Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology Part 29

No more is Hope or Fortune my concern, nor for what remains do I reck of your deceit; I have reached harbour. I am a poor man, but living in Freedom's company I turn my face away from wealth the scorner of poverty.

x.x.xV BREAK OF DAY JULIUS POLYAENUS

Hope evermore steals away life's period, till the last morning cuts short all those many businesses.

CHAPTER X

THE HUMAN COMEDY

I PROLOGUE STRATO

Seek not on my pages Priam at the altars nor Medea's and Niobe's woes, nor Itys in the hidden chambers, and the nightingales among the leaves; for of all these things former poets wrote abundantly; but mingling with the blithe Graces, sweet Love and the Wine-G.o.d; and grave looks become not them.

II FLOWER O' THE ROSE DIONYSIUS

You with the roses, you are fair as a rose; but what sell you?

yourself, or your roses, or both together?

III LOST DRINK NICARCHUS

At the Hermaea, Aphrodisius, while lifting six gallons of wine for us, stumbled and dealt us great woe. "From wine also perished the Centaur," and ah that we had too! but now it perished from us.

IV THE VINTAGE-REVEL LEONIDAS OF TARENTUM

To the must-drinking Satyrs and to Bacchus, planter of the vine, Heronax consecrated the first handfuls of his plantation, these three casks from three vineyards, filled with the first flow of the wine; from which we, having poured such libation as is meet to crimson Bacchus and the Satyrs, will drink deeper than they.

V SNOW IN SUMMER SIMONIDES

With this once the sharp North Wind rus.h.i.+ng 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-fellows.h.i.+p 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 pa.s.sion 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 p.o.o.p, 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 s.h.i.+p'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 JULIa.n.u.s AEGYPTIUS

All the ways of life are pleasant; in the market-place are goodly companions.h.i.+ps, 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

Whoso has married once and again seeks a second wedding, is a s.h.i.+pwrecked man who sails twice through a difficult gulf.

XIII THE MARRIED MAN PALLADAS

If you boast high that you are not obedient to your wife's commands, you talk idly, for you are not sprung of oak or rock, as the saying is; and, as is the hard case with most or all of us, you too are in woman's rule. But if you say, "I am not struck with a slipper, nor my wife being unchaste have I to bear it and shut my eyes," I reply that your bondage is lighter, in that you have sold yourself to a reasonable and not to too hard a mistress.

XIV AN UNGROUNDED SCANDAL LUCILIUS

Some say, Nicylla, that you dye your hair; which is as black as can be bought in the market.

XV THE POPULAR SINGER NICARCHUS

The night-raven's song is deadly; but when Demophilus sings, the very night-raven dies.

XVI THE FAULTLESS DANCER PALLADAS

Snub-nosed Memphis danced Daphnis and Niobe; Daphne like a stock, Niobe like a stone.

XVII THE FORTUNATE PAINTER LUCILIUS

Eutychus the portrait-painter got twenty sons, and never got one likeness, even among his children.