History & Politics
Book IX, 653: On a House situated on a Hill in Constantinople
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. III, 1917)
“The gods set toil before virtue,” ? said the poet of Ascra, speaking prophetically of this house. For after mounting the long flight of steps with exhausted feet, my hair was all soaked with sweat; but from the summit I looked on the fine view of the sea. Yea! perhaps a good room is a surer possession than virtue (?).
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Scholasticus, Agathias. “Book IX, 653: On a House situated on a Hill in Constantinople.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/agathias/69/.
Chicago
Scholasticus, Agathias. “Book IX, 653: On a House situated on a Hill in Constantinople.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/agathias/69/.
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