Τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει' εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονα τέκνα
who would praise a father except unlucky children?
Translated by David Whitehead28 Jun 2004Vetting: high7 revisions
Translation
Perhaps in reference to those citing the brave deeds of their ancestors.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει', εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονα τέκνα· ἴσως ἐπὶ τῶν προγονικὰ ἀνδραγαθήματα προφερόντων.
Betacode
*ti/s pate/r' ai)nh/sei', ei) mh\ kakodai/mona te/kna: i)/sws e)pi\ tw=n progonika\ a)ndragaqh/mata profero/ntwn.
Notes
- Or perhaps, "Who would praise a father if his children were not unfortunate?"
Same entry in Photius; also in several of the paroemiographers (e.g. Diogenianus 8.46) and elsewhere. The proverb itself is a line of hexameter verse.
Neighbouring entries
Revision history7 revisions · last 30 Aug 2022
- offered alternative translation — Catharine Roth
- Revised — David Whitehead
- Revised — David Whitehead
- augmented notes and keywords — David Whitehead
- another keyword — David Whitehead
- another keyword — David Whitehead
- set status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead