andthemanfeelsnohurtandhissweetsleepisnotbrokenbymybiting。ButtherearetwothingsIfearaboveallelsethewholeworldover,thehawkandtheferret——forthesebringgreatgriefonme——andthepiteoustrapwhereinistreacherousdeath。
MostofallIfeartheferretofthekeenersortwhichfollowsyoustillevenwhenyoudivedownyourhole。（1）Ingnawnoradishesandcabbagesandpumpkins,norfeedongreenleeksandparsley;forthesearefoodforyouwholiveinthelake。\'
（ll。56—64）ThenPuff—jawansweredhimwithasmile:`Strangeryouboasttoomuchofbelly—matters:wetoohavemanymarvelstobeseenbothinthelakeandontheshore。FortheSonofChronoshasgivenusFrogsthepowertoleadadoublelife,dwellingatwillintwoseparateelements;andsowebothleaponlandandplungebeneaththewater。Ifyouwouldlearnofallthesethings,\'tiseasydone:justmountuponmybackandholdmetightlestyoubelost,andsoyoushallcomerejoicingtomyhouse。\'
（ll。65—81）Sosaidhe,andofferedhisback。AndtheMousemountedatonce,puttinghispawsupontheother\'ssleekneckandvaultingnimbly。Nowatfirst,whilehestillsawthelandnearby,hewaspleased,andwasdelightedwithPuff—jaw\'sswimming;
butwhendarkwavesbegantowashoverhim,heweptloudlyandblamedhisunluckychangeofmind:hetorehisfurandtuckedhispawsinagainsthisbelly,whilewithinhimhisheartquakedbyreasonofthestrangeness:andhelongedtogettoland,groaningterriblythroughthestressofchillingfear。Heputouthistailuponthewaterandworkeditlikeasteeringoar,andprayedtoheaventhathemightgettoland。Butwhenthedarkwaveswashedoverhimhecriedaloudandsaid:`Notinsuchwisedidthebullbearonhisbackthebelovedload,whenbebroughtEuropaacrosstheseatoCrete,asthisFrogcarriesmeoverthewatertohishouse,raisinghisyellowbackinthepalewater。\'
（ll。82—92）Thensuddenlyawater—snakeappeared,ahorridsightforbothalike,andheldhisneckuprightabovethewater。Andwhenhesawit,Puff—jawdivedatonce,andneverthoughthowhelplessafriendhewouldleaveperishing;butdowntothebottomofthelakehewent,andescapedblackdeath。ButtheMouse,sodeserted,atoncefellonhisback,inthewater。Hewrunghispawsandsqueakedinagonyofdeath:manytimeshesankbeneaththewaterandmanytimesheroseupagainkicking。Buthecouldnotescapehisdoom,forhiswetfurweighedhimdownheavily。Thenatthelast,ashewasdying,heutteredthesewords。
（ll。93—98）`Ah,Puff—jaw,youshallnotgounpunishedforthistreachery！Youthrewme,acastaway,offyourbodyasfromarock。Vilecoward！Onlandyouwouldnothavebeenthebetterman,boxing,orwrestling,orrunning;butnowyouhavetrickedmeandcastmeinthewater。Heavenhasanavengingeye,andsurelythehostofMicewillpunishyouandnotletyouescape。\'
（ll。99—109）Withthesewordshebreathedouthissouluponthewater。ButLick—platterashesatuponthesoftbanksawhimdieand,raisingadreadfulcry,ranandtoldtheMice。Andwhentheyheardofhisfate,alltheMicewereseizedwithfierceanger,andbadetheirheraldssummonthepeopletoassembletowardsdawnatthehouseofBread—nibbler,thefatherofhaplessCrumb—snatcherwholayoutstretchedonthewaterfaceup,alifelesscorpse,andnolongernearthebank,poorwretch,butfloatinginthemidstofthedeep。AndwhentheMicecameinhasteatdawn,Bread—nibblerstoodupfirst,enragedathisson\'sdeath,andthushespoke。
（ll。110—121）`Friends,evenifIalonehadsufferedgreatwrongfromtheFrogs,assuredlythisisafirstessayatmischiefforyouall。AndnowIampitiable,forIhavelostthreesons。
Firsttheabhorredferretseizedandkilledoneofthem,catchinghimoutsidethehole;thenruthlessmendraggedanothertohisdoomwhenbyunheard—ofartstheyhadcontrivedawoodensnare,adestroyerofMice,whichtheycallatrap。TherewasathirdwhomIandhisdearmotherlovedwell,andhimPuff—jawhascarriedoutintothedeepanddrowned。Come,then,andletusarmourselvesandgooutagainstthemwhenwehavearrayedourselvesinrich—wroughtarms。\'
（ll。122—131）Withsuchwordshepersuadedthemalltogirdthemselves。AndAreswhohaschargeofwarequippedthem。Firsttheyfastenedongreavesandcoveredtheirshinswithgreenbean—
podsbrokenintotwopartswhichtheyhadgnawedout,standingoverthemallnight。Theirbreastplateswereofskinstretchedonreeds,skilfullymadefromaferrettheyhadflayed。Forshieldseachhadthecentre—pieceofalamp,andtheirspearswerelongneedlesallofbronze,theworkofAres,andthehelmetsupontheirtempleswerepea—nutshells。
（ll。132—138）SotheMicearmedthemselves。ButwhentheFrogswereawareofit,theyroseupoutofthewaterandcomingtogethertooneplacegatheredacouncilofgrievouswar。Andwhiletheywereaskingwhencethequarrelarose,andwhatthecauseofthisanger,aheralddrewnearbearingawandinhispaws,Pot—visitorthesonofgreat—heartedCheese—carver。Hebroughtthegrimmessageofwar,speakingthus:
（ll。139—143）`Frogs,theMicehavesentmewiththeirthreatsagainstyou,andbidyouarmyourselvesforwarandbattle;fortheyhaveseenCrumb—snatcherinthewaterwhomyourkingPuff—
jawslew。Fight,then,asmanyofyouasarewarriorsamongtheFrogs。\'
（ll。144—146）Withthesewordsheexplainedthematter。Sowhenthisblamelessspeechcametotheirears,theproudFrogsweredisturbedintheirheartsandbegantoblamePuff—jaw。Butheroseupandsaid:
（ll。147—159）`Friends,IkillednoMouse,nordidIseeoneperishing。SurelyhewasdrownedwhileplayingbythelakeandimitatingtheswimmingoftheFrogs,andnowthesewretchesblamemewhoamguiltless。Comethen;letustakecounselhowwemayutterlydestroythewilyMice。Moreover,IwilltellyouwhatI
thinktobethebest。Letusallgirdonourarmourandtakeourstandontheverybrinkofthelake,wherethegroundbreaksdownsheer:thenwhentheycomeoutandchargeuponus,leteachseizebythecresttheMousewhoattackshim,andcastthemwiththeirhelmetsintothelake;forsoweshalldrownthesedry—hobs（2）
inthewater,andmerrilysetuphereatrophyofvictoryovertheslaughteredMice。\'
（ll。160—167）Bythisspeechhepersuadedthemtoarmthemselves。
Theycoveredtheirshinswithleavesofmallows,andhadbreastplatesmadeoffinegreenbeet—leaves,andcabbage—leaves,skilfullyfashioned,forshields。Eachonewasequippedwithalong,pointedrushforaspear,andsmoothsnail—shellstocovertheirheads。Thentheystoodinclose—lockedranksuponthehighbank,wavingtheirspears,andwerefilled,eachofthem,withcourage。
（ll。168—173）NowZeuscalledthegodstostarryheavenandshowedthemthemartialthrongandthestoutwarriorssomanyandsogreat,allbearinglongspears;fortheywereasthehostoftheCentaursandtheGiants。Thenheaskedwithaslysmile;
`WhoofthedeathlessgodswillhelptheFrogsandwhotheMice？\'
AndhesaidtoAthena;
（ll。174—176）`Mydaughter,willyougoaidtheMice？Fortheyallfrolicaboutyourtemplecontinually,delightinginthefatofsacrificeandinallkindsoffood。\'
（ll。177—196）SothensaidthesonofCronos。ButAthenaansweredhim:`IwouldnevergotohelptheMicewhentheyarehardpressed,fortheyhavedonememuchmischief,spoilingmygarlandsandmylampstoo,togettheoil。Andthisthingthattheyhavedonevexesmyheartexceedingly:theyhaveeatenholesinmysacredrobe,whichIwovepainfullyspinningafinewoofonafinewarp,andmadeitfullofholes。Andnowthemoney—lenderisatmeandchargesmeinterestwhichisabitterthingforimmortals。ForIborrowedtodomyweaving,andhavenothingwithwhichtorepay。YetevensoIwillnothelptheFrogs;fortheyalsoarenotconsiderable:once,whenIwasreturningearlyfromwar,Iwasverytired,andthoughIwantedtosleep,theywouldnotletmeevendozealittlefortheiroutcry;andsoI
laysleeplesswithaheadacheuntilcock—crow。No,gods,letusrefrainfromhelpingthesehosts,oroneofusmaygetwoundedwithasharpspear;fortheyfighthandtohand,evenifagodcomesagainstthem。Letusratherallamuseourselveswatchingthefightfromheaven。\'
（ll。197—198）SosaidAthena。Andtheothergodsagreedwithher,andallwentinabodytooneplace。
（ll。199—201）Thengnatswithgreattrumpetssoundedthefellnoteofwar,andZeusthesonofCronosthunderedfromheaven,asignofgrievousbattle。
（ll。202—223）FirstLoud—croakerwoundedLickmaninthebelly,rightthroughthemidriff。Downfellheonhisfaceandsoiledhissoftfurinthedust:hefellwithathudandhisarmourclashedabouthim。NextTroglodyteshotatthesonofMudman,anddrovethestrongspeardeepintohisbreast;sohefell,andblackdeathseizedhimandhisspiritflittedforthfromhismouth。ThenBeetystruckPot—visitortotheheartandkilledhim,andBread—nibblerhitLoud—crierinthebelly,sothathefellonhisfaceandhisspiritflittedforthfromhislimbs。
NowwhenPond—larkersawLoud—crierperishing,hestruckinquicklyandwoundedTroglodyteinhissoftneckwitharocklikeamill—stone,sothatdarknessveiledhiseyes。ThereatOcimideswasseizedwithgrief,andstruckoutwithhissharpreedanddidnotdrawhisspearbacktohimagain,butfelledhisenemythereandthen。AndLickmanshotathimwithabrightspearandhithimunerringlyinthemidriff。AndashemarkedCabbage—eaterrunningaway,hefellonthesteepbank,yetevensodidnotceasefightingbutsmotethatothersothathefellanddidnotriseagain;andthelakewasdyedwithredbloodashelayoutstretchedalongtheshore,piercedthroughthegutsandshiningflanks。AlsoheslewCheese—eaterontheverybrink……
（（LACUNA））
（ll。224—251）ButReedytooktoflightwhenhesawHam—nibbler,andfled,plungingintothelakeandthrowingawayhisshield。
ThenblamelessPot—visitorkilledBrewerandWater—larkedkilledthelordHam—nibbler,strikinghimontheheadwithapebble,sothathisbrainsflowedoutathisnostrilsandtheearthwasbespatteredwithblood。FaultlessMuck—coucherspranguponLick—
platterandkilledhimwithhisspearandbroughtdarknessuponhiseyes:andLeekysawit,anddraggedLick—platterbythefoot,thoughhewasdead,andchokedhiminthelake。ButCrumb—
snatcherwasfightingtoavengehisdeadcomrades,andhitLeekybeforehereachedtheland;andhefellforwardattheblowandhissoulwentdowntoHades。Andseeingthis,theCabbage—
climbertookaclodofmudandhurleditattheMouse,plasteringallhisforeheadandnearlyblindinghim。ThereatCrumb—snatcherwasenragedandcaughtupinhisstronghandahugestonethatlayupontheground,aheavyburdenforthesoil:withthathehitCabbage—climberbelowthekneeandsplinteredhiswholerightshin,hurlinghimonhisbackinthedust。ButCroakpersonkepthimoff,andrushingattheMouseinturn,hithiminthemiddleofthebellyanddrovethewholereed—spearintohim,andashedrewthespearbacktohimwithhisstronghand,allhisfoe\'sbowelsgushedoutupontheground。AndwhenTroglodytesawthedeed,ashewaslimpingawayfromthefightontheriverbank,heshrankbacksorelymoved,andleapedintoatrenchtoescapesheerdeath。ThenBread—nibblerhitPuff—jawonthetoes——hecameupatthelastfromthelakeandwasgreatlydistressed……
（（LACUNA））
（ll。252—259）AndwhenLeekysawhimfallenforward,butstillhalfalive,hepressedthroughthosewhofoughtinfrontandhurledasharpreedathim;butthepointofthespearwasstayedanddidnotbreakhisshield。ThennobleRueful,likeAreshimself,struckhisflawlesshead—piecemadeoffourpots——heonlyamongtheFrogsshowedprowessinthethrong。Butwhenhesawtheotherrushathim,hedidnotstaytomeetthestout—
heartedherobutdiveddowntothedepthsofthelake。
（ll。260—271）NowtherewasoneamongtheMice,Slice—snatcher,whoexcelledtherest,dearsonofGnawerthesonofblamelessBread—stealer。Hewenttohishouseandbadehissontakepartinthewar。ThiswarriorthreatenedtodestroytheraceofFrogsutterly（3）,andsplittingachestnut—huskintotwopartsalongthejoint,putthetwohollowpiecesasarmouronhispaws:thenstraightwaytheFrogsweredismayedandallrusheddowntothelake,andhewouldhavemadegoodhisboast——forhehadgreatstrength——hadnottheSonofCronos,theFatherofmenandgods,beenquicktomarkthethingandpitiedtheFrogsastheywereperishing。Heshookhishead,andutteredthisword:
（ll。272—276）`Dear,dear,howfearfuladeeddomyeyesbehold！
Slice—snatchermakesnosmallpanicrushingtoandfroamongtheFrogsbythelake。LetusthenmakeallhasteandsendwarlikePallasorevenAres,fortheywillstophisfighting,strongthoughheis。\'
（ll。277—284）SosaidtheSonofCronos;butHeraansweredhim:
`SonofCronos,neitherthemightofAthenanorofArescanavailtodelivertheFrogsfromutterdestruction。Rather,comeandletusallgotohelpthem,orelseletlooseyourweapon,thegreatandformidableTitan—killerwithwhichyoukilledCapaneus,thatdoughtyman,andgreatEnceladusandthewildtribesofGiants;ay,letitloose,forsothemostvaliantwillbeslain。\'
（ll。285—293）SosaidHera:andtheSonofCronoscastaluridthunderbolt:firsthethunderedandmadegreatOlympusshake,andthecastthethunderbolt,theawfulweaponofZeus,tossingitlightlyforth。Thushefrightenedthemall,FrogsandMicealike,hurlinghisboltuponthem。YetevensothearmyoftheMicedidnotrelax,buthopedstillmoretodestroythebroodofwarriorFrogs。Only,theSonofCronos,onOlympus,pitiedtheFrogsandthenstraightwaysentthemhelpers。
（ll。294—303）Sotherecamesuddenlywarriorswithmailedbacksandcurvingclaws,crookedbeaststhatwalkedsideways,nut—
cracker—jawed,shell—hided:bonytheywere,flat—backed,withglisteningshouldersandbandylegsandstretchingarmsandeyesthatlookedbehindthem。Theyhadalsoeightlegsandtwofeelers——persistentcreatureswhoarecalledcrabs。ThesenippedoffthetailsandpawsandfeetoftheMicewiththeirjaws,whilespearsonlybeatonthem。OfthesetheMicewereallafraidandnolongerstooduptothem,butturnedandfled。
Alreadythesunwasset,andsocametheendoftheone—daywar。
ENDNOTES:
（1）Lines42—52areintrusive;thelistofvegetableswhichtheMousecannoteatmustfollowimmediatelyafterthevariousdishesofwhichhedoeseat。
（2）lit。`thoseunabletoswim\'。
（3）ThismaybeaparodyofOrion\'sthreatinHesiod,\"Astronomy\",frag。4。
OFTHEORIGINOFHOMERANDHESIOD,ANDOFTHEIRCONTEST
（aka\"TheContestofHomerandHesiod\"）
Everyoneboaststhatthemostdivineofpoets,HomerandHesiod,aresaidtobehisparticularcountrymen。Hesiod,indeed,hasputanametohisnativeplaceandsopreventedanyrivalry,forhesaidthathisfather`settlednearHeliconinawretchedhamlet,Ascra,whichismiserableinwinter,sultryinsummer,andgoodatnoseason。\'But,asforHomer,youmightalmostsaythateverycitywithitsinhabitantsclaimshimasherson。
ForemostarethemenofSmyrnawhosaythathewastheSonofMeles,theriveroftheirtown,byanymphCretheis,andthathewasatfirstcalledMelesigenes。HewasnamedHomerlater,whenhebecameblind,thisbeingtheirusualepithetforsuchpeople。
TheChians,ontheotherhand,bringforwardevidencetoshowthathewastheircountrymen,sayingthatthereactuallyremainsomeofhisdescendantsamongthemwhoarecalledHomeridae。TheColophoniansevenshowtheplacewheretheydeclarethathebegantocomposewhenaschoolmaster,andsaythathisfirstworkwasthe\"Margites\"。
Astohisparentsalso,thereisonallhandsgreatdisagreement。
HellanicusandCleanthessayhisfatherwasMaeon,butEugaeonsaysMeles;CalliclesisforMnesagoras,DemocritusofTroezenforDaemon,amerchant—trader。Some,again,sayhewasthesonofThamyras,buttheEgyptianssayofMenemachus,apriest—
scribe,andthereareeventhosewhofatherhimonTelemachus,thesonofOdysseus。Asforhismother,sheisvariouslycalledMetis,Cretheis,Themista,andEugnetho。OtherssayshewasanIthacanwomansoldasaslavebythePhoenicians;other,CalliopetheMuse;othersagainPolycasta,thedaughterofNestor。
HomerhimselfwascalledMelesor,accordingtodifferentaccounts,MelesigenesorAltes。SomeauthoritiessayhewascalledHomer,becausehisfatherwasgivenasahostagetothePersiansbythemenofCyprus;others,becauseofhisblindness;
foramongsttheAeolianstheblindaresocalled。Wewillsetdown,however,whatwehaveheardtohavebeensaidbythePythiaconcerningHomerinthetimeofthemostsacredEmperorHadrian。
WhenthemonarchinquiredfromwhatcityHomercame,andwhosesonhewas,thepriestessdeliveredaresponseinhexametersafterthisfashion:
`Doyouaskmeoftheobscureraceandcountryoftheheavenlysiren？Ithacaishiscountry,Telemachushisfather,andEpicasta,Nestor\'sdaughter,themotherthatbarehim,amanbyfarthewisestofmortalkind。\'Thiswemustmostimplicitlybelieve,theinquirerandtheanswererbeingwhotheyare——
especiallysincethepoethassogreatlyglorifiedhisgrandfatherinhisworks。
NowsomesaythathewasearlierthanHesiod,othersthathewasyoungerandakintohim。Theygivehisdescentthus:ApolloandAethusa,daughterofPoseidon,hadasonLinus,towhomwasbornPierus。FromPierusandthenymphMethonesprangOeager;andfromOeagerandCalliopeOrpheus;fromOrpheus,Dres;andfromhim,Eucles。ThedescentiscontinuedthroughIadmonides,Philoterpes,Euphemus,EpiphradesandMelanopuswhohadsonsDiusandApelles。DiusbyPycimede,thedaughterofApollohadtwosonsHesiodandPerses;whileApellesbegotMaeonwhowasthefatherofHomerbyadaughteroftheRiverMeles。
AccordingtooneaccounttheyflourishedatthesametimeandevenhadacontestofskillatChalcisinEuboea。For,theysay,afterHomerhadcomposedthe\"Margites\",hewentaboutfromcitytocityasaminstrel,andcomingtoDelphi,inquiredwhohewasandofwhatcountry？ThePythiaanswered:
`TheIsleofIosisyourmother\'scountryanditshallreceiveyoudead;butbewareoftheriddleoftheyoungchildren。\'（1）
Hearingthis,itissaid,hehesitatedtogotoIos,andremainedintheregionwherehewas。NowaboutthesametimeGanyctorwascelebratingthefuneralritesofhisfatherAmphidamas,kingofEuboea,andinvitedtothegatheringnotonlyallthosewhowerefamousforbodilystrengthandfleetnessoffoot,butalsothosewhoexcelledinwit,promisingthemgreatrewards。Andso,asthestorygoes,thetwowenttoChalcisandmetbychance。TheleadingChalcidianswerejudgestogetherwithPaneides,thebrotherofthedeadking;anditissaidthatafterawonderfulcontestbetweenthetwopoets,Hesiodwoninthefollowingmanner:hecameforwardintothemidstandputHomeronequestionafteranother,whichHomeranswered。Hesiod,then,began:
`Homer,sonofMeles,inspiredwithwisdomfromheaven,come,tellmefirstwhatisbestformortalman？\'
HOMER:`Formenonearth\'tisbestnevertobebornatall;orbeingborn,topassthroughthegatesofHadeswithallspeed。\'
Hesiodthenaskedagain:
`Come,tellmenowthisalso,godlikeHomer:whatthinkyouinyourheartismostdelightsometomen？\'
Homeranswered:
`Whenmirthreignsthroughoutthetown,andfeastersaboutthehouse,sittinginorder,listentoaminstrel;whenthetablesbesidethemareladenwithbreadandmeat,andawine—bearerdrawssweetdrinkfromthemixing—bowlandfillsthecups:thisI
thinkinmyhearttobemostdelightsome。\'
ItissaidthatwhenHomerhadrecitedtheseverses,theyweresoadmiredbytheGreeksastobecalledgoldenbythem,andthatevennowatpublicsacrificesalltheguestssolemnlyrecitethembeforefeastsandlibations。Hesiod,however,wasannoyedbyHomer\'sfelicityandhurriedontoposehimwithhardquestions。
Hethereforebeganwiththefollowinglines:
`Come,Muse;singnottomeofthingsthatare,orthatshallbe,orthatwereofold;butthinkofanothersong。\'
ThenHomer,wishingtoescapefromtheimpassebyanaptanswer,replied:——
`Nevershallhorseswithclatteringhoofsbreakchariots,strivingforvictoryaboutthetombofZeus。\'
HereagainHomerhadfairlymetHesiod,andsothelatterturnedtosentencesofdoubtfulmeaning（2）:herecitedmanylinesandrequiredHomertocompletethesenseofeachappropriately。ThefirstofthefollowingversesisHesiod\'sandthenextHomer\'s:
butsometimesHesiodputshisquestionintwolines。
HESIOD:`Thentheydinedonthefleshofoxenandtheirhorses\'
necks——\'
HOMER:`Theyunyokeddrippingwithsweat,whentheyhadhadenoughofwar。\'
HESIOD:`AndthePhrygians,whoofallmenarehandiestatships——\'
HOMER:`Tofilchtheirdinnerfrompiratesonthebeach。\'
HESIOD:`Toshootfortharrowsagainstthetribesofcursedgiantswithhishands——\'
HOMER:`Heraclesunslunghiscurvedbowfromhisshoulders。\'
HESIOD:`Thismanisthesonofabravefatherandaweakling——\'
HOMER:`Mother;forwaristoosternforanywoman。\'
HESIOD:`Butforyou,yourfatherandladymotherlayinlove——\'
HOMER:`WhentheybegotyoubytheaidofgoldenAphrodite。\'
HESIOD:`Butwhenshehadbeenmadesubjectinlove,Artemis,whodelightsinarrows——\'
HOMER:`SlewCallistowithashotofhersilverbow。\'
HESIOD:`Sotheyfeastedalldaylong,takingnothing——\'
HOMER:`Fromtheirownhouses;forAgamemnon,kingofmen,suppliedthem。\'
HESIOD:`Whentheyhadfeasted,theygatheredamongtheglowingashesthebonesofthedeadZeus——\'
HOMER:`BornSarpedon,thatboldandgodlikeman。\'
HESIOD:`NowwehavelingeredthusabouttheplainofSimois,forthfromtheshipsletusgoourway,uponourshoulders——\'
HOMER:`Havingourhiltedswordsandlong—helvedspears。\'
HESIOD:`Thentheyoungheroeswiththeirhandsfromthesea——\'
HOMER:`Gladlyandswiftlyhauledouttheirfleetship。\'
HESIOD:`ThentheycametoColchisandkingAeetes——\'
HOMER:`Theyavoided;fortheyknewhewasinhospitableandlawless。\'
HESIOD:`Nowwhentheyhadpouredlibationsanddeeplydrunk,thesurgingsea——\'
HOMER:`Theyweremindedtotraverseonwell—builtships。\'
HESIOD:`TheSonofAtreusprayedgreatlyforthemthattheyallmightperish——\'
HOMER:`Atnotimeinthesea:andheopenedhismouthsaid:\'
HESIOD:`Eat,myguests,anddrink,andmaynooneofyoureturnhometohisdearcountry——\'
HOMER:`Distressed;butmayyouallreachhomeagainunscathed。\'
WhenHomerhadmethimfairlyoneverypointHesiodsaid:
`OnlytellmethisthingthatIask:HowmanyAchaeanswenttoIliumwiththesonsofAtreus？\'
Homeransweredinamathematicalproblem,thus:
`Therewerefiftyhearths,andateachhearthwerefiftyspits,andoneachspitwerefiftycarcases,andtherewerethricethreehundredAchaeanstoeachjoint。\'
Thisisfoundtobeanincrediblenumber;forastherewerefiftyhearths,thenumberofspitsistwothousandfivehundred;andofcarcasses,onehundredandtwentythousand……
Homer,then,havingtheadvantageoneverypoint,Hesiodwasjealousandbeganagain:
`Homer,sonofMeles,ifindeedtheMuses,daughtersofgreatZeusthemosthigh,honouryouasitissaid,tellmeastandardthatisbothbestandworstformortal—men;forIlongtoknowit。\'Homerreplied:`Hesiod,sonofDius,Iamwillingtotellyouwhatyoucommand,andveryreadilywillIansweryou。ForeachmantobeastandardwillIansweryou。Foreachmantobeastandardtohimselfismostexcellentforthegood,butforthebaditistheworstofallthings。Andnowaskmewhateverelseyourheartdesires。\'
HESIOD:`Howwouldmenbestdwellincities,andwithwhatobservances？\'
HOMER:`Byscorningtogetuncleangainandifthegoodwerehonoured,butjusticefellupontheunjust。\'
HESIOD:`Whatisthebestthingofallforamantoaskofthegodsinprayer？\'
HOMER:`Thathemaybealwaysatpeacewithhimselfcontinually。\'
HESIOD:`Canyoutellmeinbriefestspacewhatisbestofall？\'
HOMER:`Asoundmindinamanlybody,asIbelieve。\'
HESIOD:`Ofwhateffectarerighteousnessandcourage？\'
HOMER:`Toadvancethecommongoodbyprivatepains。\'
HESIOD:`Whatisthemarkofwisdomamongmen？\'
HOMER:`Toreadarightthepresent,andtomarchwiththeoccasion。\'
HESIOD:`Inwhatkindofmatterisitrighttotrustinmen？\'
HOMER:`Wheredangeritselffollowstheactionclose。\'
HESIOD:`Whatdomenmeanbyhappiness？\'
HOMER:`Deathafteralifeofleastpainandgreatestpleasure。\'
Aftertheseverseshadbeenspoken,alltheHellenescalledforHomertobecrowned。ButKingPaneidesbadeeachofthemrecitethefinestpassagefromhisownpoems。Hesiod,therefore,beganasfollows:
`WhenthePleiads,thedaughtersofAtlas,begintorisebegintheharvest,andbeginploughingeretheyset。Forfortynightsanddaystheyarehidden,butappearagainastheyearwearsround,whenfirstthesickleissharpened。Thisisthelawoftheplainsandforthosewhodwellneartheseaorliveintherich—soiledvalleys,farfromthewave—tosseddeep:striptosow,andstriptoplough,andstriptoreapwhenallthingsareinseason。\'（3）
ThenHomer:
`TheranksstoodfirmaboutthetwoAiantes,suchthatnotevenAreswouldhavescornedthemhadhemetthem,noryetAthenawhosavesarmies。FortherethechosenbestawaitedthechargeoftheTrojansandnobleHector,makingafenceofspearsandserriedshields。Shieldclosedwithshield,andhelmwithhelm,andeachmanwithhisfellow,andthepeaksoftheirhead—pieceswithcrestsofhorse—hairtouchedastheybenttheirheads:soclosetheystoodtogether。Themurderousbattlebristledwiththelong,flesh—rendingspearstheyheld,andtheflashofbronzefrompolishedhelmsandnew—burnishedbreast—platesandgleamingshieldsblindedtheeyes。Veryhardofheartwouldhehavebeen,whocouldthenhaveseenthatstrifewithjoyandfeltnopang。\'
（4）
Here,again,theHellenesapplaudedHomeradmiringly,sofardidtheversesexceedtheordinarylevel;anddemandedthatheshouldbeadjudgedthewinner。ButthekinggavethecrowntoHesiod,declaringthatitwasrightthathewhocalleduponmentofollowpeaceandhusbandryshouldhavetheprizeratherthanonewhodweltonwarandslaughter。Inthisway,then,wearetold,HesiodgainedthevictoryandreceivedabrazentripodwhichhededicatedtotheMuseswiththisinscription:
`HesioddedicatedthistripodtotheMusesofHeliconafterhehadconquereddivineHomeratChalcisinacontestofsong。\'
Afterthegatheringwasdispersed,HesiodcrossedtothemainlandandwenttoDelphitoconsulttheoracleandtodedicatethefirstfruitsofhisvictorytothegod。Theysaythatashewasapproachingthetemple,theprophetessbecameinspiredandsaid:
`Blessedisthismanwhoservesmyhouse,——Hesiod,whoishonouredbythedeathlessMuses:surelyhisrenownshallbeaswideasthelightofdawnisspread。ButbewareofthepleasantgroveofNemeanZeus;fortheredeath\'sendisdestinedtobefallyou。\'
WhenHesiodheardthisoracle,hekeptawayfromthePeloponnesus,supposingthatthegodmeanttheNemeathere;andcomingtoOenoeinLocris,hestayedwithAmphiphanesandGanyetorthesonsofPhegeus,thusunconsciouslyfulfillingtheoracle;forallthatregionwascalledthesacredplaceofNemeanZeus。HecontinuedtostayasomewhatlongtimeatOenoe,untiltheyoungmen,suspectingHesiodofseducingtheirsister,killedhimandcasthisbodyintotheseawhichseparatesAchaeaandLocris。Onthethirdday,however,hisbodywasbroughttolandbydolphinswhilesomelocalfeastofAriadnewasbeingheld。
Thereupon,allthepeoplehurriedtotheshore,andrecognizedthebody,lamentedoveritandburiedit,andthenbegantolookfortheassassins。Butthese,fearingtheangeroftheircountrymen,launchedafishingboat,andputouttoseaforCrete:theyhadfinishedhalftheirvoyagewhenZeussankthemwithathunderbolt,asAlcidamasstatesinhis\"Museum\"。
Eratosthenes,however,saysinhis\"Hesiod\"thatCtimenusandAntiphus,sonsofGanyetor,killedhimforthereasonalreadystated,andweresacrificedbyEuryclestheseertothegodsofhospitality。Headdsthatthegirl,sisteroftheabove—named,hangedherselfaftershehadbeenseduced,andthatshewasseducedbysomestranger,Demodesbyname,whowastravellingwithHesiod,andwhowasalsokilledbythebrothers。AtalatertimethemenofOrchomenusremovedhisbodyastheyweredirectedbyanoracle,andburiedhimintheirowncountrywheretheyplacedthisinscriptiononhistomb:
`Ascrawithitsmanycornfieldswashisnativeland;butindeaththelandofthehorse—drivingMinyansholdsthebonesofHesiod,whoserenownisgreatestamongmenofallwhoarejudgedbythetestofwit。\'
SomuchforHesiod。ButHomer,afterlosingthevictory,wentfromplacetoplacerecitinghispoems,andfirstofallthe\"Thebais\"inseventhousandverseswhichbegins:`Goddess,singofparchedArgoswhencekings……\',andthenthe\"Epigoni\"inseventhousandversesbeginning:`Andnow,Muses,letusbegintosingofmenoflaterdays\';forsomesaythatthesepoemsalsoarebyHomer。NowXanthusandGorgus,sonofMidastheking,heardhisepicsandinvitedhimtocomposeaepitaphforthetomboftheirfatheronwhichwasabronzefigureofamaidenbewailingthedeathofMidas。Hewrotethefollowinglines:——
`IamamaidenofbronzeandsituponthetombofMidas。Whilewaterflows,andtalltreesputforthleaves,andriversswell,andtheseabreaksontheshore;whilethesunrisesandshinesandthebrightmoonalso,everremainingonthismournfultombI
tellthepasser—bythatMidashereliesburied。\'
FortheseversestheygavehimasilverbowlwhichhededicatedtoApolloatDelphiwiththisinscription:`LordPhoebus,I,Homer,havegivenyouanoblegiftforthewisdomIhaveofyou:
doyouevergrantmerenown。\'
Afterthishecomposedthe\"Odyssey\"intwelvethousandverses,havingpreviouslywrittenthe\"Iliad\"infifteenthousandfivehundredverses（5）。FromDelphi,aswearetold,hewenttoAthensandwasentertainedbyMedon,kingoftheAthenians。Andbeingonedayinthecouncilhallwhenitwascoldandafirewasburningthere,hedrewoffthefollowinglines:
`Childrenareaman\'scrown,andtowersofacity,horsesaretheornamentofaplain,andshipsofthesea;andgooditistoseeapeopleseatedinassembly。ButwithablazingfireahouselooksworthieruponawintrydaywhentheSonofCronossendsdownsnow。\'
FromAthenshewentontoCorinth,wherehesangsnatchesofhispoemsandwasreceivedwithdistinction。NexthewenttoArgosandthererecitedtheseversesfromthe\"Iliad\":
`ThesonsoftheAchaeanswhoheldArgosandwalledTiryns,andHermioneandAsinewhichliealongadeepbay,andTroezen,andEiones,andvine—cladEpidaurus,andtheislandofAegina,andMases,——thesefollowedstrong—voicedDiomedes,sonofTydeus,whohadthespiritofhisfatherthesonofOeneus,andSthenelus,dearsonoffamousCapaneus。Andwiththesetwotherewentathirdleader,Eurypylus,agodlikeman,sonofthelordMecisteus,sprungofTalaus;butstrong—voicedDiomedeswastheirchiefleader。Thesemenhadeightydarkshipswhereinwererangedmenskilledinwar,Argiveswithlinenjerkins,verygoadsofwar。\'（6）
ThispraiseoftheirracebythemostfamousofallpoetssoexceedinglydelightedtheleadingArgives,thattheyrewardedhimwithcostlygiftsandsetupabrazenstatuetohim,decreeingthatsacrificeshouldbeofferedtoHomerdaily,monthly,andyearly;andthatanothersacrificeshouldbesenttoChioseveryfiveyears。Thisistheinscriptiontheycutuponhisstatue:
`ThisisdivineHomerwhobyhissweet—voicedarthonouredallproudHellas,butespeciallytheArgiveswhothrewdownthegod—
builtwallsofTroytoavengerich—hairedHelen。Forthiscausethepeopleofagreatcitysethisstatuehereandservehimwiththehonoursofthedeathlessgods。\'
AfterhehadstayedforsometimeinArgos,hecrossedovertoDelos,tothegreatassembly,andthere,standingonthealtarofhorns,herecitedthe\"HymntoApollo\"（7）whichbegins:`IwillrememberandnotforgetApollothefar—shooter。\'Whenthehymnwasended,theIoniansmadehimacitizenofeachoneoftheirstates,andtheDelianswrotethepoemonawhitenedtabletanddedicateditinthetempleofArtemis。ThepoetsailedtoIos,aftertheassemblywasbrokenup,tojoinCreophylus,andstayedtheresometime,beingnowanoldman。And,itissaid,ashewassittingbytheseaheaskedsomeboyswhowerereturningfromfishing:
`Sirs,huntersofdeep—seaprey,havewecaughtanything？\'
Tothisreplied:
`Allthatwecaught,weleftbehind,andcarryawayallthatwedidnotcatch。\'
Homerdidnotunderstandthisreplyandaskedwhattheymeant。
Theythenexplainedthattheyhadcaughtnothinginfishing,buthadbeencatchingtheirlice,andthoseofthelicewhichtheycaught,theyleftbehind;butcarriedawayintheirclothesthosewhichtheydidnotcatch。HereuponHomerrememberedtheoracleand,perceivingthattheendofhislifehadcomecomposedhisownepitaph。Andwhilehewasretiringfromthatplace,heslippedinaclayeyplaceandfelluponhisside,anddied,itissaid,thethirddayafter。HewasburiedinIos,andthisishisepitaph:
`HeretheearthcoversthesacredheadofdivineHomer,theglorifierofhero—men。\'
ENDNOTES:
（1）sc。theriddleofthefisher—boyswhichcomesattheendofthiswork。
（2）TheversesofHesiodarecalleddoubtfulinmeaningbecausetheyare,iftakenalone,eitherincompleteorabsurd。
（3）\"WorksandDays\",ll。383—392。
（4）\"Iliad\"xiii,ll。126—133,339—344。
（5）Theacceptedtextofthe\"Iliad\"contains15,693verses;
thatofthe\"Odyssey\",12,110。
（6）\"Iliad\"ii,ll。559—568（withtwoadditionalverses）。
（7）\"HomericHymns\",iii。