It is said that gifts persuade even the gods.

Great people's tempers are terrible, always

Having their own way, seldom checked,

Dangerous they shift from mood to mood.

How much better to have been accustomed

To live on equal terms with one's neighbors.

I would like to be safe and grow old in a

Humble way. What is moderate sounds best,

Also in practice is best for everyone.

Greatness brings no profit to people.

God indeed, when in anger, brings

Greater ruin to great men's houses.

I know indeed what evil I intend to do,

but stronger than all my afterthoughts is my fury,

fury that brings upon mortals the greatest evils.

There is no benefit in the gifts of a bad man.

What greater grief than the loss of one's native land.

When love is in excess it brings a man no honor nor worthiness.

Moderation, the noblest gift of Heaven.

Let no one think of me that I am humble or weak or passive; let them understand I am of a different kind: dangerous to my enemies, loyal to my friends. To such a life glory belongs.

Of all things upon earth that bleed and grow,

A herb most bruised is woman.

Oh, being a good wife is a fine thing...

As long as it doesn't come to a bust-up.

When someone isn't seen for a long time,

Well, folk soon begin to imagine the worst.

Aren't we of all god's creatures the most unlucky,

We women? First we have to buy our husbands--

Actually pay for a man to lord it over us...

Think yourself lucky if you get a good one;

It isn't done for women to divorce,

Oh no. And what preparation do we get

For marriage? None. If you do find you're able

To live with him, you're lucky. If you don't,

YOu've had it. Compare us with a man;

If a man no longer fancies the wife he has,

He's off, and battens on to another woman.

But we're chained to one person; everything

Depends on him. Oh I know what they say--

We live a safe, comfortable life at home,

While they go out to war, risk life and limb,

Fighting with swords and spears to protect us.

I'd far rather serve in the front line

A dozen times, than go through childbirth once!

Women don't like violence,

But when their husbands desert them, that is different.

You women are all the same, if bed's all right,

You think everything else can go to the wind.

But if there's any infringement of your bed-rights,

Then fair is foul and all hell's let loose.

There is no bitterness to be compared

With that between two people who once loved.

May he die with no joy at his end,

The man who won't be troubled

To unlock the keys of his heart and make a friend.

Children are sweet as the buds in spring,

But I've noticed that those who have them

Have nothing but trouble all their lives.

God in heaven has dominion

Over so many events.

He can frustrate what seems inevitable,

And bring to pass the thing that you least expect.

In life, the worst disasters come from passion.

Some men may be more fortunate than others

As chance has it; but no one's happy--no one.

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