Greek Anthology Books 1-6

§ 6.339 THEOCRITUS Damomenes the choregus, who dedicated the tripod, O Dionysus, and this image of thyself, sweetest of the blessed gods, was a man moderate in all things. He won the victory with his chorus of men, keeping before his eyes ever what was good and seemly.

§ 6.340 THEOCRITUS This Cypris is not Pandemus; would ye gain her favour, address as Celestial this her statue, the offering of chaste Chrysogona in the house of Amphicles. With him she dwelt in wedlock blessed with children, and each year it went better with them, since from thee they began, O sovereign Lady. Mortals who cherish the gods profit themselves thereby.

§ 6.341 Anonymous: Mandrocles, having bridged the fishy Bosporus, dedicated to Hera this memorial of the bridge. A crown for himself he gained and glory for Samos by executing the work as Darius the King desired.

§ 6.342 Anonymous: Look on this jigger-mast of a trireme in the porch of the Graces. This is a sample of the beginnings of ship-building; it was the first ship that Pallas Athene devised, well recompensing this city of Cyzicus, because it first raised a temple to her, the supreme Tritonian maid, in the holy Asian land. The ship carried to the Delphian shore, doing this service to Phoebus, a model of itself (?) and ingots of gold.

§ 6.343 Anonymous: The sons of Athens having subdued in the work of war the peoples of Boeotia and Chalcis, quenched their arrogance in sorrowful iron bondage. These statues of the horses of their foes, they dedicated to Pallas as a tithe of the ransom.

§ 6.344 Anonymous: (On the Altar in Thespiae ) Spacious Thespiae once sent these men-at-arms to barbarous Asia to avenge their ancestors, and having sacked with Alexander the cities of Persia, they set up to Zeus the Thunderer this curiously-wrought tripod.

§ 6.345 CRINAGORAS Roses used to flower in spring, but we now in mid-winter burst scarlet from our buds, smiling gaily on this thy natal morn that falls so nigh to thy wedding. To be seen on the brow of the loveliest of women is better than to await the sun of spring.

§ 6.346 ANACREON Give Tellis a pleasant life, O son of Maia, recompensing him for these sweet gifts; grant that he may dwell in the justly-ruled deme of Euonymea, enjoying good fortune all his days.

§ 6.347 CALLIMACHUS Artemis, to thee did Phileratis erect this statue here. Accept it, sovereign Lady, and keep her safe.

§ 6.348 DIODORUS These mournful lines from the skilled pen of Diodorus tell that this tomb was carved for one who died before her time in child-birth, in bearing a boy. I mourn her whom I received, blooming Athenais the daughter of Mela, who left sorrow to the ladies of Lesbos and to her father Jason. But thou hadst no care, then, Artemis, but for thy hounds deadly to beasts.

§ 6.349 PHILODEMUS O Melicertes, son of Ino, and thou sea-blue queen of the sea, Leucothea, goddess that avertest evil, and ye Nereids linked in the dance, and ye waves, and thou, Poseidon, and Thracian Zephyr, gentlest of winds, be gracious unto me and bear me, escaping the broad billows, safe to the sweet beach of Piraeus.

§ 6.350 CRINAGORAS To a Trumpet The Tyrrhenian trumpet that often over the plain of Pisa hath uttered shrilly its piercing note, past time did limit to two prizes. But for that thou hast led Demosthenes of Miletus to three victories, no brazen bell shall ever peal with fuller tone than thine.

§ 6.351 CALLIMACHUS A. I was dedicated, this beech branch, to thee, O King, the lion -throttler, the boar -slayer. — B. By whom? A. By Archinus. B. Which? A. The Cretan one. B. I accept.

§ 6.352 ERINNA This picture is the work of delicate hands; so, good Prometheus, there are men whose skill is equal to thine. At least if he who painted this girl thus to the life had but added speech, she would be, Agatharchis, your complete self.

§ 6.353 NOSSIS It is Melinna herself. See how her sweet face seems to look kindly at me. How truly the daughter resembles her mother in everything! It is surely a lovely thing when children are like their parents.

§ 6.354 NOSSIS Even from here this picture of Sabaethis is to be known by its beauty and majesty. Look at the wise house-wife. I hope to look soon from nigh on her gentle self. All hail, blessed among

§ 6.355 LEONIDAS His mother, being poor, gives Micythus' picture to Bacchus, poorly painted indeed. Bacchus, I pray thee, exalt Micythus; if the gift be trumpery, it is all that simple poverty can offer.

§ 6.356 PANCRATES Aristodice and Amino, the two Cretan four-year-old daughters of Clio thy priestess, Artemis, are dedicated here by their mother. See, O Queen, what fair children she hath, and make thee two priestesses instead of one.

§ 6.357 THEAETETUS A. May ye be blest, ye children. Who are your parents, and what pretty names did they give to their pretty ones? B. I am Nicanor, and my father is Aeporietus, and my mother Hegeso, and I am a Macedonian. C. And I am Phila and this is my brother. We are both dedicated here owing to a vow of our parents.

§ 6.358 DIOTIMUS Hail, dainty frock, that Lydian Omphale doffed to go to the bed of Heracles. Thou wert blessed then, frock, and blessed again art thou now that thou hast entered this golden house of Artemis.