Bovine
the Delphiad, book III
(NAUSIKAA and HOMER on the beach, at sunrise.)
NAUSIKAA: you call me cute in a way we cannot fight,
HOMER: had not Achilles himself risen-up(indeed)and said
the(muthos)story-word;
καί νύ κε δὴ προτέρω ἔτ᾽ ἔρις γένετ᾽ ἀμφοτέροισιν,
εἰ μὴ Ἀχιλλεὺς αὐτὸς ἀνίστατο καὶ φάτο μῦθον:
N: so we call surrender;
(Rise, Achilles.)
ACHILLES: now no longer exchange-in-turn, (you-two)
(them-two), o Ajax and o Idomeneos, mean(cowardly)
(cruel)(shameful)(abusive)(harmful)word-
song(evil)uglies,
(neither)when(following the dyad-word-
song), nor has it(been)seemly,
μηκέτι νῦν χαλεποῖσιν ἀμείβεσθον ἐπέεσσιν
Αἶαν Ἰδομενεῦ τε κακοῖς,
ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἔοικε.
N: ever;
ACHILLES: but(indeed)by the other(they-dyad,
you-dyad)would be resentful(angry-wroth),
at whoever would do this kind of thing.
καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλῳ νεμεσᾶτον ὅτις τοιαῦτά γε ῥέζοι.
N: surrounded by cool August breeze,
he still knows anger;
ACHILLES: but still, you(all)seated in the agon(contest-
gathering-struggle-battle), look upon the horses;
ἀλλ᾽ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἀγῶνι καθήμενοι εἰσοράασθε
ἵππους:
N: safe in a warm nest of pillows and sheets,
we look upon the horses;
ACHILLES: but they(by whom)quickly(perhaps)themselves hurrying
(hastening, eagerly-with-speed, blowing-blustering, propelling,
assailing-attacking)around victory, hither(thither)will(go)come;
οἳ δὲ τάχ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐπειγόμενοι περὶ νίκης
ἐνθάδ᾽ ἐλεύσονται:
N: we wait;
(enter, Autos.)
ACHILLES: but then you will recognize each
of the Argives horses, by whom(they are)second
and by whom(being)presently-in-front.
τότε δὲ γνώσεσθε ἕκαστος
ἵππους Ἀργείων, οἳ δεύτεροι οἵ τε πάροιθεν.
N: our eyes are yours.
AUTOS: but you stood on the(forgotten-hidden-spoils-plundering-
pirates)Lelantine plain; it(this-she)didnt(o satiety, o loathing,
o weariness)delight(delight, you)(in)your thumos(hrrr),
to(make)build a temple-dwelling and sacred-wooded(with tree-
like markings)groves.
στῆς δ᾽ ἐπὶ Ληλάντῳ πεδίῳ: τό τοι οὐχ ἅδε θυμῷ
τεύξασθαι νηόν τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα.
H: as he said; but Tudeides(pursuing)went(and came)very(pit-
under-handed-dyad)close-by(seeking-chasing-pressing-
driving-urging-prosecuting)and drawing-near;
ὣς φάτο, Τυδεΐδης δὲ μάλα σχεδὸν ἦλθε διώκων,
N: he lives far from where prosecutors are,
A: but thence(whence)striding across the Euripos, o Apollo throws-
from-afar, you stepped up to the sacred mountains,
greenish-yellow(bilious-looking)(fresh-blooming);
ἔνθεν δ᾽ Εὔριπον διαβάς, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
βῆς ἄν᾽ ὄρος ζάθεον, χλωρόν:
N: and prefers flowers;
H: but by whip-scourge-lash he was always driving(drive,
you)arm-strokes-through from the shoulder;
μάστι δ᾽ αἰὲν ἔλαυνε κατωμαδόν:
N: our lord has shoulders, we dont whip;
A: but swiftly(perhaps, you)came from him(self)
to(she)Mukalessos(mooing-bellowing-nose-turning-mousy)
and(indeed)going(coming)to(he)Teumessos(happening-accomplishing-
vessel of a canny-fortune-device-workshop)(which cares)with-
grass-fit-to-make-a-bed.
τάχα δ᾽ ἷξες ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ
ἐς Μυκαλησσὸν ἰὼν καὶ Τευμησσὸν λεχεποίην.
N: swiftly by chariot, come for a ride,
H: but(the dyad)horses(o horses)by him(by him)
were lifting-lofty(raising-up)swiftly(quickly-nimbly)
passing-through(accomplishing)
(their)course.
οἳ δέ οἱ ἵπποι
ὑψόσ᾽ ἀειρέσθην ῥίμφα πρήσσοντε κέλευθον.
N: the loftier-the-lift, the less we try;
A: but you were arriving in the seat of Thebes(treasure-chest-store-
house-container, put-in-place to step-n-go)having-swooped-
down(covered and clothed)by hule(forest-wood-
land, firewood-fuel, brushwood-twigs,
stuff-material-matter, sediment-
mud, ooze, phlegm-
catarrh);
Θήβης δ᾽ εἰσαφίκανες ἕδος καταειμένον ὕλῃ:
N: digging in the earth of our own heart;
H: but the plume of dust was always hurling(throwing,
flying, striking)the charioteer,
αἰεὶ δ᾽ ἡνίοχον κονίης ῥαθάμιγγες ἔβαλλον,
N: so we cant always see just where we are;
A: for not yet(was)anyone(of)mortal-man dwelling in sacred Thebes,
nor then-and-there, yet-then-at-least, were there(k)not-twisting-paths,
nor drive-command-paths, throughout(the)grain-
bearing plain(of)Thebes,
οὐ γάρ πώ τις ἔναιε βροτῶν ἱερῇ ἐνὶ Θήβῃ,
οὐδ᾽ ἄρα πω τότε γ᾽ ἦσαν ἀταρπιτοὶ οὐδὲ κέλευθοι
Θήβης ἂμ πεδίον πυρηφόρον,
N: so we relied on our horses;
they too enjoy grain.
H: but the chariot having-been(dyad)covered(closely-surrounded,
shielded)by gold and tin, by swift-footed horses was
(as we were approaching)running-close-after;
N: we had to trust we would be safe;
ἅρματα δὲ χρυσῷ πεπυκασμένα κασσιτέρῳ τε
ἵπποις ὠκυπόδεσσιν ἐπέτρεχον:
A: but still, the hule(forest-woodland-cut-wood-
down-firewood-fuel-brushwood-twigs-
stuff-matter–material-sediment-
mud-slime-phlegm-catarrh)
was having(and)held —
aouuuuuuuu!
ἀλλ᾽ ἔχεν ὕλη.
N: we were the howling;
H: nor were many tracks coming-through-after from the iron-rim
around the wheel, in the fine(thin-delicate-subtle-small-
impotent-slight-slender)cloud of dust
(he would cover)(youre covered
with clouds of dust);
οὐδέ τι πολλὴ
γίγνετ᾽ ἐπισσώτρων ἁρματροχιὴ κατόπισθεν
ἐν λεπτῇ κονίῃ:
N: were twinkling(flickering);
A: but(o earlier-dyad)whence(thence)(it came)
(it went)dyad-earlier-was going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar,
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
N: there was a beacon,
guiding us through the night;
H: but(both)seeking-eagerly(urging-pressing-on, hastening,
exerting, anxious, harassed)they were flying.
τὼ δὲ σπεύδοντε πετέσθην.
N: they were just being girls;
A: but to Onchestos(swollen-pompous-bellowing-pear-
tree-place, projecting-hook-pour, set-standing-
straight)you went, to Poseidons sacred grove;
N: we have some warm memories;
A: where(a)newly-tamed(filly)foal recovers(draws breath)
(you-drawing-breath)being-roundly-over-loaded
(vexed-grieved-annoyed)dragging
(the)beautiful chariot;
Ὀγχηστὸν δ᾽ ἷξες, Ποσιδήιον ἀγλαὸν ἄλσος:
ἔνθα νεοδμὴς πῶλος ἀναπνέει ἀχθόμενός περ
( ἕλκων ἅρματα καλά ):
N: we have some hard ones too;
H: but(he)made a stand(set-placed)(stayed-checked)(established-
instituted-fixed)(weighed-)into the mid(dle-intermediate, imp-
partial, middling, moderate, mediocre, mean)into the agon
(gathering-assembly-contest-struggle-place),
στῆ δὲ μέσῳ ἐν ἀγῶνι,
πολὺς δ᾽ ἀνεκήκιεν ἱδρὼς
ἵππων ἔκ τε λόφων καὶ ἀπὸ στέρνοιο χαμᾶζε.
N: o(he)repudiates established-institution;
A: but onto the ground(the)roundly-good driver
from(the)seat-board(o springing)leaps —
goes(comes-to)(the)road;
χαμαὶ δ᾽ ἐλατὴρ ἀγαθός περ
( ἐκ δίφροιο θορὼν ) ὁδὸν ἔρχεται:
N: hes made of earth but swift of feet;
H: but much sweat was spouting(and gushing forth)
out of(the)horses necks and(indeed)
from(his)chest onto the ground.
N: our names are rivers;
A: but it(by this)meanwhile indeed
empty(-handed-fruitless-void-)carriage(shelter)rattles
(knocking-strikes-claps)(by rattling-applause)along
(is)letting-go(leaving-neglecting)(what-belongs-
to)a lord.
οἳ δὲ τέως μὲν
κείν᾽ ὄχεα κροτέουσι ἀνακτορίην ἀφιέντες.
N: we dance(an)empty-handed-fruitless-void,
H: but seeing(him), swift(to ward-off, defend, assist, avail, hold-
out)footed-god-like Achilles was feeling pity(for him),
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτειρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
N: but we bring and carry some-great-soul;
A: but if the dyad-chariot break(shiver)s in the sacred-wooded(with
tree-like markings)gro(o)ve, (they)attend(caring for)(letting their hair
grow long)to the horses,
εἰ δέ κεν ἅρματ᾽ ἀγῇσιν ἐν ἄλσεϊ δενδρήεντι,
ἵππους μὲν κομέουσι,
N: and we drag-along a pretty-great-friend;
H: but making a stand, then and there, into the Argives, winged-
word-songs(he)was speaking(speak, you)-agora-(into
the assembly, the marketplace);
στὰς δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐν Ἀργείοις ἔπεα πτερόεντ᾽ ἀγόρευε:
N: there is a voice, it tells me no,
guiding me through the night;
A: but leaning(sloping-lying-down)(on something)
(they)allow(by letting-go)the(chariot);
τὰ δὲ κλίναντες ἐῶσιν:
N: there are dreams,
there are pillars,
there is a beacon;
ACHILLES: the last(left-behind)man(and)the best(bravest,
most excellent, finest)drives(youre driven)(set in motion)
(struck)(beat-out)(forged)with one
(un-cloven)hoof;
‘λοῖσθος ἀνὴρ ὤριστος ἐλαύνει μώνυχας ἵππους:
N: may your words remain a constant echo
A: for so(the)earliest(hallowed-pious-pure-divine-natural)law
(begetter-ancestor-author-)(himself)became;
ὣς γὰρ τὰ πρώτισθ᾽ ὁσίη γένεθ᾽:
N: get a good nights rest,
in my mind even half asleep;
H: but(him)self(autos)from the all-shining seat-board
leapt(leap, you)onto the ground
(all-shining),
αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἐκ δίφροιο χαμαὶ θόρε παμφανόωντος,
N: we are made of earth, swift-footed;
A: but(to)(for)by the lord
(they)(boast-exult-
triumphant)pray,
οἳ δὲ ἄνακτι
εὔχονται,
N: o we ever arent him;
H: but(he)leaned there-and-then the whip-scourge-lash
against the yoke; nor did(he)idly(waste time doing it),
sturdy(strong)Sthenelos(strength-might-force-vigor);
κλῖνε δ᾽ ἄρα μάστιγα ποτὶ ζυγόν: οὐδὲ μάτησεν
ἴφθιμος Σθένελος,
N: neither does he whip, nor does he run your race;
A: but then destiny(fate)guards(you-on-your-
own-guard)the seat-board of the god.
δίφρον δὲ θεοῦ τότε μοῖρα φυλάσσει.
N: all(being)guarded(we)by(the)guardian(of)guardians(being)all;
H: but still-self-speedily(he)took hold of(grasped-
seized)the(contest)prize;
ἀλλ᾽ ἐσσυμένως λάβ᾽ ἄεθλον,
N: well he had come in first place;
A: but whence(thence)dyad-previously(you)were going,
o Apollo throws-from-afar;
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρω ἔκιες, ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον:
N: previously burning in Achilles funeral pyre;
H: but(he)gave for(his)high-spirited(thumos)companions
the woman to lead,
N: our name is Nausikaa; we are the first
to whom he(stranger)owes his life.
H: and(indeed)to carry(the dyad-)tripod
with(o ears!)(oars?)handles;
δῶκε δ᾽ ἄγειν ἑτάροισιν ὑπερθύμοισι γυναῖκα
καὶ τρίποδ᾽ ὠτώεντα φέρειν:
N: a giants never been in safer hands;
A: but then and thereupon, you reach the beautifully(flow!)ing
Kephissos(dull-sluggish-torpid-droning-buzzing-garden-
guardian-growing-natural-rest),
Κηφισσὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα κιχήσαο καλλιρέεθρον,
N: where we step with bare feet,
when were not taking a seaside nap;
H: but he was(unbinding, unfastening, letting-loose
and releasing)(the dyad-spider-webs)
(and)setting free the horses;
ὃ δ᾽ ἔλυεν ὑφ᾽ ἵππους.
N: which is how they learned to fly;
A: and who-he(would pour)pours from(gracious-desiring-
clarity, musical-guardian-yearning, libations-of-oblivion)
Lilaietha, of the beautifully-flowing water;
ὅς τε Λιλαίηθεν προχέει καλλίρροον ὕδωρ:
N: nobody(he)at all.
(All set.)
from hymn to Apollo
Il.23.488-508, 532-538
cf Od. 8.462
heirloom of nine parts over twelve days (5/6 and 8/9)
but(him)self, o bearer of the silver-bow, lord who throws-from-afar(hekatebolos)Apollo,
at one time(and indeed)across rugged Kynthos you go(you take your way)
(pass)(set out)(run)(get onto, out of, into something)(you go on-board
or disembark)(a ship)(to bestride and protect a fallen friend)(or
to drag the body off)(of an enemy)(you mount a chariot
and stand beside another),
but at another(time, you go)wandering aimlessly around
to shun and flee-from islands and men.
αὐτὸς δ᾽, ἀργυρότοξε, ἄναξ ἑκατηβόλ᾽ Ἄπολλον,
ἄλλοτε μέν τ᾽ ἐπὶ Κύνθου ἐβήσαο παιπαλόεντος,
ἄλλοτε δ᾽ ἂν νήσους τε καὶ ἀνέρας ἠλάσκαζες.
many(o many)to(for)(by)you(are)the temple-dwellings and the woody(with tree-
like markings)groves;
but all(o all)(whole)(get, you)(acquire, you)(possess, you)the lookout-places(hill-
tops)(peaks)and(watch-towers)and(the friends, o friend, by the friend)he
would love the highest(topmost)(outmost)(inmost)headlands(cliffs
and bluffs)of lofty mountains(and lofty asses, well, and lofty mules),
and the(nine)rivers flowing-through(o flowing)into the sea;
πολλοί τοι νηοί τε καὶ ἄλσεα δενδρήεντα:
πᾶσαι δὲ σκοπιαί τε φίλαι καὶ πρώονες ἄκροι
ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων ποταμοί θ᾽ ἅλαδε προρέοντες:
but you(to)(for)by Delos, o Phoibos(bright, radiant, pure), you most delight
and gladden, cheer, make content the(etor)heart(life-passion),
ἀλλὰ σὺ Δήλῳ, Φοῖβε, μάλιστ᾽ ἐπιτέρπεαι ἦτορ,
(as Odysseus, even in the midst of his tall-tale, admits of ships
driven by oars, and wars, and throwing spears and arrows, o dyad-
mournful(sorry)(good-for-nothing)(wretched)(painful)things,
which by others at least become horrible, nevertheless,
those things(to)(for)by him, is(the)beloved, which somehow the god
had put there, in his phrenes(heart-breast-perception-memory-
desire-anger-inward-thought); for different men(he men-
splains, as he lies)take joy in different works.
ἀλλά μοι αἰεὶ νῆες ἐπήρετμοι φίλαι ἦσαν
καὶ πόλεμοι καὶ ἄκοντες ἐΰξεστοι καὶ ὀϊστοί,
λυγρά, τά τ᾽ ἄλλοισίν γε καταριγηλὰ πέλονται.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ τὰ φίλ᾽ ἔσκε τά που θεὸς ἐν φρεσὶ θῆκεν:
ἄλλος γάρ τ᾽ ἄλλοισιν ἀνὴρ ἐπιτέρπεται ἔργοις.
Odyssey 14.224)
there(to)(for)by you the Ionians with their trailing tunics gather together
their(him)selves with children and with worthy
and venerable bed-partners and wives.
ἔνθα τοι ἑλκεχίτωνες Ἰάονες ἠγερέθονται
αὐτοῖς σὺν παίδεσσι καὶ αἰδοίῃς ἀλόχοισιν.
(as black Ajax and red Ajax would never take their stand apart, on
the battlefield at Troy, not even a little; but as, into the fallow land,
wine-dyad-dark-oxen(fixed-together-plough in equal-thumos-spirit-
power-drive)both-bearing(carrying)(bringing)they stretch(stretch,
you!)and bend(bend it!)and draw-it-out(you, do that too!)
the fixed-together-plough;
but, there and then, on both sides, from their under-end-most-horns
much sweat gushes(so you two, spout)forth;
and they-two(indeed)the polished-yoke-alone-apart-it-works(it bars
the way)(youre worked)(youre barred)dyad-releasing(letting go,
hurling, throwing, sending, letting flow and spouting forth)through-
and-against the furrow;
but(it)overtakes(reaches)(finds)(will-be-accomplishing)(arise,
you!)the limit of the earths arable land;
so they-two, beside-both-standing, beside-both-passing-beyond,
beside-both-transgressing, exceedingly they make their stand,
(to)(for)(by)(belonging)an-other-to-the-one.
Αἴας δ᾽ οὐκέτι πάμπαν Ὀϊλῆος ταχὺς υἱὸς
ἵστατ᾽ ἀπ᾽ Αἴαντος Τελαμωνίου οὐδ᾽ ἠβαιόν,
ἀλλ᾽ ὥς τ᾽ ἐν νειῷ βόε οἴνοπε πηκτὸν ἄροτρον
ἶσον θυμὸν ἔχοντε τιταίνετον: ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρά σφι
πρυμνοῖσιν κεράεσσι πολὺς ἀνακηκίει ἱδρώς:
τὼ μέν τε ζυγὸν οἶον ἐΰξοον ἀμφὶς ἐέργει
ἱεμένω κατὰ ὦλκα: τέμει δέ τε τέλσον ἀρούρης:
ὣς τὼ παρβεβαῶτε μάλ᾽ ἕστασαν ἀλλήλοιιν.
Iliad 13.701)
but those by boxing(you) and dancing(you) and singing(you),
(they)remembering you(they delight, gladden, and satisfy)with joy,
delight, gladness, and cheer, that they would make their stand(-up-
right, stand-up, rise-up, begin, stand-still, anew)their struggle,
battle, action, assembly, contest, argument, issue — their AGON.
οἱ δέ σε πυγμαχίῃ τε καὶ ὀρχηθμῷ καὶ ἀοιδῇ
μνησάμενοι τέρπουσιν, ὅτ᾽ ἄν στήσωνται ἀγῶνα.
and he(indeed)would say, to be undying and ageless always,
which thereby would come-and-go to meet,
that Ionians altogether-as-a-body
(o all-together, all-at-once)
would very-well-be;
φαίη κ᾽ ἀθανάτους καὶ ἀγήρως ἔμμεναι αἰεί,
ὃς τόθ᾽ ὑπαντιάσει᾽, ὅτ᾽ Ἰάονες ἀθρόοι εἶεν:
for of all would he see grace, favor, beauty, glory, kindness, good-
will, gratitude, gratification, delight, satisfaction; but he would
take pleasure in, enjoy, rejoice, have full enjoyment in, the thumos
and men — (he)(o he)looking into(upon)beholding — and women
with beautiful girdles(and leashes)and swift ships(with ship-like temple-
dwellings)and of swift-selves, their possessions(property, heirlooms,
“the fur coat grandma wore”, you add, and we say sure, and wealth,
estates, farms, fields, vineyards, materials)both-many-and-both.
πάντων γάρ κεν ἴδοιτο χάριν, τέρψαιτο δὲ θυμὸν
ἄνδρας τ᾽ εἰσορόων καλλιζώνους τε γυναῖκας
νῆάς τ᾽ ὠκείας ἠδ᾽ αὐτῶν κτήματα πολλά.
(just as the beautiful girdles, maybe fur coats too, in the fake-wedding, when
Odysseus has newly-burst-forth from his disguise and slaughtered the suitors,
and the old maid wakes-up Penelope, from a very good sleep, to tell her; and it
must be the happiest of all moments in the whole history of human poetry, after
one of terrifying brutality; but Pen doesnt go to him right away; she holds back
her trust, telling their son that they have signs known only by themselves, to prove
they are(to)(for)(by)each other; and Odysseus pretends to hold a wedding,
to distract the Ithakans from the fact he has just butchered their best youth;
or, as he voices-meta-through:
“but we have killed the prop(support)(stay of the city)(the sunken rock,
reef)(bank)(barrow)(that which keeps a ship steady, ballast,
and also earrings, maybe Heras mulberry ones
from yesterday — ),
those great-most-excellent-ones among(young men)the shoots-
and-consequences of satiety, surfeit, and insolence)in Ithaka;
but those, we have ordered you
to consider(purpose, plan, contrive)(perceive,
observe — watch — guard — beware)."
ἡμεῖς δ᾽ ἕρμα πόληος ἀπέκταμεν, οἳ μέγ᾽ ἄριστοι
κούρων εἰν Ἰθάκῃ: τὰ δέ σε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
but Eurynome cleans all the gore from Odysseus so that hes suffused again
with beauty, as when a craftsman gold-overlays-on-silver; so we again can see
his locks of hair-hung-down like purple hyacinth; so-looking-immortal goes he
to meet Penelope; he calls her strange, she calls him strange; then she tests him,
by telling the maid to bring his bed; and Odysseus proves himself, by saying, you
cant do that, as we made our own bed, so we know it very well; especially by one
particular feature, which only he could accomplish; which was, he built it from
a living tree, roots in the ground; Pen melts into tears and asks him forgive-
ness; Pen-splaining, the jealous gods gave them misery based on how happy
they would have been together, throughout their youth; but there are many men
who would have tried to deceive her, and thats why she has to test him; Pen-
splaining-further, that neither would Helen have gone with Paris, and become
the center of the Trojan war, had she not been so deceived; from which we may
conclude, that she tests him, as taking such precautions now, against
ever being the woman
at the center
of a war;
and then he appears, to her, as welcome as the land to men who are drowning,
and she couldnt let him go from her white-armed, like Heras, earths, embrace;
and Athena holds back time, so that they have enough of it, for tears, for hugs,
for conversation, and Od tells Pen about his sign; until the old-maid Eurynome
dresses their bed for them(probably we should check her out);
but they, as one might put it, “gladly went
together to bed, and their old ritual."
but his voices-meta-through,
“and they(by himself)(by herself)(indeed)thereupon-gladly-welcomed(o gladly-
welcomed ones)of the ancient(couch)bed(lektron)(yous make ancient)(make
it ancient, yous, that which is laid down)(the site, the place)(the rite, the law,
the order)(rule, precept, right)(tribunal,
they)come to walk-about(approach)(reach)(take their way)(visit)(present-
their-self-to)(to come or fall into their hands, approach
as one(we)suppliant, having-reached-home, after
swimming, spinning, and piling-in-
heaps,
their deepmost law
(our zebra-dove)
of peace."
οἱ μὲν ἔπειτα
ἀσπάσιοι λέκτροιο παλαιοῦ θεσμὸν ἵκοντο:
Od. 23.147-296)
but toward this great wonder, of which the rumour(report, fame, glory)never
will it perish(come to an end)(die)(be lost)(undone)(in a state of)(ruin),
those girls(maidens)(nymphs)(daughters)(puppets)(dolls)(pupils of
the eye)(in the hieron)(o girls), who as women we call the Deliades,
of the far-shooting-one, are the handmaids(o handmaids)(dwellings);
cf Phaedrus
πρὸς δὲ τόδε μέγα θαῦμα, ὅου κλέος οὔποτ᾽ ὀλεῖται,
κοῦραι Δηλιάδες, ἑκατηβελέταο θεράπναι:
and those(shes)since(you are already following the dyad-word-song)there
and then, the first(o first)indeed(on the one hand)Apollo(they)would sing
(celebrate, commemorate, make famous, tell over and over again, recite,
repeat, harp upon(him),
)but(on the other hand)back again, anew, in turn,
hereafter, again further(bow wow)(aouuu)
Leto and(indeed)Artemis, pourer-forth-of-arrows,
αἵ τ᾽ ἐπεὶ ἂρ πρῶτον μὲν Ἀπόλλων᾽ ὑμνήσωσιν,
αὖτις δ᾽ αὖ Λητώ τε καὶ Ἄρτεμιν ἰοχέαιραν,
(o shes)remembering(him)and of men(o rearing-up)(rearing)(the rearing-
up into manhood)and of old age(o ageing)(ageing)(the ageing)and
of women(they)sing the hymn,
but(they)work upon by spells and enchantment(bewitch)(charm)(spell-bind)(work
upon by wiles)(cajole)(beguile, deceive, cheat)(charm, delight, ravish)
(by hims-and-theys-enchanting)
the tribes(races, classes, swarms, nations)(of tribes races, classes,
swarms, nations)(by tribes, races, classes, swarms,
nations)of human beings.
μνησάμεναι ἀνδρῶν τε παλαιῶν ἠδὲ γυναικῶν
ὕμνον ἀείδουσιν, θέλγουσι δὲ φῦλ᾽ ἀνθρώπων.
from hymn 3 to Apollo
black milk glass
i look down at the body
to see what shape its in.
earth-born son, turquoise slap
of my mother against the golden-
bangled mother. i let them come.
my dark tongues flickering, my heads
Cancerian fire. every tip would touch you.
the shoulders of a bull, eyelashes lower
over tender pools obsidian. im a cow.
a ticket to the fight. my velvet
suit. warm press of skin.
i drink, i let it come.
dragging behind its un-
translatable blade.
//
Socrates: (in Charmides, cont.)
and in that same spot
i (they) take hold altogether of many
those (on the one hand) unknown by me
those (on the other hand) the most thoroughly-known
// 153α
animal event (at the school of Taureos)
into the animal event
i have been dragged and well
indeed
every year the same, i guess, except
this time
its me
and like the bull, whos horn, whos unbroken
rage
your hand anointed
when they seize the bodied, lashed and harnessed
nerve by muscle to
the craters edge
as trampled roses bruised into the pass
will grind in
to mud by mountain makers hooves
in magenta-black menstrual blood
my terror
my appetite
//
Socrates: (in Charmides, cont.)
and well indeed into the wrestling-
school of Taureos (where bulls are offerings)
straight down from the temple
of the Queen (of whom nothing is known)
// 153α
καὶ δὴ καὶ εἰς τὴν Ταυρέου παλαίστραν
τὴν καταντικρὺ τοῦ τῆς Βασίλης ἱεροῦ εἰσῆλθον