#ou phrontis

For me, this Greek phrase sums up the life and persona of T.E. Lawrence. But what exactly do the words οu φροντiς mean? In essence the phrase means "no care" or "no worry". After the war, T.E. changed his name to Shaw and moved into his small cottage called Clouds Hill in Dorset, where he carved those words above the door. 

Here are a couple quotes by T.E. himself...

"In Athens was a gentleman called Hippocleides who became engaged to a rich merchant's daughter: and they arranged him a slap-up and splendid marriage. The feast preceding it was too much for his poor head, though. He stood on his head on the table and did a leg-dance, which was objectionable in Greek dress. 'Hippocleides, Hippocleides' protested the shocked merchant 'You dance your marriage off.' 'Wyworri?' said Hippocleides: and Herodotus tells the tale so beautifully that I put the jape on the architrave. It means that nothing in Clouds Hill is to be a care upon its inhabitant."

"Nothing in Clouds Hill is to be a care upon the world. While I have it there shall be nothing exquisite or unique in it. Nothing to anchor me."

In the the original Greek, Hippocleides replies Ou φροντiς Hippokleídēi which means Hippocleides doesn't care.

Ohh… The old king had a daughter Fair of face and dark of eye Each young lad wished he had caught her With a heartfelt keening sigh But her suitors were so numbered And but one would win her hand Came a bright one unencumbered By a hope to be so grand

Oh he danced away his bride that night with not a hair of care While the blood rushed through his head alright, his arse up in the air And we’ll never lay our fingers On the spirit that malingers So I envy that soul freed of wear and tear.

Of an arm there was none stronger Of a wit none half so keen Said the king, “She’s mine no longer” And the lad began to lean

Oh his heels he kicked about him And he swayed from side to side The king’s shock could make the light dim For the antics that he tried Kingly tones cried as a handstand did disrobe the nether limbs, “You have danced away your bride! Oh daughter, never marry him!”