Modern Greek

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Title:     Modern Greek
Author: Joseph Victor Scheffel [More Titles by Scheffel]

BY ATHANASIOS CHRISTOPOULOS.

[Greek: Plouton den thelo
Doxan den thelo
Out' exousian
Pote kammian.]

[Greek: Den thelo gnosin
Oute kan tosên
hOs' ein tou phullou
Ki hos' ein tou xulou.]

[Greek: Toutes hê krues
Ê phantasies
hOso euphainoun
Toso pikrainoun.]

 

TRANSLATION.

Reichthum und Ehre
Nimmer ich 'gehre;
Herrschaft und Würde;
Wär mir nur Bürde.

I never desire
Wealth or fame to acquire
Honour and station
Were but vexation.

And to be learned
I'm no more concerned,
Than in the thicket
Are field-mouse and cricket.

All those cold cheating
Phantom forms fleeting,
'Stead of reviving,
Are vexing and driving.

 

MODERN GREEK

[Greek: Thelo eirênên
Psuchês galênên
Chorous eroton
Trelais kai kroton.]

[Greek: Thelo tragoudia,
Kêpous, louloudia
Kai choratadais
'Stais prasinadais.]

[Greek: Touta latreuo
Touta xêleuo
K' heis tout' apano
Thel 'na 'pothano.]

 

TRANSLATION.

To me be given
The sweet peace of heaven,
A heart quiet resting,
Frolic and jesting!

Dramas sweet ringing,
Ball play and singing,
Music entrancing,
Wild whirling dancing!

Such I require,
Such I desire,
Rose-crowned, so
To the bier I would go!

[The end]
Joseph Victor Scheffel's poem: Modern Greek

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