Volume 1

Studies of the Greek poets / by John Addington Symonds.

  • John Addington Symonds
Date:
1877-1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Studies of the Greek poets / by John Addington Symonds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    399/468
    ttcos ovk itcXcUxTaffOe iraydcpOiTOv if/mp aoiBcp &<p9iTa fjLTja’a/j.eva 5a>p‘ 'EXucwvidboey; This is the composition of Antipater of Sidon, who excels in this special style. Without losing either the movement or the passion of poetry, he is always delicate and subtle in his judgments. His epigrams on Pindar are full of fire (i. 280) :* ITlept-Kav craXiTLyya, rbv evayeuv fUapby v/jlvwv X^XicevTav, ko,t6x€1 Yliybapoy aSe k6vis, ov fxeXos elffatuv (pdey^aeS Key, ties Trore Movtruv iv Kablov QaAd/juns G[xrivos dveirXdcraTO. The very quintessence of criticism is contained in the phrases ad\Triyl, ^aXicevraQ. The Appendix Planudea (ii. 590) contains another epitaph on Pindar by Antipater, which for its beautiful presentation of two legends connected with his life deserves to be quoted : fi vefipeioev 6tt6(Tov (TaXiny^ virepiaxw avXwy, toarffov virep wdcras eKpaye <re?o xeAvs * ovde fidrr]V diraXots Trepl xe{\e(Tiv icr/jibs inewos enXaae KrjpSdeToy, Yl'ivbape, cre?o p.eXi. {.idprus 6 McuvaXLos KepSeis 6ebs v/xvou aeicras roy ereo real vofi'icov X'po’dp.evos BovaKioy. O ye, who ever twine the three-fold thread, Ye Fates, why number with the silent dead That mighty songstress, whose unrivalled powers Weave for the Muse a crown of deathless flowers ? ” Francis Hodgson. * ‘ ‘ Piera’s clarion, he whose weighty brain Forged many a hallowed hymn and holy strain, Pindar, here sleeps beneath the sacred earth : Hearing his songs a man might swear the brood Of Muses made them in their hour of mirth, What time round Cadmus’ marriage-bed they stood, t “ As the war-trumpet drowns the rustic flute, So when your lyre is heard all strings are mute : Not vain the labour of those clustering bees Who on your infant lips spread honey-dew ; Witness great Pan who hymned your melodies, Pindar, forgetful of his pipes for you.”