Death

Death

The Greek Anthology
Introduction

Chapter XI Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IIV | Part V | Part VI

XLI
BRIDEGROOM DEATH
MELEAGER

Not marriage but Death for bridegroom did Clearista receive when she loosed the knot of her maidenhood: for but now at even the flutes sounded at the bride's portal, and the doors of the wedding-chamber were clashed; and at morn they cried the wail, and Hymenaeus put to silence changed into a voice of lamentation; and the same pine-brands flashed their torchlight before the bride-bed, and lit the dead on her downward way.

The Young Wife, Julianus Aegyptius

XLII
THE YOUNG WIFE
JULIANUS AEGYPTIUS

In season the bride-chamber held thee, out of season the grave took thee, O Anastasia, flower of the blithe Graces; for thee a father, for thee a husband pours bitter tears; for thee haply even the ferryman of the dead weeps; for not a whole year didst thou accomplish beside thine husband, but at sixteen years old, alas! the tomb holds thee.

Sanctissima Coniunx, Crinagoras

XLIII
SANCTISSIMA CONIUNX
CRINAGORAS

Unhappy, by what first word, by what second shall I name thee? unhappy! this word is true in every ill. Thou art gone, O gracious wife, who didst carry off the palm in bloom of beauty and in bearing of soul; Prote wert thou truly called, for all else comes second to those inimitable graces of thine.

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Sundered Hands, Damagetus

XLIV
SUNDERED HANDS
DAMAGETUS

This last word, O famous city of Phocaea, Theano spoke as she went down into the unharvested night: "Woe's me unhappy; Apellichus, husband, what length, what length of sea dost thou cross on thine own ship! but nigh me stands my doom; would God I had but died with my hand clasped in thy dear hand."

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Undivided, Apollonides

XLV
UNDIVIDED
APOLLONIDES

Heliodorus went first, and Diogeneia the wife, not an hour's space after, followed her dear husband; and both, even as they dwelt together, are buried under this slab, rejoicing in their common tomb even as in a bride-chamber.

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XLVI
FIRST LOVE
MELEAGER

Tears I give to thee even below with earth between us, Heliodora, such relic of love as may pass to Hades, tears sorely wept; and on thy much-wailed tomb I pour the libation of my longing, the memorial of my affection. Piteously, piteously, I Meleager make lamentation for thee, my dear, even among the dead, an idle gift to Acheron. Woe's me, where is my cherished flower? Hades plucked her, plucked her and marred the freshly-blown blossom with his dust.

But I beseech thee, Earth, that nurturest all, gently to clasp her, the all-lamented, O mother, to thy breast.

The Greek Anthology

XLVII
FIRST FRIENDSHIP
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Ah blessed one, dearest companion of the immortal Muses, fare thou well even in the house of Hades, Callimachus.

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XLVIII
STREWINGS FOR GRAVES
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

May flowers grow thick on thy newly-built tomb, not the dry bramble, not the evil weed, but violets and margerain and wet narcissus, Vibius, and around thee may all be roses.

The Greek Anthology

XLIX
DIMITTE MORTUOS
PAULUS SILENTIARIUS

My name -- Why this? -- and my country -- And to what end this? -- and I am of illustrious race -- Yea, if thou hadst been of the obscurest? -- Having lived nobly I left life -- If ignobly? -- and I lie here now -- Who art thou that sayest this, and to whom?

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L
MORS IMMORTALIS
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

I died, but I await thee; and thou too shalt await some one else: one Death receives all mortals alike.

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