Theognis, Elegies 567-570
“I play, taking pleasure in youth—for I will lie
A long time under the earth once I die,
Like a voiceless stone, when I leave the sun’s lovely light.
No matter how good I was, I will see nothing again.”
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.
571-572
“A reputation alone is a great evil for people—an investigation is best.
Many who are unexamined have a reputation for good deeds.”
δόξα μὲν ἀνθρώποισι κακὸν μέγα, πεῖρα δ᾿ἄριστον·
πολλοὶ ἀπείρητοι δόξαν ἔχουσ᾿ ἀγαθῶν.
577-578
“It is easier to make something bad from good than good from bad.
Stop trying to teach me. I am not the right age to learn.”
“ῥήιον ἐξ ἀγαθοῦ θεῖναι κακὸν ἢ ᾿κ κακοῦ ἐσθλόν.”
—μή με δίδασκ᾿· οὔτοι τηλίκος εἰμὶ μαθεῖν.
583-584
“It is impossible to undo the things that have past
Let your worry be guarding what happens next.”
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προβέβηκεν, ἀμήχανόν ἐστι γενέσθαι
ἀργά· τὰ δ᾿ ἐξοπίσω, τῶν φυλακὴ μελέτω.
