Zuntz: Lesson 7

Greek Learning Greek
1

Χαίρετε!

The next lesson in Zuntz has a few practice sentences where I have some doubts. It would be nice to get some feedback. Thank you!

3. English to Greek translation*
f) Ich lehrte das Kind das Beste.
I was teaching the child what is best.
Ἐδίδασκον τὸ παιδίον τὰ ἄριστα.

g) Wir lehrten die Kinder das Beste.
We were teaching the children what is best.
Ἐδιδάσκομεν τὰ παιδία τὰ ἄριστα.

4. Greek to English translation
B2 Ἀπ’ ἐχθρῶν πολλὰ μανθάνουσιν οἱ σοφοί.
Die Klugen lernen viel von ihren Feinden.
The wise learn much from their enemies.

C3 Τί μακρὰ δεῖ λέγειν;
Warum soll man lange reden?
Why is it necessary to make long speeches?

D Ἀθηναίοις οὐ νόμος ἐστὶν ἀνθρώπους θύειν, Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ θύουσιν.
Es ist nicht Brauch bei den Athenern, Menschen zu opfern; die Karthager hingegen führen (solche) Opferungen durch.
It is not a custom of the Athenians to sacrifice humans; the Carthagians, however, perform (such) sacrifices.

F1 Ἀριστοφάνους· «Ἐθέλω γεωργεῖν.» - «εἶτα τίς σε κωλύει;»
Nach Aristophanes: „Ich möchte gerne Bauer sein.“ – „Wer hindert dich dann daran?“
From Aristophanes: “I want to be a farmer.” – “Who then keeps you from doing it?”

F2 Μενάνδρου· Τὸ χρηστὰ πράττειν ἔργον ἐστ’ ἐλεθέρου.
Nach Menander: Das Rechte zu tun ist Aufgabe des freien Mannes.
From Menandros: Doing right is the free man’s business.

F3 Οὐκ ἔργον ἐστὶν εὖ λέγειν, ἀλλ’ εὖ πο(ι)εῖν.
Es kommt nicht darauf an, gut zu reden, sondern gut zu handeln.
There is no need to speak well, but to act well.

H2 Οἱ Πυθαγόρειοι ἔλεγον, ὡς τοῦ λογικοῦ ζώιου τὸ μέν ἐστι θεός, τὸ δὲ οἷον Πυθαγόρας.
Die Pythagoreer pflegten zu sagen, dass es zwei Arten des vernunftbegabten Wesens gebe, die eine sei eine Gottheit, die andere wie Pythagoras.
The Pythagoreans used to say that there are two kinds of rational being: one is a god, the other is like Pythagoras.





*The English is my translation of the original German sentences.

2

Ἐδίδασκον τὸ παιδίον τὰ ἄριστα.

διδάσκω takes two accusatives, the things being taught and whom you are teaching. The neuter plural here τὰ ἄριστα = the best things, if you want a more sensu strictu translation. Try a few less abstract examples:

τους δούλους τους λόγους διδάσκομεν.
ἡ θεά τον ἄνθρωπον την σοφίαν διδάσκει.

F2 χρηστὰ

double check the meaning here with a Greek to English dictionary. “Useful” “good” a better fit. likewise ἔργον in F3.

3

Thank you for your reply. So I take this as approval of my choice in the Greek.

So in F2 you would prefer something like “Doing good is the free man’s task.”

In F3 something along the lines: “It is not difficult to speak well, but to act well.”?

4

Χαίρετε!

Would someone like to weigh in briefly on those two questions?