01-12-2006, 02:27 AM
The non-Spartiate poet being the very same Archilochus of Paros, of course! He was a mercenary in non-poetic life (name means something like 'company leader' I believe) - the poem in question reputedly caused him to be banned in Sparta for expression anti-heroic sentiments! Here it is, in Stuart Silverman's cool if free translation:
Quote:I don't give a damn if some Thracian ape strut
Proud of that first-rate shield the bushes got.
Leaving it was hell, but in a tricky spot
I kept my hide intact. Good shields can be bought.
Nathan Ross