Şiir 2
A crafty citizen is unable to speak a compelling word among noble men; and yet he fawns on everyone, weaving complete destruction. Reading with Snell ἄταν for ἀγὰν. I do not share his boldness. Let me be a friend to my friend; but I will be an enemy to my enemy, and pounce on him like a wolf,
treading every crooked path. Under every type of law the man who speaks straightforwardly prospers: in a tyranny, and where the raucous masses oversee the state, and where men of skill do. One must not fight against a god,
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who raises up some men’s fortunes at one time, and at another gives great glory to others. But even this
does not comfort the minds of the envious; they pull the line too tight and plant a painful wound in their own heart before they get what they are scheming for. It is best to take the yoke on one’s neck and bear it lightly; kicking against the goad
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makes the path treacherous. I hope that I may associate with noble men and please them.
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