Disowned, dishonored, and denied By Aphrodite glittering-eyed, He either toils All day for gold, a sordid gain, Or bent beneath a woman's reign, In petty broils, Endures her insolence, a drudge, Compelled the common path to trudge; But I, apart from this disease, Wasting away like wax of holy bees, Which the sun's splendor wounds, do pine, Whene'er I see the young-limbed bloom divine Of boys. Lo! look you well; for here in Tenedos, Grace and Persuasion dwell in young Theoxenos. Of the many different kinds of lyric poetry consecrated to love and intended for recitation by single musicians, it is not possible to give a strict account. That the Greeks cultivated the serenade is clear from a passage in the _Ecclesiazusæ_ of Aristophanes, which contains a graceful though gross specimen of this kind of song. The children's songs (Bergk, 1303-1307) about flowers, tortoises, and hobgoblins are too curiously illustrative of Greek manners not to merit a passing notice, nor can I here omit a translation of the only Swallow-song preserved to us. Athenæus, to whom we owe this curious relic, localizes the Chelidonisma in Rhodes, referring it particularly to the district of Lindus.[89] In spring time the children went round the town, collecting doles and presents from house to house, and singing as they went: She is here, she is here, the swallow! Fair seasons bringing, fair years to follow! Her belly is white, Her back black as night! From your rich house Roll forth to us Tarts, wine, and cheese: Or if not these, Oatmeal and barley-cake The swallow deigns to take. What shall we have? or must we hence away? Thanks, if you give; if not, we'll make you pay! The house-door hence we'll carry; Nor shall the lintel tarry; From hearth and home your wife we'll rob; She is so small, To take her off will be an easy job! Whate'er you give, give largess free! Up! open, open to the swallow's call! No grave old men, but merry children we!