BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...

Subject: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Amos
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 01:13 AM

A friend sent the followng , which seems fit for Mudcat reflection.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday was the anniversary of the birth of the great ancient Greek tragedian Euripedes. He was born in 480BCE. I love Euripedes and his work for many reasons. He profoundly felt the pain of the world and wrote plays to expose and protest that pain. In a world dominated by the abuses of power, by greed and conquest, he raised a lone voice against the abuse of women and children. In a world run on the backs of slaves, his was a lone cry against slavery. And in a world drenched in war, he challenged his people, and all of us for all times, to awaken to war's awful cost and unending pain.

In honor of his day of birth, and in this time of war and violence and of gathering clouds, I send you this prayer Euripedes penned for an end to war, from one who truly knew its cost.

From ERECHTHEUS by Euripedes


Let my spear lie idle for spiders
to weave their web around it.
May I live in peace in white old age.
May I sing with garlands around my white head,
having hung up my Thracian shield
on the pillared house of Athena.
May I unfold the voice of books,
Which the wise honor.

Regards,

A

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Don Firth
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 02:03 AM

Thanks, Amos. Every now and then you run into something you want to frame and hang on the wall, and that's one of them.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: MBSLynne
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 06:54 AM

Perhaps we should frame it and send it to George Dublya and Tony Blair to hang on their walls??

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: alanabit
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 07:46 AM

Yes.

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 09:01 AM

I wish it as well for all I hold dear.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: mack/misophist
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 09:22 AM

George W has no respect for books. Let us all hope he comes home as soon as possible. But not carrying his shield.

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: fretless
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 11:07 AM

Amos, the year 480 BCE is the tradition for E's birth, but I've never seen it assigned an actual day before. What's the basis for September 24?

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Amos
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 11:13 AM

I have no idea who decided it should be celebrated on September 24th, fretless. Sorry.

A

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: fretless
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 11:39 AM

Well, he had to have been born on some day, and 9/24 is a pretty good number. It's a beautiful prayer for any day. Thanks for posting it.

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Mudlark
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 06:45 PM

Thanks, Amos. It's freshness--so spare, yet so elequent-- belies it's age.

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: michaelr
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 07:37 PM

Good one, Amos. However, I think the fellow's name was Euripides.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 09:04 PM

Amos, RIGHT ON!

Thank you for this little gem of inspiration, and also, of course, for the scholarship to back it up! ttr

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Amos
Date: 25 Sep 02 - 09:14 PM

Michael,

Well, his name was not spelled in our alphabet in the first place, but anyway I just forwarded it as written, warts and all. I think you are right.

A

Subject: RE: BS: An Ancient Prayer To Ancient Gods...
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 26 Sep 02 - 12:19 AM

When my people come from, dying old and in bed was a hell all it's own...

I'll stick to...

Live fast
Die Young
And leave the mess for someone else to clean up!

,-)