Death & Dying
Book VII, 744
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. II, 1917)
They say that Eudoxus learnt his own fate in Memphis from the bull with beautiful horns. It spoke not, how could it for nature has not given speech to cattle nor a talkative tongue to the calf Apis; but standing beside him it licked his cloak, evidently telling him this: “You will divest yourself of life.” So he died shortly after, having seen fifty-three summers.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laertius, Diogenes. “Book VII, 744.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/diogenes-laertius/37/.
Chicago
Laertius, Diogenes. “Book VII, 744.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/diogenes-laertius/37/.
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