The black earth drinks, in turn
The trees drink up the earth.
The sea the torrents drinks, the sun the sea,
And the moon drinks the sun.
Why, comrades, do ye flout me,
If I, too, wish to drink?
Ἡ γῆ μέλαινα πίνει,
πίνει δένδρεα δ᾽ αὖ γῆν.
πίνει θάλασσ᾽ ἀναύρους,
ὁ δ᾽ ἥλιος θάλασσαν,
τὸν δ᾽ ἥλιον σελήνη·
τί μοι μάχεσθ᾽, ἑταῖροι,
καὐτῷ θέλοντι πίνειν
πίνει δένδρεα δ᾽ αὖ γῆν.
πίνει θάλασσ᾽ ἀναύρους,
ὁ δ᾽ ἥλιος θάλασσαν,
τὸν δ᾽ ἥλιον σελήνη·
τί μοι μάχεσθ᾽, ἑταῖροι,
καὐτῷ θέλοντι πίνειν
Original text (Ancient Greek)
Notes from Wikiquote
Fruitful earth drinks up the rain,
Trees from earth drink that again;
The sea too drinks the air, the sun
Drinks the sea, and him the moon.
Is it reason, then, do ye think,
That I should thirst when all else drink? | Thomas Stanley, Anacreon, Ode XIX