Ἀσπίδι μὲν Σαΐων τις ἀγάλλεται, ἣν παρὰ θάμνῳ,
ἔντος ἀμώμητον, κάλλιπον οὐκ ἐθέλων·
αὐτὸν δ’ ἐξεσάωσα. τί μοι μέλει ἀσπὶς ἐκείνη;
ἐρρέτω· ἐξαῦτις κτήσομαι οὐ κακίω.
(Archilochus fr. 5)
Some Saian* exults in my shield which I left—a faultless weapon—beside a bush against my will. But I saved myself. What do I care about that shield? To hell with it! I’ll get one that’s just as good another time.
* A Thracian tribe.
(tr. Douglas E. Gerber, with his note)
Ἀμφιμεδοῦς θύγατερ
ἐσθλῆς τε καὶ [
γυναικός, ἣν νῦν γῆ κατ’ εὐρώεσσ’ ἔ[χει,
τ]έρψιές εἰσι θεῆς
πολλαὶ νέοισιν ἀνδ[ράσιν
παρὲξ τὸ θεῖον χρῆμα· τῶν τις ἀρκέσε[ι.
τ]αῦτα δ’ ἐπ’ ἡσυχίης εὖτ’ ἂν μελανθη[
ἐ]γώ τε καὶ σὺ σὺν θεῷ βουλεύσομεν·
π]είσομαι ὥς με κέλεαι·
πολλόν μ’ ε[
θρ]ιγκοῦ δ’ ἔνερθε καὶ πυλέων ὑποφ[
μ]ή τι μέγαιρε φίλη· σχήσω γὰρ ἐς ποη[φόρους
κ]ήπους.
(Archilochus, fr. 196a.10-24)
Daughter of Amphimedo,
an excellent and …
woman, whom now the
mouldy earth holds,
there are many sexual delights of
the goddess for young men
besides The Divine Thing. One of them will be enough.
About these things, quietly,
when it becomes dark,
you and I, with the god’s help, will take counsel.
I will obey as you command me.
Much … me …
Under the coping-stone, under the gates …
Do not begrudge anything, dear girl,
for I will come to a halt in the grassy gardens.
(tr. Marguerite Johnson & Terry Ryan)
Crambe Repetita 