Ἀκμὴ καλεῖ
a moment is calling
Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 7 Nov 2000 · Vetting: high · 8 revisions
Translation
[Meaning] an opportunity is calling.1
So Aelian said [this] about urgency: "At the instant of his pain and suffering, he did not know the road that would take him there [sc. to the god]. If he was commanded in a dream to sacrifice to someone, he still was contemptuous of these things and ignorant of them and materialistic."2
"At the instant of the evil came some memory of the Samothracians: for that is where the two were initiates."3 Instead ofu(ph=rxon in the dual.
And elsewhere: "I lost the use of my eyes in many tears for a moment."4 And elsewhere Aelian [writes]: "and our very power is balanced on a razor's edge."5
So Aelian said [this] about urgency: "At the instant of his pain and suffering, he did not know the road that would take him there [sc. to the god]. If he was commanded in a dream to sacrifice to someone, he still was contemptuous of these things and ignorant of them and materialistic."2
"At the instant of the evil came some memory of the Samothracians: for that is where the two were initiates."3 Instead of
And elsewhere: "I lost the use of my eyes in many tears for a moment."4 And elsewhere Aelian [writes]: "and our very power is balanced on a razor's edge."5
Greek original
Ἀκμὴ καλεῖ· καιρὸς καλεῖ. ἐπὶ οὖν τῆς ὀξύτητος Αἰλιανός φησιν· ἐν ἀκμῇ δὲ ὢν τῆς τε ὀδύνης καὶ ὧν ἤλγει, οὐκ ᾔδει τὴν ὁδὸν τὴν πορεύουσαν εἰς αὐτοῦ. εἰ δέ τινι καὶ θῦσαι ἐξ ἐνυπνίου ἐκελεύετο, καὶ τούτων ὀλίγωρος ἦν φύσει τε ἀμαθὴς ὢν καὶ φιλοχρήματος. ἐν ἀκμῇ τοῦ κακοῦ μνήμη τις εἰσῆλθε τῶν Σαμοθρᾴκων· καὶ γὰρ οὖν τετελεσμένω αὐτοῖς ἤστην. ἀντὶ τοῦ ὑπῆρχον δυϊκῶς. καὶ αὖθις· ὑπὸ πολλῶν δακρύων τὴν ἀκμὴν τῶν ὀμμάτων ἀφῄρημαι. καὶ αὖθις Αἰλιανός· καὶ αὐτὸ τὸ κράτος ἐπὶ ξυροῦ ἀκμῆς ἦν.
Betacode
*)akmh\ kalei=: kairo\s kalei=. e)pi\ ou)=n th=s o)cu/thtos *ai)liano/s fhsin: e)n a)kmh=| de\ w)\n th=s te o)du/nhs kai\ w(=n h)/lgei, ou)k h)/|dei th\n o(do\n th\n poreu/ousan ei)s au)tou=. ei) de/ tini kai\ qu=sai e)c e)nupni/ou e)keleu/eto, kai\ tou/twn o)li/gwros h)=n fu/sei te a)maqh\s w)\n kai\ filoxrh/matos. e)n a)kmh=| tou= kakou= mnh/mh tis ei)sh=lqe tw=n *samoqra/|kwn: kai\ ga\r ou)=n tetelesme/nw au)toi=s h)/sthn. a)nti\ tou= u(ph=rxon dui+kw=s. kai\ au)=qis: u(po\ pollw=n dakru/wn th\n a)kmh\n tw=n o)mma/twn a)fh/|rhmai. kai\ au)=qis *ai)liano/s: kai\ au)to\ to\ kra/tos e)pi\ curou= a)kmh=s h)=n.
Notes (4)
- [1] The headword is a proverbial-sounding phrase which, beyond this opening gloss (also in Photius and other lexica), is lost sight of in the entry which follows. It comes from Euripides, Hecuba 1042.↩
- 2Aelian fr. 44b Domingo-Forasté, 41 Hercher (on the invalid Nikanor). ↩
- 3Aelian fr. 93e D-F (90 Hercher). For the Samothracian mystery-rites see sigma 79. ↩
- 4Quotation unidentifiable. ↩
- 5Aelian fr. 132 D-F (129 Hercher); cf. epsilon 2498.
Neighbours in Adler order
Revisions (8)
- David Whitehead
- Catharine Rothupdated links
- David Whiteheadtweaks and cosmetics
- David Whiteheadtweaked headword and tr; augmented what is now n.1, and and keywords; betacoding
- David Whiteheadanother keyword
- David Whiteheadmodified translation; augmented notes and keywords; restorative and other cosmetics
- Jennifer Benedicttranslated