Oh yes, indeed did Boreas, Master North Wind, truly wish,
Master North Wind, truly wish indeed to blow with gale force strength.
He issued urgent warnings dire to every port and haven:
– Secure your warps and anchors, ships, for I desire to blow,
and if I blow with all my might, I’ll surely founder ships.
All ships that followed this advice sougth out safe anchorage,
but one that hailed from Syria did not crave a haven.
– I do not fear you, Master North, whether you blow or not.
I’ve masts of bronze and silver yards and sturdy seamen, too,
and every man of them has fought in battles out at sea,
and when they strain upon their oars and fog obscures the coast
the vessel makes three knots at best, its wake streams aft at ten.
Translated by John Leatham
Original Lyrics
Ηθέλησεν ο κυρ Βοριάς
Ηθέλησεν, μπρ’ αμάν-αμάν , ηθέλησεν ο κυρ Βοριάς
ηθέλησεν ο κυρ Βοριάς, να βγει να σουργιανίσει.
Στέλνει μαντάτα θλιβερά, σε όλους τους λιμνιώνες.
– Καράβια μεταράξετε1 και να φυσήσω θέλω
γιατί α φυσήσω φύσημα καράβια θα τσακίσω.
Κι όσα καράβια ακούσασι, ράσουν και μεταράσουν
κι ένα καράβι της Σουριάς δε θε να μεταράξει.
– Δε σε φοβούμαι, κυρ Βοριά, φυσήσεις δε φυσήσεις
τ’ έχω κατάρτια μπρούτζινα κι αντένες ασημένιες
κι έχω και ναύτες δυνατούς, όλ’ άντρες του πολέμου
π’ όταν σειστούν και λυ(γ)ιστούν και πούσι το «γιαλέσα»2
τρία μίλια πάει το κάτεργο και δέκα τα νερά του.
Personification of the winds was customary also in antiquity. Confrontation of the natural elements by seamen is presented as a superhuman but also almost a communal matter. Miranda Terzopoulou (2002)
"Issios" or "issos" dance meets variations in melodic and dance pattern in the Dodecanese area.
Recording information
Studio recording, 2001.
Based on Simon Karas' recording which belongs to the Association for the Dissemination of Greek National Music.
