HKB
I taught Hero, of Gyara, the swift runner; Lovelier was she than Atalanta, When the straining vision of the suitor Saw her beauty mock impending death.
I taught Hero, of Gyara, the swift runner, All the singing numbers of Terpander, Metres of Archilochus and Alcman, And my melic verse that glows supreme.
I taught Hero, of Gyara, the swift runner, Sapphics with their triple surge of music Melting in the final verse Adonic, Like the foam fall of a spended wave.
COURAGE
Faint not in thy strong heart! Nor downcast stand apart; Beyond the reach of daring will there lies No beauty's prize.
Faint not in thy strong heart! Through temple, field and mart, Courage alone the guerdon from the fray May bear away.
THE BOAST OF ARES
Ares said he would drag Hephestus by force From Poseidon's palace Deep down in the sea; Where he had fashioned The cunning throne With the secret chains.
He presented the throne, Forsooth, as a gift To the queen of heaven; But Hera soon found For revenge on her Who had him cast From the home of Gods.
For secure in its clasp Of adamant gold She was held imprisoned, The prey of his guile; And Hephestus knew By him alone Could the queen be freed.
But the great God of war Made boast of his strength; He would bring the forger Of metals and tricks On high to release Hera, and end Her enraged despair.
Ares said he would drag Hephestus by force, But was made to waver And flee when assailed With a blazing brand By the dark God Of the underworld.
GOLD
Gold is the son of Zeus, Immortal, bright; Nor moth nor worm may eat it, Nor rust tarnish.
So are the Muse's gifts The offspring fair, That merit from high heaven Youth eternal.
GNOMICS
I
My ways are quiet, none may find My temper of malignant kind; For one should check the words that start When anger spreads within the heart.
II
Who from my hands what I can spare Of gifts accept the largest share, Those are the very ones who boast No gratitude and wrong me most.
III
He who in face and form is fair Must needs be good, the Gods declare; But he whose thought and act are right Will soon be equal fair to sight.
IV
Beauty of youth is but the flower Of spring, whose pleasure lasts an hour; While worth that knows no mortal doom Is like the amaranthine bloom.
PRIDE
Pride not thyself upon a ring, Or any trinket thing Of fleeting value, dross or gold.
Wealth, lacking worth, is no safe friend, Though both to life may lend, In just proportion, joy untold.
LETO AND NIOBE
Leto and Niobe were friends full dear, The Goddess' heart and woman's heart were one In that maternal love that men revere, Love that endures when other loves are done.
But Niobe with all a mother's pride, Artless and foolish, would not be denied; And boasted that her children were more fair Than Leto's lovely children of the air.
The proud Olympians vowed revenge for this, Irate Apollo, angered Artemis; They slew her children, heedless of her moan, And with the last her heart was turned to stone.
THE DYE
From Scythian wood they brew The dye whose yellow hue Turns gold the lovely hair Of Lesbians fair.
So, Zanthis, slave of mine, Shall dip the fleeces fine, And dye the robes I made A saffron shade.
EROTIKA
DITHYRAMBS
HYMN TO PAPHIA
Immortal Paphia! have I earned thy hate, That I should burn in passion's fatal flame? Is not my constant service thine to claim, My prayer's appeal with praise of thee elate?
Has not my life been one sole hymn of thee, One quivering chord on Love's harp overwrought? My soul has trembled up to thee in thought, Probed to its depth thy every ecstasy.