hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第45章

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；　and　so　came　the　end　of　the　one…day　war。


ENDNOTES：

（1）　　Lines　42…52　are　intrusive；　the　list　of　vegetables　which　the　　　　　　Mouse　cannot　eat　must　follow　immediately　after　the　various　　　　　　dishes　of　which　he　does　eat。　（2）　　lit。　‘those　unable　to　swim'。　（3）　　This　may　be　a　parody　of　Orion's　threat　in　Hesiod；　　　　　　〃Astronomy〃；　frag。　4。



OF　THE　ORIGIN　OF　HOMER　AND　HESIOD；　AND　OF　THEIR　CONTEST　（aka　〃The　Contest　of　Homer　and　Hesiod〃）

Everyone　boasts　that　the　most　divine　of　poets；　Homer　and　Hesiod；　are　said　to　be　his　particular　countrymen。　　Hesiod；　indeed；　has　put　a　name　to　his　native　place　and　so　prevented　any　rivalry；　for　he　said　that　his　father　‘settled　near　Helicon　in　a　wretched　hamlet；　Ascra；　which　is　miserable　in　winter；　sultry　in　summer；　and　good　at　no　season。'　　But；　as　for　Homer；　you　might　almost　say　that　every　city　with　its　inhabitants　claims　him　as　her　son。　　Foremost　are　the　men　of　Smyrna　who　say　that　he　was　the　Son　of　Meles；　the　river　of　their　town；　by　a　nymph　Cretheis；　and　that　he　was　at　first　called　Melesigenes。　　He　was　named　Homer　later；　when　he　became　blind；　this　being　their　usual　epithet　for　such　people。　　The　Chians；　on　the　other　hand；　bring　forward　evidence　to　show　that　he　was　their　countrymen；　saying　that　there　actually　remain　some　of　his　descendants　among　them　who　are　called　Homeridae。　　The　Colophonians　even　show　the　place　where　they　declare　that　he　began　to　compose　when　a　schoolmaster；　and　say　that　his　first　work　was　the　〃Margites〃。

As　to　his　parents　also；　there　is　on　all　hands　great　disagreement。

Hellanicus　and　Cleanthes　say　his　father　was　Maeon；　but　Eugaeon　says　Meles；　Callicles　is　for　Mnesagoras；　Democritus　of　Troezen　for　Daemon；　a　merchant…trader。　　Some；　again；　say　he　was　the　son　of　Thamyras；　but　the　Egyptians　say　of　Menemachus；　a　priest…　scribe；　and　there　are　even　those　who　father　him　on　Telemachus；　the　son　of　Odysseus。　　As　for　his　mother；　she　is　variously　called　Metis；　Cretheis；　Themista；　and　Eugnetho。　　Others　say　she　was　an　Ithacan　woman　sold　as　a　slave　by　the　Phoenicians；　other；　Calliope　the　Muse；　others　again　Polycasta；　the　daughter　of　Nestor。

Homer　himself　was　called　Meles　or；　according　to　different　accounts；　Melesigenes　or　Altes。　　Some　authorities　say　he　was　called　Homer；　because　his　father　was　given　as　a　hostage　to　the　Persians　by　the　men　of　Cyprus；　others；　because　of　his　blindness；　for　amongst　the　Aeolians　the　blind　are　so　called。　　We　will　set　down；　however；　what　we　have　heard　to　have　been　said　by　the　Pythia　concerning　Homer　in　the　time　of　the　most　sacred　Emperor　Hadrian。　　When　the　monarch　inquired　from　what　city　Homer　came；　and　whose　son　he　was；　the　priestess　delivered　a　response　in　hexameters　after　this　fashion：

‘Do　you　ask　me　of　the　obscure　race　and　country　of　the　heavenly　siren？　　Ithaca　is　his　country；　Telemachus　his　father；　and　Epicasta；　Nestor's　daughter；　the　mother　that　bare　him；　a　man　by　far　the　wisest　of　mortal　kind。'　　This　we　must　most　implicitly　believe；　the　inquirer　and　the　answerer　being　who　they　are　　especially　since　the　poet　has　so　greatly　glorified　his　grandfather　in　his　works。

Now　some　say　that　he　was　earlier　than　Hesiod；　others　that　he　was　younger　and　akin　to　him。　　They　give　his　descent　thus：　Apollo　and　Aethusa；　daughter　of　Poseidon；　had　a　son　Linus；　to　whom　was　born　Pierus。　　From　Pierus　and　the　nymph　Methone　sprang　Oeager；　and　from　Oeager　and　Calliope　Orpheus；　from　Orpheus；　Dres；　and　from　him；　Eucles。　　The　descent　is　continued　through　Iadmonides；　Philoterpes；　Euphemus；　Epiphrades　and　Melanopus　who　had　sons　Dius　and　Apelles。　　Dius　by　Pycimede；　the　daughter　of　Apollo　had　two　sons　Hesiod　and　Perses；　while　Apelles　begot　Maeon　who　was　the　father　of　Homer　by　a　daughter　of　the　River　Meles。

According　to　one　account　they　flourished　at　the　same　time　and　even　had　a　contest　of　skill　at　Chalcis　in　Euboea。　　For；　they　say；　after　Homer　had　composed　the　〃Margites〃；　he　went　about　from　city　to　city　as　a　minstrel；　and　coming　to　Delphi；　inquired　who　he　was　and　of　what　country？　　The　Pythia　answered：

‘The　Isle　of　Ios　is　your　mother's　country　and　it　shall　receive　you　dead；　but　beware　of　the　riddle　of　the　young　children。'　（1）

Hearing　this；　it　is　said；　he　hesitated　to　go　to　Ios；　and　remained　in　the　region　where　he　was。　　Now　about　the　same　time　Ganyctor　was　celebrating　the　funeral　rites　of　his　father　Amphidamas；　king　of　Euboea；　and　invited　to　the　gathering　not　only　all　those　who　were　famous　for　bodily　strength　and　fleetness　of　foot；　but　also　those　who　excelled　in　wit；　promising　them　great　rewards。　　And　so；　as　the　story　goes；　the　two　went　to　Chalcis　and　met　by　chance。　　The　leading　Chalcidians　were　judges　together　with　Paneides；　the　brother　of　the　dead　king；　and　it　is　said　that　after　a　wonderful　contest　between　the　two　poets；　Hesiod　won　in　the　following　manner：　he　came　forward　into　the　midst　and　put　Homer　one　question　after　another；　which　Homer　answered。　　Hesiod；　then；　began：

‘Homer；　son　of　Meles；　inspired　with　wisdom　from　heaven；　come；　tell　me　first　what　is　best　for　mortal　man？'

HOMER：　‘For　men　on　earth　'tis　best　never　to　be　born　at　all；　or　being　born；　to　pass　through　the　gates　of　Hades　with　all　speed。'

Hesiod　then　asked　again：

‘Come；　tell　me　now　this　also；　godlike　Homer：　what　think　you　in　your　heart　is　most　delightsome　to　men？'

Homer　answered：

‘When　mirth　reigns　throughout　the　town；　and　feasters　about　the　house；　sitting　in　order；　listen　to　a　minstrel；　when　the　tables　beside　them　are　laden　with　bread　and　meat；　and　a　wine…bearer　draws　sweet　drink　from　the　mixing…bowl　and　fills　the　cups：　this　I　think　in　my　heart　to　be　most　delightsome。'

It　is　said　that　when　Homer　had　recited　these　verses；　they　were　so　admired　by　the　Greeks　as　to　be　called　golden　by　them；　and　that　even　now　at　public　sacrifices　all　the　guests　solemnly　recite　them　before　feasts　and　libations。　　Hesiod；　however；　was　annoyed　by　Homer's　felicity　and　hurried　on　to　pose　him　with　hard　questions。　　He　therefore　began　with　the　following　lines：

‘Come；　Muse；　sing　not　to　me　of　things　that　are；　or　that　shall　be；　or　that　were　of　old；　but　think　of　another　song。'

Then　Homer；　wishing　to　escape　from　the　impasse　by　an　apt　answer；　replied：　

‘Never　shall　horses　with　clattering　hoofs　break　chariots；　striving　for　victory　about　the　tomb　of　Zeus。'

Here　again　Homer　had　fairly　met　Hesiod；　and　so　the　latter　turned　to　sentences　of　doubtful　meaning　（2）：　he　recited　many　lines　and　required　Homer　to　complete　the　sense　of　each　appropriately。　　The　first　of　the　following　verses　is　Hesiod's　and　the　next　Homer's：　but　sometimes　Hesiod　puts　his　question　in　two　lines。

HESIOD：　‘Then　they　dined　on　the　flesh　of　oxen　and　their　horses'　necks　'

HOMER：　‘They　unyoked　dripping　with　sweat；　when　they　had　had　enough　of　war。'

HESIOD：　‘And　the　Phrygians；　who　of　all　men　are　handiest　at　ships　'

HOMER：　‘To　filch　their　dinner　from　pirates　on　the　beach。'

HESIOD：　‘To　shoot　forth　arrows　against　the　tribes　of　cursed　giants　with　his　hands　'

HOMER：　‘Heracles　unslung　his　curved　bow　from　his　shoulders。'

HESIOD：　‘This　man　is　the　son　of　a　brave　father　and　a　weakling　'

HOMER：　‘Mother；　for　war　is　too　stern　for　any　woman。'

HESIOD：　‘But　for　you；　your　father　and　lady　mother　lay　in　love　'

HOMER：　‘When　they　begot　you　by　the　aid　of　golden　Aphrodite。'

HESIOD：　‘But　when　she　had　been　made　subject　in　love；　Artemis；　who　delights　in　arrows　'

HOMER：　‘Slew　Callisto　with　a　shot　of　her　silver　bow。'

HESIOD：　‘So　they　feasted　all　day　long；　taking　nothing　'

HOMER：　‘From　their　own　houses；　for　Agamemnon；　king　of　men；　supplied　them。'

HESIOD：　‘When　they　had　feasted；　they　gathered　among　the　glowing　ashes　the　bones　of　the　dead　Zeus　'

HOMER：　‘Born　Sarpedon；　that　bold　and　godlike　man。'

HESIOD：　‘Now　we　have　lingered　thus　about　the　plain　of　Simois；　forth　from　the　ships　let　us　go　our　way；　upon　our　shoulders　'

HOMER：　‘Having　our　hilted　swords　and　long…helved　spears。'

HESIOD：　‘Then　the　young　heroes　with　their　hands　from　the　sea　'

HOMER：　‘Gladly　and　swiftly　hauled　out　their　fleet　ship。'

HESIOD：　‘Then　they　came　to　Colchis　and　king　Aeetes　'

HOMER：　‘They　avoided；　for　they　knew　he　was　inhospitable　and　lawless。'

HESIOD：　‘Now　when　they　had　poured　libations　and　deeply　drunk；　the　surging　sea　'

HOMER：　‘They　were　minded　to　traverse　on　well…built　ships。'

HESIOD：　‘The　Son　of　Atreus　prayed　greatly　for　them　that　they　all　might　perish　'

HOMER：　‘At　no　time　in　the　sea：　and　he　opened　his　mouth　said：'

HESIOD：　‘Eat；　my　guests；　and　drink；　and　may　no　one　of　you　return　home　to　his　dear　country　'

HOMER：　‘Distressed；　but　may　you　all　reach　home　again　unscathed。'

When　Homer　had　met　him　fairly　on　every　point　Hesiod　said：

‘Only　tell　me　this　thing　that　I　ask：　How　many　Achaeans　went　to　Ilium　with　the　sons　of　Atreus？'

Homer　answered　in　a　mathematical　problem；　thus：

‘There　were　fifty　hearths；　and　at　each　hearth　were　fifty　spits；　and　on　each　spit　were　fifty　carcases；　and　there　were　thrice　three　hundred　Achaeans　to　each　joint。'

This　is　found　to　be　an　incredible　number；　for　as　there　were　fifty　hearths；　the　number　of　spits　is　two　thousand　five　hundred；　and　of　carcasses；　one　hundred　and　twenty　thousand。。。

Homer；　then；　having　the　advantage　on　every　point；　Hesiod　was　jealous　and　began　again：

‘Homer；　son　of　Meles；　if　indeed　the　Muses；　daughters　of　great　Zeus　the　most　high；　honour　you　as　it　is　said；　tell　me　a　standard　that　is　both　best　and　worst　for　mortal…men；　for　I　long　to　know　it。'　　Homer　replied：　‘Hesiod；　son　of　Dius；　I　am　willing　to　tell　you　what　you　command；　and　very　readily　will　I　answer　you。　　For　each　man　to　be　a　standard　will　I　answer　you。　　For　each　man　to　be　a　standard　to　himself　is　most　excellent　for　the　good；　but　for　the　bad　it　is　the　worst　of　all　things。　　And　now　ask　me　whatever　else　your　heart　desires。'

HESIOD：　‘How　would　men　best　dwell　in　cities；　and　with　what　observances？'

HOMER：　‘By　scorning　to　get　unclean　gain　and　if　the　good　were　honoured；　but　justice　fell　upon　the　unjust。'

HESIOD：　‘What　is　the　best　thing　of　all　for　a　man　to　ask　of　the　gods　in　prayer？'

HOMER：　‘That　he　may　be　always　at　peace　with　himself　continually。'

HESIOD：　‘Can　you　tell　me　in　briefest　space　what　is　best　of　all？'

HOMER：　‘A　sound　mind　in　a　manly　body；　as　I　believe。'

HESIOD：　‘Of　what　effect　are　righteousness　and　courage？'

HOMER：　‘To　advance　the　common　good　by　private　pains。'

HESIOD：　‘What　is　the　mark　of　wisdom　among　men？'

HOMER：　‘To　read　aright　the　present；　and　to　march　with　the　occasion。'

HESIOD：　‘In　what　kind　of　matter　is　it　right　to　trust　in　men？'

HOMER：　‘Where　danger　itself　follows　the　action　close。'

HESIOD：　‘What　do　men　mean　by　happiness？'

HOMER：　‘Death　after　a　life　of　least　pain　and　greatest　pleasure。'

After　these　verses　had　been　spoken；　all　the　Hellenes　called　for　Homer　to　be　crowned。　　But　King　Paneides　bade　each　of　them　recite　the　finest　passage　from　his　own　poems。　　Hesiod；　therefore；　began　as　follows：

‘When　the　Pleiads；　the　daughters　of　Atlas；　begin　to　rise　begin　the　harvest；　and　begin　ploughing　ere　they　set。　　For　forty　nights　and　days　they　are　hidden；　but　appear　again　as　the　year　wears　round；　when　first　the　sickle　is　sharpened。　　This　is　the　law　of　the　plains　and　for　those　who　dwell　near　the　sea　or　live　in　the　rich…soiled　valleys；　far　from　the　wave…tossed　deep：　strip　to　sow；　and　strip　to　plough；　and　s