Divi Filius Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 I Don't know if everyone has ever heard of him, but there was a famous Greek poet by the name of Constantine Kavafis who wrote a famous poem "waiting for the barbarians" which involved Rome. Trully a great one IMO. Waiting for the Barbarians What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum? The barbarians are due here today. Why isn't anything happening in the senate? Why do the senators sit there without legislating? Because the barbarians are coming today. What laws can the senators make now? Once the barbarians are here, they'll do the legislating. Why did our emperor get up so early, and why is he sitting at the city's main gate on his throne, in state, wearing the crown? Because the barbarians are coming today and the emperor is waiting to receive their leader. He has even prepared a scroll to give him, replete with titles, with imposing names. Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas? Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts, and rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds? Why are they carrying elegant canes beautifully worked in silver and gold? Because the barbarians are coming today and things like that dazzle the barbarians. Why don't our distinguished orators come forward as usual to make their speeches, say what they have to say? Because the barbarians are coming today and they're bored by rhetoric and public speaking. Why this sudden restlessness, this confusion? (How serious people's faces have become.) Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly, everyone going home so lost in thought? Because night has fallen and the barbarians have not come. And some who have just returned from the border say there are no barbarians any longer. And now, what's going to happen to us without barbarians? They were, those people, a kind of solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Favonius Cornelius Posted October 25, 2005 Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 The last two paragraphs have the most potency for me. The fall of the empire is a sad chapter for all peoples. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacertus Posted October 26, 2005 Report Share Posted October 26, 2005 Yes, I think it is very great. Do you know is it translation from Greece? or the poem was written on English? BTW, hello, Scanderbeg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skarr Posted October 26, 2005 Report Share Posted October 26, 2005 Favonius, to me the Fall of the Republic was a greater loss. I'm partial to the history of Rome pre-44 BC, when Caesar sounded its death knell and expired at the foot of Pompey's statue. Since everyone here is interested in barbarians, why don't you check out my book if you haven't already? There are several interesting barbarians whom you must meet. You'll be surprised though as to the way they are portrayed. I have adopted a different tack / approach in my book and it is wholly unlike your average historical novel. However, you must read it fully to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted October 27, 2005 Report Share Posted October 27, 2005 Hey, Skarr, anymore advertising and we'll have to start charging you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Divi Filius Posted November 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 Do you know is it translation from Greece? or the poem was written on English? Hello, and yes the original was indeed writen in Greek. And I would assume it was probably better since there is always something lost in translation. But I dont know Greek so this will have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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