Greek Reading: Fables 17

Today's stories are from Turner's Easy Latin and Greek Passages, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it occasionally has some notes on the individual stories.

Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Τὸ πήδημα τὸ ἐν τῇ Ῥόδῳ

Ἀνήρ τις ἀποδημήσας ποτὲ καὶ μετὰ χρόνον πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γῆν ἐπανελθών, ἔλεγεν ὡς πολλά τε ἐν ἄλλαις χώραις ηὐδοκίμησε καὶ ἐν τῇ Ῥόδῳ τοιοῦτον ἐπήδησεν πήδημα, οἷον οὐδεὶς ἄλλος δυνατὸς ἂν εἴη πηδῆσαι· πρὸς τοῦτο δὲ καὶ μάρτυρας τοὺς ἐκεῖ παρόντας ἔλεγεν ἔχειν· τῶν δὲ παρόντων τις ἔφη, ὦ φίλε, εἰ τοῦτ' ἀληθές ἐστιν, οὐδὲν δεῖ σοι μαρτύρων. ἰδοὺ Ῥόδος, ἴδωμεν καὶ τὸ πήδημα.

Ἀνήρ τις 

ἀποδημήσας ποτὲ 

καὶ μετὰ χρόνον 

πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γῆν ἐπανελθών, 

ἔλεγεν 

ὡς πολλά τε ἐν ἄλλαις χώραις 

ηὐδοκίμησε 

καὶ ἐν τῇ Ῥόδῳ 

τοιοῦτον ἐπήδησεν πήδημα, 

οἷον 

οὐδεὶς ἄλλος δυνατὸς 

ἂν εἴη πηδῆσαι· 

πρὸς τοῦτο δὲ 

καὶ μάρτυρας τοὺς 

ἐκεῖ παρόντας ἔλεγεν ἔχειν· 

τῶν δὲ παρόντων τις ἔφη, 

ὦ φίλε, εἰ τοῦτ' ἀληθές ἐστιν, 

οὐδὲν δεῖ σοι μαρτύρων. 

ἰδοὺ Ῥόδος, 

ἴδωμεν καὶ τὸ πήδημα.

Ἀνήρ τις  ...  A certain man 

ἀποδημήσας ποτὲ  ...  having traveled abroad 

καὶ μετὰ χρόνον  ...  and after a time 

πρὸς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γῆν ἐπανελθών  ...  he came back home, 

ἔλεγεν ὡς πολλά τε  ...  and said that for many reasons

ἐν ἄλλαις χώραις ηὐδοκίμησε  ...  he was renowned in other lands 

καὶ ἐν τῇ Ῥόδῳ  ...  and that on the island of Rhodes 

τοιοῦτον ἐπήδησεν πήδημα  ...  he had made such a jump 

οὐδεὶς ἄλλος εἴη δυνατὸς  ...  that no one else would be able 

οἷον ἂν πηδῆσαι  ...  to make such a leap — 

ἔλεγεν πρὸς τοῦτο δὲ  ...  moreover, he said that

ἔχειν καὶ μάρτυρας τοὺς  ...  he also had witnesses 

ἐκεῖ παρόντας  ...  who had been present there —  

τῶν δὲ παρόντων τις ἔφη  ...  but one of the bystanders said, 

ὦ φίλε ...  My good fellow, 

εἰ τοῦτ' ἀληθές ἐστιν  ...  If that is true,

οὐδὲν δεῖ σοι μαρτύρων  ...  you have no need of witnesses — 

ἰδοὺ Ῥόδος  ...  behold, here's Rhodes:

ἴδωμεν καὶ τὸ πήδημα  ...  let us also see your leap!

Walter Crane's Aesop

Ἄνηρ καὶ μύρμηκες

Ναῦν ποτε μετὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν βυθισθεῖσαν ἰδών τις, ἀδίκως ἔλεγε τοὺς θεοὺς κρίνειν. δι' ἕνα γὰρ ἀσεβῆ συναπώλοντο καὶ οἱ ἀναίτιοι· ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, μυρμήκων πολλῶν ὄντων ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐν ᾧ ἔτυχεν ἱστάμενος, συνέβη ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθῆναι τοῦτον· ὁ δὲ ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθεὶς συνεπάτησε τοὺς πάντας. Ἑρμῆς δὲ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ καὶ τῇ ῥάβδῳ παίων εἶπεν· εἶτα οὐ νομίζεις σὺ τοὺς θεοὺς δικαίους εἶναι, οἷος εἶ σὺ τῶν μυρμήκων.

Ναῦν ποτε 

μετὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν βυθισθεῖσαν 

ἰδών τις, 

ἀδίκως ἔλεγε τοὺς θεοὺς κρίνειν. 

δι' ἕνα γὰρ ἀσεβῆ 

συναπώλοντο καὶ οἱ ἀναίτιοι· 

ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, 

μυρμήκων πολλῶν ὄντων 

ἐν τῷ τόπῳ 

ἐν ᾧ ἔτυχεν ἱστάμενος, 

συνέβη ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθῆναι τοῦτον· 

ὁ δὲ ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθεὶς 

συνεπάτησε τοὺς πάντας. 

Ἑρμῆς δὲ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ 

καὶ τῇ ῥάβδῳ παίων εἶπεν· 

εἶτα οὐ νομίζεις σὺ 

τοὺς θεοὺς δικαίους εἶναι, 

οἷος εἶ σὺ τῶν μυρμήκων.

ἰδών τις ναῦν ποτε  ...  Someone saw a ship

μετὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν  ...  with many passengers

βυθισθεῖσαν  ...  sinking, 

ἔλεγε  ...  and said

ἀδίκως τοὺς θεοὺς κρίνειν  ...  the gods judged unjustly. 

δι' ἕνα γὰρ ἀσεβῆ  ...  Because on account of one sinner 

συναπώλοντο καὶ οἱ ἀναίτιοι  ...  all the blameless also died — 

ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λέγοντος  ...  as he said these things, 

μυρμήκων πολλῶν ὄντων  ...  there were a lot of ants 

ἐν τῷ τόπῳ  ...  in the place 

ἐν ᾧ ἔτυχεν ἱστάμενος  ...  where he chanced to be standing, 

συνέβη τοῦτον  ...  it happened that he was

ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθῆναι  ...  bitten by one of the ants — 

ὁ δὲ ὑφ' ἑνὸς δηχθεὶς  ...  having been bitten by one 

συνεπάτησε τοὺς πάντας  ...  he crushed them all under foot. 

Ἑρμῆς δὲ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ  ...  And Hermes stood next to him 

καὶ τῇ ῥάβδῳ παίων  ...  and hit him on the head with his wand — 

εἶπεν  ...  and said

εἶτα οὐ νομίζεις σὺ  ...  so don't you think that

τοὺς θεοὺς δικαίους εἶναι  ...  gods are just judges (of humans), 

οἷος εἶ σὺ τῶν μυρμήκων  ...  just as you are of the ants.

Hermes with his wand

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Vocabulary Challenge: Feb. 4

Here are today's vocabulary words; it's Group 141. Click on the word to learn more at Logeion:

τράπεζα ~ τραπέζης (noun f.): table 

ῥώμη ~ ῥώμης (noun f.): strength, might 

ἔτος ~ ἔτους (noun n.): year 

πόνος ~ πόνου (noun m.): work, toil 

σωφροσύνη ~ σωφροσύνης (noun f.): prudence, self-control 

These are the proverbs (and there are always more proverbs at the blog):

Συβαριτικὴ τράπεζα.

Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ.

Ἔτος φέρει, οὐχὶ ἄρουρα.

Ὄψον ἄριστον πόνος τῷ γήρᾳ.

Σωφροσύνα, δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν.

And now, some commentary:

Συβαριτικὴ τράπεζα.

A Sybaritic table.

This saying referred to an opulent, or exceedingly opulent, banquet table, as Sybaris was one of the wealthiest Greek colonies. It was located on the Italian coast in what is now the region of Calabria; you can find out more at Wikipedia: Sybaris, which includes a section on its cultural legacy.

Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ.

Do not boast in your strength.

This is another one of those Delphic maxims preserved by Stobaeus, who attributes them to the Seven Sages. The word καυχῶ is a middle imperative from the verb καυχάομαι.

Ἔτος φέρει, οὐχὶ ἄρουρα.

The year brings (the harvest), not the land.

The idea is that it is the events that take place during the year that determine whether it is a good harvest or not: the work done on the land, the weather, etc. is more important than some inherent quality of the land itself.

Ὄψον ἄριστον πόνος τῷ γήρᾳ.

Hard work is the best relish for old age.

The idea is that the hard work done in your youth makes it possible to enjoy your old age. If you do not do that hard work in your younger days, your later days will not be very appetizing.

Σωφροσύνα δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν.

Self-control, the fairest gift of the gods.

The words are from Euripides' Medea. This is what the Chorus says, alarmed by the events unfolding in the the drama that result of strong passions aroused by Aphrodite; they prefer the tranquility of σωφροσύνη (σωφροσύνα): self-control, soundness of mind, etc. Here is Waterhouse's painting of Medea and Jason:

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: Fables 16

Today's stories are from Turner's Easy Latin and Greek Passages, available at the Internet Archive. You can use the linked titles to access the book, and it occasionally has some notes on the individual stories. Here are the stories, presented in Greek, segmented, and then interwoven with English.

Κλέπται καὶ ἀλεκτρυών

Κλέπται ποτε τινες εἰς οἰκίαν εἰσελθόντες, οὐδὲν πλὴν ἀλεκτρυόνος εὗρον, καὶ τοῦτον σὺν αὐτοῖς λαβόντες ἀπῄεσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀλεκτρυὼν ὑπ' αὐτῶν θύεσθαι μέλλων ἐδεῖτο, ὡς ἂν αὐτὸν ἀπολύσωσι, ἄλλα τε πολλὰ λέγων καὶ τοῦτο, ὡς χρησιμώτατος ἐστι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, νυκτὸς αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα ἐγείρων. οἱ δὲ ἔφασαν, Ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτό σε μᾶλλον θύσομεν, ἐκείνους γὰρ ἐγείρων, κλέπτειν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἐᾷς.

Κλέπται ποτε τινες 

εἰς οἰκίαν εἰσελθόντες, 

οὐδὲν πλὴν ἀλεκτρυόνος εὗρον, 

καὶ τοῦτον σὺν αὐτοῖς λαβόντες 

ἀπῄεσαν. 

ὁ δὲ ἀλεκτρυὼν 

ὑπ' αὐτῶν θύεσθαι μέλλων ἐδεῖτο, 

ὡς ἂν αὐτὸν ἀπολύσωσι, 

ἄλλα τε πολλὰ λέγων καὶ τοῦτο, 

ὡς χρησιμώτατος ἐστι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, 

νυκτὸς αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα ἐγείρων. 

οἱ δὲ ἔφασαν, 

Ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτό 

σε μᾶλλον θύσομεν, 

ἐκείνους γὰρ ἐγείρων, 

κλέπτειν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἐᾷς.

Κλέπται ποτε τινες  ...  Some robbers

εἰς οἰκίαν εἰσελθόντες  ...  went into a house 

οὐδὲν πλὴν ἀλεκτρυόνος εὗρον  ...  found only a rooster;

καὶ τοῦτον σὺν αὐτοῖς λαβόντες  ...  took the rooster with them,

ἀπῄεσαν  ...  and left. 

ὁ δὲ ἀλεκτρυὼν  ...  But the rooster, 

ὑπ' αὐτῶν θύεσθαι μέλλων  ...  about to be killed by them, 

ἐδεῖτο ὡς ἂν αὐτὸν ἀπολύσωσι  ...  begged them to let him go, 

ἄλλα τε πολλὰ λέγων  ...  said many (other) things,

καὶ τοῦτο  ...  and this:

ὡς χρησιμώτατος ἐστι  ...  that he was very useful

τοῖς ἀνθρώποις  ...  to people,

νυκτὸς αὐτοὺς ἐγείρων  ...  waking them at night

ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα   ...  for their work.

οἱ δὲ ἔφασαν  ...  but the robbers said, 

Ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦτό  ...  But that's why 

σε μᾶλλον θύσομεν  ...  we are certainly going to kill you

ἐκείνους γὰρ ἐγείρων  ...  for by waking them, 

κλέπτειν ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἐᾷς  ...  you do not allow us to rob them.

Thieves and Rooster

Λέων ἐν σπηλαίῳ καὶ ἀλώπηξ

Λέων γηράσας καὶ οὐ δυνάμενος ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πορίζειν, τόδε ἔπραξεν· εἰς σπήλαιόν τι εἰσελθὼν, προσεποιεῖτο νοσεῖν. καὶ οὕτω τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα, εἰς ἐπίσκεψιν παραγενόμενα συλλαμβάνων κατήσθιε. πολλῶν οὖν θηρίων τῷδε τρόπῳ ἀποθανόντων, Ἀλώπηξ, τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ συνεῖσα, πρὸς αὐτὸν ἦλθεν καὶ στᾶσα ἔξω τοῦ σπηλαίου, ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ, πῶς ἔχοι· ἐκείνου δὲ εἰπόντος, Κακῶς, καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθανομένου, δι' ἣν οὐκ εἰσέρχεται, ἡ Ἀλώπηξ ἔφη, Ὅτι ὁρῶ ἴχνη πολλῶν εἰσιόντων, ἐξιόντος δὲ οὐδενος.

Λέων γηράσας 

καὶ οὐ δυνάμενος 

ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πορίζειν, 

τόδε ἔπραξεν· 

εἰς σπήλαιόν τι εἰσελθὼν, 

προσεποιεῖτο νοσεῖν. 

καὶ οὕτω τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα, 

εἰς ἐπίσκεψιν παραγενόμενα 

συλλαμβάνων κατήσθιε. 

πολλῶν οὖν θηρίων 

τῷδε τρόπῳ ἀποθανόντων, 

Ἀλώπηξ, 

τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ συνεῖσα, 

πρὸς αὐτὸν ἦλθεν 

καὶ στᾶσα ἔξω τοῦ σπηλαίου, 

ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ, 

πῶς ἔχοι· 

ἐκείνου δὲ εἰπόντος, 

Κακῶς, 

καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθανομένου, 

δι' ἣν οὐκ εἰσέρχεται, 

ἡ Ἀλώπηξ ἔφη, 

Ὅτι ὁρῶ ἴχνη πολλῶν εἰσιόντων, 

ἐξιόντος δὲ οὐδενος.

Λέων γηράσας  ... A lion grew old

καὶ οὐ δυνάμενος  ... and was no longer able

ἑαυτῷ τροφὴν πορίζειν  ... to get food for himself, 

τόδε ἔπραξεν  ... so he did this· 

εἰς σπήλαιόν τι εἰσελθὼν  ... he entered a cave, 

προσεποιεῖτο νοσεῖν  ... and pretended to be sick. 

καὶ οὕτω τὰ ἄλλα ζῶα  ... And thus the other animals, 

εἰς ἐπίσκεψιν παραγενόμενα  ... came to visit him,

συλλαμβάνων κατήσθιε  ... and he grabbed and ate them.

πολλῶν οὖν θηρίων  ... So when many animals

τῷδε τρόπῳ ἀποθανόντων  ...  had been killed in this way,

Ἀλώπηξ  ... the fox

τὸ τέχνασμα αὐτοῦ συνεῖσα  ... recognized the lion's trick 

πρὸς αὐτὸν ἦλθεν  ... went to him 

καὶ στᾶσα ἔξω τοῦ σπηλαίου  ... and stood outside the cave, 

ἐπυνθάνετο αὐτοῦ  ... she asked him, 

πῶς ἔχοι  ... how he was feeling 

ἐκείνου δὲ εἰπόντος  ... and when he answered, 

Κακῶς  ... Badly, 

καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν πυνθανομένου  ... and asked why 

δι' ἣν οὐκ εἰσέρχεται  ... the fox didn't come in,

ἡ Ἀλώπηξ ἔφη  ... the fox answered, 

Ὅτι ὁρῶ ἴχνη  ...   Because I see the tracks

πολλῶν εἰσιόντων  ... of many going in,

ἐξιόντος δὲ οὐδενος  ... but not of anyone going out.

The Lion and the Fox

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---