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Θερμοπύλες

Konstandinos Kavafis / Κωνσταντίνος Καβάφης
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English translation by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard
TERMOPILITHERMOPYLAE
  
Onore a quanti in vitaHonor to those who in the life they lead
si ergono a difesa di Termopili.define and guard a Thermopylae.
Mai che dal dovere essi recedanoNever betraying what is right,
in ogni circostanza giusti e retti,consistent and just in all they do
agendo con pietà e con tenerezza,but showing pity also, and compassion;
generosi se ricchi, generosigenerous when they are rich, and when they are poor,
ugualmente quanto possono se poveri,still generous in small ways,
conforme ai loro mezzi sempre sovvenendostill helping as much as they can;
e sempre veritieri ma senz'astioalways speaking the truth,
verso coloro che mentiscono.yet without hating those who lie.
  
E un onore più grande gli è dovutoAnd even more honor is due to them
se prevedono e (molti lo prevedono)when they foresee (as many do foresee)
che spunterà da ultimo un Efialtethat in the end Ephialtis will make his appearance,
e che i Medi finiranno per passare.that the Medes will break through after all.


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