Theocritus

270 BC / Syracuse, Italy

Epitaph of Cleonicus

Man, husband existence: ne'er launch on the sea
Out of season: our tenure of life is but frai.
Think of poor Cleonicus: for Phasos sailed he
From the valleys of Syria, with many a bale:
With many a bale, ocean's tides he would stem
When the Pleiads were sinking; and he sank with them.

translated by C. S. Calverley
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