"Grant me happiness from the blessed Gods..."

Those who visit this blog on a regular basis know that I'm a fan of Solon and his reformations of the political landscape of Athens in the sixth century BC. Solon (Σόλων) was an Athenian statesman and lawmaker who lived from 638 BC to 558 BC. He spent most of his adult life trying to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic Athens. His ideologies are often credited with having laid the foundations for Athenian democracy. Solon's reforms created a system where the power was in the hands of the people, because instead of leaving justice to be administered by the aristocracy. He was also a poet and some of his work has miraculously survived. Today, I would like to share one of the fragments of his work that have survived.

"Glorious children of Olympian Zeus and Memory

Pierian Muses, hear me as I pray.

Grant me happiness from the blessed Gods and possession

Of a good reputation among all people forever.

In this may I be sweet to my friends and bitter to my enemies,

Revered by the former and terrible for the latter to see.

I long to have money, but I do not want to obtain it

Unjustly—punishment inevitably comes later."

[Fr. 13. 1–8

Translation here.]