Lucian, Symposium, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 41

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Lycinus

He at once went off at score; and I think I can reproduce the effusion:

Or like, in Aristaenetus’s hall,

Cleanthis, softly nurtured bright princess,

Surpassing other beauties virginal,

Cythera’s Queen, or Helen’s loveliness,

Bridegroom, the best of your contemporaries,

Nireus’s and Achilles’ peer, rejoice!

While we in hymeneal voluntaries

Over the pair keep lifting up our voice.

Symposium. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

A Feast of Lapithae (English) (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 4. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.)

Editions (1)

Συμπόσιον ἢ Λαπίθαι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.) — 41 focus

Λυκῖνος

ἦν γὰρ ταῦτα, εἴ γε μέμνημαι, τὰ ἐλεγεῖα·

ἢ οἵη ποτʼ ἄρʼ ἥγʼ Ἀρισταινέτου ἐν μεγάροισι

δῖα Κλεανθὶς ἄνασσʼ ἐτρέφετʼ ἐνδυκέως,

προὔχουσʼ ἀλλάων πασάων παρθενικάων,

κρέσσων τῆς Κυθέρης ἠδʼ ἅμα¹ τῆς Ἑλένης.

νυμφίε, καὶ σὺ δὲ χαῖρε, κρατερῶν κράτιστε ἐφήβων,²

κρέσσων Νιρῆος καὶ Θέτιδος πάϊδος.

ἄμμες δʼ αὖθʼ ὑμῖν τοῦτον θαλαμήϊον ὕμνον

ξυνὸν ἐπʼ ἀμφοτέροις πολλάκις ᾀσόμεθα.

Translations (1)

The Carousal, or the Lapiths Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.) — 41 focus

LYCINUS

and began to read. The verses were these, if I remember right:

O what a maiden in the halls

Of Aristaenetus

Her gentle nurture had, our queen

Cleanthis glorious!

Superior to other maids

As many as there be,

Than Aphrodite prettier

And Helen eke is she.

To you, O groom, a greeting too,

Most handsome of your mates

And handsomer than those of old

Of whom Homer relates.

We unto you the song you hear

Will sing repeatedly

To celebrate your wedding-day:

It’s made for both you see!¹

Lucian Symposium 41

Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator)

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