Plato: Gorgias, Menexenus, Protagoras

Simonides' poem reconstructed

Truly becoming good is hard for a man,

Standing four-square with hands and feet and mind,

Fashioned beyond reproach.

(Missing lines)

It strikes a wrong note,

That saying of Pittacus – though wise the man

Who spoke it – ‘Being good,’ he said, ‘is hard.’

Only a god can have this privilege.

He cannot but be bad, a man, when once

Helpless disaster brings him down.

For any man is good when things go well,

But bad when they go ill.

Best for the longest time are they – whom the gods love.

I will not cast my life's portion away

In hopeless quest for what can never be –

A man who's blameless among those who reap

The broad earth's harvest.

Should I find one,

I'll bring you word.

All those who do no shameful action willingly

I praise and love.

Against necessity not even gods can fight.

(Missing lines)

Enough, for me,

A man who is not bad, not wholly useless,

A sound and healthy man, one who well knows

Justice, the city's profit, I will not

Blame him.

The tribe of fools is numberless –

All things are fair wherein no foul is mixed.