I took a picture of the plaque outside the Utopian Café in Plaka on Melos with the idea that I would decipher later, at my desk. Here I am but I cannot decipher it so I am asking bleaders to help. What does it all mean?
Post your suggestions with this item please. My thanks to those that pause to have a look.
Comments
Two translations from Damian Grace and his colleague Michaelis. They have pointed me to the right spot in the text of Thomas More's work. My thanks to them.
A short metre of Utopia, written by Anemolius poet laureate and nephew to Hythloday by his sister
The More Literal
Me Utopie cleped Antiquity,
Void of haunt and herborough,
Now am I like to Plato¹s city,
Whose fame flieth the world thorough;
Yea, like, or rather more likely Plato¹s plat to excel and pass.
For what Plato¹s pen hath platted briefly In naked words, as in a glass, The same have I performed fully, With laws, with men, and treasure fitly.
Wherefore not Utopie, but rather rightly My name is Eutopie: a place of felicity.
More schematic
Once my name was no-place/
A country where no-one goes/
But now I battle Plato's Republic/
perhaps to outdo her/
For what was fantasy for Plato I have made real/
With men, riches and splendid laws./
A country that wise men justly call Utopia.
Posted by: Micharl Jackson | September 8, 2008 11:07 AM