Aeacus

Poseidon mounted the chariot and urged his horses onward over the sea waves till he came to a certain island that was called Aegina.

Here dwelt a wise and holy king named Aeacus, so famed for his justice that the gods themselves resorted to him for judgment when disputes arose between any of them.

Aeacus was born on that island and grew up there all alone, for in those days it was desert.

But at last he prayed to Zeus that he might have folk to rule over, and Zeus turned all the ants of the island into men.

And these men did not know how to plow and sow, nor the use of fire, nor how to build houses, until Aeacus taught them all these and many other arts which he had found out for himself.

This king is, was who first made sailing ships and coined silver into money.

But in nothing was he more skillful than in building with stone.

When he now saw Poseidon, he greeted him as a friend, for the gods were no strangers to his house.

Both were still youthful and neither had yet achieved any notable deed.

Afterward they were to be famous, but their sons were to be even more famous, for the son of Telamon was the strong Aeacus and the son of Pelias was the great Achilles.

Another who came was Admetus.

Afterward he became a famous king.

And if you would ask of the names and the lineage of the heroes who are with Jason, I shall tell you.

This is Peleus, and this is Telamon.

They are brothers, and they are sons of Aeacus, who was the seed of Zeus.

And all the other heroes who have come with them are of the seed of the gods.

First, the bent plow's share and heavy timber and slow lumbering wains of the Aloësinian mother, threshing-slays and drags, and harrows with their crushing weight.

Then the cheap wicker-ware of Caelus old, hurdles of arbut, and thy mystic fan, Æacus, which, full tale, long ere the time thou must with heed lay by, if thee await not all unearned the country's crown divine.

While yet within the woods the elm is tamed, and bowed with mighty force to form the stock, and take the plough's curved shape: then nigh the root a pole eight feet projecting, earth-boards twain, and share-beam with its double back they fix.

For yoke is early hewn a linden light, and a tall beech for handle, from behind to turn the car at lowest: then o'er the hearth the wood they hang till the smoke knows it well.

If on some plain you measure out rich acres, then plant thick: thick planting makes no niggard of the vine.

But if on rising mound or sloping bill, then let the rows have room, so none the less each line you draw, when all the trees are set, may tally to perfection.

Even as oft in mighty war, when as the legion's length deploys its cohorts, and the column stands in open plain, the ranks of battle set, and far and near with rippling sheen of arms the wide earth flickers — nor yet in grisly strife foe grapples foe, but dubious 'twixt the hosts the War-God wavers —: so let all be ranged in equal rows symmetric, not alone to feed an idle fancy with the view, but since not otherwise will earth afford vigor to all the like, nor yet the boughs have power to stretch them into open space.

Shouldst haply of the furrow's depth inquire, even to a shallow trench I dare commit the vine.

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Ecalia.

Sons of Eurytus the ruthless Eurytus to whom the far-shooting god gave his bow but he had no joy of the gift for of his own choice he strove even with the giver after them came the sons of Aeacus not both together nor from the same spot for they settled far from Aegina in exile when in their folly they had slain their brother Phpheus Telamon dwelt in the Attic island but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia after them from Cecropia came warlike Butes son of brave Tileon and Phalerus of the ashen spear Alcon his father sent him forth yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood but him his well-beloved and only son he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous but Theseus who surpassed all the sons of Erichthius an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus for he had followed that path with Pirithous assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil Tiphys son of Hegneus left the Siphean people of the Thespians well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs and he came among them a welcome comrade she herself too fashioned the swift ship and with her Argus son of Arista wrought it by her counsels wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars after them came Phlegyas from Erythrae where he dwelt in affluence by the favour of his father Dionysus in his home by the springs of Asopus from Argos came Talaus and Areius sons of Bias and mighty Leodocus all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare on her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager summons of Iason's son but when he heard a report of the heroes gathering and had reached Lercaean Argos from Arcadia by the road along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lympia near the vast Erymanthian swamp the boar bound with chains he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the marketplace of Mycenae and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus and with him went Hylas a brave comrade in the flower of youth to bear his arrows and to guard his bow next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus Nauplius he was the son of Clytoneus son of Nobilus Nobilus was son of Lernus Lernus we know was the son of Prytus son of Nauplius and once Amymone daughter of Danaus wedded to Poseidon bare Nauplius who surpassed all men in naval skill Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos for though he had learned his own fate by augury he came that the people might not grudge him fair renown he was not in truth the son of Abas but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids and himself taught him the art of prophecy to pay heed to birds and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor skilled to guide swift-footed steeds these her dearly loved sons she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus nor did she forbid their departure for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus the son of Aphareus Lynceus and proud Idas came from Oeni both exulting in their great strength and Lynceus too excelled in keenest sight if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his sight even beneath the earth and with them Pylean Periclymenus set out to come eldest of all the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos Poseidon had given him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave during the fight that he should take in the stress of battle moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Ophietus two sons of Aldus and Enceus followed them as the third whom his father Lycurgus sent the brother older than both but he was left in the city to care for Alectryone now growing old while he gave his son to join his brothers Antaeus went clad in the skin of a Maenalian bear and wielding in his right hand a huge two-edged battle-axe for his armour his grandsire had hidden in the house's innermost recess to see if he might by some means still stay his departure There came also Ogyges, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios.

He reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth, and greatly he desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself, the ruler of the Colchians.

Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pylae, which once Peleus, their grandsire, founded on the brows of Aegialus.

But what pleasure is there in words? For I will go, I only, with none of thy comrades, who have helped thee to plan this treachery.

He spake, and rushed upon Typhus, son of Haginus, and his eyes sparkled like flashes of ravening flame.

And they would quickly have turned back to the land of the Mysians, forcing their way through the deep sea and the unceasing blasts of wind, had not the two sons of Thracian Boreas held back the son of Aeacus with harsh words.

Hapless ones, assuredly a bitter vengeance came upon them thereafter at the hands of Heracles, because they stayed the search for him.

But as they were still living and had their clothes on at the time when they were being judged, there was favouritism; and Zeus, when he came to the throne, was obliged to alter the mode of procedure, and try them after death, having first sent down Prometheus to take away from them the foreknowledge of death.

Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus were appointed to be the judges: Rhadamanthus for Asia, Aeacus for Europe, and Minos was to hold the court of appeal.

Now death is the separation of soul and body, but after death soul and body alike retain their characteristics; the fat man, the dandy, the branded slave, are all distinguishable.

Some prince or potentate, perhaps even the Great King himself, appears before Rhadamanthus, and he instantly detects him, though he knows not who he is; he sees the scars of perjury and iniquity, and sends him away to the house of torment.

Not that there is anything to prevent a great man from being a good one, as is shown by the famous example of Aristides, the son of Lysimachus.

But to Rhadamanthus the souls are only known as good or bad; they are stripped of their dignities and preferments; he despatches the bad to Tartarus, labelled either as curable or incurable, and looks with love and admiration on the soul of some just one, whom he sends to the Islands of the Blest.

Similar is the practice of Aeacus; and Minos overlooks them, holding a golden sceptre, as Odysseus in Homer saw him, 'Wielding a sceptre of gold and giving laws to the dead.' My wish for myself and my fellow men is, that we may present our souls undefiled to the judge in that day.

My desire in life is to be able to meet death; and I exhort you and retort upon you the reproach which you cast upon me, that you will stand before the judge gaping and with dizzy brain, and any one may box you on the ear and do you all manner of evil.

Poseidon mounted the chariot and urged his horses onward over the sea-waves till he came to a certain island that was called Aegina.

Here dwelt a wise and holy king named Aeacus, so famed for his justice that the gods themselves resorted to him for judgment when disputes arose between any of them.

Aeacus was born in that island and grew up there all alone; for in those days it was desert.

But at last he prayed to Zeus that he might have folk to rule over, and Zeus turned all the ants of the island into men.

And these men did not know how to plow and sow, nor the use of fire, nor how to build houses, until Aeacus taught them all these and many other arts, which he had found out for himself.

This king it was who first made sailing ships and coined silver into money; but in nothing was he more skillful than in building with stone.

When he now saw Poseidon, he greeted him as a friend; for the gods were no strangers to his house.

And having heard what service was required of him, he entered the golden chariot, and they came swiftly over the sea to the city of Laomedon.