Θερμοπύλες Τιμή σ' εκείνους όπου στην ζωή των
ώρισαν και φυλάγουν Θερμοπύλες.
Ποτέ από το χρέος μη κινούντες·
δίκαιοι κ' ίσοι σ' όλες των τες πράξεις,
αλλά με λύπη κιόλας κ' ευσπλαχνία·
γενναίοι οσάκις είναι πλούσιοι
κι όταν είναι πτωχοί,
πάλ' εις μικρόν γενναίοι,
πάλι συντρέχοντες όσο μπορούνε·
πάντοτε την αλήθεια ομιλούντες,
πλην χωρίς μίσος για τους ψευδομένους.
Και περισσότερη τιμή τους πρέπει
όταν προβλέπουν (και πολλοί προβλέπουν)
πως ο Εφιάλτης θα φανεί στο τέλος
κ' οι Μήδοι επί τέλους θα διαβούνε.
Κωνσταντίνος Π. Καβάφης
********
Termopylae
Onore a quelli che nella loro vita
hanno giurato di custodire Termopylae
e non muoversi mai dal dovere
con Giustizia ed isonomia
in tutte le loro azioni
ma anche con pietà e compassione,
generosi quando sono ricchi
ma anche quando son poveri,
nel loro piccolo sono generosi,
soccorrendo al possibile;
sempre sinceri nella loro parola
senza però odio per chi mente.
Grande onore gli è dovuto
quando prevendono
(e molti provvedono)
che Efialta si appare alla fine
e i Midi passerano....
Konstantinos Kavafis
Trad. Lunapiena
Thermopylae
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήHonor to those who in the life they lead
define and guard a Thermopylae.
Never betraying what is right,
consistent and just in all they do
but showing pity also, and compassion;
generous when they're rich, and when they're poor,
still generous in small ways,
still helping as much as they can;
always speaking the truth,
yet without hating those who lie.
And even more honor is due to them
when they foresee (as many do foresee)
that Ephialtis will turn up in the end,
that the Medes will break through after all.
Translated by
Edmund Keeley & Philip Sherrard