I took a picture of the plaque outside the Utopian Café in Plaka on Melos with the idea that I would decipher later, at my desk. Here I am but I cannot decipher it so I am asking bleaders to help. What does it all mean?
Post your suggestions with this item please. My thanks to those that pause to have a look.
One thought on “Help in translation”
Comments are closed.
Two translations from Damian Grace and his colleague Michaelis. They have pointed me to the right spot in the text of Thomas More’s work. My thanks to them.
A short metre of Utopia, written by Anemolius poet laureate and nephew to Hythloday by his sister
The More Literal
Me Utopie cleped Antiquity,
Void of haunt and herborough,
Now am I like to Plato¹s city,
Whose fame flieth the world thorough;
Yea, like, or rather more likely Plato¹s plat to excel and pass.
For what Plato¹s pen hath platted briefly In naked words, as in a glass, The same have I performed fully, With laws, with men, and treasure fitly.
Wherefore not Utopie, but rather rightly My name is Eutopie: a place of felicity.
More schematic
Once my name was no-place/
A country where no-one goes/
But now I battle Plato’s Republic/
perhaps to outdo her/
For what was fantasy for Plato I have made real/
With men, riches and splendid laws./
A country that wise men justly call Utopia.