University of Virginia Library

THE EPIGRAMS OF ANACREON.

EPIGRAM I. ON TIMOCRITUS.

The Tomb of great Timocritus behold!
Mars spares the base, but slays the brave and and bold.

EPIGRAM II. ON AGATHON.

For Agathon, in fighting Fields renown'd
Abdera mourns his funeral Pile around;
For him she mingles Tears with bright Applause,
Who nobly suffer'd in his Country's Cause:
No Youth so brave, unknowing how to yield,
E'er perish'd in the Thunder of the Field.

EPIGRAM III. ON THE SON OF CLEËNOR.

Thee, Cleënorides, the bold, the brave,
Stern Neptune sunk beneath the whelming Wave:
Thy Country's Love so nobly fill'd thy Mind,
Thou dar'dst to trust, too credulous, the Wind:
The fair, though faithless, Season urg'd thy Doom,
And wrapp'd thy Beauties in a watery Tomb.

EPIGRAM IV. ON A PICTURE REPRESENTING THREE BACCHÆ.

First, Heliconias with a Thyrsus past,
Xanthippe next, and Glauca is the last;
Lo! dancing down the Mountains they repair,
And grateful Gifts to jolly Bacchus bear;
Wreaths of the rustling Ivy for his Head,
With Grapes delicious, and a Kid well fed.

EPIGRAM V. ON MYRON's COW.

Feed, gentle Swain, thy Cattle far away,
Lest they too near the Cow of Myron stray,
And thou, if chance fallacious Judgment err'd,
Drive home the breathing Statue with the Herd.

EPIGRAM VI. ON THE SAME.

[This Heifer is not cast, but rolling Years]

This Heifer is not cast, but rolling Years
Harden'd the Life to what it now appears:
Myron unjustly would the Honour claim,
But Nature has prevented him in Fame.

EPIGRAM VII. ON COMPANY.

I ne'er can think his Conversation good,
Who o'er the Bottle talks of Wars and Blood;
But his whose Wit the pleasing Talk refines,
And lovely Venus with the Graces joins.

EPIGRAM VIII. A DEDICATION TO JUPITER, IN THE NAME OF PHIDOLA.

Phidola , as a Monument of Speed,
This Mare, at Corinth bred, to Jove decreed.

EPIGRAM IX. TO APOLLO, IN THE NAME OF NAUCRATES.

God of the silver Bow, and golden Hair,
Hear Naucrates's Vows, and grant his Prayer!

EPIGRAM X. ANOTHER DEDICATION.

Lycæus' Son, Praxagoras, bestow'd
This marble Statue to his guardian God:
View well the whole—what Artist can surpass
The finish'd Work of Anaxagoras?

EPIGRAM XI. ANOTHER.

[Minerva's Grove contains the favour'd Shield]

Minerva's Grove contains the favour'd Shield,
That guarded Python in the bloody Field.

EPIGRAM XII. ANOTHER, BY LEOCRATES.

[When Hermes' Bust, Leocrates, you rais'd]

When Hermes' Bust, Leocrates, you rais'd,
The Graces bland the beauteous Image prais'd;
The joyful Academe extoll'd your Name;
The speaking Bust shall eternize your Fame.

EPIGRAM XIII. ON THE SON OF ARISTOCLES.

To Aristoclides, the best of Friends,
This honorary Verse the Muse commends:
Bold and adventurous in the martial Strife,
He sav'd his Country, but he lost his Life.

EPIGRAM XIV.

[Praxidice this flowery Mantle made]

Praxidice this flowery Mantle made,
Which fair Dyseris first design'd;
Mark how the lovely Damsels have display'd
A pleasing Unity of Mind.

EPIGRAM XV. UNDER A STATUE.

Calliteles first fix'd me on this Base
Fair rising to the View:
His Sons gave Ornament and Grace;
To them your Thanks are due.

EPIGRAM XVI. ANOTHER.

[This Trophy Areiphilus's Son]

This Trophy Areiphilus's Son
To Bacchus consecrates, for Battles won.

EPIGRAM XVII. ANOTHER.

[Thessalia's Monarch, Echecratides]

Thessalia's Monarch, Echecratides,
Has fix'd me on this Base,
Bacchus, the jolly God of Wine, to please,
And give the City Grace.

EPIGRAM XVIII.

[To Mercury your Oraisons address]

To Mercury your Oraisons address,
That Timonactes meet with wish'd Success,
Who fix'd these Porticoes, my sweet Abode,
And plac'd me sacred to the Herald-God.
All who the bright-eyed Sciences revere,
Strangers and Citizens, are welcome here.

EPIGRAM XIX.

[Great Sophocles, for Tragic Story prais'd]

Great Sophocles, for Tragic Story prais'd,
These Altars to the Gods immortal rais'd.

EPIGRAM XX.

[O Mercury! for Honours paid to thee]

O Mercury! for Honours paid to thee
May Tlæas live in calm Security;
Years of serenest Pleasure may he gain,
And o'er th'Athenian Race a long and happy Reign!