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Poseidon and Alpheus

POSEIDON

What’s all this, Alpheus? When you run into the sea, you’re the only one that doesn’t mix with the salt water like all the other rivers! You don’t disperse and give yourself a rest, but go through the sea without disintegrating, and keep your water fresh! You dive right down like a gull or a heron, and hurry on, I don’t know where, undiluted and pure. I suppose you’ll pop up again somewhere and show yourself once more.

ALPHEUS

It’s a matter of love, Poseidon; so no questions, please; you’ve been in love often enough yourself.

POSEIDON

Is it a woman you love, Alpheus, or a Nymph or a Nereid from the sea?

ALPHEUS

No, Poseidon, a fountain.

POSEIDON

And where on earth does she have her waters?

ALPHEUS

In an island—in Sicily; they call her Arethusa.

POSEIDON

I know Arethusa, and she’s not at all bad-looking. She’s translucent and gushes up pure. Her water makes a pretty picture along with her pebbles, all of it gleaming above them like silver.

ALPHEUS

You certainly do know my fountain, Poseidon. Well, I’m off to her.

POSEIDON

Off with you, then, and good luck in your love. But tell me, where did you see her? You’re from Arcadia, and she’s at Syracuse.

ALPHEUS

I’m in a hurry, Poseidon, and you’re delaying me with these pointless questions.

POSEIDON

Well spoken. Away with you to your beloved, come up from the sea, mingle with your fountain and become one water.

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.) — 3 focus

295

Ποσειδῶνος καὶ Ἀλφειοῦ

Ποσειδῶν

τί τοῦτο, Ἀλφειέ; μόνος τῶν ἄλλων ἐμπεσὼν ἐς τὸ πέλαγος οὔτε ἀναμίγνυσαι τῇ ἅλμῃ, ὡς ἔθος ποταμοῖς ἅπασιν, οὔτε ἀναπαύεις σεαυτὸν διαχυθείς, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς θαλάττης ξυνεστὼς καὶ γλυκὺ φυλάττων τὸ ῥεῖθρον, ἀμιγὴς ἔτι καὶ καθαρὸς ἐπείγῃ οὐκ οἶδα ὅπου βύθιος ὑποδὺς καθάπερ οἱ λάροι καὶ ἐρῳδιοί; καὶ ἔοικας ἀνακύψειν που καὶ αὖθις ἀναφανεῖν σεαυτόν.

Ἀλφειός

ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

296

Ποσειδῶν

γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρηίδων αὐτῶν μιᾶς;

Ἀλφειός

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

Ποσειδῶν

ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

Ἀλφειός

Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν καλοῦσιν.

Ποσειδῶν

οἶδα οὐκ ἄμορφον, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν, ἀλλὰ διαυγής τέ ἐστι καὶ διὰ καθαροῦ ἀναβλύζει καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐπιπρέπει ταῖς ψηφίσιν ὅλον ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν 297 φαινόμενον ἀργυροειδές.

Ἀλφειός

ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρʼ ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

Ποσειδῶν

ἀλλʼ ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Αρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

Ἀλφειός

ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

Ποσειδῶν

εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάττης ξυναυλίᾳ μίγνυσο τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

Θεῶν διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 3 focus

295 ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΦΕΙΟΥ

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Τί τοῦτο, ὦ Ἀλφειέ; μόνος τῶν ἄλλων ἐμπεσὼν ἐς τὸ πέλαγος οὔτε ἀναμίγνυσαι τῇ ἅλμῃ, ὡς νόμος ¹ ποταμοῖς ἅπασιν, οὔτε ἀναπαύεις σεαυτὸν διαχυθείς, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς θαλάσσης συνεστὼς καὶ γλυκὺ φυλάττων τὸ ῥεῖθρον, ἀμιγὴς ἔτι καὶ καθαρὸς ἐπείγῃ οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅπου βύθιος ὑποδὺς καθάπερ οἱ λάροι καὶ ἐρωδιοί; καὶ ἔοικας ἀνακύψειν που καὶ αὖθις ἀναφανεῖν ² σεαυτόν.

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

296

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρεΐδων ἁλίας; ³

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν ὀνομάζουσιν.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Οἶδα οὐκ ἄμορφον, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν, ἀλλὰ διαυγής ἐστι καὶ διὰ καθαροῦ ἀναβλύζει καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐπιπρέπει ταῖς ψηφῖσιν ὅλον ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν φαινόμενον ἀργυροειδές.

297

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρ' ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Ἀλλ' ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Ἀρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης συναναμίγνυσο ⁴ τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

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.) — 3 focus

III

Posidon

Alpheus

Posidon

What is the meaning of this, Alpheus? unlike others, when you take your plunge you do not mingle with the brine as a river should; you do not put an end to your labours by dispersing; you hold together through the sea, keep your current fresh, and hurry along in all your original purity; you dive down to strange depths like a gull or a heron; I suppose you will come to the top again and show yourself somewhere or other.

Alpheus

Do not press me, Posidon; a love affair; and many is the time you have been in love yourself.

Posidon

Woman, nymph, or Nereid?

Alpheus

All wrong; she is a fountain.

Posidon

A fountain? and where does she flow?

Alpheus

She is an islander—in Sicily. Her name is Arethusa,

Posidon

Ah, I commend your taste. She is pellucid, and bubbles up in perfect purity; the water as bright over her pebbles as if it were a mass of silver,

Alpheus

You know my fountain, Posidon, and no mistake. It is to her that I go.

Posidon

Go, then; and may the course of love run smooth! But pray where did you meet her? Arcadia and Syracuse, you know!:

Alpheus

I am in a hurry; you are detaining me, with these superfluous questions.

Posidon

Ah, so I am. Be off to your beloved, rise from the sea, mingle your channels and be one water.

Henry Watson Fowler

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Poseidon and Alpheus

ALPHEUS It’s a matter of love, Poseidon; so no questions, please; you’ve been in love often enough yourself.

POSEIDON Is it a woman you love, Alpheus, or a Nymph or a Nereid from the sea?

ALPHEUS No, Poseidon, a fountain.

POSEIDON And where on earth does she have her waters?

ALPHEUS In an island—in Sicily; they call her Arethusa.

POSEIDON I know Arethusa, and she’s not at all bad-looking. She’s translucent and gushes up pure. Her water makes a pretty picture along with her pebbles, all of it gleaming above them like silver.

ALPHEUS You certainly do know my fountain, Poseidon. Well, I’m off to her.

POSEIDON Off with you, then, and good luck in your love. But tell me, where did you see her? You’re from Arcadia, and she’s at Syracuse.

ALPHEUS I’m in a hurry, Poseidon, and you’re delaying me with these pointless questions.

POSEIDON Well spoken. Away with you to your beloved, come up from the sea, mingle with your fountain and become one water.

Current edition Perseus

Ποσειδῶνος καὶ Ἀλφειοῦ

Ἀλφειός ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

Ποσειδῶν γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρηίδων αὐτῶν μιᾶς;

Ἀλφειός οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

Ποσειδῶν ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

Ἀλφειός Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν καλοῦσιν.

Ἀλφειός ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρʼ ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

Ποσειδῶν ἀλλʼ ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Αρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

Ἀλφειός ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

Ποσειδῶν εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάττης ξυναυλίᾳ μίγνυσο τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

295 ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΦΕΙΟΥ

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ Ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ Γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρεΐδων ἁλίας; 3

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ Ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν ὀνομάζουσιν.

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ Ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρ' ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ Ἀλλ' ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Ἀρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ Ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ Εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης συναναμίγνυσο 4 τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

III

Posidon

Alpheus

Alpheus Do not press me, Posidon; a love affair; and many is the time you have been in love yourself.

Posidon Woman, nymph, or Nereid?

Alpheus All wrong; she is a fountain.

Posidon A fountain? and where does she flow?

Alpheus She is an islander—in Sicily. Her name is Arethusa,

Posidon Ah, I commend your taste. She is pellucid, and bubbles up in perfect purity; the water as bright over her pebbles as if it were a mass of silver,

Alpheus You know my fountain, Posidon, and no mistake. It is to her that I go.

Posidon Go, then; and may the course of love run smooth! But pray where did you meet her? Arcadia and Syracuse, you know!:

Alpheus I am in a hurry; you are detaining me, with these superfluous questions.

Posidon Ah, so I am. Be off to your beloved, rise from the sea, mingle your channels and be one water.

Stable identifiers

ALPHEUS

It’s a matter of love, Poseidon; so no questions, please; you’ve been in love often enough yourself.

POSEIDON

Is it a woman you love, Alpheus, or a Nymph or a Nereid from the sea?

ALPHEUS

No, Poseidon, a fountain.

POSEIDON

And where on earth does she have her waters?

ALPHEUS

In an island—in Sicily; they call her Arethusa.

POSEIDON

I know Arethusa, and she’s not at all bad-looking. She’s translucent and gushes up pure. Her water makes a pretty picture along with her pebbles, all of it gleaming above them like silver.

ALPHEUS

You certainly do know my fountain, Poseidon. Well, I’m off to her.

POSEIDON

Off with you, then, and good luck in your love. But tell me, where did you see her? You’re from Arcadia, and she’s at Syracuse.

ALPHEUS

I’m in a hurry, Poseidon, and you’re delaying me with these pointless questions.

POSEIDON

Well spoken. Away with you to your beloved, come up from the sea, mingle with your fountain and become one water.

Ἀλφειός

ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

Ποσειδῶν

γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρηίδων αὐτῶν μιᾶς;

Ἀλφειός

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

Ποσειδῶν

ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

Ἀλφειός

Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν καλοῦσιν.

Ἀλφειός

ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρʼ ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

Ποσειδῶν

ἀλλʼ ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Αρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

Ἀλφειός

ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

Ποσειδῶν

εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάττης ξυναυλίᾳ μίγνυσο τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ἐρωτικόν τι τὸ πρᾶγμά ἐστιν, ὦ Πόσειδον, ὥστε μὴ ἔλεγχε· ἠράσθης δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς πολλάκις.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Γυναικός, ὦ Ἀλφειέ, ἢ νύμφης ἐρᾷς ἢ καὶ τῶν Νηρεΐδων ἁλίας; ³

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πηγῆς, ὦ Πόσειδον.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Ἡ δὲ ποῦ σοι γῆς αὕτη ῥεῖ;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Νησιῶτίς ἐστι Σικελή· Ἀρέθουσαν αὐτὴν ὀνομάζουσιν.

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ὡς ἀληθῶς οἶσθα τὴν πηγήν, ὦ Πόσειδον· παρ' ἐκείνην οὖν ἀπέρχομαι.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Ἀλλ' ἄπιθι μὲν καὶ εὐτύχει ἐν τῷ ἔρωτι· ἐκεῖνο δέ μοι εἰπέ, ποῦ τὴν Ἀρέθουσαν εἶδες αὐτὸς μὲν Ἀρκὰς ὤν, ἡ δὲ ἐν Συρακούσαις ἐστίν;

ΑΛΦΕΙΟΣ

Ἐπειγόμενόν με κατέχεις, ὦ Πόσειδον, περίεργα ἐρωτῶν.

ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ

Εὖ λέγεις· χώρει παρὰ τὴν ἀγαπωμένην, καὶ ἀναδὺς ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης συναναμίγνυσο ⁴ τῇ πηγῇ καὶ ἓν ὕδωρ γίγνεσθε.

Alpheus

Do not press me, Posidon; a love affair; and many is the time you have been in love yourself.

Posidon

Woman, nymph, or Nereid?

Alpheus

All wrong; she is a fountain.

Posidon

A fountain? and where does she flow?

Alpheus

She is an islander—in Sicily. Her name is Arethusa,

Posidon

Ah, I commend your taste. She is pellucid, and bubbles up in perfect purity; the water as bright over her pebbles as if it were a mass of silver,

Alpheus

You know my fountain, Posidon, and no mistake. It is to her that I go.

Posidon

Go, then; and may the course of love run smooth! But pray where did you meet her? Arcadia and Syracuse, you know!:

Alpheus

I am in a hurry; you are detaining me, with these superfluous questions.

Posidon

Ah, so I am. Be off to your beloved, rise from the sea, mingle your channels and be one water.