Translated by Steven J. Willett

This is a black-figure terracotta pinax (plaque) from the 2nd half of the 6th-century BC. It has holes for hanging in a temple and depicts a prothesis scene, the lying-in-state of the deceased surrounded by the mourning families. Some of them are tearing their hair while others are gesticulating wildly in despair.

Infinite was, o man, the time before, until to light
you came, and infinite again to Hades.
What share of life is left remaining, either great as
a spot or even tinier than a spot?
A small harshly-straitened life is yours; for it never
is sweet, but sullen more than hated death.
Men carefully wrought from such a collection of bones
enframed, why fly to highest air and clouds?
O man, see how useless, when at the peak of thread
a worm is sitting on unwoven vesture:
it plucked so much, stripped so bare a skeleton leaf,
more hateful than a spider’s withered web.
From every dawn seek, O man, your breadth of strength,
and learn to slouch quite low in frugal life.
Always remember deep in thought so long as you dwell
among the living, you are framed from stubble.