without you, not a word would have been written → ἧς ἄτερ οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγ' ἔγραφον οὐδ' ὁτιοῦν

[abflint]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for an ancient - NOT modern -  Greek translation for: 'Without you, not a word would have been written.' It's addressed to a female (my wife) and is to be used as the dedication of a book I've written ('Who, Which, Why or What was the Akond of Swat?', to be published by Penguin this September). The text will appear in Greek script, so no transliteration is required.

Any translation would be gratefully received and, if used, acknowledged within the book's introduction.

Many thanks.

[billberg23]

Such a dedication would fall naturally and traditionally into the second half of an elegiac couplet.  We're assuming a first line in English, e.g., "To _______," and then the second line in Greek, something like

ἧς ἄτερ οὐκ ἂν ἔγωγ' ἔγραφον οὐδ' ὁτιοῦν

— literally, "without whom I, at least, would not be writing a single thing."
The line scans as a normal second line in a couplet: —ᴗᴗ  —ᴗᴗ  — || —ᴗᴗ   —ᴗᴗ  —

[abflint]

Hi Billberg23,

That looks tremendous - I am very appreciative.

It will indeed form the second line of a couplet along the lines you have guessed (although I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do the scansion full justice - it will read simply 'to Alison)'.

I assume from the foregoing that the initial eta should not be capitalised. I also trust that it's OK to end with a full stop.

Anyway, I would like to use this and would like to give an acknowledgement - is there any way you would prefer to be identified beyond 'billberg23'?

Many thanks!

[billberg23]

I assume from the foregoing that the initial eta should not be capitalised. I also trust that it's OK to end with a full stop.

Yes to both.  And do contact me at my email address.
Glad you could use it!