Alexis

Alexis (Ancient Greek: Ἄλεξις, Álexis; fl. 350s – 288 BC) was a Greek poet of Middle Comedy. Quotes ἅπαντα τὰ ζητούμεν᾿ ἐξευρίσκεται,ἂν μὴ προαποστῇς μηδὲ τὸν πόνον φύγῃς.ὅπου γὰρ εὑρήκασιν ἄνθρωποί τινεςμέρος τι τῶν θείων, τοσούτῳ τῷ τόπῳἀπέχοντες, ἄστρων ἐπιτολάς, δύσεις, τροπάς,ἔκλειψιν ἡλίου· τί τῶν κοινῶν ⟨κάτω⟩ καὶ συγγενικῶν δύναιτ᾿ ἂν ἄνθρωπον φυγεῖν; Discovery attends on every quest,Except for renegades who shirk the toil.Now certain men have pushed discoveryInto the sphere of heaven. Some part they know,—How planets rise and set and wheel about,And of the sun’s eclipse. If men have probedWorlds far remote, can problems of this earth,This common home to which we’re born, defy them? Frg. 31 K.-A. (tr. T. F. Higham, 1938) τοιοῦτο τὸ ζῆν ἐστιν ὥσπερ οἱ κύβοι·οὐ ταὔτ᾿ ἀεὶ πίπτουσιν, οὐδὲ τῷ βίῳταὐτὸν διαμένει σχῆμα, μεταβολὰς δ᾿ ἔχει. Our life is like to dice, which ever fallIn varying combinations; no one formHas man's existence, but 'tis full of change. Frg. 35 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) ὁμοιότατος ἄνθρωπος οἴνῳ τὴν φύσιντρόπον τιν᾿ ἐστί. τὸν γὰρ οἶνον τὸν νέονπολλή ᾿στ᾿ ἀνάγκη καὶ τὸν ἄνδρ᾿ ἀποζέσαιπρώτιστον ἀφυβρίσαι τ᾿, ἀπανθήσαντα δὲσκληρὸν γενέσθαι, παρακμάσαντα δ᾿ ὧν λέγωτούτων ἁπάντων, ἀπαρυθέντα τὴν ἄνωταύτην ἄνοιαν ἐπιπολάζουσαν, τότεπότιμον γενέσθαι καὶ καταστῆναι πάλινἡδύν θ᾿ ἅπασι τοὐπίλοιπον διατελεῖν. The nature of man is in some respects very much resembling wine. For, like new wine, the youthful mind requries to have its fermentation thrown off, and its roughness skimmed; but when its excessive violence has abated, and the fury, which swam on the top, has disappeared, then it becomes drinkable, and settles down, continuing pleasant to all future time. Frg. 46 K.-A. (tr. C. T. Ramage, 1873) οὐκοῦν, τὸ πολλοῖς τῶν σοφῶν εἰρημένον,τὸ μὴ γενέσθαι μὲν κράτιστόν ἐστ᾿ ἀεί,ἐπὰν γένηται δ᾿, ὡς τάχιστ᾿ ἔχειν τέλος. Most wise men were agreed that it were bestNot to be born, but if that may not be,Then with the least delay to reach the goal. Frg. 145.14–16 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) οὐ τοῖς γὰρ ὀμνύουσι τὸν φρονοῦντα δεῖ,τοῖς πράγμασιν δ᾿ αὐτοῖσι πιστεύειν ἀεί. Not in vain oaths should prudent men believe,But put their trust in actions. Frg. 165 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) ὑπαλείφεται τὰς ῥῖνας· ὑγιείας μέροςμέγιστον ὀσμὰς ἐγκεφάλῳ χρηστὰς ποιεῖν. His nose he anoints, and thinks it plain'Tis good for health with scents to feed the brain. Frg. 195.2–3 K.-A. (tr. C. D. Yonge, 1854); cf. Posidonius ἤδη γὰρ ὁ βίος οὑμὸς ἑσπέραν ἄγει. For now my life is approaching its evening. Frg. 230 K.-A. (tr. C. T. Ramage, 1873) οὐ θνητὸς οὐδ᾿ ἀθάνατος, ἀλλ᾿ ἔχων τινὰσύγκρασιν, ὥστε μήτ᾿ ἐν ἀνθρώπου μέρειμήτ᾿ ἐν θεοῦ ζῆν. Not of the mortals Sleep, nor of the immortals,But blended of the two; thus nor with manHis heritage, nor with the gods. Frg. 242.1–3 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) κόλακος δὲ βίος μικρὸν χρόνον ἀνθεῖ·οὐδεὶς γὰρ χαίρει πολιοκροτάφῳ παρασίτῳ. For no long time the flatterer flourishes,For none can brook a grey-haired parasite. Frg. 262 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) ἐπὰν δὲ γήμῃς, οὐδὲ σαυτοῦ κύριονἔξεστιν εἶναι. Once thou art wed, no longer canst thou beLord of thyself. Frg. 264.7–8 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) τῶν γὰρ ἀγαθῶν τὸν πλοῦτον ὕστατον τίθει·ἀβεβαιότατον γάρ ἐστιν ὧν κεκτήμεθα. Of all thy blessings reckon wealth the least,For 'tis the least secure of our possessions. Frg. 283.1–2 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) κἂν εὐτυχῇ τις, ὡς ἔοικε, προσδοκᾶνἀεί τι δεῖ, καὶ μή τι πιστεύειν τύχῃ. Though Fortune now be smiling, it behovesTo look ahead, nor e'er to trust in Fortune. Frg. 289 K.-A. (tr. T. B. Harbottle, 1897) φεῦγ᾿ ἡδονὴν φέρουσαν ὕστερον βλάβην. Fly pleasure, which at last brings loss. Frg. 297 K.-A. (tr. C. T. Ramage, 1873) References Text Kassel, Rudolf; Austin, Colin. Poetae Comici Graeci, vol. II Agathenor-Aristonymus. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1991. Translations Harbottle, Thomas Benfield. Dictionary of Quotations (Classical). London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1897. Internet Archive Ramage, Craufurd Tait. Beautiful Thoughts from Greek Authors. Liverpool: Edward Howell, 1873, pp. 31–33. Google Books External links Alexis (poet) Category:BCE deaths Category:BCE births Category:Playwrights from Greece Category:Poets from Greece