Descent and Ascent in the 8th Hymn of Synesius of Cirene

Abstract

 πολιοὶ μὲν ἡμὶν ἤδη κρόταφοι κάρη τε λευκόν, χαρίεσσα δ’ οὐκέτ’ ἥβη πάρα, γηραλέοι δ’ ὀδόντες, γλυκεροῦ δ’ οὐκέτι πολλὸς βιότου χρόνος λέλειπται διὰ ταῦτ’ ἀνασταλύζω θαμὰ Τάρταρον δεδοικώς· A̓ίδεω γάρ ἐστι δεινὸς μυχός, ἀργαλῆ δ’ ἐς αὐτὸν κάτοδος· καὶ γὰρ ἑτοῖμον καταβάντι μὴ ἀναβῆναι “My temples are ready grey; and my head is white, graceful youth is no more with me, my theeth are old, and no long span of sweet life remains now. And so I often weep in fear of Tartarus: for the recess of Hades is grim, and the road down to it grievous; and it is certain that he who goes down not come up again