按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fountain gave an abundant supply of water for all and of suitable
temperature in summer and in winter。 This is how they dwelt； being the
guardians of their own citizens and the leaders of the Hellenes； who were
their willing followers。 And they took care to preserve the same number of
men and women through all time； being so many as were required for warlike
purposes； then as nowthat is to say； about twenty thousand。 Such were
the ancient Athenians； and after this manner they righteously administered
their own land and the rest of Hellas； they were renowned all over Europe
and Asia for the beauty of their persons and for the many virtues of their
souls； and of all men who lived in those days they were the most
illustrious。 And next； if I have not forgotten what I heard when I was a
child； I will impart to you the character and origin of their adversaries。
For friends should not keep their stories to themselves； but have them in
common。
Yet； before proceeding further in the narrative； I ought to warn you； that
you must not be surprised if you should perhaps hear Hellenic names given
to foreigners。 I will tell you the reason of this： Solon； who was
intending to use the tale for his poem； enquired into the meaning of the
names； and found that the early Egyptians in writing them down had
translated them into their own language； and he recovered the meaning of
the several names and when copying them out again translated them into our
language。 My great…grandfather； Dropides； had the original writing； which
is still in my possession； and was carefully studied by me when I was a
child。 Therefore if you hear names such as are used in this country； you
must not be surprised； for I have told how they came to be introduced。 The
tale； which was of great length； began as follows：
I have before remarked in speaking of the allotments of the gods； that they
distributed the whole earth into portions differing in extent； and made for
themselves temples and instituted sacrifices。 And Poseidon； receiving for
his lot the island of Atlantis； begat children by a mortal woman； and
settled them in a part of the island； which I will describe。 Looking
towards the sea； but in the centre of the whole island； there was a plain
which is said to have been the fairest of all plains and very fertile。
Near the plain again； and also in the centre of the island at a distance of
about fifty stadia； there was a mountain not very high on any side。 In
this mountain there dwelt one of the earth…born primeval men of that
country； whose name was Evenor； and he had a wife named Leucippe； and they
had an only daughter who was called Cleito。 The maiden had already reached
womanhood； when her father and mother died； Poseidon fell in love with her
and had intercourse with her； and breaking the ground； inclosed the hill in
which she dwelt all round； making alternate zones of sea and land larger
and smaller； encircling one another； there were two of land and three of
water； which he turned as with a lathe； each having its circumference
equidistant every way from the centre； so that no man could get to the
island； for ships and voyages were not as yet。 He himself； being a god；
found no difficulty in making special arrangements for the centre island；
bringing up two springs of water from beneath the earth； one of warm water
and the other of cold； and making every variety of food to spring up
abundantly from the soil。 He also begat and brought up five pairs of twin
male children； and dividing the island of Atlantis into ten portions； he
gave to the first…born of the eldest pair his mother's dwelling and the
surrounding allotment； which was the largest and best； and made him king
over the rest； the others he made princes； and gave them rule over many
men； and a large territory。 And he named them all； the eldest； who was the
first king； he named Atlas； and after him the whole island and the ocean
were called Atlantic。 To his twin brother； who was born after him； and
obtained as his lot the extremity of the island towards the pillars of
Heracles； facing the country which is now called the region of Gades in
that part of the world； he gave the name which in the Hellenic language is
Eumelus； in the language of the country which is named after him； Gadeirus。
Of the second pair of twins he called one Ampheres； and the other Evaemon。
To the elder of the third pair of twins he gave the name Mneseus； and
Autochthon to the one who followed him。 Of the fourth pair of twins he
called the elder Elasippus； and the younger Mestor。 And of the fifth pair
he gave to the elder the name of Azaes； and to the younger that of
Diaprepes。 All these and their descendants for many generations were the
inhabitants and rulers of divers islands in the open sea； and also； as has
been already said； they held sway in our direction over the country within
the pillars as far as Egypt and Tyrrhenia。 Now Atlas had a numerous and
honourable family； and they retained the kingdom； the eldest son handing it
on to his eldest for many generations； and they had such an amount of
wealth as was never before possessed by kings and potentates； and is not
likely ever to be again； and they were furnished with everything which they
needed； both in the city and country。 For because of the greatness of
their empire many things were brought to them from foreign countries； and
the island itself provided most of what was required by them for the uses
of life。 In the first place； they dug out of the earth whatever was to be
found there； solid as well as fusile； and that which is now only a name and
was then something more than a name； orichalcum； was dug out of the earth
in many parts of the island； being more precious in those days than
anything except gold。 There was an abundance of wood for carpenter's work；
and sufficient maintenance for tame and wild animals。 Moreover； there were
a great number of elephants in the island； for as there was provision for
all other sorts of animals； both for those which live in lakes and marshes
and rivers； and also for those which live in mountains and on plains； so
there was for the animal which is the largest and most voracious of all。
Also whatever fragrant things there now are in the earth； whether roots； or
herbage； or woods； or essences which distil from fruit and flower； grew and
thrived in that land； also the fruit which admits of cultivation； both the
dry sort； which is given us for nourishment and any other which we use for
foodwe call them all by the common name of pulse； and the fruits having a
hard rind； affording d