Living
Maxims of Theognis: Be wise, and do not
Translated by Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856) · From Hesiod, Callimachus and Theognis (Bohn, 1856)
Be wise, and do not on condition of shameful or unjust acts draw to thyself honours, nor distinctions, nor wealth. These things know thus: and consort not with bad men, but ever cleave to the good: with them eat and drink, sit with them, and please them, of whom there is a large force. For from the good thou shalt learn good, but with the bad if-thou shouldst mix, thou wilt lose even the mind thou hast. Learn this, associate with the good, and sometime thou wilt say, that I give good advice to my friends.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Codex Note
Literal prose translation by the Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856), printed as prose: the plain-sense companion to Frere’s verse version. Banks’s hyphenated compounds are his own.
Cite this poem
MLA
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: Be wise, and do not.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/116/.
Chicago
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: Be wise, and do not.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/116/.
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