TovTO 8' eiraviTJaeie to irai/ ti kc Kal iroOev ekdov; TT^i 8e KC /c^l^airoXoiTO, CTrel Ta)»'8' ovhev ep^p-ov; dXX' avTa ecTTW' TaSra, 81' dWrfkoiv he deovra ytyi'erai aXXoTC aXXa Kal rjveKe^ aJih/ o/uoia.
I will report a twofold truth. Now grows The One from Many into being, now 22 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
( Even from the One disparting come the Many.
I Twofold the birth, twofold the death of things: LEor, now, the meeting of the Many brings To birth and death; and, now, whatever grew 1 From out their sundering, flies apart and dies.
; And this long interchange shall never end. Whiles into One do all through Love unite; Whiles too the same are rent through hate of Strife. And in so far as is the One still wont To grow from Many, and the Many, again, Spring from primeval scattering of the One, So far have they a birth and mortal date; And in so far as the long interchange Ends not, so far forever established gods Around the circle of the world they move. But come! but hear my words! For knowledge gained Makes strong thy soul. For as before I spake, Naming the utter goal of these my words, I will report a twofold truth. Now grows The One from Many into being, now Even from the One disparting come the Many, — Fire, Water, Earth and awful heights of Air; And shut from them apart, the deadly Strife In equipoise, and Love within their midst In all her being in length and breadth the same. Behold her now with mind, and sit not there With eyes astonished, for 'tis she inborn Abides established in the limbs of men. Through her they cherish thoughts of love, through her THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 23 Perfect the works of concord, calling her By name Delight or Aphrodite clear. She speeds revolving in the elements, But this no mortal man hath ever learned — Hear thou the undelusive course of proof: Behold those elements own equal strength And equal origin; each rules its task; And unto each its primal mode; and each Prevailing conquers with revolving time. And more than these there is no birth nor end; For were they wasted ever and evermore, They were no longer, and the great All were then How to be plenished and from what far coast? And how, besides, might they to ruin come, Since nothing lives that empty is of them? — No, these are all, and, as they course along Through one another, now this, now that is born — And so forever down Eternity.
18.
Love.
Firm-clasping Lovingness.
Love and Hate in the Organic World. 20. TOVTO fikv av Pporioiv [juekecov apiheiKerov oyKov aXXore fiev ^iXott/ti awep^ofiev ets ej/ airavTa / 24 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
The world-wide warfare of the eternal Two Well in the mass of human limbs is shown: Whiles into one do they through Love unite, And mortal members take the body's form, And life doth flower at the prime; and whiles, Again dissevered by the Hates perverse, They wander far and wide and up and down The surf-swept beaches and drear shores of life. So too with thicket, tree, and gleaming fish Housed in the crystal walls of waters wide; And so with beasts that couch on mountain slopes. And water-fowls that skim the long blue sea.
From the Elements is All We See.
21.
dXX' dye, twvB' odpwv irporepcav iirifidprvpa Bepxev, eiTi Kal iv irporepotcri Xivo^Xov eirXero /io/9(^^i, •qekiov fikv depfjiov opdv Kal Xafiirpov dvdvnji.y ajujSpora 8* oa'(r' ISei re koI dpyeri Several aiy^t, ofi^pov 8' iv irdai Svo^oevrd Te piyaXiov re- eic 8* awjs irpopeovtri diXviivd re Kal (mpeomd, iv Se Korcdi hidjiop^a koX dvhi)(a irdvra TreXovreu, criiv 8* i^Tf iv 4>iXor>jTi Kal aXXi/Xouri •nodarai. iK TOVTOiv ydp ttdvff Sera r ^v o<Ta t cctti Kal eoroi, hevBped T i^\d<rTr)<re Kal dvdpe^ -^he yvvoLKe^, THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 25 But come, and to my words foresaid look well, If their wide witness anywhere forgot Aught that behooves the elemental forms: Behold the Sun, the warm, the bright-diffused; Behold the eternal Stars, forever steeped In liquid heat and glowing radiance; see Also the Rain, obscure and cold and dark, And how from Earth streams forth the Green and Firm. And all through Wrath are split to shapes diverse; And each through Love draws near and yearns for each. For from these elements hath budded all That was or is or evermore shall be — All trees, and men and women, beasts and birds, And fishes nourished in deep waters, aye, The long-lived gods, in honors excellent. For these>are all, and, as they course along Through one another, they take new faces all, / By varied mingling and enduring change. ( Similta Similibus. 22. apOfiia fiev yap ravra iavrcjv iravra fiepecraiVf 'tjkiKTfop T€ ■)(dmv re koX ovpavog rjSe doKaxraa, ocrira ^iv iu dvTjTolcnv dtroTrka^divTa ire^vK&f.
26 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
a»S S' aureus ocra Kpaaiv itrapxea jmSlWov ecunv, aWijXoi^ ecTepKrat opuOLOidivT 'A<f)po8Crr}i,.
ix'^po'- [S' a] irXela-Tov air' dXXTJXcov Stexoucrt fiaXuTTa yevvrji, re Kprjtra re. koX elSea-iv iKiiaKTOLcn, irdvrrji {rvyyCvecOai. dijdea Kal fiaXa \vypa HetKios ivve(TCrji.cri,v, oti a<]>icrL yevvav eopyev.
For amber Sun and Earth and Heaven and Sea Is friendly with its every part that springs, Far driven and scattered, in the mortal world; So too those things that are most apt to mix Are like, and love by Aphrodite's best.
But hostile chiefly are those things which most From one another differ, both in birth.
And in their mixing and their molded forms— Unwont to mingle, miserable and lone.
After the counsels of their father, Hate.
An Analogy.
23- <us 8' OTTOTai* y/oa^eies dpadijfiaTa iroiKiWoKriv dvepes dfji^l Texvqq imo jliijtios fv SeSaoiTe, oiT iirei oHv fidpylKotrt. iroXvxpoa <f>dpp.aKa j^c/airiv, dpfiovCrji fieC^aj^e rd p.kv irXccu, aXXa S* cXacrtro), e/f rSiv eiSca irafriv dXiyKia iropcrvvovcrL, SevS/QEa TC KTt^ovre koL dvepa<s ■^Se yuvaiKas d'^pd^ T ol(i>vov<s T€ Kat vSaTo9pep.p,ovas i^Ov^ Kai re deoii^ SoXu^auova^ Ttjaijtcrt ^e/Jitrrovs" ovTQ} p/q <r diraTT] <f)peva KaLvuTw aXXoOev etvai 0p^Zv, otrtra ye 8^\a ytyaKocriv da-irera, irtjyTJvy dXXa TopSt^ TavT urdi, deov irapa pJudov dKovcras.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES, 2^ And even as artists — ^men whc^know their craft Through wits of cunning — paint with streak and hue Bright temple-tablets, and will seize in hand The oozy poisons pied and red and gold (Mixing harmonious, now more, now less), From which they fashion forms innumerable, And like to all things, peopling a fresh world With trees, and men and women, beasts and birds. And fishes nourished in deep waters, aye. And long-lived gods in honors excellent: Just so (and let no guile deceive thy breast). Even so the spring of mortal things, leastwise Of all the host born visible to man. O guard this knowledge well, for thou hast heard In this my song the Goddess and her tale.
The Speculative Thinker. 24...Kopv<f>a^ erepas erip7)Lai vpoadTrTav fivdcDP jiri TeKiiiv arpwrrov p,Lav,,.
To join together diverse peaks of thought, And not complete one road that has no turn.
An Aphorism.
25- ,.. KOI Sis yo^Pi ^ Sei, KaXov ia-nv ivurireiv. What must be said, may well be said twice o'er.
28 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
The Law of the Elements. 26. iv Se fiipa Kpareovcri vepinXofievoLo kvkXolo, KoX (j)6Cv€i, ets aWrfXa koX av^erai iv fi^epev aicnjs. auTci -yap iaTLV ravra, 8t' dWijXojj' 8e Oeovra yCvovTau avOpomoiTe koX aWav i9vea drjpav aWoTC [lev ^iXorqTL crvvep^ofJiev' ets o'a Koa-fiov, aXXore 8' aS 81^' ekatTTa <))opovfJi.eva Nei/ceos ex^^'> eicrd/cev Iv crvii^vvra to irai/ virevcpde yevrjTOi. ouTws '^t fiev ei' e/c TrXedi'toi' ixefiddi^Ke ^vecuaif •^8e 7raXti» Si,a<f)vvTO^ ivo? irXeov' cKTcXe^ovcri, T'^i jno' yCyvovrai re Kal ov (r^urvv e/oiTreSos aituv 171, Se Ta8' dXXacrcroi'Ta Sia/iirc/oes ovSap,a Xijyei, ravrrii. 8' aiei' eaaiv aKCvrjTOL Kara kvkKov.
In turn they conquer as the cycles roll, And wane the one to other still, and wax The one to other in turn by olden Fate; For these are all, and, as they course along Through one another, they become both men And multitudinous tribes of hairy beasts; Whiles in fair order through Love united all, Whiles rent asunder by the hate of Strife, Till they, when grown into the One and All Once more, once more go under and succumb. And in so far as is the One still wont To grow from the Many, and the Many, again, Spring from primeval scattering of the One, So far have they a birth and mortal date. And in so far as this long interchange Ends not, so far forever established gods Around the circle of the world they move.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 29 The Sphere. « 27. eud^ mn 'HeXioio SieiSerai b)Kea yuia ouSe /lei/ ou8' aii^s Xacrioi' fievog ouSe Oakacraa- OUTCD? 'ApflOVLT]^ TTVKLVOiL KpV(f)(Ol icmjpiKTai S^at/aos KuxXorep'^s fiovCr}!. Trepirjyii yauov.
There views one not the swift limbs of the Sun, Nor there the strength of shaggy Earth, nor Sea; But in the strong recess of Harmony, EstabHshed firm abides the rounded Sphere, Exultant in surrounding solitude.
27a. ( ov trracris ouSe re Srjpus dvaurip-o^ iv fieXeetra'i.v.
Nor faction nor fight unseemly in its limbs.
aXX' o ye irdvroOev Tcros [«?!'] koX trdp.Trav aTreCpcav %<^aLpos KVKXoTC/aijs povirfi irepiy^yii yaCav.
The Sphere on every side the boundless same, Exultant in surrounding solitude.
29. ov yap diro vwtolo Svo KXaSoi dicrcrowai, ov iroSes, ov 0od yovva, ov [iij8ea yevvijevTa, '^ dWd (T^xupos eqv /cat \jrdvTodevl^ Tcros eaurwi.
For from its back there swing no branching arms. It hath no feet nor knees alert, nor form 30 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
Of life-producing member, — on all sides A sphere it was, and like unto itself.
30. airap iirel fieya Neifcos ivliiiMeXeecra-iv idpi^^dt} cs Ti/xas T dv6pov<r€ reXeiOfievoLO xRovolo, 05 c^tj' a/tot^aio? TrXaTcos Trap' iXijXaTai opKov...Yet after mighty Strife had waxen great Within the members of the Sphere, and rose To her own honors, as the times arrived Which unto each in turn, to Strife, to Love, Should come by amplest oath and old. decree...31. irdvra yap efeiijs TreXe/ii^cTO yvZa OeoLO.
For one by one did quake the limbs of God.
Physical Analogies, 32. SvQ) 8&EI dpdpOV.
The joint binds two.
33- (US 8' St oiros ydXa XevKov eyo/Lw^tuaei' Kal eSi/cre...
But as when rennet of the fig-tree juice Curdles the white milk, and will bind it fast...34- a\<f>LTou vSari KoWi^cra;...Cementing meal with water...THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 3 1 The Conquest of ^ove. 35. aiirap iyo) wakivopcro^ Ikeva-ojjLai e? iropov viivotv, Toi' irporepov KareXefa, \6yov \6yov e^o;^eTcua»v, Kiivov eiret Net/cos fiev iveprarov lkcto j3evdo^ BivT]^, iv Be fi4(rt)i ^iXodjs arpo^dkiyyi yevryrai, iv TTJi Srj TaSe travra o-vvep^eTaL ev fiovov elvai, ovK a(f)ap, dXXa dekyjfia (rvvurrdfiev' dWodeu aXXa. tS)v Se re fhia-yo^ivoiv x^^''"' e^vea [ivpia dviyrav ■TToXXo, 8' dfieiKT eoTfjKe Kepaiofiivounv ivaWd^, ocrcr' &i Nei/cos ipvxe fierdpcnov ov yap d[ie[i^e(i)<s T&v irav i^eoTTjKeu iir' ecr)(cLTa repixara kvkXov, aXXd Ta fiev t ivip,i,iive^ fiekecov to. Be t e^e^efirJKei. 6(T<Tov S' aleu VTreKTrpodeoi, tocov alev iirqieL •Tjino^poiv ^iXoTTjTOS dfiefi^eo^ dfju^poro^ opjjiij- au/ra Be dpiJT i^vovTO, ra Trplv fiddov dddvar eivai, ^(opd re Ta vpiv, aKprfa [K/jijra,?] BiaWd^avTa Ke- But hurrying back, I now will make return To paths of festal song, laid down before, Draining each flowing thought from flowing thought. When down the Vortex to the last abyss Had foundered Hate, and Lovingness had reached The eddying center of the Mass, behold Around her into Oneness gathered all. Yet not a-sudden, but only as willingly Each from its several region joined with each; 32 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
And from their mingling thence are poured abroad The multitudinous tribes of mortal things. Yet much unmixed among the mixed reijnained, As much as Hate still held in scales, aloft. For not all blameless did Hate yield and stand Out yonder on the circle's utmost bounds; But partwise yet within he stayed, partwise Was he already from the members gone. And ever the more skulked away and fled, Then ever the more, and nearer, inward pressed The gentle minded, the divine Desire Of blameless Lovingness. Thence grew apace Those mortal Things, erstwhile long wont to be Immortal, and the erstwhile pure and sheer Were mixed, exchanging highways of new life. And from their mingling thence are poured abroad The multitudinous tribes of mortal things, (Knit in all forms and wonderful to see.
36. Twv 8e trwepxofievav e£ ecrxo-TOP icrTaTO NetKos.
And as they came together. Hate began To take his stand far on the outer verge.
And Earth through Earth her figure magnifies, And Air through Air.
THE FRIVGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 33 The World as It Now Is. 38. ,.. ci 8' aye toi Xc^cu TrpStd' rfkiKd t a.p-)(y\v^ eg (OP 07J\' iyevovTO to. twv iaopa/xev diravra, yaia re. Kai irovro? irokvKviLOiv '^8' uypos a,tqp TiTttj/ "qo aidrjp cr(f>Lyyo)v irepl kvkKov diravra.
Come! I will name the like-primeval Four, Whence rose to sight all things we now behold— Earth, many-billowed Sea, and the moist Air, And Aether, the Titan, who binds the globe about.
Earth and Air Not Illimitable.
39- eiwep aireipova y^s re ^ddif] Kal Sat/riXo? ai0TJp, <w? oia TToWSiv 8'^ yXcucrcrijs pnqOevra fia/rauo^ eKKej^yraL a-Top,d.T(iiV^ okiyov tov irawos iS6vT0)v.
If Earth's black deeps were endless, and o'er-fuU Were the white Ether, as forsooth 5 some tongues Have idly prated in the babbling mouths Of those who little of the All have seen...Sun and Moon. 40. lyXios 6§v^e\rjs '^8' iKdeipa (reXijvri, Keen-darting Helios and Selene mild.
41. aXX' o fjiev a\i(rdel^ fieyav ovpavbv dfjL<f>Lno\evei, But the sun's fires, together gathered, move Attendant round the mighty space of heaven, 34 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPBDOCLES.
42.
cot' av trji KadvirepdeVf direcrKvi^QXTe 8e yaiij? To<r(Tov o(Tov T e?)po<s yXavKcamSos errXero firjvrji.
And the sun's beams The moon, in passing under, covers o'er. And darkens a bleak tract of earth as large As is the breadth of her, the silver-eyed.
43- ws avyrj rv^axra crcXijj'aMjs kvkKov evpvv...As sunbeam striking on the moon's broad disk.
44. dpTavyel irpos "OXvfnrov dTap^rj'TOKri Trpotramoi^, Toward Olympos back he darts his beams, With fearless face.
45- KUfcXpre/Dcs irtpX yalav IKurtreTaL dWorpiov «^a)S.
Round le^rth revolves a disk of alien light.
46. ap/taro? ws irepi )(yoLri e\«r(reTai rj re irap' aKpijv.
Even as revolves a chariot's nave, which round The outmost...47- ddpel fiev ydp dvaKTos ivavrCov ayia kvkKov.
For toward the sacred circle of her lord She gazes face to face.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 35 But earth makes night for beams of sinking sun.
The Darkling Night. 49. WKTO^ iprffiaCr)? dXatuTTiSo?...Of night, the lonely, with her sightless eyes.
Iris from sea brings wind or mighty rain.
Fire. SI. Ka/)iraXt/x,(us S' apoTraLov...And fire sprang upward with a rending speed.
The Volcano. 52. 'iroXXa 8' ii/epOe ouScos irvpa Katerai.
And many a fire there burns beneath the ground.
Air. S3. ovTCt) yap aweKvpcre detov Tore, iroXXa/ci 0 aXXcDS, For sometimes so upon its course it met, And ofttimes otherwise.
36 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
Things Passing Strange. / aWrjp [8* aS] fiaKp^uri Kara x^ova Bvero plt,ai^.
In Earth sank Ether with deep-stretching roots.
ss- y^s 'iZpayra daXaartrav.
Earth's sweat, the sea.
s6. aXs iirdyj] piirrjuriv ioxTp-kvo^ '^cXioio.
The salt grew solid, smit by beams of sun.
X Strange Creatures of Olden Times.
57.
iji TToXXal fiev Kopcrai dvav^eves ip\d(rr7}(rav, yvfivoX 8' iTrkdl^ovTO Ppa^Coves evi'i8es afitov, oiiiiard T oTa iirXavaTO TKvrjTevopra p.erdm(av.
There budded many a head without a neck. And arms were roaming, shoulderless and bare, And eyes that wanted foreheads drifted by.
In isolation wandered every limb, Hither and thither seeing union meet.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 3/ 59- avrap iirei Kara fji€lt,ov i/JLCa-yero hatfiovi SaCfiaiVj Tavra re trujUHrMrretr/coi', oTrrjc (rvv€Kvp(rev e/caora, aXXa re irpos tois rroXXd Sii/ve/c^ i^eyivoi/ro.
But now as God with God was mingled more, These members fell together where they met, And many a birth besides was then begot In a long line of ever varied life.
60. ciXwroS' aKpLToxapa.
Creatures of countless hands and trailing feet.
>',,, ^\, iroXXa [lev djow^iTr/aocrtuTra Kot d/i^wrrcpi/a «^uea^ai, ^ovyevrj avhpoirpoiipa, to. S' efLiroKiv i^avareWetv TTjL Se yvvai,KO<j>vrj, (TKiepols ^cr/cij/u.ei'a yuiois.
Many were born with twofold brow and breast, Some with the face of man on bovine stock, Some with man's form beneath a bovine head, Mixed shapes of being with shadowed secret parts. Sometimes like men, and sometimes woman- growths.
62. vvv S' ay, oTTws dv8po)v re TToXvKXavrcov tc ywaiKav ivvv)(tov? opwqKas dvijyaye Kpi,v6p.evov iTvp, Twi'Se kXu'' ov yap fiv0o^ dirocTKOTro^ ou8' dSa-qfiav. ouXof^ueis fiev irpSna Tvrroi ^^ovos c^ai'CTeXXoi', dfi^orepcov vSaros t£ koI bSeos aTcrav e)(ovTes' 38 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
TOWS jJ-ev irvp dveveiirre 6e\ov irpos o/ioioi' i/cecrpai, owe Ti wct) fieXiav iparov Se/j>a; cyx^awovras our' ivoTT^v olov t ewi^^cupioi/ dvBpd<ri yviov.
But come! now hear how 'twas the sundered Fire Led into life the germs, erst whelmed in night, Of men and women, the pitied and bewailed; For 'tis a tale that sees and knows its mark. First rose mere lumps of earth with rude impress, That had their shares of Water and of Warm. These then by Fire (in upward zeal to reach Its kindred Fire in heaven) were shot aloft, Albeit not yet had they revealed a form Of lovely limbs, nor yet a human cry, Nor secret member, common to the male.
The Process of Human Generation To-day. 63. dXXa StetTTraorai fiekioiv ij>v(n^' 17 fiev iv d.vBp6s...But separate is the birth of human limbs; For 'tis in part in man's...64. rm S' ivl Kal Ilodos eicri Si' oi/rios dii[uiiprJL(rK(ov.
Love-longing comes, reminding him who sees.
Into clean wombs the seeds are poured, and when Therein they meet with Cold, the birth is girls; And boys, when contrariwise they meet with Warm.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 39 Into the cloven meads of Aphrodite.
. 67. iv yap depfioripai roKa; dppevo^ eirXero yacrrqp- KoX [iiXave? Sta tovto koI avhpu&iaTepoi dvSpe^ Kal \axviJ€VTe<s fiaWov.
For bellies with the warmer wombs become Mothers of boys, and therefore men are dark, More stalwart and more shaggy.
68. firfvos iv oySootTov ScKanji irvov erXero XevKov.
On the tenth day, in month the eighth, the blood Becomes white pus.
69. SCyovoi, Twice bearing.
70. aiiviov.
Sheepskin.
On Animals and Plants. 71- ei 8e Ti croi vepl rSivSe Xnro^vXo^ eirXero wwrns, ttSs uSttTos yaCrj^ re koI aWepo^ -^eXCov re KLpvafievav eiSrj re yci'oiaTO xpoid re dvriTav Too'o"', otra vCv yeydaai (rwapfiotrdei/r 'A^poSCnrii,..
40 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
And if belief lack pith, and thou still doubt How from the mingling of the elements. The Earth and Water, the Ether and the S)Xm,^ikk So many forms and hues of mortal things Could thus have being, as have come to be, Each framed and knit by Aphrodite's power...72. iTa><i KoX SivBpea fiaKpa koX avaXioi Kafiaarjve^...
As the tall trees and fish in briny floods.
73. <us 8e TOTS x^^^"" Kuir/)is, cttci t' iSCrfvev iv ofifipcjif rSea TTOiirvvovcra OoSti irvpX h5>K€ Kparvvat...As Kypris, after watering Earth with Rain, Zealous to heat her, then did give Earth o'er To speed of Fire that then she might grow firm.
74- ^v\ov afiovcTov ayovtra iroKvo'iKpioiv Kafiaaifivaiv.
Leading the songless shoals of spawning fish.
7S. t5)v 8' Oct' «ro) /i,ej/ irvKvd, to. 8' eKToOi (lavd ireirqye, Kv7r/3i8os iv Trakdii-qta-L irXaSrjs ToiyjaSe TV)(6vTa...Of beasts, inside compact with outsides loose. Which, in the palms of Aphrodite shaped, Got this their sponginess.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 4I 76. TovTO (lev iv Koy^aKTi 6a\a<Tcrov6p,o)v ^apvvaroi^y VOL firiv KrjpvKmv re XiOoppivwv j^eXucui' re* O'^' oi/jei ■)(d6vaL xpojTos uire/araTa vaifrdovfrav.
'Tis thus with conchs upon the heavy chines Of ocean-dwellers, aye, of shell-fish wreathed, Or stony-hided turtles, where thou mark'st The earthen crust outside the softer parts.
77-78.
Trees bore perennial fruit, perennial fronds. Laden with fruit the whole revolving year. Since fed forever by a fruitful air.
79- ovTci) 8' oiioroKEi p,aKpai BevSpea Trparov i\aCa^, Thus first tall olives lay their yellow eggs.
80. ovvcKev o^iyovoC re ctSai koi VTrep^Xoia fJLTJXa.
Wherefore pomegranates slow in ripening be, And apples grow so plentiful in juice.
81. oTi'os avo (jiXoiov TreXcrai (xairkv iv ^uXtui vocop.
Wine is but water fermented in the wood, And issues from the rind.
42 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
82. TavTtt T/3i;j(es Kal ^uXXa koI oIcopZv irrepa irvKva Kal XciriScs yiyvovrai iirX cTTiySapoicri fif\e<r(Tiv.
From the same stuff on sturdy limbs grow hair, Leaves, scales of fish, and bird's thick-feathered plumes.
Stiff hairs, keen-piercing, bristle on the chines Of hedge-hogs.
Our Eyes. 84. ais 8' ore ns trpooBov voicov o}Tr\Ccr(TaTO \&yyov \€vp,epCT)v Sia vvKTa, ttu/oos creXas aWofiepoio at/fa?, vavTouav dvefiiov XafMTT'^pa^ dfiopyovs, ol T dvifioiv fiep iTvevp.a SiatrxiSvao'iz' dkvTOiv, <^5s 8' efcu hiadpatKTKQv^ oarov Tavaampov ^ev, XdfjLTrea-Kev Kara ^iqXov drupkcriv aKTivetrtrii'* ws 8e tot' ei* p,rjviy^iv iepyfjiivov oyyvyLOif Trvp XeirrrjurCv [t] odovtfuri Xoj^a^ero icvfcXoTra kou/mjj', [at] ^odvr^KTi BCavra TerprjaTO d^cnreo'i'quri.v at 8' uSaTos /u.ei' ^evdos direcrreyov dfitftLvaivros, iTvp 8' e^co SiieaKov, ocrov Tavad/repov ^€v.
As when a man, about to sally forth. Prepares a light and kindles him a blaze Of flaming fire against the wintry night. In horny lantern shielding from all winds; THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 43 Though it protect from breatb of blowing winds, Its beam darts outward, as more fine and thin, And with untiring rays lights up the sky: Just so the Fire primeval once lay hid In the round pupil of the eye, enclosed In films and gauzy veils, which through and through Were pierced with pores divinely fashioned. And thus kept off the watery deeps around, Whilst Fire burst outward, as more fine and thin.
The gentle flame of eye did chance to get Only a little of the earthen part.
From which by Aphrodite, the divine. The untiring eyes were formed.
Thus Aphrodite wrought with bolts of love.
/xi'a yCyverai dfi^orepav oip.
One vision of two eyes is born.
44 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
Similia similibus. 89. yj/ous, ori irdvTav elcrlv airoppoai, ocra eyevovTO...Knowing that all things have their emanations.
90. ws yXvKV fikv y\vKv [idpirre, mKpop o eiri iriKpov Thus Sweet seized Sweet, Bitter on Bitter flew, Sour sprung for Sour, and upon Hot rode Hot.
91. otvcM,..fiSWov ivdpdiiiov, avrap eXaicui ovK iOekei.
Water to wine more nearly is allied, But will not mix with oil.
92. t5i KaTTiripoii p.€i\divTa tov -)(a.\K6v...As when one mixes with the copper tin.
With flax is mixed the silvery elder's seed.
The Black River Bottoms. 94- et niger infundofluvii color exstat ab umbra., atque cavernosis itidem spectatur in antris.
THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 45 And the black color of the ri»ver's deeps Comes all from shade; and one may see the same In hollow caves.
Eyes.
As, in the palms of Kypris shaped, they first Began to grow together.., Bones.
17 8e xdav iirurjpois iv evarepvoi^ xoapouri TO) 8vo t5>v okto} fiep€Q};if ^^X^ NiyariSos aiyXrjs, ricra-apa 8' 'H<^awrToto* to. S' ocrTca XeuKa yivovro 'Kpp.oviri^ KoWyfLCiv dpiijpoTa deairea'C'rjdev.
Kind Earth for her broad-breasted melting-pots, aH Of the eight parts got two of Lucid Nestis, ' "^^^ And of Hephaestos four. Thence came white bones. Divinely joined by glue of Harmony.
97- pdx,Lv.
The back-bone.
Blood and Flesh. 98. 17 8e XOeov rovTowTiv ta-ij crvveKvpcre. pakurra, 'H^awTTOJi T op^pai re koI aWepi ira/K^ai'ocui/Ti, KvTT/siSos oppurdutra, reXeiois ej/ Xupevecraiv 46 THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES.
eiT oXCyov fieC^av etre irXeoveo'a'iv ikaxTtroyv tK T&v at[id re yevro Kot aXXiys elSea trapKos.
And after Earth within the perfect ports u, Of Aphrodite anchored lay, she met-wlt.^-'^^^— ~ Almost in equal parts Hephaestos red, And Rain and Ether, the all-splendorous (Although the parts of Earth were sometimes less, Sometimes a little more than theirs). From these There came our blood and all the shaples of flesh.
The Ear.
A bell...a fleshy twig.
^ The Rushing Blood and the Clepsydra. 100. 58c 8' avatrvii irdvra Kot iKtrvei- ira<ri XC^axfioi trapKciu aijpiyye^ irvp.aTov Kara (r&iia rerawai, KaC cr<f>Lv iirl (TTop.ioi% irvKivai's Terptrfyrax ako^iv pivav ia~)(aTa ripOpa, Siapirepe^, aafe <j>6vov p,dv KevOav, aldepi 8' eviropCrjv SidSoicri TeTp,rj(r6cu. evBep eiraff' oirorav pev diraif^Tji ripev atpa, al0^p Trac^Xa^Qjv Karaicrcrerai olSpaTL papyai, eSre 8' dvadptouricqi, irdKiv e/orveiei, acinp orav irais KKexfwBprji Trat^TjMrt Sieiirereos xaX/coio* cSre pev avXou vspdpov iir' eveiSeX X^P'' ^cio"** CIS i!8aTos ^dirrqiai ripev Bepa^ dpyu^e'oio, ou8' er cs dyyoaS' op^po^ i(rep\er(u, dWd piv elpyei depo^ oyKO^ earwde irea-otv itrl TpijpaTa irvKvd, e'uroK dirooTeyctcnjt wukivov poov avrdp eireira THE FRAGMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES. 47 TTvevfiwro^ iWeCiromos io'ep^eram aurtfiov vBap. atq 8' avTQx;, off' vScop fiev exV" 'f'*''"^ fievdea ^aX/coO TTopdfiov \oiarffivTo<s ^porecM XP°^ V^^ iropoio^ aidrip S' CKTOS area XcXiijju.ei'os ofi^pov ipvKa dp.^1 inJXas itr^/ioio Sv(r'q-)(eo<s, a.Kpa Kparvvtap, elaoKC xei/oi fiedrji- totc S' aw iraXij', ^^aXii' 17 Tr/aw, ■m/eu/xaTos efiTTMrroiTos vireKOea atcnfiov vScop. ws S' avrcD; ripev aTfia Kka^aa-croiiepov SioL yuitai' oiTTTOTe jLiei/ irakivopa-ov diraifeie iiv^ovSe, aWepo^ eu^v? p&jjjia KaT€p-)^erat, oiSjuari ^Coi/, eSre 8' avadpwurKrji, iraXiv iK-irvea Ixrov oTruTtrm.
And thus does all breathe in and out. In all, Over the body's surface, bloodless tubes Of flesh are stretched, and, at their outlets, rifts /Innumerable along the outmost rind ^ Are bored; and so the blood remains within; For air, however, is cut a passage free. And when from here the thin blood backward