“Homer, son of Meles, inspired with wisdom from heaven, come, tell me first what is best for mortal man?”
“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 1: 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.
“Then they dined on the flesh of oxen and their horses’ necks—”
“They unyoked dripping with sweat, when they had had enough of war.”
“And the Phrygians, who of all men are handiest at ships—”
“To filch their dinner from pirates on the beach.”
shoot forth arrows against the tribes of cursed giants with his hands—”
“Heracles unslung his curved bow from his shoulders.”
“This man is the son of a brave father and a weakling—” .
“Mother; for war is too stern for any woman.”
“But for you, your father and lady mother lay in “ When they begot you by the aid of golden Aphrodite.”
“But when she had been made subject in love, Artemis, who delights in arrows—”
“Slew Callisto with a shot of her silver bow.”
“So they feasted all day long, taking nothing—”
“From their own houses; for Agamemnon, king of men, supplied them.”
“When they had feasted, they gathered among the glowing ashes the bones of the dead Zeus-”
“Born Sarpedon, that bold and godlike man.”
“Now we have lingered thus about the plain of Simois, forth from the ships let us go our way, upon our shoulders—”
“Having our hilted swords and long-helved spears.”
“Then the young heroes with their hands from the sea—’’ “ Gladly and swiftly hauled out their fleet ship.”
“Then they came to Colchis and king Aétes—’ “ They avoided; for they knew he was inhospitable and lawless.”
“Now when they had poured libations and deeply drank, the surging sea—”
“They were minded to traverse on well-built ships.”
“The Son of Atreus prayed greatly for them that they all might perish—’’ « At no time in the sea: and he opened his mouth and said:”
“Eat, my guests, and drink, and may no one of you return home to his dear country—”
“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 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.”
“How would men best dwell in cities, and with what observances?”
“By scorning to get unclean gain and if the good were honoured, but justice fell upon the unjust.”
“What is the best thing of all for a man to ask of the gods in prayer?”
“That he may be always at peace with himself continually.”
“Can you tell me in briefest space what is best of all?”
“A sound mind in a manly body, as I believe.”
“Of what effect are righteousness and courage?”
“To advance the common good: by private pains.”
“What is the mark of wisdom among men?”
“To read aright the present, and to march with the occasion.”
“In what kind of matter is it right to trust in men?”
“Where danger itself follows the action close.”
“What do men mean by happiness?”
“Death after a life of least pain and greatest pleasure.”
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