Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Zelus Domus Tuae Comedit Me
Euripides, Ion 102-111 (tr. Ronald Frederick Willetts):
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As for myself, mine is the task
I have always done since my childhood.
With these branches of bay and these sacred
garlands I will brighten Apollo's
portals, cleanse the floor with
sprinklings of water,
put to flight with my arrows the birds
that foul the offerings.
Since I have neither mother nor father,
I revere the temple of Phoebus
that has nursed me.
ἡμεῖς δέ, πόνους οὓς ἐκ παιδὸς
μοχθοῦμεν ἀεί, πτόρθοισι δάφνης
στέφεσίν θ᾽ ἱεροῖς ἐσόδους Φοίβου
καθαρὰς θήσομεν ὑγραῖς τε πέδον 105
ῥανίσιν νοτερόν· πτηνῶν τ᾽ ἀγέλας,
αἳ βλάπτουσιν σέμν᾽ ἀναθήματα,
τόξοισιν ἐμοῖς φυγάδας θήσομεν·
ὡς γὰρ ἀμήτωρ ἀπάτωρ τε γεγὼς
τοὺς θρέψαντας 110
Φοίβου ναοὺς θεραπεύω.