Hymn to Liberty

[edit] Polytonic orthography

[edit] Monotonic orthography

Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη

του σπαθιού την τρομερή,

σε γνωρίζω από την όψη

που με βία μετράει τη γη.

Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη

των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,

και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,

χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!^[1]

[edit] Transliteration

Se gnorízo apó tin kópsi

tu spathiú tin tromerí,

se gnorízo apó tin ópsi,

pu me vía metrái ti yi.

Ap' ta kókkala vgalméni

ton Ellínon ta ierá,

ke san próta andhrioméni,

khére, o khére, Eleftheriá!^[1]

[edit] Literal

I recognize you from the dreadful

edge of your sword

I recognize you from the countenance

which surveys the earth with force

Risen from the sacred bones

of the Greeks

and, valiant as before,

hail, oh hail, liberty!

[edit] Poetic

I shall always recognise you

by the dreadful sword you hold,

as the earth, with searching vision,

will rule, with spirit bold.

Twas the Greeks of old whose dying

brought to birth our spirit free,

now, with ancient valour rising,

let us hail you, oh liberty!

[edit] By Rudyard Kipling (1918)

We knew thee of old,

O, divinely restored

By the lights of thine eyes,

And the light of thy Sword.

From the graves of our slain,

Shall thy valour prevail,

As we greet thee again,

Hail, Liberty! Hail!