[Translations from the Greek Anthology]Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771Alexander HuberEditorGöttingen State and University Library, University of GöttingenHistoric BuildingPapendiek 14D-37073 GöttingenGermanyThomas Gray ArchiveTaylor Institution LibrarySt Giles'Oxford OX1 3NAUKinfo@thomasgray.orghttps://www.thomasgray.org/OxfordThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Commonplace Book
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[Translations from the Greek Anthology]
[I]
From the Greek.
Fertur Aristophanis fatorum arcana rogatum, tempore sementis, rusticus isse domum;(Sideris an felix tempestas, messis an esset magna, vel agricolam falleret ustus ager.)Ille supercilio adducto multa anxius arte disposuit sortes, consuluitque Deos;Tum responsa dedit: vernus suffecerit imber si modo, nec fruges laeserit herba nocens;Si mala robigo, si grando pepercerit arvis, attulerit subitum pigra nec aura gelu;Caprea si nulla, aut culmos attriverit haedus; nec fuerit caelum, nec tibi terra gravis:Largas polliceor segetes, atque horrea plena. tu tamen, ut veniat sera locusta, cave.
[II]
From the Greek of Antiphilus Byzantius In Medeae Imaginem, Nobile Timomachi Opus.
En ubi Medeae varius dolor aestuat ore, jamque animum nati, jamque maritus, habent!Succenset; miseret; medio exardescit amore dum furor, inque oculo gutta minante tremit.Cernis adhuc dubiam: quid enim? licet impia matris Colchidos, at non sit dextera Timomachi.
[III]
Imitation of the Greek; of Paul Silentiarius. In Bacchae Furentis Statuam.
Credite, non viva est Maenas; non spirat imago. artificis rabiem miscuit aere manus.
[IV]
From the Greek, of Posidippus. In Alexandrum, AEre Effictum.
Quantum audet, Lysippe, manus tua! surgit in aere spiritus, atque oculis bellicus ignis adest.Spectate hos vultus, miserisque ignoscite Persis: quid mirum, imbelles si leo sparsit oves?
[V]
From the Greek. [Anonymous.] In Niobes Statuam.
Fecerat e viva lapidem me Jupiter: at me Praxiteles vivam reddidit e lapide.
[VI]
From the Greek, of Lucian, offering a Statue of herself to Venus.
En tibi te, Cytherea, fero: formosius ipsa cum tibi, quod ferrem, te, Dea, nil habui.
[VII]
From the Greek of Statyllius Flaccus. In Amorem dormientem.
Docte Puer vigiles mortalibus addere curas! anne potest in te somnus habere locum?Laxi juxta arcus, et fax suspensa quiescit, dormit et in pharetra clausa sagitta sua:Longe mater abest, longe Cythereia turba. verum ausint alii te prope ferre pedem;Non ego: nam metuo valde; mihi, perfide, quiddam forsan et in somnis ne meditere mali.
[VIII]
From a Fragment of Plato.
Itur in Idalios tractus, felicia regna, fundit ubi densam myrtea sylva comam:Intus Amor teneram visus spirare quietem, dum roseo roseos imprimit ore toros.Sublimem procul a ramis pendere pharetram, et de languidula spicula lapsa manuVidimus, et risu molli diducta labella, murmure quae assiduo pervolitabat apes.
[IX]
From the Greek of Marianus. In Fontem aquae calidae.
Sub platanis puer Idalius prope fluminis undam dormiit, in ripa deposuitque facem.Tempus adest, sociae! Nympharum audentior una, tempus adest: ultra quid dubitamus? ait.Ilicet incurrit, pestem ut divumque, hominumque, lampada collectis exanimaret aquis.Demens! nam nequit saevam restinguere flammam Nympha, sed ipsa ignes traxit, et inde calet.
[X]
From Lucillius.
Irrepsisse suas murem videt Argus in aedes, atque ait, heus! a me numquid, amice, velis?Ille autem ridens, metuas nihil; inquit, apud te, oh bone, non epulas, hospitium petimus.
[XI]
Imitated from the Greek of Posidippus. Ad Amorem.
Paulisper vigiles, oro, compesce dolores, respue nec Musae supplicis aure preces:Oro brevem lacrymis veniam, requiemque furori. ah, ego non possum vulnera tanta pati!Intima flamma; vides, miseros depascitur artus, surgit et extremis spiritus in labiis.Quod si tam tenuem cordi est exolvere vitam; stabit in opprobrium sculpta querela tuum:(Juro perque faces istas, arcumque sonantem, spiculaque hoc unum figere docta jecur)Heu fuge crudelem puerum, saevasque sagittas! huic fuit exitii causa, viator, amor.
[XII]
[Imitated from the Greek] of Bassus.
Non ego, cum malus urit amor, Iovis induor arma. Nil mihi cum plumis, nil mihi cum corio:Non ego per tegulas mittor liquefactus in aurum. Promo duos obolos: sponte venit Danae.
[XIII]
[Imitated from the Greek] of Rufinus.
Hanc tibi Rufinus mittit, Rodoclea, coronam. has tibi decerpens texerat ipse rosas.Est viola, est anemone, est suave-rubens hyacinthus, mistaque Narcisso lutea caltha suo.Sume: sed aspiciens ah fidere desine formae! qui pingit, brevis est, sertaque teque, color.