Social Commentaries
Book XI, 154
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. IV, 1918)
Everyone who is poor and illiterate does not grind corn as formerly or carry burdens for small pay, but grows a beard and picking up a stick from the cross-roads, calls himself the chief dog of virtue. This is the sage pronouncement of Hermodotus, “ If anyone is penniless, let him throw off his shirt and no longer starve.”
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Lucillius. “Book XI, 154.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lucillius/50/.
Chicago
Lucillius. “Book XI, 154.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lucillius/50/.
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