Andromachus the Elder - Galen's De Antidotis 1.6 - Viper Theriac called Galene

[Ἀνδρομάχου πρεσβυτέρου θηριακὴ δι' ἐχιδνῶν, ἡ καλουμένη Γαλήνη.

Κλῦθι πολυθρονίου βριαρὸν σθένος ἀντιδότοιο,
Καῖσαρ, ἀδειμάντου δῶτορ ἐλευθερίης.
Κλῦθι Νέρων, ἱλαρήν μιν ἐπικλείουσι, Γαλήνην,
Εὔδιον, ἣ κυανῶν οὐκ ὄθεται λιμένων.

Of Andromachus the Elder: theriac by means of vipers, called Galēnē.

Hear, Caesar, the mighty power of the renowned antidote,
giver of fearless freedom.

Hear, Nero. They call it Galēnē,
the Joyful One,
Fair Weather,
which never abandons the dark-blue harbors.

33
Οὐδ' εἴ τις μήκωνος ἀπεχθέα δράγματα θλίψας,
Χανδὸν ὑπὲρ στυγνῆς χεῖλος ἔχοι κύλικος.
Οὐδ' εἰ κωνείου πλήσοι γένυν, οὐκ ἀκονίτου,
Μέμψατο δ' οὐ ψυχροῦ χυλὸν ὑοσκυάμου.
Οὐ θερμὴν θάψον τε καὶ ὠκύμορον πόμα Μήδης,
Οὐδὲ μὲν αἱμηρῶν ἕλκεα κανθαρίδων.
Οὐ ζοφερῆς ἔχιός
τε καὶ ἀλγεινοῖο κεράστου
Τύμματα, καὶ ξηρῆς διψάδος οὐκ ἀλέγοι.
Σκορπίος οὐκ ἐπὶ τήνδε κορύσσεται, οὐδὲ μὲν αὐτὴ
Ἀσπὶς, ἀδηρίτων ἰὸν ἔχουσα γόων.
Οὐ μὲν ἀπεχθόμενος καὶ δρύας ἀντιάσειε,
Καὶ κατὰ φωλειὸν θερμὸς ἔνερθε μένοι.
Οὐκ ἀλέγοι δρύϊνα ἂν ἀναίμακτον δ' ἔχει ἰὸν
Αἱμόῤῥους, τοιῷ δαμναμένη πόματι.
Οὐ μὲν ἀπεχθήεντα φαλάγγια σίνεται οὕτως
Ἀνέρα, φρικαλέον δ' ἄχθος ἔθηκε πόνων,
Οὐχ ὕδρος, οὐκ ἐπὶ χέρσον, ὅθ' ὕδατα καρκίνος αἴθει
Βοσκόμενος, θερμῆς ἤρξατο πρῶτον ἄλης,

Nor if someone, having crushed the hateful heads of the poppy,
Should hold wide to his lips the rim of a hateful cup.
Nor if he should fill his jaws with hemlock, nor with aconite,
Nor should he take the juice of cold henbane.
Nor the burning and swift-destroying drink of Medea,
Nor indeed the wounds of blood-drawing blister beetles (cantharides).
Nor the bites of the gloomy viper
and the painful horned-viper,
Nor would he care for those of the dry-land dipsas.
The scorpion does not arm itself against this, nor indeed the asp itself,
Bearing the venom of inexorable lamentations.
Nor would the oak-dwelling one come forth in hostility from the oaks,
Though it remain warm beneath its lair.
Nor would he care for the blood-spitter, though it bears a bloodless venom,
Being subdued by such a drink.
Nor do the hateful phalangia thus harm
A man, though they impose a dreadful burden of sufferings.
Nor the water-serpent, nor upon the land, when, feeding upon waters where the crab feeds,
It first begins its heated wandering.

34
Χέρσυδρος, θανάτῳ πεπαλαγμένα χείλεα σύρων,
Ἀντόμενος, γλυκεροῦ τέρμα φέροι βιότου.
Τῇ πίσυνος λειμῶσι θέρους ἐπιτέρπεο Καῖσαρ,
Καὶ Λιβυκὴν στείχων οὐκ ἀλέγοις ψάμαθον.
Οὐδὲ μὲν ἀμφίσβαινα φέρει μόρον, οὐδέ τις ἤδη
Φρύνος ἐνὶ ξηροῖς βοσκόμενος πεδίοις.
Ῥεῖα δὲ καὶ στομάχοιο φέροις ἄκος οἰδήναντος,
Καὶ θοὸν ἰήσαις ἆσθμα κυλινδόμενον.
Ἢ ὁπόταν περὶ γαστρὶ κυκώμενον ἔνδοθι πνεῦμα
Κυμαίνῃ, κωφὸν κῦμα βιαζόμενον.
Ἢ ὅτ' ἐνὶ στροφάλιγγι ἀπηνέϊ κυμήνειεν
Ἔντερον, ἢ ταναοῦ σφυγμὸν ἔχωσι κόλου,
Ἢ ὁπόταν χολόεντες ὅλον δέμας, ἔξοχα δ' ὄσσε,
Καὶ μερόπων χροιὴν πάμπαν ἀνηνάμενοι,
Ἴκτερον ἱλάσκωνται ἀπηνέα, μηδ' ἐπὶ θοίνας,
Εἰ καί σφιν μακρὸν Ζεὺς πετάσειε πέρας
Νεύοιεν, μοῦνον δὲ κατηφέα θυμὸν ἔχοντες,
Φεύγωσι σφετέρων ἤθεα κηδομένων.

The land-water serpent, dragging lips steeped in death,
meeting a man, would bring the end of sweet life.
Trusting in this, enjoy the meadows of summer, Caesar,
and, journeying across the Libyan sand, have no fear.
Nor indeed does the amphisbaena bring death,
nor any toad feeding in the dry fields.
Easily also would you bring a remedy for a swollen stomach,
and heal swiftly the rolling asthma.
Or whenever the breath, whirling within around the belly,
surges like a wave, forcing a muffled swell.
Or when in a harsh twisting the intestine billows,
or when they have the stretched pulsation of the colon.
Or whenever, becoming bilious in the whole body, and especially in the eyes,
and having altogether altered the complexion of mortals,
they seek to appease relentless jaundice, and not even at feasts,
even if Zeus should extend before them a long span,
would they incline toward them, but holding only a downcast spirit,
flee the habits of their concerned companions.

35
Εἰ δέ που ἢ κακόεργον ἴδοις ἐπὶ σώμασιν ὦχρον,
Ῥύσαις ὑδρηλὴν νοῦσον ἐπεσσυμένην,
Καὶ φαέων ἀμβλεῖαν ἄφαρ λάμψειεν ὀπωπὴν
Τῷ, καὶ ἀρχομένης οὐκ ἀλέγοις φθίσιος.
Οἴη καὶ τετάνοιο καὶ ἀρχομένοιο τενόντων
Σπάσματος ἦρε βυθοῦ ἄχθος ὀπισθοτόνου,
Ἤτ' ἄρα καὶ θώρακος, ὅσην ὠτρύνατο χώρην,
Λοξὸς ἀναθλίβων πνεύμονα κοῦφον ὑμήν.
Ἢ ὅτε φρικαλέην τις ἔχοι περὶ κύστιν ἀνίην
Ἕλκεος, ἢ καί που δαμναμένοιο πόρου
Οὖρον ἐπιφράσσοιτο, ὅτ' ἔσχετο πολλάκι καυλὸς

Ὁρμὴν, ἢ κενεὴν σεύμενος ἐς Κυθέρην.
Νεφρῶν δ' ἡνίκα φῶτα κατ' ἰξύος ἄλγος ἐπείγοι,
Θαῤῥῶν τοιαύτην ἐξελάσεις ὀδύνην,
Καὶ μογερῶν στέρνων ἀπολύσεται ἔμπυον ἰλὺν,
Πινομένη πολλοὺς μέχρις ἐπ' ἠελίους.
Ἀλθαίνει, καὶ λοιμὸν ἀηδέα, πᾶσαν ἐπ' ἠὼ
Δύσπνοον, ἐκ τοίης παρθέμενος πόσιος,

But if anywhere you should see a harmful pallor upon bodies,
you would ward off the advancing dropsical disease,
and the dim sight of the eyes would immediately shine clearly
for him, and you would have no concern for beginning consumption.
This alone also removed the deep burden of tetanus and of the beginning
spasm of the sinews, the backward-drawing affliction,
and likewise whatever region of the chest had been distressed
by a slanting membrane pressing upon the light lung.
Or whenever someone should have a dreadful suffering about the bladder
from an ulcer, or whenever the urine should be obstructed
through a blocked passage, when the channel has often checked
its flow, or rushing vainly toward Cythera.
And whenever pain of the kidneys should press a man in the loins,
with confidence you will drive out such suffering,
and it will release the purulent matter from miserable chests,
being drunk through many days until many suns have passed.
It heals also a grievous pestilence, every shortness of breath at dawn,
from taking such a draught.

36

Καὶ κυνὸς ὑδροφόβην γενύων λυσσῶσαν ἐρινὺν
Φεύξεται εὐόδμῳ γαῦρος ἐπ' ἀντιδότῳ.
Τῆς δή τοι κυάμοιο, τὸν ἔτρεφεν εὔσκιον ὕδωρ,
Τέλμασι, καὶ πολλοῖς κρυπτόμενον πετάλοις
Νειλώου κυάμοιο, διὰ βάρος ἄμμιγα χεύας,
Θερμὸν ὕδωρ τρισσῶν κιρνάμενος κυάθων.
Πίνοιεν δ' ὅτε κοῖτον ἄγοι κνέφας, ἄλλοτε δ' ἠοῦς,
Ἄλλοτε καὶ διπλῆν ἐς πόσιν ὀρνύμενοι.
Ἠοῦς μὲν κεράσαιο παρηγορέων κακοῦ ὁρμὴν,
Ὅσσοις ἀλγεινὸς λάμπεται ἠέλιος.
Νυκτὶ δ' ὁμῶς ὅσσοις περ ἐπώδυνος ἕσπεται ὄρφνη,
Εὐνάστειραν ἔχοις τειρομένων πρόποσιν.
Ἰοβόλων δ' εἰ καὶ τις ὑπὸ γναμπτῆρι δαμείη,
Ἢ μογερὸν κυανοῦ πῶμα λάβοι θανάτου,
Ἴσην δ' ἐντύναιο κατ' ὀρφναίην τε καὶ ἠὼ,
Δαμναμένοις ἱλαρὴν παρθέμενος κύλικα.
Καὶ κεν ἀεὶ πνείοντας ἄγοις ἐπὶ κοῖτον ἑτοίμως
Γηθαλέους ταύτῃ Καῖσαρ ἀνωδυνίῃ.

And the raging Fury of a dog’s hydrophobic madness (rabies) in the jaws
will flee before this fragrant antidote in proud defeat.

Therefore of the bean which shady water nourished
in marshes, hidden beneath many leaves,
the bean of the Nile, pour out a measured portion of it,
mixing it with warm water of three cyathi.

Let them drink it when darkness brings them to bed,
at another time at dawn,
and at another time taking it twice for drinking.

At dawn mix it, soothing the onset of the affliction,
for those upon whom the painful sun shines.

And likewise at night, for those whom painful darkness follows,
you would provide the drink that brings sleep to the afflicted.

And if someone should be overcome by the bite of a venomous creature,
or should take the grievous drink of dark death,
then prepare the same dose both by night and at dawn,
setting before the afflicted a cheerful cup.

And you would always bring them readily to their bed still breathing,
rejoicing, Caesar, through this freedom from pain.

37
Πρῶτα μὲν ἀγρεύσαιτο κακήθεας ἐμπέραμος φὼς,
Τολμηρῇ μάρπτων χειρὶ θοοὺς ὄφιας.
Τοὺς ἤδη κρυεροῦ ἀπὸ χείματος, οὐκέτι γαίης
Κρύπτουσι στεινοὶ πάμπαν ἔνερθε μυχοὶ,
Εἰαρινὴν ἐφ' ἅλωα, χυτὸν βόσκονται ἂν ἄλσος
Διζόμενοι χλωροῦ σπέρμα λαβεῖν μαράθρου.
Ὀξυτέρην τὸ τίθησιν ἐφ' ἑρπυστῆρσιν ὀπωπὴν,
Πιαῖνον δειλοῖς ἄλγεα βουπελάταις.
Τῶν δ' αὐτῶν οὐράς τε καὶ ἰοβόλους ἀπὸ κόρσας
Τάμνοις, καὶ κενεὰς γαστέρας ἐξερύοις.
Οὖλα γὰρ ἀμφοτέρῳ φερέει ἐπὶ τύμμασι ἄχθη,
Λυγρὸν ὑπ' οὐραίην ἰὸν ἔχων φολίδα.
Τοὔνεκα οἱ τμήσαιο κατ' αὐχένα, ἠδὲ κατ' ἄκρα,
Ὅσσον πυγμαίης χειρὸς ἔνερθε βάθος.
Λοίγια δὲ σταλάουσι σὺν αἵματι, τῶν ἀπὸ πέζαν
Ἐκτὸς ἔχων, ἱλαρὴν δέρξεται ἀντολίην.
Ὁππότε δὴ τὰ γένοιτο, τότ' ἐν κεραμηΐδι χύτρῃ
Κατθέμενος πυρσοῦ σάρκας ἐπιφλεγέτω,

First let a skilled man hunt the evil-natured creatures, grasping the swift serpents with a daring hand.
These, now that the cold winter has passed, no longer do the narrow recesses beneath the earth completely conceal.
Upon the spring threshing-floor they feed through the spreading grove, seeking to take the green seed of fennel.
This makes their sight upon creeping things sharper, fattening pains for fearful ox-herdsmen.
From these same creatures cut away the tails and the venom-bearing heads, and draw out the empty stomachs.
For both of these carry burdens upon their wounds, having deadly venom beneath the tail-scale.
Therefore cut them through the neck and also at the extremity, to the depth of a hand’s breadth beneath the fist.
The deadly matter drips out together with the blood; keeping those parts apart and away, he will look upon the cheerful sunrise.
Whenever this has been done, then placing the flesh in an earthen pot, let him set it over the fire and cook it.

38
Ὕδατι ἐγχεύσας ὅσσον ἄρκιον, καὶ ἀνήθου
Κλῶνας ἐχιδναίῃ σαρκὶ συνεψομένας.
Ἡνίκα δὲ σκολιαί γε ἀποῤῥείωσιν ἄκανθαι,
Καὶ κακὸν οἰδήνῃ νῶτον ὕπερθεν ἔχις
Ἐκτὸς ἕλοι, ζείοντα καταψύχων κυκεῶνα,
Ὄφρ' ἑκὰς ἐντύναις σάρκας ἀπεχθομένας
Ἑρπυστῶν τ' ἰόεντας ἀποῤῥίψειεν ἀκάνθας
Πάμπαν ὑπ' εὐδίφρου χειρὸς ἐλεγχομένας.
Αὐαλέου δ' ἐπὶ ταῖσι βάλοις εὐεργέος ἄρτου,
Ὅσσον τερσύναι σάρκα, δύναιτο τροχοὺς
Πλάσασθαι δ' ὅτε μίγδα κύτει περιαγέος ὅλμου
Θλασθείη, σκιεροῦ κάτθες ὑπὲρ δαπέδου.
Αὐτίκα δὲ σκίλλην τριχώδεσιν ἄμμιγα φλοιοῖς,
Σταιτὶ περιπλάσας, θάλπε κατὰ φλογιῆς
Ὄφρα κεν ὀπταλέην τε καὶ οὐ σκληρὴν περὶ κόρσην
Ἐντείναις σποδιῆς ἠρέμα δαιομένης,
Καί ῥ' ὅτε θαλπομένη ῥῆξαι σέλας ἔκτοθι πυρσοῦ
Κάτθεο, καὶ τρισσὴν σαρκὸς ἔχεις μερίδα,

Having poured in as much water as is sufficient, and branches of dill to be boiled together with the viper flesh.
And whenever the crooked spines fall away, and the viper casts out above its back the evil swelling,
cooling the boiling mixture, remove it from the vessel,
so that you may separate out the hateful flesh,
and cast away the venomous spines of the creeping creatures,
altogether examined beneath the hand of the skilled worker.
Upon these throw as much dry wholesome bread as is able to dry the flesh,
so that it may be possible to fashion little cakes.
And whenever it has been crushed together in the hollow of the well-turned mortar,
place it upon the floor in the shade.
Then immediately, mixing squill with its fibrous peels,
having coated it with meal, warm it over the flame,
until you make the outer rind baked and not hard,
while the ash burns gently around it.
And when, being heated, it bursts forth with light outside from the fire,
take it down, and you have a third portion of the flesh.

39
Ὄλμοις, καὶ στρυφνοῖο βάλοις δυοῖν ὀρόβοιο,
Ἐν δ' ὑπέρῳ μίξας συνδονέων μυχόθεν
Αἴνυσο, καὶ δινήεντας ἀνάπλασσε τροχίσκους,
Τοὺς δ' ἑκὰς ἠελίου ψύχεο τερσομένους.
Τῶν δ' ἤτοι δραχμὰς μὲν ὑπὸ πλάστιγγος ἀφέλκοις
Δοιὰς, τὴν πέμπτην παρθέμενος δεκάδα,
Ἥμισυ θηρείοιο βαλὼν τροχοειδέος ἄρτου,
Καὶ δολιχὸν σταθμῷ τόσσον ἔχοι πέπερι.

Ἶσα δ' ὀποῦ μήκωνος ἔχοι, καὶ μάγματος αὕτως,
Μάγματος ἡδυχρόου τόσσον ἐφελκομένου.
Δώδεκα δὲ ξηροῖο ῥόδου δραχμαῖσιν ἰσάζοις
Φύλλα, καὶ Ἰλλυρίην ἴριδα κατθέμενος,
Κυανέης μίξαιο μελιπτόρθου γλυκυρίζης
Τόσσον, καὶ γλυκερῆς σπέρματα βουνιάδος.
Σκόρδιον καὶ κεῖνον ὀπὸν μίσγοιο θυώδη,
Βαλσάμου Ἀσσυρίης ἔνδοθεν αἰνύμενος.
Τοῖς δ' ἐπὶ κιννάμωμον ἰσάζεο, μηδὲ σε λήθη,
Ἀγαρικὸν τούτοις ἰσοβαρὲς θέμεναι,

In mortars, and throwing in two measures of astringent bitter-vetch,
and mixing them within with the pestle, shaking from the depths,
take it up, and fashion rounded little tablets,
and cool them far from the sun while they dry.

Of these indeed you should draw off by the balance two drachmas,
adding the fifth part of a tenfold measure,
having put in half as much of the beast-made wheel-shaped cake,
and let there be an equal weight of long pepper.

Let there be equal amounts of poppy juice, and likewise of magma,
of the sweet-cooling magma an equal quantity being taken.

And equal to twelve drachmas of dried rose
petals, and adding Illyrian iris,
mix likewise so much dark honey-rooted licorice,
and the seeds of sweet bounias.

Mix also garlic and that fragrant juice,
taken from within Assyrian balsam.

And to these make cinnamon equal in weight, and let it not escape you
to place agaric equal in weight to these.

40
Ἤ ἔτι καὶ σμύρνης καὶ εὐόδμου κόστοιο
Καὶ κρόκου, ὃν ἄντρον θρέψατο Κωρύκιον,
Καὶ κασίην, Ἰνδήν τε βάλοις εὐώδεα νάρδον,
Καὶ σχοῖνον νομάδων θαῦμα φέροις Ἀράβων,
Καὶ λίβανον μίσγοιο, καὶ ἀγλαϊὴν στήσαιο
Ἄμμιγα κυανέῳ κατθέμενος πεπέρει,

Δικτάμνου τε κλῶνας, ἠδὲ χλοεροῦ πρασίοιο,
Καὶ ῥῆον. στοιχὰς δ' οὐκ ἀπάνευθε μένοι,
Οὐδέ νυ πετροσέλινον. ἠδ' εὐώδης καλαμίνθη,
Δριμύ τε τερμίνθου δάκρυ λιβυστιάδος,
Ζιγγίβερι θερμὸν, κ' εὔκλωνον πενταπέτηλον,
Τὰς δοιὰς δραχμῶν πάντα φέροι τριάδας
Αὐτίκα, καὶ πολίου πίσυρας ὁλκὰς βαρυέσσας.
Ἠδὲ χαμαιζήλου πτόρθους ἄγοις πίτυος,
Καὶ στύρακος, μήου τε καὶ βοτρυόεντος ἀμώμου,
Καὶ νάρδου, Γαλάτης ἣν ἐκόμισσεν ἀνὴρ,
Λημνιάδος μίλτοιο, καὶ ἐκ· Πόντοιο βάλοιο
Φοῦ, καὶ Κρηταίης σπέρμα χαμαιδρυάδος,

Or further still of myrrh and sweet-smelling costus,
and saffron, which the Corycian cave nourished,
and cassia, and add fragrant Indian nard,
and schoinos, the marvel borne by the Arab nomads,
and mix in frankincense, and make a splendid compound,
adding it together with dark pepper.

And branches of dittany, and of green horehound,
and rhubarb; nor should the series be without these,
nor indeed parsley; and fragrant calamint,
and the pungent tear of the Libyan terebinth,
and warming ginger, and well-branched cinquefoil,
let all these amount to two groups of three drachmas.

Then also four heavy drachmas of white pepper.

And add shoots of the low-growing pine,
and styrax, and mēon, and clustered amomum,
and nard, which a Galatian man brought,
Lemnian red earth, and add from Pontus phou,
and the seed of Cretan chamaedrys.

41
Μαλαβάθρου καλὰ φύλλα, καὶ ὀπταλέην χαλκῖτιν,
Μίσγεσθαι ῥίζης οὐ δίχα γεντιάδος
Ἄνισον, χυλόν θ' ὑποκιστίδος, ἠδέ νυ καρπὸν
Βαλσάμου, λιπαρὸν κόμμι διῃνάμενος,
Καὶ μαράθρου σπέρμα, καὶ Ἰδαῖον καρδάμωμον,
Καὶ ψαφαρὸν στήσεις παρθέμενος σέσελι.
Δάκρυον εὖ μίσγοιο βαλὼν κυανωπὸν ἀκάνθης,
Θλάσπι σὺν τούτοις ἰσοβαρὲς τελέθοι.
Τόσσον δ' ὑπερικοῦ, τόσσον δ' ἐπιμίσγεται ἄμμι.
Καὶ σαγαπηνὸν ἄγοις τετράδα τοσσατίην,
Δοιὰς δ' εἰσάξεις, τά περ Ἴστριος ἔκβαλε κάστωρ
Μήδεα, καὶ λεπτὴν ῥίζαν ἀριστολόχου,
Δαύκου τε σπέρμα, καὶ αὐαλέην ἄσφαλτον
Ἰοβόλων κοίταις ἀντία δαιομένην.
Ἶσα δ' ὀποῦ πάνακος συμμίσγεο κενταυρίῳ,
Χαλβανίδος λιπαρῆς ἰσόμορον θέμενος.
Καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐν θυίῃ πολλῷ μαλθάσσεο οἴνῳ,
Ὅσσα περ ὑγροτέροις δάκρυσιν ἐμφέρεται.

Fair leaves of malabathrum, and roasted chalcitis,
let there be mixed no less of gentian root.
Anise, and the juice of hypocistis, and also the fruit
of balsam, dividing out the rich gum,
and fennel seed, and Cretan cardamom,
and add brittle seseli.

Mix well the tear of the dark-hued thorn,
and let thlaspi be equal in weight with these.
And as much hypericon, and as much besides is mixed with it.

And add sagapenum in a fourfold measure,
and bring in two measures of those things which the Istrian castor produced,
the testicles, and the slender root of aristolochia,
and the seed of daucos, and dry bitumen,
burned in opposition to the lairs of venomous creatures.

And mix equal amounts of panax juice with centaury,
placing an equal portion of rich galbanum.

And soften in a vessel with abundant wine
whatever ingredients are introduced in the form of the more liquid tears.

42
Κόψαι δ' εὖ λεπτῶς, τὰ δέ κεν ξυλοειδέα πάντα
Ἀκταίῳ μίσγοις συγκεράσας μέλιτι.
Ἱλήκοις ὃς τήνδε μάκαρ τεκτήναο Παίων,
Εἴτε σὲ Τρικκαῖοι δαῖμον ἔχουσι λόφοι,
Ἢ Ῥόδος ἢ Βουρίννα καὶ ἀγχιάλη Ἐπίδαυρος.
Ἱλήκοις, ἱλαρὴν δ' αἰὲν ἄνακτι δίδου
Παῖδα τεὴν Πανάκειαν. ὃ δ' εὐαγεέσσι θυηλαῖς
Ἱλάσεται τὴν σὴν αἰὲν ἀνωδυνίην.

And chop finely whatever things are woody,
mixing them all together with Attic honey.
Be gracious, blessed Paean, who devised this remedy,
whether the hills of Tricca possess you as a divinity,
or Rhodes, or Bourinna, and sea-washed Epidaurus.
Be gracious, and always give to the ruler
your daughter Panaceia in kindness.
And he, with reverent sacrifices,
will always propitiate your freedom from pain.

Anonymous, Sylloge Tacticorum 75.1

75. Χρίσμα βελῶν θανασίμων.

75. Chrism of death-dealing projectiles.

(1) Χρίουσιν οἵ τε Τοῦρκοι καὶ Πέρσαι καί τινα τῶν Σκυθικῶν ἐθνῶν τοὺς αὑτῶν ὀϊστοὺς τῷ τοξικῷ καλουμένῳ χρίσματι καὶ

Both the Turks and the Persians, and certain of the Scythian peoples, christ their own arrows with the chrism called toxikon, and—

καὶ ῥᾳδίως δι’ αὐτοῦ τὰ πληττόμενα ἀναιροῦσι θηρία.

and by means of it they readily kill the wild beasts that are struck.

SCHOLIA IN SOPHOCLEM, Scholia in Sophoclem (scholia vetera). {5037.00

(766) φλόξ αἱματηρά αἱματηρὰ ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ αἵματος τῶν ἱερείων συνίσταται· πιείρας δὲ δρυός λιπαρού ξύλου· δρῦν γὰρ λέγει πᾶν δένδρον.
(768) πλευραίσιν ἀρτίκολλος ὡς ὑπὸ τέκτονος καλῶς συγκεκολλημένος· τὸ δὲ ἑξῆς, καὶ προσκολλητὸς ὁ χιτών κατὰ πᾶν μέρος ὡς ἂν ξύλῳ νεαρὰ κόλλα ὑπὸ τέκτονος προσείη χρισθεῖσα.
(770) ὀδαγμὸς ἀντίσπαστος κνησμός· δήξασθαι γὰρ
τὸ κνήσασθαι· ἀντίσπαστος δὲ ἴσος σπασμῷ ἢ μετὰ σπασμοῦ· γίνεται δὲ ὁ ψόφος ἀπὸ σπασμούς,
φοινίας τυφῶνος [μὲν] γὰρ καὶ ἐχίδνης ὕδασι
(771) ἰὸς ὡς ἐδαίνυτο ὡς κατήσθιεν αὐτὸ

(766) A bloodied flame, bloodied because it is constituted from the blood of the sacrificial animals; and of rich oak, meaning fatty wood, for he calls every tree oak.
(768) Freshly glued to his sides, as though well glued together by a carpenter; and what follows is that the tunic was also glued fast at every part, just as fresh glue, having been smeared on, might be applied to wood by a carpenter.
(770) A anti-spasmodic irritation, an itching, for to bite oneself means to scratch oneself; and counter-pulling means equal to a spasm or accompanied by a spasm; and death arises from spasm. Bloodied, for the Hydra was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna.
(771) As the venom feasted upon him, as the venom was devouring him.

Sophocles, Trachiniae (Women of Trachis) 770–771:

ὀδαγμὸς ἀντίσπαστος· εἶτα φοίνιος ἐχθρᾶς ἐχίδνης ἰὸς ὡς ἐδαίνυτο.

An anti-spasmodic biting irritation; then the bloody venom of the hostile viper was thus devouring him.

Pseudo-Prochorus, Acts of John (Acta Iohannis a Prochoro) 40.15–18

μεθ' ἡμῶν. ὁ οὖν Ἰωάννης εἶπεν πρὸς τοὺς ταξεώτας· ἐπὶ ποίᾳ αἰτίᾳ κράτησιν ἡμῶν ποιεῖσθε; οἱ δὲ εἶπον· ἐπὶ μαγικῇ (1 κακοτεχνίᾳ. ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· καὶ τίς ὁ κατή-

With us. John therefore said to the officers, On what charge are you making an arrest of us? And they said, On account of magical bad-technology. And John said to them, And who is our accuser?