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phusei 。 。 。｝ translate 〃nature had adorned her limbs 。 。 。〃
〃Now when these two had drawn near to Heracles； she who was first
named advanced at an even pace＇31＇ towards him； but the other； in her
eagerness to outstrip her； ran forward to the youth； exclaiming； 'I
see you； Heracles； in doubt and difficulty what path of life to
choose； make me your friend； and I will lead you to the pleasantest
road and easiest。 This I promise you： you shall taste all of life's
sweets and escape all bitters。 In the first place； you shall not
trouble your brain with war or business； other topics shall engage
your mind；＇32＇ your only speculation； what meat or drink you shall
find agreeable to your palate； what delight＇33＇ of ear or eye； what
pleasure of smell or touch； what darling lover's intercourse shall
most enrapture you； how you shall pillow your limbs in softest
slumber； how cull each individual pleasure without alloy of pain； and
if ever the suspicion steal upon you that the stream of joys will one
day dwindle； trust me I will not lead you where you shall replenish
the store by toil of body and trouble of soul。 No！ others shall
labour； but you shall reap the fruit of their labours； you shall
withhold your hand from nought which shall bring you gain。 For to all
my followers I give authority and power to help themselves freely from
every side。'
＇31＇ Or； 〃without change in her demeanour。〃
＇32＇ Reading ｛diese｝； or ｛dioisei｝； 〃you shall continue speculating
solely。〃
＇33＇ It will be recollected that Prodicus prided himself on ｛orthotes
onomaton｝。 Possibly Xenophon is imitating （caricaturing？） his
style。 ｛terphtheies； estheies； euphrantheies｝。
〃Heracles hearing these words made answer： 'What； O lady； is the name
you bear？' To which she： 'Know that my friends call be Happiness； but
they that hate me have their own nicknames＇34＇ for me； Vice and
Naughtiness。'
＇34＇ So the vulg。 ｛upokorizomenoi｝ is interpreted。 Cobet （〃Pros。 Xen。〃
p。 36） suggests ｛upoknizomenoi｝ = 〃quippe qui desiderio
pungantur。〃
〃But just then the other of those fair women approached and spoke：
'Heracles； I too am come to you； seeing that your parents are well
known to me； and in your nurture I have gauged your nature； wherefore
I entertain good hope that if you choose the path which leads to me；
you shall greatly bestir yourself to be the doer of many a doughty
deed of noble emprise； and that I too shall be held in even higher
honour for your sake； lit with the lustre shed by valorous deeds。＇35＇
I will not cheat you with preludings of pleasure；＇36＇ but I will
relate to you the things that are according to the ordinances of God
in very truth。 Know then that among things that are lovely and of good
report； not one have the gods bestowed upon mortal men apart from toil
and pains。 Would you obtain the favour of the gods； then must you pay
these same gods service； would you be loved by your friends； you must
benefit these friends； do you desire to be honoured by the state； you
must give the state your aid； do you claim admiration for your virtue
from all Hellas； you must strive to do some good to Hellas； do you
wish earth to yield her fruits to you abundantly； to earth must you
pay your court； do you seek to amass riches from your flocks and
herds； on them must you bestow your labour； or is it your ambition to
be potent as a warrior； able to save your friends and to subdue your
foes； then must you learn the arts of war from those who have the
knowledge； and practise their application in the field when learned；
or would you e'en be powerful of limb and body； then must you
habituate limbs and body to obey the mind； and exercise yourself with
toil and sweat。'
＇35＇ Or； 〃bathed in the splendour of thy virtues。〃
＇36＇ Or； 〃honeyed overtures of pleasure。〃
〃At this point； （as Prodicus relates） Vice broke in exclaiming： 'See
you； Heracles； how hard and long the road is by which yonder woman
would escort you to her festal joys。＇37＇ But I will guide you by a
short and easy road to happiness。'
＇37＇ Hesiod； 〃Theog。〃 909； Milton； 〃L'Allegro；〃 12。
〃Then spoke Virtue： 'Nay； wretched one； what good thing hast thou？ or
what sweet thing art thou acquainted withthat wilt stir neither hand
nor foot to gain it？ Thou； that mayest not even await the desire of
pleasure； but； or ever that desire springs up； art already satiated；
eating before thou hungerest； and drinking before thou thirsteth； who
to eke out an appetite must invent an army of cooks and confectioners；
and to whet thy thirst must lay down costliest wines； and run up and
down in search of ice in summer…time； to help thy slumbers soft
coverlets suffice not； but couches and feather…beds must be prepared
thee and rockers to rock thee to rest； since desire for sleep in thy
case springs not from toil but from vacuity and nothing in the world
to do。 Even the natural appetite of love thou forcest prematurely by
every means thou mayest devise； confounding the sexes in thy service。
Thus thou educatest thy friends： with insult in the night season and
drowse of slumber during the precious hours of the day。 Immortal； thou
art cast forth from the company of gods； and by good men art
dishonoured： that sweetest sound of all； the voice of praise； has
never thrilled thine ears； and the fairest of all fair visions is
hidden from thine eyes that have never beheld one bounteous deed
wrought by thine own hand。 If thou openest thy lips in speech； who
will believe thy word？ If thou hast need of aught； none shall satisfy
thee。 What sane man will venture to join thy rablle rout？ Ill indeed
are thy revellers to look upon； young men impotent of body； and old
men witless in mind： in the heyday of life they batten in sleek
idleness； and wearily do they drag through an age of wrinkled
wretchedness： and why？ they blush with shame at the thought of deeds
done in the past； and groan for weariness at what is left to do。
During their youth they ran riot through their sweet things； and laid
up for themselves large store of bitterness against the time of eld。
But my companionship is with the gods； and with the good among men my
conversation； no bounteous deed； divine or human； is wrought without
my aid。 Therefore am I honoured in Heaven pre…eminently； and upon
earth among men whose right it is to honour me；＇38＇ as a beloved
fellow…worker of all craftsmen； a faithful guardian of house and
lands； whom the owners bless； a kindly helpmeet of servants；＇39＇ a
brave assistant in the labours of peace； an unflinching ally in the
deeds of war； a sharer in all friendships indispensable。 To my friends
is given an enjoyment of meats and drinks； which is sweet in itself
and devoid of trouble； in that they can endure until desire ripens；
and sleep more delicious visits them than those who toil not。 Yet they
are not pained to part with it； nor for the sake of slumber do they
let slip the performance of their duties。 Among my followers the youth
delights in the praises of his elders； and the old man glories in the
honour of the young； with joy they call to memory their deeds of old；
and in to…day's well…doing are well pleased。 For my sake they are d