Anonymous 16th-century poet, cited in F. Maier.
The poet analyzes Sisyphus' condition.


Sisyphon Aeoliden vates apud infera regna,
    Damnatum tali supplicio esse ferunt,
Urgeat ut celsam in rupem revolubile saxum
    Quod ruit in praeceps. vix bene compositum.
Tollere rursus idem ruiturum cogitur: et sic
    Scandens, descendens, irrequietus agit.
Sisyphus is mortalis homo est: revolubile saxum
    Aeternum durans, durus adusque labor.
Qui damnatus homo miser est apud infera regna
     Infima enim terra quid iacet inferius?
Tollere qui cassos noctesque diesque labores
    Cogitur: assiduas itque reditque vices.
Vespere dumque putat finem imposuisse labori:
    Incipidenum iterum mane recurrit opus.



Old poets tell how Sisyphus, the son of Aeolus, was condemned in the Underworld with the punishment of working up a steep cliff a round boulder that could and did fall down headlong. Once more he is compelled to carry back up that boulder that's going to fall yet again. Thus climbing, thus descending, he carries on without respite.
This fellow Sisyphus is a mortal man; the backwards rolling boulder enduring longevity, toil that is harsh and ever present. Wretched is that man who is condemned in the Underworld. What lies deeper than the deepest earth? He is compelled to raise his fallen efforts by day and by night: he walks back and forth along persistent courses. In the evening when he thinks that he has put an end to his toil, at dawn the work returns again to be undertaken once more.