SEMONIDES
Fr.7 [On Women]
In the beginning, the god made the mind of woman in different ways. He made one from the bristling sow, for whom everything in the house lies disordered, scattered on the ground amid the filth. And she, unwashed in unwashed clothes, grows fat sitting in the shit.
[7] Another, the god made from the crafty vixen, a woman clever at everything. Nothing good nor ill escapes her notice; for she often speaks evil of the good and good of the evil. Sometimes she is angry in one way, sometimes another.
[12]Another, the god made from a bitch - a malicious gossip in the image of her mother. She wants to hear everything, know everything, and snooping in every corner she howls even if there is nothing to see. Nor could her husband stop her with threats, not even if in a fit of anger he should knock out her teeth, with a stone, nor by cajoling her with honeyed words, and not even if she happened to be sitting in company. Rather she holds fast to her uncontrolled yelpings.
[21]Another, the Olympian gods shaped out of earth and gave her feeble-minded to man. This sort of woman knows neither good nor bad. The only thing she can do is eat. Not even if the god sends a dreadful storm does she, shivering, draw her chair closer to the fire.
[27] Then they made another out of the sea, one who is changeable in
mood. One day she laughs and is happy; a stranger will praise her, seeing her at home: "There is no other woman better than this one, nor fairer, amongst all mankind." But another day, she will not tolerate being looked at or approached, but rants and raves terribly, like a dog with her pups, implacable and disagreeable equally to enemies and friends. Just as the sea often stands motionless, doing no harm, a great delight to sailors in the summer season , but often seethes, churned up by the heavy-pounding waves. This sort of woman is especially like the sea in anger. And the sea has different moods at different times.
[43] Another they made from the dusty and obstinate donkey, who under pressure and reproaches just manages to keep going, and toils at what is acceptable. And then she eats in her corner all night, and by the hearth all day. And in the same way, for the task of love, she takes a companion from whoever comes along.
[50] And another they made from the weasel, a sort who is repulsive and miserable. There is nothing beautiful or desirable about her, nothing enjoyable or attractive. She is wild about love-making , but sickens her husband whenever he comes near. By stealing she does her neighbours great harm and often she gobbles up the unburnt sacrifices.
[57] Another the gentle mare with flowing mane bore, one who manages to avoid the work of slaves and drudgery. Nor would she touch the mill, nor lift a sieve, nor sweep away the filth from the house, nor sit by the fire - to avoid the soot. She makes her husband aware of hard times. She washes every day in the stream, twice, sometimes thrice, and anoints herself with perfumes. She always wears her hair well-combed and shadowed over with flowers. Such a woman is a fair thing for others to look at, but is an evil to the man who owns her, unless he be a tyrant or sceptre-bearing king, who delights his heart with such things.
[71] Then there is the one who is made from a monkey. This one Zeus gave as by far the greatest evil to men. She is the most ugly to look at. Such a woman will go through the town, a laughing-stock for all mankind: short in neck, she scarcely moves (her head); she is flat-assed and skinny-legged; the poor man, who embraces such a horror. She knows all the tricks and games, just like a monkey; nor does she care about the laughter of others. She would do no-one any good; she thinks about and plots over one thing all day long, how to do someone the greatest harm.
[83] Then there is the one who is made from the bee. The man who gets her is fortunate. For in her alone there lies no blame, and life blooms and flourishes under her. Loving to her husband she grows old with his love, bearing a fair and famed tribe ofchildren. She is pre-eminent among women, and a heavenly grace encircles her. Nor does she take delight sitting among the women when they gossip about sex. Zeus graced men with such women, the best and the most prudent.
[94] But all the other types exist and remain with man through the machinations of Zeus. For Zeus made women the greatest evil for men. If they seem to help, then especially does some evil result. For he does not go through a whole day with peace of mind, who spends it with his wife. ... from the time when Hades first received those who went to war over a woman.
Translated by A.Maingon. Ó Alison Maingon
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