Lucian of Samosata, Contemplantes, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 24

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CHARON

But while we are talking, who are those people at war yonder, and why are they killing each other?

HERMES

You are looking at the Argives and Spartans, Charon, and over there is the dying general Othryadas, the one who is writing on the trophy in his own blood.¹

CHARON

What is their war about, Hermes?

HERMES

About the very plain in which they are fighting.

CHARON

What folly! They do not know that even if any one of them should acquire the whole Peloponnese, he could hardly get Aeacus to give him a foot of space. And as for this plain, it will be tilled by one race after another, and many a time they will turn the trophy up out of the depths with the plough.

HERMES

True. But now let’s get down and replace the mountains, and then go our ways, I on my crrand and you to your ferry. I will follow vou soon with a convoy of dead.

CHARON

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; you shall be written down for ever as a benefactor. ‘Thanks to you, I have had some profit from my journey. How silly are the ways of unhappy mankind, with their kings, golden ingots, funeral rites and battles—but never a thought of Charon!

Contemplantes. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Charon, or the Inspectors (English) (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.)

Editions (1)

Χάρων ἢ Ἐπισκοποῦντες Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 24 focus

Χάρων

ἀλλὰ μεταξὺ λόγων, τίνες ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἢ ὑπὲρ τίνος ἀλλήλους φονεύουσιν;

Ἑρμῆς

Ἀργείους ὁρᾷς, ὦ Χάρων, καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τὸν ἡμιθνῆτα ἐκεῖνον στρατηγὸν Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν ἐπιγράφοντα τὸ τρόπαιον τῷ αὑτοῦ αἵματι.¹

Χάρων

ὑπὲρ τίνος δʼ αὐτοῖς, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ὁ πόλεμος;

Ἑρμῆς

ὑπὲρ τοῦ πεδίου αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾧ μάχονται.

Χάρων

ὢ τῆς ἀνοίας, οἵ γε οὐκ ἴσασιν ὅτι, κἂν ὅλην τὴν Πελοπόννησον ἕκαστος αὐτῶν κτήσωνται, μόγις ἂν ποδιαῖον λάβοιεν τόπον παρὰ τοῦ Αἰακοῦ· τὸ δὲ πεδίον τοῦτο ἄλλοτε ἄλλοι γεωργήσουσι πολλάκις ἐκ βάθρων τὸ τρόπαιον ἀνασπάσαντες τῷ ἀρότρῳ.

Ἑρμῆς

οὕτω μὲν ταῦτα ἔσται· ἡμεῖς δὲ καταβάντες ἤδη καὶ κατὰ χώραν εὐθετήσαντες αὖθις τὰ ὄρη ἀπαλλαττώμεθα, ἐγὼ μὲν καθʼ ἃ ἐστάλην, σὺ δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ πορθμεῖον· ἥξω δέ σοι καὶ αὐτὸς μετʼ ὀλίγον νεκροστολῶν.

Χάρων

εὖ γε ἐποίησας, ὦ Ἑρμῆ· εὐεργέτης εἰς ἀεὶ ἀναγεγράψῃ, ὠνάμην γάρ τι διὰ σὲ τῆς ἀποδημίας. — οἷά ἐστι τὰ τῶν κακοδαιμόνων ἀνθρώπων πράγματα — βασιλεῖς, πλίνθοι χρυσαῖ, ἐπιτύμβια,² μάχαι· Χάρωνος δὲ οὐδεὶς λόγος.

Translations (1)

Charon Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 24 focus

Charon

By the way, what is that battle going on over there? What are they murdering one another about?

Hermes

It is between the Argives and the Lacedaemonians. The general who lies there half-dead, writing an inscription on the trophy with his own blood, is Othryades.

Charon

And what were they fighting for?

Hermes

For the field of battle, neither more nor less.

Charon

The fools! Not to know that though each one of them should win to himself a whole Peloponnesus, he will get but a bare foot of ground from Aeacus! As to yonder plain, one nation will till it after another, and many a time will that trophy be turned up by the plough.

Hermes

Even so. And now let us get down, and put these mountains to rights again. After which, I must be off on my errand, and you back to your ferry. You will see me there before long, with the day’s contingent of shades.

Charon

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; the service shall be perpetuated in my records. Thanks to you, my outing has been a success. Dear, dear, what a world it is!—And never a word of Charon!

Notes on the current edition

Charon, or the Inspectors

1. Three hundred Spartans fought an equal number of Argives for the possession of Thyreatis. Two Argives and a single dying Spartan survived the fight. The Argives hastened home to report their victory; but the Spartan managed to put up a trophy and write upon it 2 dedication to Zeus in his own blood. Herod. 1,82; Plut. Moral. 306 B.

Lucian of Samosata Contemplantes 24

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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CHARON

But while we are talking, who are those people at war yonder, and why are they killing each other?

HERMES

You are looking at the Argives and Spartans, Charon, and over there is the dying general Othryadas, the one who is writing on the trophy in his own blood.¹

CHARON

What is their war about, Hermes?

HERMES

About the very plain in which they are fighting.

HERMES

True. But now let’s get down and replace the mountains, and then go our ways, I on my crrand and you to your ferry. I will follow vou soon with a convoy of dead.

CHARON

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; you shall be written down for ever as a benefactor. ‘Thanks to you, I have had some profit from my journey. How silly are the ways of unhappy mankind, with their kings, golden ingots, funeral rites and battles—but never a thought of Charon!

Current edition Perseus

Χάρων

ἀλλὰ μεταξὺ λόγων, τίνες ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἢ ὑπὲρ τίνος ἀλλήλους φονεύουσιν;

Ἑρμῆς

Ἀργείους ὁρᾷς, ὦ Χάρων, καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τὸν ἡμιθνῆτα ἐκεῖνον στρατηγὸν Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν ἐπιγράφοντα τὸ τρόπαιον τῷ αὑτοῦ αἵματι.¹

Χάρων

ὑπὲρ τίνος δʼ αὐτοῖς, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ὁ πόλεμος;

Ἑρμῆς

ὑπὲρ τοῦ πεδίου αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾧ μάχονται.

Charon

By the way, what is that battle going on over there? What are they murdering one another about?

Hermes

It is between the Argives and the Lacedaemonians. The general who lies there half-dead, writing an inscription on the trophy with his own blood, is Othryades.

Charon

And what were they fighting for?

Hermes

For the field of battle, neither more nor less.

Charon

The fools! Not to know that though each one of them should win to himself a whole Peloponnesus, he will get but a bare foot of ground from Aeacus! As to yonder plain, one nation will till it after another, and many a time will that trophy be turned up by the plough.

Hermes

Even so. And now let us get down, and put these mountains to rights again. After which, I must be off on my errand, and you back to your ferry. You will see me there before long, with the day’s contingent of shades.

Charon

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; the service shall be perpetuated in my records. Thanks to you, my outing has been a success. Dear, dear, what a world it is!—And never a word of Charon!

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

CHARON But while we are talking, who are those people at war yonder, and why are they killing each other?

HERMES You are looking at the Argives and Spartans, Charon, and over there is the dying general Othryadas, the one who is writing on the trophy in his own blood. 1

CHARON What is their war about, Hermes?

HERMES About the very plain in which they are fighting.

HERMES True. But now let’s get down and replace the mountains, and then go our ways, I on my crrand and you to your ferry. I will follow vou soon with a convoy of dead.

CHARON I am much obliged to you, Hermes; you shall be written down for ever as a benefactor. ‘Thanks to you, I have had some profit from my journey. How silly are the ways of unhappy mankind, with their kings, golden ingots, funeral rites and battles—but never a thought of Charon!

Current edition Perseus

Χάρων ἀλλὰ μεταξὺ λόγων, τίνες ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἢ ὑπὲρ τίνος ἀλλήλους φονεύουσιν;

Ἑρμῆς Ἀργείους ὁρᾷς, ὦ Χάρων, καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τὸν ἡμιθνῆτα ἐκεῖνον στρατηγὸν Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν ἐπιγράφοντα τὸ τρόπαιον τῷ αὑτοῦ αἵματι. 1

Χάρων ὑπὲρ τίνος δʼ αὐτοῖς, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ὁ πόλεμος;

Ἑρμῆς ὑπὲρ τοῦ πεδίου αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾧ μάχονται.

Charon By the way, what is that battle going on over there? What are they murdering one another about?

Hermes It is between the Argives and the Lacedaemonians. The general who lies there half-dead, writing an inscription on the trophy with his own blood, is Othryades.

Charon And what were they fighting for?

Hermes For the field of battle, neither more nor less.

Charon The fools! Not to know that though each one of them should win to himself a whole Peloponnesus, he will get but a bare foot of ground from Aeacus! As to yonder plain, one nation will till it after another, and many a time will that trophy be turned up by the plough.

Hermes Even so. And now let us get down, and put these mountains to rights again. After which, I must be off on my errand, and you back to your ferry. You will see me there before long, with the day’s contingent of shades.

Charon I am much obliged to you, Hermes; the service shall be perpetuated in my records. Thanks to you, my outing has been a success. Dear, dear, what a world it is!—And never a word of Charon!

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

CHARON

But while we are talking, who are those people at war yonder, and why are they killing each other?

HERMES

You are looking at the Argives and Spartans, Charon, and over there is the dying general Othryadas, the one who is writing on the trophy in his own blood.¹

CHARON

What is their war about, Hermes?

HERMES

About the very plain in which they are fighting.

HERMES

True. But now let’s get down and replace the mountains, and then go our ways, I on my crrand and you to your ferry. I will follow vou soon with a convoy of dead.

CHARON

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; you shall be written down for ever as a benefactor. ‘Thanks to you, I have had some profit from my journey. How silly are the ways of unhappy mankind, with their kings, golden ingots, funeral rites and battles—but never a thought of Charon!

Χάρων

ἀλλὰ μεταξὺ λόγων, τίνες ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ πολεμοῦντες ἢ ὑπὲρ τίνος ἀλλήλους φονεύουσιν;

Ἑρμῆς

Ἀργείους ὁρᾷς, ὦ Χάρων, καὶ Λακεδαιμονίους καὶ τὸν ἡμιθνῆτα ἐκεῖνον στρατηγὸν Ὀθρυάδαν τὸν ἐπιγράφοντα τὸ τρόπαιον τῷ αὑτοῦ αἵματι.¹

Χάρων

ὑπὲρ τίνος δʼ αὐτοῖς, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ὁ πόλεμος;

Ἑρμῆς

ὑπὲρ τοῦ πεδίου αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾧ μάχονται.

Charon

By the way, what is that battle going on over there? What are they murdering one another about?

Hermes

It is between the Argives and the Lacedaemonians. The general who lies there half-dead, writing an inscription on the trophy with his own blood, is Othryades.

Charon

And what were they fighting for?

Hermes

For the field of battle, neither more nor less.

Charon

The fools! Not to know that though each one of them should win to himself a whole Peloponnesus, he will get but a bare foot of ground from Aeacus! As to yonder plain, one nation will till it after another, and many a time will that trophy be turned up by the plough.

Hermes

Even so. And now let us get down, and put these mountains to rights again. After which, I must be off on my errand, and you back to your ferry. You will see me there before long, with the day’s contingent of shades.

Charon

I am much obliged to you, Hermes; the service shall be perpetuated in my records. Thanks to you, my outing has been a success. Dear, dear, what a world it is!—And never a word of Charon!