Callidice, and Clisidice, and lovely Demo, and Callithoe, who was the eldest of them all. But they knew her not, for difficult are the gods for mortals to behold; but standing near, they addressed [to her] winged words:
"Who, whence art thou, old woman, among ancient-born men? And why hast thou walked far away from the city, nor dost approach the dwellings, where there are women of thine own age in the shady abodes, even as thou art, and younger ones also, who, forsooth, may receive thee kindly in word and deed?"
Thus they spoke, but she, hallowed one of goddesses, answered in words: "Dear children, whoever ye are[1] of the sex of women, hail! But I will tell my story to you. It is by no means unfitting to tell the truth to you who ask. My name indeed is Dos,[2] for this my revered brother gave me. But now have I come not willingly upon the wide back of the sea, but pirates by compulsion led me away unwilling. They then put to at Thoricus in their swift ship, where numerous women disembarked upon the mainland,[3] and they themselves made ready supper near the halsers of the ship. But my mind cared not for the pleasant feast, but privily setting out through the dark mainland, I fled from my overbearing masters, that they might not enjoy my price, having sold me [purchased] for nothing.[4] Thus have I come hither, wandering, nor know I aught what land this is, and who are its inhabitants. But to you may all those who possess the Olympian dwellings grant blooming husbands, and to bring forth children, as parents are wont to wish! But take pity on me, ye damsels, kindly, dear children, until I reach the dwelling of a man and woman, that I may willingly work for them in such things as are the business of an aged woman. And truly I could nicely nurse a young infant, having him in mine arms, and could take care of the house, and could spread my master's bed in the recess of the well-built chambers, and could manage*[5] the works of woman." The goddess spoke, but
- ↑ I read φίλ' αἵτινες, with La Fontaine.
- ↑ See Ruhnken.
- ↑ Hermann says there is a lacuna: "nam ipsos nautos dixisset navem reliquisse antequam cibum caperent, ut Od. ix. 85; x. 56; xv. 498."
- ↑ This seems to be the sense of ἀπριάτην.
- ↑ But I am strongly prepossessed in favour of the elegant emendation of Voss, ἔργα διδασκήσαιμι.
