ARCHILOCHOS
THREE POEMS |
23
Attribute all to the gods. They pick a man up, Stretched on the black loam, And set him on his two feet, Firm, and then again Shake solid men until They fall backward Into the worst of luck, Wandering hungry, Wild of mind. |
86 Everything, Perikles, A man has The Fates Gave him. 113 There’s nothing now We can’t expect to happen! Anything at all, you can bet, Is ready to jump out at us. No need to wonder over it. Father Zeus has turned Noon to night, blotting out The sunshine utterly, Putting cold terror At the back of the throat. Let’s believe all we hear. Even that dolphins and cows Change place porpoises and goats, Rams booming along in the offing, Mackerel nibbling in the hill pastures. I wouldn’t be surprised, I wouldn’t be surprised. |