Death & Dying
Book VII, 430
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. II, 1917)
Who hung the newly-stripped arms on this oak? By whom is the Dorian shield inscribed? For this land of Thyrea is soaked with the blood of champions and we are the only two left of the Argives. Seek out every fallen corpse, lest any left alive illuminate Sparta in spurious glory. Nay stay thy steps, for here on the shield the victory of the Spartans is announced by the clots of Othryadas’ blood, and he who wrought this still gasps hard by. O Zeus our ancestor, look with loathing on those tokens of a victory that was not won.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Dioscorides. “Book VII, 430.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dioscorides/20/.
Chicago
Dioscorides. “Book VII, 430.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dioscorides/20/.
Read this poem with the Codex →