Saturday’s symposia wear you out? Here’s a little dose of Theognis for what ails you:
Theogonis, 1181-1182: On Overthrowing Tyrants
“Bring down a people-eating tyrant however you want
No criticism for this comes from the gods”
δημοφάγον δὲ τύραννον ὅπως ἐθέλεις κατακλῖναι
οὐ νέμεσις πρὸς θεῶν γίνεται οὐδεμία.
Theognis, 1135-6: On Hope
“Hope is the only good god present among men
The rest abandoned us and went to Olympos.”
᾿Ελπὶς ἐν ἀνθρώποισι μόνη θεὸς ἐσθλὴ ἔνεστιν,
ἄλλοι δ’ Οὔλυμπόν<δ’> ἐκπρολιπόντες ἔβαν·
Theognis 989-990: On Concealing Your Feelings when Drinking
Drink whenever they drink but when you are heartsick, may no man learn you’re burdened [or drunk]
Πῖν’ ὁπόταν πίνωσιν· ὅταν δέ τι θυμὸν ἀσηθῆις,
μηδεὶς ἀνθρώπων γνῶι σε βαρυνόμενον.
Theogonis, 1181-1182
Bring down a people-eating tyrant however you desire
No criticism for this comes from the gods
δημοφάγον δὲ τύραννον ὅπως ἐθέλεις κατακλῖναι
οὐ νέμεσις πρὸς θεῶν γίνεται οὐδεμία.
Theognis, 1135-6
Hope is the only good god present among men
The rest abandoned us and went to Olympos
᾿Ελπὶς ἐν ἀνθρώποισι μόνη θεὸς ἐσθλὴ ἔνεστιν,
ἄλλοι δ’ Οὔλυμπόν<δ’> ἐκπρολιπόντες ἔβαν·
Theognis 1079-80
I’ll fault no enemy when he is noble, nor will I praise a friend when he is wicked
Οὐδένα τῶν ἐχθρῶν μωμήσομαι ἐσθλὸν ἐόντα,
οὐδὲ μὲν αἰνήσω δειλὸν ἐόντα φίλον.
Theognis 989-990
Drink whenever they drink but when you are heartsick, may no man learn you’re burdened
Πῖν’ ὁπόταν πίνωσιν· ὅταν δέ τι θυμὸν ἀσηθῆις,
μηδεὶς ἀνθρώπων γνῶι σε βαρυνόμενον.
Theognis, 979-980: On Friendship
“May a man be friend not in speech but in deed too.”
‘Μή μοι ἀνὴρ εἴη γλώσσηι φίλος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔργωι.’
