Pittacus's Life

I. Pittacus was a native of Mitylene, and son of Hyrradius. But Duris says, that his father was a Thracian. He, in union with the brothers of Alcæus, put down Melanchrus the tyrant of Lesbos. And in the battle which took place between the Athenians and Mitylenæans on the subject of the district of Achilis, he was the Mitylenæan general; the Athenian commander being Phrynon, a Pancratiast, who had gained the victory at Olympia. Pittacus agreed to meet him in single combat, and having a net under his shield, he entangled Phrynon without his being aware of it beforehand, and so, having killed him, he preserved the district in dispute to his countrymen. But Apollodorus, in his Chronicles, says, that subsequently, the Athenians had a trial with the Mitylenæans about the district, and that the cause was submitted to Periander, who decided it in favour of the Athenians.

I. Pittacus was from Mitylene and was the son of Hyrradius. But Duris says his father was a Thracian. Together with the brothers of Alcæus, Pittacus overthrew Melanchrus, the tyrant of Lesbos. He led the Mitylenæans in a battle against the Athenians over the district of Achilis. The Athenian commander was Phrynon, a Pancratiast who had won a victory at Olympia. Pittacus agreed to fight Phrynon in single combat. He concealed a net under his shield and caught Phrynon in it by surprise. He killed Phrynon and thus kept the disputed district for his countrymen. But Apollodorus says in his Chronicles that the Athenians later brought a case against the Mitylenæans over the district. The case was referred to Periander, who decided in favor of the Athenians.

II. In consequence of this victory the Mitylenæans held Pittacus in the greatest honour, and committed the supreme power into his hands. And he held it for ten years, and then, when he had brought the city and constitution into good order, he resigned the government. And he lived ten years after that, and the Mitylenæans assigned him an estate, which he consecrated to the God, and to this day it is called the Pittacian land. But Sosicrates says that he cut off a small portion of it, saying that half was more than the whole; and when Crœsus offered him some money he would not accept it, as he said that he had already twice as much as he wanted; for that he had succeeded to the inheritance of his brother, who had died without children.

II. Because of this victory, the people of Mitylene held Pittacus in the highest honor and gave him supreme power. He ruled for ten years. Then, after bringing the city and its constitution into good order, he gave up power. He lived for another ten years. The people of Mitylene gave him an estate, which he dedicated to God. To this day, it is called the Pittacian land. But Sosicrates says that Pittacus set aside a small portion of the estate, saying that half was more than the whole. When Crœsus offered him money, Pittacus refused it. He said he already had twice as much as he needed, having inherited his brother’s property. His brother had died without children.

III. But Pamphila says, in the second book of her Commentaries, that he had a son named Tyrrhæus, who was killed while sitting in a barber’s shop, at Cyma, by a brazier, who threw an axe at him; and that the Cymæans sent the murderer to Pittacus, who when he had learnt what had been done, dismissed the man, saying, “Pardon is better than repentance.” But Heraclitus says that the true story is, that he had got Alcæus into his power, and that he released him, saying, “Pardon is better than punishment.” He was also a lawgiver; and he made a law that if a man committed a crime while drunk, he should have double punishment; in the hope of deterring men from getting drunk, as wine was very plentiful in the island.

III. But Pamphila says in the second book of her Commentaries that he had a son named Tyrrhæus. A brazier threw an axe at Tyrrhæus and killed him as he sat in a barber’s shop in Cyma. The Cymæans sent the murderer to Pittacus. When Pittacus learned what had happened, he let the man go, saying, “Pardon is better than repentance.” But Heraclitus says the true story is that Pittacus had Alcæus in his power and released him, saying, “Pardon is better than punishment.” Pittacus was also a lawgiver. He made a law that anyone who committed a crime while drunk should receive double punishment. He hoped to discourage people from getting drunk, since wine was very plentiful on the island.

IV. It was a saying of his that it was a hard thing to be good, and this apophthegm is quoted by Simonides, who says, “It was a saying of Pittacus, that it is a hard thing to be really a good man.” Plato also mentions it in his Protagoras. Another of his sayings was, “Even the Gods cannot strive against necessity.” Another was, “Power shows the man.” Being once asked what was best, he replied, “To do what one is doing at the moment well.” When Crœsus put the question to him, “What is the greatest power?” “The power,” he replied, “of the variegated wood,” meaning the wooden tablets of the laws. He used to say too, that there were some victories without bloodshed. He said once to a man of Phocæa, who was saying that we ought to seek out a virtuous man, “But if you seek ever so much you will not find one.” Some people once asked him what thing was very grateful? and he replied, “Time.”—What was uncertain? “The future.”—What was trusty? “The land.”—What was treacherous? “The sea.” Another saying of his was, that it was the part of wise men, before difficult circumstances arose, to provide for their not arising; but that it was the part of brave men to make the best of existing circumstances. He used to say too, “Do not say before hand what you are going to do; for if you fail, you will be laughed at.” “Do not reproach a man with his misfortunes, fearing lest Nemesis may overtake you.” “If you have received a deposit, restore it.” “Forbear to speak evil not only of your friends, but also of your enemies.” “Practise piety, with temperance.” “Cultivate truth, good faith, experience, cleverness, sociability, and industry.”

IV. He used to say that it was hard to be good. Simonides quotes this saying: “Pittacus used to say that it is hard to be a truly good man.” Plato also mentions it in his Protagoras. Another of his sayings was, “Even the Gods cannot resist necessity.” Another was, “Power reveals a person’s character.” Once, when asked what was best, he replied, “To do well whatever you are doing at the moment.” When Crœsus asked him, “What is the greatest power?” he replied, “The power of the variegated wood,” meaning the wooden tablets on which the laws were written. He also used to say that some victories are won without bloodshed. A man from Phocæa once said that we should seek out a virtuous man. He replied, “But however hard you seek, you will not find one.” Some people once asked him what was very welcome. He replied, “Time.” They asked what was uncertain. He replied, “The future.” They asked what was dependable. He replied, “The land.” They asked what was treacherous. He replied, “The sea.” He also said that wise people take steps to prevent difficulties before they arise. Brave people, he said, make the best of difficulties that already exist. He also used to say, “Do not announce beforehand what you are going to do. If you fail, people will laugh at you.” “Do not reproach a person for misfortune, for fear that Nemesis may overtake you.” “If something has been entrusted to you, return it.” “Do not speak ill of your friends or your enemies.” “Practice piety with moderation.” “Cultivate truth, good faith, experience, cleverness, sociability, and industry.”

V. He wrote also some songs, of which the following is the most celebrated one:—

V. He also wrote some songs. The following is the most famous:

He also composed six hundred verses in elegiac metre; and he wrote a treatise in prose, on Laws, addressed to his countrymen.

He also composed six hundred lines of elegiac verse. He wrote a prose treatise on laws for his fellow citizens.

VI. He flourished about the forty-second Olympiad; and he died when Aristomenes was Archon, in the third year of the fifty-second Olympiad; having lived more than seventy years, being a very old man. And on his tomb is this inscription:—

VI. He was active around the forty-second Olympiad. He died when Aristomenes was Archon, in the third year of the fifty-second Olympiad. He was a very old man, having lived more than seventy years. His tomb bears this inscription:

Another saying of his was, “Watch your opportunity.”

Another of his sayings was, “Watch for your opportunity.”

VII. There was also another Pittacus, a lawgiver, as Phavorinus tells us in the first book of his Commentaries; and Demetrius says so too, in his Essay on Men and Things of the same name. And that other Pittacus was called Pittacus the less.

VII. There was also another Pittacus, a lawgiver. Phavorinus mentions him in the first book of his Commentaries. Demetrius also mentions him in his Essay on Men and Things of the same name. This other Pittacus was called Pittacus the less.

VIII. But it is said that the wise Pittacus once, when a young man consulted him on the subject of marriage, made him the following answer, which is thus given by Callimachus in his Epigrams.

VIII. But the wise Pittacus is said to have once answered a young man who asked him about marriage. Callimachus gives Pittacus’s answer in his Epigrams:

And it seems that he may have here spoken from experience, for his own wife was of more noble birth than himself, since she was the sister of Draco, the son of Penthilus; and she gave herself great airs, and tyrannized over him.

It seems he may have been speaking from experience. His own wife was of nobler birth than he was, since she was the sister of Draco, the son of Penthilus. She acted very superior and tyrannized him.

IX. Alcæus calls Pittacus σαράπους and σάραπος, because he was splay-footed, and used to drag his feet in walking, he also called him χειροπόδης, because he had scars on his feet which were called χειράδες. And γαύρηξ, implying that he gave himself airs without reason. And φύσκων and γάστρων, because he was fat. He also called him ζοφοδορπίδας, because he had weak eyes, and ἀγάσυρτος, because he was lazy and dirty. He used to grind corn for the sake of exercise, as Clearchus, the philosopher, relates.

IX. Alcæus calls Pittacus σαράπους and σάραπος because he was splay-footed and dragged his feet when he walked. He also called him χειροπόδης because he had scars on his feet called χειράδες. He called him γαύρηξ, suggesting that he put on airs for no reason. He called him φύσκων and γάστρων because he was fat. He also called him ζοφοδορπίδας because he had weak eyes, and ἀγάσυρτος because he was lazy and dirty. As the philosopher Clearchus relates, Pittacus used to grind grain for exercise.

X. There is a letter of his extant, which runs thus:—

X. One of his letters survives. It reads as follows:

You invite me to come to Lydia in order that I may see your riches; but I, even without seeing them, do not doubt that the son of Alyattes is the richest of monarchs. But I should get no good by going to Sardis; for I do not want gold myself, but what I have is sufficient for myself and my companions. Still, I will come, in order to become acquainted with you as a hospitable man.

You invite me to Lydia to see your riches. But even without seeing them, I have no doubt that the son of Alyattes is the richest of kings. Going to Sardis would do me no good, though. I do not want gold, and what I have is enough for me and my companions. Still, I will come to get to know you as a hospitable man.