This piece of 'lyric mime' was written down by Dryton, a cavalryman in Egypt, between 174 and 150 B.C. It is probable that he had heard the mime performed - it is unusual to find a written copy of this sort of poem. See the comments of R. Greene, "Post-Classical Greek Elegy and Lyric Poetry," pp.64-65 ( Google Books ).
The translation is by P. Bing ( P.Dryton 50 ). The Greek text, and a commentary by R. Höschele, can be found in "Hellenistic Poetry: A Selection", pp.24-32 ( Google Books ).
| Our feelings were mutual, | ||
| bound ourselves together. And Kypris is love's | ||
| security. It's torture | ||
| to recall | ||
| how he kissed me, when he meant | 5 | |
| to desert me, | ||
| that inventor of confusion, | ||
| begetter of my love. | ||
| Desire gripped me. | ||
| I don't deny that he's on my mind. | 10 | |
| O beloved stars and lady Night, companions in my desire, | ||
| take me even now to him, whom Kypris | ||
| drives me to as a captive, while | ||
| potent Eros holds me in his grip. | ||
| My guide is the potent torch | 15 | |
| that's ablaze in my soul. | ||
| But this is what hurts me, this is what aches: | ||
| that this cheater of hearts, | ||
| so proud before, denied my love had sprung | ||
| from Kypris, | 20 | |
| and now can't bear | ||
| a chance offence. | ||
| I'm going to go mad; I'm jealous, | ||
| I'm burning up at being deserted. | ||
| So throw me the garlands, | 25 | |
| which, in my loneliness, I'll press to my skin. | ||
| Master, don't lock me out and send me off. | ||
| Take me. I'm content to be your eager slave. | ||
| Loving to distraction is a heavy task: | ||
| you have to be jealous, endure, keep waiting. | 30 | |
| And if you devote yourself to just one, you will just go crazy, | ||
| For lonely desire makes you go mad. | ||
| You should know I have a stubborn temper | ||
| when I get in a fight. I go mad when I recall | ||
| that I will sleep alone, | 35 | |
| while you run off to press your flesh to another's. | ||
| If we're angry at each other, we'll have to | ||
| make up right now. | ||
| Isn't this why we have friends, | ||
| to decide who's in the wrong? | 40 |
Attalus' home page | 17.05.22 | Any comments?