Hallowed spot, where Alpheüs breathed again, Ortygia, scion of famous Syracuse, resting-place of Artemis, sister of Delos! From thee the sweet-voiced song speedeth forth to sound the mighty praise of storm-footed steeds, by grace of Zeus, the lord of Aetna. “Tis the chariot of Chromius and Nemea that impel me to harness a song of praise for deeds of victory. The foundations of our song have now been laid in the names of the gods, and in our hero's godlike merits; but in success is the crown of perfect glory; and mighty contests the Muse delighteth to remember. Sow then some seed of fame athwart the isle, that
Zeus, the lord of Olympus, gave to Persephoné, and shook his locks in token unto her that, as queen of the teeming earth, the fertile land of Sicily would be raised to renown by the wealth of her glorious cities; and the son of Cronus granted that the host of armed horsemen, that awaketh the memory of bronze-clad war, would full oft be wedded with the golden leaves of Olympia’s olive. Lo! I have lighted on a varied theme, without flinging one false word. Sweet are the strains that I sing as I stand at the portals of the court of a hospitable hero, where a befitting banquet hath been prepared for me, and where the halls are oft familiar with strangers from afar. His lot it is to have true friends to ply against his slanderers, like water against smoke. Various men excel, indeed, in various ways; but it is meet that a man should walk in straight paths, and strive according to his powers of Nature; for might of limb maketh itself manifest by action, and might of mind by counsel, for those who are attended by the inborn skill of foreseeing the future. But, within the compass of thy character, O son of Agesidamus, thou hast the use of both these boons alike. I love not to keep much wealth buried in my hall, but of my abundance to do good to myself
and to win a good name by bestowing it on my friends; for the hopes and fears of toiling men come unto all alike. But, as for me, my heart cleaveth fast unto the theme of Heracles, while, amid the greatest and loftiest deeds of prowess, I wake the memory of that olden story, which telleth how, at the time when the son of Zeus, with his twin-brother, suddenly came from his mother’s birth-pangs with the light of day ;—how, I say, when he was laid in his saffron swathing-bands, he escaped not the ken of Héra on her golden throne. Stung with wrath, that queen of the gods sent anon two serpents. Soon as the doors were opened, they crept on to the spacious inner-chamber, yearning to coil their darting jaws around the babes. Yet he lifted up his head, and made his first essay of battle, by seizing the twain serpents by their necks in his twain irresistible hands, and, while they were being strangled, the lapse of time breathed forth their souls from out their monstrous limbs. Meanwhile, a pang intolerable pierced the hearts of the women, who at the time were rendering help by the bedside of Alemena; for even she herself leapt with all speed to her feet, and, unrobed as she was, she yet essayed to stay the rude onslaught of the monsters.
Then swiftly the chiefs of the Cadmeans hastened in a throng with their brazen armour; and Amphitryon, brandishing in his hand a sword bared from the scabbard, came smitten with keen throes of anguish. For each alike is distressed by his own trouble, whereas, for a stranger's sorrow, the heart is at once consoled. And there he stood, possessed with rapture overpowering and delightful ; for he saw the strange spirit and power of his son, since the immortals had turned to falsehood for him the story of the messengers. And he called forth one that dwelt nigh to him, even that chosen prophet of Zeus supreme, the truthful seer, Teiresias. And the prophet told him and all the host, what fortunes the boy was destined to encounter,—how many lawless monsters he would slay on the dry land and how many upon the sea ; and he-said that there was one most hateful, one who walked in the crooked path of envy, whom he would do to death. He said, moreover, that when the gods shall meet the giants in battle on the plain of Phlegra, their foes shall soon find their bright tresses befouled with dust beneath that
hero's rushing arrows, but he himself, at rest from mighty labours, shall have allotted to him, as his choicest prize, peace that would endure for ever in the homes of bliss, where, on receiving Hébé as his blushing bride, and celebrating the marriage feast, he shall glorify his hallowed home in the presence of Zeus the son of Cronus.
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