[lit-ideas] Turtaios
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:27:18 EST
Thanks, L. K. Helm.
Yes, it was a nice 'elegy', I think the genre would be. I don't know. Sorry
to bother you with the Greek here, but I imagine a nice ecumenical service
with one Etonian on the right reciting straight from Loeb and somebody giving
the Lattimore rendition! I hope I have transcribed the thing right. Only one
online site has the Greek text (I believe), and I thought it important to keep
track (or eye) on the Greek words. The kind of poetry a young or old Etonian
(I'm using Old Etonian as 'graduate from Eton) may enjoy, I s'ppose. I am
hoping the thing is included in the Loeb vol. of ELEGIAE, which I have yet to
order. Perhaps someone can find whether that Loeb volume includes that piece
of
poetry or not. I have not checked the Loeb site for that yet.
Best,
JLS, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
-----
1
Out'an mnesaímen out'en lógo ándra titheíen
I would not say anything for a man nor take account of him
Oúte podón aretés oúte palaimosúnes
For any speed of his feet or wrestling skill he might have,
Oud'ei Kuklópon men ékhoi megethós te bíen te
Not if he had the size of a Cyclops and strength to go with it,
Nikón de théon Threíkion Boréenn
Not if he could outrun Boreas, the North Wind of Thrace.
5
Oud'ei Tithonoío phuén khariésteros eíe
Nor if he were more handsome and gracefully formed than Tithonos
Ploutoíe de Mídeo kai Kinúreo málion
Or had more riches than Midas had, or Knyras too,
Oud'ei Tantalídeo Pélopos basileúteros eie,
Nor if he wre more of a king than Tantalid Pelops
Glóssan d'Adréstou meiliokhógerun ékhoi
Or had the power of speech and persuasion Adrastos had
Autós d'en promákhoisi pesón phílon ólese thumón
Nor if he had all splendors excpet for a fighting spirit.
10
Ou gar anér agathós gínetai en polémo
For no man ever proves himself a good man in war
Ei me tetlaíe men horón phónon haimatóenta
Unless he can endure to face the blood and the slaughter
Kai deíon orégoit'eggúthen histámenos
Go close against the enemy and fight with his hands.
* * * *
Hed'areté tod'áethlon en anthrópoisin áriston
Here is courage, mankind's finest possession, here is
Kálliston te phéerein gínetai andrí néo
he noblest prize that a young man can endeavor to win.
15
Zunón d'esthlón touto pólei te panti te démo
And it is a good thing his city and all the people share with him
Hostis anér diabás en promákhoisi méne
When a man plants his feet and stands in the foremost spears
Nolemeos aiskhres de phuges epi pagkhu láthetai
Relentlessly, all thought of foul fight completely forgotten
Psukhén kai thumon tlémona parthémenos
And has well trained his heart to be steadfast and to endure,
Tharsúne d'epeisin ton plesion andra parestós
And with words encourages the man who is stationed beside him.
20
Houtos aner agathos gigetai en polemo
Here is a man who proves himself to be valiant in war.
Aipha de dusmeneon andron etrepse phalaggas
With a sudden rush he turns to fight the rugged battalions
Trekheias spoude d'eskethe kuma makhes
Of the enemy, and sustains the beating waves of assault.
Autos d'en promakhoise peson philon olese thumon
And he who so falls among the champions and loses his sweet life.
Astu te kai laous kai pater eukleisas
So blessing with honor his city, his father, and all his people.
25
Kai dia thorekos prosthen elelamenos.
With wounds in his chest, where the spear that he was facing has transfixed
Polla dia sternoio kai aspidos omphaloesses
That massive guard of his shield and gone through his breastplate as well,
Ton d'olophurontai men homos neoi ede gerontes
Why, such man is lamented alike by the young and the elders,
Argaleo de potho pasa kekede polis
And all his city goes into mourning and grieves for his loss.
Kai tumbos kai paides en anthropois arismoi.
His tomb is pointed to with pride, and so are his children,
30
Kai paidon paides kai genos ezopiso
And his children's children, and afterwards all the race this is his.
Oude pote kleos esthlon apollutai oud'onom'autou
His shining glory is never forgotten, his name is remembered
All'hupo ges per'eon gigetai athanatos.
And he becomes an immortal, though he lies under ground
Hontin aristeuonta menonta te marnamenon te
When one who was a brave man has been killed by the furious War God
Ges peri kai paidon thouros Ares olese
Standing his ground and fighting hard for his children and land
Ei de phuge men kera tanelegeos thanatoio.
But if he escapes the doom of death, the destroyer of bodies
35
Nikesas d'aikhmes aglaon eukhos hele
And wins his battle, and bright renown for the work of his spear,
Pantes min timosin homos neoi ede palaioi
All men give place to him alike, the youth and the elders,
Polla de terpna pathon erkhetai eis Aiden.
And much joy comes his way beofre he goes down to the dead.
Geraskon d'astoisi metaprepei oude tis auton
Aging, he has reputation among his citizens. No one
40
Blaptein out'aidous oute dikes ethelei
Tries to interfere with his honors or all he deserves
Eikous'ek khores hoi te palaioteroi.
All men withdraw before his presence, and yield their seats to him
Pantes d'en thokoisin homos neo hoi te kat'auton
The youth, and the men his age, and even those older than he.
Tautes nun tis aner aretes eis akron ikesthai
Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage
Periastho thumo me methieis polemou
With all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.
TURTAIOS, tr. R. Lattimore.
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