Social Commentaries
Book XI, 346
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. IV, 1918)
How long, Polycarpus, sitting to feast at an empty table, shall you live undetected on the savings of others? I no longer see you much in the market-place, but you now turn up side streets and try to think where your feet shall carry you. You promise all, “Come, take yours to-morrow. Come and get it”: but not even if you take your oath do you continue to keep faith. “The wind bearing thee from Cyzicus brought thee to Samothrace”’: this is the goal that awaits you for the rest of your life.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Aetolia, Automedon of. “Book XI, 346.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/automedon/8/.
Chicago
Aetolia, Automedon of. “Book XI, 346.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/automedon/8/.
Read this poem with the Codex →