Humanitext Reader

Theocritus · Epigrams §15.1-15.4

Eurymedon's Tomb and the Wayfarer's Respect

Passage 15 of 25 · Greek

Summary

The speaker observes whether the wayfarer honors the good by seeing if they will wish peace to the tomb of Eurymedon, which lies lightly over his sacred head.

§15.1γνώσομαι, εἴ τι νέμεις ἀγαθοῖς πλέον, ἢ καὶ ὁ δειλὸς §15.2ἐκ σέθεν ὡσαύτως ἶσον ὁδοιπόρʼ ἔχει.
Wayfarer, I shall know whether you allot anything more to the good, or if the coward also receives from you an equal share in like manner.
§15.3χαιρέτω οὗτος ὁ τύμβος" ἐρεῖς "ἐπεὶ Εὐρυμέδοντος §15.4κεῖται τῆς ἱερῆς κοῦφος ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς.
"Farewell, this tomb," you will say, "since for Eurymedon it lies light above his sacred head."

Notes

  1. §15.2ὁδοιπόρʼ — Elision of ὁδοιπόρε (vocative of ὁδοιπόρος, 'wayfarer'). It marks a direct address to the traveler.
  2. §15.2ἐκ σέθεν — σέθεν is a poetic and epic form of the second person singular genitive, equivalent to the standard σοῦ, meaning 'from you'.
  3. §15.4κοῦφος — A nominative adjective ('light') agreeing with the subject of the previous line, οὗτος ὁ τύμβος ('this tomb'), functioning adverbially with κεῖται ('lies light'). This reflects the traditional epitaphic motif wishing that the earth or tombstone lie lightly upon the deceased.

Cite this passage

Theocritus, Epigrams §15.1-15.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0005.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.1-15.4

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