Laudator Temporis Acti

Euripides, Medea 119-130 (tr. Moses Hadas and John McLean):

The souls of royalty are vindictive; they do not easily forget their resentment, possibly because being used to command they are seldom checked. It is better to be used to living among equals. For myself, at any rate, I ask not greatness but a safe old age. Moderation! Firstly, the very name of it is excellent; to practise it is easily the best thing for mortals. Excess avails to no good purpose for men, and if the gods are provoked, brings greater ruin on a house.

δεινὰ τυράννων λήματα καί πως
ὀλίγ᾿ ἀρχόμενοι, πολλὰ κρατοῦντες        120
χαλεπῶς ὀργὰς μεταβάλλουσιν.
τὸ γὰρ εἰθίσθαι ζῆν ἐπ᾿ ἴσοισιν
κρεῖσσον· ἐμοὶ γοῦν ἐπὶ μὴ μεγάλοις
ὀχυρῶς τ᾿ εἴη καταγηράσκειν.
τῶν γὰρ μετρίων πρῶτα μὲν εἰπεῖν        125
τοὔνομα νικᾷ, χρῆσθαί τε μακρῷ
λῷστα βροτοῖσιν· τὰ δ᾿ ὑπερβάλλοντ᾿
οὐδένα καιρὸν δύναται θνητοῖς,
μείζους δ᾿ ἄτας, ὅταν ὀργισθῇ
δαίμων οἴκοις, ἀπέδωκεν.        130

123 ἐπὶ μὴ μεγάλοις Barthold: εἰ μὴ μεγάλως codd.
124 τ᾿ codd.: γ᾿ Reiske
130 οἴκοις codd.: ὄγκοις Jacobs

Denys L. Page ad loc.: