Cleobulus’s Life
I. Cleobulus was a native of Lindus, and the son of Evagoras; but according to Duris he was a Carian; others again trace his family back to Hercules. He is reported to have been eminent for personal strength and beauty, and to have studied philosophy in Egypt; he had a daughter named Cleobulina, who used to compose enigmas in hexameter verse, and she is mentioned by Cratinus in his play of the same name, except that the title is written in the plural number. They say also that he restored the temple of Minerva which had been built by Danaus.
I. Cleobulus came from Lindus and was the son of Evagoras. But Duris says he was a Carian, while others trace his family back to Hercules. He was said to be exceptionally strong and handsome, and to have studied philosophy in Egypt. He had a daughter named Cleobulina, who composed riddles in hexameter verse. Cratinus mentions her in his play of the same name, except that the title is plural. People also say that Cleobulus restored the temple of Minerva, which had been built by Danaus.
II. Cleobulus composed songs and obscure sayings in verse to the number of three thousand lines, and some say that it was he who composed the epigram on Midas.
II. Cleobulus wrote songs and obscure sayings in verse, totaling three thousand lines. Some say he also wrote the epigram about Midas.
I am a brazen maiden lying here Upon the tomb of Midas. And as long As water flows, as trees are green with leaves As the sun shines and eke the silver moon, As long as rivers flow, and billows roar, So long will I upon this much wept tomb, Tell passers by, “Midas lies buried here.”
I am a bronze maiden lying here On the tomb of Midas. As long As water flows, as trees have green leaves, As the sun and the silver moon shine, As long as rivers flow and waves roar, I will remain on this much-mourned tomb And tell passersby, “Midas lies buried here.”
And as an evidence of this epigram being by him they quote a song of Simonides, which runs thus:—
As evidence that he wrote this epigram, they quote a song by Simonides that goes:
What men possessed of sense Would ever praise the Lindian Cleobulus? Who could compare a statue made by man To everflowing streams, To blushing flowers of spring, To the sun’s rays, to beams o’ the golden morn, And to the ceaseless waves of mighty Ocean? All things are trifling when compared to God. While men beneath their hands can crush a stone; So that such sentiments can only come from fools.
What sensible person Would ever praise Cleobulus of Lindos? Who could compare a statue made by human hands To everflowing streams, To the pink flowers of spring, To the sun’s rays, to the golden light of dawn, And to the endless waves of mighty Ocean? All things are insignificant compared to God. Yet people can crush a stone with their hands. So only fools could hold such views.
And the epigram cannot possibly be by Homer, for he lived many years, as it is said, before Midas.
And the epigram cannot possibly be by Homer, because he is said to have lived many years before Midas.
III. There is also the following enigma quoted in the Commentaries of Pamphila, as the work of Cleobulus:—
III. Pamphila's Commentaries also quote the following riddle as the work of Cleobulus:
There was one father and he had twelve daughters, Each of his daughters had twice thirty children. But most unlike in figure and complexion; For some were white, and others black to view, And though immortal they all taste of death.
There was a father who had twelve daughters. Each daughter had sixty children. But the children were very different in shape and color. Some were white, and others were black. And though immortal, they all taste death.
And the solution is, “the year.”
And the answer is “the year.”
IV. Of his apophthegms, the following are the most celebrated. Ignorance and talkativeness bear the chief sway among men. Opportunity will be the most powerful. Cherish not a thought. Do not be fickle, or ungrateful. He used to say too, that men ought to give their daughters in marriage while they were girls in age, but women in sense; as indicating by this that girls ought to be well educated. Another of his sayings was, that one ought to serve a friend that he may become a greater friend; and an enemy, to make him a friend. And that one ought to guard against giving one’s friends occasion to blame one, and one’s enemies opportunity of plotting against one. Also, when a man goes out of his house, he should consider what he is going to do: and when he comes home again he should consider what he has done. He used also to advise men to keep their bodies in health by exercise.—To be fond of hearing rather than of talking.—To be fond of learning rather than unwilling to learn.—To speak well of people.—To seek virtue and eschew vice.—To avoid injustice.—To give the best advice in one’s power to one’s country.—To be superior to pleasure.—To do nothing by force.—To instruct one’s children.—To be ready for reconciliation after quarrels.—Not to caress one’s wife, nor to quarrel with her when strangers are present, for that to do the one is a sign of folly, and to do the latter is downright madness.—Not to chastise a servant while elated with drink, for so doing one will appear to be drunk one’s self.—To marry from among one’s equals, for if one takes a wife of a higher rank than one’s self, one will have one’s connexions for one’s masters.—Not to laugh at those who are being reproved, for so one will be detested by them.—Be not haughty when prosperous.—Be not desponding when in difficulties.—Learn to bear the changes of fortune with magnanimity.
IV. The following are the most famous of his sayings. Ignorance and talkativeness hold the greatest sway among people. Opportunity will be the most powerful. Do not harbor a thought. Do not be fickle or ungrateful. He also said that men should give their daughters in marriage while they are girls in age but women in judgment. By this, he meant that girls should be well educated. Another of his sayings was that one should help a friend to make him a better friend, and help an enemy to make him a friend. He said one should be careful not to give friends reason to blame one, or enemies a chance to plot against one. When a man leaves home, he should consider what he is going to do. When he returns, he should consider what he has done. He also advised men to keep their bodies healthy through exercise. They should enjoy listening rather than talking, and be eager rather than unwilling to learn. They should speak well of people, seek virtue, reject vice, and avoid injustice. They should give their country the best advice they can. They should rise above pleasure, do nothing by force, and educate their children. They should be ready to reconcile after quarrels. He advised men not to caress their wives or quarrel with them in front of strangers. The first is a sign of foolishness, and the second is outright madness. A man should not punish a servant who is drunk, because he will appear drunk himself. He should marry someone of his own rank. If he marries a woman of higher rank, her relatives will become his masters. He should not laugh at people who are being scolded, because they will hate him for it. Do not be arrogant in prosperity or lose heart in difficulty. Learn to bear changes of fortune with a generous spirit.
V And he died at a great age, having lived seventy years, and this inscription was put over him:—
V He died at the great age of seventy. This inscription was placed over him:
His country, Lindus, this fair sea-girt city Bewails wise Cleobulus here entombed.
His home, Lindus, the beautiful city surrounded by the sea, Mourns wise Cleobulus, who is buried here.
VI. One of his sayings was, “Moderation is the best thing.” He also wrote a letter to Solon in these terms:—
VI. One of his sayings was, “Moderation is best.” He also wrote a letter to Solon as follows:
CLEOBULUS TO SOLON
Cleobulus to Solon
You have many friends, and a home everywhere, but yet I think that Lindus will be the most agreeable habitation for Solon, since it enjoys a democratic government, and it is a maritime island, and whoever dwells in it has nothing to fear from Pisistratus, and you will have friends flock to you from all quarters.
You have many friends and a home everywhere, but I think Lindus would be the most pleasant place for Solon to live. Lindus has a democratic government and is on an island by the sea. Anyone living there has nothing to fear from Pisistratus, and friends will flock to you from all quarters.