Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

Thus they changed their bad laws to good ones, and when Lycurgus died they built him a temple and now worship him greatly. Since they had good land and many men, they immediately flourished and prospered. They were not content to live in peace, but, confident that they were stronger than the Arcadians, asked the oracle at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi about gaining all the Arcadian land.

She replied in hexameter:

  1. You ask me for Arcadia [22.25,37.583] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Arcadia? You ask too much; I grant it not.
  2. There are many men in Arcadia [22.25,37.583] (department), Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Arcadia, eaters of acorns,
  3. Who will hinder you. But I grudge you not.
  4. I will give you Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea to beat with your feet in dancing,
  5. And its fair plain to measure with a rope.