Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.51.1

Attempts to Escape Death and Enduring Given Destiny

Passage 247 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Marcus Aurelius quotes fragments from Euripides, describing human struggles to escape death and the necessity of enduring the destiny sent by the gods.

§7.51.1Καὶ "σίτοισι καὶ ποτοῖσι καὶ μαγεύμασι παρεκτρέποντες ὀχετὸν ὥστε μὴ θανεῖν. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And: "Turning aside the channel with foods and drinks and magic spells, so as not to die...
θεόθεν δὲ πνέοντ’ οὖρον ἀνάγκη τλῆναι καμάτοις ἀνοδύρτοις. "
But the wind that blows from heaven we must endure with uncomplaining trials."

Notes

  1. §7.51.1παρεκτρέποντες ὀχετὸν — The phrase "turning aside the channel" metaphorically represents human attempts to avert death and prolong life. The participle `παρεκτρέποντες` (nominative plural masculine) refers to the subject of the omitted main clause.
  2. §7.51.1πνέοντ’ οὖρον — `πνέοντ'` is the elided form of `πνέοντα` (present participle, accusative singular masculine), modifying the noun `οὖρον` (wind, accusative). They serve as the direct object of the infinitive `τλῆναι` (to endure).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.51.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.51.1

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