Vox Populi 2023

Composing Epic Poetry
John-Ellis, Lower Sixth
from ἡ Οὐλσινεία: Ulsinea (v. 136-150)
σίγησεν δ’ αὖ Γαβριήλ· μᾶλλον δ’ ἀνά χεῖρας
But Gabriel was silent in response; rather, he lifted up his hands
κρούσεν ἄγων, παράδειγμα δ’ ἔτριψεν ἐς οὔτι οὗ ἧκεν.
and clapped, and the paradigm crumbled into the naught whence it came.
Γαβριήλ δὲ κρινοστέφανος στῆθος μεγαλαύχει
And Gabriel of the lily garland began to boast his chest,
δῖον ὁρᾶν· αὔξῃ ὠλενῶν πόδε γυμνώ ἀνεῖχον.
godly to behold; with the expanse of his arms, his unshod feet began to arise.
κρᾶτ’ ἀνέκυψε κόμην δ’ ἀγαπηθεῖσαν καθέηκεν
He tilted back his head and let down his pampered hair
λουθεῖσάν τ’ Ἐδὲμ ὑδρηλῇ ὑγρήν τε ἀλοιφῇ
which had been bathed in watery Eden and was moist with ointment
Σουμερίης τετραρειθρώδευς πολυχρύσου Εὐιλάτ.
from Sumer of the four bounding streams and Havilah, rich in gold;
ἠΰτε πέρ ῥεθομαλίδας οὔπω ὀπωρῃ ἔτ’ Εὔα
just as when apple-cheeked Eve, still not yet in any way tainted by the fruit,
κως μυσαρή, ἐκ Σόλλακος εἶσ’ ἐπί ἀνέρι καλή,
cometh forth from the Sollax as a beauty for her husband,
οἷ δὲ δίδωσιν ἔλαιον ἑκών μενοεικέσι χερσίν,
and he willingly offers her olive oil with his agreeable hands,
ὄφρα φέρῃ κτένα βωλοκόπον βλοσυρῆς διά χαίτης
that she may lead her clod-breaking comb through her shaggy mane,
ᾄσσομένης μελανοπλοκάμου λείῳ κατά νώτῳ.
which flutters in black tresses down her smooth back.
ἐσθλή ἐπόψει Εὔα ποιητῶ παντετοκυῖα,
And Eve, mother of all, is good in the sight of her Maker,
εὐώδης θρέμμασσιν, ἅ ἦρος ἀνεῖκε χίμαιρα·
sweet to the smell of nurslings, whom the nanny-goat hath borne in the spring;
καὶ ὥς ἐν ὕπνῳ Γαβριήλ ᾐωρέετ’ αἰπύς.
even so was Gabriel suspended, lofty in trance.
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