Laudator Temporis Acti

Theognis 567–570 (tr. Douglas E. Gerber):

I have fun, delighting in my youth; for I will lie a long time beneath the earth, mute as a stone, when my life is over and I leave the sun's lovely light. For all my merit I'll have sight no more.

ἥβῃ τερπόμενος παίζω· δηρὸν γὰρ ἔνερθεν
   γῆς ὀλέσας ψυχὴν κείσομαι ὥστε λίθος
ἄφθογγος, λείψω δ’ ἐρατὸν φάος ἠελίοιο·
   ἔμπης δ’ ἐσθλὸς ἐὼν ὄψομαι οὐδὲν ἔτι.

T. Hudson-Williams ad loc.:

567. παίζω: cf. Hes. Sh. 277, 282; Pind. Ol. 1.15. ἔνερθ’ Ἀίδεω Il. 8.16.

568. ὥστε = ὡς as often in Hom. λίθος, a frequent type of the inanimate, also of the stupid, τὸ ὥσπερ λίθον ζῆν Plat. Gorg. 494 A; τί κάθησθ’ ἀβέλτεροι, λίθοι, πρόβατ’ ἄλλως; Ar. Clouds 1202; λίθος τις, οὐ δούλη, ἐν τῇ οἰκίῃ κεῖσ(αι) Herodas 6.4.

569. ἄφθογγος: cf. δηρὸν δ’ ἄφθογγος τετιημένη ἧστ’ ἐπὶ δίφρου H. Dem. 198. Leaving the light of day was regarded as among the bitterest woes of death; it has frequently a prominent place in the final speeches of dying heroes and heroines.

570. There may be a reference to the popular etymology of Ἀίδης (ἀ + ἰδεῖν).