682
Athenian
Ath. Indeed, these verses of his, as well as those he utters concerning the Cyclopes, are in a kind of unison with the voices of both God and Nature. For being divinely inspired in its chanting, the poetic tribe, with the aid of Graces and Muses, often grasps the truth of history.
Clinias
Clin. It certainly does.
Athenian
Ath. Now let us advance still further in the tale that now engages us; for possibly it may furnish some hint regarding the matter we have in view. Ought we not to do so?
Clinias
Clin. Most certainly.
Athenian
Ath. Ilium was founded, we say, after moving from the highlands down to a large and noble plain, on a hill of no great height which had many rivers flowing down from Ida above.
5
Clinias
Clin. So they say.
Athenian
Ath. And do we not suppose that this took place many ages after the Deluge?
Clinias
Clin. Many ages after, no doubt.
Athenian
Ath. At any rate they seem to have been strangely forgetful of the catastrophe now mentioned, since they placed their city, as described, under a number of rivers descending from the mount, and relied for their safety upon hillocks of no great height.
Clinias
Clin. So it is evident that they were removed by quite a long interval from that calamity.
10
Athenian
Ath. By this time, too, as mankind multiplied, many other cities had been founded.
Athenian
Ath. And these cities also made attacks on Ilium, probably by sea too, as well as by land, since by this time all made use of the sea fearlessly.
Clinias
Clin. So it appears.
Athenian
Ath. And after a stay of ten years the Achaeans sacked Troy.
15