Nor put all your livelihood in hollow ships; but leave the greater part behind, and put the lesser on board.
§691δεινὸν γὰρ πόντου μετὰ κύμασι πήματι κύρσαι.
For it is a terrible thing to meet with disaster among the waves of the sea.
And it is terrible if, having lifted an excessive load onto a wagon, you should break the axle, and the cargo be ruined.
§694μέτρα φυλάσσεσθαι· καιρὸς δʼ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν ἄριστος.
Observe due measure; and moderation is best in all things.
§695ὡραῖος δὲ γυναῖκα τεὸν ποτὶ οἶκον ἄγεσθαι, §696μήτε τριηκόντων ἐτέων μάλα πόλλʼ ἀπολείπων §697μήτʼ ἐπιθεὶς μάλα πολλά· γάμος δέ τοι ὥριος οὗτος·
And lead a wife to your house in due season, neither falling very far short of thirty years, nor having added very many to it; this is the timely marriage for you.
§698ἡ δὲ γυνὴ τέτορʼ ἡβώοι, πέμπτῳ δὲ γαμοῖτο.
Let the woman be four years past puberty, and be married in the fifth.
§699παρθενικὴν δὲ γαμεῖν, ὥς κʼ ἤθεα κεδνὰ διδάξῃς.
And marry a virgin, so that you may teach her good habits.
§700τὴν δὲ μάλιστα γαμεῖν, ἥ τις σέθεν ἐγγύθι ναίει, §701πάντα μάλʼ ἀμφιιδών, μὴ γείτοσι χάρματα γήμῃς.
And marry her especially who dwells near you, looking around carefully on all sides, lest you marry to be a laughing-stock to your neighbors.
§702οὐ μὲν γάρ τι γυναικὸς ἀνὴρ ληίζετʼ ἄμεινον §703τῆς ἀγαθῆς, τῆς δʼ αὖτε κακῆς οὐ ῥίγιον ἄλλο, §704δειπνολόχης· ἥτʼ ἄνδρα καὶ ἴφθιμόν περ ἐόντα §705εὕει ἄτερ δαλοῖο καὶ ὠμῷ γήραϊ δῶκεν.
For a man wins nothing better than a wife of the good kind, and on the other hand nothing more chilling than a bad one, a dinner-snatcher, who singes her husband, even though he is strong, without a brand, and gives him over to a premature old age.
§706εὖ δʼ ὄπιν ἀθανάτων μακάρων πεφυλαγμένος εἶναι.
And guard well against the wrath of the blessed immortals.
Do not make a companion equal to a brother; but if you should make him so, do not be the first to do him wrong.
§709μηδὲ ψεύδεσθαι γλώσσης χάριν· εἰ δὲ σέ γʼ ἄρχῃ §710ἤ τι ἔπος εἰπὼν ἀποθύμιον ἠὲ καὶ ἔρξας, §711δὶς τόσα τίνυσθαι μεμνημένος· εἰ δὲ σέ γʼ αὖτις §712ἡγῆτʼ ἐς φιλότητα, δίκην δʼ ἐθέλῃσι παρασχεῖν, §713δέξασθαι· δειλός τοι ἀνὴρ φίλον ἄλλοτε ἄλλον §714ποιεῖται, σὲ δὲ μή τι νόον κατελεγχέτω εἶδος.
Nor lie for the sake of talking; but if he should begin, either saying some disagreeable word or doing some deed, remember to repay him twice as much; but if he again should lead you into friendship, and wish to give satisfaction, accept it; for it is a wretched man who makes now one friend, now another, and let not your outward appearance belie your mind.
Neither be called host to too many, nor host to none, nor companion of evil men, nor reviler of good men.
Never dare to reproach a man with destructive poverty, which is the gift of the blessed, everlasting gods.
A sparing tongue is indeed the best treasure among men, and the greatest grace is in one that moves with measure.
§721εἰ δὲ κακὸν εἴποις, τάχα κʼ αὐτὸς μεῖζον ἀκούσαις.
But if you speak ill, you yourself will likely hear worse.
Do not be ill-tempered at a feast of many guests, at common expense; for the pleasure is greatest, and the cost is least.
§724μηδέ ποτʼ ἐξ ἠοῦς Διὶ λειβέμεν αἴθοπα οἶνον §725χερσὶν ἀνίπτοισιν μηδʼ ἄλλοις ἀθανάτοισιν· §726οὐ γὰρ τοί γε κλύουσιν, ἀποπτύουσι δέ τʼ ἀράς.
Never pour libations of sparkling wine to Zeus in the morning with unwashed hands, nor to the other immortals; for they do not hear, but spit back your prayers.
§727μηδʼ ἄντʼ ἠελίου τετραμμένος ὀρθὸς ὀμιχεῖν· §728αὐτὰρ ἐπεί κε δύῃ, μεμνημένος, ἔς τʼ ἀνιόντα· §729μήτʼ ἐν ὁδῷ μήτʼ ἐκτὸς ὁδοῦ προβάδην οὐρήσῃς §730μηδʼ ἀπογυμνωθείς· μακάρων τοι νύκτες ἔασιν· §731ἑζόμενος δʼ ὅ γε θεῖος ἀνήρ, πεπνυμένα εἰδώς, §732ἢ ὅ γε πρὸς τοῖχον πελάσας ἐυερκέος αὐλῆς.
Nor stand upright and make water facing the sun; and remember to do so after it sets, and until it rises; neither make water on the road, nor out of the road as you walk, nor stripped naked; for the nights belong to the blessed gods; and the godly man, who knows wise things, does it sitting down, or approaching the wall of a well-fenced courtyard.
Nor expose your genitals smeared with semen indoors near the hearth, but avoid this.
Nor, when returning from an ill-omened funeral, beget offspring, but rather after a feast of the immortals.
§737μηδέ ποτʼ αἰενάων ποταμῶν καλλίρροον ὕδωρ §738ποσσὶ περᾶν, πρίν γʼ εὔξῃ ἰδὼν ἐς καλὰ ῥέεθρα, §739χεῖρας νιψάμενος πολυηράτῳ ὕδατι λευκῷ.
Never cross the fair-flowing water of ever-flowing rivers with your feet, before you pray, looking into the beautiful streams, and wash your hands in the lovely, clear water.
He who crosses a river with unwashed hands and evil heart, with him the gods are angry, and bring him troubles afterward.
Nor, at a rich feast of the gods, cut the dry from the green with glowing iron.
Never place the ladle on top of the mixing-bowl while people are drinking; for a destructive fate is set upon it.
Nor, when building a house, leave it unfinished, lest the chattering crow should sit on it and croak.
Nor take food or bathe from unblessed pots; for in these things too there is punishment.
§750μηδʼ ἐπʼ ἀκινήτοισι καθιζέμεν, οὐ γὰρ ἄμεινον, §751παῖδα δυωδεκαταῖον, ὅτʼ ἀνέρʼ ἀνήνορα ποιεῖ, §752μηδὲ δυωδεκάμηνον· ἴσον καὶ τοῦτο τέτυκται.
Nor sit on things that must not be moved—for it is not good— a boy of twelve days, since it makes a man unmanly, nor one of twelve months; this too is just the same.
§753μηδὲ γυναικείῳ λουτρῷ χρόα φαιδρύνεσθαι §754ἀνέρα· λευγαλέη γὰρ ἐπὶ χρόνον ἔστʼ ἐπὶ καὶ τῷ §755ποινή.
Nor should a man cleanse his body in a woman's bath; for a painful punishment is set upon that too for a time.
μηδʼ ἱεροῖσιν ἐπʼ αἰθομένοισι κυρήσας §756μωμεύειν ἀίδηλα· θεός νύ τι καὶ τὰ νεμεσσᾷ.
And do not, coming upon burning sacrifices, mock them in secret; for a god is angry at these things too.