‹‹‹ Vitr. 8.3.20 | Table of Contents | Vitr. 8.3.22 ›››
21In Arcadia, at the well-known city of Clitorium, is a cave flowing with water, of which those who drink become abstemious. At the spring is an epigram inscribed on stone, in Greek verses, to the following effect: that it is not fit for bathing, and also that it is injurious to the vine, because, near the spot, Melampus cured the daughters of Proteus of their madness, and restored them to reason. The epigram is as follows:
Rustic, by Clitor’s stream who takest thy way,
Should thirst oppress thee in the noon of day
Drink at this fount, and in the holy keep
Of guardian Naiads place thy goats and sheep.
But dip not thou thy hand, if wine inflame,
Lest e’en the vapour chill thy fever’d frame;
Fly thou my sober spring. Melampus here
Cleansed the mad Proetides, what time the seer
Arcadia’s rugged hills from Argos sought,
With purifying power my stream was fraught.
21In Arcadia is the well-known town of Clitor, in whose territory is a cave with running water which makes people who drink of it abstemious. At this spring, there is an epigram in Greek verses inscribed on stone to the effect that the water is unsuitable for bathing, and also injurious to vines, because it was at this spring that Melampus cleansed the daughters of Proetus of their madness by sacrificial rites, and restored those maidens to their former sound state of mind. The inscription runs as written below:
Swain, if by noontide thirst thou art opprest
When with thy flocks to Cleitor’s bounds thou’st hied,
Take from this fount a draught, and grant a rest
To all thy goats the water nymphs beside.
But bathe not in’t when full of drunken cheer,
Lest the mere vapour may bring thee to bane;
Shun my vine-hating spring—Melampus here
From madness once washed Proetus’ daughters sane,
And all th’ offscouring here did hide, when they
From Argos came to rugged Arcady.