Pod Insights Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean Liv Reads Statius: The Thebaid (Part 6) About this episode Liv reads The Thebaid, by Statius, translated by JH Mozley. The royal family of Nemea mourns their lost baby. Fortunately, funeral games are held in their honour to lighten the mood. ANCIENT SPORTS! Submit to the quarterly Q&A at mythsbaby.com/questions http://mythsbaby.com/questions and get ad-free episodes and so, so much more, by subscribing to the Oracle Edition at patreon.com/mythsbaby http://patreon.com/mythsbaby
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. I try to provide direct warnings when there is reference to anything with overtly traumatic themes but be aware that Greek mythology regularly features assault, death, and many other potentially triggering events. This episode in particular (along with the next reading of the Thebaid) features the mourning of a young baby.
This is not a standard narrative story episode, it's a reading of an ancient source, audiobook style. For regular episodes look for any that don't have "Liv Reads..." in the title! For a list of Roman/Latin names and who they generally refer to in the Greek, visit:mythsbaby.com/names http://mythsbaby.com/names The three names for the Fates/Moirae are Clotho, Atropos, and Lachesis; the names of the Furies/Erinyes are Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto.
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Transcript 12,470 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
0:00 Liv Albert? Hey nerds, really quick note from me. I want to tell you that we now have the applications open for the next set of listener group trips. This is us going back to the original, the trips that we have held in the past that have been so much fun, so successful, and pretty affordable in terms of wandering around Greece with a bunch of nerds. So check out the details and get your applications in at mythsbaby.com/groups.
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2:12 Liv Albert? Hello, this is Let's Talk About Myths, baby, and I am your host Liv, back with more of the Thebaid, which honestly, if you're anything like me, we are loving it more and more with every episode. I'm really excited that we're doing this play as, or rather, this epic for this reading series, this next reading series, because, I mean, I knew it was gonna be good. I mean, it's just nice to have this kind of source that is so wide-ranging, and that just doesn't exist from the Greek world, you know, that that covers all these Greek myths, but unfortunately is lost from that time, so we have to deal with a Roman, but he wrote it pretty well. It's really quite interesting. And what I love about epics like
2:56 Liv Albert? these, particularly the types that are written in this way, rather than, you know, oral storytelling, is that they kind of tried to jam in sort of every possible myth that they could, right? Because it was like, I mean, it was a way of like touching on all of these cultural touchpoints, this way of like, really bringing in all of the more, the most famous stories and characters, right? It's gonna make your epic more appealing to an audience, and to us, it's also just like, so fun. And it means that this epic is, you know, ostensibly about this battle between these two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, these two sons of Oedipus after
3:38 Liv Albert? that whole mess. Remember, Polynices has go, has gone, and he has teamed up with the Argives, Amphiarius is their king, and with Tydeus, this other famous hero. They've teamed up, and they're going to wage war against Thebes. Thebes kind of knows that's happening. You know, they recently had their famed seer, Tyreus, to come see how it's all going to go down. Like, they all know that's happening. It is going to happen, but before it happens, we're gonna get- An incredible swath of Greek mythology told in this really explicitly narrative way. In in this way that just doesn't exist elsewhere because of the way these sor- these stories and these sources,
4:20 Liv Albert? you know, are transmitted over time and and it's just, it's so fun. So last week we left off. The Argives are marching on their way to Thebes, um, but they got waylaid in Nemea, which is really not far from Argos, which is why this is funny. We're on book six. They're only in Nemea.
4:40 Liv Albert? And last book, we had that incredible story from Hypsipole, which was about so much more than Jason and just the story of these Lemni and women and then her exile and her sons finding her. And of course, Hypsipole has been working as this nurse um for for I believe either the king or just a wealthy family in Nemea. We'll get back into it anyway, but um she was watching the child and this divine snake came and aided and oh my God, it's so dramatic. Um, but it's been really interesting and we got, I absolutely loved last last reading. Um, but I'm excited. This one returns to some more of Hypsipole's story as well as if I'm right, when I uh read the recap,
5:23 Liv Albert? because I have not read it yet. Um, the it also includes, I think, the the mythological story of the found formation of the Nemean Games, um, which were one of many um sort of Olympic style games that would take place across the Greek world. And so I think we're also gonna get some sports in here. I'm excited. I hope you are too. Just a reminder, um, these are primarily uh Latin names and and words because this is written by the Roman Statius, but it's really about Greek myths. So it can be a little confusing. There is a link in the episode description to like real basic equivalencies um with the names.
6:04 Liv Albert? And uh, there's also this habit of naming the uh Furies and the Fates by their first names and also I just love saying their names. So I'm going to remind you again what those are. Um, so the Furies are he seems to be most obsessed with Tissiphony and Magira. Those are the two more famous ones. Electo is usually named as the third, uh, and then there are the Fates who we all know and love, those ladies who. You know, cut that string. There's something they did with the string first, and I've lost it. It's fine. Their names are Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. And with that, let's get straight back in.
7:11 Liv Albert? This is the Thebaid by Statius, translated by J. H. Mosley, Book Six.
7:21 Liv Albert? Far-traveling rumor glides through the Danian cities and tells that the Anakidae are ordaining sacred rites for the new tomb and games there too, whereby their martial valor may be kindled and have foretaste of the sweat of war. Customary among the Greeks is such a festival. First, did the dutiful Alcides contest this honor with pelops in the fields of Pisa and brush the dust of combat from his hair with the wild olive spray. Next is celebrated the freeing of phocus from the serpent's coils, the battle of the boy Apollo's quiver. Then the dark
8:01 Liv Albert? cult of Pelimon is solemnized about the gloomy altars, so often as undaunted Leucothia renews her grief, and in the time of festival comes to the welcoming shores. From end to end, Ithmas resounds with lamentation, and Ekyonian Thebes makes answering wail.
8:23 Liv Albert? And now the peerless princes whose rearing links Argos with heaven, princes whose mighty names the Aeonian land and Tyrian mothers utter with sighs, meet in rivalry and arouse their naked vigor to the fray, just as the two banked galleys that must venture the unknown deep, whether they provoke the stormy Tyrrhenian or the calm Aegean sea, first prove on a smooth lake their tackling and rudder and nimble oars, and learn to face the real perils. But when their crews are trained, then confidently do they push further out into the main nor seek the vanished coast.
9:07 Liv Albert? The bright consort of Typhonus had shown in heaven her toil-bringing car, and night and sleep with empty horn were fleeing from the pale goddess's wakeful reins. Already the ways are loud with wailing and the palace with fearful lamentation. From afar the wild forests catch the sounds and scatter them in a thousand echoes.
9:33 Liv Albert? The father himself sits stripped of the honour of the twined fillet, his unkempt head and neglected beard sprinkled with dust of mourning. More violent than he and passionate with more than a man's grief, the bereaved mother urges on her handmaidens by example and by speech, willing though they be, and yearns to cast herself upon the mangled remains of her child. And as often they tear her from them and bring her back, even the father too restrains her. Soon when the Anacian princes with royal bearing entered the sorrowful portals then, as though the stroke were fresh and the baby but newly hurt,
10:16 Liv Albert? or the deadly serpent had burst into the palace they smite their breasts though wearied, and raise clamor upon clamor, and the doors re-echo with the new kindled wailing. The Pelasgians feel their ill-will and plead their innocence with streaming tears.
10:36 Liv Albert? Addressed as himself whensoever the tumult was quelled and the distracted house fell silent, an opportunity was given, addressed the father, unbidden with consoling words, reviewing now the cruel destiny of mankind and the inexorable thread of doom, now giving hope of other offspring and pledges that by heaven's favour would endure. But he had not ended when morning broke forth anew. Nor does the king more gently hear his friendly speech than the madness of the fierce Ionian hears the sailors shouting prayers upon the deep, or the wayward lightning heed the frail clouds.
11:19 Liv Albert? Meanwhile the flame-appointed pyre and the infant byre are intertwined with bloomy boughs and shoots of cypress. Lowest of all is laid the green produce, oh, the countryside! Then a space is more laboriously wrought with grassy chaplets and the mound is decked with flowers that soon must perish. Third in order rises a heap of Arabian spices and the rich profusion of the east, with lumps of hoary incense and cinnamon that has come down from bellis of old. On the summit is set twinkling gold and a soft coverlet of tirian purple is raised
12:01 Liv Albert? high, gleaming everywhere with polished gems, and within a border of a canthus is Linus woven and the hounds that caused his death. Hateful ever to his mother was the marvellous work and ever did she turn her eyes from the omen. Arms too and spoils of ancestors of old are cast about the pyre, the pride and checkered glory of the afflicted house, as though the funeral train bore there the burden of some great warrior's limbs. Yet even empty and barren fame delights the mourners and the pomp magnifies the infant shade.
12:43 Liv Albert? Wherefore tears are held in high reverence, and afford a mournful joy, And gifts greater than his years are brought to feed the flames. For his father in haste for the fulfillment of his prayers, Had set apart for him quivers, and tiny javelins, and innocent arrows, And even already in his arms was rearing proved horses of his stable's famous breed. Loud ringing belts, too, are brought, and armour waiting for a mightier frame. Insatiable hopes, what garments did she not make for him, in eager haste, Credulous woman, and robes of purple, emblems of royalty, and childish scepter?
13:25 Liv Albert? Yet all does the father himself ruthlessly condemn to the murky flames, And bid his own signs of rank be borne withal, If by their loss he may sate his devouring grief. In another region the army hastens at the bidding of the wise augur To raise an airy pile, high as a mountain, of tree trunks and shattered forests, To dark burnt offering for the ill-omened war. These labour to cut down Nymia and its shady glens, And hurl them to the ground, and to lay the forests open to the sunlight. Straightway a wood that axe has never shorn of its ancient boughs is felled, A wood that which none more rich in abundant shade
14:10 Liv Albert? Between the veils of Argolis and Mount Licaius Ever raised aloft its head above the stars. In reverend sanctity avell'd it stands, And is said not only to reach back in years beyond the grandfathers of men, But to have seen nymphs pass, and flocking fawns, and yet be living.
14:33 Liv Albert? Upon the wood came pitiful destruction. The beasts are fled, and the birds terror-driven flutter forth from the warm nests. The towering beaches fall, and the Caonian groves and the cypress that the winter harms not. Spruces are flung prostrate that feed the funeral flames, Ash trees and trunks of home oak and yews with poisonous sap, And mountain ashes destined to drink the gore of cursed battle, And oaks unconquerable by age.
15:06 Liv Albert? Then the daring fir is cloven, and the pine with fragrant wound, Alders that love the sea bow to their ground, their unshorn summits, And elms that give friendly shade to the vines. The earth groans, not so are the woods of Ismaris swept away, ump- uprooted, When Boreus breaks his prison cave and rears his head, No swifter does the nightly flame tear through the forests before the south winds onset. Whore pales in Sylvanus, lord of the shady glen, And the folk, half god, half animal, go forth weeping from leisure haunts they loved; And as they go the woodland groans in sympathy,
15:51 Liv Albert? Nor can the nymphs loose the trees from their embrace. As when a leader gives over to the greedy conquerors the captured towers to plunder, Scarc is the signal heard, and the city is nowhere to be found. They drive and carry, take captive and strike down in fury unrestrained, The din of battle was less loud. Two altars now of equal height had they with like toil erected, One to the doleful shades, the other to the gods above, When the low braying of the pipe with curved horn gave signal for lament. The pipe that by Phrygia's mournful use was wont to escort the youthful dead.
16:34 Liv Albert? They say that Pelops ordained for infant shade this funeral right and chant, To which Naiobi, undone by the quivers too, and dressed in mournful garb, But brought the twelve urns to Sipylus.
16:50 Liv Albert? The Grecian leaders bear the funeral gifts and offerings for the flame, Each by his titles witnessing to his race's honorable renown. Long after, high upon the necks of youths chosen by the prince from all his host, Amid wild clamor comes the beer. The Lernaean chieftains encircle like Curgis, A female company are gathered about the queen, Nor does Hypsipoly go unattended. The Anakadi, not unmindful, surround her close, Her sons support her bruised arms and suffer their new-found mother to lament.
17:28 Liv Albert? There, as soon as Eurydice came forth from her ill-starred palace, she bared her breast and cried aloud, and with beating of her bosom and prelude of long wailings thus began: "I never thought my son to follow you with this encompassing train of argive matrons, nor thus did I picture in my foolish prayers your infant years; not cruel did I expect. Whence at my life's end should I have fear for you from a theban war, whereof I knew not? What God has taken delight in joining battle with our race? Who vowed this crime against our arms?
18:07 Liv Albert? But your house, oh, Cadmus, has not suffered yet; no infant does Tyrian crowds lament. It is I that have borne the first fruits of grief and untimely death, before even trumpets braid or sword was drawn. While in indolent neglect I put faith in his nurse's bosom and entrusted to her my baby to suckle. Why should I not? She told a tale of cunning rescue of her father and her innocence. But look, this woman, who alone, we must think, abjured the death-deadly deed she vowed, and alone of her race was free from the Lemnian madness? This woman here, and you believe her, after her daring deed? So strong in her devotion, cast away in desolate fields no king or lord,
18:52 Liv Albert? but impious one, another's child, that is all. And left him on a path in an ill-famed wood, where not merely poisonous snakes, but need, alas, if of so huge, a slayer? But a strong tempest only, or a bow broken by the wind, or groundless fright, could have availed to cause his death? Nor, you would I accuse, in my stricken grief, unalterable, and sure came this curse upon the mother at his nurse's hands." Yet her did you favor more, my son. Her only did you know and heard when she called you. Me, you knew not. No joy had your mother of you.
19:34 Liv Albert? But she, the fiend, she heard your cries and your laughter mixed with tears and caught the accents of your earliest speech. She was ever your mother while life remained to you, I only now. But woe is me that I cannot punish her for her crime. Why bring you these gifts, you chieftains, to the pyre? Why these empty rites? Herself, I beg, no more does his shade demand. Herself, I pray you, offer, both to the dead and to the ruined parent. I beseech you by this first bloodshed of the war for which I bore him, so may the Ogagian mothers have deaths to mourn as sad as mine. She tears her hair and repeats her supplication.
20:16 Liv Albert? Yes, give her up, nor call me cruel or greedy of blood, I will die likewise. So be it that my eyes, full stated by her just death, we fall upon the selfsame fire.
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22:34 Liv Albert? Thus loudly crying, she beheld elsewhere afar Hypsipoly lamenting, for she too spares nor hair nor bosom, and ill brooking a partner in her woe. This at least prevent, oh princes, and you for whom the child of our own bed has been flung to ruin, remove that hated woman from the funeral rites. Why does she offend his mother with her accursed presence? And who herself thus in my ruin? Thus spoke she and fell silent, and her complainings ceased. Even so, when a wild beast has seized or shepherd borne away to the cruel shrine a bullock cheated of its first milk, whose strength is yet but frail, and whose vigor is drawn but from the utter,
23:18 Liv Albert? the despoiled mother stirs now in the valley, now the stream, now the herds with her moaning, and questions the empty meads. Then it irks her to go home, and she leaves the desolate fields the last of all, and turns unfed from the herbage spread before her.
23:36 Liv Albert? But the father hurls with his own hand upon the pyre his glorious scepter, and the emblems of the thunderer, and with the sword cuts short the hair that fell over back and breast, and with the shorn tresses covers the frail features of the infant where he lies, and mingles with tender tears such words as these: Far otherwise treacherous Jupiter, did I once consecrate these locks to you, and held me to my vow, should you have granted me to offer therewith my son's ripe manhood at your shrine; but the priest confirmed it not, and my prayer was lost. Let his shade, then, who is worthier, receive them.
24:18 Liv Albert? Already the torch is set to the pyre, and the flame crackles in the lowest branches. Hard is it to restrain the frenzied parents. Danians are bid in stand, and with the barrier raised of weapons shut out afar from their vision the awful scene. The fire is richly fed, never before was so sumptuous ablaze. Precious stones crack, huge streams of molten silver run, and gold oozes from the embroidered raiment. The boughs are fattened with Assyrian juices, pale saffron drops hissing in the burning honey. Foaming bowls of wine are outpoured, and beakers of black blood, and pleasant milk, yet warm, from the utter.
25:01 Liv Albert? Then squadrons, seven in number, a hundred tall knights in each, led by the Greek-born kings themselves, with arms reversed, circling leftward in due manner, purify the pyre, and quell with their dust the shooting flames. Thrice accomplished, they their wheeling course; then with resounding clash of arms on arms, four times their weapons gave forth a terrible din. Four times the handmaids beat their breasts in womanly lament.
25:32 Liv Albert? The other fire receives half-dead animals and beasts yet living. Here the prophet bids them cease their wailing, ominous of fresh disaster, although he knows the signs are true. Rightward they wheel, and so return with quivering spears, and each throws some offering snatched from his own armor. Be it rain or belt, he is pleased to plunge into the flames, or javelin or helmet's shady crest. Around the countryside is filled with the hoarse cries of wailing, and piercing trumpets rend the earth. Loud shouts affright the groves, even so do the bugles tear the martian standards from the ground,
26:15 Liv Albert? while eager still is cool and the sword unreddened with blood. And the first face of battle is made fair and glorious. High on a cloud stands Mavors, uncertain yet which host to favor.
26:34 Liv Albert? The end was come, and the weary fire was sinking now to crumbling ash. They attack the flames and douse the pyre with plenteous water, till with the setting sun their toils were finished. Scarce did their labor yield to the late coming shadows. And now nine times had Lucifer chased the dewy stars from heaven, and has often changed his steed and nightly heralded the lunar fires. Yet he deceives not the conscious stars, but is found the same in his alternate risings. It is marvelous how the work has sped. There stands a marble pile, a mighty temple to the departed shade, where a row of sculptured scenes tells all his story.
27:19 Liv Albert? Here Hypsipoly shows the river to the weary Danai, here crawls the unhappy baby, here lies he while the scaly snake writhes angry coils around the hillock's end. One would think to hear the dying hisses of his blood-stained mouth. So to the serpent about the marble spear.
27:41 Liv Albert? And now rumor is summoning a multitude eager to behold the unarmed battles. Called forth from every field and city they come, they also gather together to whom the horror of war is yet unknown, and they who through weary age or infant years had stayed behind, never were such clamoring throngs on the strand of a ferry or in the circus of Ithaca.
28:07 Liv Albert? Set in a green ring of curving hills and embraced by woodland lies a vale, rough ridges stand about it, and the twin summits of a mound make a barrier and forbid issue from the plain, which running long and level rises with gentle slope to grassy brows and winding heights soft with living turf.
28:29 Liv Albert? There in dense crowds while the fields were still rosy in the dawn, the warrior company took their seats. There the hero's delight to reckon the number of the motley multitude and scan the faces and the dress of their fellows, and they felt the glad confidence of a mighty host. There they drag a hundred black bulls, the strength of the herd, slow-paced and straining, as many cows of similar hue and bullocks with foreheads not yet crescent-crowned.
29:01 Liv Albert? Then the ancient line of great-hearted fathers is borne along, in images marvelously fashioned to living likeness. First the Tyrrhenian crushes the gasping lion against the strong pressure of his breast and breaks it upon his own bones. Him the Anacidae behold not without terror, though he be in bronze and their own famous hero. Next in order is seen father Anakis reclining leftward on the mound of a reedy bank, and letting the streaming urn flow free. Io, already prone and the sorrow of her father, sees behind her back Argus, starred with eyes that know no setting.
29:45 Liv Albert? But kindlyer Jupiter had raised her erect in the pharyian fields, and already was Aurora giving her gracious welcome. Then father Tantalus, not he who hangs above the deceiving waters and snatches the empty wind of the elusive branch, but the great thunderer's god-fearing guest, is borne along.
30:08 Liv Albert? Elsewhere triumphant in his car, Pelops handles the reins of Neptune, and Myrtalus, the charioteer, grasps at the bounding wheels as the swift axle leaves him far and farther behind. Grave Acrisius too, and the dread likeness of Caribius, and Danae's guilty bosom; and Amimini, in sadness by the stream, she found, and Alcmene, proud of the infant Hercules, a threefold moon about her hair. The sons of Belis join their discordant right hands in a pledge of enmity, but Egyptus, with milder look, stand near. Easy is it to mark on the feigned countenance of Danaeus the signs of a treacherous peace and of the coming night.
30:54 Liv Albert? Then follow shapes innumerable; at length pleasure is sated, and prowess summons the foremost heroes to its own rewards.
31:04 Liv Albert? First came the sweat of steeds; tell, O Phoebus, the drivers' famous names, tell of the steeds themselves, for never did nobler array of wing-footed coursers meet in conflict, even as serried ranks of birds compete in swift course, or on a single shore Iolus appoints a contest for the wild winds. Before the rest, Areon, marked by his mane of fiery red, is led forth. Neptune, if the fame of olden time be true, was his father; that he first is said to have hurt his youthful mouth with the bit, and tamed him on the sand of the sea-shore, sparing the lash, for insatiable was his eagerness to run,
31:49 Liv Albert? and he was capricious as a winter sea. Often was he wont to go in harness with the steeds of ocean through the Libyan or Ionian deep, and bring his dark-blue father safe home to every shore. The storm-clouds marvelled to be outstripped, and east and south winds strive and are left behind; nor less swiftly on land had he borne Amphitrius' sun when he waged Eurystheus' wars in deep-pressured furrows over the mead, fierce to him also and impatient of control.
32:25 Liv Albert? Soon by the gods' bounty he was deemed worthy to have a drastis for his lord, and meanwhile had grown far gentler. On that day the chieftain allows him to be driven by his son-in-law Polynices, and much did he counsel him. What arts would soothe the horse when enraged? Not to use too fierce a hand, nor to let him gallop free of the rein. Urge other steeds, said he with voice and goad, but he will go, yes, faster than you wish. Even so, when the sun granted the fiery rains and set his son upon the whirling chariot with tears, did he warn the rejoicing youth of treacherous stars and zones that would
33:06 Liv Albert? fain not be overrun, and the temperate heat that lies midway between the poles. Obedient was he and cautious, but the cruel fates would not suffer him to learn.
33:19 Liv Albert? Amphiarius, next favorite for the prize, aloft in his chariot drives eballian steeds. Your progeny, Kyllarus, stealthily begotten while far away by the mouth of Scythian Pontus, Castor was exchanging the oar, the Amiclean rain. Snow-white his own raiment, snow-white are the coursers that lend their necks to the yoke. His helm and fillet match the whiteness of his crested plume. Admetus, too, the fortunate, from Thessalian shores can scarce restrain his barren mares of Centar's seed, as they tell, so scornful, methinks, are they of their sex, and their natural heat turns all to body's vigor.
34:02 Liv Albert? White with dark flecks, they resemble day and night, so strongly marked was each color, nor unfit were they to be deemed of that stock which stood spellbound at the piping of the Castalian reed, and scorned their pasture when they heard Apollo play.
34:21 Liv Albert? Lo, the sons of Jason too, their mother, Hypsipole's new-found pride, Took stand upon the chariots wherein each rode, Thouas, bearing the name of his grandfather, proper to his race, And Eunios, called from Argo's omen. In every, everything were the twins alike in looks, in car and steeds, In raiment, and in the harmony of their wishes, Either to win or to lose only at a brother's hands. Next ride Chromis and Hippodamis, The one born of mighty Hercules, the other of Iamaeus. It were doubtful which strove more madly: The one has horses bred by Gedeck Diomedes, The other, a yoked pair of his Pisian father.
35:04 Liv Albert? Both chariots are decked with cruel spoils, And drip with ghastly blood. For turning points there stood here a bare oak trunk, There a stone pillar, arbiter of husbandmen. Between either bound there lay a space You might reach with four times a javelins cast, With thrice an arrow's flight.
35:28 Liv Albert? Meanwhile Apollo was charming with his strains, The muses glorious company, And his finger placed upon the strings Was gazing down to earth from the airy summit of Parnassus.
35:42 Liv Albert? First he recounts the deeds of the gods, For often in duty bound he had sung of Jove and Phlegra, And his own victory over the serpent and his brother's praises. And then reveals what spirit drives the thunderbolt, Or guides the stars, Where comes the fury of the rivers, What feeds the winds, What fount supply the unmeasured ocean, What pathway of the sun hastens or draws out the course of night, Where earth be lowest, or in mid-heaven, And encompassed by yet another world we view not.
36:16 Liv Albert? There he ended and puts off the sisters, eager though they are, to listen. And while he fastens bay around his lyre, and the woven brilliance of his coronet, and ungirds his breast of the pictured girdle, he hears a clamor, and beholds not far away Nymia, famed for Hercules, and there the mighty spectacle of a four-horsed chariot race. He recognizes all, and by chance Admetus and Amphiarius had taken their stand in a field hard by. Then to himself he spoke. What God has set those two princes, Thebes's most loyal names, in mutual rivalry? Both are devoted to me, and both are dear; nor could I say which holds first place.
37:02 Liv Albert? The one, when I served as thrall on Pelian ground, such was Jehovah's command, so the dark sisters willed, burnt incense to his slave, nor dared to deem me his inferior. The other is the companion of the tripods, and the devout pupil of the wisdom of the air; and though the first has preference by his deserts, yet the other's thread is near its distaff's end. For Admetus is old age ordained, and a late death; to you no joys remain, for Thebes awaits you and the dark gulf. You know it, unhappy one, long since have my own birds sung your doom. He spoke, and tears bedewed the face that scarce any sorrow may profane.
37:46 Liv Albert? Then straightway he came to Nymia, bounding radiant through the air, swifter than his father's fire, and his own shafts. Long had he reached the earth, yet still his tracks remain in heaven, and still athwart the zephyrs his path gleams bright.
38:06 Liv Albert? And now Prothous had shaken the lots in a brazen helmet, and each had his place and order at the starting. The heroes each his country's glorious boast, and the coursers a match to them in glory, all alike of blood divine, stand penned by one barrier, hopeful, daring yet fearful, anxious yet confident. All is confusion in their hearts, they strive yet are afraid, to be gone, and a thrill of courage mixed with dread runs through them to the extremities of their limbs. The steeds are as ardent as their masters, their eyes dart flame, they loudly champ the bits, and blood and foam corrode the iron.
38:50 Liv Albert? Scarc'd the confining posts resist their pressure, they smoke and pant in stifled rage. Such misery is it to stand still, a thousand steps are lost before they start, and on the absent plain their hoofs ring loud. Around stand trusty friends, smoothing out the twisted, tangled manes, and speak heartening words and give much counsel. The Tyrrhenian blast rang in their ears, and all leapt forward from their places. What canvas on the deep, what javelins in war, what clouds so swiftly fly across the heavens?
39:29 Liv Albert? Lest violent, are winter streams or fire, slower fall stars or gather rains, more slowly flow the torrents from the mountain summits. As they sped forth the Palazgai saw and marked them. Now are they lost to view, now confused and hidden in one cloud of blinding dust. They can see nothing for the press, and scarce by shout of name can they recognize each other. Then some draw clear of the throng, and each takes place according to his strength. The second lap blots out the former furrows, and now, stooping forward in their eagerness, they touch the yoke. Now with straining knees they bend double, tugging at the reins.
40:12 Liv Albert? On the shaggy necks the muscles swell, and the breeze combs back the erect manes, while the dusty ground drinks up the white rain of foam.
40:22 Liv Albert? The thunder of hoofs and the gentler sound of running wheels are blended. Never idle are their arms, the air hisses with the often plied lash. No more densely spatters the hail from the cold north, nor streams the rain from the Olenian horns.
40:40 Liv Albert? By instinct had Areon guessed that another driver stood grasping the reins and feared, innocent as he was, the dire son of Oedipus. From the very start he rages more fiercely than his wont, fretting angrily against his burden. The sons of Inachus think him fired by praises, but it is the charioteer that he is flying, the charioteer that he threatens in maddened fury, and he looks round for his lord on all the plain. Amphiarius follows him yet far before the rest and by a long space second, and level with him runs the salian Admatus. The twins are together now, Eunius to the fore now Thoas, and in turn give ground and go ahead.
41:24 Liv Albert? Nor ever does ambitious love of glory set at variance the devoted brothers. Last of all fierce Chromus and fierce Hippodamus contend, not lacking skill but the weight of their coursers retards them. Hippodamus leading feels the panting breath of the following steeds and their hot wind upon his shoulders. The seer of Phoebus hoped by drawing tight his rein and turning close around the goal to gain first place, and the salian hero too feels hope glow nearer, while Areon, defying control, dashes here and there in circles and strays rightward from the course.
42:05 Liv Albert? Already Echolides was in front and Admatus no longer third, when the sea-born steed, at last brought back form his wide circuit, overtakes and passes both. Their triumph but short-lived, a loud crash rises to the sky and heaven trembles, and all the seats flashed bare as the crowd sprang to their feet. But the son of Labdakis in pale anxiety neither handles the rein nor dares the lash, just as a steersman, his skill exhausted, rushes upon waves and rocks alike, nor any more consults the stars but flings his baffled art to the mercy of chance.
42:49 Liv Albert? Again at headlong speed they swerve right-handed from the track into the plain and strive to keep their course, and again comes the shock of axle on axle, wheel on wheel spokes, no truce is there, nor keeping faith. A lighter task one would think were war, savage war and bloodshed, such furious will to victory is there, such fears and threats of death. And many a hoof is struck as it runs crosswise over the plain. Neither goads nor lashes now suffice, but with shouts of name does Admetus urge Iris
43:26 Liv Albert? and Followey and steaming Thoe and the Danian augur chide fleet Ascatos and Cygnus well so called. Strymon to hears Chromus, son of Hercules, and fiery Etheon, Eunius, and Hippodamis provoke slow Caedon. Thoas entreats piebald Podarches to greater speed. Only Ekion's son keeps gloomy silence in his airing car and fears to confess his plight by cries of alarm. Scarc was the real struggle of the steeds begun, and yet now they are entering the fourth
44:06 Liv Albert? dusty lap, and now streaming sweat is pouring from their exhausted limbs, and fiery thirst leaves and gasps forth the thick breath of the horn-footed steeds. And now their vigor flags and their flanks are racked with long-drawn pantings. Then first does fortune, long-time doubtful, dare to step in and make decision. Thoas, pressing madly on to pass Hymonian Admetus, falls, nor does his brother aid him, fain would he, but Martian Hippodamis forestalled him and drove his team between them. Next Chromus, by Herculean vigor and all his father's strength, holds Hippodamis with
44:50 Liv Albert? axles interlocked as he wheels inside him past the goal. In vain the steeds struggle to get free and strain their sinewy necks and bridles. As when the tide holds fast Sicilian craft and a strong south wind impels them, the swelling sails stand motionless in midsea. Then Cromus hurls his rival from the shattered carr and had sped on the foremost, but when the Thracian horses saw Hippodamus lying on the ground, that awful hunger comes back upon them. And already they had they shared in their mad lust his trembling frame, had not the Corinthian hero, forgetful of victory, taken their bridles and dragged away the neighing
45:35 Liv Albert? steeds, and left the field vanquished, but praised of all. But Phoebus has long desired for you, Amphiarius, your promised honors. At last, deeming the moment fit to show you favor, he visits the grim spaces of the dusty course. When now the race is nearing its end and for the last time victory hovers doubtful, a snake-trest monstrous phantom, a visage terrible to behold, whether he wrought it in Erebus or for the cunning purpose of the moment, certainly endowed with countless terrors, this horrid plague he raises to the world above.
46:18 Liv Albert? The guardian of dusky Lethy could not beheld it unterrified, nor the humanities themselves, without a steep thrill of fear. It would have overturned the horses of the sun in mid-career and the team of Mars. When golden Arian saw it, his mane leapt up erect and he halts with up-reared shoulders and holds high, suspended his yoke fellow and the steeds that shared his toil on either side. Straightway the Ionian exile is flung backward, head over heels, he drops the reins and the chariot freed from restraint, dashes far away.
46:59 Liv Albert? But past him, as he lies on the crumbling earth, sweep the Tinarean carr and the Thessalian axel and the Lemnian hero, and just avoid him by swerving in their flight.
47:12 Liv Albert? His friends rush up, and at last he lifts his dazed head and reeling limbs from the ground, and returns, scarce hoped for by his father-in-law Adrastus. How timely then, oh Thebaid, had been your death had not stern to Siphonie forbidden! How grievous a war could you have prevented? Thebes had bewailed, you and your brother made show thereof, and Argos too had mourned, and Nymia and Lerna and Larissa had, in suppliant guise, shorn tresses for you! You had excelled Archimoras in funeral pomp.
47:49 Liv Albert? Then Polynices, although the prize was now sure for him, as he followed since masterless Arian held first place, yearned yet with keen desire to pass even the empty chariot. The god lends strength and refreshment, swifter than the east he flies, and though the barrier were but just fallen, and were starting on the race, and calling aloud on nimble Kyris and snow-white Cygnus, plies their necks with blows and shakes the reins upon their backs. Now at least, when nobody is in front, the fiery axle devours the course, and the scattered sand is thrown afar. The earth groans, and even then savagely threatens.
48:32 Liv Albert? And perchance Arian too had owned defeat, and Cygnus taken first place, but his ocean father suffers him not to be defeated. Thus, by a just division the glory remained for the horse, but the prophet gained the victory. His meed of triumph was a Herculean bull, borne by two youths, the Turinian on a time was wont to take it in one hand, and with head flung back quaff its foaming, whether victorious over a monster or in the field of Mars. Fierce centaurs has it cunningly wrought, and fearful shapes in gold, here amid slaughter of lapithi or stones and torches flying, and again other bulls, everywhere the furious anger of dying men.
49:18 Liv Albert? He himself seizes the raging hylius, and grips him by the beard and wields his club. But for you, Admatos, is brought for your deserving a cloak with a flowing border of Maionian dye, stained many a time with purple, here swims the youth contemptuous of Phrixian waters, and gleams with sea-blue body through the pictured wave. One sees the sideward sweep of his arm, and he seems about to make the alternate stroke, nor would one think to find his hair dry in the woven fabric. Yonder high upon the tower sits anxiously watching, all in vain, the Cestian maid.
50:01 Liv Albert? Near her, the conscious lamp droops and flickers. These rich rewards Adrastus bids to be given to the victors, but his son-in-law he consoles with an Akian handmaid.
50:15 Liv Albert? Then he incites those heroes who are speedliest of foot to strive for ample rewards, a contest of agility where prowess is fraillest, fit pursuit for peace, when sacred games invite, nor useless in war as a refuge should power of arm fail. Before all the rest, Idaes leaps to the front, whose temples were late shaded by Olympian wreaths. The youth of Pisa and the bands of Ellis hail him with applause. Alcon of Sician follows, and Phadmus twice acclaimed the victor of the sands of Ithmus, and Demas, who once outstripped the flight of wing-footed steeds,
50:57 Liv Albert? but now they outran him by reasoning of age. Many to whom the ignorant multitude received in silence came forward from this side and from that, but for Parthenopaeus, the Arcadian, they call aloud and arouse murmurs that roam through the close-packed circus.
51:20 Liv Albert? Well known is his parent for speed of foot, Who cannot tell of the peerless renown of Adelanta, And of those footprints that no suitor could overtake. The sun bears all his mother's glory, And he himself, already known to fame, Is said to catch on foot the defenceless hinds In the open glades of Mount Lycias. And, as he runs to overtake the flung javelin, Long expected at last, he darts forward, Leaping lightly over the companies, And unfastens the twisted golden clasp of his cloak. His limbs shine forth, and all his graceful frame is revealed: His fine shoulders and breast as smooth and comely as his cheeks,
52:05 Liv Albert? And his face was lost in his body's beauty. But he scorns the praise of his fairness, And suffers not admirers to come near him. Then he cunningly sets to work with draughts of pallas, And makes his skin tawny with rich oil. Thus do Idaas and Dimas and the rest shine sleek and glossy. So when the starlight glitters on a tranquil sea And the spangled heaven is mirrored, tremulous in the deep, Brilliant is every star, but more brilliant than the rest, Does Hesperus shoot his beams, And brightly as he flames in the high heavens, So bright is his reflection in the dark blue waves.
52:47 Liv Albert? Idaas is next in beauty, nor much slower in speed, Next older too in years, But for him already has the palestrous oil Brought on the tender growth, And the down is creeping over his cheeks, Nor yet confesses itself among the cloud of unshorn locks. Then, they duly try their speed, And sharpen up their paces, And by various arts and feigned excitement, Stir their languid limbs. Now they sink down with bended knees, Now smite with loud claps their slippery breasts. Now ply their fiery feet in short sprint and sudden stop.
53:27 Liv Albert? As soon as the bar fell and left the threshold level, they nimly dashed away, and the naked forms gleamed upon the plain. More slowly seemed the swift coursers to move of late on the same ground, one might deem them so many arrows poured forth from Cydonian host or flying Parthians. Not otherwise speed the stags over Hurcanian wilds, hearing or fancying that they hear a famished lion roar afar. Blind fear drives them in crowding, panic-stricken flight amid the ceaseless noise of clashing horns. Then, swifter than the rapid breeze, the Minalian boy outstrips the sight, and hard behind
54:12 Liv Albert? him fierce Idaes runs and breathes upon his shoulder and presses close upon his rear with panting breath and overshadowing form. After them Phidamus and Demas strive in doubtful contest, near them fleet Alcon, the yellow hair hung down from the Arcadians' unshorn head. This, from his earliest years, he cherished as a gift to Trivia, and vainly boasting had vowed it to his country's altars, when he should return in triumph from the Ogaigian War. At that time freed from his band, and streaming loose behind it flies backward as it meets
54:53 Liv Albert? the wind, at once hindering his own speed and spreading out in front of his rival Idaes. Thereat the youth bethought him of deceit and an opportunity for fraud, already close upon the goal. Even while Parthenopias is triumphantly crossing the threshold, he grasps his hair, and pulling him back, seizes his place, and is the first to breast the wide entrance of the goal.
55:22 Liv Albert? The Arcadians cry, "To arms!" And with arms they hasten to defend their prince, if the lost prize and merited honour be not restored, and make ready to descend on all the course. Others again were pleased by the ruse of Aidas. Parthenopaeus himself pours showers of earth upon his face, and streaming eyes, and the comeliness of tears is added to his beauty. In his grief he rends with bloody nails now his breast, now his innocent cheeks and guilty hair, while all around discordant clamour rages, and old Adrastus halts irresolute of counsel. At last he speaks: "Cease quarrelling, youths; your prowess must be tried again, but not,
56:05 Liv Albert? but run not, in one track only. Aidas has this side, keep you apart yonder, and let there be no cheating in this race." They heard, and abide his command. Then the youth of Tegia, with silent prayer humbly entreats the gods: "Goddess, queen of the woodlands, for to you and to your honour these locks of mine are vowed, and from this vow comes my disgrace. If my mother or I myself has deserved well of you in hunting, suffer me not, I pray you, to go ill-omend thus to Thebes, or to have won such bitter shame for Arcadia." Clear proof was given, that he was heard.
56:48 Liv Albert? The plain scarce feels him as he goes, his feet treads tenuous air, and the rare footsteps hover, and leave the dust unbroken. With a shout he dashes to the goal, and with a shout he runs back to the chief, and seizing the palm appeased his grief. The running was over, and prizes for their toils stand ready. The Arcadian is given a horse, the shameless Aidas bears away a shield, the rascow contented, with Lycian quivers.
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59:22 Liv Albert? Then he invites any who may wish to try the issue with the hurled discus and display untiring vigor and proud strength.
59:32 Liv Albert? At his command goes Pteralus, and with all his body bent scarce lays down beside him the slippery weight of the bronze mass. In silence the sons of Anakis look on and estimate the toil. Soon a number rush forward, two of Achaean race, three sons of Ephiri, one Pisaborn, the seventh an Archaenean man, and more was the love of glory urging on, had not tall Hippomedon, incited by the crowd, come forward, and carrying another broad disc at his right side, said, "Take this one rather, you warriors who are marching to shatter the walls with stones and to overthrow the Tyrian towers, take this one.
1:00:16 Liv Albert? As for that other, any hand can toss that weight." And with no effort he caught it up and threw it to one side. They fell back in amazement and confessed themselves undone. Scarc flegius alone and eager Mnestheus, compelled by sense of shame and noble ancestry, vouchsafed to try their strength. The rest of their own accord gave place and returned in glorious, marveling at the disc. Even so the shield of Mars on the Bistonian plain reflects an evil light on Mount Pangaeus, and shining strikes the sun with terror and deeply clangs beneath the spear of the god. Flegius of Pisah begins the toil.
1:00:59 Liv Albert? Straightway he drew all eyes upon himself. When they beheld his frame such promise of great deeds was there. And first with earth he roughens the discus and his own hand, then, shaking off the dust, turns it right skillfully to see which side best suits his fingers, or fits more surely the middle of his arm. This sport had he ever loved, not only when he attended his country's famous festival, but he was wont to reckon the space between Alphios's either bank and where they are most widely distant, to clear the river nor ever wet the disc. At once then, confident in his powers, he measures not the rough acres of the plain,
1:01:39 Liv Albert? but the skies expanse with his right arm, and with either knee bent earthward, he gathers up his strength and whirls the disc above him, and hides it in the clouds. Swiftly it speeds aloft, and as though falling grows faster as it mounts at last exhausted, it returns to earth more slowly from the height and buries itself in the field. So falls, whenever she is torn from the astonished stars, the darkened sister of the sun. afar the peoples beat the bronze for succor, and indulge their fruitless fears, but the Thessalian hag, triumphant, laughs at the panting steeds who obey her spell.
1:02:22 Liv Albert? The Danai shout applause, though amid their frowns. Hippomedon, and he hopes for a mightier throw along the level. But thereupon fortune, whose pleasure it is to dash immoderate hopes, assails him. What power has man against the gods? Already he was prepping a mighty throw, his head was turned, and all his side was swinging back. The weight slipped and fell before his feet, and baffled his throw, and his hand dropped empty and unavailing. All groaned, while to a few the sight brought pleasure. Mnestheus then, more cautious, brings careful skill to the attempt,
1:03:03 Liv Albert? and uttering many a prayer to you, oh, son of Maya, corrects with dust the slippery surface of the powerful mass. With far better fortune it speeds from his huge hand, nor falls till it has covered no mean extent of the course. They applaud, and an arrow is fixed to mark the spot. Third, Hippomedon with slow and ponderous step advances to the labors of the contest, for deep in his heart he takes warning from the fate of Phlegethus and the good fortune of Mnestheus. He lifts the instrument of combat from his hand, new well, and, holding it aloft, summons all the strength of his unyielding side and vigorous arms, and flings it with a mighty whirl, springing forward after it himself.
1:03:48 Liv Albert? With a terrific bound, the disc flies through the empty air, and even in its flight remembers the hand that flung it and keeps to its due path, nor attains a doubtful or a neighboring goal as it passes the defeated Menestheus. But far beyond the rival's sign it falls to earth, and makes tremble the green buttresses and shady heights of the theater, as though they were falling in vast and widespread ruin. Even so, from smoke emitting Aetna, did Polyphemus hurl the rock, though with hand untaught of vision, yet on the very track of the ship he could but hear, and close to his enemy Ulysses.
1:04:29 Liv Albert? Thus too, the alloyed eye, when rigid ossa already trod Olympus underfoot, bore icy pelion also, and hoped to join it in frightened heaven. Then, the son of Thalius bids a tiger's skin to go as prize to the victor. All glossy it shone with a yellow border, and its sharp claws were tamed with gold. Menestheus receives a Gnausian bow and errant shafts. "But to you, Phlegethus, he cries, whom unlucky fortune foiled, we give this sword, once the glory and aid of our Pelasgus, nor will Hippomidon grudge it to you. And now his courage needed, wields you the terrible Kestis in close conflict, valor
1:05:11 Liv Albert? here comes nighest to that of battle and the sword." Orgyve Copanius took his stand, awful in aspect, awful the terror he inspires, and, binding on his arms the raw oxide black with lumps of lead, himself no softer. "Send me one," he says, "from all those thousands of warriors, and would rather that my rival were of Aeonian stock, whom it were right to slay, and that my valor were not stained with kindred blood."
1:05:43 Liv Albert? They stood aghast, and terror made them silent. At last Alcadamus, unexpected, leapt forth from the naked crowd of Laconians, while the Dorian princes marvel. But his comrades knew he relied on his master Pollux, and had grown up in the wrestling school of a god. Pollux himself guided his hands and molded his arms, love of the sport constrained him, and of the set him against himself, and admiring him as he stood up in like mood, caught him up exultant, and pressed his naked body to his breast. Capanius thinks scorn of him and mocks at his challenge, as though in pity, and demands another foe. At last perforce he faces him, and now his languid neck swells at anchors prompting.
1:06:29 Liv Albert? With bodies poised at their full height, they lift their hands deadly as thunderbolts. Safe withdrawn are their faces on their shoulders, ever watching, and closed is the approach to wounds. The one is as great in broad expanse of every limb, and terrible in size of bone, as though Titias should rise up from the Stygian fields. Did the fierce birds allow him? The other was so lately but a boy, yet his strength is riper than his years, and his youthful vigor gives promise of a mighty manhood. He would none wish to see defeated, nor stained with cruel gore; but each man fears the spectacle with eager prayers.
1:07:10 Liv Albert? Scanning each other with their gaze, and each awaiting the first opening, they fell not at once to angry blows, but stayed awhile in mutual fear, and mingled caution with their rage. They but incline their arms against each other as they spar and make trial of their gloves, dulling them with mere rubs. The one, more skillfully trained, puts by his fury, and, taking thought for the future, delays and husbands up his strength. But the other, prodigal of harm and reckless of his powers, rushes with all his might, and in wild blows exhausts both arms, and attacks with fruitless gnashing of teeth, and injures his own cause. But the Laconian, prudent and crafty, and with all his country's vigilance,
1:07:55 Liv Albert? now parries, now avoids the blow, sometimes by the throwing back or rapid bending of his head he shuns all hurt. Now with his hands he beats off the aimed assault and advances with his feet while keeping his head drawn back. Often again, as his foe engages him with superior power, such strength is in his cunning, and such skill in his right hand. With bold initiative he enters his guard and overshadows him, and towering high assails him. Just as a mass of water hurls itself headlong on a threatening rock and falls back broken, so does he wheel round his angry foe, breaking his defence. Look! He lifts his hand and threatens a long time his face or side, and thus, by fear of his hard weapons, diverts his guard and cunningly plants a sudden blow, and marks the middle
1:08:40 Liv Albert? of his forehead with a wound. Blood flows and the warm stream stains his temples. Capanius, yet ignorant, wonders at the sudden murmur of the crowd. But when, as he chanced to draw his weary hand across his face, he saw the stains upon the cowhide, no lion nor tiger feeling the javelin smart was ever so mad! Hotly, he drives the youth before him in headlong retreat over the whole field, and is forcing him on to his back. Terribly he grinds his teeth and whirls his fists in countless repeated blows. The strokes are wasted on the winds, some fall on the gloves of his foe with active movement and aid of nimble feet, the spartan eludes the thousand deaths that shower about his temples.
1:09:25 Liv Albert? Yet, not unmindful of his art, he flees, still fighting, and though fleeing meets blows with blows. And now both are wearied with the toil and their exhausted panting. Slower the one pursues, nor is the other so swift to escape. The knees of both fail them, and alike they rest.
1:09:46 Liv Albert? Thus, when long wandering over the sea has wearied the mariners, The signal is given from the stern, and they rest their arms awhile. But scarce have they taken repose, When another cry summons them to the oars again. Lo! A second time he makes a furious dash! But the other tricks him, And he goes at him with a rush of his own, And sinking into his shoulders. Forward he pitches on his head, And he rises. The merciless boy smote him another blow, And himself grew pale at the success. The Anakadi raises a shout, Louder than the noise of shore or forest. But when Adrastus saw him struggling from the ground, And lifting his hands intent on hideous deeds. Haste, friends, I pray you, he is mad! Haste, prevent him, he is out of his mind!
1:10:30 Liv Albert? Quick, bring the palm and the prizes! He will not cease, I see well, Till he pounds the brain within the shattered skull. Rescue the doomed Laconian! At once Tydia starts forth, And Hippomedon obedient to command. Then scarce do the two with all their might, Master his two arms, And bind them fast and forcefully urge him. Leave the field, you are victorious, It is noble to spare the vanquished. He too is one of us and a comrade in the war. But no wit is the hero's fury lessened. He thrusts away the proffered branch And queres and shouts, Let me free! Shall I not smash and gore and clawed in dust Those cheeks whereby that eunuch boy gained favor?
1:11:14 Liv Albert? And send his unsightly corpse to the tomb, And give him cause for mourning to his Ebalian masters? So says he, but his friends force him away, Swelling with wrath and protesting That he is not conquered, While the Laconians praise the nursling of famed Tygetus And laugh loud at the others' threats.
1:11:38 Liv Albert? Long time have the varied deeds of valor and his own conscious worth provoked with urgent stings great-hearted Tidesys. Both at the disk and in speed of foot did he excel, nor less was he a champion of the boxing glove, but before all other sports the anointed wrestling match was dear. Thus had he been wont to spend the leisure intervals of fighting and relax his martial ire, and with mighty heroes on the banks of Achelaus did he strive heaven-taut in many a victorious bout. Therefore, when keen ambition called the youths to wrestle, the Eutolian puts off the terrible covering of native boar hide from his shoulders.
1:12:21 Liv Albert? Against him, Agolias, who boasts of Cleonian stock, raises his tall limbs, no less in bulk than Hercules, so loftily he towers with huge shoulders and monstrously surpasses human measure. But he lacks his father's close-knit strength of body, loose-limbed and overgrown as he, unsteady and soft of muscle. Hence is Aeneidis boldly confident to overthrow so mighty an antagonist. Though slight himself to look upon, yet he is heavy of bone and hard and sinewy of arm, never did nature dare enclose so fiery a spirit or so great a force in so small a frame.
1:13:06 Liv Albert? When their skins had taken pleasure in the oil, both ran forward to the middle of the plain and clad themselves in showers of sand. Then with the dust they dry their wet limbs in turn and sink their necks into their shoulders and hold out their arms wide branching. At once Tidesys with cunning craft stoops his own body, his knees near touching the sand, and so draws down the tall Agolias and makes him bend to his own level.
1:13:36 Liv Albert? But just as the cypress, queen of the alpine height, inclines her summit to the south wind's pressure, scarce holding by her root and nears the ground yet soon springs up again into the air, not otherwise does towering Agolias of his own will force down his huge limbs and groaning bend double over his little foe. And now, first one, then the other, their hands attack, brow and shoulder and side and neck and breast and legs that evade the clutch. Sometimes they hang a long while locked in each other's grip. Now savagely they seek to break the fingers' clasp. Less fiercely do two bulls, the leaders of the herd, make war.
1:14:19 Liv Albert? In the meadow stands the fair white heifer and awaits the victor, while their breasts are torn in the mad struggle and love plies the goad and heals their wounds. So do boars fight with flashing tusks, so do ugly bears grasp shaggy hides in hairy conflict. So violent is Tydeus, neither dust nor heat of sun makes his limbs faint and weary, but his skin is close-knit and firm and schooled by toil to hard muscle. But the other, unsound in wind, pants heavily and breathes sickly gasps in his exhaustion, and the caked sands runs off him in streams of sweat,
1:15:02 Liv Albert? while furtively he snatches support for his body from the ground. On him Tydeus constantly presses, and fainting at his neck catches at his legs, but his arms were baffled by their shortness and failed in their design, while all the others towering height came down upon him and crushed and buried him under the huge falling mass. Just as when the Iberian miner burrows beneath the hill and leaves far behind the living day, then, if the suspended ground is rocked and tunneled, earth crashes down with sudden roar, overwhelmed by the falling mount he lies within. Nor ever does his crushed and utterly broken corpse deliver up the indignant soul
1:15:45 Liv Albert? to its own skies, more vigorous is Tydeus than his foe and superior in spirited valor; nor is it long before he is slipped from the other's hold an unequal weight, and encompassing him, as he hesitates, fastens suddenly on his back, then swiftly en folds sides and groin in a firm embrace, and grips his knees between his thighs, and relentlessly, as he struggles in vain to escape from the grasp, and forces his hands against his side, a burden, wonderful and terrible to see, raises him aloft. So, fame tells, did Hercules hold fast in his arms the sweating, earth-born Libyan, when he found the trick, and snatched him up on high, and left him no hope of falling,
1:16:30 Liv Albert? nor suffered him to touch, even with his foot's extremity, his mother earth. A shout arises, and glad applause from the multitude; then, poising him aloft, suddenly of his own will, he loosened him, and threw him sideways, and, following him as he fell, seized his neck with his right hand, and his middle between his legs. Thus beset, his spirit fails, and only shame drives him to struggle. At last he lies extended, with breast and belly prone, on the ground, and, a long time after, sadly rises, leaving the marks of his disgrace on the imprinted earth. But Tydeus, bearing the palm in his right hand, and in his left the prize of shining
1:17:13 Liv Albert? armor, says, "What if the plain of Dirke held not so small measure of my blood, as well you know, where of late these scars made treaty with Thebes?" So speaking, he displays the scars, and gives to his comrades the glorious rewards that he had won, while the spurned corslet follows Agolias from the field.
1:17:37 Liv Albert? There are some too who advance to combat with the naked sword, and already they are taking their stand, fully armed, Agrius from Epidaurus, and the Durkian exile not yet doomed by fate. But the chieftain, the son of Iasus, forbids them. "Great store of death remains, O youths, preserve your warlike temper and your mad desire for a foeman's blood. And you, for whose sake we have laid bare our ancestral acres and our beloved cities, given not, I pray you, such power to chance before the fight begins, nor may the gods forfend it, to your brother's prayers." Thus he speaks, and enriches them both with a golden helm. Then lest his son-in-law lack
1:18:22 Liv Albert? praise, he bids his lofty temples be garlanded, and himself proclaimed aloud "Victor of Thebes!" The dire fates echoed back the ominous sound. The monarch himself also do the prince's urge to dignify with some exploit of his own the festal contests, and to confer this final honour on the tomb. They bid him lest one victory be lacking to the number of the leaders, to shoot Lictian arrows from his bow, or to cleave the clouds with the slender spear. Gladly he accedes, and thronged about by the foremost warriors, descends from the green
1:19:01 Liv Albert? mound to the level plain. His armour-bearer at command bears after him his light quiver and his bow. He prepares to shirt-shoot the circus's mighty length, and to plant wounds upon an appointed ash-tree. Who will deny that omens flow from the hidden causes of things to come? The fates lie open to mankind, but we choose not to take heed, and the proof forshone is wasted. Thus turn we omens into chance, and from hence fortune draws her power of harm. The fateful arrow in a moment measured the plain and struck the tree, and then, awful
1:19:42 Liv Albert? to behold, came back through the air it but now had traversed, and turning homeward from the goal kept on its way, and fell by the mouth of its well-known quiver.
1:19:55 Liv Albert? Much talk the princes interchange in error. Some say the clouds and the winds on high did meet and drive the shaft, others that the impact of the wood repelled it. Deep, hidden lies the mighty issue and the awful truth foretold. To its master only did the arrow vouch safe survival and a sad returning from the war.
1:20:36 Liv Albert? Well, that was so fun. Um, like last time, I really hope that that was as fun for you all as it was for me. It turns out, reading Manly Naked Sports, um, was a real fun.
1:20:53 Liv Albert? And I was definitely respecting all of them the whole time, for sure. I'm excited to keep going with all of this. But for now, I have been talking too long. So thank you all so much for listening. A delightful read, this one is. I'm so glad it just keeps getting more and more entertaining as we go. I'll be back soon with book seven. Let's talk about Myths, Babies, written and produced by me, Liv Albert. Michaela Pangwisch is the Hermes to my Olympians, my incredible producer. Select music by Luke Chaos. The podcast is part of the Memory Collective Podcast Network, a group of creators and educators dedicated to sharing knowledge that is accessible, contextualized, socially conscious, and inclusive. To find
1:21:37 Liv Albert? out more, visit collectivemem.com, which hopefully will be a functioning website by the time this one comes out. I'm recording this like a month out, so we'll see. Either way, it's coming soon. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. I don't know. Um, be cool and hang out with me by listening to my show. If you are at all eager for every episode ad free and/or bonus material and/or beautifully like, uh, little thank you notes that come on these cool little branded postcards with stickers, which like, um, exclusive stickers, which are like holographic and, uh, shimmery and cool, or even a pin. Anyway, all of that is available, um, via the Oracle Edition on
1:22:22 Liv Albert? my Patreon, which is, um, my latest attempt to get us outside of capitalism at least as much so that I am not entirely relying on the, um, economics of ads in order to keep this going. If that made sense, go to patreon.com/missbaby. Either way, thank you all so goddamn much for listening. I am Liv and I love this shit.
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Previous #JusticeforDennis: the Gods and Casual Cruelty... KAOS Takeover w/ Christie Vogler Next RE-AIR: Conversations: Charybdis, a Gaping, Hungry Hole; Fear of the Monstrous Woman w/ Cosi Carnegie Page updated November 3, 2026 · transcript and summary are machine-generated