Death & Dying
Epitaph XXVIII. — On the Tomb of Diogenes the Cynic, upon which there was a Figure of a Dog instead of Epitaph
Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (1919–21) · From Book VI. — Epitaphs on the Heroes who took part in the Trojan War
"Tell me, dog, whose tomb is this?" "It is a dog's." "But what dog was that?" "Diogenes." "And is he passed away?" "Not passed away, but gone away." "What, has that Diogenes gone to the shades, whose wealth was his wallet and whose house a cask?" "Cerberus will not let him in." "Where is he gone, then?" "Where the bright star of Leo burns he has been installed now as watch-dog for righteous Erigone."
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epitaph XXVIII. — On the Tomb of Diogenes the Cynic, upon which there was a Figure of a Dog instead of Epitaph.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/94/.
Chicago
Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epitaph XXVIII. — On the Tomb of Diogenes the Cynic, upon which there was a Figure of a Dog instead of Epitaph.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/94/.
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