TRANSLATION OF THE FAMOUS GREEK WAR SONG, Δεύτε παῖδες τῶν Ἑλλήνων, Written by Riga, who 'perished in the attempt to revolutionize Greece. The following translation is as literal as the author could make it in verse; it is of the same measure as that of the original. See vol. i. p. 190. 1. SONS of the Greeks, arise! The glorious hour's gone forth, And, worthy of such ties, Display who gave us birth. CHORUS. Sons of Greeks! let us go In arms against the foe, Till their hated blood shall flow In a river past our feet. 2. Then manfully despising The Turkish tyrant's yoke, Let your country see you rising, And all her chains are broke. TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAIC SONG, 66 Μπενω μες σ' περιβόλι I have The song from which this is taken is a great favourite with the young girls of Athens of all classes. Their manner of singing it is by verses in rotation, the whole number present joining in the chorus. heard it frequently at our "xópo" in the winter of 1810-11. The air is plaintive and pretty. 1. I ENTER thy garden of roses, Each morning where Flora reposes, Oh, Lovely! thus low I implore thee, Receive this fond truth from my tongue, Which utters its song to adore thee, But the loveliest garden grows hateful But when drunk to escape from thy malice, My heart from these horrors to save: As the chief who to combat advances Secure of his conquest before, Thus thou, with those eyes for thy lances, Ah, tell me, my soul! must I perish By pangs which a smile would dispel? Would the hope, which thou once bad'st me cherish, For torture repay me too well? Now sad is the garden of roses, Beloved but false Haideé! There Flora all wither'd reposes, And mourns o'er thine absence with me. |