hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第59章
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Fragment #4 Scholiast on Euripides Medea； 273： Didymus contrasts the following account given by Creophylus； which is as follows： while Medea was living in Corinth； she poisoned Creon； who was ruler of the city at that time； and because she feared his friends and kinsfolk； fled to Athens。 However； since her sons were too young to go along with her； she left them at the altar of Hera Acraea； thinking that their father would see to their safety。 But the relatives of Creon killed them and spread the story that Medea had killed her own children as well as Creon。
THE PHOCAIS （fragments）
Fragment #1 Pseudo…Herodotus； Life of Homer： While living with Thestorides； Homer composed the 〃Lesser Iliad〃 and the 〃Phocais〃； though the Phocaeans say that he composed the latter among them。
THE MARGITES （fragments）
Fragment #1 Suidas； s。v。： Pigres。 A Carian of Halicarnassus and brother of Artemisia； wife of Mausolus； who distinguished herself in war。。。 （1） He also wrote the 〃Margites〃 attributed to Homer and the 〃Battle of the Frogs and Mice〃。
Fragment #2 Atilius Fortunatianus； p。 286； Keil： ‘There came to Colophon an old man and divine singer； a servant of the Muses and of far…shooting Apollo。 In his dear hands he held a sweet…toned lyre。'
Fragment #3 Plato； Alcib。 ii。 p。 147 A： ‘He knew many things but knew all badly。。。'
Aristotle； Nic。 Eth。 vi。 7； 1141： ‘The gods had taught him neither to dig nor to plough； nor any other skill； he failed in every craft。'
Fragment #4 Scholiast on Aeschines in Ctes。； sec。 160： He refers to Margites； a man who； though well grown up； did not know whether it was his father or his mother who gave him birth； and would not lie with his wife； saying that he was afraid she might give a bad account of him to her mother。
Fragment #5 Zenobius； v。 68： ‘The fox knows many a wile； but the hedge…hog's one trick （2） can beat them all。' （3）
ENDNOTES：
（1） This Artemisia； who distinguished herself at the battle of Salamis （Herodotus； vii。 99） is here confused with the later Artemisia； the wife of Mausolus； who died 350 B。C。 （2） i。e。 the fox knows many ways to baffle its foes； while the hedge…hog knows one only which is far more effectual。 （3） Attributed to Homer by Zenobius； and by Bergk to the 〃Margites〃。
THE CERCOPES （fragments）
Fragment #1 Suidas； s。v。： Cercopes。 These were two brothers living upon the earth who practised every kind of knavery。 They were called Cercopes （1） because of their cunning doings： one of them was named Passalus and the other Acmon。 Their mother； a daughter of Memnon； seeing their tricks； told them to keep clear of Black…bottom； that is； of Heracles。 These Cercopes were sons of Theia and Ocean； and are said to have been turned to stone for trying to deceive Zeus。
‘Liars and cheats； skilled in deeds irremediable； accomplished knaves。 Far over the world they roamed deceiving men as they wandered continually。'
ENDNOTES：
（1） i。e。 ‘monkey…men'。
THE BATTLE OF FROGS AND MICE （303 lines）
（ll。 1…8） Here I begin： and first I pray the choir of the Muses to come down from Helicon into my heart to aid the lay which I have newly written in tablets upon my knee。 Fain would I sound in all men's ears that awful strife； that clamorous deed of war； and tell how the Mice proved their valour on the Frogs and rivalled the exploits of the Giants； those earth…born men； as the tale was told among mortals。 Thus did the war begin。
（ll。 9…12） One day a thirsty Mouse who had escaped the ferret； dangerous foe； set his soft muzzle to the lake's brink and revelled in the sweet water。 There a loud…voiced pond…larker spied him： and uttered such words as these。
（ll。 13…23） ‘Stranger； who are you？ Whence come you to this shore； and who is he who begot you？ Tell me all this truly and let me not find you lying。 For if I find you worthy to be my friend； I will take you to my house and give you many noble gifts such as men give to their guests。 I am the king Puff…jaw； and am honoured in all the pond； being ruler of the Frogs continually。 The father that brought me up was Mud…man who mated with Waterlady by the banks of Eridanus。 I see； indeed； that you are well…looking and stouter than the ordinary； a sceptred king and a warrior in fight； but； come； make haste and tell me your descent。'
（ll。 24…55） Then Crumb…snatcher answered him and said： ‘Why do you ask my race； which is well…known amongst all； both men and gods and the birds of heaven？ Crumb…snatcher am I called； and I am the son of Bread…nibbler he was my stout…hearted father and my mother was Quern…licker； the daughter of Ham…gnawer the king： she bare me in the mouse…hole and nourished me with food； figs and nuts and dainties of all kinds。 But how are you to make me your friend； who am altogether different in nature？ For you get your living in the water； but I am used to each such foods as men have： I never miss the thrice…kneaded loaf in its neat； round basket； or the thin…wrapped cake full of sesame and cheese； or the slice of ham； or liver vested in white fat； or cheese just curdled from sweet milk； or delicious honey…cake which even the blessed gods long for； or any of all those cates which cooks make for the feasts of mortal men； larding their pots and pans with spices of all kinds。 In battle I have never flinched from the cruel onset； but plunged straight into the fray and fought among the foremost。 I fear not man though he has a big body； but run along his bed and bite the tip of his toe and nibble at his heel； and the man feels no hurt and his sweet sleep is not broken by my biting。 But there are two things I fear above all else the whole world over； the hawk and the ferret for these bring great grief on me and the piteous trap wherein is treacherous death。
Most of all I fear the ferret of the keener sort which follows you still even when you dive down your hole。 （1） In gnaw no radishes and cabbages and pumpkins； nor feed on green leeks and parsley； for these are food for you who live in the lake。'
（ll。 56…64） Then Puff…jaw answered him with a smile： ‘Stranger you boast too much of belly…matters： we too have many marvels to be seen both in the lake and on the shore。 For the Son of Chronos has given us Frogs the power to lead a double life； dwelling at will in two separate elements； and so we both leap on land and plunge beneath the water。 If you would learn of all these things； 'tis easy done： just mount upon my back and hold me tight lest you be lost； and so you shall come rejoicing to my house。'
（ll。 65…81） So said he； and offered his back。 And the Mouse mounted at once； putting his paws upon the other's sleek neck and vaulting nimbly。 Now at first； while he still saw the land near by； he was pleased； and was delighted with Puff…jaw's swimming； but when dark waves began to wash over him； he wept loudly and blamed his unlucky change of mind： he tore his fur and tucked his paws in against his belly； while within him his heart quaked by reason of the strangeness： and he longed to get to land； groaning terribly through the stress of chilling fear。 He put out his tail upon the water and worked it like a steering oar； and prayed to heaven that he might get to land。 But when the dark waves washed over him he cried aloud and said： ‘Not in such wise did the bull bear on his back the beloved load； when be brought Europa across the sea to Crete； as this Frog carries me over the water to his house； raising his yellow back in the pale water。'
（ll。 82…92） Then suddenly a water…snake appeared； a horrid sight for both alike； and held his neck upright above the water。 And when he saw it； Puff…jaw dived at once； and never thought how helpless a friend he would leave perishing； but down to the bottom of the lake he went； and escaped black death。 But the Mouse； so deserted； at once fell on his back； in the water。 He wrung his paws and squeaked in agony of death： many times he sank beneath the water and many times he rose up again kicking。 But he could not escape his doom； for his wet fur weighed him down heavily。 Then at the last； as he was dying； he uttered these words。
（ll。 93…98） ‘Ah； Puff…jaw； you shall not go unpunished
