He writes of the loss of a bird called Elaeus
The Graces nurtured her and like the halcyon
Singing she made a calm around her in the sea
She had sweet breath, she loved the light of the sun
He mourns the departure of a gentleness that we
Can’t even put a name to and no one
Supposes she would have tarried long with us.
*
Addaeus of Macedon
When his labouring ox was worn out by old age and the furrows
Alcon, reverencing him for his service, led him not to the slaughter
But to a meadow of deep grass. There how this fellow creature
When Alcon strolls out to visit him at the hour of shadows
In grateful delight lifts up his head and bellows.
*
Anonymous
Our soothsayers mumble nothing we don’t know.
The swallows are fewer and some arriving die.
Singles repair the homes of a year ago.
Piteous their hope. Our priests look no one in the eye.
All see the signs and none know what they mean.
It is Persephone’s advent but we hear of meadows
That are not fit to be seen by the sun or moon.
Zephyrus falters, the slant hail blows.
We know it is time to weigh anchor again
Loose the hawsers, open the sails. But look there:
Another eyeless dolphin has washed in.
Can it be that everywhere is much like here.
*
Simmias Grammaticus
In a former time I was the curving pair
Of horns on a wild goat such as climb high
On the rocky cliffs, my curly hair
Often garlanded with greenery. Now by
The hands of a master turner I am joined
And smoothed into a bow for Nicomachus
Strung with the sinew of an ox and thus
Given him for battle, strong and finely tuned.
Contents List
7 The Greek Anthology [translator's preface]
12 Acknowledgements
13 I
31 II
47 III
65 IV
83 V
99 Coda
101 Some quatrains for a primer of our times
111 Note