HESIOD (Eighth century, B. C.) "Ir is from the Works and Days' and the introduction to the Theogony' that we learn all we know about Hesiod's life. His father came from Cyme in Æolia and settled in Ascra, at the foot of Mount Helicon, in Boeotia. There, as far as we know, Hesiod spent his life. After his father's death he lost his share of his father's property in a lawsuit brought against him by his brother, Persês, who obtained a verdict by bribing the judges. This, however, seems not to have prevented Hesiod from obtaining, by careful farming, a livelihood sufficient to enable him to give assistance to his brother subsequently, when Persês was in need of aid. Nor did the work which he had to do prevent him from composing didactic poetry. 6 "The lawsuit with his brother was the occasion of Hesiod's composing the poem which now forms the first part of the 'Works and Days'; the appeals of Persês for assistance afforded him the opportunity for giving the advice contained. . . Under the title Works and Days' there are comprised in all probability two works. There is the Works and Days' proper, consisting of advice about farming and husbandry generally, and constituting the second half of the poem as it now stands. There is also another poem addressed to Hesiod's brother and containing moral advice, which makes the first half of the poem in its present form. .. "Hesiod's verses are not in themselves beautiful, nor does his subject, even when it of itself suggests poetical treatment, exalt his style above his ordinary prosaic level. He lacks imagination. But it is unfair to convert this into a reproach. His object was to give sound practical advice, and this he does in a practical if prosaic manner. Verse was the proper vehicle for his ideas, not because they required poetical rendering, but because it was an aid to the memory."-F. B. JEVONS," History of Greek Literature," pt. i. bk. i. ch. 6. "The Hesiodic poems contain certain pretended reminiscences, and one of them, the 'Erga,' is largely made up of addresses to Persês, assumed to be the poet's erring friend in one part, his brother. We have seen that the reminiscences are fictions, and presumably Persês is a fiction too. If a real man had treacherously robbed Hesiod of his patrimony by means of bribes to 'man-devouring princes,' Hesiod would scarcely have remained on intimate terms with him. Persês is a lay figure for the didactic epos to preach at, and as such he does his duty. . . . We have, then, no information of what Hesiod was - only a tradition of what Hesiod was supposed to be." GILBERT MURRAY, "History of Ancient Greek Literature," ch. 2. ADVICE TO PERSÊS. (From Hesiod's "Works and Days," translated by C. A. Elton.) Most simple Persês! I the good perceive, Far best is he whom conscious wisdom guides, But thou, O Persês! what my words impart That hunger turn abhorrent from thy door; Shame of ill sort shall still the needy bind; Alike the man of sin is he confess'd, Who spurns the suppliant, and who wrongs the guest; His hoary parent stings with taunting rage; With thy best means perform the ritual part, Bid to thy feast a friend; thy foe forbear; Thus bless'd or curs'd, we this or that obtain, Measure thy neighbour's loan, and strict repay; But shun bad gains, those losses in disguise. Love him who loves thee; to the kind draw nigh; Men fill the giving, not th' ungiving hand ; Squand'ring the seeds of death; though much he give, The willing donor shall rejoice and live: Th' extortioner of bold unblushing sin, Though small the plunder, feels a thorn within. If with a little thou a little blend Continual, mighty shall the heap ascend. Who bids his gather'd substance gradual grow Shall see not livid hunger's face of woe. No bosom pang attends the home-laid store, But fraught with loss the food without thy door. 'Tis good to take from hoards, and pain to need What is far from thee:- give the precept heed. Spare the mid-cask; when broach'd or low, drink free; Bad is the thrift that spares it on the lee. Let thy friend's service guerdon fit receive; Not e'en thy brother on his word believe, But, as in laughter, set a witness by; Mistrust destroys us, and credulity. |