Alcaeus


(To Dionysus), (Hera threw Hephaestus out of heaven. In retaliation he sent her a throne with a hidden trap inside it,) so that none of the gods possibly could free her without his help. (She sat on it and was caught fast,) and the immortal gods all were laughing... Ares declared he could bring Hephaestus by force. (but he failed. Finally Dionysus overcame Hephaestus with drink and induced him to release his mother, who in gratitude persuaded the gods to admit Dionysus to Olympus as) one of the Twelve. 349

For fighting men are a town's battlements. 112

For death in battle is a splendid thing. 400

or somewhere reunite the scattered army and inspire discipline in them. 382

fills with neat wine that's never still by day or night... Well, once that fellow made his coup, he didn't give such habits up. He made disturbance every night; cask after cask rang hollow to the foot. With such a mother, then, do you claim the esteem that free men have, from worthy parents born? 72

Let's quickly batten down and run to port. Let none be soft or slow to move: the trials ahead are plain to see. Remember last time! Every man be true, let us not shamefully disgrace our worthy fathers in their graves, 6

Let us not bow to one man's rule. 6

Buffeted now by wave on wave she says she has no heart... to fight the pouring rain, and so smashed on the unmarked rocks she comes to grief. Well, that's her lot, and here I'm stuck. I'll think no more of getting back, I'll just enjoy myself with you. 73

Let Hyrrhas' son be visited by our friends' vengeance, for we swore stone oaths that none of us would ever betray a member of our company, but either lie in cloaks of earth, killed by those men who then held power, or else put them to death, and save the people from their burden of distress. But this potbelly gave no thought to that. He's trampled on his oaths without a qualm, and ravages our city... not by the law that... 129

Plunged in the wild chaste-woods I live a rustic life, unhappy me, longing to hear Assembly called and Council, Agesilaidas! From lands my grandfather grew old possessing, and my father too, among these citizens who wrong each other, I've been driven away, an outland exile: here I dwell like Onomacles, the Athenian spear-wolf, out of the fray. To make peace with... is not wise. 130b

Keeping well out of trouble's reach. 130b

When will the gods from all my trials deliver 130b

It's like they say Aristodemus said in Sparta once, a quite astute remark: a man is what he owns; no pauper is a man of quality or high esteem. 360

Poverty is a hard and unstoppable evil: she, with her sister Resourcelessness, conquers a mighty host. pg. 55

Now we must trust in fortune and jump on Pittacus from behind. 306g

One should look out before one sails, if one is able and has skill, but once at sea, one's forced to ride what comes. 249

Zeus, Kronos's son, alone controls the outcome of events. 200

Vexed at our troubles, father Zeus, the Lydians pledged two thousand pounds if we could get back to our holy town, though we had never helped them, and they knew us not. 69

This fellow who seeks the high command will soon turn the town upside down: it's poised to tilt. 141

While the log's still only smoking, put the fire out. 74

But now this fellow's in charge, playing his final card. 351

Fitznobody Pittacus they've made tyrant of that gutless and ill-starred town with united acclaim. 348

But the lyre still plays its sportive part at the symposium: feasting with empty braggarts... Well, he's now married into the Atreid line; let him destroy the city, like he did with Myrsilus, till it's the War-god's will that we take arms. Let's put rage out of mind, and let's wind down this spirit-gnawing strife of kith and kin that some Olympians roused, bringing the people to calamity and Pittacus to enviable pomp. 70

I restrained you from your folly. So take heed of what I say, and stop, and if you can, keep ... from the trouble that's at hand. For your time now is past and gone, and all your grapes are gathered in, but it's a good plant, and there's hope it will be bearing many a cluster yet- when the time comes; for from a vine like this ... I'm afraid that they may pick the fruit before its ripe. Even so those who toiled before ... 119

... to us; you do no harm, since you are gone, killed by the Allien's blows. 306A

Drink, be merry with me, Melanippus. What makes you think that, when once you have crossed over eddying Acheron, you will ever again get a glimps of the sun's pure light? No, don't have big ideas ... 38

For wine's the window to see through a man. 333

We must not brood upon our ills, Bycchis; repining will not help. The best cure's fetching wine and getting drunk. 335

Rain in the sky, foul weather coming down, the watercourses frozen ... Defeat the weather: light a fire, mix the sweet wine unstintingly, and put a nice soft cusion by my head. 338

Let the vine be the first fruit-tree you plant: others can wait their turn. 342

Wine puts cares out of mind, gift of a god to men. 346

If wine fetters the wits ... Often he hangs his head and blames himself, regretting what he's said, but it's too late to take it back. 358

Wine, dear boy, and truth go hand in hand. 366

I fell by the arts of the Cyprian goddess. 380

What you give a whore, you might as well chuck in the foaming sea. Whoever knows this not can take my word: when you consort with whores, it turns out so, you have to make it up ... with shame, accursed misery galore. 117

If you say what you like, maybe you'll hear answers you like much less. 341

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