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Sidgwick First Greek Writer XXXVII

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 4:02 pm
by jeidsath
I've found that accents are mostly a distraction during composition. So when I'm working with pen and paper, I've been writing everything down, and then going back and adding accents throughout. This is harder to do with the computer, so I haven't done it. I can go through and start adding them though. I have noticed that the pen and paper exercise is very good for helping me remember the accents (unlike typing them on a computer, which doesn't seem to make them stick).

Vocabulary

τριβω, πεποιημενος, χαλκος, επικειται, δη, προς, δος, ψευδης, μαρτυριον, πραγμα, συνηκα

Exercise

And the archer said: 'All these things are so, as I suspected.

και ο τοξοτης παντα εφη αληθη εστι ωσπερ υπωπτευσα.

For the ducats which you supposed to be golden, having rubbed them with the touchstone, I have often seen already:

τους γαρ στατηρας ους τηι βασανωι τριψας ενομισας χρυσους ειναι, πολλακις ηδη ειδον·

and they are not golden at all but false, made out of copper:

εκεινοι μεν εισι ου χρυσοι το παραπαν, ψευδεις δ’ εισι πεποιημενοι χαλκωι·

[Sidgwick's εκ χαλκου in the key seems better, but does the dative work?]

but there is gold on the top (say 'lies on them'), so that the touchstone is of course useless with respect to such (coins).

αλλα χρυσος επικειται τοις στατηρσι ωστε η βασανος δη ανωφελης εστι προς τοιουτους.

[Sidgwick's ανωφελης δη instead of η βασανος δη seems better]

But give me the sham gold, which shall give me evidence against the thief.'

ο δε ψευδης χρυσος δος μοι ως δωσει μαρτυριον μοι κατα του κλεπτου.

And taking the ten ducats he went off quickly, as though after Theros.

τους δεκα στατηρας λαβων εξηλθε ταχυ ως του Θερου.

But the dealer remained many days, hoping to see the archer coming back with the jewel and the thief.

ο δε καπηλος εμενε πολλας ημερας ελπιζων οραν τον τοξοτην ηκοντα συν τηι λιθωι τε και τωι κλεπτηι.

But as neither came any more, at last he understood the matter:

αλλα ως ουκετι ηλθε ουδετερος, τελος το πραγμα συνηκε·

for the archer was a friend to the thief, and these had devised the affair.

ο γαρ τοξοτης τωι κλεπτηι φιλος ην και ουτοι τα πραγμα εμηχανησαντο.

Re: Sidgwick First Greek Writer XXXVII

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:46 am
by mwh
και ο τοξοτης παντα εφη αληθη εστι ωσπερ υπωπτευσα.
ταυτα εφη παντα or ταυτα παντα εφη.
Not αληθη. The English means “just as.” You need οὕτως, correlative with ὡς.
υπωπτευον impf. He already had the suspicion.

εκεινοι μεν εισι ου χρυσοι το παραπαν, ψευδεις δ’ εισι πεποιημενοι χαλκωι·
εκεινοι μεν misplaces the emphasis; and εκεινοι μεν … ψευδεις δε … has no balance. και is enough; or here ουδ’ εισι χρυσεοι, or better και χρυσεοι ουκ εισιν (ουδαμως), fronting χρυσεοι. Then αλλα! (ouk A αλλα B)
made of εκ (made from), made with (a hammer, great skill) dat.

αλλα χρυσος επικειται τοις στατηρσι ωστε η βασανος δη ανωφελης εστι προς τοιουτους.
Not αλλα: δε or asyndeton.
Better without τοις στατ., this is just a continuation.
δη after η βασανος would make that ironic (wrong, because it does function as a touchstone), after ανωφελης it could be but isn’t. (“just useless,” “useless”)

ο δε ψευδης χρυσος δος μοι ως δωσει μαρτυριον μοι κατα του κλεπτου.
Nom. for acc.?!
Here αλλα is called for. (V. common with imperatives, a bit brusque, as if to say “Enough chit-chat. Just give me ...”)
ὅς(περ) or ὄς γε (“since it”) better than ὡς.

τους δεκα στατηρας λαβων εξηλθε ταχυ ως του Θερου.
Connective needed, και
εξηλθε means he went out. He went off, away, needs απο, cf. previous exercise.
ταχυ ok after rather than before verb since it coheres closely with ως … (Magic prayers/wishes/curses often end ταχυ ταχυ.)
Not του Θερου: επι or μετα τον Θ. or διωκων τον Θ.

ο δε καπηλος εμενε πολλας ημερας ελπιζων οραν τον τοξοτην ηκοντα συν τηι λιθωι τε και τωι κλεπτηι.
εμενε or εμεινε (waited and went on waiting) both fine; better following the adverbial πολλας ημερας. It should always be clear what goes with what.
οραν better ιδειν, see, catch sight of, not go on seeing.
ηκοντα ok here; or e.g. επανερχομενον.

αλλα ως ουκετι ηλθε ουδετερος, τελος το πραγμα συνηκε·
Not αλλα: δε.
ουδετερος reads oddly after τον τοξ. (acc.) and συν τη λιθω τε και τω κλεπτη (two conjoined items). So does the English but less so.
Do not write ηλθε ουδ- instead of ηλθεν ουδ- (or ηλθ’ουδ-). It grates. Similarly in previous exercises where I didn’t comment. Learn to compose aloud, or at least read out what you’ve written with an ear for the flow. Sensitize yourself to hiatus.

If any of this is at variance with Sidgwick, follow him not me.

----------
A propos, the tailpiece of Medea’s splendidly vituperative speech to Jason who’s dumped her (Eur.Med.516-19):
ὦ Ζεῦ, τί δὴ χρυσοῦ μὲν ὃς κίβδηλος ᾖ
τεκμήρι᾽ ἀνθρώποισιν ὤπασας σαφῆ,
ἀνδρῶν δ᾽ ὅτῳ χρὴ τὸν κακὸν διειδέναι
οὐδεὶς χαρακτὴρ ἐμπέφυκε σώματι;