Phaedrus
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and it’s clear
that if it seems good to those
they will reckon (poiein) these badly
/
and it’s clear
that if it seems good to those
they will treat (poiein) these badly
// 231ξ
καὶ δῆλον ὅτι ἐὰν ἐκείνοις δοκῇ καὶ τούτους κακῶς ποιήσουσιν
//
and chickpea
wings
of canny
vegan haggis
for tasty char-
coal catnip
and the heavenly
near-
march
sphere
of irrepressible spring
(of
2d
cold-
pressed)
potent-
ate
jostlewagging
//
should have been napping
doodle
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
that however many
they may later love
they will make more of those
than of these
// 231ξ
ὅτι ὅσων ἂν ὕστερον ἐρασθῶσιν ἐκείνους αὐτῶν περὶ πλείονος ποιήσονται
//
cumin & chili
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
it is easy to know
if they speak the true
// 231ξ
ῥᾴδιον γνῶναι εἰ ἀληθῆ λέγουσιν
//
ἀληθής or alethes is usually translated as “true” but means literally unconcealed or unhidden (a - lethos “concealment”) —
if they speak (the) unhidden
the idea that what is true is what is unhidden is well-matched by Heraclitus fragment B123 —
φύσις κρύπτεσθαι φιλεῖ
nature loves to hide
which is another memorable triple-shot
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and they are ready
by speeches and deeds
incurring the hatred of others
to please the beloved ones
// 231ξ
καὶ ἕτοιμοί εἰσι καὶ ἐκ τῶν λόγων καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀπεχθανόμενοι τοῖς ἐρωμένοις χαρίζεσθαι
//
black sesame milk
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
that they claim
they most love (philein)
those whom they love (eran)
// 231ξ
ὅτι τούτους μάλιστά φασιν φιλεῖν ὧν ἂν ἐρῶσιν
//
philos and eros
cacao and sea salt
or the dog
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
furthermore, if it is worthy
through this (eros and/or the following argument)
to make (poiein)
lovers (eran)
worth much
// 231β
ἔτι δὲ εἰ διὰ τοῦτο ἄξιον τοὺς ἐρῶντας περὶ πολλοῦ ποιεῖσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
but to make or do (poiein)
zealously (prothumos)
whatever they suppose
will gratify them (charizomai)
when they have gone through with it (prassein)
// 231β
ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ποιεῖν προθύμως ὅτι ἂν αὐτοῖς οἴωνται πράξαντες χαριεῖσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
so with such great evils
stripped away
// 231β
ὥστε περιῃρημένων τοσούτων κακῶν
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
nor (do they) place blame
for differences with relations (prosekein)
(through this)
// 231β
οὔτε τὰς πρὸς τοὺς προσήκοντας διαφορὰς αἰτιάσασθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
nor (do they) keep count (hupo-logizomai)
of the troubles (ponos)
that have come and gone (para-erchomai)
(through this)
// 231β
οὔτε τοὺς παρεληλυθότας πόνους ὑπολογίζεσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
but for the non-loving (me erosin)
the lack of care taken (a-meleia)
for their own things (oikeios)
through this (eros)
is not used as an excuse (prophasizomai)
// 231β
τοῖς δὲ μὴ ἐρῶσιν οὔτε τὴν τῶν οἰκείων ἀμέλειαν διὰ τοῦτο ἔστιν προφασίζεσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
they suppose long ago
they have paid back the worth of the grace (charis)
to the beloveds (eromenois, pass. part. of eran)
// 231β
ἡγοῦνται πάλαι τὴν ἀξίαν ἀποδεδωκέναι χάριν τοῖς ἐρωμένοις
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and attributing (to the beloveds) what trouble they have had
// 231α
καὶ ὃν εἶχον πόνον προστιθέντες
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
furthermore the loving (erontes, part. of eran)
examine (skopein) both
those (things) of their own
they have badly composed
through love (eros)
and those well-written
/
furthermore the loving (erontes, part. of eran)
examine (skopein) both
those (matters) of their own
they have disposed of badly
through love (eros)
and the benefactions done
// 231α
ἔτι δὲ οἱ μὲν ἐρῶντες σκοποῦσιν ἅ τε κακῶς διέθεντο τῶν αὑτῶν διὰ τὸν ἔρωτα καὶ ἃ πεποιήκασιν εὖ
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
as they
have deliberated best
about their own things (oikeios)
// 231α
ὡς ἂν ἄριστα περὶ τῶν οἰκείων βουλεύσαιντο
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
for not by force but willingly
// 231α
οὐ γὰρ ὑπ᾽ ἀνάγκης ἀλλ᾽ ἑκόντες
//
upon reflection this poem was influenced by a question received via email, “how did you come to learn Ancient Greek?”
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
but for these
there is no time
in which it is fitting
to change their mind (meta-gignoskein)
// 231α
τοῖς δὲ οὐκ ἔστι χρόνος ἐν ᾧ μεταγνῶναι προσήκει
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
for those (erastes/lovers?)
then regret (meta-melomai)
what they may have well made (eu poiein)
whenever they cease from desire (epithumia)
// 231α
ὡς ἐκείνοις μὲν τότε μεταμέλει ὧν ἂν εὖ ποιήσωσιν ἐπειδὰν τῆς ἐπιθυμίας παύσωνται
//
poiein can mean to make or to do; so eu poiein (“well made”) may refer to good poetry or to “benefactions” (implicitly, favors or gifts from a lover).