Living
Maxims of Theognis: Nor doth any man toil
Translated by Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856) · From Hesiod, Callimachus and Theognis (Bohn, 1856)
Nor doth any man toil, knowing within his heart as touching the issue, whether ’tis well or ill. For oftentimes thinking that he will bring about evil, he is wont to bring about good, ay, and thinking to cause good, he causes ill. Neither to any man do as many things as he may wish arrive: for the bounds of stern impossibility hinder them. But we men entertain vain thoughts, knowing nothing. The gods accomplish all things after their own mind.
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: Nor doth any man toil.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/128/.
Chicago
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: Nor doth any man toil.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/128/.
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