Callimachus 75.30-31

Here you can discuss all things Ancient Greek. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Greek, and more.
Post Reply
vir litterarum
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:04 am
Location: Chicago, IL

Callimachus 75.30-31

Post by vir litterarum »

ὦ̣ Κ̣ή̣υξ, ἀλλ’ ἤν με θέλῃς συμφράδμονα θέσθαι,
..]ν.. τελευτήσεις ὅρκια θυγατέρος·
ἀργύρῳ οὐ μόλιβον γὰρ Ἀκόντιον, ἀλλὰ φαεινῷ
ἤλεκτρον χρυσῷ φημί σε μειξέμεναι.

These lines are a prophesy by Apollo to the father of Cydippe. I want these lines to mean something like, "For I say that Acontius will be mingled with you not as lead with silver, but as amber with gleaming gold." However, isn't μειξέμεναι the future active infinitive, and , if the preceding translation is correct, shouldn't σε be in the dative to correspond with ἀργύρῳ and χρυσῷ? If we do take μειξέμεναι as the future active infinitive, I don't understand with what the σε is being mixed.

NateD26
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 789
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:14 am
Contact:

Re: Callimachus 75.30-31

Post by NateD26 »

[Edited my initial question, because I've found an answer in Smyth.]

I think that σε is the subject [indirect discourse], the father, and Acontius is the direct
object of the verb, with implied indirect object, Cydippe. Middle-liddell has μ. τί τινι,
to mix one thing with another.

"I say that you will join Acontius [with her] not as lead with silver, but as amber with gleaming gold."
Nate.

vir litterarum
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 722
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:04 am
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Callimachus 75.30-31

Post by vir litterarum »

Your translation makes sense; it just seems strange to me that the indirect object would be omitted in this case.

Post Reply