Seikilos Epitaph - The Tune

The Tune

Above the lyrics (transcribed here in modern Greek font) is a line with letters and signs for the tune:

Translated into modern musical notation, the tune is something like this:

The following is the Greek text (in the later polytonic script; the original is in majuscule), along a transliteration of the words (which are sung to the melody), and a (somewhat free) English translation:

Ὅσον ζῇς, φαίνου,

Hoson zês, phainou,

While you live, shine,

μηδὲν ὅλως σὺ λυποῦ·

mêden holôs su lupou;

have no grief at all;

πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶ τὸ ζῆν,

pros oligon esti to zên,

life exists only for a short while,

τὸ τέλος ὁ xρόνος ἀπαιτεῖ.

to telos ho chronos apaitei.

and time demands its toll.