Living
Maxims of Theognis: Equally rich, look you, are
Translated by Rev. J. Banks (Bohn, 1856) · From Hesiod, Callimachus and Theognis (Bohn, 1856)
Equally rich, look you, are he to whom there is much silver and gold, and plains of wheat-producing earth, horses and mules; and he to whom that which is needful is ready, so that he may enjoy himself in pleasures of stomach, sides, and feet; and boys and women: for when the fitting season of these shall have arrived, and at-the-same-time their youthful prime is suitable, these are wealth to mortals: for no one goes to Hades with all his immense wealth. Neither by paying ransom can he escape death, or heavy diseases, or wretched old age coming upon him.
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: Equally rich, look you, are.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/260/.
Chicago
Megara, Theognis of. “Maxims of Theognis: Equally rich, look you, are.” Translated by Rev. J. Banks. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/260/.
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