Chant, ye Graces, the city of Danaüs and his fifty daughters on their gorgeous thrones, even Argos, the home of Héra, home meet for a goddess; for it is lit up with countless distinctions by reason of deeds of prowess. Long indeed is the legend of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa, and many are the cities which were founded in Egypt by the hands of Epaphus; nor did Hypermnéstra wander from the path of honour, when she restrained in her scabbard her sword of solitary purpose. And of old did the grey-eyed goddess of the golden hair make Diomédés an immortal god; and, near unto Thebes, the earth, stricken by the bolts of Zeus, swallowed up the seer Amphiaraüs, that storm-cloud of the fray ; and of old is Argos famous for its fair-haired dames. Zeus, by his visit to Aleméné and to Danaé, made this saying true beyond dispute.
She hath also united the fruit of discretion with even-handed justice in the father of Adrastus and in Lynceus; and, again, she nourished the warrior Amphitryon, who, when, clad in brazen armour, he had slain the Téleboae, had the surpassing fortune to enter into kinship with Zeus. In semblance of Amphitryon, Zeus, the king of the immortals, entered the hall of that hero, bearing the dauntless seed of Heracles, whose bride Hébé, fairest of goddesses, walketh for ever in Olympus beside her mother Héra, who maketh marriage perfect. My mouth is of small measure to tell all the story, to wit all the fair things, of which the holy precinct of Argos hath a share. There is, moreover, the envy of man, which is grievous to encounter; natheless, awake the well-strung lyre, and muse upon those feats of wrestling. Lo! the contest for the shield of teens calleth the people to the sacrifice of oxen in honour of Hera, and to the award of the prizes. There it was that the son of Ulias, Theaeus, was twice victorious, and thus gat him oblivion of toils that were bravely borne ; and, once upon a time, he was also victor over the Hellenic host at Pytho, and, coming with better
fortune, he won the crown at the Isthmus and at Nemea, and gave the Muses a field for their tilling, for he had thrice won the crown at the portals of the sea, and thrice also on the hallowed ground, according to the ordinance of Adrastus. O father Zeus, his mouth is dumb of his heart’s desire, but the end of all labours resteth in thine hands alone ; nor doth he, with a heart that shrinketh from toil, pray amiss for thy grace, for he bringeth a spirit of daring. The burden of my song is familiar to himself, and to all who strive for the chief crown in the foremost of the games. Highest indeed is the ordinance of Heracles, which was granted to Pisa. Yet, amid the sacred rites of the Athenians, twice did voices sweet exalt him in the prelude of a triumphal ode, and in earth baked by the fire came the olive oil in richly painted vases to the manly people of Héra. But full often, Theaeus, doth the glory of successful contests attend on the famous race of the maternal ancestors of your house, by the favour of the Graces and the twin sons of Tyndareüs. Were I a kinsman of Thrasyclus and of Antias, I should deem it meet in no wise to veil the light of mine eyes. For with how many victories hath the city of Proetus flourished,
city that breedeth horses and four times in the glens of Corinth, and at the hand of the men of Cleénae. But from Sicyon, they returned with silver wine-cups, and from Pellana with their shoulders clad with softest woofs, while the countless prizes of bronze it is impossible to reckon,—for it were a work of longer leisure to number them,—the bronze, which Cleitér and Tegea and the high-throned cities of the Achaeans and the Lycaean mount set by the racecourse of Zeus as prizes for man to win by strength of feet and hands. But, since Castor and his brother Polydeuces came to Pamphaés, in quest of friendly entertainment, it is no marvel that it should be a mark of their race to be good athletes, seeing that, along with Hermés and Heraclés, the guardians of Sparta’s spacious dancing-floor cause their ordinance of the games to prosper, caring in very deed for men who strive lawfully. Verily faithful is the race of the gods. In alternate changes the twin brethren spend the one day beside their dear father Zeus and, the other, down in the hollow earth in the depths of Therapné, thus fulfilling an equal lot, since, when Castor was slain in war, Polydeuces preferred this life to being wholly a god and dwelling in heaven. For,
Idas being in some sort angered about his oxen, stabbed Castor with the point of his brazen spear. Keenly gazing from Taygetus, Lynceus saw them seated in the hollow of an oak ; for, of all that live on earth, he had the keenest sight: and Lynceus and Idas, those sons of Aphareus, at once with swift feet reached the spot, and quickly contrived a great deed, and themselves suffered dread punishment by the hands of Zeus, for immediately the son of Leda ‘(Polydeuces) came in pursuit. But they were stationed hard by the tomb of their father, Aphareus ; thence did they seize the carven stone that adorned the grave, and flung it against the breast of Polydeuces, but they crushed him not, nor drave him backward ; but, rushing forward with his swift javelin, he thrust its brazen point into the ribs of Lynceus. And Zeus hurled against Idas a smouldering thunderbolt of fire; and in that lonely place they were consumed together; for men find it hard indeed to strive with those who are stronger. Then did the son of Tyndareüs (Polydeuces) swiftly return to his mighty brother, and found him not yet dead, but drawing his breath in convulsive gasps. Then it was that, shedding hot tears, amid moanings, he said aloud : “O father, son of Cronus! when, O when will
there be a release from sorrows? Bid me also die, king, with this my brother. Honour hath perished, when a man is bereft of his friends; and, among mortals, few can be trusted in time of trouble to be partners in one’s: pain.” He ceased, and before him came Zeus, and spake in this wise :-— “ Thou art my son, whereas Castor was begotten by thy mother’s husband, of mortal seed, after thine own conception. But lo! I grant thee thy full choice in this; if thou desirest to escape death and grievous eld, and to dwell thyself in Olympus with me, and with Athéné, and with Arés of the darksome spear, thou canst have this lot appointed thee. But, if thou contendest for thy brother, and art minded to have an equal share with him in all things, then mayest thou breathe for half thy time beneath the earth, and for half thy time in the golden homes of heaven.” When thus the god had spoken, the hero had no double purpose in his heart; and Zeus opened once more the eye, and then released the voice of the bronze-clad warrior, Castor.
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