Friday, March 23, 2018
Solitude
Menander, fragment 356 Kassel and Austin = 401 Koerte = 466 Kock (from the play Hydria; my translation):
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How sweet a thing, for him who hates bad ways,Thanks to Kevin Muse for suggesting a change in my translation.
is solitude, and for him who pursues not even one
evil, a sufficient possession is a farm that supports him well.
From crowds comes jealousy, and this city
luxury is attractive, but only for a short time.
ὡς ἡδὺ τῷ μισοῦντι τοὺς φαύλους τρόπους
ἐρημία, καὶ τῷ μελετῶντι μηδὲ ἓν
πονηρὸν ἱκανὸν κτῆμ' ἀγρὀς τρέφων καλῶς.
ἐκ τῶν ὄχλων δὲ ζῆλος, ἥ τε κατὰ πόλιν
αὕτη τρυφὴ λάμπει μέν, εἰς δ' ὀλίγον χρόνον.
