Friday, June 3, 2011

Poesy: Meleager (c. 140-70 B.C.)

White Violets Flower

White violets flower
lilies on hill-slopes
narcissus nodding to rain-showers

and the queen of lovers' hopes
the sweet persuasive rose,
Zenophile, more fair than those:

o hills o fields your laughter rings
falsely through the flowered spring
for she outshines your garlanding.

- Meleager (translated by Peter Whigham)

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