translation with δὲ as a linking device

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hello. I’m new here and dusting off my Greek after 20+ years. The text below comes from “Reading Greek” published by Cambridge University Press both in the 1st and second editions. This passage is the 1st in the text and comes from a story called “The insurance fraud”.
The structure I want to understand better is “δὲ” which, according to the notes in the text, is used a linking device when separated by intervening words, and also this structure exists when not separated by intervening words. Not sure what that means. There are multiple occurences of δὲ below which function as a linking device, and are enclosed by brackets. Interestingly enough δὲ appears in a non-linking fashion several times within this passage. I did notice in the margins of book I had written that δὲ used as a linking device in this passage does not translate.

τὸ πλοῖον ἐστιν ἐω Βυζαντίῳ. Ἐν [δὲ] Βυζαντίῳ, ὁ Ἡγέστρατος βαίνει εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, ἒπειτα ὁ Ζηνόθεμις βαίνει εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, τέλος δὲ ὁ κυβερνήτης καὶ ὁ ναῦται εἰσβαίνουσιν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον. Τὸ [δὲ] πλοῖον πλεῖ εἰς Χίον. Ἐν δὲ Χίῳ, ῥαψῳδὸς εἰςβαίνει. Ἒπειτα δὲ πλεῖ τὸ πλοῖον εἰς Εὒβοιαν. Ἐν [δὲ] Εὐβοία, εἰβαίνει ὀ Δικαιόπολις.

2

I do not like to call it a device, but yes δε habitually serves to link successive sentences or parts of sentences. Its function is the same throughout the passage you excerpt, both where you put it in square brockets and where you don’t. English practice is different, and when translating from Greek to English you have to decide whether to translate δε or not (and if so, how). But in Greek its role is consistent all across the board.

3

Thanks for your reply.

I just read the notes from the 2nd edition, and it says that this is phased out after “noun types and cases are learnt.”

Now I can get back to my studies!