Thursday, October 13, 2011
Advice
Theognis 1007-1012 (tr. Dorothea Wender):
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I will advise all men: while you still have
The glorious flower of youth and noble thoughts,
Enjoy these precious goods. To be young twice
Is not permitted mortals by the gods,
Nor to be free from death; vile Age will come,
Destructive, and will put us to the test,
And lay his hands on top of all our heads.
ξυνὸν δ' ἀνθρώποις ὑποθήσομαι, ὄφρα τις ἥβης
ἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ἔχων καὶ φρεσὶν ἐσθλὰ νοῇ,
τῶν αὐτοῦ κτεάνων εὖ πασχέμεν· οὐ γὰρ ἀνηβᾶν
δὶς πέλεται πρὸς θεῶν οὐδὲ λύσις θανάτου
θνητοῖς ἀνθρώποισι· κακὸν δ' ἐπὶ γῆρας ἐλέγχει
οὐλόμενον, κεφαλῆς δ' ἅπτεται ἀκροτάτης.
1007 ἥβης: ἡβᾷ Bergk; 1011 κακὸν: καλὸν Bergk
