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ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Τί ἂν λέγοιμεν; ὁμομητρίους, ὦ Διόνυσε, ἀδελφοὺς ὄντας Ἔρωτα καὶ Ἑρμαφρόδιτον καὶ Πρίαπον, ἀνομοιοτάτους εἶναι τὰς μορφὰς καὶ τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα; ὁ μὲν γὰρ πάγκαλος καὶ τοξότης καὶ δύναμιν οὐ μικρὰν περιβεβλημένος ἁπάντων ἄρχων, ὁ δὲ θῆλυς καὶ ἡμίανδρος καὶ ἀμφίβολος τὴν ὄψιν· οὐκ ἂν διακρίναις εἴτ' ἔφηβός ἐστιν εἴτε καὶ παρθένος· ὁ δὲ καὶ πέρα τοῦ εὐπρεποῦς ἀνδρικὸς ὁ Πρίαπος.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Μηδὲν θαυμάσῃς, ὦ Ἄπολλον· οὐ γὰρ Ἀφροδίτη αἰτία τούτου, ἀλλὰ οἱ πατέρες διάφοροι γεγενημένοι, 274 ὅπου γε καὶ ὁμοπάτριοι πολλάκις ἐκ μιᾶς γαστρός, ὁ μὲν ἄρσην, ἡ δὲ θήλεια, ὥσπερ ὑμεῖς, γίνονται.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ναί· ἀλλ’ ἡμεῖς ὅμοιοί ἐσμεν καὶ ταὐτὰ ἐπιτηδεύομεν· τοξόται γὰρ ἄμφω.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Μέχρι μὲν τόξου τὰ αὐτά, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἐκεῖνα δὲ οὐχ ὅμοια, ὅτι ἡ μὲν Ἄρτεμις ξενοκτονεῖ ἐν Σκύθαις, σὺ δέ μαντεύῃ καὶ ἰᾷ ¹ τοὺς κάμνοντας.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Οἴει γὰρ τὴν ἀδελφὴν χαίρειν τοῖς Σκύθαις, ἥ γε καὶ παρεσκεύασται, ἤν τις Ἕλλην ἀφίκηταί ποτε εἰς τὴν Ταυρικήν, συνεκπλεῦσαι μετ' αὐτοῦ μυσαττομένη τὰς σφαγάς;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Εὖ γε ἐκείνη ποιοῦσα. ὁ μέντοι Πρίαπος, γελοῖον γάρ τί σοι διηγήσομαι, πρῴην ἐν Λαμψάκῳ γενόμενος, ἐγὼ μὲν παρῄειν τὴν πόλιν, ὁ δὲ ὑποδεξάμενός με καὶ ξενίσας παρ' αὑτῷ, ἐπειδὴ ἀνεπαυσάμεθα ἐν τῷ συμποσίῳ ἱκανῶς ὑποβεβρεγμένοι, κατ' αὐτάς που μέσας νύκτας ἐπαναστὰς ὁ γενναῖος—αἰδοῦμαι δὲ λέγειν.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ἐπείρα σε, Διόνυσε;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τοιοῦτόν ἐστι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Σὺ δὲ τί πρὸς ταῦτα;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τί γὰρ ἄλλο ἢ ἐγέλασα;

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Εὖ γε, τὸ μὴ χαλεπῶς μηδὲ ἀγρίως· συγγνωστὸς γάρ, εἰ καλόν σε οὕτως ὄντα ἐπείρα.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τούτου μὲν ἕνεκα καὶ ἐπὶ σὲ ἄν, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἀγάγοι τὴν πεῖραν· 275 καλὸς γὰρ σὺ καὶ κομήτης, ὡς καὶ νήφοντα ἄν σοι τὸν Πρίαπον ἐπιχειρῆσαι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐπιχειρήσει γε, ὦ Διόνυσε· ἔχω γὰρ μετὰ τῆς κόμης καὶ τόξα.

Dialogi deorum. Lucian of Samosata. ed. Matthew Donald Macleod. Medford, MA. Perseus 5.0.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Θεῶν Διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.) — 3 focus

Διός καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

Ζεύς

τὴν τοῦ Ἰνάχου παῖδα τὴν καλὴν οἶσθα. ὦ Ερμῆ;

Ἑρμῆς

ναί· τὴν Ἰὼ λέγεις.

Ζεύς

οὐκέτι παῖς ἐκείνη ἐστίν, ἀλλὰ δάμαλις.

Ἑρμῆς

τεράστιον τοῦτο· τῷ τρόπῳ δʼ ἐνηλλάγη;

Ζεύς

ζηλοτυπήσασα ἡ Ἥρα μετέβαλεν αὐτήν. ἀλλα καὶ καινὸν ἄλλο τι δεινὸν ἐπιμεμηχάνηται τῇ κακοδαίμονι· βουκόλον τινὰ πολυόμματον Ἄργον τοὔνομα ἐπέστησεν, ὃς νέμει τὴν δάμαλιν ἄϋπνος ὤν.

Ἑρμῆς

τί οὖν ἡμᾶς χρὴ ποιεῖν;

Ζεύς

καταπτάμενος ἐς τὴν Νεμεαν — ἐκεῖ δέ που ὁ Ἄργος βουκολεῖ — ἐκεῖνον ἀπόκτεινον, τὴν δὲ Ἰὼ διὰ 208 τοῦ πελάγους ἐς τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἀγαγὼν Ἶσιν ποίησον· καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν ἔστω θεὸς τῶν ἐκεῖ καὶ τὸν Νεῖλον ἀναγέτω καὶ τοὺς ἀνέμους ἐπιπεμπέτω καὶ σωζέτω τοὺς πλέοντας.

Translations (2)

Dialogues of the Gods Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 3 focus

Apollo and Dionysus

APOLLO

What can we make of it? Won’t we have to admit that Eros and Hermaphroditus and Priapus, though sons of the same mother, are utterly different in appearance and habits? Eros is really handsome, and an archer invested with great power, and lord of all. Hermaphroditus is an effeminate pansy, half one thing and half the other in appearance, for you can’t tell whether he’s boy or girl; whereas Priapus is quite indecently masculine.

DIONYSUS

There’s no need to be surprised, Apollo. It’s not Aphrodite’s fault, but the fathers were different. ¹ Why, even when the father’s the same, the one mother often has both boys and girls in her family. Take for example your sister and yourself.

APOLLO

Quite so, but we are alike and have the same interests. We’re both archers.

DIONYSUS

The same as far as the bow goes, Apollo, but no farther, for Artemis kills visitors in Scythia, while you are a prophet and healer of the sick.

APOLLO

What? Do you think my sister likes her Scythians? Why, the moment a Greek reaches Taurica, she’s all ready and waiting to sail off with him, in disgust at their human sacrifices. ²

DIONYSUS

And the best thing she could do. But now as for Priapus—I’ll tell you something really funny. The other day—it was in Lampsacus—I was passing the city, when he invited me home with him, and put me up for the night. Now we’d gone to sleep in his dining-room, after and were pretty well soaked, when about midnight up gets our bold lad—but I’m ashamed to tell you.

APOLLO

And made an attempt on you, Dionysus?

DIONYSUS

Something like that.

APOLLO

How did you deal with the situation?

DIONYSUS

What could I do but laugh?

APOLLO

The best thing too, no bad temper or violence. He’d some excuse for making an attempt on you. You’re so good-looking.

DIONYSUS

As far as that goes, he might make an attempt on you too, Apollo. You’re so handsome and have such a fine head of hair, that he might assault you, even when he was sober.

APOLLO

Oh no, he won’t. I have arrows as well as long hair.

Dialogues of the 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.

Zeus

Hermes

Zeus

Hermes, you know Inachus’s beautiful daughter?

Hermes

I do. Io, you mean?

Zeus

Yes; she is not a girl now, but a heifer.

Hermes

Magic at work! how did that come about?

Zeus

Hera had a jealous fit, and transformed her. But that is not all; she has thought of a new punishment for the poor thing. She has put a cowherd in charge, who is all over eyes; this Argus, as he is called, pastures the heifer, and never goes to sleep.

Hermes

Well, what am I to do?

Zeus

Fly down to Nemea, where the pasture is, kill Argus, take Io across the sea to Egypt, and convert her into Isis. She shall be henceforth an Egyptian Goddess, flood the Nile, regulate the winds, and rescue mariners,

Henry Watson Fowler

Notes on the current edition

Θεῶν διάλογοι

1. ἰᾷ β: θεραπεύεις γ.

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ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Ναί· ἀλλ’ ἡμεῖς ὅμοιοί ἐσμεν καὶ ταὐτὰ ἐπιτηδεύομεν· τοξόται γὰρ ἄμφω.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ Μέχρι μὲν τόξου τὰ αὐτά, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἐκεῖνα δὲ οὐχ ὅμοια, ὅτι ἡ μὲν Ἄρτεμις ξενοκτονεῖ ἐν Σκύθαις, σὺ δέ μαντεύῃ καὶ ἰᾷ 1 τοὺς κάμνοντας.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Ἐπείρα σε, Διόνυσε;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ Τοιοῦτόν ἐστι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Σὺ δὲ τί πρὸς ταῦτα;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ Τί γὰρ ἄλλο ἢ ἐγέλασα;

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Εὖ γε, τὸ μὴ χαλεπῶς μηδὲ ἀγρίως· συγγνωστὸς γάρ, εἰ καλόν σε οὕτως ὄντα ἐπείρα.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ Τούτου μὲν ἕνεκα καὶ ἐπὶ σὲ ἄν, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἀγάγοι τὴν πεῖραν· 275 καλὸς γὰρ σὺ καὶ κομήτης, ὡς καὶ νήφοντα ἄν σοι τὸν Πρίαπον ἐπιχειρῆσαι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐπιχειρήσει γε, ὦ Διόνυσε· ἔχω γὰρ μετὰ τῆς κόμης καὶ τόξα.

Current edition Perseus

Διός καὶ Ἑρμοῦ

Ζεύς τὴν τοῦ Ἰνάχου παῖδα τὴν καλὴν οἶσθα. ὦ Ερμῆ;

Ἑρμῆς ναί· τὴν Ἰὼ λέγεις.

Ζεύς οὐκέτι παῖς ἐκείνη ἐστίν, ἀλλὰ δάμαλις.

Ἑρμῆς τεράστιον τοῦτο· τῷ τρόπῳ δʼ ἐνηλλάγη;

Ἑρμῆς τί οὖν ἡμᾶς χρὴ ποιεῖν;

Apollo and Dionysus

DIONYSUS There’s no need to be surprised, Apollo. It’s not Aphrodite’s fault, but the fathers were different. 1 Why, even when the father’s the same, the one mother often has both boys and girls in her family. Take for example your sister and yourself.

APOLLO Quite so, but we are alike and have the same interests. We’re both archers.

DIONYSUS The same as far as the bow goes, Apollo, but no farther, for Artemis kills visitors in Scythia, while you are a prophet and healer of the sick.

APOLLO What? Do you think my sister likes her Scythians? Why, the moment a Greek reaches Taurica, she’s all ready and waiting to sail off with him, in disgust at their human sacrifices. 2

APOLLO And made an attempt on you, Dionysus?

DIONYSUS Something like that.

APOLLO How did you deal with the situation?

DIONYSUS What could I do but laugh?

APOLLO The best thing too, no bad temper or violence. He’d some excuse for making an attempt on you. You’re so good-looking.

DIONYSUS As far as that goes, he might make an attempt on you too, Apollo. You’re so handsome and have such a fine head of hair, that he might assault you, even when he was sober.

APOLLO Oh no, he won’t. I have arrows as well as long hair.

III.

Zeus

Hermes

Zeus Hermes, you know Inachus’s beautiful daughter?

Hermes I do. Io, you mean?

Zeus Yes; she is not a girl now, but a heifer.

Hermes Magic at work! how did that come about?

Zeus Hera had a jealous fit, and transformed her. But that is not all; she has thought of a new punishment for the poor thing. She has put a cowherd in charge, who is all over eyes; this Argus, as he is called, pastures the heifer, and never goes to sleep.

Hermes Well, what am I to do?

Zeus Fly down to Nemea, where the pasture is, kill Argus, take Io across the sea to Egypt, and convert her into Isis. She shall be henceforth an Egyptian Goddess, flood the Nile, regulate the winds, and rescue mariners,

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ναί· ἀλλ’ ἡμεῖς ὅμοιοί ἐσμεν καὶ ταὐτὰ ἐπιτηδεύομεν· τοξόται γὰρ ἄμφω.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Μέχρι μὲν τόξου τὰ αὐτά, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἐκεῖνα δὲ οὐχ ὅμοια, ὅτι ἡ μὲν Ἄρτεμις ξενοκτονεῖ ἐν Σκύθαις, σὺ δέ μαντεύῃ καὶ ἰᾷ ¹ τοὺς κάμνοντας.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ἐπείρα σε, Διόνυσε;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τοιοῦτόν ἐστι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Σὺ δὲ τί πρὸς ταῦτα;

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τί γὰρ ἄλλο ἢ ἐγέλασα;

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Εὖ γε, τὸ μὴ χαλεπῶς μηδὲ ἀγρίως· συγγνωστὸς γάρ, εἰ καλόν σε οὕτως ὄντα ἐπείρα.

ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ

Τούτου μὲν ἕνεκα καὶ ἐπὶ σὲ ἄν, ὦ Ἄπολλον, ἀγάγοι τὴν πεῖραν· 275 καλὸς γὰρ σὺ καὶ κομήτης, ὡς καὶ νήφοντα ἄν σοι τὸν Πρίαπον ἐπιχειρῆσαι.

ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ

Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐπιχειρήσει γε, ὦ Διόνυσε· ἔχω γὰρ μετὰ τῆς κόμης καὶ τόξα.

Ζεύς

τὴν τοῦ Ἰνάχου παῖδα τὴν καλὴν οἶσθα. ὦ Ερμῆ;

Ἑρμῆς

ναί· τὴν Ἰὼ λέγεις.

Ζεύς

οὐκέτι παῖς ἐκείνη ἐστίν, ἀλλὰ δάμαλις.

Ἑρμῆς

τεράστιον τοῦτο· τῷ τρόπῳ δʼ ἐνηλλάγη;

Ἑρμῆς

τί οὖν ἡμᾶς χρὴ ποιεῖν;

DIONYSUS

There’s no need to be surprised, Apollo. It’s not Aphrodite’s fault, but the fathers were different. ¹ Why, even when the father’s the same, the one mother often has both boys and girls in her family. Take for example your sister and yourself.

APOLLO

Quite so, but we are alike and have the same interests. We’re both archers.

DIONYSUS

The same as far as the bow goes, Apollo, but no farther, for Artemis kills visitors in Scythia, while you are a prophet and healer of the sick.

APOLLO

What? Do you think my sister likes her Scythians? Why, the moment a Greek reaches Taurica, she’s all ready and waiting to sail off with him, in disgust at their human sacrifices. ²

APOLLO

And made an attempt on you, Dionysus?

DIONYSUS

Something like that.

APOLLO

How did you deal with the situation?

DIONYSUS

What could I do but laugh?

APOLLO

The best thing too, no bad temper or violence. He’d some excuse for making an attempt on you. You’re so good-looking.

DIONYSUS

As far as that goes, he might make an attempt on you too, Apollo. You’re so handsome and have such a fine head of hair, that he might assault you, even when he was sober.

APOLLO

Oh no, he won’t. I have arrows as well as long hair.

Zeus

Hermes, you know Inachus’s beautiful daughter?

Hermes

I do. Io, you mean?

Zeus

Yes; she is not a girl now, but a heifer.

Hermes

Magic at work! how did that come about?

Zeus

Hera had a jealous fit, and transformed her. But that is not all; she has thought of a new punishment for the poor thing. She has put a cowherd in charge, who is all over eyes; this Argus, as he is called, pastures the heifer, and never goes to sleep.

Hermes

Well, what am I to do?

Zeus

Fly down to Nemea, where the pasture is, kill Argus, take Io across the sea to Egypt, and convert her into Isis. She shall be henceforth an Egyptian Goddess, flood the Nile, regulate the winds, and rescue mariners,