Type 4084
(formerly typ/2173)
| Ὡς εὐφυὴς, κράτιστε. | |
| Τὸ πρὸς λόγους κράτιστε τραχὺ καὶ γρίφον, | |
| τὸ μαλακόν τε καὶ κατηυτελισμένον, | |
| τὴν σὴν ὑπεμφαίνουσιν εὐγενῆ φύσιν· | |
| βασιλικῷ γὰρ καὶ λεοντείῳ θράσει, | |
| θρασὺς, σθεναρὸς τοῖς ἐναντίοις φέρῃ. | |
| Μετριοπαθείᾳ δε καὶ ψυχῆς λύσει, | |
| παιδαριώδης, ὕπτιος καὶ τῶν κάτω, | |
| ὡς ἀνυμνῶ σε κηδεμὼν καὶ τῶν κάτω. |
| Text source | P. Agapitos, D. Angelov 2018, Six Essays by Theodore II Laskaris in Vindobonensis Phil. Gr. 321: Edition, Translation, Analysis, Jahrbuch der Österreichischen Byzantinistik (JÖB), 68, 39-75: 53 |
| Text status | Text completely known |
| Editorial status | Not a critical text |
| Genre(s) | Author-related epigram |
| Metre(s) | Dodecasyllable |
| Subject(s) | |
| Tag(s) | Praise of the author |
| Translation(s) |
How intelligent <you are>, most powerful ruler! Of your writings, most powerful one, their asperity and riddle-like style, their softness and utter humbleness, clearly hint at your noble nature; for by your imperial and leonine boldness you boldly and mightily confront the enemies. In my mediocrity and looseness of soul, childlike, supine and belonging to those of lower status, how do I praise you, guardian also of those of lower status! |
| Comment | Agapitos-Angelov (2018: 53-54): "The poem praises Laskaris for specific qualities of his writings and for his courage in confronting his enemies. It reflects Laskaris's self-descriptions and his preoccupation with defining nobility as a moral quality, especially in works addressed to Mouzalon. The way in which the speaker characterizes himself as a person of lower status - note in particular his "childlike" nature and the use of the term "guardian" for his royal addressee - makes it obvious that he is no other than George Mouzalon, very often addressed as "child" or "son" by Theodore. Thus, the poem should be read as a humble laudatory note and was most probably attached to the letter collection". |
| Bibliography | |
| Number of verses | 9 |
| Occurrence(s) |
[20178] Ὡς εὐφυὴς κράτιστε
[13th c.]
FLORENCE - Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML) - Conv. Soppr. 627 [1251-1300] (f. 11v) (9 verses) |
| Acknowledgements |
Contributor(s)
The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete. |
| Identification | Vassis ICB 2005, 900: "In Theodorum Ducam Lascarim" |
| Permalink | https://www.dbbe.ugent.be/types/4084 |
Last modified: 2020-08-24.
