This selection from Book 10 of the Greek Anthology contains all the epigrams written before the middle of the first century A.D., as listed in three editions:
(H) A.S.F.Gow & D.L.Page, "The Greek Anthology: Hellenistic Epigrams"
(Ph) A.S.F.Gow & D.L.Page, "The Greek Anthology: The Garland of Philip and Some Contemporary Epigrams"
(F) D.L.Page, "Further Greek Epigrams"
The labels in green are the numbers assigned to the epigrams in one of these editions. The labels in red are their numbers within the Anthology.
Translations of most of the epigrams are already available elsewhere, as indicated by the links. The translations of the remaining epigrams are taken from the edition by W.R.Paton (1916-18), but have been modified to remove some of the archaic language. Click on G to go to the Greek text of each epigram.
Leonidas →
The way down to Hades is straight, whether you start from Athens or whether you betake yourself there, when dead, from Meroē. Let it not vex you to die far from your country. One fair wind to Hades blows from all lands. *
* Probably an epitaph on an Athenian who died at Meroe.
Already the swallows build their mud houses, already on the waves Zephyr is bosomed in the soft sails. Already the meadows shed flowers over their green leaves, and the rough strait closes its lips in silence. Wind up your hawsers and stow the anchors on shipboard, and give all your canvas to the sheets. This is the advice that Priapus of the harbour writes for you who sail the seas seeking merchandise.
Already the moist breath of Zephyr, who giveth birth to the grass, falls gently on the flowery meadows. The daughters of Cecrops * call, the becalmed sea smiles, untroubled by the cold winds. Be of good heart, O sailors, loose your hawsers and spread out the delicate folds of your ships' wings. Go to trade trusting in gracious Priapus, go obedient to the harbour god.
* i.e. the swallows.
Archias →
Archias →
O fishermen, who pulled your little boat ashore here (Go, hang out your nets to dry) having had a haul of many sea-swimming gurnard (?) and scarus, not without thrissa, * honour me with slender first-fruits of a copious catch, the little Priapus under the mastic bush, the sea-blue god, the revealer of the fish your prey, established in this grove.
* Still called so; rather like a herring and goes in shoals.
Archias →
Whether you walk over the hills with bird-lime spread on the reeds to which the birds resort, or whether you kill hares, call on Pan. Pan shows the hound the track of velvet-paw, and Pan guides higher and higher, unbent, the jointed reedy rod. *
* There was a means of gradually lengthening the limed rod so as to reach the birds high up in the trees. I suppose it was put together like a fishing-rod.
Come and rest your limbs awhile, travellers, here under the juniper by Hermes, the guardian of the road - not a mixed crowd, but those of you whose knees ache from heavy toil and who thirst after accomphshing a long day's journey. There is a breeze and a shady seat, and the fountain under the rock will still the weariness that weighs on your limbs. Escaping the midday breath of Autumn's dog-star, honour Hermes of the wayside as is meet.
How lovely are the laurels and the spring that gushes at their feet, while the dense grove gives shade, luxuriant, traversed by Zephyrs, a protection to wayfarers from thirst and toil and the burning sun !
If you see a beauty, strike while the iron is hot. Say what you mean, grasp his testicles full-handed. But if you say "I reverence you and will be like a brother," shame will close your road to accomplishment.
Bianor →
Nicetes, * like the breeze, when a ship has little sail up, begins with gentle rhetoric, but when he blows strongly and all sails are let out, he stiffens the canvas and races across the middle of the ocean, like a ship of vast burden, till he reaches the end of his discourse in the unruffled harbour.
* i.e. the eloquence of Nicetes. He was a rhetor of the latter end of the first century A.D.
Six hours are most suitable for labour, and the four that follow, when set forth in letters, * say to men "Live."
* The letters of the alphabet were used as figures : ΖΗΘΙ (meaning "Live") is 7, 8, 9, 10.
Brief would be the whole span of life that we wretched men live, even if grey old age awaited us all, and briefer yet is the space of our prime. Therefore, while the season is ours, let all be in plenty, song, love, carousal. Henceforth is the winter of heavy age. You would give ten minae to be a man, but no ! such fetters shall be set on your manhood.
Bianor →
I would not have the fierce sea drive me in storm, nor do I welcome the dull windless calm that follows. The mean is best, and so likewise where men do their business, I welcome the sufficient measure. Love this, dear Lampis, and hate evil tempests ; there are gentle Zephyrs in life too.
I am a genuine friend, and I know a friend to be a friend, but I turn my back on all evil-doers. I flatter no one hypocritically, but those whom I honour I love from beginning to end.
Life, how shall one escape you without death; for you have a myriad ills and neither to fly from them nor to bear them is easy. Sweet are your natural beauties, the earth, the sea, the stars, the orbs of the sun and moon. But all the rest is fear and pain, and if some good befall a man, an answering Nemesis succeeds it.
All is laughter, all is dust, all is nothing, for all that is comes out of unreason.
Attalus' home page | 26.02.18 | Any comments?