Greek Anthology Books 1-6

ToposText · Greek Anthology · 820 sections

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§ 6.239 APOLLONIDAS Old Cliton, the bee -keeper, cut me out, the sweet harvest of his swarm, and instead of a victim from the herd offers me, pressing much honey from the ambrosial combs of the spring, the gift of his unshepherded far-flying flock. But make his swarm-bearing company innumerable and fill full the wax-built cells with sweetest nectar.
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§ 6.210 PHILIPPUS Archer daughter of Zeus and Leto, Artemis, watcher of wild creatures, who dwellest in the recesses of the hills, this very day send the hated sickness from our best of emperors forth even unto the Hyperboreans. For Philippus will offer o'er thy altars smoke of frankincense, sacrificing a mountain boar.
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§ 6.241 ANTIPATER I, the helm, am graced by two gifts. I am lovely to look on for friends and a terror to foes. Piso hath me from Pylaemenes. No other helmet was fit to sit on his head, no other head fit to wear me.
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§ 6.242 CRINAGORAS On the long-desired morn we offer this sacrifice to Zeus Teleius and Artemis who soothes the pangs of child-bed. For to them did my brother while yet beardless vow to offer the first spring-bloom that clothes the cheeks of young men. Accept it, ye gods, and from this season of his tender beard lead Eucleides straight on to the season of grey hairs.
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§ 6.243 DIODORUS “ Hera, who watchest over Samos and whose is Imbrasus, accept, gracious goddess, this birthday sacrifice, these heifer victims, dearest of all to thee, if we priests know the law of the blessed gods.” Thus Maximus prayed as he poured the libation, and she granted his prayer without fail, nor did the spinning Fates grudge it.
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§ 6.244 CRINAGORAS Hera, mother of the Ilithyiae, and thou, Hera Teleia (perfect/adult), and Zeus, the common father of all who are born, hear my prayer and grant that gentle pangs may come to Antonia in the tender hands of Hepione, so that her husband may rejoice and her mother and her mother-in-law. Her womb bears the blood of great houses.
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§ 6.245 DIODORUS Diogenes, when he saw his yard-arm broken by the blast of Boreas, as the tempest lashed the Carpathian sea by night, vowed, if he escaped death, to hang me, this little cloak, in thy holy propylon, Boeotian Cabirus, in memory of that stormy voyage; and I pray thee keep poverty too from his door.
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§ 6.246 PHILODEMUS or ARGENTARIUS Charmus from his Isthmian victory dedicates in thy porch, Poseidon, his spurs that urge the horse on its way, the muzzle that fits on its nose, its necklace of teeth, and his willow wand, also the comb that drags the horse's hair, the whip for its flanks, rough mother of smacking blows. Accept these gifts, god of the steel-blue locks, and crown the son of Lychnis in the great Olympian contest too.
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§ 6.247 PHILIPPUS Pallantian Maid who lovest the loom, Aesione, now bowed with age, suspends to thee the gift of her poverty, her weaving-comb that sings like the early-chattering swallows, with the prongs of which weaver Pallas smooths the thread, her comb for dressing the wool, her spindle worn by the fingers, swimming (?) with the twirling thread, and her wicker basket which the wool dressed by her teeth once filled.
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§ 6.248 ARGENTARIUS Rest here, consecrated to Cypris henceforth, my tipsy flagon, sister of the sweet wine-cup, devotee of Bacchus, liquid-voiced, boon-companion in the “equal feast,” slim-necked daughter of our dining club, self-taught minister of men, sweetest confidant of lovers, ever ready to serve at the banquet; rest here, a lordly gift from Marcus who sang thy praises, thou tippler, when he dedicated thee, the old companion of his wanderings.
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§ 6.249 ANTIPATER This wax-robed candle, the rush lamp of Cronos, formed of the pith held together by a strip of thin bark, Antipater brings as a present to Piso; if he lights me and prays, I will give a light signifying that the god hears.
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§ 6.250 ANTIPHILUS My circumstances are slender, madam, but I maintain that he who is yours from his heart looks down on the wealth of many. But accept this garment like the bright purple of a deep-piled carpet soft as moss, and this pink wool, and spikenard for your dark hair contained in a gray glass bottle, so that the tunic may cover you, the woollen work may testify to the skill of your hands, and the sweet vapour may pervade your hair.
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§ 6.251 PHILIPPUS Phoebus, who dwellest on the sheer height of Leucas visible from afar to sailors, and washed by the Ionian sea, accept from the seamen a feast of barley cake kneaded by the hand, and a libation mixed in a small cup, the poor light too of this lamp, imbibed by its half-satisfied mouth from a parsimonious oil-flask. In return for which be kind to us, and send to our sails a favourable breeze carrying us with it to the shore of Actium.
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§ 6.252 ANTIPHILUS I am a quince of last year kept fresh in my young skin, unspotted, unwrinkled, as downy as newly-born ones, still attached to my leafy stalk, a rare gift in the winter season; but for such as thou, my queen, even the cold and snow bear fruit.
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§ 6.253 CRINAGORAS Caves of the Nymphs with many springs, from which such abundance of water trickles down this winding slope; and thou, echoing shrine of Pan crowned with pine-leaves, the home that is his at the foot of the woodland rock; ye stumps of the ancient juniper, holy to hunters, and thou, stone-heap raised in Hermes' honour, be gracious unto us and accept the spoil of fortunate Sosander's swift chase of the deer.
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§ 6.254 MYRINUS When Time was about to drag down to Hades pathic Statyllius, the effeminate old stump of Aphrodite, he dedicated in the porch of Priapus his light summer dresses dyed in scarlet and crimson, his false hair greasy with spikenard, his white shoes that shone on his shapely ankles, the chest in which reposed his bombasine frippery, and his flute that breathed sweet music in the revels of the harlot tribe.
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§ 6.255 ERYCIUS Saon of Ambracia, the herdsman, broke off this his straying bull's mutilated horn two cubits long, when, searching for him on the hill-side and leafy gullies, he spied him on the river-bank cooling his feet and sides. The bull rushed straight at him from one side, but he with his club knocked off his curving horn, and put it up on this wild pear-tree by the byre, musical with the lowing of the herd.
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§ 6.256 ANTIPATER The thick bull neck, the iron shoulders like Atlas, the hair and reverend beard like Heracles, and the lion -eyes of the Milesian giant not even Olympian Zeus saw without trembling, when Nicophon won the men's boxing contest in the Olympian games.
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§ 6.257 ANTIPHILUS Who filled me with the gifts of Demeter, the amphora fashioned for Bacchus, the recipient of Adriatic wine sweet as nectar? Why should he grudge me to Bacchus, or what scarcity was there of proper vessels for corn? He insulted both divinities; Bacchus has been robbed, and Demeter does not receive Methe into her society.
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§ 6.258 ADDAEUS This ewe, Demeter, who presidest over the furrows, and this hornless heifer, and the round cake in a basket, upon this threshing-floor on which he winnowed a huge pile of sheaves and saw a goodly harvest, doth Crethon consecrate to thee, Lady of the many heaps. Every year make his field rich in wheat and barley.
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§ 6.259 PHILIPPUS A. Who set thee up, the beardless Hermes, by the starting point of the course? B. Hermogenes. A. Who'se son? B. Daimenes'. A. From whence? B. From Antioch. A. Why did he honour thee? B. As his helper in the race. A. What race? B. At Isthmus and Nemea. A. He ran there, then? B. Yes, and came in first. A. Whom did he beat? B. Nine other boys, and he flew as if he had my feet.
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§ 6.260 GEMINUS Phryne dedicated to the Thespians the winged Love beautifully wrought, the price of her favours. The work is the gift of Cypris, a gift to envy, with which no fault can be found, and Love was a fitting payment for both. I praise for two forms of art the man who, giving a god to others, had a more perfect god in his soul.
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§ 6.261 CRINAGORAS Son of Simon, since this is your birthday, Crinagoras sends me with the rejoicings of his heart as a gift to the house of his sweetest friend. I am a bronze flask, just like silver, of Indian workmanship
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§ 6.262 LEONIDAS The beast which wrought havoc on the flock and the cattle -pen and the herdsmen, and feared not the loud noise of the dogs, Eualces the Cretan slew while shepherding his flock at night, and hung on this pine.
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§ 6.263 LEONIDAS Sosus, rich in cattle, flenched this tawny lion, which he slew with his spear just as it had begun to devour the suckling calf, nor went it back from the sheepfold to the wood. To the calf the brute transpierced paid blood for blood, and sorrowful to it was the murder it wrought.
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§ 6.264 MNASALCAS I am the shield of Alexander, Phylleus' son, and hang here a holy gift to golden-haired Apollo. My edge is old and war-worn, old and worn is my boss, but I shine by the valour I attained going forth to the battle with the bravest of men, him who dedicated me. From the day of my birth up I have remained unconquered.
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§ 6.265 NOSSIS Hera revered, who oft descending from heaven lookest on thy Lacinian shrine fragrant with frankincense, accept the linen garment which Theophilis, daughter of Cleocha, wove for thee with her noble daughter Nossis.
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§ 6.266 HEGESIPPUS This Artemis in the cross-ways did Hagelochia, the daughter of Damaretus, erect while still a virgin in her father's house; for the goddess herself appeared to her, by the weft of her loom, like a flame of fire.
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§ 6.267 DIOTIMUS Stand here, Artemis the Saviour, with thy torch on the land of Pollis, and give thy delightful light to him and to his children. The task is easy; for no feeble knowledge hath he from Zeus of the unerring scales of Justice. And, Artemis, let the Graces too race over this grove, treading on the flowers with their light sandals.
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§ 6.268 MNASALCAS This image, Holy Artemis, Cleonymus set up to thee. Bestow thy blessing on this upland chase when thy feet, our lady, tread the forest-clad mountain, as thou followest eagerly the dreadful panting of thy pack.
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§ 6.269 Said to be by SAPPHO Children, though I am a dumb stone, if any ask, then I answer clearly, having set down at my feet the words I am never weary of speaking: “Arista, daughter of Hermoclides the son of Sauneus, dedicated me to Artemis Aethopia. Thy ministrant is she, sovereign lady of women; rejoice in this her gift of herself, and be willing to glorify our race.”
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§ 6.270 NICIAS The head-kerchief and water-blue veil of Amphareta rest on thy head, Ilithyia; for them she vowed to thee when she prayed thee to keep dreadful death far away from her in her labour.
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§ 6.271 PHAEDIMUS Artemis, the son of Cichesias dedicated the shoes to thee, and Themistodice the simple folds of her gown, because that coming in gentle guise without thy bow thou didst hold thy two hands over her in her labour. But Artemis, vouchsafe to see this baby boy of Leon's grow great and strong.
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§ 6.272 PERSES Her zone and flowered frock, and the band that clasps her breasts tight, did Timaessa dedicate, Artemis, to thee, when in the tenth month she was freed from the burden and pain of difficult travail.
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§ 6.273 Like NOSSIS Artemis, lady of Delos and lovely Ortygia, lay by thy stainless bow in the bosom of the Graces, wash thee clean in Inopus, and come to Locri to deliver Alcetis from the hard pangs of childbirth.
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§ 6.274 PERSES Goddess, saviour of children, blest Ilithyia, receive and keep as thy fee for delivering Tisis, who well remembers, from her pangs, this bridal brooch and the diadem from her glossy hair.
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§ 6.275 NOSSIS With joy, methinks, Aphrodite will receive this offering from Symaetha, the caul that bound her hair; for it is delicately wrought and hath a certain sweet smell of nectar, that nectar with which she, too, anoints lovely Adonis.
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§ 6.276 ANTIPATER Hippe, the maiden, has put up her abundant curly hair, brushing it from her perfumed temples, for the solemn time when she must wed has come, and I the snood that used to rest there require in my wearer the grace of virginity. But, Artemis, in thy lovingkindness grant to Lycomedes' child, who has bidden farewell to her knuckle-bones, both a husband and children.
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§ 6.277 DAMAGETUS Artemis, who wieldest the bow and the arrows of might, by thy fragrant temple hath Arsinoe, the maiden daughter of Ptolemy, left this lock of her own hair, cutting it from her lovely tresses.
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§ 6.278 RHIANUS Gorgus, son of Asclepiades, dedicates to Phoebus the fair this fair lock, a gift from his lovely head. But, Delphinian Phoebus, be gracious to the boy, and stablish him in good fortune till his hair be grey.
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§ 6.279 EUPHORION When Eudoxus first shore his beautiful hair, he gave to Phoebus the glory of his boyhood; and now vouchsafe, O Far-shooter, that instead of these tresses the ivy of Acharnae may ever rest on his head as he grows.
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§ 6.280 Anonymous Timareta, the daughter of Timaretus, before her wedding, hath dedicated to thee, Artemis of the lake, her tambourine and her pretty ball, and the caul that kept up her hair, and her dolls, too, and their dresses; a virgin's gift, as is fit, to virgin Dian. But, daughter of Leto, hold thy hand over the girl, and purely keep her in her purity.
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§ 6.281 LEONIDAS Great Mother, who watchest over Dindyma and the hills of Burnt Phrygia, bring, O sovereign lady, little Aristodike, Silene's daughter, up to an age ripe for marriage and the hymn of Hymen, the due end of girlhood. For this, dancing at many a festival held in thy courts and before thy altar, she tossed this way and that her virgin hair.
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§ 6.282 THEODORUS To thee, Hermes, did Calliteles suspend his felt hat made of well-carded sheep's wool, his double pin, his strigil, his unstrung bow, his worn chlamys soaked with sweat, his arrows, and the ball he never tired of throwing. Accept, I pray thee, friend of youth, these gifts, the souvenirs of a well-conducted adolescence.
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§ 6.283 Anonymous She who formerly boasted of her wealthy lovers and never bowed the knee to Nemesis, the dread goddess, now weaves on a poor loom cloth she is paid for. Late in the day hath Athene despoiled Cypris.
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§ 6.284 Anonymous Philaenion, by sleeping secretly in Agamedes' bosom, wrought for herself the grey robe. Cypris herself was the weaver; but may women's well-spun thread and spindles lie idle in the work-basket.
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§ 6.285 By NICARCHUS, it would seem Nicarete, who formerly was in the service of Athene's shuttle, and stretched out many a warp on the loom, made in honour of Cypris a bonfire in front of her house of her work-basket and bobbins and her other gear, crying, “Away with ye, starving work of wretched women, that have power to waste away the bloom of youth.” Instead the girl chose garlands and the lyre, and a gay life spent in revel and festivity. “ Cypris,” she said, “I will pay thee tithe of all my gains. Give me work and take from it thy due.”
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§ 6.286 LEONIDAS The right end of the border, measuring a span and a whole palm, is the work of Bitto; the other extremity was added by Antianira, while Bitie worked the girls and the Maeander in the middle. Artemis, fairest of the daughters of Jove, take to thy heart this piece of woven work which the three vied in making.
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§ 6.287 ANTIPATER Artemis, fairest of virgins, sovereign lady of women, we three wove this border for thee. Bitie wrought the dancing girls and the crooked stream of winding Maeander. Blonde Antianira devised the decoration that lies on the left side of the river, and Bittion that on the right, measuring a span and a palm.
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§ 6.288 LEONIDAS We, the industrious daughters of Lycomedes, Atheno, Melitea, Phinto, and Glenis, offer from the tithe of our work, as a gift to please thee, a little part of the little we have in our poverty, the laborious spindle, the weaving-comb that passes between the threads of the warp, sweet songster of the loom, our round spools, our...., and our heavy weaving-blade. Fill our hands, Athene, ever after, and make us rich in meal instead of poor in meal.
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§ 6.289 LEONIDAS Autonoma, Melite, and Boiscion, the three Cretan daughters of Philolaides and Nico, dedicated in this temple, O stranger, as a gift to Athene of the spool on ceasing from the labours of Athene, the first her thread-making ever-twirling spindle, the second her wool-basket that loves the night, and the third her weaving-comb, the industrious creator of raiment, that watched over the bed of Penelope.
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§ 6.290 DIOSCORIDES With sweetest Urania did Parmenis leave her fan, the ever gentle ministrant of soft breezes, a tithe from her bed; but now the goddess averts from her by tender zephyrs the heavy heat of the sun.
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§ 6.291 ANTIPATER Bacchylis, the sponge of the cups of Bacchus, once when she fell sick, addressed Demeter something in this way. “If I escape from the wave of this pernicious fever, for the space of a hundred suns I will drink but fresh spring water and avoid Bacchus and wine.” But when she was quit of her illness, on the very first day she devised this dodge. She took a sieve, and looking through its close meshes, saw even more than a hundred suns.
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§ 6.292 HEDYLUS The snood and purple vest, and the Laconian robes, and the gold piping for the tunic, all fell to (?) Niconoe, for the girl was an ambrosial blossom of the Loves and Graces. Therefore to Priapus, who was judge in the beauty-contest, she dedicates the fawn-skin and this golden jug.
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§ 6.293 LEONIDAS The staff and these slippers hang here, Cypris, the spoils won from Sochares the cynic; his grimy oil-flask, too, and the remains of his wallet all in holes, stuffed full of ancient wisdom. They were dedicated here, on thy begarlanded porch, by comely Rhodon, when he caught the all-wise greybeard.
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§ 6.294 PHANIAS Callon, his limbs fettered by senile fatigue, dedicates to Hermes the Lord these tokens of his career as a schoolmaster: the staff that guided his feet, his tawse, and the fennel-rod that lay ever ready to his hand to tap little boys with on the head, his lithe whistling bull's pizzle, his one-soled slipper, and the skull-cap of his hairless pate.
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§ 6.295 PHANIAS Ascondas, when he came in for an exciseman's lickerish sop, hung up here to the Muses the implements of his penury: his penknife, the sponge he used to line to wipe his Cnidian pens, the ruler for marking off the margins, his paper-weight that marks the place (?), his ink-horn, his compasses that draw circles, his pumice for smoothing, and his blue spectacles (?) that give sweet light.
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§ 6.296 LEONIDAS Sosippus gives to Hermes, now that he has outswum the greater part of his strength and the feebleness of old age fetters him, his securely fixed trap, his cane springes, his nets, this curved hareclub, his quiver, this quail-call, and the well-woven net for throwing over wild fowl.
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§ 6.297 PHANIAS Alcimus hung up in Athene's porch, when he found a treasure (for otherwise his often-bent back would perhaps have gone down curved to Hades ), his toothless rake, a piece of his noisy hoe wanting its olive-wood handle, his...., his mallet that destroys the clods, his one-pronged pickaxe, his rake, and his sewn baskets for carrying earth.
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§ 6.298 LEONIDAS A wallet, a hard untanned goat -skin, this walking-stick, an oil-flask never scraped clean, a dog -skin purse without a copper in it, and the hat, the covering of his impious head, these are the spoils of Sochares that Famine hung on a tamarisk bush when he died.
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§ 6.299 PHANIAS To thee, wayside Hermes, I offer this portion of a noble cluster of grapes, this piece of a rich cake from the oven, this black fig, this soft olive that does not hurt the gums, some scrapings of round cheeses, some Cretan meal, a heap of crumbling...., and an after-dinner glass of wine. Let Cypris, my goddess, enjoy them too, and I promise to sacrifice to you both on the beach a white-footed kid.
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§ 6.300 LEONIDAS Lathrian goddess, accept these offerings from Leonidas the wanderer, the pauper, the flour-less: rich barley-cakes, olives easy to store, and this green fig from the tree. Take, too, lady, these five grapes picked from a rich cluster, and this libation of the dregs of the cup. But if, as thou hast saved me from sickness so thou savest me from hateful penury, await a sacrifice of a kid.
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§ 6.301 CALLIMACHUS Eudemus dedicated to the Samothracian gods his salt-cellar, by eating much plain salt out of which he escaped dreadful storms of debts. “O great gods,” he said, “according to my vow I dedicate this here, saved from the brine.”
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§ 6.302 LEONIDAS Out of my hut, ye mice that love the dark! Leonidas' poor meal-tub has not wherewith to feed mice. The old man is contented if he has salt and two barley-cakes. This is the life I have learnt to acquiesce in from my fathers. So why dost thou dig for treasure in that corner, thou glutton, where thou shalt not taste even of the leavings of my dinner? Haste and be off to other houses (here is but scanty fare), where thou shalt win greater store.
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§ 6.303 ARISTON Mice, if you have come for bread, go to some other corner (my hut is ill-supplied), where ye shall nibble fat cheese and dried figs, and get a plentiful dinner from the scraps. But if ye sharpen your teeth again on my books ye shall suffer for it and find that ye come to no pleasant banquet.
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§ 6.304 PHANIAS Fisher of the beach, come from the rock on to the dry land and begin the day well with this early buyer. If you have caught in your weel black-tails or some mormyre, or wrasse, or sparus, or small fry, you will call me lucky, who prefer not flesh but the fruit of the sea to make me forget I am munching a dry crust. But if you bring me bony chalcides or some thrissa, good-bye and better luck! I have not got a throat made of stone.
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§ 6.305 LEONIDAS To Gluttony and Voracity, the deities who love well flavoured sauces, did Dorieus who stinks of... dedicate these enormous Larissean boiling cauldrons, the pots and the wide-gaping cup, the well-wrought curved flesh-hook, the cheese-scraper, and the soup-stirrer. Gluttony, receive these evil gifts of an evil giver, and never grant him temperance.
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§ 6.306 ARISTON Spinther, the cook, when he shook oft the burden of slavery, gave these tokens of his calling to Hermes: his pipkin, this flesh-hook, his highly-curved pork-spit (?), the stirrer for soup, his feather fan, and his bronze cauldron, together with his axe and slaughtering-knife, his soup-ladle beside the spits, his sponge for wiping, resting beneath the strong chopper, this two-headed pestle, and with it the stone mortar and the trough for holding meat.
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§ 6.307 PHANIAS Eugethes of Lapithe cast away with scorn his mirror, his sheet that loves hair, a fragment of his shaving-bowl, his reed scraper, his scissors that have deserted their work, and his pointed nail-file. He cast away, too, his scissors, razors, and barber's chair, and leaving his shop ran prancing off to Epicurus to be a garden -student. There he listened as a donkey listens to the lyre, and he would have died of hunger if he had not thought better of it and run home.
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§ 6.308 ASCLEPIADES Connarus, on winning the boys' contest, since he wrote such a pretty hand, received eighty knucklebones, and in gratitude to the Muses he hung me up here, the comic mask of old Chares, amid the applause of the boys.
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§ 6.309 LEONIDAS To Hermes Philocles here hangs up these toys of his boyhood: his noiseless ball, this lively boxwood rattle, his knuckle-bones he had such a mania for, and his spinning-top.
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§ 6.310 CALLIMACHUS Simos, son of Miccus, when he gave me to the Muses, prayed for learning, and they gave it him like Glaucus, a great gift in return for a little. hang dedicated here (in the school), the tragic mask of Dionysus, yawning twice as much as the Samian's letter as I listen to the boys, and they go on saying “My hair is holy,” telling me my own dream.
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§ 6.311 CALLIMACHUS Tell, stranger, that I, the mask of Pamphilus, am dedicated here as a truly comic witness of the victory of Agoranax the Rhodian in the theatre. I am not like Pamphilus, bitten by love, but one side of me is wrinkled like a roast fig and the colour of Isis' lamps.
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§ 6.312 ANYTE The children, billy- goat, have put purple reins on you and a muzzle on your bearded face, and they train you to race like a horse round the god's temple that he may look on their childish joy.
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§ 6.313 BACCHYLIDES Famous daughter of Pallas, holy Victory, look ever with good will on the beauteous chorus of the Carthaeans, and crown Ceian Bacchylides with many wreaths at the sports of the Muses.
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§ 6.314 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA Odysseus, his long road finished, brought thee this cloak and robe, Penelope. (314-320 can be read backwards)
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§ 6.315 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA In thanks for my help Ophelion painted me the goat -footed Pan, the friend of Bacchus and son of Arcadian Hermes.
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§ 6.316 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA Ophelion painted the tears of dripping Aerope, the remains of the impious feast and the requital.
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§ 6.317 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA Praxiteles carved of Parian marble. Danae and the draped Nymphs, but me, Pan, he carved of Pentelic marble.
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§ 6.318 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA We young men, after sacrificing a calf to Aphrodite, the Nurser of youth, conduct the brides with joy from their chambers.
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§ 6.319 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA By the light of burning torches in her father's spacious house I received the maiden from the hands of Cypris.
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§ 6.320 NICODEMUS OF HERACLEA Hail, lovely Ascania, and the golden orgies of Bacchus, and the chief of his initiated.
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§ 6.321 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA On thy birthday, Caesar, the Egyptian Muse of Leonidas offers thee these lines. The offering of Calliope is ever smokeless; but next year, if thou wilt, she will offer thee a larger sacrifice.
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§ 6.322 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA Behold again the work of Leonidas' flourishing Muse, this playful distich, neat and well expressed. This will be a lovely plaything for Marcus at the Saturnalia, and at banquets, and among lovers of the Muses.
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§ 6.323 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA (Not Isopsephon, but can be read backwards) Oedipus was the brother of his children and his mother's husband, and blinded himself by his own hands.
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§ 6.324 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA Who offered to me, Ares the sacker of cities, rich cakes, and grapes, and roses? Let them offer these to the Nymphs, but I, bold Ares, accept not bloodless sacrifices on my altars.
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§ 6.325 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA One sends you, Eupolis, birthday gifts from the hunting-net, another from the air, a third from the sea. From me accept a line of my Muse which will survive for ever, a token of friendship and of learned skill.
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§ 6.326 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA Nicis the Libyan, son of Lysimachus, dedicates his Cretan quiver and curved bow to thee, Artemis; for he had exhausted the arrows that filled the belly of the quiver by shooting at does and dappled hinds.
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§ 6.327 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA One verse here gives the same figures as the other, not a distich the same as a distich, for I no longer care to be lengthy.
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§ 6.328 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA Accept from me, Caesar, the third volume of my thankful gift to thee, this token of my skill in making “isopsepha,” so that the Nile may despatch through Greece to thy land this most musical gift.
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§ 6.329 LEONIDAS OF ALEXANDRIA One will send crystal, another silver, a third topazes, rich birthday gifts. But I, look, having merely made two “isopsephon” distiches for Agrippina, am content with this my gift that envy shall not damage.
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§ 6.330 AESCHINES THE ORATOR Despairing of human art, and placing all my hope in the Divinity, I left Athens, mother of beautiful children, and was cured in three months, Asclepius, by coming to thy grove, of an ulcer on my head that had continued for a year.
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§ 6.331 GAETULICUS Alcon, seeing his child in the coils of a murderous serpent, bent his bow with trembling hand; yet he did not miss the monster, but the arrow pierced its jaws just a little above where the infant was. Relieved of his fear, he dedicated on this tree his quiver, the token of good luck and good aim.
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§ 6.332 HADRIAN To Casian Zeus did Trajan, the descendant of Aeneas, dedicate these ornaments, the king of men to the king of gods: two curiously fashioned cups and the horn of a urus mounted in shining gold, selected from his first booty when, tirelessly fighting, he had overthrown with his spear the insolent Getae. But, Lord of the black clouds, entrust to him, too, the glorious accomplishment of this Persian war, that thy heart's joy may be doubled as thou lookest on the spoils of both foes, the Getae and the Arsacidae.
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§ 6.333 MARCUS ARGENTARIUS (A Love Epigram misplaced) Thrice hast thou sneezed, dear lamp! Is it, perchance, to tell me that delightful Antigone is coming to my chamber? For if, my lord, this be true, thou shalt stand by the tripod, like Apollo, and prophesy to men.
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§ 6.334 LEONIDAS Caves and holy hill of the Nymphs, and springs at the rock's foot, and thou pine that standest by the water; thou square Hermes, son of Maia, guardian of the sheep, and thou, Pan, lord of the peak where the goats pasture, graciously receive these cakes and the cup full of wine, the gifts of Neoptolemus of the race of Aeacus.
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§ 6.335 ANTIPATER I, the causia, once a serviceable head-dress for the Macedonians, a covering in the snow-storm and a helmet in war, thirsting to drink thy sweat, brave Piso, have come from my Macedonian land to thy Italian brows. But receive me kindly; may-be the felt that once routed the Persians will help thee, too, to subdue the Thracians.
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§ 6.336 THEOCRITUS The fresh roses and this thick creeping-thyme are a gift to the Heliconian Muses; the dark-leaved laurel branches are for thee, Pythian Paean, since the rocks of Delphi gave thee this bright foliage to wear. But thy altar shall be reddened by the blood of this white horned goat that is nibbling the end of the terebinth branch.
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§ 6.337 THEOCRITUS The son of Paean hath come to Miletus too, to visit the physician Nicias who every day approaches him with sacrifice, and ordered to be carved for him this statue of perfumed cedar-wood, promising the highest fee for the delicate labour of his hands to Eetion, who put all his skill into the work.
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§ 6.338 THEOCRITUS A gift to please you all, O Muses, this marble statue was dedicated by Xenocles, a musician— who will gainsay it? and as he has gained fame by this art he does not forget the Muses.

Via ToposText (topostext.org), a project of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation created by Brady Kiesling. Translated by William Roger Paton (1857-1921). Composed ca. 900 CE. Licence: public domain. Source.