“You gods are cruel, jealous beyond all others, always begrudging goddesses when they lie with mortal men openly, if one becomes dear to them. So it was when rosy-fingered Dawn loved Orion—the gods took jealous vengeance until Artemis, with her golden throne, struck him down with gentle arrows in Ortygia. So too when Demeter of the shining hair lay with Iasion in love and joy—Zeus, in wrath, killed him with a flashing bolt. And now you begrudge me this man, whom I saved clinging to a plank
“You are so cruel, you gods, so utterly envious beyond all other beings. You resent us goddesses who sleep with men openly and make them our lovers. That’s how it was back then, when Dawn lay her rosy fingers on Orion. You gods, who live so free and easy, envied her until, there in Ortygia, from her golden throne, innocent Artemis released her gentle arrows and cut him down. And that’s how it was when Demeter, with her lovely hair, gave in to her heart and lay with Jason, embracing there in a fresh field, plowed three times. Zeus was not unaware of it for long. He threw a flash of lightning and killed the man. Now, once again, you gods—you envy me for having a mortal man live with me.
“I saved him as he was straddling the keel,
“You gods are a hard-hearted bunch! You take the prize for jealousy. You just can’t stand it when goddesses openly take men to bed with them, especially if one of them wants to keep him as her own lover. That’s how it was that time when Dawn, with her rosy fingers, took Orion for herself; you gods who live at ease got so upset that finally the chaste goddess Artemis left her golden throne on Ortygia to visit death upon him with the painless shafts of her arrows. And it was the same way when Demeter, with her lovely hair, gave way to her passion for Iasion and lay in loving embrace with him in a soft plowed field; Zeus wasn’t unaware of it for long, and visited death on him by throwing a flashing thunderbolt. And now it’s the same way again, and you gods can’t stand it that I’m with a mortal man. I rescued him when he was perched all alone
‘You are cruel, you gods, and quickest to envy, since you are jealous if any goddess openly mates with a man, taking a mortal to her bed. Jealous, you gods, who live untroubled, of rosy-fingered Dawn and her Orion, till virgin Artemis, of the golden throne, attacked him with painless arrows in Ortygia, and slew him. Jealous, when Demeter of the lovely tresses, gave way to passion and lay with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed field. Zeus soon heard of it, and struck him dead with his bright bolt of lightning. And jealous now of me, you gods, because I befriend a man, one I saved as he straddled the keel
You hard-hearted gods are jealous because I have chosen to take a mortal to bed and play with him as a wife will her husband. No, it is not his fate that you are concerned with, but the fact that I have chosen a mortal over one of you. No, don’t deny it. It is true. It is all right for you and the other gods to dally with mortal women—how many sons and daughters has Zeus sired away from the watchful eye of Hera?—but when a goddess takes a mortal man as her lover, why then, suddenly we hear pompous postulations that we are degrading our standing in the godlike community.
“I know what you gods are like. You punished rosy-fingered Dawn when she embraced Orion. You were outraged when she chose him as her husband. In the end, you had Artemis of the golden throne hunt him down in Delos and kill him with her arrows. She prefers women to men, anyway. And when blond-haired Demeter gave way to her passion and made love to Iasion in the three-furrowed field during the seeding ceremony, Zeus quickly punished him with a fiery thunderbolt. You gods have always denied the goose what the gander likes.
“And now you come here and tell me that Zeus has determined that Odysseus’s fate is not to remain in my bed. Yet when Zeus sent his terrible thunderbolts and smashed his ship on the wine-dark sea and Odysseus rode the heavy seas with his arms wrapped around the mast-spar of his ship, the favorable winds blew him up on my coast.
‘You are cruel, you gods, jealous beyond measure. You resent goddesses sleeping with men in open union, if one of us makes a man her loved husband. So it was when rosy-fingered Dawn chose Orion. All the time you resented her, you gods who live at ease yourselves, until chaste Artemis of the golden throne visited him with her gentle arrows and killed him in Ortygia. So it was when lovely-haired Demeter yielded to her desire for Iasion and lay with him in love’s union in the three-furrowed fallow: it was not long before Zeus heard of it, and he killed him, striking him down with a flashing thunderbolt. And so now this time with me – you gods resent me having a mortal man with me. I saved him when he was floating astride his keel,
“Cruel are you, you gods, and quick to envy above all others, seeing that you begrudge goddesses that they
should mate with men openly, if any takes a mortal as her own bedfellow. Thus, when rosy-fingered Dawn took to herself Orion, you gods that live at ease begrudged her, till in Ortygia chaste Artemis of the golden throne assailed him with her gentle shafts and slew him. Thus too, when fair-tressed Demeter, yielding to her passion, lay in love with Iasion in the thrice-plowed fallow land, Zeus was not long without knowledge of it, but smote him with his bright thunderbolt and slew him. And in this way again do you now begrudge me, you gods, that a mortal man should be my companion. Him I saved when he was bestriding the keel and all alone,
‘You are harsh, you gods, and envious above all others, seeing that you begrudge goddesses to lie by the side of men openly, if one makes a man her dear husband: as when rose-fingered Dawn took Orion for her own, the gods whose life is easy felt envy, until holy Artemis of the golden throne visited him at Ortygie with her gentle arrows and killed him, and as when Demeter of the lovely hair gave way to her passion and joined in loving union with Iasion in the much ploughed field, and Zeus did not remain ignorant for long, who killed him striking him with his flashing thunderbolt, so now again, you gods, you are envious of me, that a mortal man should be here with me. Him I saved when he was alone, bestriding the keel
‘You are hard-hearted, you gods, and unmatched for jealousy. You are outraged if a goddess sleeps openly with a man even if she has chosen him as her husband. You were the same when rosy-fingered Dawn fell in love with Orion. Free and easy yourselves, you were outraged at her conduct, and in the end chaste Artemis of the golden throne rose, attacked him in Ortygie with her gentle arrows and left him dead. And so again, when the lovely Demeter gave way to her desire and made love with her beloved lasion in the field of the three ploughed furrows, Zeus heard of it quickly enough and struck him dead with his blinding thunderbolt.
‘And now it is my turn to incur the envy of you gods for living with a mortal man – a man whom I rescued from death as he was drifting alone astride the keel of his ship,
‘You are merciless, you gods, resentful beyond all other beings; you are jealous if without disguise a goddess makes a man her bedfellow, her beloved husband. So it was when Dawn of the rosy fingers chose out Orion; you gods who live in such ease yourselves were jealous of her until chaste Artemis in her cloth-of-gold visited him with her gentle shafts and slew him in Ortygia. So it was when Demeter of the braided tresses followed her heart and lay in love with lasion in the triple-furrowed field; Zeus was aware of it soon enough and hurled the bright thunderbolt that killed him. And now so it is with me; you resent this mortal man beside me. I saved him when he was all alone and astride his keel,
“Hard-hearted are you gods and envious above all other beings. You envy goddesses who openly lie with men, if ever a goddess makes one her dear bedfellow. Such was the case when rosy-fingered Eos took Orion. You gods who live at ease were jealous until golden-throned, chaste Artemis assailed him in Ortygia with her gentle arrows and slew him. So was it also when fair-tressed Demeter yielded to her desire and couched in love with Iasion in thrice-ploughed fallow land. Not long was this unknown to Zeus, who struck him dead with his bright-flashing thunderbolt. So now again you begrudge me a mortal to dwell with me. I saved him astride the keel of his ship,
‘A cruel folk you are, unmatched for jealousy, you gods who cannot bear to let a goddess sleep with a man, even if it is done without concealment and she has chosen him as her lawful consort. You were the same when Rose-fingered Dawn fell in love with Orion. Easy livers yourselves, you were outraged at her conduct, and in the end chaste Artemis rose from her golden throne, attacked him in Ortygia with her gentle darts and left him dead. And so again, when the lovely Demeter gave way to her passion and lay in the arms of her beloved Iasion in the thrice-ploughed fallow field, Zeus heard of it quickly enough and struck him dead with his blinding thunderbolt. And now it is my turn to incur that same divine displeasure for living with a mortal man – a man whom I rescued from death as he was drifting alone astride the keel of his ship,
“A hard-hearted lot you are, you gods, and as jealous as jealous can be! Why are you shocked if a goddess sleeps with a man and makes no secret of it, when she happens to find one she could love as a husband? It is always the same. When blushing Dawn chose Orion, all you gods were shocked. You live as you like yourselves, but you would not rest until Artemis let fly one of her gentle bolts and killed him in Ortygia. Her Holiness on that golden throne! Then Demeter had a fancy for Iasion, and pleased herself, made her love-bed on the furrows of the plowland. Zeus heard of it in no time, and killed him dead with a fiery thunderbolt.
“So you gods are all shocked at me now, because there’s a mortal man with me. I saved the man when he was straddling across a ship’s keel,
“Cruel are you gods and immoderately jealous of all others; especially do you hate it when goddesses elect to lie openly with men, or fall in love and make a match of it with some mortal. Remember how it was when pink-fingered Dawn chose Orion. You gods at ease in your heaven grudged the union bitterly, even until chaste Artemis of the golden throne killed him in Ortygia by an infliction of her gentle darts. So again it befell when long-tressed Demeter unleashed her passion and coupled herself for love and venery with Iasion in the thrice-broken fallows. Not for long was Zeus unaware: and then He slew him with a cast of his blinding thunderbolt.
“Just in that same way you gods are now envying me this man I live with. Yet it was I who saved him as he clung astride his vessel’s keel, alone and adrift in the wine-dark ocean.
“You gods are cruel—jealous above all others—to begrudge goddesses honorable wedlock with men whom they love! And now you even object to my having this man stay here!
“Hard of heart are you gods, and jealous beyond all others, seeing that you grudge it when a goddess loves a mortal man. This man I rescued as he sat astride the keel of his boat,
“Cruel are ye, O gods, and quick to envy above all others, seeing that ye begrudge goddesses that they should mate with men openly, if any take a mortal as her dear bed-fellow. So, when rosy-fingered Dawn took to herself Orion, ye gods that live at ease were jealous of her until chaste Artemis of the golden throne assailed him with her gentle shafts and slew him. So again, when fair-tressed Demeter, yielding to her passion, lay in love with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed fallow land, Zeus was not long without knowledge thereof, but smote him with his bright thunder-bolt and slew him. And even so again do ye now begrudge me, that there is beside me a mortal man whom I saved. Him I saved when he was bestriding the keel and alone;
“You gods,” she exclaimed, “ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You are always jealous and hate seeing a goddess take a fancy to a mortal man, and live with him in open matrimony. So when rosy-fingered Dawn made love to Orion, you precious gods were all of you furious till Diana went and killed him in Ortygia. So again when Ceres fell in love with Iasion, and yielded to him in a thrice-ploughed fallow field, Jove came to hear of it before so very long and killed Iasion with his thunderbolts. And now you are angry with me too because I have a man here. I found the poor creature sitting all alone astride of a keel,
“Hard are you gods and envious beyond all to grudge that goddesses should mate with men and take without disguise mortals for lovers. Thus when rosy-fingered Dawn chose Orion for her lover, you gods that live at ease soon so begrudged him that at Ortygia chaste Artemis from her golden throne attacked and slew him with her gentle arrows. Again when fair-haired Demeter, yielding to her heart, met Jason in the thrice-ploughed field, not long was Zeus unmindful, but hurled a gleaming bolt and laid him low. So again now you gods grudge me the mortal tarrying here. Yet it was I who saved him, as he rode astride his keel
“Hard are ye gods and jealous exceeding, who ever grudge goddesses openly to mate with men, if any make a mortal her dear bed-fellow. Even so when rosy-fingered Dawn took Orion for her lover, ye gods that live at ease were jealous thereof, till chaste Artemis, of the golden throne, slew him in Ortygia with the visitation of her gentle shafts. So too when fair-tressed Demeter yielded to her love, and lay with Iasion in the thrice-ploughed fallow-field, Zeus was not long without tidings thereof, and cast at him with his white bolt and slew him. So again ye gods now grudge that a mortal man should dwell with me. Him I saved as he went all alone bestriding the keel of a bark,
‘Ye, the gods, are severe, invidious above others, who envy the goddesses sleeping openly with men, if any one has obtained a dear husband. As when the rosy-fingered Aurora took Orion, so long, ye gods, living in tranquillity [lit. easily], envied her, until in Ortygia the chaste Diana, of the golden throne, slew him, attacking him with her gentle arrows; and as when the fair-tressed Ceres, yielding to her passion, was united in love and on the couch with Jasion, in the thrice-ploughed fallow land; nor was Jupiter a long time without knowing it, who slew him, striking him with his brilliantly-white lightning. Thus now again, ye gods are envious that a mortal man should be present with me. But I saved him, when going alone upon the keel;
“Εστε ye are σχετλιοι harsh, θεοι ye gods, ζηλημονες envious εξοχον αλλων above others! οι τε who αγαασθε are jealous θεαις towards goddesses ευναζεσθαι that they should sleep παρ’ ανδρασιν by men αμφαδην declaredly, ην if τις τε any one ποιησατο has made for herself φίλον ακοιτιν a dear partner. Ὡς μεν thus, ὅτε when Ἠὼς ροδοδάκτυλος rosy-fingered Μορν ἔλετο chose for herself Ὠρίωνα Orion, θεοι ye gods ῥεια ζώοντες living easily τοφρα so long ηγαασθε οἱ were jealous towards her, ἕως until ἁγνη Ἄρτεμις the chaste Diana χρυσοθρονος with the golden throne εποιχομενη assailing μιν him αγανοις βελεσσι with her gentle arrows κατεπεφνε slew him εν Ὀρτυγιῃ in Ortygia. Ὡς δε but as ὁποτε when εὔπλοκαμος Δημητηρ fair-hair’d Ceres, ειξασα yielding ᾧ θυμῳ to her passion, μιγη was united Ἰασιωνι with Iasion φιλοτητι in love και and ευνη the bed νειῳ ενι τριπολῳ in the thrice ploughed fallow: ουδε nor ῃε was Ζευς Jupiter δηv long time απυστος unacquainted with it, ὅς who κατεπεφνε slew μιν him βαλων having smitten him αργητι κεραυνῳ with his white lightning. Ὡς δε but thus αυ again, θεοι ye gods νυν now αγασθε are jealous βροτον ανδρα that a mortal man παρειναι shou’d be present μοι with me. Ἐγω I εσασα saved τον μεν him βεβαωτα going
“Severe are ye gods, envious above others, who grudge that goddesses should sleep openly with men, if any one has made for herself a dear husband. As when rosy-fingered Aurora took Orion, so long you gods who live easily envied her, until in Ortygia chaste Diana of the golden throne slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons; and as when fair-haired Ceres, yielding to her passion, was united in love and in the couch with Jasion, in thrice-ploughed fallow land; nor was Jupiter a lone time without knowing it, who slew him, striking him with his white thunder. So now you gods grudge that a mortal man should be present with me, whom I indeed saved when going alone on the keel of a ship;
“You Gods are severe, invidious above others, who envy the Goddesses sleeping openly with men, if any one has obtained a dear husband. As when the rosy-fingered Aurora took Orion, so long you Gods living easily envied her, until in Ortygia the chaste Diana with a golden throne slew him, attacking him with her mild weapons; and as when the beautiful-haired Ceres, yielding to her mind, was united in love and in the couch with Jasion, in fallow land three times ploughed; nor was Jupiter a long time without knowing it, who slew him striking him with his white thunder. So now you Gods envy a mortal man being present with me whom I saved when going alone on a keel of a ship;