Homo qui erranti

Lines by Quintus Ennius (239 - c. 169 BC)

Translated by Robert Lennon - Billings, Montana, USA - 29 November 2011

 


Homo qui erranti comiter monstrat viam
quasi lumen de sui lumine accendat facit;
nihilo minus ipsi lucet cum illi accenderit.

 


He who kindly shows the way to the wanderer,
does as if he kindled a light from his own light;
Nothing of his shines less when he kindles it for his friend.