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Θερμοπύλες

Konstandinos Kavafis / Κωνσταντίνος Καβάφης
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OriginalEnglish translation by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard
ΘΕΡΜΟΠΎΛΕΣTHERMOPYLAE
  
Τιμὴ σ' ἐκείνους ὅπου στὴν ζωή τωνHonor to those who in the life they lead
ὥρισαν καὶ φυλάγουν Θερμοπύλες.define and guard a Thermopylae.
Ποτὲ απὸ τὸ χρέος μὴ κινοῦντες·Never betraying what is right,
δίκαιοι κι ἴσιοι σ' ὅλες των τὲς πράξεις,consistent and just in all they do
ἀλλά μὲ λύπη κιόλας κ' εὐσπλαχνία·but showing pity also, and compassion;
γενναῖοι ὁσάκις εἶναι πλούσιοι,generous when they are rich, and when they are poor,
κι ὅταν εἶναι πτωχοί, πάλ' εἰς μικρὸν γενναῖοι,still generous in small ways,
πάλι συντρέχοντες ὅσο μποροῦνε·still helping as much as they can;
πάντοτε τὴν ἀλήθεια ὁμιλοῦντες,always speaking the truth,
πλὴν χωρὶς μῖσος γιὰ τοὺς ψευδομένους.yet without hating those who lie.
  
Καὶ περισσότερη τιμὴ τοὺς πρέπειAnd even more honor is due to them
ὅταν προβλέπουν (καὶ πολλοὶ προβλέπουν)when they foresee (as many do foresee)
πὼς ὁ Ἐφιάλτης θὰ φανεῖ στὸ τέλος,that in the end Ephialtis will make his appearance,
κ' οἱ Μῆδοι ἐπὶ τέλους θὰ διαβοῦνε.that the Medes will break through after all.


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