(ll. 1-18) I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus.  There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously.  They clothed her with heavenly garments:  on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father’s house to join the lovely dances of the gods.  And when they had fully decked her, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her, giving her their hands.  Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea.

(ll. 19-21) Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess!  Grant that I may gain the victory in this contest, and order you my song.  And now I will remember you and another song also.

VII.  TO DIONYSUS (59 lines)

(ll. 1-16) I will tell of Dionysus, the son of glorious Semele, how he appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea, seeming like a stripling in the first flush of manhood:  his rich, dark hair was waving about him, and on his strong shoulders he wore a purple robe.  Presently there came swiftly over the sparkling sea Tyrsenian (30) pirates on a well-decked ship —­ a miserable doom led them on.  When they saw him they made signs to one another and sprang out quickly, and seizing him straightway, put him on board their ship exultingly; for they thought him the son of heaven-nurtured kings.  They sought to bind him with rude bonds, but the bonds would not hold him, and the withes fell far away from his hands and feet:  and he sat with a smile in his dark eyes.  Then the helmsman understood all and cried out at once to his fellows and said: 

(ll. 17-24) `Madmen!  What god is this whom you have taken and bind, strong that he is?  Not even the well-built ship can carry him.  Surely this is either Zeus or Apollo who has the silver bow, or Poseidon, for he looks not like mortal men but like the gods who dwell on Olympus.  Come, then, let us set him free upon the dark shore at once:  do not lay hands on him, lest he grow angry and stir up dangerous winds and heavy squalls.’

(ll. 25-31) So said he:  but the master chid him with taunting words:  `Madman, mark the wind and help hoist sail on the ship:  catch all the sheets.  As for this fellow we men will see to him:  I reckon he is bound for Egypt or for Cyprus or to the Hyperboreans or further still.  But in the end he will speak out and tell us his friends and all his wealth and his brothers, now that providence has thrown him in our way.’