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Verse

Works and Days

Book 1, Line 4 by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (English)

(ll. 25-41) Perses, lay up these things in your heart, and do not let that Strife who delights in mischief hold your heart back from work, while you peep and peer and listen to the wrangles of the court-house. Little concern has he with quarrels and courts who has not a year's victuals laid up betimes, even that which the earth bears, Demeter's grain. When you have got plenty of that, you can raise disputes and strive to get another's goods. But you shall have no second chance to deal so again: nay, let us settle our dispute here with true judgement divided our inheritance, but you seized the greater share and carried it off, greatly swelling the glory of our bribe-swallowing lords who love to judge such a cause as this. Fools! They know not how much more the half is than the whole, nor what great advantage there is in mallow and asphodel .

Works and DaysHesiodHugh G. Evelyn-WhiteEnglishVerse permalinkRead in Book 1

Book 1, Line 4ProseID works-and-days-evelyn-white-en-prose-1-4

Project Gutenberg #348, Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica (Hugh G. Evelyn-White), Works and Days