τράπεζα ~ τραπέζης (noun f.): table
ῥώμη ~ ῥώμης (noun f.): strength, might
ἔτος ~ ἔτους (noun n.): year
πόνος ~ πόνου (noun m.): work, toil
σωφροσύνη ~ σωφροσύνης (noun f.): prudence, self-control
Συβαριτικὴ τράπεζα.
Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ.
Ἔτος φέρει, οὐχὶ ἄρουρα.
Ὄψον ἄριστον πόνος τῷ γήρᾳ.
Σωφροσύνα, δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν.
And now, some commentary:
Συβαριτικὴ τράπεζα.
A Sybaritic table.
This saying referred to an opulent, or exceedingly opulent, banquet table, as Sybaris was one of the wealthiest Greek colonies. It was located on the Italian coast in what is now the region of Calabria; you can find out more at Wikipedia: Sybaris, which includes a section on its cultural legacy.
Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ.
Do not boast in your strength.
This is another one of those Delphic maxims preserved by Stobaeus, who attributes them to the Seven Sages. The word καυχῶ is a middle imperative from the verb καυχάομαι.
Ἔτος φέρει, οὐχὶ ἄρουρα.
The year brings (the harvest), not the land.
The idea is that it is the events that take place during the year that determine whether it is a good harvest or not: the work done on the land, the weather, etc. is more important than some inherent quality of the land itself.
Ὄψον ἄριστον πόνος τῷ γήρᾳ.
Hard work is the best relish for old age.
The idea is that the hard work done in your youth makes it possible to enjoy your old age. If you do not do that hard work in your younger days, your later days will not be very appetizing.
Σωφροσύνα δώρημα κάλλιστον θεῶν.
Self-control, the fairest gift of the gods.
The words are from Euripides' Medea. This is what the Chorus says, alarmed by the events unfolding in the the drama that result of strong passions aroused by Aphrodite; they prefer the tranquility of σωφροσύνη (σωφροσύνα): self-control, soundness of mind, etc. Here is Waterhouse's painting of Medea and Jason:
And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :
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