Social Commentaries

Fragment LXXXV: Not to be born—never to see the sun

by Theognis of Megara fl. 6th century BC

Translated by John Hookham Frere (1842; Bohn 1856) · From Fragments of Theognis (Frere, 1842)

Social Commentaries

Not to be born—never to see the sun—
No worldly blessing is a greater one!
And the next best is speedily to die,
And lapt beneath a load of earth to lie !

MLA

Megara, Theognis of. “Fragment LXXXV: Not to be born—never to see the sun.” Translated by John Hookham Frere. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/88/.

Chicago

Megara, Theognis of. “Fragment LXXXV: Not to be born—never to see the sun.” Translated by John Hookham Frere. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/theognis/88/.

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