Nature - The Singing Stone
The Greek Anthology
Introduction
Part I | Part II | Part III
XI
THE SINGING STONE
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Remember me the singing stone, thou who passest by Nisaea; for when Alcathous was building his bastions, then Phoebus lifted on his shoulder a stone for the house, and laid down on me his Delphic harp; thenceforth I am lyre-voiced; strike me lightly with a little pebble, and carry away witness of my boast.
The Woodland Well
XII
THE WOODLAND WELL
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
I the ever-flowing Clear Fount gush forth for by-passing wayfarers from the neighbouring dell; and everywhere I am bordered well with planes and soft-bloomed laurels, and make coolness and shade to lie in. Therefore pass me not by in summer; rest by me in quiet, ridding thee of thirst and weariness.
The Greek Anthology
Asleep in the Wood, Theocritus
XIII
ASLEEP IN THE WOOD
THEOCRITUS
Thou sleepest on the leaf-strewn floor, Daphnis, resting thy weary body; and the hunting-snakes are freshly set on the hills; and Pan pursues thee, and Priapus who binds the yellow ivy on his lovely head, passing side by side into the cave; but flee thou, flee, shaking off the dropping drowsiness of slumber.
The Greek Anthology
The Orchard Corner, Anyte
XIV
THE ORCHARD-CORNER
ANYTE
I, Hermes, stand here by the windy orchard in the cross-ways nigh the grey sea-shore, giving rest on the way to wearied men; and the fountain wells forth cold stainless water.
The Greek Anthology
Pastoral Solitude, Satyrus
XV
PASTORAL SOLITUDE
SATYRUS
Tongueless Echo along this pastoral slope makes answering music to the birds with repeating voice.
The Greek Anthology
XVI
TO A BLACKBIRD SINGING
MARCUS ARGENTARIUS
No longer now warble on the oak, no longer sing, O blackbird, sitting on the topmost spray; this tree is thine enemy; hasten where the vine rises in clustering shade of silvered leaves; on her bough rest the sole of thy foot, around her sing and pour the shrill music of thy mouth; for the oak carries mistletoe baleful to birds, and she the grape-cluster; and the Wine-god cherishes singers.
The Greek Anthology
XVII
UNDER THE OAK
ANTIPHILUS
Lofty-hung boughs of the tall oak, a shadowy height over men that take shelter from the fierce heat, fair-foliaged, closer-roofing than tiles, houses of wood-pigeons, houses of crickets, O noontide branches, protect me likewise who lie beneath your tresses, fleeing from the sun's rays.
The Greek Anthology
XVIII
THE RELEASE OF THE OX
ADDAEUS
The labouring ox, outworn with old age and labour of the furrow, Alcon did not lead to the butchering knife, reverencing it for its works; and astray in the deep meadow grass it rejoices with lowings over freedom from the plough.
The Greek Anthology
XIX
THE SWALLOW AND THE GRASSHOPPER
EVENUS
Attic maid, honey-fed, chatterer, snatchest thou and bearest the chattering cricket for feast to thy unfledged young, thou chatterer the chatterer, thou winged the winged, thou summer guest the summer guest, and wilt not quickly throw it away? for it is not right nor just that singers should perish by singers' mouths.
The Greek Anthology
XX
THE COMPLAINT OF THE CICALA
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Why in merciless chase, shepherds, do you tear me the solitude- haunting cricket from the dewy sprays, me the roadside nightingale of the Nymphs, who at midday talk shrilly in the hills and the shady dells? Lo, here is the thrust and the blackbird, lo here such flocks of starlings, plunderers of the cornfield's riches; it is allowed to seize the ravagers of your fruits: destroy them: why grudge me my leaves and fresh dew?
The Greek Anthology
The Greek Anthology
Introduction
Part I | Part II | Part III
XI
THE SINGING STONE
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Remember me the singing stone, thou who passest by Nisaea; for when Alcathous was building his bastions, then Phoebus lifted on his shoulder a stone for the house, and laid down on me his Delphic harp; thenceforth I am lyre-voiced; strike me lightly with a little pebble, and carry away witness of my boast.
The Woodland Well
XII
THE WOODLAND WELL
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
I the ever-flowing Clear Fount gush forth for by-passing wayfarers from the neighbouring dell; and everywhere I am bordered well with planes and soft-bloomed laurels, and make coolness and shade to lie in. Therefore pass me not by in summer; rest by me in quiet, ridding thee of thirst and weariness.
The Greek Anthology
Asleep in the Wood, Theocritus
XIII
ASLEEP IN THE WOOD
THEOCRITUS
Thou sleepest on the leaf-strewn floor, Daphnis, resting thy weary body; and the hunting-snakes are freshly set on the hills; and Pan pursues thee, and Priapus who binds the yellow ivy on his lovely head, passing side by side into the cave; but flee thou, flee, shaking off the dropping drowsiness of slumber.
The Greek Anthology
The Orchard Corner, Anyte
XIV
THE ORCHARD-CORNER
ANYTE
I, Hermes, stand here by the windy orchard in the cross-ways nigh the grey sea-shore, giving rest on the way to wearied men; and the fountain wells forth cold stainless water.
The Greek Anthology
Pastoral Solitude, Satyrus
XV
PASTORAL SOLITUDE
SATYRUS
Tongueless Echo along this pastoral slope makes answering music to the birds with repeating voice.
The Greek Anthology
XVI
TO A BLACKBIRD SINGING
MARCUS ARGENTARIUS
No longer now warble on the oak, no longer sing, O blackbird, sitting on the topmost spray; this tree is thine enemy; hasten where the vine rises in clustering shade of silvered leaves; on her bough rest the sole of thy foot, around her sing and pour the shrill music of thy mouth; for the oak carries mistletoe baleful to birds, and she the grape-cluster; and the Wine-god cherishes singers.
The Greek Anthology
XVII
UNDER THE OAK
ANTIPHILUS
Lofty-hung boughs of the tall oak, a shadowy height over men that take shelter from the fierce heat, fair-foliaged, closer-roofing than tiles, houses of wood-pigeons, houses of crickets, O noontide branches, protect me likewise who lie beneath your tresses, fleeing from the sun's rays.
The Greek Anthology
XVIII
THE RELEASE OF THE OX
ADDAEUS
The labouring ox, outworn with old age and labour of the furrow, Alcon did not lead to the butchering knife, reverencing it for its works; and astray in the deep meadow grass it rejoices with lowings over freedom from the plough.
The Greek Anthology
XIX
THE SWALLOW AND THE GRASSHOPPER
EVENUS
Attic maid, honey-fed, chatterer, snatchest thou and bearest the chattering cricket for feast to thy unfledged young, thou chatterer the chatterer, thou winged the winged, thou summer guest the summer guest, and wilt not quickly throw it away? for it is not right nor just that singers should perish by singers' mouths.
The Greek Anthology
XX
THE COMPLAINT OF THE CICALA
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Why in merciless chase, shepherds, do you tear me the solitude- haunting cricket from the dewy sprays, me the roadside nightingale of the Nymphs, who at midday talk shrilly in the hills and the shady dells? Lo, here is the thrust and the blackbird, lo here such flocks of starlings, plunderers of the cornfield's riches; it is allowed to seize the ravagers of your fruits: destroy them: why grudge me my leaves and fresh dew?
The Greek Anthology