12. This Zamolxis, as I have been informed by those Greeks who inhabit the Hellespont and the Euxine, was himself a man, and formerly lived at Samos in the service of Pythagoras, son of Menesarchus; having obtained his liberty, with considerable wealth, he returned to his country. Here he found the Thracians distinguished equally by their profligacy and their ignorance; whilst he himself had been accustomed to the Ionian mode of life, and to manners more polished than those of Thrace; he had also been connected with Pythagoras, one of the most celebrated philosophers of Greece. He was therefore induced to build a large mansion, to which he invited the most eminent of his fellow-citizens: he took the opportunity of the festive hour to assure them, that neither himself, his guests, nor any of their descendants, should ever die, but should be removed to a place, where they were to remain in the perpetual enjoyment of every blessing. After saying this, and conducting himself accordingly, he constructed a subterranean edifice : when it was completed, he withdrew himself from the sight of his countrymen, and resided for three years beneath the earth. -During this period, the Thracians regretted his loss, and lamented him as dead. In the fourth year, he again appeared amongst them, and by this artifice gave the appearance of probability to what he had before asserted. 13. To this story of the subterraneous apartment I do not give much credit, though I pretend not to dispute it; I am, however, very certain that Zamolxis must have lived many years before Pythagoras: whether, therefore, he was a man, or the deity of the Getæ, enough has been said concerning him. These Getæ, using the ceremonies I have described, after submitting themselves to the Persians under Darius, followed his army. 12. Ως δε εγω πυνθανομαι των τον Ελλησποντον οικεον των Ελλήνων και Ποντον, τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον εοντα ανθρωπον, δουλεύσαι εν Σαμῳ· δουλευσαι δε Πυθαγορῃ τῷ Μνησαρ χουν ενθεύτεν δε αυτον γενομενον ελευθερον, χρήματα κτήσασθαι συχνα κτησαμενον δε, απελθειν εις την ἑωϋτου· άτε δε κακοβιων τε εοντων των Θρηίκων και ύπαφρονεστέρων, τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον επισταμενον διαιταν τε Ιαδα, και ηθεα βαθύτερα η κατα Θρηϊκας (οἷα Έλλησι τε ὁμιλησαντα και Ἑλληνων ου τῳ ασθενεστατῳ σοφιστη Πυθαγορῃ) κατασκευασασθαι ανδρεωνα, ες τον πανδοκευοντα των αστων τους πρώτους, και ευωχεοντα, αναδιδασκειν ώς ούτε αυτος ουτε οἱ συμποται αυτου, ούτε οἱ εκ τουτεων αιει γινομενοι αποθανεονται, αλλ' ήξουσι ες χώρον τουτον ένα αει περιεοντες ἑξουσι τα παντα αγαθα· εν ᾧ δε εποιες τα καταλεχθεντα, και ελεγε ταυτα, εν τούτῳ κατα γαιον οικημα εποιεετο ὡς δὲ οἱ παντελέως είχε το οίκημα, εκ μεν των Θρηίκων ηφανίσθη· καταβας δε κατω ες το κατα γαιον οικημα, διαιτατο επ' ετεα τρια· οἱ δε μιν εποθεον τε και επενθεον ὡς τεθνεωτα· τεταρτῳ δε ετεί εφάνη τοισι Θρηϊξι, και οὕτω πιθανα σφι εγενετο τα ελεγε ὁ Ζαμολξις. Ταυτα φασι μιν ποιησαι. 13. Εγω δε περι μεν τουτου και του καταγαιου οικήματος ούτε απίστεω, ούτε ων πιστευω τι λιην δοκεω δε πολλοισι ετεσι προτερον τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον γενεσθαι Πυθαγορεω· ειτε δε εγενετο τις Ζαμολξις ανθρωπος, ειτ' εστι δαίμων τις Γετησι ούτ τος επιχώριος, χαιρετω· οὗτοι μεν δη, τροπῳ τοιουτῳ χρεωμενοι, ὡς εχειρώθησαν ὑπ ̓ Δαρείου και Περσεων, είποντο των αλλῳ Herodotus. στρατων THE FISHERMEN. 14. Need, Diophantus, ready wit imparts, Two ancient fishers in a straw-thatch'd shed, Rods, hooks, and lines, composed of stout horse-hairs, And nets of various sorts, and various snares, The seine, the cast-net, and the wicker maze, To waste the watery tribes a thousand ways: boat was drawn upon a plank: A crazy Mats were their pillow, wove of osier dank; Skins, caps, and rugged coats, a covering made: No pot to boil, no watch-dog to defend; Yet blest they lived, with penury their friend. The wanton waves that wash'd its tottering side. When half her course the moon's bright car had sped, Joint labour roused the tenants of the shed; The dews of slumber from their eyes they clear'd, And thus their minds with pleasing parley cheer'd:A. I hold, my friend, that trite opinion wrong, That summer nights are short when days are long. Yes I have seen a thousand dreams to-night, And yet no morn appears, nor morning light; B. Fair summer seasons you unjustly blame, DORIC. 14. Α πενια, Διοφάντε, μόνα τας τέχνας εγειρει· Α. Ψευδονται φιλε παντες όσοι τας νυκτας έφασκον Μη λαθόμην ; τι το χρημα; χρονον δ' αἱ νυκτες εχοντι. δ Β. Ασφαλίων, μεμφη το καλον θερος· ου γαρ ὁ καιρος Αστοματως παρεβα τον εον δρομον αλλα τον ύπνον. 10 20 But cares, Asphalion, in a busy throng, Break on your rest, and make the night seem long. A. Say, hast thou genius to interpret right My dream? I've had a jolly one to-night. Thou shalt go halves, and more thou canst not wish; I know thee shrewd, expert of dreams to spell; B. To thy fast friend each circumstance recite, A. Last evening, weary with the toils of day, Lull'd in the lap of rest secure I lay; Full late we supp'd, and sparingly we ate; No danger of a surfeit from our meat. Methought I sat upon a shelfy steep, And watch'd the fish that gambol'd in the deep; Suspended by my rod, I gently shook The bait fallacious, which a huge one took; (Sleeping, we image what awake we wish; Dogs dream of bones, and fishermen of fish.) Bent was my rod, and from his gills the blood With crimson stream distain'd the silver flood. I stretch'd my arm out, lest the line should break; The fish so vigorous, and my hook so weak! Anxious I gazed; he struggled to be gone; "You're wounded-I'll be with you, friend, anon— "Still do you teaze me?" for he plagued me sore; At last, quite spent, I drew him safe on shore, Then grasp'd him with my hand, for surer hold, A noble prize, a fish of solid gold! But fears suspicious in my bosom throng'd, |