Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology

Epigrams, Greek; Greek poetry -- Translations into English

With this once the sharp North Wind rushing from Thrace covered the
flanks of Olympus, and nipped the spirits of thinly-clad men; then it
was buried alive, clad in Pierian earth. Let a share of it be mingled
for me; for it is not seemly to bear a tepid draught to a friend.


                                  VI
                            A JUG OF WINE
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Round-bellied, deftly-turned, one eared, long-throated, straight-
necked, bubbling in thy narrow mouth, blithe handmaiden of Bacchus and
the Muses and Cytherea, sweet of laughter, delightful ministress of
social banquets, why when I am sober art thou in liquor, and when I am
drunk, art sober again? Thou wrongest the good-fellowship of drinking.


                                 VII
                            THE EMPTY JAR
                             ERATOSTHENES

Xenophon the wine-bibber dedicates an empty jar to thee, Bacchus;
receive it graciously, for it is all he has.


                                 VIII
                           ANGELORUM CHORI
                          MARCUS ARGENTARIUS

I hold revel, regarding the golden choir of the stars at evening, nor
do I spurn the dances of others; but garlanding my hair with flowers
that drop their petals over me, I waken the melodious harp into
passion with musical hands; and doing thus I lead a well-ordered life,
for the order of the heavens too has its Lyre and Crown.


                                  IX
                            SUMMER SAILING
                              ANTIPHILUS

Mine be a mattress on the poop, and the awnings over it surrounding
with the blows of the spray, and the fire forcing its way out of the
hearth-stones, and a pot upon them with empty turmoil of bubbles; and
let me see the boy dressing the meat, and my table be a ship's plank
covered with a cloth; and a game of pitch and toss, and the
boatswain's whistle: the other day I had such fortune, for I love
common life.


                                  X
                              L'ALLEGRO
                          JULIANUS AEGYPTIUS

All the ways of life are pleasant; in the market-place are goodly
companionships, and at home griefs are hidden; the country brings
pleasure, seafaring wealth, foreign lands knowledge. Marriages make a
united house, and the unmarried life is never anxious; a child is a
bulwark to his father; the childless are far from fears; youth knows
the gift of courage, white hairs of wisdom: therefore, taking courage,
live, and beget a family.


                                  XI
                         DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Six hours fit labour best: and those that follow, shown forth in
letters, say to mortals, "Live."


                                 XII
                         HOPE AND EXPERIENCE
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology

Epigrams, Greek; Greek poetry -- Translations into English

With this once the sharp North Wind rushing from Thrace covered the
flanks of Olympus, and nipped the spirits of thinly-clad men; then it
was buried alive, clad in Pierian earth. Let a share of it be mingled
for me; for it is not seemly to bear a tepid draught to a friend.


                                  VI
                            A JUG OF WINE
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Round-bellied, deftly-turned, one eared, long-throated, straight-
necked, bubbling in thy narrow mouth, blithe handmaiden of Bacchus and
the Muses and Cytherea, sweet of laughter, delightful ministress of
social banquets, why when I am sober art thou in liquor, and when I am
drunk, art sober again? Thou wrongest the good-fellowship of drinking.


                                 VII
                            THE EMPTY JAR
                             ERATOSTHENES

Xenophon the wine-bibber dedicates an empty jar to thee, Bacchus;
receive it graciously, for it is all he has.


                                 VIII
                           ANGELORUM CHORI
                          MARCUS ARGENTARIUS

I hold revel, regarding the golden choir of the stars at evening, nor
do I spurn the dances of others; but garlanding my hair with flowers
that drop their petals over me, I waken the melodious harp into
passion with musical hands; and doing thus I lead a well-ordered life,
for the order of the heavens too has its Lyre and Crown.


                                  IX
                            SUMMER SAILING
                              ANTIPHILUS

Mine be a mattress on the poop, and the awnings over it surrounding
with the blows of the spray, and the fire forcing its way out of the
hearth-stones, and a pot upon them with empty turmoil of bubbles; and
let me see the boy dressing the meat, and my table be a ship's plank
covered with a cloth; and a game of pitch and toss, and the
boatswain's whistle: the other day I had such fortune, for I love
common life.


                                  X
                              L'ALLEGRO
                          JULIANUS AEGYPTIUS

All the ways of life are pleasant; in the market-place are goodly
companionships, and at home griefs are hidden; the country brings
pleasure, seafaring wealth, foreign lands knowledge. Marriages make a
united house, and the unmarried life is never anxious; a child is a
bulwark to his father; the childless are far from fears; youth knows
the gift of courage, white hairs of wisdom: therefore, taking courage,
live, and beget a family.


                                  XI
                         DUM VIVIMUS VIVAMUS
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Six hours fit labour best: and those that follow, shown forth in
letters, say to mortals, "Live."


                                 XII
                         HOPE AND EXPERIENCE
                            AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology

Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology

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