XIX. THE HONEY THIEF

A bee stung Love, the little thief,
as he was stealing honey from the hive.
Its sting pierced all the tips of his fingers.

The poor boy cried in pain, blew on his hands,
stamped his feet and jumped about in agony.
Then he ran to his beautiful mother, Aphrodite,
showed her his tiny hands and complained
that such a small creature as a bee
could cause such terrible pain.

His mother smiled and said to him:

"Why are you surprised? Are you not like the bee yourself?
You too are small, and yet you wound so deeply."

---

XXVIII. THE SPINDLE

Spindle, given by bright-eyed Athena
to wise women for the work of the household,
come with me courageously to the city of Neleus,
where the temple of Aphrodite stands among green reeds.

May the god grant us a safe journey,
that I may see and embrace my friend Nicias,
whom the sweet-voiced Graces have nurtured.

And you, beautifully crafted ivory spindle,
I shall offer as a gift to his wife,
that you may spin soft threads for men's garments
and fine threads for the transparent robes of women.

For the mothers of the lambs in the green meadows
are shorn for her sake and give their wool
twice every year.

She is a diligent worker
and loves all the things that wise women cherish.

I would never have given you to idle hands,
nor wished to see you in the house of a lazy woman,
for you too come from my homeland,
from that city founded by Archias of Ephyra,
the pride of Sicily and its noble people.

Now you shall belong to the house of a wise physician
who knows countless remedies and drives away diseases.
You shall dwell in Miletus among the Ionians,
so that Theugenis may possess the finest spindle
and remember always
the singer and faithful friend who gave it to her.

And whoever sees you in her hands will say:

"Great indeed was the favor gained
through such a small gift.
For all gifts given by friends are precious."

---

XXI. THE FISHERMEN

ASPHALION AND OLPIS

Two old fishermen lay side by side
upon dry reeds inside their woven hut.

Near them were all the tools of their trade:
their baskets, fishing rods, hooks, bait,
lines, nets, ropes, oars,
and their old boat.

Under their heads they had only
a rough mat for pillow, clothing, and bed.

These were all the possessions and riches
of the fishermen.

They had no locked doors,
no watchdog to guard them from thieves;
their poverty itself was their protection.

Nor did they have neighbors,
for all around their humble hut
stretched the sea.

The moon had not yet reached the middle of the sky
when the fishermen awoke, troubled by thoughts of work.
They drove sleep from their eyes and began to speak.

-ASPHALION

"They say the summer nights are short
because the days grow longer,
but I have seen so many dreams tonight
and still dawn has not come!

Have the hours grown longer?"

-OLPIS

"You blame the beautiful summer unfairly, old friend.
Time has not strayed from its course;
it is your worries that wake you
and make the nights seem longer."

-ASPHALION

"Do you know how to interpret dreams?
For I saw something wonderful tonight.

Since we share our fishing,
we should share our dreams as well.

A wise mind is the best interpreter of dreams.

Listen then.

Last night, after our simple supper,
I dreamed I sat upon a rock
fishing with a long rod.

I stirred the bait,
and a fish bit eagerly and was caught on the hook.

The fish struggled fiercely
and bent the rod in my hands.

I wondered how such a tiny hook
could hold such a great fish.

At last I pulled it ashore
and saw the reward of all my labor:

it was a great fish, entirely golden,
covered in gold.

I was afraid, thinking it might be enchanted
or some magical creature of the sea.

Carefully I removed the hook from its mouth,
lest the iron scratch its gold.

Then I swore that I would never again
set foot upon the sea,
but would live on land
with the treasure I had found.

That was my dream.

Now tell me, my friend,
for I fear that perhaps
I have sinned by making such an oath."

-OLPIS

"And I tell you, my friend,
that you have nothing to fear.

You made no oath,
for you caught no fish.

It was only a dream.

If you wish dreams to become reality,
go and catch real fish,
with flesh and bones,

for with dreams of gold alone
you will die of hunger."