ARCHILOCHUS

…..

My one great talent lies in making those who wrong me suffer horribly.

…..

Be brave, my heart.

Plant your feet and

square your shoulders

to the enemy. Meet

him among the

man-killing spears.

Hold your ground. In

victory, do not brag; in

defeat, do not weep.

…..

And by a prudent flight and cunning save

A life which valour could not, from the grave.

A better buckler I can soon regain,

But who can get another life again?

…..

Take the joy and bear the sorrow,
looking past your hopes and fears:
learn to recognize the measured
dance that orders all our years.

…..

I lie here miserable and broken with desire,
pierced through to the bones by the bitterness
of this god-given painful love.

O comrade, this passion makes my limbs limp
and tramples over me.

…..

My Soul, my Soul, all disturbed by sorrows inconsolable,

Bear up, hold out, meet front-on the many foes that rush on you.

Now from this side and now that, enduring all such strife up close,

Never wavering; and should you win, don't openly exult,

Nor, defeated, throw yourself lamenting in a heap at home,

But delight in things that are delightful and, in hard times, grieve

Not too much - appreciate the rhythm that controls men's lives.

…..

These golden matters

Of Gyges and his treasuries

Are no concern of mine.

Jealousy has no power over me,

Nor do I envy a god his work,

And I do not burn to rule.

Such things have no

Fascination for my eyes.

She held a sprig of myrtle she'd picked

and a rose

that pleased her most

of those on the bush

and her long hair shaded her shoulders and back."

…..

Wayward and wildly pounding heart,

There is a girl who lives among us

Who watches you with foolish eyes,

A slender, lovely, graceful girl,

Just budding into supple line,

And you scare her and make her shy.

There are, do you know, so many pleasures

For young men to choose from

Among the skills of the delicious goddess.

…..

Be bold! That's one way

Of getting through life.

So I turn upon her

And point out that,

Faced with the wickedness

Of things, she does not shiver.