Living
Maxims of Theognis: I cannot understand the mind
Translated by Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856) · From Hesiod, Callimachus and Theognis (Bohn, 1856)
I cannot understand the mind of the citizens, which they entertain: for neither if I do them good, nor ill, do I please them: and many blame me, alike the base-born and the well-born: but none of the unwise can imitate me.
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: I cannot understand the mind.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/172/.
Chicago
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: I cannot understand the mind.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/172/.
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