Euripides, fr.346 (Dictys): A Universal Law of Love?

 

“There is one universal law among men

And one that is right to the gods, I believe truly—

And to all animals as well: to love the children we bear.

In everything else, we follow different laws.”

 

εἷς γάρ τις ἔστι κοινὸς ἀνθρώποις νόμος

καὶ θεοῖσι τοῦτο δόξαν, ὡς σαφῶς λέγω,

θηρσίν τε πᾶσι, τέκνα τίκτουσιν φιλεῖν·

τὰ δ’ ἄλλα χωρὶς χρώμεθ’ ἀλλήλων νόμοις.

Leave a Reply