March 24, 2024

τί γὰρ παρ’ ἦμαρ ἡμέρα τέρπειν ἔχει 
προσθεῖσα κἀναθεῖσα τοῦ γε κατθανεῖν;
οὐκ ἂν πριαίμην οὐδενὸς λόγου βροτὸν
ὅστις κεναῖσιν ἐλπίσιν θερμαίνεται.
ἀλλ’ ἢ καλῶς ζῆν ἢ καλῶς τεθνηκέναι
τὸν εὐγενῆ χρή. πάντ’ ἀκήκοας λόγον. 

—Sophocles, Ajax 475-480

Nec tamen, haec cum sint hominumque boumque labores
uersando terram experti, nihil improbus anser
Strymoniaeque grues et amaris intiba fibris    
officiunt aut umbra nocet. pater ipse colendi
haud facilem esse uiam uoluit, primusque per artem
mouit agros, curis acuens mortalia corda
nec torpere graui passus sua regna ueterno.

—Vergil, Georgics 1.118-124