τὸν δ' αὖτε προσέειπεν ἄναξ ἑκάεργος Ἀπόλλων:
ἐννοσίγαι': οὐκ άν με σαόφρονα μυθήσαιο
ἔμμεναι: εἰ δὴ, σοί γε βροτῶν ἕνεκα πτολεμίξω
δειλῶν. οἳ φύλλοισιν ἐοικότες. ἄλλοτε μέν τε
ζαφλεγέες τελέθουσιν. ἀρούρης καρπὸν ἔδοντες.
ἄλλοτε δὲ φθινύθουσιν ἀκήριοι: ἀλλὰ τάχιστα
παυώμεσθα μάχης. οἱ δ' αὐτοὶ δηριαάσθων:
Then spake unto him lord Apollo, that worketh afar: "Shaker of Earth, as nowise sound of mind wouldest thou count me, if I should war with thee for the sake of mortals, pitiful creatures, that like unto leaves are now full of flaming life, eating the fruit of the field, and now again pine away and perish. Nay, with speed let us cease from strife, and let them do battle by themselves."
