Sunday with Theognis: Overthrowing Tyranny, Hope, Drinking and Friendship

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.’

 

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