθιτ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἀγαθά, 200

If. 211v]

ἄληπτα μὲν γμώμεν᾽ ἀνὰ νόον, ἄφατα δ᾽ εἰπεῖν, τοῖς δέ τ᾽ ἀμαθέεσ᾽ ἐμπόροις χέρῃ᾽ ἀλλάγματα ἄγνωτ᾽ ἄφατα δὴ πολυώδυνα, μέρμερα, δεινά.

ἐσθλῶν᾽

Poem

XVII

SI

If anyone choose to examine these same, it would be easy to see that they often clearly proclaim, often mention these matters at various times (165) in connexion with some experience in our life, proceeding simply, quite directly from within.our mind through speech: even as the human

mind of a philosophical disposition comprehendeth aught else of the affairs of the world, eagerly examining (171) all things which exist, which are made in this life, upside and down, both unusual and usual. These change one

after

another

in flexible,

untracable

movements

hither

and

thither,

(175) though, to speak the truth, through the ineffable counsels of God. For

the

depths

of

His

wisdom

are

unfathomable,

and

the

limits

and

measures of His providence are well measured, all conforming with reason: naught is irregular, but all is so that it might be best amongst mortals, to whom may come favourable and also grievous things, as well as things most sweet and pleasant in usually untoward affairs. (180) Preparing these things on high for mortals, as a father for his children, all-wise God mixeth them, holding a cup, as Holy Writ saith, (185) full of mixture in His hand,

and inclineth toward one side and then suddenly the other: toward good things from griefs, and toward griefs from good things. These He provideth in succession for the stage, or rather, theatre and spectacle of

this life. (190) For it is to these latter that prudent men liken the world, seeing its affairs to be ephemeral, of but little duration, and at the same time believing that thereby is purchased by all men preparation for the other life, everlasting, unchanging, unturning, remaining stable forever: (195) enduring bounties and enduring, intinite woes; the which, for

whoever chooseth to buy them in this life, are stored up, providing for mortals a movement of affairs most profitable or, likewise, most damaging. For what are to the wise everlasting good things, (200) imperceptibly known in the mind, ineffable in speech, are to ignorant merchants

evil turns,

unknown,

ineffable pains,

183/184 Ps. 74, 9 190 (εἰκάζ)λουσι

κόσμον] e corr. Af

197 τηρεῦντα a. corr. M

dire and

dreadful.

82

Poem

XVII

Kal τὰ μὲν ds ἄρ᾽ ἔχουσιν: ἀτὰρ μακάρτατος ὅστις εἰν ὀλίγοις τοῖσδ᾽ ἐμπορίης καιροῖσι πρίαιτο τὰ pd φάμεσθ᾽ ἀγαθά, μάλα δ᾽ ἄθλιος ὅσθ᾽ ἑτέροισι

ξυλλελάχοι

δὴ πρήγμασι,

κακοφράδμον᾽

τοσσατίων τῆς 210

σεῖο,

If. 219]

225

230

ἑάων, ἐγὼν

τῇδ᾽ ἀνύσας κέλευθ᾽

ἃ πολυδούτης οὔτι

μακαρίης

βιότοιο

ἄφρουντις

πρόσθετ᾽ ἔλπαρ

ἄναξ.

ἔχοιμι

πάρ γε νύ θ᾽ ἡμετέραν κακοεργίην ξωυτοῦ, εὖ γὰρ οἶδ᾽ ὅσ᾽ ἔοργ᾽ ἀλογήσας ἐφετμάων θεοῖο, τῶν δέ τ᾽ ἀπεύχομ᾽ ἄλλων πάρ γ᾽ ἔλεον μόνον, ἄναξ, τῆσδε

220

μὲν

ἀεικελίῃσι

δέσποθ᾽

ἑτοιμότατ᾽

θελήσιος

alév

οἶκτον,

ἐλεαίρειν,

ἀείναε

ἀδάπαν᾽

πηγὰ

ovK’ ἂρ

μήποτε παῦλαν ἤτοι τάδε μὲν

ἔχουσ᾽, ἀκένωτα δὴ βρυάουσα. ἀμφὶ θεὸν μέγαν ὥς ἄρ᾽ ἔασιν᾽

ἀτὰρ

ὃ πάρος

ἔφασκον,

Taye ἀντί᾽

Kad’ ἡμᾶς ἐς ἄλληλ᾽

εὖτ᾽

ἐνθαῦτα

βιεῦμεν,

πρήγματα ἄστατ᾽ ἀεὶ περίεισιν ἀθρόα, καί γε μάλιστ᾽ ἔωθεν

εὐπραγέ᾽ αὐτὰ ῥέα στροφάασθ᾽ ἀβέβαια καθάπαξ" καὶ τόδε μοι δοκέω διὰ μήδεα σουφὰ θεοῖο, ὡς ἂν ἄπιστα πέλωντ᾽ ἀνθρώποισι μὴ δέ σφιν εὖ μάλ᾽ ἐπί γε καθῆσθ᾽ ὀΐοντες, ἔπειθ᾽ ὕβριϊ αἴσυλα πάρτροπ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλους νύ τ᾽ OdpvdoVTEs, ἀττάσθαλά θ᾽ ὁράονται μέρμερα κυμαίνοντες, δρμαίνοντες ἀεικέλια ῥάγδην ἔμπληκτοι, ἅθ᾽ ἑτεροίης δὴ φύσιος μακαρίης ἑωυτούς, ov Kat’ ἂρ ἄλλους κεν μέροπας βρουτοὺς δοκέοντες"

ἀλλ᾽ ἀγχίστροφ᾽ ἕκαστα λῴονα πάρ τινος ὦκα δὴ ξυμπτώσιος εὖ μάλα ῥηιδίως λεύσοντες, καί τε μάλιστα τοῖσι μάλιστ᾽ εὐπραγήμασ᾽ αἰεὶ χαλεπὰ παρπλήσι᾽ ἄφαρ ἑσπόμεν᾽ ἠὲ Kal πλεῦναδεῖος ἄπαυστον ἐνὶ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς. ἠδὲ λογισμὸν ἔνθεν ἅμ᾽ ἔμφρονα κατ᾽ ἂρ ἔπειτ᾽ ἀμόθεν νύ τ᾽ ἔχοιεν, μὴ δὲ γέλωτ᾽ ὄφλοιεν ὕδατος ῥοάματ᾽ ἀϊδνῆ, ἀνὰ χέρας σφιν ἔχοντες, ὀΐοντες ἔμμεν᾽ ἄφυκτα ἢ mvoifjo' ἀνέμων δαρὸν ἐύτρόποισι πεποιθεῖν κρίνοντες κενεσῖσιν ἀληθῶς φυσσήμασιν - ἄφρονες οἵδ᾽ ὀγκούμενοι -, τὰ διὰ νύ τ᾽ ἀΐσσει,

[f.212v] 240

ῥῆστ᾽

ἔξεισι

πιλνάμενά

ἀΐδηλ᾽ ἠδὲ

γ᾽ ἀχθηδόσι,

Kat’ ἂρ τῆσι

ἔσβεσθεν

σφίγγετ᾽

ἀπ᾽

τούτων, βίας ἔκτοθι μάλ᾽ ὠθεύσης ἄτροπα ἀτὰρ ὅσοισι πινυτὰ μήδε᾽ ὁπηοῦν ἔνδον

ἄρα

ῥάγδην.

Poem

XVII

83

So are these things; and most blessed is he who in this short time for purchase purchaseth (205) what we consider good things; but wretched is he who

obtaineth

others,

careless of the many

good

lamentably

traversing

foolish paths in this life,

things proferred by the Lord. Now,

I would

have no hope of blessedness (210) on account of my evil-doing, for I know well all that I have done in transgression of God's commandments, and by prayer wish I these and others away through Thy mercy alone, Lord, Master most ready of compassion, eternal source of this desire always to take pity, effortlessly, (215) without ceasing, gushing forth mexhaustably. So are these things of great God; but as I said earlier, so long as we live here, our affairs forever change from one extreme to the other, and prosperous ones are especially wont to change all at once to insecure ones.

(221) This is, methinks, through God's counsels: that they might be suspicious unto men, lest, thinking to rely on them, they should not then be found

treating one another with arrogance in impious, illicit wise, (225)

foolishly inciting terrors, impetuouslv contemplating deplorable things in their frenzy, thinking theirs to be some other, blessed nature, unlike other

mortal men;

but rather, considering all good

things to be quite easily

changed of ἃ sudden by any incident whatsoever, (224) and that the same

number and even more difficulties follow fast uponzprosperity, that they might have within themselves constant fear, that they might have prudent thoughts (235) and might not make themselves objects of ridicule by holding obscure streams of water m their hands, thinking them to be static, or deciding to trust in fickle gusts of the winds, vain puffings-up indeed

— these

men

are but

inflated

fools!

--, which

dash

about

(240),

vanish invisibly with the greatest ease and are extinguished when threatened with the approach of griefs whereby one is deprived of them, force ineluctably pressing them harshly forth. But all those with somehow

209 ott] μήτι a. eorr. M dceigTa P

235 (poápa)r'

d(i8viy] e corr. M

236 ἄφυκτα] marg. subst. voci

84

Poem

245

200

XVII

νοῦον ἔασι, τὰ δὴ φρονέουσι, τὰ δειδίασ᾽ del καί τε μάλ᾽ εὐπραγίῃσι φόβηνται, τάδε νοεῦντες" τῶν μὲν ἐγὼν ἕνα εὔχομ᾽ ἑωυτὸν ἔμμεν᾽ ἀνδρῶν, καί Te πάρος γ᾽ ἐφάμην καὶ νῦν ἔτι μάλ᾽ ἀγορεύω“ ὅστις ἐμὰ συντάγματα δὴ βούλοιτ᾽ ἐπιλεύσειν, γινάμεν᾽ εἶν προτέροις ἐτέεσσ᾽ ἐμᾶς εὐπραγίης,

ὄψετ᾽ ἂρ αὐτόθι πολλάκι τὰ νῦν ἔειπα σάφ᾽ ἐόντα πρόσθ᾽ εἰρημένα, οὐδ᾽ ἀδόκητά μ᾽ ἱκέσθαι τάδε κάρτ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ νῦν: ἐξ ἄρ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν ἐσθλῶν τύχης δὴ ὡς

μεγάλων μεγάλ᾽ ἐμφανέων ἐμφανέα πουλλοῖς, ἄρ᾽ ἔωθε τὰ διάδοχ᾽ ἕσπεσθ᾽ ἀλλήλοιϊν.

ἢ γὰρ ἐγὼν τόδ᾽ ἀτρεκέως ἐρέω, ἐπὶ δ᾽ ὅρκον νυνὶ μέγαν ἂρ ὁμοῦμαι, μαρτύρομαί τ᾽ ἀόρατον αὐτὸν ἄνακτα θεόν, πάντα δ᾽ ἔμπης ὁράοντα, ὅττι K' ἐγὼν ἐφ᾽ ἑξωυτοῦ πρὶν τάδε παθεῖν ἅττα

[f. 213] 260

δῆτα

πέπονθ᾽,

ἅτε

ῥὰ παρέοντ᾽

νοῦον ἔσωθ᾽ ἠρίθμεον πάρ γ᾽ ἔλασα δοκέων

ἔκ τ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν συνεχέ᾽

νῦν 265

εὐπραγίης

μάλ᾽ ἑκάστοτ᾽

ἤδη

φρονέων,

ἐς

μείζω

νύ τ᾽ ἐλαττόνων

κλέα

διάδοχ᾽

ἀέξων

ἅττα

ἤια

πρὶν

πολλόν,

μακάρτατ᾽

ἔασιν

εἰν μερόπεσσι βρουτοῖς, ἠμὲν ἐτήτυμον ἐόντα né τε καὶ μή, ἀτὰρ ὅσοι πείραντ᾽ ἴσασιν:

ἀλλ᾽ ὅσα γ᾽ εἴτε᾽ ἔμπης ἤια τὼς πρήσσων τάδ᾽ ἐλογιζόμαν ἠδὲ παράλληλα τίθε᾽ ἑξῆς t3 -1 >

τὰ

ὅσσάτι᾽ εἴτεα πάρος εὐδαίμονα κάρτα πρήσσειν,

τοῖς kat’

γ᾽ ἑτέρων νῦν ἐόντων ἠὲ πρό τ᾽ ἐόντων ἐμὲ δῆτ᾽ ἀνδρῶν διὰ δεσπότεω δοτίνῃσι

σφίσιν ἠδέ

εὖ,

ἀγαθὰ

μέλοντος ἀείροα

τ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽

εὖ μάλ᾽

ἑώρων

ἐγὼν

ὧν

τε

πρηξάντων

πλέον

ἄρ᾽ ἀπηυράμαν,

ὧν

ὥς

δέ

ἐσθλοῖς

εὖ τ᾽ ἔλαττον

κ᾽ εἰν σταθμίοισι

τά T ἐμὰ τά τ᾽ ἀλλότρι᾽ ἐπικρίνων πράγε᾽ ἐσθλά" ὡς ἂν ἔπειτα θεῷ πάντων ἑάων δοτῆρι πάντ᾽ ἀναείρων τῶνδ᾽ εὐγνώμον᾽ ἀτὰρ αἴσθησιν

οἷο χαρίτων [f. 213v] 280

ὡς

νύ

ἀντιδιδοίην

τ᾽ ἐγὼν

ἅθ᾽

ἐοικότα

ὁδόν

τιν᾽

ποιῶν᾽

ἰών,

ἐς

τέρμα

αὐτὰρ ἔπειτ᾽ ἔμελον τάπερ ἀνύσασ᾽ ἱκάνεθ᾽ νοῦον ἐσύστερον ἀμφὶ πορείᾳ μεριμνάματα, σὺν

δὲ

λογίσματα

σὺν

δέ τε

τοῖσιν

μήκεος,

ἡμερέων

ἑκάστοθ᾽

ὁδόν

τὲ

κεν

σταθμοίη,

ἰὼν

ποῖ ξυνέλαχον,

ἅτ᾽ dvaykai' αὖ πρήγμαθ᾽

καὶ

πέλεται

τὸ

μὲν

ὡς

νημερτές,

φθάς,

ἑξῆς

δέσποτ᾽,

ἄρ᾽ ἔτετμον,

ἕπεσθαι. ἄρ᾽ αὐτός,

Poem XVII

85

prudent counsels within their minds take thought for these things, fear them

always

(245) and are especially

wary

of prosperity,

keeping

these

things in mind. I pray that I myself may be one of these latter men, and I have said already, and I proclaim now: whoever would desire to examine the works composed in former years of my prosperity (250) shall see that

the wise things I have now said have been said there many times of old, and that these dread woes have not come upon me now unexpectedly: in

return for great bounties from Fortune, conspicuous to many, great and conspicuous woes, even as things are wont to follow one upon another in

succession. (255) For I say this truly — and now I swear a great oath and call as witness the great Lord God, Himself invisible, but who seeth all things —, that, before suffering these things which I have suffered, considering them as already present, (260) I reckoned within my mind how many years I had formerly passed, seeming to fare most prosperously;

and in turn I went from lesser things in the beginning to successively greater renown for prosperity, each time increasing in all things most fortunate (265) amongst mortal men —

as to whether these be so in truth

or not, all who have had experience of them know. During all the years I passed in such prosperity I considered these things and then compared them with the good things of other (270) men living now or having lived

before me who have prospered well through gifts from the Lord providing them with ever-flowing bounties; and I saw then that I had gathered more than some and less than others, measuring my fortunate affairs and those of others in scales, as it were, (275) so that, offering generous sentiments

unto God the Giver of all bounties I might render appropriate actions for His favours. Thus, as if going along a path and having reached one goal, ] took thought for the things which would be necessary for the journey further: (281) calculations of distance and halting-places for the day, those with whom I had made each day's journey, whither I had come, what matters would of necessity follow. That this is true, Master, Lord Christ,

272 ὧν δέ] marg. subst. vocibus ἠδέ

P

86

Poem

285

Χριστὲ

ἄναξ,

ὃς δή

XVII

μοι

μάρτυς

εἰνθάδε

κέκλευ,

ἀόρατός περ ἐών, Spdwv ἅπανθ᾽ ἅτ᾽ ἔασιν, ἅτ᾽ ἐνὶ βένθεσι vovós, ἅτε κραδίην εἴσω δὴ σκιόεντ᾽ ἀΐδηλα φαάντατα μάλα λεύσων᾽ 290

οἶδας ἐνί γε λογισμοῖς στροφάον ἡμετέροισι διὰ μάλ᾽ αὐτὸ πρὶν εἰν πινάκεσ᾽ ἀνάγραττον φαντασίης

ἑσταὸς

πρὶν

ἐμ᾽

ἱκέσθαι

τάδε

λυγρά,

ὁττιὴ τά τε πάντα παλαιά, νέα τ᾽ ἐπὶ ἴδμων, ἰὼν dkpaT' ἐγὼν εὐδαίμονα μήποτ᾽ ὄπωπα πρήγματ᾽ ἐόντα μετὰ μέροπας βρουτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀρχῆς 295

[f. 214]

300

ἐς τέλος ἄτροπα μίμνοντα᾽ μάλα μέν γε τύχῃσι δὴ περιφάντοις ἑσπόμεν᾽ ἑξῆς πολλάκι φάμην ὑπερφίαλ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ πέλωρα VU τ᾽ ὀκρυόεντα, kat θ᾽ ὁπόσοι mep ἐχέφρονες ἄνδρες εὐπραγέοντες πολλὸν ἔπειθ᾽ ἑξῆς ὕποπτα βιόουσ᾽ ἐνθεῦτεν, δειδιότες διὰ μάλ᾽ ἐσθλοῖς στρουφαλίσματα τύχης.

ἀτὰρ Ἡρόδοτος μὲν φλήναφον ἠδ᾽ ἀσεβές τε φάτ᾽ ἔπος, ὥς γε τὸ θεῖον φθονερὸν βασκαίνει τύχῃσ᾽ ἀνδρομέῃσ᾽ ἀγαθῇσιν, αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἄφαρ κάρτα φέροιτ᾽ ἀνιηρά' τὸ μὲν κἤν τινα γλώττης τερπωλὴν ἅμα τ᾽ ἤθεος ἀγανὸν ἔνθεν ἔχησιν, as κεν ὅδ᾽ ἀνὴρ γλυκυθύμοιο μάλ᾽ ἑρμηνείης φροῦντιν δρᾶτ᾽ ἀεὶ ποιεύμενος, ἀλλά τ᾽ ἀεικὲς

τοιάδ᾽ 310

ἄκοσμ᾽

ξύγκρατ᾽

315 {f. 214v]

ἀμφὶ

θεοῖο

φύσιος.

ἀεί:

καὶ

τῇσι

τύχῃσ᾽

εὐδαίμοσ᾽

χρῆν

ἀνάγκη

δρόμον ἔσσετ᾽ ἀεθλεύσας ἀπρόσκοπον ἀιεί. τάδε δηλοῖ τά T’ ἀμφ᾽ ᾿Αμάσιδος βασιλῆος

Αἰγύπτοιο,

LOTOPEEL

Πολυκράτεός

συνεχοῦς

ἕκατ᾽

Te

τυράννοιο

εὐπραγίης

σύν T' ἀνιηρῶν κράσιος, ὅσγε βρουτοῖσι μερόπεσσι τόδ᾽ αἰεὶ

Σάμον:

ἀμιγοῦς

τελεσφόρον ἑάων μήποτ᾽ ἐσεῖται,

τά θ᾽ ἑξείης πρήγματα δεῖξε τελεύταντά σφιν, ᾿Αμάσιδί τε Πολυκράτεί θ᾽ ὡς ἄρα τελεύτα, 325

ἔμπης,

λευγαλέα μάλ᾽ ἕπεσθ᾽ ἀνιηρά, μήποτ᾽ ὃν ἄλλως ἀρχῆς ἐς τέλος dkpar' ἄρ᾽ ἐσθλὰ λελαχέμεν ἄνδρας" μήτι παραλλὰξ καὶ τόδ᾽ ἐσύστερον td’ ἀλεγεινὸν σφίσι τελευτῶν, οὐδὲ νικηφόρος ἐσθλῶν τύχης

τίς καὶ 320

αὐδάειν

καὶ μὰν ὅγ᾽ Ἡρόδοτος φάμενος τόδ᾽ ἅτ᾽ οὐ φάμενος αὐτόθεν ἂρ πέλεται δῆλος ξυνιεὶς ὡς τοιάδ᾽ ἔασι τἀνθρώπων πράγματα λυγρὰ

κἂν

ἑτέροις

ἕτερ᾽

ἱστορέει

παρπλήσια

πουλλοῖς.

Poem XVII

81

be Thou ‘Thyself invoked here as my witness: though invisible, Thou seest all that exists, observing with the greatest brilliancy all the obscure, invisible things in the depths of the mind and within the heart. Thou knowest that this same revolved in our thoughts, (290) standing depicted

on the tablets of our imagination before these things befell us. Surveying all mortal men’s prosperous affairs, of old and of present, I have never seen them last unchanged from beginning to end; rather, I have often said

that

upon

conspicuous

fortune

follow

(297)

overwhelming

woes,

monstrous and deadly, and all prudent men who become prosperous are then quite wary on this account, (300) fearing greatly Fortune’s turns for the good. Now, Herodotus it was who uttered the stupid and impious saying that the jealous divinity envieth human good fortune and bringeth griefs forthwith; and even if he had a certain charm of speech and, thereby, delicacy of character, (306) so that he is judged always to cultivate a delightful manner of expression, nevertheless, it is shameful to utter such inappropriate things concerning God’s nature. Indeed, this same Herodotus who saith that which he ought not, (310) by so saying proveth clearly that he understood that the affairs of men are always mixed evils. Upon good fortune must follow dire woes, for it is impossible for men to obtain good things from beginning to end: (315) in its turn woe will finish as theirs; nor can any champion ever complete the course of Fortune's bounties without stumbling. The story of King Amasis of Egypt sheweth this clearly, and also that of Polycrates, tyrant of Samos. Herodotus recounteth their continuous, unalloyed prosperity and also the admixture of woes, saying that mortal men have not good things forever, and he shewed the things which later befell them, Amasis and Polycrates, how they finished; (325) and he relateth similar things in many other places.

301 sqq. ef. Herod 3, 40, 3

318 sqq. Herod

321 κράσιος] marg. subst. voci krrjgtos P

3, 39 et. passim

88

Poem

330

XVII

ἀλλά γ᾽ ἔτι φασὶ Μακεδόνων βασιλῆα Φίλιππον, μάλα τ᾽ ἐχέφρονα τόνδ᾽ ἐόντ᾽ ἄνδρα, μάλα τε ῥέκτην, τόνδ᾽ ἄρα φασὶν ἰῆς ἀμέρας πόλλ᾽ εὐπραγέά οἱ ξύν θ᾽ ἅμαδις κυρήσαντ᾽ ἀγγελίῃσ᾽ ἠκούσαις πυθόμενον νύ T' ἔπ᾽ ἄλλῃ ἄλλης, αὐτίκα νοῦον

εἴσω βαλόμενον τάδε, à pa μέγα τ᾽ ὀχθῆσαι δειδιότ᾽ ἀδράστειαν, οὔτι γεγηθότα θυμῷ, χεῖρας

[f. 215] 385

Ὀλυμπόνδ᾽

ἀνατείναντα

Δία

σφέτερον

θεόν,

ὅν Ke σεβάζετο διὰ μάλ᾽ ἔξοχον εἰν ἄλλοισι πάντεσ᾽ éoio θεσῖσι, μίγεσθ᾽ αἰτέειν ἀνιηρὰ Tols

ἀγαθοῖς,

τοσσάτιον

ἅμα

μάλ᾽

τι

δυσπραγές,

ὅμαδον

ἑάων

οὔτοι

ἄκρατον

αὕτως"

εὖ γὰρ ὀΐετο, καί τε δέος τόδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔμβαλε κάρτ᾽

ἄφαρ

ὡς

ἕψοιτ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ

μετά

θυμῷ

γ᾽ ἐσθλοῖσιν.

840 ἀτὰρ ὅδ᾽ ὡς οὐχ᾽ ἅλιον ἦ μάλ᾽ ἐτάρβει

δεῖος

δείκνυσι Παυσανίης μετά γ᾽ οὐ πολὺ ἀνδροφόνοιο δὴ χερὸς ἔργον, ἄελπτ᾽ αὐτὸν θέμενος, προϊάψας ἼΛϊδι,

845

350

ἄλμενος

εἴν

γε

πότῳ

ταναεικέϊ χαλκῷ

τόν Tep ἀρήιον ἤδεσαν ἄνδρ᾽ ἅπαντες βρουτοίτόν κεν ἀεὶ ῥύονθ᾽ ἅμαδις ὁπλοφόροι δὴ πουλλοὶ φυλόπιδός τε λόχων T' αὖ ἠδ᾽ ἁπάσης κακότητος. οὐδέ τέ οἱ τάδ᾽ ἤρκεσε τῆμος ὄλεθρον λυγρόν, οὐδέ τε τόσσα TE τόσσ᾽ εὐδαιμονίης πράγεα πρὶν eitea πολλὰ διαμπερές, οὐδέ τ᾽ ἄρ᾽ εὐβουλίης μηχανάματα περίστροφ᾽ ἐνὶ πάντεσσ᾽ “Ἕλλησιν

ἦδέ τε βαρβάροις

αὖ μήδεα, σύν τε δόλοι τε

τοῖσι κέκαστο περί τ᾽ εἶεν μετὰ πᾶσι βρουτοῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνὶ μέσφ᾽ ἐδητύος ἠδὲ ποτῆτος κεῖτο,

[f.215v] 355

860

ἀνδρὸς τάχα δὴ μάλ᾽ ἐοργότος ἀττάσθαλα, πουλὺ χολωθέντος, μέθης τ᾽ οἴνου τε πάρεργον, oUT' εὖ βουλάων ἠέ re πρήξιος αἰνεσίμοιο, οὔτ᾽ ἔργων πολεμίων εὖ εἰδότος: ἅπερ πάντα μάλ᾽ αὐτὸς ἔην δόκιμος, περίφαντος βρουτοῖς, otr' ἐβίωσαν προύτερον, οἵθ᾽ ἑξῆς fa βίωσαν, πάντα μήκεα

δέ θ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ὀλέσας, νίκας, εὐρὺ κλεῖος, ἀρχῆς τοσσάτια τὴν κτήσατο, καί τ᾽ ἐλπίδας

μάλ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔχεσκε

κτήσασθαι

πρό

θ᾽ ἱκέσθ᾽

εὖ μάλ᾽ ἔδειξε πινυτὰ δεδιὼς ἀμφὶ 365

κάρτ᾽ εὐδαίμοσι ἀτὰρ ἐγὼν νυνὶ

μάρτυρον

ἑξείης"

τύχῃσι

συνεχέεσσί τ᾽ εὔδρομ᾽ ἰούσαις. τοῦδε Φιλίπποιο μναμόνευσα,

εἰνθάδ᾽ ἀγαγὼν

ὧν πέρι λοῦγος ἔην μοι,

Poem XVH

89

Further, they say of Philip, King of Macedon, a prudent and very active man, they say of him that one day, when many fortunate things occurred, a great many messengers arriving at once, (330) being informed of one after another,

he forthwith

cast these

things

about

in his mind

and was

greatly vexed, fearing Nemesis; nor did he rejoice in spirit, but raised his

hands toward

Olympus

and his god Zeus, whom

he revered especially

(335) amongst all his other gods, and asked him to mix woes with these

good things: be it aught untoward, but not such a mass of purely good things; for he considered well, and this fear filled his spirit, lest evils should

follow together with the good things. (340) And that he had no vain fear shewed

not long afterwards the deed of the murderous

hand

of Pausanias,

who set upon him unexpectedly, dispatching him to Hades: upon him whom all mortals knew as a man of arms did he in the midst of a carousal with a long lance of bronze. (345) Always had a great many soldiers saved him from battle and ambush and all manner of danger; but at that moment neither did these ward off from him dire ruin, nor so many prosperous things during so many years before, (350) nor devices of prudence or counsels renowned amongst all, Greeks and barbarians, nor yet the wiles for which they were famous and excelled amongst all mortals; but whilst he reclined within at meat

and drink,

he fell accidental

victim

to a man’s foolish action (355) in great anger in drunkenness and wine: not to one of good counsel or respectable action, nor one well-versed

in deeds of war, in which he himself had been expert, remarkable amongst men who had lived before and those who lived afterwards, (360) having vanquished all, obtained victories, wide renown, great expanse of empire, and having expectations of attaining to yet more and advancing thereafter. Thus, he shewed great wisdom in fearing on account of his constant propitious fortune.

this Philip,

! Metochites

bringing

conflates

the

him

as evidence

story.

at

(Fiseher, 4, 134-137).

326-339 cf. Plut., Mor.,

105 AB

least

as

it

(365)

of what

is

told

by

I have

now

concerneth

Diodorus

mentioned

my

Siculus,

speech,

16.92,5--94,3

00

Poem XVII

τὸν

370

μάλ᾽

ἐχέφρονα

oiov

ἔπος

φάτ᾽

ἐνὶ

ῥοάμασιν

εὐπραγέεσσι τύχης, πολέες δ᾽ ἕτεροί γ᾽ ἔασ᾽ οὑμοῖα ἐσθλά τε πολλὰ ξύν θ᾽ ἅμα λευγαλέα λαχόντες παλαιοί T€ νέοι τ᾽ οὔτις ἀμιγέ᾽ ἐς τέλος ἐσθλά:

τὰ

μὲν

ἕκαστ᾽

ἐνὶ

và

στρέφον,

εὖ

δέ τε

ἤδειν

αὐτὸς

μήποτ᾽ ἂν ἐσσόμενον τόδε ἄλλως ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους, σὺν δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔμοιγε δοκεύων οὔτι μάλα σοφόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὃ καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἄν T’ ἔμφρων μάλα, καὶ ὃς

[f 216 ] 375. καὶ

ἂν

μοῦνον

πάϊς

ἔτ᾽ αὐτὸς

Opdwy

τὰ

γίνεθ᾽

ξυνιέμεν

ἂν

ἑκάστοτε

δὴ

βρουτοῖσι᾽

380

τάδε μὲν αὐτὸς ἐνὶ φρεσὶ πολὺ μέλων προπάροιθεν, εὖτ᾽ εὐδαίμονα συνεχέα βίοτον πολλοῖσιν ἄνυτον εἰν ἐτέεσσιν ἐτήτυμον, οὔποτ᾽ ἀνίης ἀπάτερθε βίευν νῦν ἑκάστοτ᾽ ἐσούμενα λυγρὰ

385

πρός θ᾽ ὁράων νύ τ᾽ οὔμμασιν ἄντα παρεόντων ἐσθλῶν. ἀτὰρ πρὶν τάδ᾽ ἐγὼν φρονέων ὡς πρὶν τάδ᾽ ἱκέσθαι λευγαλέ᾽ ὀκρυόεντα διά τε πρήγμασιν αὐτοῖς, οὔτοι νῦν ἀδόκηθ᾽ ἥκοντ᾽ ἀσχαλάαν ἔνθεν ἄτροπ᾽ ἔχοιμι κέαρ δαμάοντα διαμπερὲς αἰεί:

τὰ

390

γὰρ

ἔπεισιν

ἄελπτα,

μάλ᾽

ὑποβρύχια

νοῦον

αὐτόθεν εἴν γε βυθοῖσιν ἄφαρ δὴν βάλετ᾽ ἀνίης. τοὔνεκ᾽ ἐγὼν τοῖσδ᾽ ἀχνύμενος νῦν πρήγμασι Avypots - ἢ τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔμελλον τοσσάτι᾽ ἅμα δέγμενος αἰνά; μέτρι᾽ ἔχω φέρεν ἔμπης τῆσδ᾽ ἕκατι προγνώσιος" ἐς

δέ

σ᾽

ἀείρων

αὐτίκα,

πότνι᾽

ἄνασσα,

θεσῖο

παρθένε μάτερ, θώυμ᾽ ἄφατον, ἅπαντα νοῦον, παμμεδέοντος ἀχωρήτοιο διὰ πάντεσσι χώρα, πόλοιο νύ T' εὐρυτέρα δία θηλυτεράων,

[f.216v] 395

οὐκί,

δίκαιος

NUT’ ἀσείστῳ ῥᾷον

λιμένι

ὀρυμαγδοῦ,

κυμάτεων

λυγρᾶς

μάλα

ὠκέλλω vavayins

τε,

οὐδέ T' ἄελπτος σέο κράτεος λεῖμμ᾽ ὡς KEV εὖγ᾽ ὁτιοῦν θείης, τὰ παρόντ᾽ ἀμείψασα λυγρά. ἀτὰρ ὅ κ᾿ ἔσσετ᾽ ἔμοιγε σέθεν, τόδε βέλτιον ἔσται.

Poem

XVII

91

he who was prudent amidst the prosperous currents of Fortune, as saying hath it; but there are also many others who have similarly obtained many

good things together with evils, both of old and of late: none hath ever had purely good things to the very end. (371) AH of this did I consider in my mind; and I knew well that it could never be otherwise for me than it is with others. Moreover, this appeared to me to be naught particularly

wise, but rather something which everyone, whether clever or not — (375) even a child — ought to know simply by observing what occureth each time unto mortals. Casting these things about in my mind often of old, whilst leading a prosperous life for many years in succession, I truly never lived without affliction, looking with my eyes on each occasion for griefs to come, even in the presence of good things. (382) But since I thus pondered these things of old, before the coming of these dread griefs through affairs themselves, I should never have cause to be vexed by the advent of unexpected things which always overwhelm the heart thoroughly; for they come on in unlooked-for fashion and suddenly plunge the mind underwater in depths of despair. (386) Wherefore, though I àm now grieved by these woeful affairs — how could it not he so, having received so many

terrors? —, (390)

I can bear them, with moderation

on

account of this foreknowledge. p But forthwith unto thee, Lady Mistress, God's Virgin Mother — O ineffable wonder! — do I raise all my thoughts, thou Hold (Chora) of the Sovereign in every wise unholdable, thou from amongst women broader than the vault of heaven,

(395) as if arriving in a safe harbour from the din of the

waves and dreadful shipwreck. Nor am I left without hope of thy power, that thou mightest in some wise set things right, changing present woes. Whatever 1 shall have from thee shall be best.

92

Poem

IH Εἰς

(f. 216v]

ἑαυτὸν

XVITI

ἔτι μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν αὑτὸν τύχης

Μηδὲν ἀείδειν ὄρνεον ἀθυμίης γὰρ ἐχούσης,

18

ἑορτῇ

τίς ποτ᾽ ἔσοιτ᾽ ἂν ἐνεργὸς δυσθυμίης νεφέεσσι δὴ σκοτόεις χείμασί Te ναυαγέων ἄφυκτα καί Te πέδῃσ᾽ ἀρρήκτοις ἀγχόμενος νόον εἴσω; ἀτὰρ ἐγὼν νυνὶ θωύματος δόξαιμ᾽ ἂν ἔρδειν πρῆγμα τόδ᾽ ἄξιον, εἴν γε τόσοις ἀχέεσσ᾽ ἀείδων εἴπεα τάδ᾽, ἅτε ῥᾳστώνῃ βιόων ἀτειρής,

καί

[{. 217]

κατ᾽

εἰν λύπῃσι, λόγος πρίν. τὰ πέλετ᾽ ἐν ῥᾳστώνης

εἴαρι ἀκύμονι ψυχᾷ γαληναίῃ δράαν ξὺν dua τερπωλῆς πάντ᾽ ἄνετα νουὸς

10

τῆς

περ

ἀπειρέσι᾽

ὥς

ποτέ

τις

οὐκ

οἶδ᾽ ἕτερος

πρὶν

ἠῦτε νῦν ἀλεγεινὰ φορήματα δέγμενος ἄφαρ, πάνθ᾽ ἅμαδις: τῶν κεν μάλ᾽ ἕκαστον μοῦνον ὁτιοῦν ὀκρυόεν γε δαρὸν δοκέει μερόπεσσι βρουτοῖς πραττόμενον yoepà κωκύματα, βαρυπενθεῖς

ἰαχὰς

οἷσι

κέαρ

πρήγμασιν

βιότοιο

ἄρα

μετὰ

τοῦδ᾽

ἔχετ᾽

γλυκεροῖσι,

ἀπρὶξ

πολυεράτοισι,

σὺν δέ θ᾽ ἅμαδις μιγνύμενον τόδε τοσσατίοισι παρπλήσια πέλωρά τ᾽ ἔχουσι μέρμερα δεινά, 20

σὺν

δέ

θ᾽ ἅμ᾽

ἀμπνοάν, σὺν

δ᾽

ὦκα ἔτι

τόσσ᾽

παντοίοισι

δὴ 25

οὔτι

δὲ

διασταδόν,

ῥάγδην ἔτεα

τἀγαθοῖσι

τέρπεσθ᾽

οὔ

βρίσαντ᾽ διαμπερὲς

διὰ

ὁππόσ᾽

ἔπειτα

ξύμμιγ᾽

ἐνὶ

ἐνὶ

μέσφα

πολλοῖς

ἐσθλοῖς

μάλ᾽ ἔξοχ᾽

τάδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἅμα, λοιπὰ δ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἃ τίς ἐρέει ποτ᾽ ἀνὰ νόον ἔνδοθ᾽

δόντ᾽

ἐωθότι

περιφάντοισ᾽

ἀριδείκετα

τινα

ἀθρό᾽ ἕκαστα,

ἄλλων.

μὴ ῥάδια φάασθαι: ἕκαστα λεύσων

φρεσὶν

ἀνδρομέῃσι

δῆτ᾽ dye’ ἄπλετ᾽ ἰάλλειν ἄτροπα κεῖαρ εἴσω καί θ᾽ ὑπόβρυχα κακεργίης βένθεσι βάπτειν,

καί τε νόον φράγνυσθ᾽ ἀποέργειν δράαν ὁτιοῦν; τοὔνεκα δῆτ᾽ ἐφάμην ἀγάσαιτό τις ὡς νύ τ᾽ ἔμοιγε κινέετ᾽

ἂρ

κινέεται 35

ὁτιοῦν

τάδ᾽

νόος,

ἀείδειν

ἠδέ

εἴπεα,

μήτι

γλῶττα

πέδηται

du’ ἄρα δέσμια πόλλ᾽ ἀθυμίης ἀτρεμίζειν. ἀλλ᾽ ἐτεὸν μάλα δεῖγμ᾽ ἂν ἔῃ τόδε μὴ δέ

ἦτορ

ἐμὸν

δαμάασθαι

τοῖσδ᾽

ἦ γὰρ ἂν ἄνοος, ἄφωνος [f. 217v]

θ᾽ ὁτιοῦν

ἀμφότερα

νόος

ἠδὲ

γλῶττα

ἐνὶ

πήμασι

τ᾽ ἄμετρα

πουλλοῖς"

ἂν ἦα, πέδοιτ᾽ ἀσπερχὲς τοσοῖσδ᾽

ἀχέεσσιν,

Poem

XVIH

93

XVIII To Himself Again After the Reversal of His Fortune

(1)‘The bird singeth not in grief,’ hath the adage of old. For, with dispair prevailing, who, overshadowed by clouds of depression and buffetted inescapably by tempests and strangled in unbreakable fetters within his mind, would be able to engage in that which the calm, serene soul is wont to do in the spring of ease, with a holiday of relaxed joy in the mind? (8) But I would now think it good to do this thing worthy of wonder, singing these verses amidst such griefs, as if living undisturbed in ease, (11) even though I have received of a sudden countless woeful turns, all together, as no-one else I know

before or of late. Each and every

one of these griefs seemeth quite dreadful, evoking mornful wailing, lamentable (16) shrieks in mortal men whose hearts cling desperately to the

sweet

many

delights

other

griefs

of this life; moreover,

involying

similar

this

is mixed

monstrous,

dread

together

woes;

with

so

moreover,

there is no distance, nought to afford any respite betweentimes, but all press down furiously together, suddenly; moreover still, this happenth to one accustomed for many years tozenjoy all manner of renowned good and noble things, conspicuous beyond all others. (25) But as for these things and all the rest which

taking up each one in his mind, mixed

in human

thoughts,

are not easy to express, who,

could then tell how

enormous

woes,

the many

things

assail the heart relentlessly

within and plunge it down to the depths of evil, (30) and the mind is blocked, hindered from doing aughtsoever? Wherefore said I that one would marvel that somehow my mind is moved, and somehow my tongue is moved

to sing these verses,

in no wise bound

to keep silence in fetters

of dispair. (35) Truly would this be evidence that my heart is not borne

down immeasurably by these many pains, for I should be mindless, speechless: both mind and tongue would be bound by such griefs,

17 ἄρα]

add. M

94

Poem

40

XVIII

ἣν μὴ πρῶτον ἄρά τις ἔμ᾽ dpmvoà θειόθεν ἄνω ἱκάνετο δροσερὰ κραδίην εἴσω κεκαφηότα δὴ μέλεα, θυμὸν ἠδὲ πρόσθε νόον ψύχουσα, ἔκ T€ χέουσ᾽ αὔρῃσι ῥάϊσθ᾽ ἠπίαν ἐέρσην κάρτ᾽ ἀγανοῖσιν ἀπ᾿ ἄρα πολυρρύτοιο θεοῖο vaouons ἀδάπαν᾽ ἐλέου πηγαίας ἀβύσσοιο: τοῦ κεν ἀπείρατά τις οἰκτιρμῶν βένθε᾽ ἴδηται πουλύσοφος μερόπεσσιν ὀριγνόμενος μαθέσθαι᾽

τοῦ κεν ἀεὶ διὰ πᾶσι πρήγμασιν aly’ ἀλεγεινοῖς ἕσπετ᾽ ἂρ αὐτόθεν ἀθυμίης ἀκεσώδυν᾽ ὁπηοῦν φάρμακ᾽ 50

ἀτὰρ ὃ πάρ γε

[f. 218] 60

ἀλαπάζοντα

πολὺν

κηρεσφόρον

ὄχλον

λευγαλέων, μάλ᾽ ὦκα κατάγοντ᾽ εἰν ᾿Αἴδαο τὸν λίπετ᾽ ἐλέου θεὸς ἔκτοθ᾽ éoio σκοπιῆς" à, à μέγ᾽ ἄθλιος, ai0' ὄφλε᾽ οὔτις ὠδὶ λελάχοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν τοῦδ᾽ οὐ πείραμαι" μὴ δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔρημος λειφθείην σέο κηδεμονίης, πανάγαθ᾽, ἑξῆς. φάμην πρώτιστά τε μάλιστ᾽ ἔγωγε, θεοῖο θαλπωρῆς ἀμπνοὰν εἰν ἀχέεσσιν

τοσσατίοισ᾽

Eaxnk’

ἔμπεδ᾽

νόος

ἐμοὶ

ἀριδείκετον, ἕσταε,

θυμὸς

ἠδέ

τ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔνθεν

ἀττάλλει,

γλῶττα

φθέγγετ᾽ ἄδητος διὰ πεδήματα τάδ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ πολλὰ μάλ᾽ ὅσσα τις οὗτοι μυθήσασθ᾽ οἷος ἐσεῖται. ἀτὰρ ἔκ τε λογισμῶν ἄρα πὰρ ἔκνοον ἐστὶ τραπέσθ᾽ ἀργαλεόφρονος ἀσφαλέως ἀθυμίης, ὅττι κεν ἔλπαρ ἀγαθὸν ἃ φαντὶ τά γ᾽ ἱρὰ διδόασιν ὁκόσοις ἀνθρώποις πράγεα λυγρὰ

λόγια

ἀντιάσει᾽ ἀνὰ βίοτον οὐ διὰ πάντ᾽ ἀγάθ᾽ αἰεί. καὶ τόδ᾽ ἀσύμφορον ἢ μάλα μὴν πέλεται βρουτοῖσιν οἵ κεν ἅπαντ᾽ εὐδαίμονες οὖρον δὴ βιότοιο

70

εὐδιόοντα διαπρήσουσι γαληναίῃ πλόον πλησίστιον διαμπερὲς ἀκύμον᾽ ἀνύτοντες" τοῖς μὲν ἂρ éomer' ἀκοῦσαι θεσπεσίην ἔνδικα τήνδ᾽ ἐνοπὴν βαρεῖαν, ἀτερπέα δειλάμοσ᾽ olkTpots’

᾿Από γ᾽ ἐλάβετε τὰ σφέτερ᾽ ἀγαθὰ κεῖσε ζώοντες" κεῖνα ποθεῖτε, κεῖνά τε λάχετε ὥς γ᾽ émo0etreτάδ᾽ ἑτέροις ζωᾶς βίοτον,

λεῖπται βαρυπενθέσι Keto’ ἀνύσασι ottev ξύγ γε λαχοῦσ᾽ ἱμερτοῦ.

τὴν μὲν ἀπευκταιοτάτην ἧκεν ἀκουσέμεν, εἰνθάδε [f. 218v]

δοκέων μάλα φωνὰν μήτι γ᾽ ἀμείψας ἔμελλον

τὰ παρέσαν ἀπειρέσι᾽ ἐρίηρα βιότοιο, νῦν δέ τε τόσσ᾽ ἑξῆς μεταδέγμενος ὀκρυόεντα

Poem

m

XVIII

95

had first à dewy breeze not come from God on high upon me as I devoured my

heart within, (41) refreshing my limbs, my spirit and also my

mind,

pouring out gentle dew on soft gales from the inexhaustibly flowing abyss of the font of God's mercy. (45) His are the unprobed depths of mercies one ought

to ponder

if one striveth

to be most

wise

amongst

mortals;

from Him, through all manner of grievous affairs, somehow follow straightway assuaging medicines which allay the deadlv throng (50) of woes which take off swiftly down to Hades him from whose look-out the

God of mercy hath been left out. Ah! Ah! Wretched he! May no-one come to this! I have never had experience of this, nor let me ever be left without Thy

protection,

All-Good

One,

in future.

(55) But as I said first of all,

through God's comfort have I had this remarkable respite in the midst of so many griefs: thence standeth my mind firm, my spirit flourisheth, my tongue speaketh unfettered — all throughout the course of these many dreadful hinderances which one would be unable to recount. (61) But it

is senseless to be routed by the thoughts of worrying, constant dispair, for the good hope which Holy Writ giveth unto all men who have met with grievous affairs is this: that things are not always in every wise good throughout one's life. (66) It is indeed disadvantageous for mortals who fare well with a fair wind in serenity, making life’s yoyage with full sails, in complete

calm:

(70) to them

it will happen

to hear the divine voice,

justly harsh, unbearable for the poor wretches: ‘Ye received your good things in your life there: ye desired those things, ye have got as ye desired; these things are left for the other, sorrowful ones who accomplished (75)

their lives there having obtained nought that is lovely’. Thinking to hear this most dread voice, I should not want in any wise to change here either

the countless

bounties

of life I had

before nor these many,

72/15 cf. Luc. 16,25

43 (Alyavai(ow)] e corr. M

51 ἔκτοθ᾽ ἑοῖο] marg. subst. vocibus éxro&

τεῆς P

manifold

90

Poem

80

XVIIT

τάδ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ πέλωρ᾽ ἅμαδις πουλύτροπα λυγρά" τῆσδε μὲν ἄρ᾽ ἐνοτῆς δέος οὔ μ᾽ ἔτι κεῖαρ δαμᾷ, ἀλλά μ᾽ ἔχει δέος εἵτερον ἔμπης μήποτε τάδε λευγαλέ᾽ dye’ ἄποινα καί τε νῦν ἠδ᾽ ἐς ἔπειτα κείνης ἀπεράτοιο ζωᾶς ἔσεθ᾽ ἁμαρτάδων, οὕνεκα πολλὸν ἀμφότερα τίματ᾽ ἀμοιβαδόν, καί τε φροίμι᾽ ἔασσι τὰ κείνης αὖ κακότητος"

εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼν ol8á τ᾽ ἐπιλόγισμαί τε μάλα νῦν πλεῖν ἢ προύτερον ἠέ τε κέντροις τοῖσδ᾽ ἀχέεσσι νυττόμενος 90

κραδίην

εἴσω

σκέπτεσθ᾽

ἑωυτόν,

ὁππόσ᾽ ἔοργ᾽ ἀλιταίνων δι᾽ ἐπιτάγματα θεοῖο, ὁππόσ᾽ ἐμὰν λωβησάμαν ψυχὰν ἔκτροπα ῥέξων. ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι μὴν τόδ᾽ ἄμεινον ἔμοιγ᾽ ἔσσοιτ᾽ ἂν ὁτηοῦν δίκας κἀνθάδε τινέμεν ὧν πολέων ἥμαρτον,

He καθάπαξ ἔνθ᾽ ἀτειρέα βίοτον αἰεὶ ἐς τέλος ἠνυκότ᾽ ἀμιγέ᾽ ὀϊζυρᾶς κακότητος κεῖσ᾽

ἅμα

γιγνόμενον

τίματ᾽

εὖ γὰρ δῆλον ἐσεῖται κουφότερ᾽ [f. 219] 100

οὕνεκα

ὄφλειν

τῶνδ᾽

κεῖσ᾽ ἀπότισις

τῆσδε

πάρος

ἁπάντων"

ὁπηοῦν

φθάσης

κακότητος,

x’ ὅστις ἔμελλε μυρία δαρήσεσθ᾽ ἥττονα τῶνδε δῆτα δαρήσεσθ᾽ ὅμως τόδ᾽ ἐτεὸν πέλεται κέρδιον ἠέ τ᾽ ἀολλέα δάμνασθαι διαμπερὲς αἰνῶς ἀπέρατον δι᾽ αἰῶ τοσσάτι᾽ ἄχθε᾽ ἅμαδις τληπαθέοντ᾽, ὀλοφώια Τάρταρον ὀκρυόεντα

καββάλοντ᾽ εἴσω δνοφόεντά τε πυρόεντά Te: vaieráovT' οἰκήια τίς ἄφατ᾽ ἂν ὀνομήνῃ

110

ποινητήρια κεῖνα διάδοχα τῶνγ᾽ εἰνθάδε ἀμπλακιᾶν ἐργμάτων τ᾽ ἀσεβέων μερόπεσσιν ἔνδικα; τά περ ἀλεύασθ᾽ ἐξῆν ὅσγε σαόφρων πρὸς λόγον ἄρμεν᾽ ἑκάστοις ἄνδρεσι τοῖσιν ἄγερθεν εἰνθάδε pa βιόουσ᾽ Mev τ᾽ ὀλίγ᾽ ἠδέ τε πουλλὰ πάντροπ᾽ ἐφετμάων Χριστοῖο τάδε πρό γε φάντος

ἀγαθά

τ᾽ εὐσεβέεσσ᾽

ἀρετῆς

λυγρά

τ᾽ ἀλιταίνουσ᾽

ἐνὶ

ἤτοι 115

ὡς

τῶνδε τόδ᾽

μὲν

ἄμεινον

εἰνθάδε

τίμαθ᾽

φόρτον

ἅπαντα

εἵνεκεν ἐμοί

ἡμέτερος τε

ἁμαρτάδων φέρειν

λόγον

δεσπότεω πᾶσί

κεῖσ᾽

καί

τ᾽ ἀποδοῦσι

τίματ᾽

μάλ᾽

λόγος

ἦεν

τ᾽ dvdpeo’

ἀλιτροῖὶς

ἠὲ

ἀπεράτοις

ἐλεύθερ᾽

ἔχουσι,

νομίμοισιν:

ἀποτίσασθ᾽

οἷς μὲν ἂρ ἐμποίνιμ᾽ ὀλίγοισιν ἅττα βιεῦντες ἅμαρτον βέλτιον 120

εὖ

ποινῆσιν.

ἔασι λυγροῖς εἰνθάδ᾽ ἀπόφλειν ἱκέσθαι

κεῖσε:

Poem

XVIII

97

deadly things I have now subsequently received all together. (81) Dread of this voice no longer oppresseth my heart, but another fear now

holdeth me: lest these grievous woes should be recompense, both now and later, in that life without end, for the sins for which punishment is given

on this and the other wise in turn, and these be but a preface of the evil to

come.

(87)

Well

do

I know

and

well

have

I pondered,

now

more

than before I was pricked within my heart by the stings of these griefs to consider (90) how much I have sinned against God's commandments,

how much I have harmed my soul by acting perversely. But still this might be somehow better for me: to pay here already some penalty for my many sins, rather than living here always an easy life, free of wretched misery until the end, and then having to pay there the penalty for everything. (97) For it is quite clear that the retribution there will be somehow milder on account of this preceding misery, and he who is to receive ten thousand scourges will nevertheless receive fewer; this is certainly more profitable (101) than being subjected with utmost cruelty to so many distressing pains all together at once, through endless time, descending into dread Tartarus, dark and fiery, (105) inhabiting as one's home those abodes of punishment - who would say their unspeakable name? -- to which mortals justly succeed for their offensive and*impious deeds here.

One could escape man living here commandments of well the reasoning the

Lord.

for me to bear liable expiate

83 (ἠδὲ

On

these abodes if he reason prudently according as each hath amassed fewer or more offenses against the Christ, who foretold good things for the pious observing of virtue, but woes for those who sin in the laws of

this account,

then,

have

we

said

(115)

that it is better

and all sinful men to pay here the penalty of sins, rather than all the burden there in unending punishments. For them that are to few penalties for sins during their lives it is better to them here (120) and, having paid the penalty, to go thither free;

ἐς

éGrevra)] e corr. M

98

Poem

[f. 219v]

ἠδ᾽ Gp ἐμοί κέρδος

τίς

ἂν

180

θ᾽ ἑτέροισιν ἔοι

δ᾽ οἶδ᾽

ἄληπτός 125

AVITI

τῶνδ᾽

εἰ

θεὸς

ὅσοις

ὀφλήματα

ἅττ᾽

ἀποτίσασθ᾽

οἶκτον

ἄβυσσος

τ᾽ ἀπέρατος

ἕκαστα

πολλὰ

εἰνθάδ᾽

ἐοῦσι.

ἠδὲ

σοφίην,

φιλάνθρωτπ᾽

ἔρδων,

πήματα τάδ᾽ ὀρέγων ἀλιταίνουσι βρουτοῖσι τί μὲν ἂρ οὐλιγομήκε᾽ ἁμαρτάσι πήματα διδοῖ χροῦνον ἔπειτα παυσόμεν᾽ οὐ μετὰ πολλὸν ἑξῆς ἀτὰρ ἔσωθ᾽ ἔνθεν κραδίην τάχα κέντρον ἰάλλων

ξυναισθήσιος ἀμπλακιᾶν ἀμφὶ Tefjow ἁμαρτάσιν ἀμφί

γ᾽ αὐτὸν

δακρυόφιν κἄνθεν

ἄνακτα

τε

ἔπειτα

μετά τ᾽ αὖ νόον εὑρεῖν dino’ εὖ μάλα πουλλοὺς θεὸν

δραμέειν

ῥοάματα

χεύεσθ᾽

τίσιας

ἀλεύασθ᾽

τ᾽ ὀδύρασθαι

οἶκτον

ἑτοῖμον

ἀμπλακιᾶν.

ἢ μέγα σουφίας, 1| μέγ᾽ ἐλέου θεοῖο τόδ᾽ 1385 πάντοθεν ἡμέας εὖ μάλ᾽ ἄγοντος τυχέμεν

ἔργον ἐσθλῶν,

ἔκ Te φυγεῖν κακότητος ἔκ τε φυγεῖν pad χόλοιο αὐτόθεν éoio μάλ᾽ ἐνδικοτάτου φαῦλα δι᾽ ἔργα:

τάδε γὰρ αὐτοῦ ῥήματα φιλάνθρωπ᾽ ὀρίνοντος ὦκα τὲ ῥεῖα τ᾽ ἀνὰ μετανοίης στρουφήματα 140

δὴ μέροπας ἂν ὅσα τις ἀπειρέσια νύ θ᾽ ἁμάρτῃ᾽ Ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ἐγώ σε κιχείω πρὸς πέρασι βιότοιο [f 220] ἔνθα δικάσω ἠέ T’ ἐν ἔργμασ᾽ ἀγαθοὶς ὀψὲ

φαύλων

κεν

πόλεων ἂν

μετόπισθεν

καί

θ᾽ ὡς

καί

τ᾽ αἰὲν

150

βένθεσ᾽ ὑμέες πεσεῖν, ἂν ὅσα τις ἐέργοι φαῦλα, ἀλλὰ νόον βαλέμεν τάχ᾽ ἐπίστροφον ἠδ᾽ ἅψασθαι πρόφρονες dp’ εὐεργίης, οὔτοι vu θ᾽ ὑμέας χρὴ πολλὰ μάλ᾽ ἀεθλεῦσαι προτέρων ἀντίρροπα φαύλων. νουὸς ἐγὼν δέχομ᾽ ἥδιστ᾽ εἰν πέρασι μετανοίην,

δοκέω

μοι

κραδίῃης,

ἄνθρωποι

μήποτ᾽

τάδε.

ἀπογνώσιος

γοάματα

διὰ

φθάσασ᾽

aivots:

TOUveK' ἔωθά βρουτούς, ὥς

Te πολλάκι δεινοῖς πράγεσ᾽ ἰάλλειν κεν ἐπίστροφ᾽ ἀγαθὰ μέλωντ᾽ ἐνθεῦτεν.

τῶν

δῆτ᾽

μὲν

155 οἴκτῳ

ἐγὼ

ἡμέας

ἔμμεν᾽

πᾶσαν ἔκ TE

ἀφορμὴν τυχηρῶν

ἔμφρον᾽

ἀνὰ

εὔχομ᾽,

σεῦ διὰ πάντα

ἔκ τ᾿ ἀνιηρῶν 160

βοάατ᾽

τ᾽ ἐν φαύλοις"

145

συντριμμὸν

μέλεοι,

ἠέ

θεὸν

- ὃς

ἄναξ

μέλοντός

ἃ συνιέμεν

θεέ,

εἴθε

γενοίμαν

τε δράοντός

θ᾽ ἅ τε

καὶ

T' εὖ

πλεῖστ᾽

οὐκί,

ἄνδρεσιν εὐπραγίης διδόοντος πρηγμάτεων TAS’ εὔδρομα νουμῆς,

ἔμπαλιν οὐ

πάντ᾽

ἅττα ἄθλιος

μάλ᾽ ἐπίστροφον

διδοὶ οὐδέ

αὐτόθεν

νόον

ἅμμιν

τ᾽ ἀβέλτερος

al!

εἴη

ἀλεγεινοῖς

-

Poem

XVIII

99

and for me and all those who have many debts it were better to repay some of these whilst still here. Who knoweth whether God, profound in

His mercy and wisdom, incomprehensible and inscrutable in all the things He doeth in His love for man, (125) in offering these sufferings unto sinful mortals doth not on the one hand requite sins with these short-lived sufferings, which then cease after no long time, but also, thereby, placing within their hearts a pricking of cognizance of offences, help them to find thought

(130) for their sins, to run unto the Lord God. Himself,

and to

pour forth streams of tears for ready mercy and thus escape retribution for their offences. O great work of wisdom! O great work of God's mercy, (135) which leadeth us everywhere to obtain good things, to flee evil, and thus to flee His wrath most just on account of wicked deeds. For these are His words

who

in His love for man

urgeth mortals

to turn quickly

and easily to repentance, no matter how many countless sins one might have committed: (141) 'Where'er I come upon thee at life's end, there shall I judge thee, be it in good deeds of late, after many bad ones, or in bad ones; and that it might be a care, let men proclaim this. (145) Methinks it always best that ye should never fall into the depths of dispair, no matter how many bad things one might do, but that ye should change your minds and eagerly undertake good deeds; nor must ye suffer many afflictions as counterweight for earlier evil deeds: (150) I accept most gladly repentance of the mind at the very end of life, contrition of heart, lamentations over dreadful things done previously. Wherefore am I wont often to afflict mortals with dire affairs, in order that they may thereby return to the care for good things. (154) One of these latter, O Lord God, do 1 pray that 1 might become through Thy mercy, Thou who carest for all and doest all well for us, the things which we understand and the many more which we do not, and givest men all manner of grounds for welfare: through happy affairs here, an easy lot, and conversely, through grievous ones, that which giveth us a prudent mind — the which in itself were not an altogether unhappy or useless thing — (161) directed, in its straightened situation, toward God, whereby of

[4] sq. ef. Mat. 25,13;

1 Pet. 4,5

121 ἠδ᾽ dp] marg. subst. vocibus καί T' dp P 149 πολλὰ μάλ᾽ ἀεθλεῦσαι} marg. subst. vocibus πόλλα κεν ἀέθλια P 153 μέλωντ᾽] (μέλωτ᾽ a. corr. s. 1. M) marg. subst. voci μέδωντ᾽ P 158 νουμῆς} marg. subst. voci λάχους P

100

Poem

δὴν [f. 220v] 165

oTeivoüuevov,

οὐρανὸν

ἔνθεν

δρμαίνοντα

θεὸν

XVIII

ἄνωθι

πᾶσ᾽

ἀναγκαίη

μετ᾽

ἄναχθ᾽

ὁράοντα.

τοῖος ἐμοὶ νόος εἴη διὰ πρήγμασι λυγροῖς τοῖσδ᾽, ἅ με νῦν ἵκετ᾽ ὀκρυόεντα μάλ᾽ ὀχθίσματα ἔς τε τὐὀπιὸν ἔπειτα διαμπερές: ἅτε νῦν ἐστι

σεῖο

δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔλεον,

σεῖο

διὰ

πολυδότιν

αἰεὶ

προυνοίης €áóov σοφίην, παγὰν ἀδάπανα δὴ βρυάουσαν ἀεὶ μερόπεσσ᾽ ἀνθρώποις ἐσθλὰ

ληπτά τ᾽ ἄληπτά τ᾽ ἀδούκητά Te προσδόκιμά Te, σεῖο διὰ μεγάλῃσι πραπίδεσ᾽ ἅρμεν᾽ ἕκαστα εὖ μάλ᾽ ἀρηρότα τοῖς περιπλομένοισ᾽ ἐνιαυτοῖς, εὖ μάλ᾽ ἀρηρότα τοῖσιν ἑκάστοτ᾽ αὖ μερόπεσσιν οἷσιν ἱκάνει διὰ στάθμια σῆς προνοίης" 175

καί με μάλ᾽ ἕδρασον ἔνδοθι νόον τοῖσδε λογισμοῖς, μή με παραπάφοι Βελίαρ κραδίης κινάματα δύσνοος ὑπεροπευτὴς κακομήχανος ἕρδειν πάντ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔνεδρα μάχης νύ τ᾽ ἀεὶ δειλοῖσι βρουτοῖς

μήποτε 180

[f. 221] 185

λήγων,

ἐχθρὰ

μέλων,

κρύφα

τ᾽ ἀμφαδίην

σκῶλα πόδεσσ᾽ ὑποτιθεὶς δρουμήματα συλάαν, πρήξεων νοὸς ἀπὸ κελεύθους ἐέργων ἐσθλάςμή μ᾽ ἀπό γ᾽ εἰώσοι μένεος, φρένα τ᾽ ἐκτρέψοι λαβόμενον καιροῖο τάχιστ᾽ ἀκμῆς μογεροῖο τοῦδ᾽ ὀνίνασθαι πολυκερδέος ὅσγε σαόφρων. ἀλλ᾽ ἄμεινον κατ᾽ ἂρ ἄμυνον αὐτοῦ, νικᾶν ἐμοὶ δούς,

σὺν δ᾽ ἔτι καίριά τ᾽ ἐννέπεν ἃ φάτο Δαυΐδης Δαυΐδης μέγ᾽ ἄριστος ἀνδρῶν, σεῖο θεράπων,

190

ἐνὶ

βρουτοῖσι

κάρτα

γὰρ

ἀνιάουσ᾽

μερόπεσσι

μαθήματα

αὐτίκα

ταπεινώσει

δικαιωμάτων

λευγαλέοισι τ᾽

ἀλεγεινῶν

θεοῖο:

νοῦος ἐπίστροφος ἂν θεὸν αὐτόν, φροῦντις διὰ νόμιμα βιώσιος ἐσθλῆς ἀνδανούσης Χριστὸν ἄνακτα, δικαιώματ᾽ ἐπιταγάς τε,

αἵπερ ἔασιν ἐοικυῖαι μάλ᾽ ἀνθρώποισι, σὺν δέ τε δι᾽ ἄρα δικαιώματα φουβερᾶς 200

δούς"

προυφήτης βασιλεύς τε νόοιο μάλ᾽ εὖ σεῦ εἰδώς" Πολλὸν ἔμοιγ᾽ ἀγαθὸν τόδ᾽ ὅτι με ταπεινὸν θῆκας" à yàp ἐδάην ἔνθεν ἐφετμάων μάλ᾽ ὄπιν ἴσχειν, πάνσοφε δέσποτα, ocio: τόδ᾽ ἔπλετ᾽ ἐμοὶ μέγ᾽ ὄνειαρ.

ἕσπετ᾽

195

τε

ἐοῖο

ἑξῆς

κρίσιος ἐνδικότατα φρικαλέου δικαστοῦ: φρικαλέου μὰν ἅτ᾽ ἐνδικοτάτου ἠδὲ κράτος ὑπὲρ μάλ᾽ ἀφατόν τ᾽ ἄαπτον ἔχοντος ἂν αἰῶ

Poem

necessity

it pondereth

heaven

XVIII

above

101

and

seeketh

out

the

Lord

God.

May I be so minded throughout all these grievous affairs, these deadly vexations which are come upon me, both at present and in future. These now exist through Thy mercy, through Thy wisdom always generous

in the

bounties

of Providence,

a source

always

inexhaustibly

gushing forth good things unto mortal men, (170) some comprehensible and others incomprehensible, some expected and others unexpected, each aptly fitted through Thy great wisdom to the revolving years, well-

suited on each occasion to the mortals to whom they come by the measures of Thy providence. (175) Make Thou within me a mind with such thought, lest Belial deceive the movements of my heart, he who is

hostile,

disdainful,

devious,

who

never

leaveth

off

devising

every

snare for battle against wretched mortals, contriving evils, openly and secretly (180) placing spikes beneath their feet in order to steal the race, shutting off the noble paths of Mind's action. Let him not keep me from my purpose, nor deter my mind as I seise most quickly the opportunity of this toilsome time for profit as one prudent. (185) Better yet, ward him off, granting me victory, and also grant me to exclaim the things of men,

most

Thy

important

servant,

which

prophet

and

David's king

son who

said:— knew

David's Thy

mind:

son, best 'This

is

very good for me, that Thou hast humbled me, (190) for I have learnt thence to pay heed to Thy

commandments,

All-Wise Master. This was a

succour unto me.’ For unto mortal men in dire straits and the humiliation of woes there followeth knowledge of God's statutes: (195) one's mind is turned unto God Himself, one's care is for conformity to a good life which pleaseth the Lord Christ and the statutes and commands suitable unto mortal men, together with the most righteous statutes of the dreadful judgement by the awesome Judge to come: (201) awesome in as much as most just and having ineffable and invincible power through eternity,

189 sq. cf. Ps.

118, 7]

102

Poem

πάντ᾽ 205

[f. 221v]

ἀπερείσιον,

ἵν᾿ ἀπέλεθρον

ἃ νουμίζει

δρᾶν,

νουμίζξει δέ T ἀεὶ δικασπολίῃσι ἀρίσταις" ou Keto’ ὄλβος ἔχει πλέον, οὐ γένεος κλέα λαμπρά, οὐκ ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν ὅσα μέροπας ἔκτρουπα δικαστὰς ἐξίστησ᾽ ἀθέμιστ᾽ ἀλλότρια ῥὰ δίκας ὀρθῆς μὰψ φρονέειν τε δικάζειν τ᾽, ἀμφοράοντας ἀνδρῶν

εἰν

κρίσιϊ

πρόσωπα;

ὀνοστὰ

μάλα

δράοντας.

ἀλλά

γ᾽ ἐκείνου

βήματος,

τάδέ

τ᾽ ἀεικέλι᾽

ἀπό

πρὸς

δ᾽ οὔτις ἔτ᾽ ἀνάδυσις, ott’ ἔφεσις

δευτέρας

βραχὺ 215

XVIII

ἀναβολῆς

μὲν

γε

ἀλλά

γ᾽ ἐκείνου

μακρὰν

ἐλήλατ᾽

κρίσιος"

ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπης

χρόνοιο

ἄρ᾽ ὅτί

τί

ποτε,

κριτοῦ

ἀθρόα,

λεῖπτ᾽ αὖθις κέρδος;

κεῖνο

δὲ

μοῦνον

ἄφυκτόν τε πανυστάτιόν T€ πέλει δίκασμα. τοῖος ὅτῳ νόος ἕσποιτ᾽ ἀνὰ τύχῃσ᾽ ἀλεγεινῇς

νυγμός τε κραδίης θεὸν αὐτίκ᾽ ἐπίστροφος, ἔνθεν ἢ μάλα φέρτερόν οἱ τόδε κεν γένητ᾽ ἠὲ περάναι ἔκ T' ἀρχῆς διαμπερὲς ἐς τέλος εὐπραγίῃσι 220

βίοτον ἀκύμονα

γλυκυθυμίας

εὖ μάλ᾽ ἑορτῇ.

καὶ τάδ᾽ ἐγὼν ξυνιεὶς νόον εἴσω, τὰ Δαυΐδης σουφὸς ἔα παρ᾽ ἀσάμην καίρια δύνασθ᾽ εἰπεῖν

225

πρὸς θεὸν αὐτὸν ἄνακτα τῆσδε ταπεινώσιος λευγαλέων ἅμα τοσσατίων τε ξυμφοραμάτων ὥς μ᾽ ἵκετ᾽ ἀγαθὸν ἔνθεν δικαιώματα γνῶμεν

παρφάσιάς τε θεοῖο, τάων μήτοι ποτ᾽ ἐγὼν πρὶν ὥς κ᾽ ἐχρῆν ἀλεγίζων Tja, πρὶν τὰ γενέσθαι [f. 222] 230

ὀκρυόεντ᾽

ἀνιηρὰ

πρήγμασι

κάρτ᾽

ἀντία

εὐδαίμοσι

δὴ

προτέροισι

πόλλ᾽ ἔτε᾽ ἀμφ᾽

ἐμέ

γ᾽ ἑξῆς.

ἀτὰρ ἐγὼν τό Tp ἀρχόμενος νῦν ἔειπα λογισμοῖς τοῖσδε νόον δ᾽ ἐπιοῦσ᾽ ἀνύμενος οὔτι μάλ᾽ ὦμμαι,

ὥς

235

μάλ᾽

κε

δόκησέ

τοῖσδ᾽

ἅμα

τοῦδέ

T' ἴσως

ὡς

ἄρ᾽

τις

avy

ἔμμεν᾽

γε

κυρήσαντα

τόδε

ἀειδέμεν

ἐοικὸς

τέκμαρ

ἄσχολος

ἀπειρεσίοισι

πράγεσ᾽

ἔμμεν εἴπεα

ἀνιάουσι-

ἅπασ᾽

τὰ

ἐΐδηλον

μενεαίνω,

τοῦγε λόγου πάρος oU ξυγχωρέοντος ἀείδειν οὔτί ToT’ ὄρνεον ὁππότε δαμάαται λύπῃσι᾽

240

καὶ ἠδέ

τόδε νημερτὲς τόγε δή, καὶ τε μάρτυροι ἐσμὲν ἅπαντες

τίς

κ᾿’ ἐρέοι

ποτ᾽ ἂν ἄλλως

ἴδμεν ἅπαντες ἀλλήλοιϊν.

ἀτρεκίης

id’ ἐραστής;

τίς ποτ᾿ ὄπωπεν, ἔφη, Svoddevt’ ἀλυσκάζοντα δὴ λυπάων ἀδινάων νοῦον ἐὕδρομ᾽ ἐνεργόν,

avy’ ἐπέοικε, δύναται

δὲ δράαν εὖ μάλ᾽ αὐτὸς

Poem XVIII in every

wise

boundless,

to do from

103

afar whatever

He

decideth;

and

He

decideth always with the best of magistracies: (205) there is no overabundance of wealth, nor fame of illustrious race, nought of the perverse, unlawful, external things which turn mortal judges from correct

judgement to thinking and judging randomly, considering the persons of the men subject to judgement, acting most blamefully. (210) But from that Judgement-seat, from that Judge all these unseemly things are thrust far off, nor is there any

more

adjournment,

nor again any desire for a

second delay of judgement. What use is there of more time? Rather, it is brief as ever possible; and that Judgement is inescapable and last of all things. (216) Let such a mind be given to whosoever be in grievous fortune, and also pricking of the heart which turneth straightway unto God; wherefore were this of more profit to one than living a calm life of pleasure in prosperity from beginning through to the end, in perfect ease. (221) Now, understanding these things within my mind I am contented to be able to say unto the very Lord God the important things which wise

David's

son

admitted,

that

this

humiliation

of so

many

grievous

affairs and calamities is a good thing come upon me, in order that I might know God's statutes and constitutions; the which I had never earlier (227) heeded as needs be, until these deadly woes came upon me, quite contr ary

to the previous happy affairs which I had had for so many years in succession. (230) But as I said now in beginning, I do not seem to have been devastated in mind by these thoughts which are come upon me, as one might think likely when one hath met with countless woeful affairs. Whereof a sign to all is perhaps (235) how I busy myself in singing verses for which I have an earnest desire, even though the adage of old never permitteth the bird to sing when oppressed by griefs. This is indeed true, and we all know it and are witnesses to one another. (240) What lover of truth would say otherwise? Who ever saw, he would ask, a

mind in darkness, fleeing a multitude of griefs, which nevertheless easily accomplisheth fitting things and is well able to act for itself,

203 ἀπέλαθρον

P

233 (tpayleo’

dvidlouct)} e corr. M

104

Poem

αἴθρι᾽ ἐαρίξων

XVIII

ἀπάτερθ᾽

ἀθυμίας

ὁμίχλης

κήδεα δι᾿ ἄρα πάντ᾽ ἀπρόσκοπος ἄνετ᾽ ἀτειρής, ὃς δ᾽ ἀμφὶ σφέτερ᾽ ἔργα πονεῖσθ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἀνιάουσ᾽ ἀδμής: ἤτοι τάδε μὲν ὥς ἔασιν: ἀτὰρ ὡς μὲν ἔγωγε παντάπασ᾽ ἀτειρὴς ἀχέεσσιν νυνὶ βιότοιο [f. 222v] 250

τοῦδε κέλευθ᾽ ἀνύτω τάδε δέγμενος ἄσπετα λυγρὰ μήποτε φαίην: ἢ γὰρ ἔην πέτρος τις ἄνουος ἠὲ σίδηρος ἄτερ αἰσθήσιος ἀκάματός Te τὰ γλυκερά τε ζωῆς ἠδέ τε λευγαλέ᾽ αὖθις μηδὲν

255

260

265

ἀΐων:

τί

δὲ

οὐδὲν ἄρ᾽ αἰνετόν, κατὰ φύσιν πέλεθ᾽

τόδ᾽

ἀρετά;

τί

δὲ

τόδ᾽

ἐσθλόν;

οὐδὲν ὀνοστὸν ὅ γ᾽ ἐξ ἀμαθίης ὡς ἂν ἔχησ᾽ αὕτως ἀλόγιστον"

ἀλλ᾽

ἄρ᾽

ἐγὼν

τὰ

ἀμφί

τε

θεοῦ

προνοίης

φάμην

ἀμφί

τε

μέλλοντος

νόον

ἔνδοθι

διὰ πρήγμαθ᾽

βιότοιο

ἀτέρμονος

κάρτα

δεδορκὼς

ἕκαστα ἄμφω

ἐσθλά τε λυγρά τε, τὰ μερόπεσσιν ἕτοιμα βρουτοῖς ἀμφί τ᾽ ἐπὶ τῆσδ᾽ ἐπικήροιο ζωᾶς οὐλιγομήκους ἄναντά τε κάταντά τε πάνθ᾽ ἅτ᾽ ἀθύρματ᾽ ἀϊδνῆ νηπιάχοις μάλ᾽ ἐοικόθ᾽ ὁπαξζούσης ἀβέβαια, ῥεῖα μετεξετέροισ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα στροφάοντα μαψιδίως ἠὲ πεττῶν κύβων τάδ᾽ ἀστατέοντα κέρδε᾽ ἀτέκμαρτ᾽ ἠδὲ ζημίας ἄελπτ᾽ ἄμφω

ἠδέ τ᾽ ἐπίδοξ᾽ ἀεὶ μακάρτατα, ἀθλιά τ᾽ ἄφαρ. τάδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν νυνὶ μάλα διαμπερὲς ἀνὰ νόοιο

270

[f. 223]

ἔνδοθι βουλευτήρι᾽ ἐταστήριά θ᾽ ὁράων σὺν δ᾽ ἔτι βένθεα πουλύσοφα διὰ λῴον᾽ ἕκαστα βρουτοῖσι μερόπεσσ᾽ ἐχέφροσιν ἔνθα συνιεὶς προυνοίης ἀγαθοῖο παμβασιλῆος θεοῖο,

τά

κε

IN 1 or

ἔνθεν

280

φάμην ἔπειτ᾽

πρὸ

βραχέος

ἀχνύμενος,

ἐνθάδ᾽

ἐὔδηλα

ἄρ᾽

ὑπόβρυχ᾽

οὐκ

θείς, ἔμπης

ταῖσδ᾽ ἀχθηδόσι κεῖαρ βάπτομ᾽ ἀπογνώσιος βυθὸν ἐς ἀΐδηλον ἀπειπάμενος πάσῃσιν ἐλπίσ᾽ ἀγαθῇς δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀνιδρύτοιο νόοιο ἠδὲ χαλίφρονος ἀφραδίῃσι pé' εὐσείστοιο᾽ ἀλλ᾽ ἀναείρων ἄντερος ὀκρυόεντος ἐμαυτὸν τοῦδ᾽ ὀριμαγδοῦ κυμάτεών τε μάλ᾽ ὁρμαινόντων ἄγριον, ἀμφ᾽ ἑτέρῳ γ᾽ ἑτέρου παριόντ᾽ ἐπιόντος νήχομ᾽ ὑπεικάθων ἅτ᾽ ἔνεστι φέρων ταλασίφρων Χριστὸν ἀρηγόνα κικλήσκων, πείσματά τ᾽ ἀνάψας

ἐλπωρῆς ἔκπτωτος

ἐμᾶς

ἀμφί

μήπως

€ &

βυθὸν

ἄρα

εἴσω

χείματα

πάντα,

Ταρταρόεντα

-

Poem XVIII

enjoying

bright

undaunted

Spring

far removed

105

from

the

by all cares, relaxedly unwearied,

mist

of dispair,

(245)

keeping busy with its own

works, undeterred by those who cause it grief? So are these things. But let me never say that having received these unspeakable griefs I now traverse the paths of this life in every wise unscathed by woes, (251) for I were

like some

mindless

stone or iron, without

perception

or feeling,

unconscious of aught of the sweet things of life or τ woes. But is this virtue? Is this noble? Nought is praiseworthy, nought is blameworthy which

occurreth

out

of

ignorance,

(255)

in

accordance

with

nature,

straightway, without reflexion. But I considered these things in my mind, looking hard at each and every matter of God's providence, at both the good and the bad things prepared for mortals in the everlasting life to come,

(260) and also at those of this short mortal

life, which

it

giveth as if playthings to children, all higgledy-piggledy, unknown, uncertain, easily turning at random into yet others, back and forth: these unstable,

once,

obscure

forever

profits and

conspicuous,

unexpected

most

blessed

losses of gaming

and

then,

dice,

suddenly,

both

at

wretched.

(267) Considering now these trials and tests in my mind and thereby comprehending the wisest depths of the providence.of God the good AllRuler for the good of prudent mortal men,

(272) I made clear to myself

the things 1 said here a short while ago; whence, though aggrieved, nevertheless do I not plunge my heart beneath the waters of these woes. and I renounce with good hopes the annihilating depth of dispair resulting from the folhes of an unsettled and silly mind easily shaken. (278) I raise myself up beyond this deadly din of billows wildly swelling up: swimming past do I give way to one after another as they come one upon another, bearing up as l ean with stout heart, invoking Christ as belper and

attaching the cable of my hope on Him through all manner of storms, lest the outcast enemy Satan thrust me into the Tartarean depth

106

Poem XVII]

285

οἰκτρᾶς ἀπογνώσιος ἵν᾽ ὠθέετ᾽ ἐχθρὸς Σατὰν ἐμβαλεῖν ἐμέ, ὥστ᾽ ἄνοας πολέας βάλετ᾽ ὦκα, ῥιπτάζων ἐς ἀβύσσοιο κευθμῶνας pé' ἄτερθεν οἰακοστρούφοιο

290

[. 222v] 295

ἢ μάλ᾽ δὴ

800

νοὸς

βίοτον

ἄϊδρις

βιότοιο:

ἢ πολὺ

ποντοπορείας

τὸ

μήτε

βέλτιον:

ποτ᾽

ἀνὴρ

οἶδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἀμφότερα ἠμὲν

305

δεξιὰ

ἠδέ

γὰρ

ἥψατο ὥφελε

τοῦδε καί

τέχνης

οἱ

χρέεσθ᾽ εἰντελὴς

τ᾽ ἀριστερά:

τόδ᾽

ἔην

ἂν

εὖ εἰδὼς

τεχνήτης

ὃς δ᾽ ody’ οὕτω

πειράαται τέχνης τινός, οὐκ ἄρ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἔσσετ᾽ ἀμύμων, ἀλλά τ᾽ ἀβέλτερος, οὐ πρό γ᾽ ἰδόμενος τῶν κ᾽ ἐχρῆν, TUTE τις μουσικῆς ἁρμονίης ἐρίηρος ἁπτόμενος, Λύδιον νύ τ᾽ ἀείδειν τρόπον εἰδώς, Δώριον ἤπειτ᾽ EKTPETIETAL’ τοῖος δέ TE νοῦος

οἷς τοῖος

310

πλώοντας,

εἰδότας οὔτοι πλόοιο πολυάϊκος τὸν ἀῆται δὴ στροφάουσ᾽ ἀντίοι ἔνθα τε καὶ ἔνθα peta, ἠμὲν ἄρ᾽ εὐδιόοντα γαληναῖα γλυκύθυμα, ἠδέ τε λαιλάπεσ᾽ ἄγρια κυμαίνοντ᾽ ἐξαῦτις. ὃς γὰρ ἐνὶ πόντοιο θυέλλῃσι χαλεπῆῇσιν αὐτόθεν αὐτίκ᾽ ἀπογνώσας μεθίησ᾽ οἴακας νουὸς ὀρινομένοισι πνείμασ᾽ ἄφαρ ἐνδιδοὺς σκάφος ὑπόβρυχα δύν᾽, ὑποστὰς pnt’ ἄεθλον, μήτί ποτ᾽ ἀντιάσας κυμάτεσσι τλησικάρδιον,

φάμεθ᾽

ἄνδρεσ᾽

ἔγωγ᾽

οὐκ

ἀπείρατος

ἔμεν

ὀΐω,

μὴ

βιότοιο δέ

πλόοιο.

τ᾽ ἄρ᾽

εἴην

ὡς ἀμαθὴς βιότοιο πρήγμασι pd χρέεσθαι καθ᾽ ἕτερον τρόπον οἷον οὐ μὰν ἔτ᾽ ἀμφότερ᾽ ἢ τίς ὥνησις ἔμοιγ᾽ ὧντ᾽ φόμαν, ὧντ᾽ ἔλεγον

ἀρκεῖν. πρίν,

πρὶν τάδ᾽ ἰδεῖν, συντάγμασ᾽ ἑκάστοτε μακροῖς πολλάκι φιλοσοφῶν τοῦδ᾽ ἀμφὶ πρήγμασι κόσμου

315 ὡς ἄρ᾽ ἔασι διαμπερὲς dotat’ ἐύΐτροπα πολλὸν (f. 294] ἢ μάλ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν ἐσθλῶν ἔς τ᾽ ὀλοὰ κἄμπαλιν, καὶ

πρό

γ᾽ ὁράασθαι

ev T' ἐχέμεν 820

μέροπας

παρασκευῆς

μετὰ

τάδ᾽

ἀμφότερα

χρὴ

τἀντί᾽ ἥξοντα

ὑστάτι᾽ ὧν νῦν ἑκάστοτ᾽ ἔασιν οὐ μετὰ μὴ δέ T’ ἄελπτα πρήγματ᾽ ἔχειν τοῖσδ᾽

πολλόν, ἱκομένοισι

καί τε μάλιστ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἐσθλῶν ὅττ᾽ ὀλοὰ pà φεροίατο; καίρια μὲν τὰ λέγων, κενεὰ δ᾽ ἔμπης κομπάζων μάψ T' ἔο κεν κόπτων χέρας αἱ γράφειν πονέοντο, 325

ἣν dpa μὴ νῦν ἐοικότ᾽ ἀπαντῶ πρήγμασιν αὐτοῖς τοῖσι προύλεγον εὖ δοκέων νύ τ᾽ ἔμοιγ᾽ ἑτέροις τε,

Poem

of wretched (287)

he

107

dispair, as he hath thrown down

casteth

navigating

XVIII

into

Mind,

the

abyss

ignorant

those

of the

who

so many

mindless ones:

sail the sea of life without

impetuous

voyage

which

contrary

winds divert this way and. that, (291) now with calm, serene felicity, now again swelling up wildly with tempests. For whoever in dire storms

at sea straightway and forthwith letteth go of the helm of Mind, allowing the ship to sink at once in raging squalls, having withstood no contest nor confronted the waves with stout heart, hath indeed in ignorance embarked on the voyage of this life: he ought never to have done so, and it were better for him had he not. A man well versed in a craft

(301) knoweth that one must be a perfect craftsman in both ways, right and left. He who maketh no trial of a skill will in no wise be excellent, but of little worth, in that he forseeth not what is necessary: (305) even

as one applying himself to the lovely harmony of Musick who knoweth to sing in the

Lydian

mode,

but

avoideth

the

Dorian;

such

is the mind

of men whom we call inexperienced in the voyage of life. Such a one do I deem myself not to be, nor let me be (310) so unlearnt as to treat affairs of this life in one wise but not to suffice in another. What profit had I of things I considered, of things I mentioned formerly, before I saw them, philosophising on each occasion in long treatises about the affairs of this world: (315) how they are completely unstable, quite easily changeable in turn from good to dire and back agam, and that mortals must foresee them in either wise, and must prepare for their speedy return on each occasion in contrary fashion to how they last were, (320) and that they must not be surprised when these things come unexpectedly, or are gone

from good to dire? What appear

only

empty

I wrote was right; but it would nevertheless

boasting,

vain

toil for the

hands

which

worked

to

write, if I did not now confront in fitting wise these things themselves (325) which J foretold, appearing decorous unto myself and others

189/191

cf. Pr. 29,23

285 iv']Imarg. subst. voci àv P 286 ἐμβαλεῖν] marg. subst. voci καββαλεῖν P 301 τεχνήτης |] marg. subst. voei τεχνίτης P 318 μετὰ] marg. subst. voci διὰ IP 320 πρήγματ᾽ ἔχειν! marg. subst. voci θορυβεῖσθαι P 323 ἔο Kev] ἔοι Kev a. corr. M at] corr. s. ]. ex

ot M

108

Poem XVHI

τοὶ νόον ἴσχον ἴσως περὶ οἷσι πρὶν ἀγόρευον. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ δείδι᾽ ἐγὼν τόδε δεῖος, ἄτερθ᾽ αἰσχύνης,

δῆτ᾽ goon’ 330

οὔπως

δράων

ἀντία

τοῖς

πρό

γ᾽ ἐφάμην:

οὐ γὰρ ἀλούγιστ᾽ ἀχθόμενος μάλα δὴ πιπτάζω τοῖσδ᾽ ἀλεγεινοῖσι πολέεσσ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἐπιβρίσασιν᾽

οἶδα δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀμφότερα νόον ἔμπεδον ἑσταότ᾽ ἴσχειν οἶδ᾽ ἐπὶ δεξιά, old’ επὶ ἀριστερά. λοῦγος ἴσως θρασύς, ἐρέω δ᾽ ἔμπης δράασθ᾽ οὐ μάλ᾽ ἔκπαγλος, 335

οὐδέ τε νηπιάχοισιν ἐοικώς, οἱ κλάουσ᾽ δάκρυσιν ἴφι ῥέοντες ἤν τις ἀπό σφας

ἣν πάρος [f. 224v]

340

ἀνὰ

χέρεσσι

μελιττοῦταν

αὐτοὶ ἄροιτο

ἄρ᾽ ἔχεσκον

ἀμφαγαπάζουσ᾽ ἣν δότο μήτηρ τεοῖσι τεκέεσσι. μήποτ᾽ ὀναίμην οὕτω γήραος ἤδη τοῦδε καί τε λόγων als πόλλ᾽ ἔτεα δαρὸν ἀμφεπόνησα,

ἀλλ᾽ dp’ ἐπεί τὰ δὴ οὐ

κεν

ἄμειψα

καί

τ᾽ ἀπὸ

πάνθ᾽

ἥρημαι

πάρος ἦαν γλυκερὰ πολλά τε παντοῖά τε βιότοιο μάλ᾽ ἱμερτὰ μερόπεσσ᾽ ἅπασιν, μάλ᾽ ἀκάχημαι θυμόν, οὔποτ᾽ ἄσεισθ᾽ ἑστάμεν

345

οὔτ᾽ ἂρ ἐμοὶ τὰ πεπεισμένος αἰεὶ πρίν, obT’ ἄλλῳ διὰ κέλευθον ἅπασαν ὅσῃ πολλή τ᾽ ὀλίγη TE

350

ζωᾶς ἑκάστοις ἄνδρεσι λάχοι γιναμένοισιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίκηρα διαμπερὲς εὔτροπα μηδὲν ὑγιὲς pet’ ἐπίνουσα πάσῃσι θυέλλῃσι στροφάοντα πᾶσιν ὀλίσθοις, μήτε βεβηκὸς ἔχοντ᾽ ἐπιαρκὲς ἀκράδαντον ἔρεισμα, ῥέα δέ τ᾽ ἐκπιπτάζοντα

λῴον᾽ ἅπαντ᾽ ἀΐδηλ᾽ ἱπτάμενα, τοῖσι μὲν ὦκα, τοῖσι δέ τ᾽ ἄλλοισι διὰ πόλλ᾽ Ete’ ἠνυκότ᾽ ὀψέ. καὶ τόδε μὰν κέρδιον ἴσως ἂν ἔοι μετὰ τοῖσι ξυλλελάχοι

355

πλεῖν,

μερόπεσσι

πολυαρκὲς

καλῶν

ἔτεσφι

λάχος

ἠὲ

ξυνεχέεσσι

κατ᾽

ἄλλους

μακροῖς

ἄτροπον ἐσθλοῖὶς πράγμασ᾽ ἐπαυρίσκειν βιότοιο κάρτ᾽ ἀπάτερθ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν’ τοῦ μὲν ἐγὼν πείραμαι πόλλ᾽ ἔτε᾽ ἔξοχος ἅμ᾽ ἕκαστα πρήγμαθ᾽ ἱμερτά.

[f. 225] 860

τῷ Pd μάλιστα δίκαιος ἔην ἂν εὔνοος ἔμμεν, εὖ μάλα χάριτας ἐνθεῦτεν δὴ τοῦδε δόματος ἀντιδιδεῖν ὄφλων εὐγνώμονα κατ᾽ ἄρα θυμὸν ἡμετέρῳ νύ τ᾽ ἄνακτι παμμεδέοντι Χριστῷ

ὧν

μάλ᾽

ἀπειρεσίων

πρηγμάτεων

865

ἠέ μάλ᾽

τις

λελάχοιμι

ἐρατεινῶν,

ἀχάριστος

ἁμαρτόνοος,

οὐδέ

δοῦλος μάλ᾽

πολέεσσ᾽ τ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽

πόλλ᾽

ἐτέεσσι ἄχθεσθαι

ἀλιταίνων

ἁμαρτοεττὴς

ἀγνώμων

τῳ

Poem

XVII

109

who have likewise kept their resolve in matters they have declaimed. But,

free of shame, this fear is not my fear, lest I should somehow do the opposite of what I purposed, (330) for I do not suecumb, grieving irrationally, under the pressing weight of these many

griefs;

I know how

to keep ἃ steady resolve in either case: 1 know the right side of things and the left. T'his my speech is perhaps bold, but still I say that I do not appear frightened, nor do | resemble infants who cry, (335) pouring out tears, if anyone take away a honey cake they have in their hands, which

their loving mother hath given to her children. Well may 1 never have profit of this old age and the works I composed over so many years, (340) but since the time 1 exchanged and was deprived of all the many sweet things of this life greatly desirable to all mortals which I had of old, | have not grieved in my spirit, for I have always been convinced that they never stand

firm,

neither for me

nor anyone

else, (345)

throughout the

entire path of this life, long or short, however much fall to the lot of each man who is born; but they are deadly things, thoroughly fickle, susceptible, with nought solid. to all manner of storms: turning about with all slipperiness, having no fixed, sufficient, (350) unshakable foundation, easily faling to pieces and invisibly flying off, in the case of some men straightway, whilst for others they take many years. Perhaps those mortals have the advantage to whose lot falleth good things, rather than as happeneth mostly unto the others: unchanging enjoyment of good things constantly for many long years in succession, (357) far away from griefs,

as was my experience, I who thing. Wherefore indeed ought return of thanks for this gift the All-Counsellor, on account

for many years abounded in every lovely I to be grateful, (860) owing right well the with ἃ joyous spirit unto our Lord Christ of al! the countless good things I received

during so many years, rather than grumbling

servant,

offensive

and

wrong-minded,

335 ἄροιτο] marg. subst. voci ἕλοιτο P

(365) like some ungrateful

speaking

idly,

thoughtlessly,

110

Poem

τοῖς

370

élo'

ἄλλοις

XVIII

ἀχνύμενος

λάχον

ἀργαλέοισι,

μὴ τὰ λάχον πλεῖν ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους ἡδέ᾽ Sodwv. καὶ μὰν ἐτήτυμον ἔστ᾽ ἐρέειν ὡς καὶ τόδ᾽ ἄμεινον ἠὲ μάλ᾽ ἀκύμον᾽ ἅπασαν ἐκπερῆσαι ζωάν, τοῖσι

λόγοισι

ἀποτίσασθ᾽

ἀπό

φάμην

πρό

γ᾽

T' αὖ θέσθαι

ὀλίγον,

καὶ

πολέων

τί

ποτ᾽

ἔνθεν

φόρτοιο

τῶνγε κατωμαδὸν ἀμπλακιᾶν ἁλίσας φέρομ᾽ αὑτὸς ἠδέ τε σώφρονα νοῦον ἐπίστροφον ἀμφὶ Χριστὸν ἴσως λαβέμεν ἠῦτε κέντροιο τῶνδ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν κεῖαρ ἀμύσσοντος, κρίσιος μνῆστιν διδόοντος

κείνας φρικαλέας ἀτελευτήτων τε βασάνων ἐνδικοτάτων τοῖσ᾽ ἀλογήσασ᾽ ἐφετμάων Χριστοῦ, παντάπασ᾽

d, à τίς

ἐς

ὧδε

τέλος

ἄτροπ᾽

μάλ᾽ ἄθλιος

τοιοῦδ᾽ ἐς πέρας ovT’ μάστιγί τινι μετά γε

ἀμείψας 385

δρουμήματ᾽

ἀδειῶς

τῶνδε

ἀντιάσας

βιεῦσιν.

βιότοιο

ἄρ᾽ ἑκὼν ῥᾷον, ott’ ἀέκων νόον λαβών, παλίνορσος

ἀνὰ

θεὸν

ὧν

κεν

αὖ

ἔοργε

φυγὰς ἀλιταίνων πρίν, δακρνόφιν ῥοήμασι πλυντῆρα θυμὸν ἀμπλακιᾶν ὀρέγων μάλ᾽ ἑτοΐμῳ

οἶκτον ἄνακτι τεῆσ᾽ ἀγκάσι δεχέσθ᾽ ἐράοντι; τοῖον ἐμοὶ θυμὸν ἔμβαλ᾽ ἄσειστον μαστίγεσ᾽, ἀναξ, ταῖσδ᾽ ἀγχίστροφον οἴκοθεν ὅσγε πάρος τά μ᾽ ἐχρῆν, 390

οὔποτ᾽ ἔοργα καί pe σάωσον ἑκόντ᾽ ἀέκοντα διὰ τάδ᾽ ἀργαλέα φρέν᾽. ἑλόντ᾽ αἰνέσιμον ἔκ τε προυτέρας ἀγαγὼν κακεργίας, ἔκ τε κυδοιμοῦ, ἔκ τέ κονίης ματαίου βιότοιο μολυσμοῦ. καί μοι πρόστασο σύ, μάτερ ἁγνὴ παρθένε θεοῖο,

χώραν 395

νύ tT’ ἀχωρήτου

δι᾽ ἅμαδις

tay’ ἐόντα

πάνθ᾽ ὁρατά τ᾽ ἀόρατά τε, γῆν, ἀέρα, πόλον τέ ἠδὲ νόας ἀὔΐλους, τάγματ᾽ οὐρανίων πρευμενέ᾽ ἀμφοράοντα τιθεῖσ᾽ ἁμαρτάσ᾽ ἐμεῖο,

τὸν

τέκες

- ἦ μέγα

θώυμαί

- παρθένος

αὖθι

μένουσα.

Poem

complaining

that

XVI

to his lot are fallen

11}

griefs

equal

to those

of others,

marking that to his lot are not fallen more pleasures than to others. Verily might one say that this is better (370) than to pass all one's life without tumult, by reason of what I said just now: thereby to repay and put aside

some of the weight of the many sins I bear, having gathered them by the arm-full, and thus perhaps to receive a prudent mindfulness, concentrated on Christ, through the sting of these woes: (376) lacerating the heart, as it were,

and

providing

à reminder

of that

terrible

Judgement

and

the

unending torments, most just, for those who here disregarded the commandments of Christ, living in every wise unmindful of these unto the end. (380) Ah! Ah! What wretch having come to the end of this life would not, full willingly or even unwillingly receiving reason by one goad or another, with fresh resolve exchange the sins he committed formerly as an outlaw for a course leading to God, (385) offering his soul as a laver

of his sins in streams of tears to the Lord ready of merey, who desireth to receive him in His arms?

With such a mind endue me, Lord,

quickly,

by means of these scourges, 1 who previously never did what I ought to have done, and save me, willy-nilly: (390) make me adopt a praiseworthy

resolve on account of these griefs, and lead me away wickedness,

from

tumult,

and

from

the dust

from my former

of défilement

of this vain

life. And thou, pure Virgin Mother of God, protect for me (394) the Keep! of Him who is not kept in by any of all the things which are, visible and invisible,

earth,

air or firmament,

neither

immaterial

intelligences

nor

heavenly powers: Him thou barest -- O great wonder! — being yet a virgin.

' viz.

the Chora

370 ἐκπερῆσαι 1 marg. subst. voci ἐκμετρῆσαι P marg. subst. voci τίσιων P 398 αὖθι μένουσα]

375 ἠύτε] ἠέτε a. corr. M marg. subst. vocibus αὖθις

377 βασάνων] ἐοῦσα P

112

Poem

[f. 225v]

IO

Εἰς

ἑαυτὸν

XIX

ἔτι

μετὰ

αὐτὸν

τὴν

τροπὴν

τῆς

κατ᾽

τύχης

ub] |

(f. 226] 1 Θυμὲ τί νῦν ἀλύεις, τί μέλεις μάλ᾽ ξωυτὸν ἔνδον δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕκαστα τά πέρ σ᾽ ἀποείλεο ἄστατα κόσμου τοῦδε φορήματ᾽ ébrpoma οὔποτ᾽ ἄσειστον δτιοῦν ἑσταὸς ἅμμιν ἐπικήροισιν ἐῶντα βρουτοῖς τῶν κεν ἑκάστοτε τύχης πρηγμάτεων λελάχοιμεν,

ἅττ᾽ ἔδοτο ὦκα

ῥέ᾽ αὐτή, ὦκα

ῥέα δ᾽ ἔμπαλιν

τάδ᾽ ἀποείλετο κάρτ᾽ ἀπρόσκοπος, αἰὲν ἄπιστος: τά πέρ ἔασ᾽ ἁμῖν ἔκτοθι᾽ τὰ δ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἡμέτερ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀτρεκέως μάλ᾽ ἡμέτερ᾽ ἐόντα σύμφυτ᾽ ἀπαθῆ, 10

votov

ἔσω,

διὰ

ov

ποτ᾽

ὄλλυτ᾽,

νύ

βίαν

ἅπασαν ob

νύ

ἔκτοθι

ποτ᾽

τύχης

ἔτμαε

δέσμια

ψυχᾶς

ἀμερέα διαμπερὲς ἔμπεδα μίμνοντ᾽ ἀπρίξ, ἄρρηκτ᾽ ἔνδοθι διὰ ῥοήμαθ᾽ ἅπαντα ῥάγδην τύχας ἐπιβρίσαντ᾽ ἄγριά τε χείματα δεινὰ 15

20

μερμερά τ᾽ ἄσχετά θ᾽ δρμαίνοντάς pa χειμάρρους πάντα φορῆς βίᾳ T' ἀμ ποδῶν πρόρριζ᾽ ἐκσπῶντας, πάντα παρασύροντας ἅτ᾽ ἀχυρμιῆς πτίλα.

ἀτὰρ

ὅσα

εὖγε

παρέντ᾽ ἀσείστοισι

μήτί

ToT’

μὴ (f. 226v]

bz c

ἂν

εἰν ἀδύτοις

τάδε

δέ θ᾽ ἅπασ᾽

μάργ᾽

ἀνέδην

θαλάμοισι

πέπηγεν

περόνῃσ᾽ ἀδμῇσι δρμήματα

βί᾽ ἕλοιτο,

λωβήσαιτο

μὴ

δέ

τε

φῶρες

κρύφα συλήσαιεν, μάλ᾽ ἐπίκλοπα μηχανόοντες, λωποδυτεῦντες, ἀμφ᾽ ἀλλότρι᾽ ἀεί τε μέλοντες,

μὴ

30

ψυχᾶς

δέ

τ᾽ ἀϊστώσειεν

ἄορ

παλάμῃσ᾽

ἀρηρὸς

βραχίοσί τ᾽ ἀδαμάστοις κρατερὰ κάρτα δαΐζον δὴ ταμεσίχροα διὰ ῥέα πάντεσσ᾽ ἀτειρὲς αὐτὸ λυμαινόμενον θανάτοιο td’ ἔργμασι χαῖρον, μὴ δέ τέ τάδε πολιορκίας ἁλώσιμ᾽ ἔσοιτο

ὥστ᾽

ἔασ᾽

τοῖσί

γε

ἕτερ᾽ μὰν

αὐτίκα

ψυχᾶς

τἄνδον

ὄλβος

λάφυρα

ἔνδοθι

πάντα“

θησαύρισται

δουρὸς ὅδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀζήμιος, ἀμείωτος, ἀτειρής. Cridtmva φασὶ τόν γε Μεγαρόθεν ἄνδρα σουφόν, ὁππότε οἱ πάτρην Δημήτριος ἐξενάριξεν Μακεδόνων τῶν αὐτοῦ

τοῖσι

ἐποίκοισιν,

πυθομένου

ξύν

βασιλεύς, ἀνδροκτασίῃ σπαργώντων στρατιωτῶν ἁρπαγᾷ τε προσεόντων ἑ

ἅτ᾽ ἔθος

βασιλῆος

γ᾽ ἑτέροις

πολιορκίῃσι,

μήτι

ἥρπασται,

γ᾽

ὥς

ἑωυτοῦ

κε

μαθὼν

ἀποδοίῃ,

Poem XIX

XIX

113

To Himself Again After the Reversal of His Fortune

(1) O my spirit, why art thou now disquieted? Why troublest thou thyself within on account of each and every one of the unsteady, fickle currents of this world whereby thou hast been despoiled? These same leave us perishable

mortals

naught

stable,

naught

whatsoever

intact

(5)

of the

things we may have had on occasion from Fortune: whatever she swiftly bestoweth, even so swiftly doth she take it away, sure as she is in her faithlessness. But these latter are things external to us, whereas that which is our very own, truly ours, innate (10) within our mind and by all force beyond Fortune’s power, is never lost; never are severed soul’s

invincible bonds, remaining thoroughly fast, solid, unbreakable within against all Fortune’s currents bearing down furiously and fierce, dread tempests (15) and torrents surging terribly and uncontrolledly which of a sudden and with violence tear up everything from the ground by the roots, carrying it off like bits of chaff. (18) But these frenzied surges could

never harm any of the things which are fixed in soul’s inviolate chambers, held fast by unshakable, unbreakable rivets; neither could violence licentiously steal them away, nor robbers secretly carry them off, no matter how clever their devices in thieving, they who always take interest in others’ things; neither could the sword

make

off with them,

well suited

though it be to deeds of rapine, (25) mightily rending everything when wielded by indefatigable arms: fierce in wounding flesh, being itself destroyed yet rejoicing in deeds of death; neither could they be taken from within in a siege as are other spoils, forthwith. (30) In such wise is soul's

wealth

stored

up

inside:

it

1s

impervious

to

weapons,

un-

diminishable, imperishable. They say of Stilpon, the wise man from Megara, that when Demetrius, King of Macedon, seised his homeland, his soldiers sating their appetite for carnage and engaging in the plunder of the populace, as is the custom in sieges, (37) the King asked him whether aught of his own had been plundered with the rest, in order that he might restore it him.

32 sq. cf. Diog. Lacrt. 2, 115

6 ἅττ᾽

é8oTo| marg. subst. vocibus τά

τ᾽ é601' P

114

Poem

40

[f. 2917] 45

XIX

TOv δὲ φάναι mpooxpnoóuevóv γ᾽ ἐπέεσσ᾽ ‘Opnporc’ Οὐ γὰρ ἐμὰς βόας ἤλασαν αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ μὲν ἵππους, ov γάρ τιν᾽ ὅραμ᾽ ἔκ τε φέροντ᾽ ὥὦμοισιν αὐτοῦ σουφίαν ἠέ τινα Ψυχᾶς ἀρίτιμα κτήματα" τὰ γὰρ ἔσαν σφέτερ᾽ αὐτοῦ κτήματα καρτ᾽ ἐρατεινὰ

(τίλπωνος

τὰ

ὅττι

ἂν

ποτ᾿

μὲν

οὔποτ᾽

δράσας

τῷ Pa μήτε σύ, θυμέ, πρηΐμασι τοῖσιν ἐγὼν ov

γὰρ

ἀφήρημ᾽

οὔτε

ἀφαιρήσοιτό

ἅπαντα

τις

κρατερὸς

αὐτοῦ

βίῃφι.

μάλ᾽ dk’ ἀχίζεο τοῖσδε ἄντησα νῦν ἀργαλέοισιν, trot’

ἀφαιρήσομ᾽

à

γ᾽

ἔασιν,

εἴ γε ἔασ᾽ ἡμέτερ᾽ ἀτρεκέως ψυχᾶς ἔνδοθ᾽ ἀγαθὰ 50 νουάματ᾽ εὐσεβέ᾽ ἀμφιμέλοντα θεοῖο προυνοίας ὥς ῥ᾽ ἅπαντα διὰ μεγάλην αὐτοῖο σοφίην γίγνεθ᾽ ἃ γίγνετ᾽ ἄνισα δοκεῦντα μάλ᾽ ἴσα γ᾽ ἐόντα

55

πάρ γε στάθμια, μέτρ᾽ ἀρηρότα πολλὸν ὁμαλὰ πρόσθεν ἐνώπια θεοῦ τοῦ βένθεα νουὸς ἄφατα τῶν ἁμέες μάλ᾽ ἀνίδμονες: αὐτὰ δὲ βέλτισθ᾽ ἡμῖν

τά ἀτὰρ

T' ἀνίηρ᾽ ὅ

μοι

πρηγμάτεων 60

ἔασ᾽ ἤν νόος

τε

νοεῦμεν

ἔμπεδος

μάλ᾽ ἁπάντων

ἔνθ᾽

ἕκαστ᾽

ἀζήμιος

ἃ νῦν

ἣν τ᾽ ἄρ

)

»

OU.

αἰεὶ

£m, d ποτ᾽

ἔσται

ἐσθλὰ δοκεῦντα φλαῦρά τε σὺν δ᾽ ἔτι χ᾽ Sti ToT’ κόμμα σοφίας ἐμοῖσι πινάκεσσι χάρακται ψυχᾶς μήποτ᾽ ὀλεῖται, μήτις ἀϊστώσειέ ποτ᾽ ἰσχὺς

ἄλλο

τάδ᾽ ἔασι ψυχᾷ, τάδ᾽ ἀζήμια, τἄλλα δέ τ᾽ ἐκτὸς ῥάδι᾽ ἐύΐτροπα, τὰ δέ τ’ ἀφῃρήμεσθα νῦν ἄμμιν. ἀλλ᾽ ἐτεὸν μὲν ἀνιηρὰ μερόπεσσ᾽ ἀνθρώποις [f 227v] 65

καὶ

τάδε

--

ἢ

πόθεν

οὔ; --

ἔστ᾽

αἰσθήσιϊ

βιεῦσι,

τῆς δὲ πολὺ κρατέει τό Te λυπεῖσθ᾽ ἥδεσθαί τε: οὐ μὰν ἄελπτα τάδ᾽ οἷσιν ἐχέφρονα νοῦος δρᾶται Kal τ᾿ ἀλλότρια KOU σφέτερ᾽ αὐτῶν τάδ᾽ ὀΐουσι, κἂν ὅτι πόλλ᾽ ἔτεά σφιν κἂν εἰ πλεῖστα τάδ᾽ ὦσιν, 70

ὥς κεν ἔμοι ye κύρησε πολυετέα πολλά TE X ὥστ᾽ ἀλγεινότερον τάδ᾽ ἐγὼν ἀποήρημ᾽ oL μάλ᾽ ἔθιμ᾽ ὄντα, σὺν δ᾽ ὅτι τάχ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἀολλέα τόσσα

«J C

μιᾷ ῥοπῇ τάδ᾽ ἅμερθεν ἐμοῖο διασταδόν, οὔ τοι ἀμπνοὰν ἄρά τινα διδόοντ᾽ ἀνίσχειν ἦτορ βραχύ γ᾽ ὁτιοῦν τάδε διάδοχα δέχθ᾽ ἀλλήλοιϊν, ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ ἀργαλεώτερον ἅμ᾽ ἀπ᾽ dpa τμαγέντα ἀγρίᾳ τουμᾷ τύχης πολυάϊκος ἀμφεκάτερθεν:

ἐσθ᾽ ὅτε λυγρά τ᾽ ἀπειρέσι᾽ ἐσθλά τ᾽ ἀπειρέσι᾽ ἀθρόα δῆτ᾽ ἔκτοκ᾽ ἀλλήλων ἱκνεῦμεν ὁμοῖα

αὖθις

Poem

XIX

115

But he said, citing Homer's verses: (40) ‘They have not harried my cattle

here nor my horses, for I see no one carrying off.on his shoulders my wisdom

or any

otber

lovely

possession

of the

soul'.

These

latter were

Stilpon's possessions most dear, which none could ever take from him, (45) no matter what else one might do with power and force.

Therefore grieve not, my spirit, over these dire affairs which are now befallen me. For I have not been despoiled, nor shall I ever be despoiled of

aught

there

is,

if our

wealth

be

truly

within

our

soul:

(50)

pious

thoughts pondering God's Providence, how all things which come to be come to be through His great wisdom; seemingly inequitable, they are in fact equitable in the balances, the just measures most fair before the sight of God: ineffable depths of His mind, (55) whereof we are ignorant. Grievous things are also best for us, whether we understand this each time or not. But my mind is steady and thus forever unscathed by any affairs which there may now be, which shall ever be, whether they seem good or bad. Nor, moreover, shall any other (60) imprint of wisdom graven on the tablets of my soul ever be lost. Let no force this efface! These are soul’s possessions;

they are unassailable.

But

other things, without,

are

quite fickle, and we have now been despoiled of them. (64) Verily are these latter grievous for mortal men — how is it nof^so! — so long as they live by perception and this same is overpowered by grieving and rejoicing. Indeed, these things do not seem hopeless to those with prudence of mind who consider them foreign and external to themselves, no matter whether they have had them for many years or have had a great many of them; (70) even as it befell me to have many for many years, so that it was the more painful for me to be thus despoiled of well-aceustomed things. Moreover,

all these many

things of mine were

robbed

of a sudden,

in one

sweep, not separately, providing some respite to take heart, (75) so as to

receive them little by little in succession to one grievously cut off all at once, through a wild stroke of from one side and the other: it sometimes happens that countless blessings alike befall us, as if producing one

40 cf. A 154

73 βοτῇ] marg. subst. voci ῥύμη P

another, but most impetuous Fortune, countless woes and another, exceeding

Poem

80

ἠμὲν

λῴονα

καὶ

τόδ᾽ ἴφι

ἔκτε

85

[f. 228]

90

γὰρ

τάδ᾽ ἀέξον

ἀδινάων

ἠδ᾽

ἀνιηρά.

συμβὰν

λυγρῶν

Exdtep’

παρπλήσι᾽

διαδοχὴ γὰρ ἀντία τῶνδ᾽ ἄρα ἠέλιος γὰρ ἄνωθι μετὰ νέφος

ὁρῶμεν"

ἐσθλὰ

φύσιν ἀείρει:’ αὐτίκα λαμπρὸν

ἀντείλας γλυκίων δοκέει φαάντερος ἅμμιν, ταχὺς ἀπὸ ζοφόεντ᾽ ἐώσας ἠέρος αἰνῆς ὀμβριμοεργῆ πρήγματα, καί T' αὖ ἠελίοιο μέσφα θέρευς αἰγλήεντ᾽ ἴφι pa λαμπετόοντος, χείματ᾽ ἐπιβρίσαντ᾽ ἄφαρ ἦ μάλα λωβάατ᾽ ἄνδρας. δ᾽ ἄρ᾽

ἐμεῖο

πέρι

μετὰ

πᾶσιν

ἐόντος

ἐσθλοῖς

τάδ᾽ alas’ οἴχετ᾽ ἀολλέα,

πάντ᾽ ἀποήρητ᾽ αἴφνης

εὐκλεΐης

βίῳ

εἴ

τινι

περιφανέος καὶ

1| μάλα δὴ

ἄλλῴ

πολλὸν

πέλεθ᾽

εἰν

ποτε

ἐνὶ

κράτος,

δεσπότεῳ

πάντεσσι,

ἱμερόεντα

μετὰ

οἷον

πάρα

τά

περ

βιότοιο

κἀμοὶ

βρουτοῖσι

θέατρα᾽

ἄσπετος ὄλβος ἐφ᾽ οἷσιν ἅπασιν ἀέξει βρύων χρυσὸς ἔτ᾽ ἄργυρος εἴν γε νομίσμασι θησαυροῖς τε’ σὺν δ᾽ ἑτέροις ἅπασιν οἷς ὀλβοθρέμμονες ἄνδρες ταρπόμενοι μάλ᾽ ἐώθασιν ἀγήλειν σφίσιν ὀλβον κόσμον κόσμον

ἐνὶ ἐνὶ

105

τί

dp’ ὅσσ᾽

[f. 228v]

ἠὲ

μὲν

γείνει

Teoig σώμασι, κόσμον ἐνί γ᾽ ἀλόχοισι, τεκέεσσ᾽ ἀρτύοντες πολύτιμον,

ἐπέοικε

θηλυτεράων:

κατ᾽

ἄρρενας

δειλάμονες

ἀλλήλοις 110

πέλωρα

τάχα μάλα ξυμβάντ᾽ ἄφαρ -- ἢ μάλ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἥδιστα --, ἔκ T' αὖ ἀδιάων. ἐσθλῶν παρπλήσια λυγρὰ βρίσανθ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἄφαρ -- ἦ μάλ᾽ ἔασ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ βρουτοῖς.

as

100

κάρτα

XIX

νύ τ᾽ ἄρρεσι,

τῇσιν

αἰεὶ

μέροπες

ἐπειγόμεθα

μαψιδίως βρουτοὶ

παρβαλλόμενοι

τί δὲ

ὅσσα

πλεῖν

ἐφάμιλλα

κενεὰ

φρονέοντες,

μετ᾽ ἀνιδρύτοισι,

τοῖς δέ τ᾽ ἀπίστοις ἔργμασ᾽ ἀτεχνῶς παροιμίῃ μάλ᾽ ἔνοχοι σκιᾶς ὑπὲρ ὄνου td’ ἀεθλεύοντες ἀνθέρικόν Te θερίζοντες πρᾶγμ᾽ ἀνούσιον. ἀλλ᾽ ἐτεόν γ᾽ ἔμπης ὁπόσοι βιότοιο πέδῃσι

τοῦδε πεδήμαθ᾽ ὅσοι τ᾽ ἀΐουσ᾽ εὖ ἠδέ θ᾽ ὅσοι διὰ

σὺν

120

μάλ᾽

μάταια

τάδ᾽

αἰεὶ

δ᾽ ἅμ᾽ ἀολλέες

oU

μόνον

ξύγ

γε

ἅττα

ἀλλήλοισιν,

φορεύμεθ᾽

πρήγματά ἀλλ᾽

νοεῦμεν ἔτι

ἐπειγόμενοι

τῷ pa κἀγὼ μέλον ἀτὰρ ἔσαν καὶ τάδ᾽

κεν

μεμφόμεθά

χ᾽ ἡμῖν

μὰψ

μὴ

βιότοιο

τε

ἑωυτοῖς

πρήγματα

ἀμφὶ τὰ σύν γ᾽ ETEpota’ ἀρίτιμ᾽ ἀγλαά τ᾽ ἔμοιγε

τάδε. ἐπιεικῶς"

Poem XIX

117

bounties and monstrous griefs. (81) Indeed, we see that it happeneth that both increase: from manifold griefs suddenly come a like number of bounties — these are most pleasant! —, and from manifold bounties suddenly swarm a like number of woes — these are most grievous for mortals. (86) The alternate succession of these things displayeth nature.

For the sun,

risen brightly on high

forthwith

after a cloud’s passing

appeareth to us sweeter, more splendid, thrusting away swiftly the dark,

sinister shineth Thus it is lost

things of the nether air; and likewise, in summer, when the sun brilliantly, (92) storms suddenly pouring down do men great harm. is with me: in the midst of all manner of bounties, suddenly all at once, everything taken away forthwith. (95) Power of con-

spicuous renown, such as anyone hath ever been granted by a ruler in his

lifetime, had I, exceeding great in all things which afford lovely spectacles in the life of mortals: untold wealth in all whereby inereaseth abundance

of (100) gold and also silver, in money and in treasures. In addition, there were all the other things wherein rejoicing fortunate men are wont to indulge themselves with their wealth, devising costly adornment for their persons,

adornment

for their wives,

adornment

for their children,

(105)

now as regards what becometh males, now females. For these latter more than for males do we wretched mortals forever strive?in vain competition,

contriving vanities, vying with one another in unfounded things; (110) and by these faithless deeds are we in all ways liable to the proverb of ‘contending for the ass's shadow’ and of ‘harvesting asphodel', a useless act. But verily do all of us fettered with the fetters of this life - as many who

are well aware thereof and as many

who

are not,

(115) on account

of these ever vain things of this life — all of us reproach with whatever occurreth unto us not only one another, but also ourselves: we are carried

along in our vain striving for these things; and thus I, too, was with reason concerned for them along with others. (120) These were the precious and splendid things I had:

81 aéEew a. corr. s. 1. P 88 φαάντατος a. corr. 5.1. P 90 óuBpipoeyn a. corr. M 98 πᾶσιν ἐόντος} marg. subst. vocibus πᾶσι βιεῦντος P 99 βρύων] marg. substi. voci βρίθων

P

102 σφίσιν

ὄλβον] marg. subst. vocibus σφέας

ὄλβω P

118

Poem XIX

xpucóóc0'

ἣ ba

νομίζετ᾽

éparewà

μαργάρων

ἠδέ TE λίθων κάλλε᾽ ἐπικεῖσθαι θηλείαισι, πᾶν ἐπὶ σῶμα, κεφαλᾶς ὕπερθεν, ἐνώτια, δείρην ἀνστροφάοντα περιστέρνι᾽, εἰν βραχιόνεσσιν

125

ἅττα

νόμισται,

δακτύλιοί

τε

περιζώματα

ἄλλά τε ποικίλ᾽ ἐόντ᾽ ἐύΐτευκτ᾽ οὐσιάων [f. 229] 130

135

μακρῶν"

φάρεά τε χρυσέοισ᾽ ὑφαινόμενα πλοχμοῖσιν, χρυσέα κάλλε᾽ ἔπειτα κατωμαδὸν ἱστουργίας προυτέρας ὕστερ᾽ ὀχεύμενα μετόπισθ᾽ ἰδέσθαι θώυμ᾽ ὁποῖ᾽ ἄρα τεκτήναντο δαήμονες ἄνδρες - δαιδάλεα πολυμήχανα περίκοσμα τάδ᾽ ἔργα! θυρηκλήια τοῖσι κλειόμεν᾽ ἐσφήκωται TUTE γόμφοις, μαργάρους τε λίθους τ᾽ ἔχοντα.

καὶ τὰ μὲν ἀμφί γε σὺν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἄλλαι σκεύεσ᾽

ἀρίτιμ᾽

ἀργύρεα

χερόνιπτρά

θηλυτεράων κόσμον ἔασι᾽ χρυσοῦ χρήσιες ἀργύρου τε

ἔασιν

ἐδητύος

θ᾽ ἅμα

ἠδὲ

ποτῆτος

ποδόνιπτρά

θ᾽ ὁμοῖα,

πάντα δ᾽ ἔτι ἄλλ᾽ ὁπόσοις χρεόμεσθ᾽ ἀφνειοὶ κύδιμά T' ἀγλαά τε ζώοντες ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους

140

ξυμφυλέτας τοῖσι μάλα

πολιήτας

δημότας

βιότοιο

τ᾽ ἀνόλβους-

κἀγὼν ὡς μήποτ᾽ ὄφειλον ὑπερφίαλα pads γέραιρον ξἕωυτόν, ὥς ye δόκευν, οὐσίῃ

μακρᾷ δυνάμενος ἠδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐοικότ᾽ ἔμοιγε δράων εὐκλεΐῃ τε περιόπτῳ μετὰ μάλα δέ τ᾽ ἀεὶ 145

βρουτοῖσι πρήγματ᾽

γείνεος

πολέεσσ᾽ ἀρίτιμα σύγ γε βιεῦντι ἔχοντ᾽ ἐπίκοινα διαμπερὲς οἰκείοις

ἡμετέροιο

πὰρ λειτουργίαν δεσπότεω λάχον

en Mi

C

150 [f 229v]

160

σὺν

δ᾽ ἅμα

τε

τ᾽ ὀθνείοισι.

ἀνάγκη πᾶσα τῆς γ᾽ ἐπιετανὸν ἐστάμεν ἀμφὶ πρήγμασι μέσφα

κοινοῖς τοῦδέ θ᾽ ἁπάντων θ᾽ ἡμεδαπῶν τ᾽ ὀθνείων τὰ μὲν ἂρ ὥς γ᾽ ἴσασ᾽ ἅπαντες βίοτόν τ᾽ th’ ἀέξει καί τε πράττετ᾽ ἀναγκαίη μάλα δὴ χρέεσθαι τοῖσι φάμην ἀνόνητα μὲν ἀτρεκέως ἀτὰρ ἔμπης obk ἔνεσθ᾽ ἐτέρως χρέεσθ᾽ εἰνθάδε βιεῦντα. τοὔνεκα δῆτ᾽ ἐμὸς οἶκος ἔην πλέως τῶνδ᾽ ἁπάντων" ἀτὰρ ὅδ᾽ οἶκος, ὃν ἀγλαὸν ἱδρυσάμην éxupóv Te ἅμ᾽ ἰδέειν ἐρίηρά τ᾽ εὐκτίμενόν τε πολλὸν ἔμπεδον ἑσταότα διὰ κάλλεσ᾽ ἀρηρόθ᾽ ἅπασιν οὔ μιν τίς ὀνόσαθ᾽ δράων, μάλ᾽ ἕκαστ᾽ εὖ εἰδὼς κρινέμεν. οὐδ᾽ ὃς Ómum' ὀλιγηπελέων νόον αὐτὸς πάντοθεν

ἔγγιον

ἠδ᾽

ἔτι

πόρρωθέν

τε

λεύσων

JU

Poem

XIX

Liv

lovely. golden-bound works women, upon all the body: the neck and breast, on the and girdles (126) and other

of pearls and gems as are by custom worn by upon the head, in the ears, wrapping around arms, whatever custom prescribes; also rings finely wrought, variegated works of plentiful

materials;

mantels

with

stitchwork

about

woven

the shoulders

golden

knots,

in front and

with

then,

beauteous when

donned,

golden what

marvel to behold from behind the things skilled men have wrought — (131) ingenious, elaborate adornments are these works! —, with fastening closures which bound them up, as with bolts, which had pearls and gems. So much for feminine

attire.

(135)

In addition there were yet other uses of gold

and silver, as precious vessels for meat and drink, also silver hand basins and like ones for the feet, as well as all the other things we wealthy men use in our lives, (139) we who live in glory and splendour rather than after the manner of other countrymen, citizens and luckless commoners. To these latter I used to boast, as I should never have done, with arrogant vanity, thinking myself able to do so and indeed to be doing rightly by

reason of my vast wealth, living honourably in conspicuous renown and always amidst a great many mortals, forever engaged in common affairs with men of our own nation and also with foreigners. (148) There was truly great need of publick ministry, until I obtained from the Emperor the office of directing publick affairs, those concerning him and all our countrymen and foreigners. Now, as all know, these affairs increase one's livlihood greatly. and necessity ariseth to make use of the things whereof I have spoken, vainly to be sure, but nevertheless, it is not possible for one living in these circumstances to adopt other usages. (155) Wherefore was my house filled with all of them: this house which I stablished, splendid and solid, both delightful to behold and exceeding well built, standing stoutly, adorned with every beauty. No one upon seeing it could find fault, though he knew well (160) to judge each and every thing, neither one weary of mind, beholding it from anywhere, nigh or afar,

128 κάλλ᾽ a. corr. M 129 ὀχεύμενα] marg. subst. voci de(govro. corr. M 159 μιν] μέν a. corr. M

P

131 πολυχάνα

(sic) a.

120

Poem

165

XLX

ἔνδοθί τ᾽ ἰὼν ἠδ᾽ ETL ναιετάων, ὃς ἂν εἴη, δὴν κεχαρκότι θυμῷ πάντ᾽ ἐόντ᾽ ἄρτιον, ἐν γάρ οἱ ἔσαν ἕκαστ᾽ ἐπίχρε᾽ ἀολλέ᾽ ἅμαδις εὐθετέοντα. ἐν δέ οἱ νηὸς ὅραμ᾽ ἐρατεινὸν

κάλλεί θ᾽ ὥραν ἰδεῖν πᾶσαν ἀγλαὸς ἠδὲ πεποίθων οἰκοδομήμασί κεν κρατεροῖσι᾽ λίθοις τ᾽ ἐὐξέστοις ἄλλοις

170 [f. 230]

175

180

μάλ᾽

ἐπεοικότ᾽

ἀραρόσι

μίμνεν

ἄσειστα,

ἠδέ τε κιόνεσσ᾽ ἔνδοθι τοὔροφον edy’ ἀνέχουσι, ἠδ᾽ ἔξωθι περισταδὸν ἀμφὶ προύνα᾽ iueprà κύκλοσ᾽ ἑλίσσουσι, χάρμ᾽ obpdav, OTLATIVOTATOLOL’ σὺν δ᾽ ἑτέροισι μαρμαρέοισι δάπεδον ὅπαν ἔνδοθί τ᾽ ἔκτοθί, Te πρανεέσσιν id’ αἰγλήεσσι

ποικίλ᾽ ὑφαίνουσι pad πολυχρόοις διατμαδὸν σὺν δέ τ᾽ ἀνασταδὸν ὄρθια δι᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἕκαστα κύκλῳ. ἐν μὲν ἔην ἄρ᾽ ἐμῇσι δόμοισ᾽ ὅδε τοῖος νηός" ἐν δὲ πέριξ οἰκήϊα τὰ μεγάλοις ἐπέοικε πρήγμασ᾽ ἀγακλεῶν ἀνδρῶν οὐδ᾽ ἀχρήι᾽ ἔασιν" ἐν δ᾽ ἐρατειν᾽ ἔσαν αὖ ἔτι κάλλεα δὴ λειμώνωνἐν

δ᾽ ὑδάτων

ῥοάματ᾽

ἀεινάων

πηγάων

ἔκτοθεν εὖ μάλ᾽ ὀχεύμεν᾽ ἐϊτεύκτοισιν ἀγωγαῖς ἄφθονα διαϊρεύμενα δεξαμενῇσιν ἅπασαν

χρείαν ἔσωθ᾽ οἶκον δ᾽ ἐμὸν ἠδ᾽ ὁδίταις πελάταις ἔκτοθι 185

ῥᾷον,

ὃ μὴ

ἐν δ᾽ ἔνθεν δῆτ᾽ ἔνδοθί

τε τ᾽

ἔκτοθί

ἐν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔην ἄνετος

[f 230v]

ἠελίοιο

τε

αὐχμῷ᾽

μάλ᾽

ἅπασαν

ὑδάτων

ῥηίδιά

τε

διακριδὸν

ἅπανθ᾽

ὧν

χρῆσθαί

περίδρομος διὰ

γαίης

δι᾽ ἀρετὴν

χεύμαθ᾽

βρυάουσι

ἔχεσκον

Tapel’ ὑδάτων κρήνῃσι ἀλεξήματα dAovyós:

βαλανείον

étrókrou

ἄφθονά 100

πρὶν

ἐν δ᾽ ἔνθεν ὑπόγεια χειροποιήτοις Ψψυχίν᾽

T€

μάλα

θ᾽ ópáav

χρὴ

θ᾽ ἥδιστα.

αὐλαία

λαμπάσιν

τερπνὰ

βιβάσδειν,

195

κάρτ᾽ ἐπεοικυΐ᾽ οἴκοις εὐρύτατα, τρυφὰ λεύσειν εὐθεσίην μέγεθός τ᾽ εὑρός Te πρὸς λόγον ἑξῆς, ἥδέ τ᾽ ἐπέστρωται κατορυχέεσσι λίθοισι

200

ὥς Kev ἐΐδρομ᾽ En ἀνθρώποισιν ἵπποισί τε τέλμασιν εὖ ἀμόλυντ᾽ ἀπρόσκοπα ῥεῖα νέεσθαι: ἐν δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ dp’ ἔκτοθι πυλάων ἀμφ᾽ ἑκάτερθεν δροῦμοι πουλύ ye μάλα τετάνται, pniótav ὁδίτῃσι

οὖὗδας

ἕν

ὑφαίνουσα

τιθέμενοι

ὁδὸν

παρπλήσι᾽

éüTukrot

παλαιὰ

ἡμετέρησι

συνεχὲς

δαπάνῃσ᾽

κατορυχέεσι

αὖος,

αὐτοὶ

λίθοισι,

Poem

going

inside

it or yet

again

XIX

121

dwelling

in it, whosoever

he might

be:

everything was in keeping with a spirit long satisfied. For in it was each

and every necessary (165) at one's disposal. In it was a temple, a lovelv sight, splendid to behold in the excellence of all its beauty, and remain unshaken in its mighty structures and other well-polished the columns within easily supporting the roof, (170) and those delightfully surrounding the forecourt, ghttering most brightly

sure to stones: without as they

wound about — a joy to see! With other marbles, brilliant in their supine position,

multicoloured,

woven

in variegated

design,

was

all the

floor,

inside and out, embellished, (175) along with the upright walls round about on every side as well. On my estate, then, was such a temple as this; and all round were private buildings which were fitting for the great business of illustrious men and were of no little usefulness. On it were also the Jovely beauties of meadows. (180) On it were streams of water from ever-flowing sources, brought in from without through well-built aqueducts, distributed unstintingly in cisterns for every use, both within my house and also for the ease of travellers and neighbours without, who had it not formerly through Earth's dryness. (185) Hence also were there underground stores of water, through man-made sources: cooling protection from flames. Hence also were there ready and unstinting streams

of

water

gushing

forth,

all

that

was

needed,

for

the

baths,

well-built for every advantage, (190) most pleasant to use and to behold from within and without. On the estate was also a court with galleries, free of the rays of the sun, a great joy to walk through, quite in keeping with the estate in its great expanse; it was a delight to gaze upon its excellent

disposition,

proportionate

in

length

and

width

withal.

(195)

This court was paved with flagstones, and upon them was spread chalk, thus contriving in this ancient manner a surface always dry, that men and horses might pass with ease, going to and fro unspattered, unhindered by mud. (199) The estate also had roads on both sides without the gates. These were of great length, both constructed likewise

of flagstones,

providing

at

our

expense

an

167 κρατεροῖσι7 marg. subst. voci βριαροῖσι P 184 ἀχμῶ voci εἰρκτῆσι P 195 ἥδ᾽ ἐπέστρωται a. corr. M

easy

P

path

for travellers,

185 κρήνῃσι}ὔ marg. subst.

122

Poem

205

πρόσθε ῥέ᾽ ἀπαντῶντες Kal θ᾽ ὥστε προλέγοντες τοῖσιν ἰοῦσιν ἐμὰ δώματα tax’ αὐτόθεν εἴσω τά περ ἴδωνται καλὰ θεήματα παμφανόοντα.

τοῖος

210

ἔην

ἐν

215

2209

ἐν ἐν

ἁπάσῃσι

ἀττάσθαλ᾽

χαρίτεσσι

εἵτερα

πόλλ᾽

ἀπαθὴς οἰκήια

μάλ᾽ ἑάων.

ἠμὲν

ἐμεῖο

T' ἐμῶν τεκέων ἐὐκτίμενα νεόδμητα δὲ παλαιά @ ὁμοῖ᾽ ἐωνημέν᾽ ἐμοὶ περίφαντα" δ᾽ ἔσαν οἰνόπεδα πόλλ᾽ ἀμπέλων νεόφυτα" δ᾽ ἐωνημέν᾽ ἀριστίνδην χώρῃσι ToXéeooiv:

ἐν δέ

τ’ ἔσαν

τόσσα

μὲν

τόσσα

δὲ συβόσιά

βοτὰ

παντοῖα

ἱπποφόρβια,

τόσσα

τ᾽ ὀΐων

TE

τά

περ

δὲ

κταόμεθα,

βουκόλια,

πώεα

τόσσα,

τόσσα δέ τ᾽ αἰγῶν αἰπόλια πολέεσσι τόποισι διαφόροισιν ἀπειρέσια κτηνοτροφέουσ᾽ εὖ ἠδὲ καμήλων ἀχθοφόρων νομάδων τ᾽ ἀριθμὸς

ἂν

ὀλίγος

ἠδὲ

ζεύγεα

γαιηπονέοντα

εἰν ἀροτοῖσι ῥὰ γηπέδοισιν ἀδινὰ μογεῦντα ἡμετέρων συνοικιάων, ἅς τε πριαίμην

ds

230

οἶκος

ἀφθεῖσ᾽

δ᾽ ἔσαν

ἠδέ σὺν

οὐκ 325

ἐμὸς

πολλῶν ἔξοχος ἠδ᾽ ἀριδείκετος εἰν βασιλίδι δὴ μεγαλοπτόλιϊ ταμείῳ νύ T' ἁπάντων κόσμων, τὸν πολέεσσι δαπανήμασ᾽ ἐγὼν δειμάμην καί τ᾽ ἄλογος φορὰ κάββαλ᾽ ἀϊστώσασ᾽ ὀμβριμοεργὴς

πλήθεος

[f. 281]

XIX

te

διὰ

δοτίησι

δεσπότεω

κτησαίμην᾽

οὐκ ἄν ὀλίγος ἔῃ οἱ βίοτος τάδ᾽ ἐν μέρει τε σὺν δέ θ᾽ ἅμαδις ἐόνθ᾽ ἕκαστα. τί τίς ἂν φαίη; ἢ μάλα Kat’ ἄρα βίοτον ἀφνειὸς πολύολβος εἰν μερόπεσσιν ἔσοιθ᾽ ὅτῳ τοσσάτια γένοιτο.

τά δέ μ᾽ ἕν ἦμαρ ἄφαρ ἀποείλετ᾽ ἀολλέ᾽ ἅπαντα διὰ πολέεσσι πόνοισ᾽ ἀγειρόμεν᾽ ὀλλύμενά τε pora μερόπεσσ᾽ ἀνθρώποις μὰψ πονέουσι" τά κεν ἀνούσι᾽ ἔασι θυέλλῃσ᾽ ἁπάσῃσιν

235 [f. 231}ν]

ὦκα μάλα pé' ἀειρόμεν᾽, dre κοῦφα πτίλα, ἔνθα Te καὶ ἔνθ᾽ ἀπαγέα pa φορεύμεν᾽ ἀϊδνῆ, ἠύτε δ᾽ ὕδωρ ἀνὰ χείρεσιν οἷσιν ἔχοιτο ῥεῖα

240

διεπεκρεῖον

ὀλίσθηρά

τ᾽ ἔκπτωτα.

τὰ τὰ

δὲ θυμὸς καὶ σύ τε μέλειν ἐμὸς δέ τ᾽ ἐπισκέπτεσθ᾽ ἐπιετανὸν ὡς

μὴ ὥς

δ᾽ ἄχνυσθ᾽ ἀφόρητα διαμπερὲς ἄμετρά vu τόδε δράουσ᾽ ἄνδρες ἀμαθέες μάλ᾽

οἵ τε

τάδ᾽

ἀμερθέντες

ὀλοίατο

ἔμφρονα ῥέξων, ἄρ᾽ ἔασι

παντάπασ᾽

τε dvovoc

αὐτοὶ

Poem XIX

128

meeting them outside, as if foretelling (205) those coming to my estate just within of the beauteous, all-splendid sights they would see. Such was my house, pre-eminent amongst many in all its charms and conspicuous in the Capital, the great city and treasury of all ornaments: the house which 1 built at great expense, and which the senseless, annihilating, virulent frenzy of the populace, incensed with recklessness, insensible of

good things, hath thrown down. (212) On the estate were also many other private buildings, both of mine and of my children, newly built, wellmade ones, and likewise ancient, celebrated ones which I had bought. On it were

also many

vineyards newly

planted.

On

it were

also purchased

parcels, divided into many farms according to the goodness of the land. On it were also all the grazing beasts which we acquire: so many horses, so many cattle, (220) so many swine, so many sheep, so many goats: countless numbers of them in many various places well-supporting of livestock. There was also no small number of freight-carrving and freeroaming

camels,

as

well

as

yoke-beasts

constantly

at

work

in

the

cultivated fields of our tenant-farms, be it those I bought or those I might have acquired by gifts of the Emperor. It were no small livelihood to have these things, either in part or all together. What would one say? He

would indeed be rich and wealthy amongst mortals things! (231) But these things were taken away from one day, of a sudden: things collected through many the greatest ease to mortal men who toil about them are obscure things, borne aloft with swift ease by weightless

chaff, carried

water easily flowing fugitive. (239) But thou, my

hither and

through spirit,

who had so many me all together in toils and lost with in vain; (235) they every storm, like

thither, instable and

hands

in which

consider

these

invisible, or like

it is held,

things,

slippery

exercising

and

prudence:

ponder what they are, and grieve thou not unbearably and beyond measure because ignorant and mindless men do this. If these same be robbed

204

of these things, they themselves would surely perish:

δώματα

212 εἵτεραι cC»

τάχ᾽

Ρ ^».5

marg.

subst.

2155 dure fti

vocibus

a. eorr. M

δώματά

Kev

P

209

δα(π)αίνήμα)σ᾽] e corr.

227 οἱ add. s. |. P, spir. add. M

M

231 τά δέ

124

Poem

245

250

XIX

σὺν δέ τε νοῦον ἄμερθεν αὐτόθεν ἐκπνώσαντες" οἵ T€ τάδ᾽ δράοντες ἀμφ᾽ ἑτέροισ᾽ ὁμοῖ᾽ ob πὰρ σφίσι τάδ᾽ Ólovc' ἔμμεν, φορέονται δ᾽ ἄλλως ETANKTOL τάδ᾽ ἀἄσεισθ᾽ ἑωυτοῖσι δοκέοντες νήπιοι, ὄφρα μετεκίχανον ἥπειτ᾽ αὐτοὶ τά κεν ἔδοντο νόον σφίσιν ὡς πλάζοιντ᾽ αἰθέσθαι, ἠδέ τε παθόντες μάθον ἃ χρῆν πρὶν ἢ παθεῖν. ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα μὴ σύ γε θυμὸς ἐμὸς μάλ᾽ ὀχθίξεσθαι

τοῖς δ᾽ ὅτι λυγροῖς πράγεσι σύγ γε κύρησα ἄμειψά τ’ ἀπόθ᾽ ἥρημ᾽ ἀθρόα τύχᾳ βαρείᾳ 255

[f. 232]

260

τοσσάτια μερόπεσσι εἴθιμα διά τε πόλλ᾽

δοκεῦντ᾽ ἐσθλὰ βρουτοῖσιν ἔτεα παρεόνθ᾽ ἑξείης

ἀλλά pe τάδ᾽ οὐ λήθετ᾽ éóvr' ἀλλότρι᾽ ἐμεῖο ἔκτοθ᾽ ébppo' ἀπαγέα ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα ῥεῖα δὴ μάλ᾽ ἁλώσιμα δὴ μάλα τε στροφάοντ᾽ ἀϊδνῆ ἢ μὰν ἐτήτυμον ἔμπης καὶ τόδ᾽ ὅτι μερόπεσσι ταρπάζουσι κέαρ παρεόντ᾽ ἀνιάουσί τε

av ἀπό γ᾽ ἡμείων αἱρεύμενα - ἢ πῶς γὰρ τοῖσιν ἔτ᾽ αἰσθήσιϊ, πολυπαθείᾳ βιόουσι. τῷ

265

pa

μηδέ

τε

παντάπασ᾽

ἅμμες

ἄλυπα

ov; -

βιεῦντες

γινόμεθ᾽ ἑξωυτῶν, ἀλλότριά τε κλαπέντες ὑφέδροισι λόχοις δολίας τύχας ἀπίστοιο πάντα δι᾿ αἰῶ μνήμεθα: μὴ δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔπειτ᾽ ἄχνυσθαι θυμέ, μάλα σύ γε τά περ νύ θ᾽ ἡμέτερ᾽ αὐτῶν ἔνδοθί

τ᾽ ἔχομεν

σῶ᾽ adh 270

πολλοῖς

τάδ᾽

ἀφέλοιθ᾽

οὐ τύχας πρὸς

ὥστε

οὐ νῦν ἁμέων:

αἰὲν

δ᾽ ἔτι

ἔνεδρ᾽

κέρδιον

πρὶν

ἔχομεν

ἀφήρηντ᾽ οὐ

οὐδέ

πρήγμαθ᾽

ot πᾶσά ἅμμιν

τάδ᾽ ἅπαντα

τ᾽ ἀντία

ἔπειθ᾽

ὑγιᾶ,

ποθ᾽ ἑξῆς λυγρὰ

Bin:

ὃ φάμεσθ᾽

ἢ μάλα πολυέρατον ἐχέφροσ᾽ ἀνθρώποισιν, ὅττι κεν ἀμφί γ᾽ ἐμῇσιν ἁμαρτάσιν ἔσσεσθ᾽ 275

[f. 222vj 280

ἐνθεῦτεν

ὁπηοῦν

ἔνθεν ἴημα μετὰ βιότοιο κείνου μακροῦ τίσιας ἄτροπ᾽ ἀλιταίνουσι μενούσας ἀλήκτους"

κάρτ᾽ εὔδαιμον ὃς εἰνθάδε κεῖν᾽ ἀλλάξαιτο φθάς. ἀτὰρ ἔμοιγ᾽ ἂν καὶ τόδε μάλιστ᾽ ἴσως αὐτὸ ξὺν δίκᾳ δῶρον ἔοι λουγίζεσθ᾽ ἅτε λάχον πρὶν πάρ ye θεοῖο πολυδότεω τόσσ᾽ εἴτεα μακρὰ κάρτ᾽ εὐδαίμονα τῇδε βιώσκων ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους ἀρίτιμος τοσσάτι᾽

καί

τε

πολύολβος ὁμιλήκεσι πολέεσσι, ἐσθλὰ κτησάμενος παντοῖ᾽ ἐρίηρα

τάδ᾽

εἰν ἐτέεσσ᾽

ἀδινοῖσιν

ἀνύτων

ἑξῆς

Poem

XIX

125

robbed of their senses withal, they expire forthwith. (245) When they observe these things in the case of others, they do not consider them to be the same with regard to themselves; they conduct themselves otherwise, fools that they are, thinking childishly to possess these things firmly, until later they too meet with the things which ought to have given them the notion that they were deceived in their perception, (250)

and by suffering they learn things they ought to have learned before suffering them. But trouble thyself not, my soul, because I have met with many woes and have exchanged and been despoiled suddenlv by grievous Fortune of so many things which seem good to mortal men. They had been habitual for many years in succession, (256) but it did not escape my notice that these things were foreign to me, lightly flowing away, fluid, shifting hither and thither, easily plundered and easily vanishing. (259) Indeed, this too is most true: that these things gladden the hearts of mortals when they are present and, when taken

from

us, they

cause grief — how

is it not so? — unto those who

still

live by perception, by their many passions. Wherefore, though we by no means live without grief, we become masters of ourselves; and robbed

of external things through the underhanded ambughes of wily, faithless Fortune, we remember everything forever. Grieve, then, no more, my spirit for these things whieh are our very own and which we have within us, even as we had them before, safe, (269) sound, unscathed: they have not been taken away now nor shall they ever be taken away

from us. All affairs are not grievous, nor always tricks of Fortune, nor ali violence contrary: there is also profit for us which follows, as we later aver, profit very much desired by prudent men. (274) For thence there might somehow be a remedy for my sins against the ceaseless punishments which inexorably

await sinners in that long life to come:

how

happy

he

who absolveth these here beforehand! Indeed, I ought with justice to consider this even as my earlier lot a gift from generous God, (281) having passed this life for so many long and prosperous years differently from others, most honoured and wealthy amongst many contemporaries, and

having

262 πολυπαθέϊ

acquired

a. corr.

M

so

many

good

things,

all

of

them

lovely,

126

Poem

285

XIX

ἐς νῦν, ἀεὶ πρόσθ᾽ Lov διάδοχ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄρα καλῶν ἔς κεν ἀμείνονά τ᾽ ἔξοχά τ’ ἄλλων σύγ γε βιεύντων, τοῖς πλόον εἰνθάδ᾽ ἐγὼν κοινὸν βιότοιο πλώων οὔρια δὴ φερόμην πλησίστιος ἁπάντεσσιν

εὖγ᾽ ἀνέμοισι ἀΐσσουσι

πρυμνόθεν

διαπόντια

εὐηνέ᾽

κέλευθα

ἀκύμαντα

πρήσσων

νηὶ μεγάλῃ πληθούσῃ πολέων μάλ᾽ Edov, τοὶ δ᾽ ἐνὶ βαιοῖὶς σκάφεσιν ἠδέ T' ἀγωγίμοισι παυροτέροισιν ἐμεῖο κατ᾽ ἂρ λείποντ᾽ ὄπισθεν. τίς 295

300

ἀνάγκη,

τί

δίκαιον

ἐμοὶ

πλεῖν

σφείων

εἰνθάδ᾽ ἔπειτα φέρεσθαι; πὰρ τίν᾽ ὅμως αἰτίην, ἢ μόνον εἴλεον αὐτὸν παναγάθοιο θεοῖο, οἷο

[f. 233]

γὰρ

πάρα

δίδοτ᾽

ἄνωθεν

πᾶν

ἀγαθὸν

βρουτοῖς;

ταῦτ᾽ ἄρα καί τε δίκαιος ἔην ἂν οὔθ᾽ ἕνεκ᾽ αὐτῶν μᾶλλον ἀνίασθ᾽ ὅτι τῶνδέ μ᾽ ἀπηύρα χροῦνος ἠὲ χάριν μάλα τ᾽ ὄφλειν εὗτε τοσοῦτον χροῦνον τοῖσδ᾽ ἐβίωσ᾽ ἥδιστά τ᾽ ἀγακλεής, ἀρίδοξος παμμεδέοντι θεῷ κέρδιστον ἔχων τόδε πουλύ, πρός γ᾽ ἑτέρους ὁράων oi μὴ παραπλήσι᾽ ἔλαχον.

εὖ τόδε B05

νῦν

γὰρ

ἀθυμίης

σαφὲς ἠδέ

τε

ὅττι

τό γ᾽ αἴτιον

μάλ᾽

ἄχνυσθ᾽

ἐντὶ

ἕνεκ᾽

αὐτῶν

ὧν πολέων ἀποήρημαι καί τ᾽ ἔμπαλιν αὐτὸ πράττετ᾽, ἀτὰρ πάρος ὄφλειν χάριτας 7j γὰρ ἔοικε δὴ πολέων τύχον ὧν ἕκατ᾽ εἴη νόος ἄρ᾽ εὐγνώμων: οἱ 310

yàp ἄμερθεν

ἅμαδις

πολλὰ

τόσσα

τ᾽ ἔχεσκον"

καὶ σὺ λαβὼν πλεῖσθ᾽ ὧν τύχες ἠδ᾽ ὅλεσσάς τε πλεῖστα, οἷσι 8' 6 τ’ εὐπραγέων βίοτος τύχα τ᾽ ἔμπαλιν alvi ἀμφότερ᾽ obALya’ μὴ δ᾽ ὅ γε φασὶ γειτόνεσσι τάδ᾽ ἐπίσημα, τάδ᾽ ἀμενηνὰ παρεόντα τάρπειν ἠδ᾽ ἀμενηνὰ σφεῖας καί τ᾽ ὀλλύμεν᾽ ἀνιᾶν,

ἐν γὰρ ἰῇ μοίρᾳ ἠμὲν λῴονα ἠδέ τε λυγρά. τοῦδ᾽ ἕνεκά σοί T' ὥφλετο τοσσάτια πάρος ἐσθλὰ τοῖσδέ T' ἀφαυρὰ νεμήατο ἀμφοτέροισιν ἐοῦσιν οὐμοφυέσσ᾽ ἰσάκις μερόπεσσι σάφα βρουτοῖσιν᾽ ἣν δέ T' ἴσως φαίης ὅττ᾽ obveká τευ δοκιμίης [f. 233v] 320

ἠὲ σοφίης κτήσιος ἠέ τ᾽ ἐνεργοῦ τινὸς ἤθεος ἀμφὶ πρήγμασιν εὐρυτάτοιο πονεῖσθαι, τῶν μάλα δεσπότῃσιν ἀεὶ πέλεται δὴ χρειώ, σὺ μὲν λάχες ἀμείνονος ἐμφανέος βιότοιο κὐδιμά τ᾽ ἀρίτιμά τε βιεῦν, ó δέ θ᾽ ὑστερίζειν

325

λειπόμενος

τιμᾷ,

λειπόμενός

τ᾽ ἔργων

χρήσιϊ,

Poem

XIX

127

(285) achieving them through years on end until the present, forever proceeding from good to better and exceptional things amongst others with whom 1 lived. Sailing on the common voyage of this life with these same,

I was carried by a fair breeze, sails filled with every wind blowing gently from the stern, with no turbulence. to make my way along the paths of the sea in a great ship brimming with many good things; (292) whereas they,

in

small

boats

and

humbler

barges,

were

left

behind

me.

What

necessity, what right, that I should be borne along further than they? For what reason other than the mercy of all-bountiful God, from whom every good thing is given

to mortals from

on high?

(298) As for these things.

then, instead of grieving on their account because they have been taken from me, 1 ought rather to be grateful for having lived with them for so

long a time

most

delightfully,

in fame

and

glory,

having

by

far the

advantage over others I saw whose lot was not equal to mine. (304) For it is quite clear that this is the cause of faintheartedness now and much grieving, on account of the many things whereof I am despoiled, and that

this is done in contrary fashion, for it is sooner fitting to be thankful for the many things 1 obtained, whereof one should be gladly mindful; (309) for those who are robbed of à great many things possessed ever so many withal, even as thou receivedst the greatest amount, which fell to thy lot, and lostest the greatest amount, whereas those whose life is prosperous,

but fortune harsh, have httle either way. As things nor lesser ones make neighbours glad, them even when lost; for in one and the same and grievous. Wherefore recompense is given

they say: neither remarkable (314) and lesser things grieve destiny are both good things thee, to whom of old so many

good things, whilst to the others only lesser ones, had been distributed, thus clearly equitably in both instances for men of the same race. (319) And if perchance thou shouldst say that 1t was for the sake of some

test, or aquisition of wisdom or habit most adept in dealing with the affairs which are always most necessary to rulers that thou obtainedst a better, conspicuous livelihood, living m glory and honour, whereas the other came

290 πρήσσων

behind, second in honour

a. corr. P

292 τοὶ

δ᾽ τοῖσδ᾽

and second in usefulness in affairs,

a. corr. M

205 εἰνδάδ᾽ (sic) P

128

Poem

330

μάλιστα μὲν ἔοι φάμεν᾽ ὅττι πόσοι κατ᾽ ἄρα γινάμενοι λάχον, οὐδέ τε τύχον κυδαλίμοιο δὴ βιότοιο πρήγμασ᾽ ἐπιφανέεσσ᾽ ἀρίτιμοι.

σὲ

ἀτὰρ

λάβες

ἔπειτα

αὐτὸς

ἄρ᾽

Τί

Παύλου

δ᾽ αὖ trot’ ἔχεις

οἴκοθεν;

οὐρανοβάμονος

335

XIX

ὥς

κε

λόγια

ἦ μάλ᾽ ἀγακλέέος

θειοσόφοιο

πάντα

340

345

μηκέτι φασὶ

θεῖα

κήρυκος

δαήμονος

ὀρθοῦ.

εἰ δ᾽ ἔλαβες, τί ῥὰ καυχάᾳ ὡς μὴ λαβών, μήτί ποτ᾽ ἀνύσας αὐτός; τοῦδ᾽ ἔτι μέν τι πάρος δῆτ᾽ ὄφλεις χάριν ἄναχθ᾽ ὃς νέμεν ἠδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα τῶν κε St’ αὐτὸ λάχες πολέων πλεῖν ἠὲ κατ᾽ ἄλλους. ὡς ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν λελόγισμαι πόλλ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔχειν ἀθυμίης φάρμακ᾽ ἐμοὶ πράγεσι τοῖσι νῦν μὴ δέ Te τείρεσθ᾽ ἄχεσ᾽ ἄμετρα

(f. 234]

ὅτι σοφὰ

ἔλαχον λευγαλέοισι περί τ᾽ ὀδυνάων

ἔμμεν᾽, ἐφ᾽ hor κύρησα δυσπραγίης ἀλλάξας τὰ πρὶν ἔμοιγ᾽ εὐδαίμον᾽ ἔσαν κύδιμά τ᾽ ὄλβια. τῷ ῥὰ καί τ᾽ ἐφάμην πάρος ἠδέ τε φημὶ νῦν αὖθι: μέτρι᾽ ἔχω μετὰ τοσσάτια πράγε᾽ ἀνιηρά. τοῖσδε λογισμοῖσι κραδίης οἰδήματα παύων κάρτ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ φλεγμαίνοντα ἠδὲ πόματα κιρνάων λαθικηδέα τάδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐμὴν ψυχὰν εἴσω: πρὸς

δὲ

πᾶσ᾽

θαλπωρὴν

μάλ᾽

τῆς

πάντ᾽

δίχα

ἠὲ

πρό

ébmvoov

τε

παύτων

ἀρνύμενος

ἀνθρώπιν᾽

ἐπίφρονα

πάρ

γε

θεοῖο

δροσεράν

τε,

μηδενόσωρα

πάντ᾽ ἀμενηνά τ᾽ ἔασι βοηθήματα πυκινὰ δὴ δοκέοντα πολύ γ᾽ ἡττώμεν᾽ ἕκαστ᾽ ἀλεγεινῶν φύσιος οὕνεκα τῆσδ᾽ ἁμέων ἀδρανέος αἶψα: τὴν ῥέα δὴν πιπτάζειν κάββαλ᾽ ἐς οὖδας ἔραζε λευγαλέα νύ τ᾽ ἐπιβρίσαντ᾽, ἣν ὅσσα τις ἀνὴρ ἐνθαῦτα φρονέησιν ἀμύμονα μάλα νοήμων, ὅσσα τ᾽ ἐπείγοιτ᾽ ἄντερος ὑψιβάμων id’? ἀΐσσων

ἁπάντων ἀλλ᾽ νυνὶ 360

[f. 234v]

ἀλεγεινῶν

ἠνορέῃηφι

πεποίθων.

ἄρ᾽ ἐγὼν κύματα τάδε ναυάγια τάδε δεινὰ διεκπερόω, μὴ κατ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπόβρυχα δύνων

τοῖσδ᾽ ἐνὶ πανσθενέα μέρμερα,

χείμασι δεξιτερὴν ὀρέγοντος ἄνωθεν θεοῦ πάντ᾽ ἀλεξίκακον πέλωρα, χαλεπὰ

διὰ

πολυφλοίσβοιο

θαλάσσης

τῆσδ᾽ ἀνεχούσης νοῦον ἀγείρω: τῆσδ᾽ ἔχομ᾽ ἀπρὶξ ebore ξύμβατ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ πρίν τε ξύμβατο τάδε, ἐκ δέ τ᾽ ἐκεῖθεν ἀεὶ κέαρ ἀλεαίνων, ἀτειρής πάντα φέρων ἄχεσ᾽ ἀδμῆς, ἅττ᾽ ἀποήρημ᾽ ἄφρα

Poem

XIX

129

one would most certainly reply: “How many there are whose lot was as thine but did not succeed in becoming honourable through illustrious affairs of a life of renown?’ (329) But then, ‘what hast thou ever had, but that which thou receivedst from thy own resources?’,

as

declare

herald,

the

the

wise,

godly-wise

divine

words

of the

Paul,

knowing

and

heaven-treading, correct

glorious

in everything.

And

if thou hast received, why vauntest thou in vain as though thou hadst not

ever

received

(334)

nor

achieved

aught?

For

this thou

owest

still

thanks to the Lord who distributed it of old, and also for the many things thou thereby obtainedst later — more than others did. Thus have I contrived to have many remedies for my despair over the grievous things which are fallen to my lot, (339) and not to be pained by measureless woes nor to lament misfortunes I have met with, having given up the happy, glorious wealth I formerly had. Wherefore said I before and say I again now: after so many woeful affairs I have attained the right measure. By such considerations do I quell my heart’s pains, buring most grievously, and mix these soothing balms within my soul; (347) and moreover, — most important of all! — I receive from God breezy and dewy consolation, without which all human counsels. are for naught, all apparently clever aids are of but little use, each one overcome by woes on account of this weak nature of ours. (353) For overwhelming griefs easily throw the latter to the ground and lay it low, no matter what excellent things any intelligent man might here devise, no matter how hard he press on in opposition to all woes, rushing with lofty tread, confident in his strength. But as I now traverse these waves, these dread pieces of wreck, J sink not underwater, (360) raising my mind amidst these storms to the all-powerful right hand of God outstretched from on high. warding off all monstrous, horrible perils thrown up by the loud-roaring sea; to this hand I hold tight whenever dreadful things happen, even before they happen, (365) and thereby do I warm my

heart

always,

bearmg

everything

unscathed,

undaunted

by

woes,

329/330 cf. J Cor 3, 8

332 ὀρθοῦ] marg. subst. voci ἐσθλοῦ P 336 ἄλλους] p. hane vocem punct. M corr. M 339 (τείρ)εσθ᾽ e corr. M 354 ὅσα a. corr. P 363 νόον a. corr. M marg. subst. voci ἀείρω P 364 εὖτε] marg. subst. voci ὥστε P

337 ὡς a. GyeLpu

130

Poem

870

375

μερόπεσσ᾽

XIX

πόλλ᾽

ἐφετὰ

ἅπασ᾽

αἰνῶς τῆμος πουλὺ

μ᾽ ἄχος ἑνὸς κραδίην ἐμὰν ἥψατο κάρτα" ὅτ᾽ ἔφθαρθ᾽ ἅπαντα τἀμά, δεῖος ἔμ᾽ ἔσχε περί τε τῇ μονᾷ μήποτ᾽ ἀτάκτοισί τε

ἠδ᾽ ἀλογίστοισί

Te

τὴν

ἀνιδρυσάμην

περιήφατον

φορήμασ᾽

ἄνδρεσι

ὀλοίαθ᾽

πάρ

γ᾽ ὁράων

ἅμ᾽ ἄλλοις"

θώυμά

τ᾽ ἰδέσθαι

ἠδέ τε χάρμα νύ τ᾽ ὄμμασι δι᾽ ἄρα πάντ᾽ ἐρίηρα, σεμνὸν ὅραμα μετὰ πᾶσι τὰ μεγαλοπτόλιός κεν μάλα πέλωνται κόσμος ἀρίθμιον: à ἔπι κεῖαρ τάρπετ᾽

ἐμὸν

πλεῖν

ἠὲ

κατ᾽

ἄλλ᾽

εὐδαίμον᾽

ἐμεῖο“

ᾧ ἔπι Kal τί ποτ᾽ ἔλπαρ Éxeokov ὄνειαρ ἔπειτα ἀμφ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἁμαρτάσι πολλαὶς ἃς ἀλιταίνων βίουν D^

€

ἔνθεν

380

[f. 235)

ἐμεῖο

παρθενικήν

385

390

395

γενέσθαι

ψυχᾷ

λιτῇσι

μοναστῶν,

τούς περ ἀγήοχ᾽ ἁλίσας ταύτην ἔνδοθι πολλοὺς οἰκεῦντας λιτέεσθ᾽ ἵλαόν τε τιθέεσθ᾽ ἄνακτα Χριστὸν ἔμοιγε πρευμενέα τ᾽ οἶκτον μάλ᾽ ἑτοῖμον, ἠδὲ μάλιστα τόδ᾽ ἔλπαρ ἀνὰ ματέρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, τε

πάναγνον

ἀχωρήτοιο

χώραν

εὐρυτάταν διὰ πάνθ᾽ ὑπὲρ πάντα δέ τ᾽ ἐόντος, ἧς κεν ἐπώνυμον εὖγ᾽ ἐδόμησα τήνδ᾽ ἄρα uováv: ἢ γε φέρων ἀνάθημ᾽ ἐδόμαν τόδ᾽ ἴσως ἥδιστον. τῆσδε πέρι μονᾶς ἄχεϊ δάμνετ᾽ ἐμὸν κέαρ αἰνῶς, μήποτ᾽ ὀλοίατο τῆμος, ὥς κεν ὀρίνετο δῆμος ἀλογίοισ᾽ ἀτάσθαλα ῥέζων ἄσχετα udápyos: ἀλλά γ᾽ ἐπεὶ ῥύσα᾽ ἀπ᾽ dp’ ὀρυμαγδοῦ πολυάϊκος κείνου τόνδ᾽ ἐτεὸν βασίλεια θεοῖο μήτηρ

οἶκον ἀλώβητον, πάντ᾽ ἄχεα τά τ᾽ ἔασί μοι πόλλ᾽ ἕτερ᾽ ἀλογέω. σὺ δέ τ᾽ ἀτρέμας ἔνδοθι, θυμέ, μίμνε νοάμον᾽ ἐπίφρονά θ᾽, ὥς κε φάμην τάδ᾽ ἔρδων, ἂν

θεὸν

μῆτερ, πάντ᾽

ὑψόθ᾽

ἐμοῦ

δὁράων.

πρό

ἀλεξίκακον

τε νῦν

σὺ

δέ,

στάθι, ἀνιαρὰ

πάναγνε

θεοῖο

τόνδ᾽ ἵλαον ἔς

τε

τὸ

δράουσα μέλλον.

εὖ.

Poem XIX

131

disregarding all the many things desired by all mortal men whereof I have been despoiled.

But distress over one thing has beset my heart sorely. (369) When all my possessions

were

ruined,

great

fear

seised

me

for the

Monastery,

lest in

the disorderly and mindless disturbances it perish along with the rest: the glorious monastery which I raised up, a marvel to look upon and a joy

for the eyes, in every way delightful, amongst all the adornments of the more than in all my other fortune. that thence will come help for the

(374) a venerable sight to be counted great City. In it delighteth my heart In it had I some hope for hereafter: many sins I have committed in my

life, through the prayers of the many monks (380) I have brought together

to live inside it and pray the Lord Christ be merciful and well-disposed and ready of compassion toward me; and I had this hope especially in His mother,

(384) the virginal and all-holy: Hold

(Chora) most

broad of

Him who is unholdable through and beyond all things. In her name did I build this monastery’; to her is this offering I built and brought perhaps most pleasing.

On

account

of this monastery

was my

heart most

sorely

smitten with grief, (389) lest it should perish when the populace rose up wreaking senseless havoc in its uncontrolled frenzy. But since the Mother

of God saved this house, truly a palace, unscathed from that violent rabble, I count as naught all the other griefs which beset me. And thou, my spirit, (395) remain fearless within, with prudence and sagacity, as I have said in making these verses, looking to God on high. But thou, allholy Mother

of God,

stand before me, making

Him

propitious,

to ward

off all griefs now and in future.

! Again, a play on words for St-Saviour-in-the-Fields (Chora; cf. supra XVII, 394; XVIII, 394. and Poem TV, 350, ed. SEVOENKO-FEATHERSTONE [as in n. 4 supra]. 44): or had Metochites uideed re-dedieated the Chora to the Virgin? cf. Natalia TETERIATNIKOFF, The Dedication of the Chora Monastery. Byzantion 66 (1996) 188-207; cf. also Poem L, 1003 and Poem II, 61 and 157 (ed. TREU [as in n. 4 supra], pp. 28, 40, 42) for the name Chora, and Poem II, 161 (ed. TREU,

p. £2)

where,

in addressing the Virgin,

391 pvo’ a. corr. M

394 ἕτερα a. corr, M

Metochites

speaks

of ‘thy temple’.

132

Poem

K

(f. 235]

Ἔτι

eig

XX

ἑαυτὸν μετὰ τὴν τροπὴν αὐτὸν τύχης

τῆς

κατ᾽

Τί σὺ μάλα, θυμέ, τῇ τροπᾷ τῇδ᾽ ἀσχαλάας ἄρτι τῆς τύχας; οὐκ ἄρα σοὶ μόνον ἄντατο πάθεα λυγρὰ

ἀμείψαντ᾽

εὐδαίμονα

πάρος

ἔτεσφι

πολλοῖς

χρούνι᾽ ἐόντα, οὐδέ τε δεύτερος αὐτὸς ἔγωγε οὐδ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἄρα τρίτατος, καὶ πρός γ᾽ ἔτι καί τε πολοστὸς εἰν μερόπεσσ᾽ ὅραμ᾽ ἀργαλέοισι πρήγμασι πολλοὶς ξύγ γε λαχών, νήριθμοι δὲ προπάροιθεν ἔασιν ἠδ᾽ ἔτι καὶ νῦν ὁμοίῃσι pa πάθῃσι βιεῦντες.

τίς δέ τ’ ἀκηδὴς 10

πολλὸν πάρ ἠδέ

πάντα

βίοτον εὖγ᾽ ἐπέρησε

ὀλιγάριθμόν

τε

νομῆσιν

ἀφύκτοις

ye θεοῖο ἄνακτος, ὃς ἔλλογ᾽ ἑκάστ᾽ ἔοργεν T ἀεὶ μέτροισιν ἀρηρόσ᾽ ἅπαντα νύ τ᾽ ἔρδει:;

ἀλλὰ 15

ἐόντ᾽

νωλεμὲς

ἐξ ὅτου

γεγάασ᾽

ἄνθρωποι

πάντες ὀϊζυροῖσι τολυπεύουσ᾽ ἔργμασι τόνδ᾽ ἀνὰ βίοτον ἀεθλεύοντες μάλ᾽ ἕκαστοι, οἱ μὲν ἄρα πλεόνεσσ᾽ ἀνιηροῖς, οἱ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὁπηοῦν

ἔμπης νύ τ᾽ ἀνιηροῖς, οὔτις ἀνύσας ἀπήμων ἀρχὴν ἔς τε τέλος, ἢν καί τις πόλλ᾽ Ete’ EES ἤρκεσε συμβιόων εὐπραγί᾽ ἐπιετανὸν ἀδμὴς λευγαλέοισι φορήμασι τύχας ἐύυτρόποιο. τῷ pa x’ ὃς ἐπιπείθετ᾽ ἀγανῆσι δοτίνῃσι τύχας ἀπατηλῆῇσι πολυετέεσσ᾽ ἀμαθὴς δὴ πέλετ᾽ ἀΐδρις τροπαλίσματα ῥηίδι᾽ αὐτῆς

ἔκ τε [f. 236] 25

ῥέα

πολλὸν

μήτι

τεὺ

φευγούσης

ἀδόκητ᾽

ἀπίστοιο

ἑκάστοτ᾽

ἀναιδέος

γ᾽ ἐχέγγυον

ἄτροπον

καί TE πυκινὰ πολύνοα πουλυσόφοις ὀρέγουσαν.

αἰὲν 30

ἑκάστοτε

ἀντί᾽

ἀπ᾽

ἄρ᾽

μάλ᾽ ἀγαθοῖς ὦ μέλεοι, τί κυδιόοντες

ἠῦτ᾽ 35

αὐτῆς:

μάλ᾽

ἑσταὸς

ἀεὶ

νῦν,

ἦ μάλ᾽ ἄσειστον

μηχανόουσ᾽ ἄνδρεσσι ἀτὰρ ὃς dv ἔην νύ

ἐπίπροσθ᾽ τοὶ

δ᾽ οὐ

ὄμμασ᾽ πρόσθ᾽

τ᾽ ἐχέφρων,

ἐχόντων ὁράουσ᾽

ἄνθρωποι,

παρεοῦσιν ὑπερφίαλοι πλάν᾽ ὀΐουσιν. μάτην ἀλάλησθ᾽ ἄνοες πρήγμασι

ἀνιδρύτοισι,

ὀνείρασι

ἀνοσίοις,

εὖ

πάντες

ἀφορμῆς

σκιῆς

τοῖσδε

μέγα

ἔποχοι,

ἐπικαθῆσθ᾽

φυσσῶντες,

πεποίθοντες, αὐτοὶ

πύργων

κροτέοντες

ἅτ᾽

φρονέοντες,

ἀσείστων,

ἄαπτοι,

παντάπασ᾽ ἀκράδαντοι, μὴ δ᾽ ἑτέροις δράοντες" τοὶ πρότεροι τάδ᾽ ἔχεσκον, ἄφαρ δέ θ᾽ ἅπαντ᾽ ἄμερθεν

Poem

AX

(1) Why,

XX

133

Again to Himself After the Reversal of his Fortune

O soul, art thou now vexed

by this reversal of Fortune?

It is

not only unto thee that grievous sufferings are come in exchange for many years of enduring happiness of old:

I am not the second,

(5) nor yet the

third, but indeed only one of very many amongst mortals to whose lot are fallen many grievous affairs; there were countless ones before, and still are now, living with like sufferings. For who hath passed all his life free of care, (10) whether it be long or only of few years by the inescapable reckonings of the Lord God who hath made and doeth all things reasonably. always according to good measure? From the time they are born all men toil in miserable works, (15) each of them struggling in this life, some

with

more

griefs than

others,

though

these

latter, too, have

griefs of one sort or another: none liveth without pain from beginning to end, even if he succeed in living many years on end in constant prosperity.

untouched (20) by the grievous currents of fickle Fortune. Wherefore he who trusteth in the perfidious gentle gifts of Fortune over many years is ignorant, unaware of her easy shiftings — fleeing as she doth unexpectedly, for some or another reason,

that she giveth unshakable, unto of devices. Now, her contrary acts

(25) always without shame,

faithless --, and

nought which is secure, which* standeth firm and even the wisest of men, though they contrive all manner as for whosoever would he prudent, let everyone keep forever before his eyes. But men look not before them:

(31) arrogant by reason of present well-being, they are led astray in their

thinking. O wretches! Why are ye deceived, foolish ones, glorying in unfounded things, puffing yourselves up greatly, trusting, applauding, as it, were, these impious dreams: mounted on a shadow, as if on unshakable

towers, (36) ye sit, thinking yourselves unassailable, wholly impregnable, looking not upon others who had these things of old but were suddenly

7 προπάροιθ᾽

Ι. ex ἠμὲν M

a. corr. M

13 νωλεμὲς} marg. subst. voci διαμπερὲς

οἱ δ corr. s. l. ex ἠδ᾽ M

P

16 οἱ

μὲν] corr. s.

2] ἀγανῇσι] marg. subst. voci ἀγαθῇσι

P

Lot

Poem

40

45 [f. 220v]

50

XX

οὐλίγος ὁ χρόνος, ἠδ᾽ do ὑμέες παθόντες ὁμοῖα γνωσεῖσθ᾽ ἀτρεκέως δοκέοντες νηπιάχοισι παίδεσ᾽ ἐοικότα’ τοὶ λιθιδίοισι κεράμων τε τεμμάχεσ᾽ αὕτως δειμάμενοί γ᾽ οἰκήι᾽ ἔπειτα παίγνι᾽ ἔχοντες ἀϊδῆ μὰψ τάρποντ᾽ ἐνὶ θυμῷ, ὡς δ᾽ αὕτως ὑμέες δι᾽ ὁμοίοισι πρήγμασι τοῖσδε

παιγνιώδεσ᾽

ἀπατηλοῖσιν

ἐΐλυτ᾽

ἀφαυρὰ

πείσματ᾽ ἔχουσι, θέμεθλ᾽ ἐΐσειστα ῥέα πιπτάζειν μαψιδίως τύχας αἴρετ᾽ ἀθύρμασιν ὀφρύας ἄλλως ταρπόμενοι κενεσῖσι τάχιστα TapTpéxovoL: τίνι γὰρ οὑράατ᾽ εἰν μερόπεσσι τάδε βρουτοῖσιν ἀρχὴν εἰς τέλος ἰσχυρὰ πιστά τέ παρμείναντα,

τοῖσι πάρος, τοῖσιν αὖ νέον ἄτροπος ἐσθλῶν αἰεὶ βίοτος εὖ μάλα δὴ μελιειδὴς ἔπλετ᾽ ἀγανός μήτι παραλλὰξ λυγρά τ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὸν ἄλγε᾽ ἐνείκας; 55

τὰ δὴ

μὲν ἐτήτυμον αὖ ἐρέειν ἐπικήροις ἅμμιν πέλετ᾽ ἀτρεκέως ἄρ᾽ ἀμείνον᾽ ὁπηοῦν ἔνθεν

ἐκ ῥέ᾽ ἀείρειν νοῦον ἐς ἄφθιτα κεῖν᾽ ἐξαῦτις ἡμὲν ἀγαθά τ᾽ ἀΐδι᾽, ἠδέ θ᾽ ὁμοῖ᾽ ἀλεγεινὰ μίμνονθ᾽ ἡμέας ἀΐδια μέροπας ἀλιτρούς. ἤτοι τὰ μὲν ἄρ᾽ Ws ἔασι διὰ μήδεα θεοῖο 60

πάνσοφα

τῷ

ῥὰ

κεῖνά

μὴ

δέ

λευγαλέοισι

τ᾽

ἐσόμεν᾽

τι σύ, πρήγμασι

65

-4 c

τὸ

νῦν

τάδ᾽

τὰ

πάντεσ᾽

ἐόντα.

τοῖσδε ὀπηδεῖ,

πάνυ συμβιόουσ᾽ ἀλεγεινοῖς,

δὲ μεσοῦντος ἔπειτα βίου, τοῖς δὲ προπάροιθεν, δ᾽ ἄρα καί Te τελείουσ᾽ ἀμφὶ τέρματα βίου,

παυρότερα |f. 237)

Te

μάλ᾽ ἀκαχίζεο

λαχών,

τοῖς μὲν ἔτ᾽ ἐκ παιδὸς τοῖς τοῖς

ἠδέ

θυμέ,

μὲν

ἐνίοις,

ἠδὲ

διασταδὸν

ἑξῆς

Guvexé' ἄλλοις, κατ᾽ ὀλίγ᾽ ἄλλοις ἀθρόα πουλλά, τοῖς μὲν ἀμείψασιν ἔσθλ᾽ ab καί τε τελεύτασ᾽ ἐσθλοῖς, τοῖς δέ τε σὺν βιότοιο περήσασι πάντα κέλευθα λευγαλέοις ἅμα πικρόταθ᾽ εὑραμένοις τέρματα, οὐδέσιν οὐδαμὰ δῆτ᾽ ἀνιηρὰ διὰ δέ Te παντὸς τόν κεν λάχον βιότοιο περάνασ᾽ ἀκύμοσιν αἰεὶ πάντ᾽ ἀλεγείν᾽ ἀφαυρά τ᾽ ὀϊζυρὰ πολλά τ᾽ ὀλίγα. τῶν ἄρα μεμναμένος σὺ δ᾽ ἔχ᾽ ἀτρέμα’ οὐ γὰρ ἔην γε σοὶ δ᾽ ἑτεροίως λαχεῖν τἀνθρωπήια μούνῳ πρήγματα, τῶν ὅσσοι πάρος ἠδὲ νῦν ἐς φάος ἦλθον

ἠελίου ὅττι

μέροπες γ᾽ οὕνεκα

χροῦνος

ἄφαρ

βρουτοί. πολλά

πολέεσσι

ἀτὰρ σ᾽

ἢν

ἀφείλετ᾽

δέ τ᾽ αὖ

μάλ᾽ ἀνιᾷ ἀγαθὰ

παρεόντ᾽

τυχηρὰ

ἐτέεσσι

Poem

deprived

of them

after a short time?

XX

135

Ye, too,

shall suffer similar things,

(40) and shall know truly that ye had thoughts like those of children. For just as they construct things with pebbles and shards and, playing their

invisible games, take idle delight in their spirits, even so do ye, to no purpose, proudly take delight m these similarly deceptive, play-like affairs which give fickle, false confidence and have shaky foundations, easily brought to falling by the random games of Fortune, vain and passing most quickly by. (49) For with whom amongst mortal men have these things been seen to remain from beginning to end in steady and faithful fashion? To whom of old, to whom of late hath life been unchangeably of good things, most sweet and bright, bringing no woes in turn, no griefs in exchange? (54) But verily is it true to say that these latter are better for us, somehow reminding us sinful mortals to raise our minds toward those everlasting things to come, both the eternal bounties and, likewise,

eternal griefs. Thus are these things, both those which shall be and those which

are now,

through

the all-wise counsels of God.

(61) Wherefore be

thou not troubled, Ὁ my soul, having obtained as thy grievous affairs: they come upon all men, some already from living with woes, others in middle life, others before (65) others just as they reach the end of life; to some céme fewer, a constant flow in the course of time, to others a great

lot these childhood and yet to others many all

together

bad>

in a short

then again of this life of grievous in calm are

time;

some

exchange

good

things