VII. SONG. Ζώη με, σάς ἀγαπῶ. * ATHENS, 1810. 1. MAID of Athens, ere we part, Ζώη με, σάς ἀγαπῶ. * Zoë mou, sas agapo, or Zwŋ μỡ, odsảyaww, a Romaic expression of tenderness: if I translate it I shall affront the gentlemen, as it may seem I supposed they could not; and if I do not I may affront the ladies. For fear of any misconstruction on the part of the latter I shall do so, begging pardon of the learned. It means, My Life, I love you!" which sounds very prettily in all languages, and is as much in fashion in Greece at this day as, Juvenal tells us, the two first words were amongst the Roman ladies, whose erotic expressions were all Hellenized. 66 2. By those tresses unconfin'd, 3. By that lip I long to taste; By all the token-flowers* that tell In the East (where ladies are not taught to write, lest they should scribble assignations) flowers, cinders, pebbles, &c. convey the sentiments of the parties by that universal deputy of Mercury—an old woman. A cinder says, "I burn for thee;" a bunch of flowers tied with hair, "Take me and fly;" but a pebble declares-what nothing else can. 4. Maid of Athens! I am gone: Think of me, sweet! when alone. Athens holds my heart and soul: VIII. Translation of the famous Greek War Song, Δεύτε παῖδες τῶν 'EAλvwv, written by Riga, who perished in the attempt to revolutionize Greece. The following translation is as literal as the author could make it in verse, which is of the same measure with that of the original. See Appendix. SONS of the Greeks, arise! The glorious hour's gone forth, And, worthy of such ties, Display who gave us birth. * Constantinople. P CHORUS. Sons of Greeks! let us go In arms against the foe, Till their hated blood shall flow In a river past our feet. 2. Then manfully despising Behold the coming strife! Hellenes of past ages, Oh, start again to life! At the sound of my trumpet, breaking Sons of Greeks, &c. * Constantinople. "Erlaλogos." Επλαλοφος.” 3. Sparta, Sparta, why in slumbers Awake, and join thy numbers Leonidas recalling, That chief of ancient song, Who sav'd ye once from falling, The terrible! the strong! Who made that bold diversion And warring with the Persian To keep his country free; With his three hundred waging The battle, long he stood, And like a lion raging, Expir'd in seas of blood. Sons of Greeks, &c. |