ὲν δὲ δύω ποίησε πόλεις μερόπων ἀνθρώπων
καλὰς. ἐν τῇ μέν ῥα γάμοι τ' έσαν, εἰλαπίναι τε:
νύμφας δ' ἐκ θαλάμων. δαΐδων ὑπὸ λαμπομενάων.
ηγίνεον ἀνὰ ἄστυ, πολὺς δ' ὑμέναιος ὀρώρει:
κοῦροι δ' ὀρχηστῆρες ἐδίνεον. ὲν δ' ἄρα τοῖσιν
αὐλοὶ φόρμιγγές τε βοὴν ἔχον: αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες
ἱ̈στάμεναι θαύμαζον ἐπὶ προθύροισιν ἑκάστη:
λαοὶ δ' εἰν ἀγορῇ ἔσαν ἀθρόοι: ἔνθα δὲ νεῖκος
ὠρώρει: δύο δ' ἄνδρες. ἐνείκεον εἵνεκα ποινῆς
ἀνδρὸς ἀποφθιμένου. ὁ μὲν εὔχετο πάντ' ἀποδοῦναι
δήμῳ πιφραύσκων. ὁ δ' ἀναίνετο μηδὲν ἑλέσθαι:
ἄμφω δ' ϊέσθην. ἐπὶ, ΐστορι πεῖραρ ἑλέσθαι:
λαοὶ δ' ἀμφοτέροισιν ἐπήπυον ἀμφὶς ἀρωγοί:
κήρυκες δ' ἄρα λαὸν ἐρήτυον: οἱ δε γέροντες:
εἵατ' ἐπι ξεστοῖσι λίθοις. ἱ̈ερῷ ἐνὶ κύκλῳ:
σκῆπτρα δὲ κηρύκων ἐν χὲρσ' ἔχον ἠεροφώνων:
τοῖσιν ἔπειτ' ἤϊσσον: ἀμοιβηδὶς δὲ δίκαζον:
κεῖτο δ' ὰρ ἐν μέσσοισι δύω χρυσοῖο τάλαντα.
τῷ δόμεν. ὃς μετα τοῖσι δίκην ἰ̈θύντατα εἴποι:
τερπόμενοι: δοιὼ δὲ κυβιστητῆρε κατ' αὐτοὺς
Therein fashioned he also two cities of mortal men exceeding fair. In the one there were marriages and feastings, and by the light of the blazing torches they were leading the brides from their bowers through the city, and loud rose the bridal song. And young men were whirling in the dance, and in their midst flutes and lyres sounded continually; and there the women stood each before her door and marvelled. But the folk were gathered in the place of assembly; for there a strife had arisen, and two men were striving about the blood-price of a man slain; the one avowed that he had paid all, declaring his cause to the people, but the other refused to accept aught; and each was fain to win the issue on the word of a daysman. Moreover, the folk were cheering both, shewing favour to this side and to that. And heralds held back the folk, and the elders were sitting upon polished stones in the sacred circle, holding in their hands the staves of the loud-voiced heralds. Therewith then would they spring up and give judgment, each in turn. And in the midst lay two talents of gold, to be given to him whoso among them should utter the most righteous judgment.
