Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part IV, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 70

And what? Theognis [3219] having said:--

"Wine largely drunk is bad; but if one use

It with discretion, 'tis not bad, but good,"--

does not Panyasis write?

"Above the gods' best gift to men ranks wine,

In measure drunk; but in excess the worst."

Hesiod, too, saying:--

"But for the fire to thee I'll give a plague, [3220]

For all men to delight themselves withal,"--

Euripides writes:--

"And for the fire

Another fire greater and unconquerable,

Sprung up in the shape of women" [3221]

[3219] [See, supra, book ii. cap. ii] In Theognis the quotation stands thus:--

Hoinon toi pinein poulon kakon en de tis auton

Pine epistamenos, ou kakos all' agathos.

"To drink much wine is bad; but if one drink

It with discretion, 'tis not bad, but good."

[3220] From Jupiter's address (referring to Pandora) to Prometheus, after stealing fire from heaven. The passage in Hesiod runs thus:--

"You rejoice at stealing fire and outwitting my mind:

But I will give you, and to future men, a great plague.

And for the fire will give to them a bane in which

All will delight their heart, embracing their own bane."

[3221] Translated as arranged by Grotius.

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