Solon on Wealth a President Can't Grasp

Solon 13 Stob. 3.9.23

Translated by Steven Willett

 

This is a Roman copy of a Greek statue of Solon c. 630~c. 560BC.

 

Note: According to Clem. Strom. 6.11.1 we have the beginning of the poem, and its climactic ending suggests a complete composition. The very forceful similes and metaphors make this a unique early Greek elegy.

 

Radiant daughters of Memory and Olympian Zeus,

   Pierian Muses, listen to me as I pray:

grant me happiness from the blessed gods and from all

   men to always have a good reputation,

thus being sweet to my friends, bitter to my enemies,

   viewed reverent by these, dreadful by those.

Money I long to have, but to acquire it unjustly

   I don’t wish: judgement surely comes later.

The wealth that the gods give stands with a man

   steadfast from lowest depth to summit,

yet the wealth men honor with violence comes

   in disorder, persuaded by unjust actions

unwilling to attend, and is quickly mixed with ruin,

   whose beginning is small like that of fire,

insignificant at first, but disastrous in the end,

   for mortals’ violent deeds don’t live long.

But Zeus oversees every outcome, and suddenly,

   as wind quickly scatters the clouds

in spring, stirring up the sea’s billowy and barren

   depths, over the wheat-bearing land

ravaging the lovely fields, reaches the gods’ high seat

   in heaven, and clears the sky again to view;

the strength of the sun shines over the fertile land

   in beauty, and not one cloud is seen—

such is the vengeance of Zeus. At each occasion

   he isn’t quick to anger like a mortal man,

but none ever escapes ceaseless notice who has

   a sinful heart, and he’s surely exposed at last.

But one man pays the price at once, another later; if they

   themselves flee, and pursuing divine fate can’t hit,

it assuredly comes later; innocents pay the penalty,

   either their children or later descendants.

Thus we mortals believe, both the good and the bad,

   that the expectation each has is progressing

until he suffers ill, then afterwards wails, but until this

   we take delight eagerly in empty hopes.

Whoever may be oppressed by a painful disease

   thinks that he’ll become healthy;

 

another craven individual believes that he’s noble

   and handsome not having a graceful form;

if someone is poor, constrained by works of poverty,

   he thinks he’ll surely acquire much money.

Each hastens to his own goal: one roams the fish-filled

   sea in ships wanting to bring profit home;

borne violently along by the oppressive winds

   he’s not sparing of his own life.

Another cleaving the abundant forested land

   slaves for a year, his care a curved plow.

Another learning the works of Athena and Hephaestus,

   rich in crafts, gathers his livelihood by hand;

another, taught the gifts of the Olympian Muses,

   knows the poetic rhythm of the lovely art.

Another far-working lord Apollo has made a seer

   who knows evil is coming on a man from afar

if the gods standing with him; but most assuredly

   no augury or sacrifice will repel fate.

 

Others engaging in the work of Paeon, rich in drugs,

   are physicians; for them too there’s no end.

Often from a scanty pain comes great suffering,

   and no one relieves it giving calmant drugs;

another, stricken with a terrible and grievous disease,

   he quickly restores health by touch of hands.

Fate surely brings both good and evil to mankind

   and gifts of immortal gods are inevitable.

In all actions there’s surely risk, and no one knows

   when something starts how it’s going to end.

But the man attempting to act rightly unaware

   falls into great and harsh calamity,

while to one who acts badly god gives success

   in everything, a release from his folly.

But of wealth no boundary lies revealed to men,

   for those of us now having the most livelihood,

strive twice as much. What could satisfy everyone?

   The immortals surely grant profit to men,

but from it ruin is shown, which one or another has,

   whenever Zeus sends the punishing price.

Comments

[Deap]

....Fate surely brings both good and evil to mankind

and gifts of immortal gods are inevitable.

In all actions there’s surely risk, and no one knows

when something starts how it’s going to end........

Good reminder - fate is what life hands you; destiny is what you do with it.

[Diana Croissant]

It is always good to study the Greeks. I recommend the Oedipus trilogy of plays and Sophocles examination of them, especially of the lesson about Hubris that one gains from reading them.

I applies to all those who believe too strongly in their own powers.