Chorus of Cloud Maidens

TRANSLATIONS

CHORUS OF CLOUD MAIDENS

(Ἀριστοφανους Νεφέλαι, 275-290, 298-313.)

ΣΤΡΟΦΗ

Cloud maidens that float on for ever,

      Dew-sprinkled, fleet bodies, and fair,

Let us rise from our Sire's loud river,

                  Great Ocean, and soar through the air

To the peaks of the pine-covered mountains where the pines hang as tresses of hair.

            Let us seek the watch-towers undaunted,

                  Where the well-watered corn-fields abound,

            And through murmurs of rivers nymph-haunted

                  The songs of the sea-waves resound;

And the sun in the sky never wearies of spreading his radiance around.

                              Let us cast off the haze

                                    Of the mists from our band,

                              Till with far-seeing gaze

                                    We may look on the land.......

ΑΝΤΙΣΤΡΟΦΗ

Cloud maidens that bring the rain-shower,

      To the Pallas-loved land let us wing,

To the land of stout heroes and Power,

      Where Kekrops was hero and king,

Where honour and silence is given

      To the mysteries that none may declare,

Where are gifts to the high gods in heaven

      When the house of the gods is laid bare,

Where are lofty roofed temples, and statues well carven and fair;

      Where are feasts to the happy immortals

When the sacred procession draws near,

      Where garlands make bright the bright portals

At all seasons and months in the year;

      And when spring days are here,

Then we tread to the wine-god a measure,

      In Bacchanal dance and in pleasure,

'Mid the contests of sweet singing choirs,

      And the crash of loud lyres.