Translated by Peter Dale Scott and Czeslaw Milosz
On 30/1/08 5:01 AM, "Frederick Pollack" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Why the Classics
> by Zbigniew Herbert
>
> 1
> in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian War
> Thucydides tells among other things
> the story of his unsuccessful expedition
>
> among long speeches of chiefs
> battles sieges plague
> dense net of intrigues of diplomatic endeavours
> the episode is like a pin
> in a forest
>
> the Greek colony Amphipolis
> fell into the hands of Brasidos
> because Thucydides was late with relief
>
> for this he paid his native city
> with lifelong exile
>
> exiles of all times
> know what price that is
>
> 2
> generals of the most recent wars
> if a similar affair happens to them
> whine on their knees before posterity
> praise their heroism and innocence
>
> they accuse their subordinates
> envious colleagues
> unfavourable winds
>
> Thucydides says only
> that he had seven ships
> it was winter
> and he sailed quickly
>
> 3
> if art for its subject
> will have a broken jar
> a small broken soul
> with a great self-pity
>
> what will remain after us
> will be like lovers weeping
> in a small dirty hotel
> when wall-paper dawns
--
|