Translation - Ancient greek-English - Δικαιον εστι μεμνησθαι θεον τον ευ πραττοντα....

Hey there!

OK let's see:
a) Δίκαιον εστί = impersonal expression. It's subject would be in accusative, in this case, "τόν ευ πράττοντα".
Edit: That's what happens when you are not fully awake. What I meant to write of course was that its subject is the infinitive whose subject is of course in accusative. My apologies to all those who had to wince when they read the above!

b) Unless my memory fails me, "μιμνήσκω" goes with genitive so "θεού" is right and is the verb's object.

c) While the dative "υμιν" does give us the subject of impersonal "εξεστιν", "Λακεδαιμονίοις" doesn't go with it. Instead, "Spartans" serves as an "object" (sorry, I don't remember the term in English) of "ευεργέτας" which otherwise lacks one.


As for the last sentence, it's not so much a matter of syntax/grammar as of meaning.
"εκβαίνω" metaphorically (as, I think we all agree, is used here) means
"1. come out, turn out
2. to be fulfilled, of prophecies, etc.
3. go out of due bounds
4. project, extend beyond a limit
5. lapse
6. ἐκβαίνοντος μηνός, = φθίνοντος μ."
( source )
Having this in mind and the overall meaning, I think the Greek translation is more accurate.

"μιμνήσκω" can be connected with genetive as well as accusative. In this case it is supposed to be connected with accusative, because of next words:τον ευ πραττοντα which are just in accusative... hm... I don't know if we can have mixed both gen and acc in one object... so θεου should be changed into θεον..

Νυν εξεστιν υμιν ευεργετας φανηναι Λακεδαιμονιοις
Sorry, but we just have to connect υμιν with Λακεδαιμονιοις, irini.
The sentence precisely is read: Now, to you- Spartans there is allowed to show benefactors.

Ου(κ) ραδιον εστι - negative! =It is not easy

κατα νουν - according to sb's will/mind

and μεμνησθαι is not from μιμνήσκω, but μιμνησκομαι
This is a verbum deponens and means "remember" or "remind oneself" (about sth)

Could you help us here, dear experts?

CC: Efylove reggina User10 Mideia

Hi

I'll try to help.

"Δίκαιον εστί" is an impersonal expression. Impersonal expressions take as their subject infitives without anticle (I don't know the exact term in English, in Greek it's "άναρθρο απαρέμφατο". In this case it's "μεμνησθαι".

"μεμνησθαι θεου τον ευ πραττοντα":
"μεμνησθαι":infinitive
"θεου": object of infinitive (gen.)
"τον ευ πραττοντα" :subject of the infinitive. (when the subject of the verb and the subject of the infinitive without article aren't the same word, in Greek it's called ετεροπροσωπία, then the subject of the infinitive without article is in accusative).

"Νυν εξεστιν υμιν ευεργετας φανηναι Λακεδαιμονιοις"- the original is : "ὦ ἄνδρες, νῦν ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν εὐεργέτας φανῆναι τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων" (meaning only, OK? : Oh men, now you can show yourselfs/be (as) benefactors of the Spartans, KSENOFON 4.8.4). Here we have "to the Spartans". "Υou Spartans"= ὦ Λακεδαιμόνιοι"

I hope it helps a bit

"ευ πραττοντα" - I would translate it as "he who feels hapiness/the happy man" (according to Aristotle's "Αδύνατον τόν μηδέν πράττοντα πράττειν εύ"- He who does nothing cannot do well/feel hapiness.)

Yes, you helped, User10! Thank you.

Especially giving us some context of the second sentence.

I've made some corrections according to suggestions of you both, dear friends and according to my new ideas...

We can continue discussing if it is needed, of course... Good to know I can count on your help here.

Hello everyone! It's grumpy me again, the neighborhood curmudgeon

OK, I've edited the last sentence of the Greek translation that, on second thought, needed tweaking.

As for your edited translation:


a) "It is good" : Maybe "it is right/proper/just"? What do you think

b)Second sentence: I don't think "allowed" is "the" thing. Mind you, I am not saying it's wrong, but maybe "you have the opportunity"? Or "It is possible for you"? Also "to show benefactors to Spartans" needs some tweaking to work in English eh? How about (just a suggestion mind you) "it is possible for you to be seen/appear as benefactors of the Spartans" ?

c) Last sentence: I would personally translate it as "It is not easy for a mortal man to have everything happen according to his wishes" with a note explaining away the ambiguity of such a clumsy phrase by saying that it means that "it's rare for things to go as planned for a mortal"
BUT I'm open to suggestions

Wow!!! It was really helpful, dear irini! Thank you!

Yes, my English isn't perfect, so thank you for your suggestions!!! I will work on it in a moment. Would be glad if you check it after that...

I've changed also God --> god

Thank you so much once again, great Greek experts!

Now, I think English expert can give his/her opinion...

Taking into account all suggestions I've made some edits. Tell me what you think.

Yes, it makes sens.

we have the opportunity to show ourselves -->you have...yourselves...

I don't agree it should be "ourselves"

υμιν --> 2nd person plural (dative)= to you

I would change the sentence:
Now, you have the opportunity to show benefactors to the Spartans

"you have the opportunity" --> literally: There is an opportunity to you (εξεστιν υμιν)

Yes you can be surprised, Lilly...

From the sentence we can't deduce that the benefactors are the people being the subject of the sentence... It was only our "default object"... so I decided to change the sentence once again...

though "φανηναι" has a medial voice and it can be translated: "appear/show oneself"

Hm... I would leave the version which is now...