The music for this podcast was generously provided by Dr. Stefan Hagel.
Cover illustration and voice of Ovid provided by Lu (twitter: @DRScomics, instagram: @dead_romans_society, tumblr: @ovidiana).
Foley sounds for soundscape provided by zapsplat.com.
Hosting, English sections, and editing provided by Margrethe.
Transcript:
Mar: Salve aveque. This is Margrethe from Ovid Daily, for our podcast special: "Evenings with Ovid". Joining me today from the far-off shores of the Black Sea is the eminent Latin poet Publius Ovidius Naso, (given voice by the excellent Lu), here to read one of his most moving works: Tristia. Last week, we heard Carmina Nona, where you praised a steadfast friend for standing by you despite your hardships. Loyal friendships can be so heartening. Are you ready to share the next installment?
Lu/Ovid: Libenter. En ego - aures praebēte, quaeso, si non vobis gravis est: orior.
Lu/Ovid:
Est mihi sitque, precor, flauae tutela Mineruae,
nauis et a picta casside nomen habet.
siue opus est uelis, minimam bene currit ad auram
siue opus est remo, remige carpit iter.
nec comites uolucri contenta est uincere cursu
occupat egressas quamlibet ante rates,
et pariter fluctus ferit atque silentia longe
aequora, nec saeuis uicta madescit aquis.
illa, Corinthiacis primum mihi cognita Cenchreis,
fida manet trepidae duxque comesque fugae,
perque tot euentus et iniquis concita uentis
aequora Palladio numine tuta fuit.
nunc quoque tuta, precor, uasti secet ostia Ponti,
quasque petit, Getici litoris intret aquas.
quae simul Aeoliae mare me deduxit in Helles,
et longum tenui limite fecit iter,
fleximus in laeuum cursus, et ab Hectoris urbe
uenimus ad portus, Imbria terra, tuos.
inde, leui uento Zerynthia litora nacta,
Threiciam tetigit fessa carina Samon.
saltus ab hac contra breuis est Tempyra petenti:
hac dominum tenus est illa secuta suum.
nam mihi Bistonios placuit pede carpere campos:
Hellespontiacas illa relegit aquas,
Dardaniamque petit, auctoris nomen habentem,
et te ruricola, Lampsace, tuta deo,
quodque per angustas uectae male uirginis undas
Seston Abydena separat urbe fretum,
inque Propontiacis haerentem Cyzicon oris,
Cyzicon, Haemoniae nobile gentis opus,
quaeque tenent Ponti Byzantia litora fauces:
hic locus est gemini ianua uasta maris.
haec, precor, euincat, propulsaque fortibus Austris
transeat instabilis strenua Cyaneas
Thyniacosque sinus, et ab his per Apollinis urbem
arta sub Anchiali moenia tendat iter.
inde Mesembriacos portus et Odeson et arces
praetereat dictas nomine, Bacche, tuo,
et quos Alcathoi memorant e moenibus ortos
sedibus his profugos constituisse Larem.
a quibus adueniat Miletida sospes ad urbem,
offensi quo me detulit ira dei.
haec si contigerint, meritae cadet agna Mineruae:
non facit ad nostras hostia maior opes.
uos quoque, Tyndaridae, quos haec colit insula, fratres,
mite, precor, duplici numen adesse uiae!
altera namque parat Symplegadas ire per artas,
scindere Bistonias altera puppis aquas.
uos facite ut uentos, loca cum diuersa petamus,
illa suos habeat, nec minus illa suos.
Mar: Gratias tibi ago, Ovidi. I have here the English translation of our guest’s poem, originally translated by A.L. Wheeler in 1924.
“I have, and pray that I may always have, the protection of golden-haired Minerva, and my bark draws her name from an emblazoned helmet. If sails be needed, she runs well at the touch of the lightest breeze, or if oars, the rowers speed her on her way. She is not content to outstrip in winged course her companions: she overhauls the craft that set out no matter how long before; alike she bears the currents and the far-leaping billows; she is no leaky craft overwhelmed by the raging seas. Her I knew first at Corinthian Cenchreae and she remained the faithful guide and comrade of my anxious flight, safe through the power of Pallas amid so many fortunes, amid waves roused by the cruel gales. Now too I pray she may safely cut her path through the gates of the wide Pontus and reach the waters of her goal by the Getic shore.
“As soon as she brought me to the sea of Aeolian Helle, cleaving her long journey with slender furrow, I turned my course to the left, away from Hector’s city, and came to thy port, land of Imbros, whence reaching the Zerynthian shore with a light breeze my wearied keel touched the Thracian Samos. From here ‘tis but a short leap for one who seeks Tempyra on the opposite coast: thus far only did my bark attend her master. For it was my resolve to pick my way on foot through the Bistonian land; she coasted back through the waters of the Hellespont seeking Dardania, bearing the name of its founder, and thee, Lampsacus, secure through the protection of the country-loving god, and the strait of that maiden all too insecurely cried through the narrow waters—the strait that separates Sestos from Abydos’ town—and Cyzicos clinging to the shores of Propontis, Cyzicos, the famed work of the Haemonian race, and Byzantium’s shores, that hold the entrance to the Pontus, the huge doorway of twin seas. Through all these may she win her way, and driven by the sturdy breeze may she have power to pass the shifting Cyaneae, and the Thynian bay, and after may she hold her course past Apollo’s city and close beneath the narrow walls of Anchialus. Thence may she pass the port of Mesembria and Odesos, and the citadel called after they name, Bacchus, and those exiles from Alcathous’ walls, who, so tis said, placed on this site their home. From their land may she come in safety to the Milesian city whither the wrath of an angered god has dispatched me.
“If this but happen, a lamb shall fall in sacrifice to deserving Minerva; a larger victim ill becomes my poor resources. Ye too, brother Tyndaridae, whom this isle worships, attend in propitious power our twofold way; for one craft makes ready to pass through the narrow Symplegadae, the other to plough Bistonia’s waters. Make ye the winds, though different the places we seek, favour the one and no less favour the other!”
Mar: Thank you so much for listening, and be sure to tune into Ovid Daily’s “Evenings with Ovid” next week for the next installment of Ovid’s Tristia. Vale beneque placideque quiescas!
Mar: A transcript for this podcast is available at oviddaily.substack.com. Our text comes from the 1924 Loeb Classical Library edition of the Tristia, edited and translated by A.L. Wheeler. Our music is performed by Dr. Stefan Hagel on the Hellenistic Aulos, a link to which is available in the description, and on our website on our “Resources” page. Foley sounds for our soundscape are provided by zapsplat.com. Our lovely cover art was illustrated by Lu, and you can see more of Lu’s art on Twitter @DRScomic, or on Tumblr @ovidiana. If you wish to contact Ovid Daily, you may email me at oviddaily@substack.com.
Tristia 1.10