Delphi Complete Works of Dio Chrysostom

by Dio Chrysostom

  [68] Now, as I have said, to most persons the two peaks appear to be practically one and undivided, inasmuch as they see them from a distance; but in fact Peak Royal towers so high above the other that it stands above the clouds in the pure and serene ether itself, whereas the other is much lower, lying in the very thick of the clouds, wrapped in darkness and fog.

  [69] ἄγων οὖν ἐκεῖσε ὁ Ἑρμῆς ἐπέδειξε τὴν φύσιν τοῦ χωρίου. τοῦ δὲ Ἡρακλέους, ἅτε νέου καὶ φιλοτίμου, προθυμουμένου θεάσασθαι τἄνδον, Οὐκοῦν ἕπου, φησίν, ἵνα καὶ σαφῶς ἴδῃς τὴν διαφορὰν τῶν ἄλλων, ἃ λανθάνει τοὺς ἀνοήτους.

  [69] “Hermes then explained the nature of the place to Heracles as he led him thither. But when Heracles, ambitious youth that he was, longed to see what was within, he said, ‘Follow, then, that you may see with your own eyes the difference in all other respects also, things hidden from the foolish.’

  [70] ἐπεδείκνυεν οὖν αὐτῷ πρῶτον ἐπὶ τῆς μείζονος κορυφῆς καθημένην ἐν θρόνῳ λαμπρῷ γυναῖκα εὐειδῆ καὶ μεγάλην, ἐσθῆτι λευκῇ κεκοσμημένην, σκῆπτρον ἔχουσαν οὐ χρυσοῦν οὐδὲ ἀργυροῦν, ἀλλ᾽ ἑτέρας φύσεως καθαρᾶς καὶ πολὺ λαμπροτέρας, ὁποίαν μάλιστα τὴν Ἥραν γράφουσι:

  [70] He therefore took him first to the loftier peak and showed him a woman seated upon a resplendent throne. She was beautiful and stately, clothed in white raiment, and held in her hand a sceptre, not of gold or silver, but of a different substance, pure and much brighter — a figure for all the world like the pictures of Hera.

  [71] τὸ δὲ πρόσωπον φαιδρὸν ὁμοῦ καὶ σεμνόν, ὡς τοὺς μὲν ἀγαθοὺς ἅπαντας θαρρεῖν ὁρῶντας, κακὸν δὲ μηδένα δύνασθαι προσιδεῖν, μὴ μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν ἀσθενῆ τὴν ὄψιν ἀναβλέψαι πρὸς τὸν τοῦ ἡλίου κύκλον: καθεστηκὸς δὲ καὶ ὅμοιον αὐτῆς τὸ εἶδος ὁρᾶσθαι καὶ τὸ βλέμμα οὐ μετατρεπόμενον:

  [71] Her countenance was at once radiant and full of dignity, so that all the good could behold it without fear, but no evil person could gaze upon it any more than a man with weak eyes can look up at the orb of the sun; composed and steadfast was her mien, and her glance did not waver.

  [72] πολλὴν δ᾽ εὐφημίαν τε καὶ ἡσυχίαν ἀθόρυβον κατέχειν τὸν τόπον. ἦν δὲ ἅπαντα μεστὰ καρπῶν τε καὶ ζῴων εὐθηνούντων ἀπὸ παντὸς γένους: παρῆν δὲ καὶ χρυσὸς αὐτόθι ἄπλετος σεσωρευμένος καὶ ἄργυρος καὶ χαλκὸς καὶ σίδηρος. οὐ μὴν ἐκείνη γε οὐδὲν τῷ χρυσῷ προσεῖχεν οὐδὲ ἐτέρπετο,

  [72] A profound stillness and unbroken quiet pervaded the place; everywhere were fruits in abundance and thriving animals of every species. And immense heaps of gold and silver were there, and of bronze and iron; yet she heeded not at all the gold, nor did she take delight in it, but rather in the fruits and living creatures.

  [73] ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τοῖς καρποῖς τε καὶ ζῴοις. ἰδὼν οὖν αὐτὴν ὁ Ἡρακλῆς ᾐδέσθη τε καὶ ἠρυθρίασεν, τιμῶν καὶ σεβόμενος, ὡς ἂν ἀγαθὸς παῖς μητέρα γενναίαν. καὶ ἤρετο τίς ἐστι θεῶν τὸν Ἑρμῆν: ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Αὕτη σοι μακαρία δαίμων Βασιλεία, Διὸς βασιλέως ἔκγονος. ὁ δὲ Ἡρακλῆς ἐχάρη καὶ ἐθάρρησε πρὸς αὐτήν. καὶ αὖθις ἐπήρετο τὰς σὺν αὐτῇ γυναῖκας. τίνες εἰσίν; ἔφη: ὡς [p. 14]

  [73] “Now when Heracles beheld the woman, he was abashed and blushes mantled his cheeks, for he felt that respect and reverence for her which a good son feels for a noble mother. Then he asked Hermes which of the deities she was, and he replied, ‘Lo, that is the blessed Lady Royalty, child of King Zeus.’ And Heracles rejoiced and took courage in her presence. And again he asked about the women who were with her. ‘Who are they?’ said he; ‘how decorous and stately, like men in countenance!’

  [74] εὐσχήμονες καὶ μεγαλοπρεπεῖς καὶ ἀρρενωποί. ἥδε μέν, ἔφη, σοι ἡ προσορῶσα γοργόν τε καὶ πρᾷον, ἐκ δεξιῶν καθημένη, Δίκη, πλείστῳ δὴ καὶ φανερωτάτῳ λάμπουσα κάλλει. παρὰ δὲ αὐτὴν Εὐνομία, πάνυ ὁμοία καὶ μικρὸν διαφέρουσα τὸ εἶδος.

  [74] ‘Behold,’ he replied, ‘she who sits there at her right hand, whose glance is both fierce and gentle, is Justice, aglow with a surpassing and resplendent beauty. Beside her sits Civic Order, who is very much like her and differs but slightly in appearance.

  [75] ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ἐπὶ θάτερα μέρους γυνὴ σφόδρα ὡραία καὶ ἁβρῶς ἐσταλμένη καὶμειδιῶσα ἀλύπως: εἰρήνην καλοῦσιν αὐτήν: ὁ δ᾽ ἐγγὺς οὗτος ἑστηκὼς τῆς Βασιλείας παρ᾽ αὐτὸ τὸ σκῆπτρον ἔμπροσθεν ἰσχυρὸς ἀνήρ, πολιὸς καὶ μεγαλόφρων, οὗτος δὴ καλεῖται Νόμος, ὁ δὲ αὐτὸς καὶ λόγος ὀρθὸς κέκληται, σύμβουλος καὶ πάρεδρος, οὗ χωρὶς οὐδὲν ἐκείναις πρᾶξαι θέμις οὐδὲ διανοηθῆναι.

  [75] On the other side is a woman exceeding beautiful, daintily attired, and smiling benignly; they call her Peace. But he who stands near Royalty, just beside the sceptre and somewhat in front of it, a strong man, grey-haired and proud, has the name of Law; but he has also been called Right Reason, Counsellor, Coadjutor, without whom these women are not permitted to take any action or even to purpose one.’

  [76] ταῦτα μὲν οὖνἀκούων καὶ ὁρῶν ἐτέρπετο καὶ προσεῖχε τὸν νοῦν, ὡς οὐδέποτε αὐτῶν ἐπιλησόμενος. ἐντεῦθεν δὴ ἐπεὶ κατιόντες ἐγένοντο κατὰ τὴν τυραννικὴν εἴσοδον, Δεῦρο, ἔφη, θέασαι καὶ τὴν ἑτέραν, ἧς ἐρῶσιν οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ περὶ ἧς πολλὰ καὶ παντοδαπὰ πράγματα ἔχουσι, φονεύοντες οἱ ταλαίπωροι, παῖδές τε γονεῦσι πολλάκις ἐπιβουλεύοντεσκαὶ γονεῖς παισὶ καὶ ἀδελφοὶ ἀδελφοῖς, τὸ μέγιστον κακὸν ἐπιποθοῦντες καὶ μακαρίζοντες, ἐξουσίαν μετὰ ἀνοίας.

  [76] “With all that he heard and saw Heracles was delighted, and he paid close attention, determined never to forget it. But when they had come down from the higher peak and were at the entrance to Tyranny, Hermes said, ‘Look this way and behold the other woman. It is with her that the majority of men are infatuated and to win her they give themselves much trouble of every kind, committing murder, wretches that they are, son often conspiring against father, father against son, and brother against brother, since they covet and count as felicity that which is the greatest evil — power conjoined with folly.’

  [77] καὶ δὴ πρῶτον μὲν αὐτῷ τὰ περὶ τὴν εἴσοδον ἐδείκνυεν, ὡς μία μὲν ἐφαίνετο πρόδηλος, καὶ αὐτὴ σχεδὸν, ὁποίαν πρότερον εἶπον, ἐπισφαλὴς καὶ παρ᾽ αὐτὸν φέρουσα τὸν κρημνόν, πολλαὶ δὲ ἄδηλοικαὶ ἀφανεῖς διαδύσεις, καὶ κύκλῳ πᾶς ὑ�
�όνομος ὁ τόπος καὶ διατετμημένος ὑπ᾽ αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν θρόνον, αἱ δὲ πάροδοι καὶ ἀτραποὶ πᾶσαι πεφυρμέναι αἵματι καὶ μεσταὶ νεκρῶν. διὰ δὲ τούτων οὐδεμιᾶς ἦγεν αὐτόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔξωθεν καθαρωτέραν, ἅτε οἶμαι θεατὴν ἐσόμενον.

  [77] He then began by showing Heracles the nature of the entrance, explaining that whereas only one pathway appeared to view, that being about as described above — perilous and skirting the very edge of the precipice — yet there were many unseen and hidden corridors, and that the entire region was undermined on every side and tunnelled, no doubt up to the very throne, and that all the passages and bypaths were smeared with blood and strewn with corpses. Through none, however, of these passages did Hermes lead him, but along the outside one that was less befouled, because, I think, Heracles was to be a mere observer.

  [78] ἐπεὶ δὲ εἰσῆλθον, καταλαμβάνουσι τὴν Τυραννίδα καθημένηνὑψηλὴν ἐξεπίτηδες, προσποιουμένην καὶ ἀφομοιοῦσαν αὑτὴν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ, πολὺ δέ, ὡς ἐνόμιζεν, ὑψηλοτέρῳ καὶ κρείττονι τῷ θρόνῳ, μυρίας ἄλλας τινὰς ἔχοντι γλυφάς, καὶ διαθέσει χρυσοῦ καὶ ἐλέφαντος καὶ ἠλέκτρου καὶ ἐβένου καὶ παντοδαπῶν χρωμάτων πεποικιλμένῳ. τὴν δὲ βάσιν οὐκ ἦν ἀσφαλὴς ὁ θρόνος οὐδὲ[p. 15]

  [78] “When they entered, they discovered Tyranny seated aloft, of set purpose counterfeiting and making herself like to Royalty, but, as she imagined, on a far loftier and more splendid throne, since it was not only adorned with innumerable carvings, but embellished besides with inlaid patterns of gold, ivory, amber, ebony, and substances of every colour. Her throne, however, was not secure upon its foundation nor firmly settled, but shook and slouched upon its legs.

  [79] ἡδρασμένος, ἀλλὰ κινούμενός τε καὶ ὀκλάζων. ἦν δὲ οὐδ᾽ ἄλλο οὐδὲν ἐν κόσμῳ διακείμενον, ἀλλὰ πρὸς δόξαν ἅπαντα καὶ ἀλαζονείαν καὶ τρυφήν, πολλὰ μὲν σκῆπτρα, πολλαὶ δὲ τιᾶραι καὶ διαδήματα ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς. καὶ δὴ μιμουμένη τὸ ἐκείνης ἦθος ἀντὶ μὲν τοῦ προσφιλοῦς μειδιάματος ταπεινὸν ἐσεσήρει καὶ ὕπουλον, ἀντὶ δὲ τοῦ σεμνοῦ βλέμματος σκυθρωπὸν ὑφεωρᾶτο καὶ ἄγριον.

  [79] And in general things were in disorder, everything suggesting vainglory, ostentation, and luxury — many sceptres, many tiaras and diadems for the head. Furthermore, in her zeal to imitate the character of the other woman, instead of the friendly smile Tyranny wore a leer of false humility, and instead of a glance of dignity she had an ugly and forbidding scowl.

  [80] ἵνα δὲ φαίνοιτο μεγαλόφρων, οὐ προσέβλεπε τοὺς προσιόντας, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπερεώρα καὶ ἠτίμαζεν. ἐκ δὲ τούτου πᾶσιν ἀπηχθάνετο, πάντας δὲ ὑπενόει. καθημένη δὲ ἀτρεμίζειν οὐκ ἐδύνατο, θαμινὰ δὲ κύκλῳ περιέβλεπε καὶ ἀνεπήδα πολλάκις ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου. τὸ δὲ χρυσίον αἴσχιστα ἐφύλαττεν ἐν τοῖς κόλποις, πάλιν δὲ ἐρρίπτει φοβηθεῖσα ἀθρόον, εἶτ᾽ εὐθὺς ἥρπαζεν ὅ,τι ἔχοι τις τῶν παριόντων καὶ τὸ βραχύτατον.

  [80] But in order to assume the appearance of pride, she would not glance at those whom came into her presence but looked over their heads disdainfully. And so everybody hated her, and she herself ignored everybody. She was unable to sit with composure, but would cast her eyes incessantly in every direction, frequently springing up from her throne. She hugged her gold to her bosom in a disgusting manner and then in terror would fling it from her in a heap, then she would forthwith snatch at whatever any passer-by might have, were it never so little.

  [81] ἡ δὲ ἐσθὴς παντοδαπή, τοῦτο μὲν ἁλουργίδων, τοῦτο δὲ φοινικῶν, τοῦτο δὲ κροκωτῶν: ἦσαν δὲ καὶ λευκοί τινες φαινόμενοι τῶν πέπλων: πολλὰ δὲ καὶ κατέρρηκτο τῆς στολῆς. χρώματα δὲ παντοδαπὰ ἠφίει, φοβουμένη καὶ ἀγωνιῶσα καὶ ἀπιστοῦσα καὶ ὀργιζομένη, καὶ ποτὲ μὲν ὑπὸ λύπης ταπεινή, ποτὲ δὲ ὑφ᾽ ἡδονῆς μετέωρος ἑωρᾶτο, καὶ νῦν μὲν ἐγέλα τῷ προσώπῳ

  [81] Her raiment was of many colours, purple, scarlet and saffron, with patches of white, too, showing here and there from her skirts, since her cloak was torn in many places. From her countenance glowed all manners of colours according to whether she felt terror or anguish or suspicion or anger; while at one moment she seemed prostrate with grief, at another she appeared to be in an exaltation of joy. At one time a quite wanton smile would come over her face, but at the next moment she would be in tears.

  [82] πάνυ ἀσελγῶς, πάλιν δὲ εὐθὺς ἐθρήνει. ἦν δὲ καὶ ὅμιλος περὶ αὐτὴν γυναικῶν οὐδὲν ἐκείναις ὁμοίων, αἷς ἔφην εἶναι περὶ τὴν Βασιλείαν, ἀλλ᾽ Ὠμότης καὶ Ὕβρις καὶ Ἀνομία καὶ Στάσις, αἳ πᾶσαι διέφθειρον αὐτὴν καὶ κάκιστα ἀπώλλυον. ἀντὶ δὲ Φιλίας Κολακεία παρῆν, δουλοπρεπὴς καὶ ἀνελεύθερος, οὐδεμιᾶς ἧττον ἐπιβουλεύουσα ἐκείνων, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα δὴ πάντων ἀπολέσαι ζητοῦσα.

  [82] There was also a throng of women about her, but they resembled in no respect those whom I have described as in attendance upon Royalty. These were Cruelty, Insolence, Lawlessness, and Faction, all of whom were bent upon corrupting her and bringing her to ignoble ruin. And instead of Friendship, Flattery was there, servile and avaricious and no less ready for treachery than any of the others, nay rather, zealous above all things to destroy.

  [83] ὡς δὲ καὶ ταῦτα ἱκανῶς τεθέατο, πυνθάνεται αὐτοῦ ὁ Ἑρμῆς πότερα αὐτὸν ἀρέσειε τῶν πραγμάτων καὶ ποτέρα τῶν γυναικῶν. ἀλλὰ τὴν μὲν ἑτέραν, ἔφη, θαυμάζω καὶ ἀγαπῶ, καὶ δοκεῖ μοι θεὸς ἀληθῶς εἶναι, ζήλου καὶ μακαρισμοῦ ἀξία, ταύτην δὲ τὴν ὑστέραν ἐχθίστην ἔγωγε ἡγοῦμαι καὶ μιαρωτάτην, ὥστε ἥδιστα ἂν αὐτὴν ὤσαιμι κατὰ τούτου τοῦ σκοπέλου καὶ ἀφανίσαιμι. ταῦτ᾽ [p. 16]

  [83] “Now when Heracles had viewed all this also to his heart’s content, Hermes asked him which of the two scenes pleased him and which of the two women. ‘Why, it is the other one,’ said he, ‘whom I admire and love, and she seems to me a veritable goddess, enviable and worthy to be accounted blest; this second woman, on the other hand, I consider so utterly odious and abominable that I would gladly thrust her down from this peak and thus put an end to her.’ Whereupon Hermes commended Heracles for this utterance and repeated it to Zeus, who entrusted him with the kingship over all mankind as he considered him equal to the trust.

  [84] οὖν ἐπῄνεσεν ὁ Ἑρμῆς καὶ τῷ Διὶ ἔφρασεν. κἀκεῖνος ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτῷ βασιλεύειν τοῦ σύμπαντος ἀνθρώπων γένους, ὡς ὄντι ἱκανῷ. τοιγαροῦν ὅπου μὲν ἴδοι τυραννίδα καὶ τύραννον ἐκόλαζε κ�
�ὶ ἀνῄρει παρά τε Ἕλλησι καὶ βαρβάροις: ὅπου δὲ βασιλείαν καὶ βασιλέα, ἐτίμα καὶ ἐφύλαττεν. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τῆς γῆς καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπωνσωτῆρα εἶναι, οὐχ ὅτι τὰ θηρία αὐτοῖς ἀπήμυνεν: πόσον γὰρ ἄν τι καὶ βλάψειε λέων ἤ σῦς ἄγριος; ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι τοὺς ἀνημέρους καὶ πονηροὺς ἀνθρώπους ἐκόλαζε καὶ τῶν ὑπερηφάνων τυράννων κατέλυε καὶ ἀφῃρεῖτο τὴν ἐξουσίαν. καὶ νῦν ἔτι τοῦτο δρᾷ, καὶ βοηθός ἐστι καὶ φύλαξ σοι τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἕως ἄν τυγχάνῃς βασιλεύων.

  [84] And so wherever Heracles discovered a tyranny and a tyrant, he chastised and destroyed them, among Greeks and barbarians alike; but wherever he found a kingdom and a king, he would give honour and protection.”

  This, she maintained, was what made him Deliverer of the earth and of the human race, not the fact that he defended them from the savage beasts — for how little damage could a lion or a wild bear inflict? — nay, it was the fact that he chastised savage and wicked men, and crushed and destroyed the power of overweening tyrants. And even to this day Heracles continues this work and you have in him a helper and protector of your government as long as it is vouchsafed you to reign.

  THE SECOND DISCOURSE ON KINGSHIP

  περὶ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΑΣ β.

  THE SECOND DISCOURSE ON KINGSHIP

  The second Discourse on Kingship is put dramatically in the form of a dialogue between Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander, and in it the son is Dio’s mouthpiece, in marked contrast to the situation in the fourth Discourse, where Diogenes — and therefore Dio — is opposed to Alexander. We are shown here the way in which the true king acts in the practical affairs of life, and the Stoic ideal, drawn largely from Homer, is set forth. Toward the end the true king is contrasted with the tyrant.