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Originally posted by elijah
What about mine? *elijah dons flame-retardant suit in preparation for Agathons reply*
What about mine? *elijah dons flame-retardant suit in preparation for Agathons reply*
I was going to do you the service of a full reply, but I didn't have time before I went to the UK and I've spent the time since I got back preparing for a course I am teaching. I've had to translate Parmenides' poem from scratch (because the students can't afford a book), which is hard since I've never really translated verse before.
This is how it sounds in English and is about as best I can do without destroying the original sense and structure.
… and a single story of a path still
Remains – that it is; and set over this there are
Very many signs, that what is, is ungenerated and indestructible,
A whole both single limbed and unmoved and complete;
Nor was it once nor will it be, since it is now entirely altogether,
One, continuous; for what birth of it will you seek?
In what way, whence, did it grow? Not from not-being shall I allow
You to say or think; for it is not utterable or thinkable
That it is not. What need might incite it to grow
Later or earlier, when beginning from nothing?
Thus, either it must be completely or not [be at all].
Nor will the strength of trust ever permit something out of being
To come to be beside it; For this reason neither for coming to be
Nor destruction does Justice allow slackening her shackles.
Remains – that it is; and set over this there are
Very many signs, that what is, is ungenerated and indestructible,
A whole both single limbed and unmoved and complete;
Nor was it once nor will it be, since it is now entirely altogether,
One, continuous; for what birth of it will you seek?
In what way, whence, did it grow? Not from not-being shall I allow
You to say or think; for it is not utterable or thinkable
That it is not. What need might incite it to grow
Later or earlier, when beginning from nothing?
Thus, either it must be completely or not [be at all].
Nor will the strength of trust ever permit something out of being
To come to be beside it; For this reason neither for coming to be
Nor destruction does Justice allow slackening her shackles.
I will sit down and have a look at your stuff sometime though.
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st_swithin: please don't claim you are a slut on this board. Most people here are utterly sex starved and will be wanting your phone number.
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