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. 1. Ως δε εγω πυνθανομαι των τον Ελλησποντον οικεον των Ελλήνων και Ποντον, τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον εοντα ανθρωπον, δουλευσαι εν Σαμῳ· δουλευσαι δε Πυθαγορῃ τῳ Μνησαρχου· ενθευτεν δε αυτον γενομενον ελευθερον, χρηματα κτησασθαι συχνα· κτησαμενον δε, απελθειν εις την ἑωϋτου άτε δε κακοβιων τε εοντων των Θρηϊκων και ύπαφρονεστερων, τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον επισταμενον διαιταν τε Ιαδα, και ηθεα βαθυτερα η κατα Θρηϊκας (οἷα Ελλησι τε ὁμιλησαντα και Ελληνων ου τῳ ασθενέστατῳ σοφιστῃ Πυθαγορῃ) κατασκευασασθαι ανδρεωνα, ες τον πανδοκευοντα των αστων τους πρώτους, και ευωχέοντα, αναδιδασκειν ὡς ουτε αυτος ουτε οἱ συμποται αυτου, ουτε οἱ εκ τουτεων αιει γινομενοι αποθανεονται, αλλ' ήξουσι ες χώρον τουτον ἵνα αει περιεοντες έξουσι τα παντα αγαθα· εν ᾧ δε εποιεε τα καταλεχθεντα, και ελεγε ταύτα, εν τούτῳ καταγαιον οικημα εποιεετο· ὡς δὲ οἱ παντελεως ειχε το οικημα, εκ μεν των Θρηϊκων ηφανισθη· καταβάς δε κατω ες το καταγαιον οικημα, διαιτατο επ' ετεα τρια· οἱ δε μιν εποθεον τε και επενθεον ὡς τεθνεωτα· τεταρτῳ δε ετεϊ εφανη τοισι Θρηϊξι, και οὕτω πιθανα σφι εγενετο τα ελεγε ὁ Ζαμολξις. Ταύτα φασι μιν ποιησαι. 13. Εγω δε περι μεν τουτου και του καταγαιου οικήματος ούτε απιστεω, ουτε ων πιστευω τι λιην· δοκεω δε πολλοισι ετεσι προτερον τον Ζαμολξιν τουτον γενεσθαι Πυθαγορεω· είτε δε εγενετο τις Ζαμολξις ανθρωπος, ειτ' εστι δαιμων τις Γετῃσι οὗτ τος επιχώριος, χαιρετω· οὗτοι μεν δη, τροπῳ τοιουτῳ χρεωμενοι, ὡς εχειρώθησαν ὑπ ̓ Δαρειου και Περσεων, είποντο τῳ αλλῳ Herodotus. στρατών 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: A crazy boat was drawn upon a plank: Mats were their pillow, wove of osier dank; Skins, caps, and rugged coats, a covering made: This was their wealth, their labour, and their trade. No pot to boil, no watch-dog to defend; Yet blest they lived, with penury their friend. None visited their shed, save every tide, 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, DORIC. 14. ̔Α πενια, Διοφάντε, μονα τας τέχνας εγειρει Α. Ψευδονται φιλε παντες όσοι τας νυκτας εφασκον δ' αἱ νυκτες εχοντι. 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; We'll share the vision as we share our fish: I know thee shrewd, expert of dreams to spell; He's the best judge who can conjecture well. We've leisure time, which can't be better spent, By wretched carles in wave-wash'd cabin pent, And lodg'd on leaves; yet why should we repine, While living lights in Prytaneum shine? B. To thy fast friend each circumstance recite, And let me hear this vision of the night. A. Last evening, weary with the toils of day, But fears suspicious in my bosom throng'd, |