Ἀρχὴν μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον
First, not to be born is best for earth-bound men, and not to look upon the rays of the sharp sun; but, once born, [best] to drive as quickly as possible through Hades' gates
Translated by Jennifer Benedict8 Apr 2001Vetting: high6 revisions
Translation
[Applied] to those who have lived miserably.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἀρχὴν μὲν μὴ φῦναι ἐπιχθονίοισιν ἄριστον, μηδ' ἐσιδεῖν αὐγὰς ὀξέος ἠελίου· φύντα δ' ὅπως ὤκιστα πύλας Ἀΐδαο περῆσαι· ἐπὶ τῶν δυστυχῶς βεβιωκότων.
Betacode
*)arxh\n me\n mh\ fu=nai e)pixqoni/oisin a)/riston, mhd' e)sidei=n au)ga\s o)ce/os h)eli/ou: fu/nta d' o(/pws w)/kista pu/las *)ai/+dao perh=sai: e)pi\ tw=n dustuxw=s bebiwko/twn.