DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61301#0257
PHEIDIAS AND THE PARTHENON.
223
holding the reins of a winged chariot, leads the way in
heaven, ordering all and caring for all ; and there follows
him the heavenly array of gods and demi-gods, divided
into eleven bands ; for only Hestia is left at home in the
house of heaven, but the rest of the twelve greater deities
march in their appointed order. And they see in the
interior of heaven many blessed sights ; and there are
ways to and fro along which the happy gods are passing,
each one fulfilling his own work. And any one may
follow who pleases, for jealousy has no place in the
heavenly choir. This is within the heaven. But when
they go to feast and festival, then they move right up
the steep ascent, and mount the top of the dome of
heaven. Now the chariots of the gods, self-balanced,
upward glide in obedience to the rein ; but the others
have a difficulty, for the steed who has evil in him, if he
has not been properly trained by the charioteer, gravitates
and inclines and sinks towards the earth. And this is
the hour of agony and extremest conflict of the soul.
For the immortal souls, when they are at the end of
their course, go out and stand upon the back of heaven,
and the revolution of the spheres carries them round and
they behold the world beyond. Now of the heaven
which is above the heavens no earthly poet has sung, or
ever will sing in a worthy manner ; but I must tell-
for I am bound to speak truly when speaking of the
truth. The colourless and formless and intangible
223
holding the reins of a winged chariot, leads the way in
heaven, ordering all and caring for all ; and there follows
him the heavenly array of gods and demi-gods, divided
into eleven bands ; for only Hestia is left at home in the
house of heaven, but the rest of the twelve greater deities
march in their appointed order. And they see in the
interior of heaven many blessed sights ; and there are
ways to and fro along which the happy gods are passing,
each one fulfilling his own work. And any one may
follow who pleases, for jealousy has no place in the
heavenly choir. This is within the heaven. But when
they go to feast and festival, then they move right up
the steep ascent, and mount the top of the dome of
heaven. Now the chariots of the gods, self-balanced,
upward glide in obedience to the rein ; but the others
have a difficulty, for the steed who has evil in him, if he
has not been properly trained by the charioteer, gravitates
and inclines and sinks towards the earth. And this is
the hour of agony and extremest conflict of the soul.
For the immortal souls, when they are at the end of
their course, go out and stand upon the back of heaven,
and the revolution of the spheres carries them round and
they behold the world beyond. Now of the heaven
which is above the heavens no earthly poet has sung, or
ever will sing in a worthy manner ; but I must tell-
for I am bound to speak truly when speaking of the
truth. The colourless and formless and intangible