Living
Maxims of Theognis: Cyrnus, direct a various habit
Translated by Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856) · From Hesiod, Callimachus and Theognis (Bohn, 1856)
Cyrnus, direct a various habit towards all your friends, mingling with your own the temper which each has. Get thee the temper of the polypus, with-tangled-twisting-arms, which on any rock to which he has attached himself appears such as it is to look upon. Now follow this way, now become different in complexion; the wisdom of versatility is something of a rapid kind. Be not too indignant when citizens are in a state of disturbance, O Cyrnus; but go on the middle path, as I do.
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: Cyrnus, direct a various habit.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/144/.
Chicago
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: Cyrnus, direct a various habit.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/144/.
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