124†

No, it is not possible for anyone

to be completely happy. And so we pray

that we might have our own small share. I myself

bear witness to this …

[seize the fleeting moment as it] comes to pass…

… you went away on the brink [of spring] ….‡

… [vanished like the melting] snow. But she …

… many things ….

*****

† This could be a completely new fragment or a continuation of No.21 (16LP). For a further discussion see ‘The New Fragments: Texts, Translations and Retranslations’.

‡ The papyrus could read ebas (‘you went’), an echo of eba (‘she went’), used of Helen in No.21.