"Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom;
yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom;
seek learning, even by study and also by faith."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:118

"And the gatherer sought to find pleasing words, worthy writings, words of Truth."
Ecclesiastes 12:10



Monday, January 11, 2016

Works and Days - lines 1 - 10

With the help of the Perseus website, I've parsed my way through the first 10 lines of Hesiod's Works and Days.  Like Shakespeare I have "little Latin and less Greek," but it has been fun to stretch myself to try to catch the meanings of the words and phrases as I slowly work through the original.  Here is my personal attempt at versifying what I've understood:

Muses from Pieria, creating fame in songs,
Come! of Zeus, your father, tell us, singing praise -
he through whom all mortal men are known, unknown,
spoken of, unnoted, according to the great god's will.
For indeed with ease he makes strong, with ease crushes strength,
easily he dims conspicuous and magnifies invisible,
and with ease he straightens bent and withers heroic men -
high thundering Zeus, whose dwelling is the highest house.
Hear! both seeing and perceiving, and make you judgments straight
with justice.  And I too, Perseus, would speak true things.

No comments:

Post a Comment