CHAPTER V EMPEDOKLES OF AKRAGAS · 3

But (the sunlight) is gathered together and circles round the mighty heavens.

And she cuts off his rays as he goes above her, and casts a shadow on as much of the earth as is the breadth of the pale-faced moon.[556]

Even so the sunbeam, having struck the broad and mighty circle of the moon, returns at once, running so as to reach the sky.

It flashes back to Olympos with untroubled countenance. R. P. 170 c.

There circles round the earth a round borrowed light, as the nave of the wheel circles round the furthest (goal).

For she gazes at the sacred circle of the lordly sun opposite.

It is the earth that makes night by coming before the lights.

... of solitary, blind-eyed night.

And Iris bringeth wind or mighty rain from the sea.

(Fire) swiftly rushing upwards....

And many fires burn beneath the earth. R. P. 171 a.

For so as it ran, it met them at that time, though often otherwise. R. P. 171 a.

But the air sank down upon the earth with its long roots. R. P. 171 a.

Sea the sweat of the earth. R. P. 170 b.

Salt was solidified by the impact of the sun’s beams.

On it (the earth) many heads sprung up without necks and arms wandered bare and bereft of shoulders. Eyes strayed up and down in want of foreheads. R. P. 173 a.

Solitary limbs wandered seeking for union.

But, as divinity was mingled still further with divinity, these things joined together as each might chance, and many other things besides them continually arose.

Shambling creatures with countless hands.

Many creatures with faces and breasts looking in different directions were born; some, offspring of oxen with faces of men, while others, again, arose as offspring of men with the heads of oxen, and creatures in whom the nature of women 249and men was mingled, furnished with sterile[557] parts. 5 R. P. 173 b.

Come now, hear how the Fire as it was separated caused the night-born shoots of men and tearful women to arise; for my tale is not off the point nor uninformed. Whole-natured forms first arose from the earth, having a portion both of water and fire.[558] These did the fire, desirous of 5 reaching its like, send up, showing as yet neither the charming form of women’s limbs, nor yet the voice and parts that are proper to men. R. P. 173 c.

... But the substance of (the child’s) limbs is divided between them, part of it in men’s and part in women’s (body).

And upon him came desire reminding him through sight.

... And it was poured out in the pure parts; and when it met with cold women arose from it.

The divided meadows of AphroditeAphrodite.

For in its warmer part the womb brings forth males, and that is why men are dark and more manly and shaggy.

On the tenth day of the eighth month the white putrefaction arises.[559]

Double bearing.[560]

Sheepskin.[561]

But if thy assurance of these things was in any way deficient as to how, out of Water and Earth and Air and Fire mingled together, arose the forms and colours of all those mortal things that have been fitted together by Aphrodite, and so are now come into being.... 5