Pashley, Robert: Travels in Crete (Band 2) (Cambridge und London, 1837)

144

cretan song

[chap.

Then, offering up another prayer,
The cross's sign he made:

His pistols next he duly took
And in his girdle laid.

Scarce had he vaulted in his seat,
When wept his charger good ;

And then he understood full well
His death it did forbode.

He offered up another prayer,

And in his saddle sate;
Then onward spurred his trusty steed

From out the castle gate.

Kat Koivet TiapanaXeaiv

KCLl TO (TTClVpOV TOV KCtV€l,

tcai Tnavet ti Trta-ToXta tov,
eU Trjv \xeerr\v tov tk fiavei.

'Qvtev CKa/3a\\'tK6ve

txAaie t a\o<yo tov'
KCtl Toreca to eyvwpLtre
7ra>? eivat 6 6ai/aTO$ tov.

Of the truth of this incident I was assured by many other Cretan peasants,
besides those from whom I learnt the song. The notion is full three thousand
years old, and is beautifully expressed by Homer, II. xvii. 43f>.

nQs fievov a(T(/>aXe'co5 TrcptKaWea £itppov eyovTe,
oijcei cl/lffKi/li/mi/TC KaptjaTa' SaKpva 6e trtpi
6epp.cz KdTct p\e(pdpwi> xajua<5is pec p.vpop.evouir,
ijvloxolo TroQj]' daXepil <5e pialveTO xaiTTj.

The Cretan poet, however, endues his steed not with mere human affections,
but with foreknowledge of the fate which was about to befal his rider.

*']LKavE TTClpaKaXecTLV,

GTrjv treWav tov KauifGi'
2ou'Sei piT^id t clXoyov tov,

61? TtJV TTOpTO. '^toTTOp'lfel.