New translations: Gregory of Nazianzus

These two fourth-century AD poems by Gregory are part of a long sequence (8.2-11) mourning the death of his close friend, Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (the modern Kayseri). Basil was an important advocate of the doctrinal orthodoxy hammered out at the Council of Nicaea and expressed in the new Nicene Creed; he was also one of the founding fathers of monasticism. He is a saint to both the Catholic and Orthodox faiths, the latter of which awards him the epithet Οὐρανοφάντωρ, ‘Revealer of Heaven’.

A couple of the other poems from this sequence are forthcoming in Epigrams from the Greek Anthology, published later this year, but these two translations are new. Gregory feels like a good poet to be translating right now.

8.3

On the same Basil the Great

When godly-minded Basil sped away,

Snatched by the Trinity and glad to go,

The whole of Heaven’s host rejoiced he came;

But all of Cappadocia’s city sighed.

And not alone; the world cried out in pain:

Gone is our messenger, and with him gone

The one who bound us in majestic peace.

8.4

On the Same

Now all the world is rocking to and fro,

The portion due to balanced Trinity, 

As rival words fight for the upper hand.

It is disgraceful. And I cry in pain —

For Basil’s lips are sealed and speak no more.

Only awake, and all the storm will cease

To hear your sermon, know your ministry.

For you alone were seen to be your match:

Living, you matched the legend told of you;

And your own legend rose to meet your life.

update: I've now translated the whole sequence of Gregory's poems to Basil. Enjoy? if that's the word.