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West Wind And South Wind

WEST WIND

I’ve never seen a more magnificent pageant on the sea, ever since I began to live and blow. Didn’t you see it, Notus?

SOUTH WIND

What pageant do you mean, Zephyrus? Who were in it?

WEST WIND

You missed a most delightful spectacle, the like of which you’ll never see again.

SOUTH WIND

Well, I was at work about the Red Sea, and I blew also over the parts of India near the coast. So I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

WEST WIND

But you do know Agenor of Sidon?

SOUTH WIND

Yes, Europa’s father. Of course I do.

WEST WIND

I’ll tell you something about the girl herself.

SOUTH WIND

Not that Zeus has long been in love with her? I’ve known that for ages.

WEST WIND

Well, you may know about his love, but let me now tell you what followed.

WEST WIND

Europa in her play had come down to the beach with her companions, and Zeus took the shape of a bull, and started playing with them, looking magnificent, for he was all white with nice curly horns and gentle eyes. Well, he too started skipping about on the beach, and bellowed most charmingly, so that Europa even dared to climb up on to him. Thereupon Zeus galloped off to the sea with her on his back, plunged in and began to swim; she was quite terrified, and clutched his horn with her left hand so as not to slip off, while she held her robe down against the wind with her right hand.

SOUTH WIND

Indeed a delightful spectacle for you, my dear Zephyrus—a real love-scene! Zeus swimming along and carrying off his beloved!

WEST WIND

But what followed was far more delightful, Notus. The sea became waveless at once, and draping herself in calm, made herself smooth; we all kept quiet, and followed beside them, just watching what was going on, while the Loves fluttered alongside just above the sea, occasionally just touching the water with their feet, carrying lighted torches, and singing the marriage hymn, and the Nereids, coming to the surface, rode alongside on dolphins, clapping their hands, pretty well half-naked. The Tritons and all other creatures of the sea that do not frighten the eye, were dancing round the girl. Poseidon astride his car, with Amphitrite beside him, was driving in front, delighted to lead the way for his brother as he swam. To cap all, two Tritons were carrying Aphrodite reclining on a shell, and sprinkling all manner of flowers over the bride.

WEST WIND

This went on all the way from Phoenicia to Crete; but when he set foot on his island, the bull was no more to be seen, but Zeus took Europa’s hand and led her to the cave on Mount Dicte—blushing she was, and looking on the ground, for now she knew why she was being carried off. But we each assailed a different part of the sea, and stirred up the waves.

SOUTH WIND

How lucky you are, Zephyrus to have seen all that! All I saw was griffins and elephants and black men.

Dialogi Marini. Lucian of Samosata. Matthew Donald Macleod (Translator). Medford, MA. Perseus 5.0.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Dialogues of the Gods (English) (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).)

Editions (2)

Ἐνάλιοι Διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.) — 15 focus

325

Ζεφύρου καὶ Νότου

Ζέφυρος

οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ, ἀφʼ οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

Νότος

τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

Ζέφυρος

ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

Νότος

περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλατταν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

Ζέφυρος

ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιον Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

Νότος

ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μην;

Ζέφυρος

περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

Νότος

μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολ λοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

Ζέφυρος

οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

Ζέφυρος

ἡ μὲν Εὐρώπη κατεληλύθει ἐπὶ τὴν ἠϊόνα παίζουσα τὰς ἡλικιώτιδας παραλαβοῦσα, ὁ Ζεὺς δὲ 326 ταύρῳ εἰκάσας ἑαυτὸν συνέπαιζεν αὐταῖς κάλλιστος φαινόμενος· λευκός τε γὰρ ἦν ἀκριβῶς καὶ τὰ κέρατα εὐκαμπὴς καὶ τὸ βλέμμα ἥμερος· ἐσκίρτα οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῆς ἠϊόνος καὶ ἐμυκᾶτο ἥδιστον, ὥστε τὴν Εὐρώπην τολμῆσαι καὶ ἀναβῆναι αὐτόν. ὡς δὲ τοῦτο ἐγένετο, δρομαῖος μὲν ὁ Ζεὺς ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλατταν φέρων αὐτὴν καὶ ἐνήχετο ἐμπεσών, ἡ δὲ πάνυ ἐκπλαγὴς τῷ πράγματι τῇ λαιᾷ μὲν εἴχετο τοῦ κέρατος, ὡς μὴ ἀπολισθάνοι, τῇ ἑτέρᾳ δὲ ἠνεμωμένον τὸν πέπλον ξυνεῖχεν.

Νότος

ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

Ζέφυρος

καὶ μὴν τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα ἡδίω παρὰ πολύ, ὦ Νότε· ἥ τε γὰρ θάλαττα εὐθὺς ἀκύμων ἐγένετο καὶ τὴν γαλήνην ἐπισπασαμένη λείαν παρεῖχεν ἑαυτήν, ἡμεῖς δὲ πάντες ἡσυχίαν ἄγοντες οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ θεαταὶ μόνον τῶν γιγνομένων παρηκολουθοῦμεν, Ἔρωτες δὲ παραπετόμενοι μικρὸν ἐκ τῆς θαλάττης, ὡς ἐνίοτε ἄκροις τοῖς ποσὶν ἐπιψαύειν τοῦ ὕδατος, ἡμμένας τὰς δᾷδας φέροντες ᾖδον ἅμα τὸν ὑμέναιον, αἱ Νηρηίδες δὲ ἀναδῦσαι παρίππευον 327 ἐπὶ τῶν δελφίνων ἐπικροτοῦσαι ἡμίγυμνοι αἱ πολλαί, τό τε τῶν Τριτώνων γένος καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο μὴ φοβερὸν ἰδεῖν τῶν θαλαττίων ἅπαντα περιεχόρευε τὴν παῖδα· ὁ μὲν γὰρ Ποσειδῶν ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἅρματος, παροχουμένην τὴν Ἀμφιτρίτην ἔχων προῆγε γεγηθὼς ὁδοποιῶν νηχομένῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ· ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην δύο Τρίτωνες ἔφερον ἐπὶ κόγχης κατακειμένην, ἄνθη παντοῖα ἐπιπάττουσαν τῇ νύμφῃ.

Ζέφυρος

ταῦτα ἐκ Φοινίκης ἄχρι τῆς Κρήτης ἐγένετο· ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐπέβη τῇ νήσῳ, ὁ μὲν ταῦρος οὐκέτι ἐφαίνετο, ἐπιλαβόμενος δὲ τῆς χειρὸς ὁ Ζεὺς ἀπῆγε τὴν Εὐρώπην ἐς τὸ Δικταῖον ἄντρον ἐρυθριῶσαν καὶ κάτω ὁρῶσαν· ἠπίστατο γὰρ ἤδη ἐφʼ ὅτῳ ἄγοιτο. ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐμπεσόντες ἄλλο ἄλλος τοῦ πελάγους μέρος διεκυμαίνομεν.

Νότος

ὦ μακάριε Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

Θεῶν διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 15 focus

325 ΖΕΦΥΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΝΟΤΟΥ

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἀφ' οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλασσαν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιόν γε Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μήν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολλοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

ἡ μὲν Εὐρώπη κατεληλύθει ἐπὶ τὴν ἠϊόνα παίζουσα τὰς ἡλικιώτιδας παραλαβοῦσα, ὁ 326 Ζεὺς δὲ ταύρῳ εἰκάσας ἑαυτὸν συνέπαιζεν αὐταῖς κάλλιστος φαινόμενος· λευκός τε γὰρ ἦν ἀκριβῶς καὶ τὰ κέρατα εὐκαμπὴς ¹ καὶ τὸ βλέμμα ἥμερος· ἐσκίρτα οὖν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῆς ἠϊόνος καὶ ἐμυκᾶτο ἥδιστον, ὥστε τὴν Εὐρώπην τολμῆσαι καὶ ἀναβῆναι αὐτόν. ὡς δὲ τοῦτο ἐγένετο, δρομαῖος μὲν ὁ Ζεὺς ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν φέρων αὐτὴν καὶ ἐνήχετο ἐμπεσών, ἡ δὲ πάνυ ἐκπλαγὴς τῷ πράγματι τῇ λαιᾷ μὲν εἴχετο τοῦ κέρατος, ὡς μὴ ἀπολισθάνοι, ² τῇ ἑτέρᾳ δὲ ἠνεμωμένον τὸν πέπλον συνεῖχεν.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία καὶ φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Καὶ μὴν τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα ἡδίω παρὰ πολύ, ὦ Νότε· ἥ τε γὰρ θάλασσα εὐθὺς ἀκύμων ἐγένετο καὶ τὴν γαλήνην ἐπισπασαμένη λείαν παρεῖχεν ἑαυτήν, ἡμεῖς δὲ πάντες ἡσυχίαν ἄγοντες οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ θεαταὶ μόνον τῶν γιγνομένων παρηκολουθοῦμεν, Ἔρωτες δὲ παραπετόμενοι μικρὸν ὑπὲρ τὴν θάλασσαν, ³ ὡς ἐνίοτε ἄκροις τοῖς ποσὶν ἐπιψαύειν τοῦ ὕδατος, ἡμμένας τὰς δᾷδας φέροντες ᾖδον ἅμα τὸν ὑμέναιον, αἱ Νηρεΐδες δὲ ἀναδῦσαι παρίππευον 327 ἐπὶ τῶν δελφίνων ἐπικροτοῦσαι ἡμίγυμνοι τὰ πολλά, τό τε τῶν Τριτώνων γένος καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο μὴ φοβερὸν ἰδεῖν ⁴ τῶν θαλασσίων ἅπαντα περιεχόρευε ⁵ τὴν παῖδα· ὁ μὲν γὰρ Ποσειδῶν ἐπιβεβηκὼς ἅρματος, παροχουμένην τὴν Ἀμφιτρίτην ἔχων, προῆγε ⁶ γεγηθὼς ὁδοποιῶν ⁷ νηχομένῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ· ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην δύο Τρίτωνες ἔφερον ἐπὶ κόγχης κατακειμένην, ἄνθη παντοῖα ἐπιπάττουσαν τῇ νύμφῃ.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

ταῦτα ἐκ Φοινίκης ἄχρι τῆς Κρήτης ἐγένετο· ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐπέβη τῇ νήσῳ ⁸ ὁ μὲν ταῦρος οὐκέτι ἐφαίνετο, ἐπιλαβόμενος δὲ τῆς χειρὸς ὁ Ζεὺς ἀπῆγε τὴν Εὐρώπην εἰς τὸ Δικταῖον ἄντρον ἐρυθριῶσαν καὶ κάτω ὁρῶσαν· ἠπίστατο γὰρ ἤδη ἐφ' ὅτῳ ἄγοιτο. ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐμπεσόντες ἄλλο ἄλλος τοῦ πελάγους μέρος διεκυμαίνομεν.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ὦ μακάριε ⁹ Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

Translations (1)

Dialogues of the Sea-gods: Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 15 focus

XV

West Wind

South Wind

West Wind

Such a splendid pageant I never saw on the waves, since the day I first blew. You were not there, Notus?

South Wind

Pageant, Zephyr? what pageant? and whose?

West Wind

You missed a most ravishing spectacle; such another chance you are not likely to have.

South Wind

I was busy with the Red Sea; and I gave the Indian coasts a little airing too. So I don’t know what you are talking about.

West Wind

Well, you know Agenor the Sidonian?

South Wind

Europa’s father? what of him?

West Wind

Europa it is that I am going to tell you about.

South Wind

You need not tell me that Zeus has been in love with her this long while; that is stale news.

West Wind

We can pass the love, then, and get on to the sequel.

West Wind

Europa had come down for a frolic on the beach with her playfellows. Zeus transformed himself into a bull, and joined the game. A fine sight he was—spotless white skin, crumpled horns, and gentle eyes. He gambolled on the shore with them, bellowing most musically, till Europa took heart of grace and mounted him. No sooner had she done it than, with her on his back, Zeus made off at a run for the sea, plunged in, and began swimming; she was dreadfully frightened, but kept her seat by clinging to one of his horns with her left hand, while the right held her skirt down against the puffs of wind.

South Wind

A lovely sight indeed, Zephyr, in every sense—Zeus swimming with his darling on his back.

West Wind

Ay, but what followed was lovelier far. Every wave fell; the sea donned her robe of peace to speed them on their way; we winds made holiday and joined the train, all eyes; fluttering Loves skimmed the waves, just dipping now and again a heedless toe—in their hands lighted torches, on their lips the nuptial song; up floated Nereids—few but were prodigal of naked charms—and clapped their hands, and kept pace on dolphin steeds; the Triton company, with every seacreature that frights not the eye, tripped it around the maid; for Posidon on his car, with Amphitrite by him, led them in festal mood, ushering his brother through the waves. But, crowning all, a Triton pair bore Aphrodite, reclined on a shell, heaping the bride with all flowers that blow.

West Wind

So went it from Phoenice even to Crete. But, when he set foot on the isle, behold, the bull was no more; ’twas Zeus that took Europa’s hand and led her to the Dictaean Cave—blushing and downward-eyed; for she knew now the end of her bringing. But we plunged this way and that, and roused the still seas anew.

South Wind

Ah me, what sights of bliss! and I was looking at griffins, and elephants, and blackamoors!

Henry Watson Fowler

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

West Wind And South Wind

WEST WIND I’ve never seen a more magnificent pageant on the sea, ever since I began to live and blow. Didn’t you see it, Notus?

SOUTH WIND What pageant do you mean, Zephyrus? Who were in it?

WEST WIND You missed a most delightful spectacle, the like of which you’ll never see again.

SOUTH WIND Well, I was at work about the Red Sea, and I blew also over the parts of India near the coast. So I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

WEST WIND But you do know Agenor of Sidon?

SOUTH WIND Yes, Europa’s father. Of course I do.

WEST WIND I’ll tell you something about the girl herself.

SOUTH WIND Not that Zeus has long been in love with her? I’ve known that for ages.

WEST WIND Well, you may know about his love, but let me now tell you what followed.

SOUTH WIND Indeed a delightful spectacle for you, my dear Zephyrus—a real love-scene! Zeus swimming along and carrying off his beloved!

SOUTH WIND How lucky you are, Zephyrus to have seen all that! All I saw was griffins and elephants and black men.

Current edition Perseus

Ζεφύρου καὶ Νότου

Ζέφυρος οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ, ἀφʼ οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

Νότος τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

Ζέφυρος ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

Νότος περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλατταν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

Ζέφυρος ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιον Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

Νότος ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μην;

Ζέφυρος περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

Νότος μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολ λοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

Ζέφυρος οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

Νότος ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

Νότος ὦ μακάριε Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

325 ΖΕΦΥΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΝΟΤΟΥ

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ Οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἀφ' οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

ΝΟΤΟΣ Τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ Ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ Περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλασσαν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ Ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιόν γε Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

ΝΟΤΟΣ Ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μήν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ Περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ Μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολλοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ Οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

ΝΟΤΟΣ Ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία καὶ φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

ΝΟΤΟΣ Ὦ μακάριε 9 Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

XV

West Wind

South Wind

West Wind Such a splendid pageant I never saw on the waves, since the day I first blew. You were not there, Notus?

South Wind Pageant, Zephyr? what pageant? and whose?

West Wind You missed a most ravishing spectacle; such another chance you are not likely to have.

South Wind I was busy with the Red Sea; and I gave the Indian coasts a little airing too. So I don’t know what you are talking about.

West Wind Well, you know Agenor the Sidonian?

South Wind Europa’s father? what of him?

West Wind Europa it is that I am going to tell you about.

South Wind You need not tell me that Zeus has been in love with her this long while; that is stale news.

West Wind We can pass the love, then, and get on to the sequel.

South Wind A lovely sight indeed, Zephyr, in every sense—Zeus swimming with his darling on his back.

South Wind Ah me, what sights of bliss! and I was looking at griffins, and elephants, and blackamoors!

Stable identifiers

WEST WIND

I’ve never seen a more magnificent pageant on the sea, ever since I began to live and blow. Didn’t you see it, Notus?

SOUTH WIND

What pageant do you mean, Zephyrus? Who were in it?

WEST WIND

You missed a most delightful spectacle, the like of which you’ll never see again.

SOUTH WIND

Well, I was at work about the Red Sea, and I blew also over the parts of India near the coast. So I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

WEST WIND

But you do know Agenor of Sidon?

SOUTH WIND

Yes, Europa’s father. Of course I do.

WEST WIND

I’ll tell you something about the girl herself.

SOUTH WIND

Not that Zeus has long been in love with her? I’ve known that for ages.

WEST WIND

Well, you may know about his love, but let me now tell you what followed.

SOUTH WIND

Indeed a delightful spectacle for you, my dear Zephyrus—a real love-scene! Zeus swimming along and carrying off his beloved!

SOUTH WIND

How lucky you are, Zephyrus to have seen all that! All I saw was griffins and elephants and black men.

Ζέφυρος

οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ, ἀφʼ οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

Νότος

τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

Ζέφυρος

ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

Νότος

περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλατταν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

Ζέφυρος

ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιον Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

Νότος

ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μην;

Ζέφυρος

περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

Νότος

μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολ λοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

Ζέφυρος

οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

Νότος

ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

Νότος

ὦ μακάριε Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Οὐ πώποτε πομπὴν ἐγὼ μεγαλοπρεπεστέραν εἶδον ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, ἀφ' οὗ γέ εἰμι καὶ πνέω. σὺ δὲ οὐκ εἶδες, ὦ Νότε;

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Τίνα ταύτην λέγεις, ὦ Ζέφυρε, τὴν πομπήν; ἢ τίνες οἱ πέμποντες ἦσαν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Ἡδίστου θεάματος ἀπελείφθης, οἷον οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο ἴδοις ἔτι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Περὶ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν γὰρ θάλασσαν εἰργαζόμην, ἐπέπνευσα δὲ καὶ μέρος τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅσα παράλια τῆς χώρας· οὐδὲν οὖν οἶδα ὧν λέγεις.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Ἀλλὰ τὸν Σιδώνιόν γε Ἀγήνορα οἶδας;

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ναί· τὸν τῆς Εὐρώπης πατέρα. τί μήν;

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Περὶ αὐτῆς ἐκείνης διηγήσομαί σοι.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Μῶν ὅτι ὁ Ζεὺς ἐραστὴς τῆς παιδὸς ἐκ πολλοῦ; τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πάλαι ἠπιστάμην.

ΖΕΦΥΡΟΣ

Οὐκοῦν τὸν μὲν ἔρωτα οἶσθα, τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ἄκουσον.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ἡδὺ τοῦτο θέαμα εἶδες, ὦ Ζέφυρε, καὶ ἐρωτικόν, νηχόμενον τὸν Δία καὶ φέροντα τὴν ἀγαπωμένην.

ΝΟΤΟΣ

Ὦ μακάριε ⁹ Ζέφυρε τῆς θέας· ἐγὼ δὲ γρῦπας καὶ ἐλέφαντας καὶ μέλανας ἀνθρώπους ἑώρων.

West Wind

Such a splendid pageant I never saw on the waves, since the day I first blew. You were not there, Notus?

South Wind

Pageant, Zephyr? what pageant? and whose?

West Wind

You missed a most ravishing spectacle; such another chance you are not likely to have.

South Wind

I was busy with the Red Sea; and I gave the Indian coasts a little airing too. So I don’t know what you are talking about.

West Wind

Well, you know Agenor the Sidonian?

South Wind

Europa’s father? what of him?

West Wind

Europa it is that I am going to tell you about.

South Wind

You need not tell me that Zeus has been in love with her this long while; that is stale news.

West Wind

We can pass the love, then, and get on to the sequel.

South Wind

A lovely sight indeed, Zephyr, in every sense—Zeus swimming with his darling on his back.

South Wind

Ah me, what sights of bliss! and I was looking at griffins, and elephants, and blackamoors!