I swear it, by Love I swear it! More sweet to me is Heliodora's voice Than the holy harp of Leto's golden Son.
Seven Greek Love Songs
Song Cycle by Geoffrey Bush (1920 - 1998)
1. Fanfare
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 5.141
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]2. Flowers
Language: English
White violets I'll bring And soft narcissus And myrtle and laughing lilies. The innocent crocus, Dark hyacinth also And roses heavy with love. And these I'll twine for Heliodora And scatter the bright petals on her hair.
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]3. A Curse
Language: English
This thing I pray, dearest Night. Mother of all the gods: This thing only I pray, holy propitious Night: If another man lies with her now: if another Close clasped beneath her cloak, is touching her - Heliodora, Heliodora, the sweet despair of sleep - Then the lights go out! Let his heavy eyes fail him! Let him fall asleep locked in her arms, a second Endymion! This thing I pray, dearest Night, This thing only I pray, holy propitious Night.
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 5.165
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]4. The Mosquito
Language: English
Fly to her swiftly fly Mosquito, bearing my greeting: Perch on the tip of her ear, and whisper it to her: Say "He lies waking, waking, longing for you: And you sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. O shameless girl! have never a thought for who loves you!" Buzz! Chirr! Off to her, sweetest Musician! Yet speak to her softly, lest her bedfellow wake and hurt her because of my love. Or bring me the girl herself, Mosquito, and I will crown your head with the lion's mane and give you strong Heracles' bludgeon to brandish in your paw.
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 5.152
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]5. Night
Language: English
O Night, O Night, O sleepless tossing, longing for Heliodora! Poor eyes hot with tears in the lingering white dawn! Is she lonely too? is she dreaming of how I kissed her. And dreaming so, does she turn to kiss the dream of me? Or a new love? a newer toy? Forbid it, lamp! See it never! Did I not set you to guard her? Forbid it! O Night, O Night, O sleepless tossing, longing for Heliodora!
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE)
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]6. Lullaby
Language: English
Sleep, sleep dear girl, drowsy flower: Ah, that I were the Lord of sleep, that so Wingless, a whisper, Under your shadowy eyelids I might creep: Then, not even he who veils God's eyes Could come into you: you would be mine alone.
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]7. The Poet's Epitaph
Language: English
Quietly O Stranger pass by: here sleeps an old man Cradled with the holy dead in the common silence: Meleagros: Eukrates' son: who joined in song Sweet crying Love with the Muses and smiling Graces: Him divine Tyre and Gadara's sacred land Sheltered till manhood: but his old age was nursed by lovely Kos of the Meropes. And now O friend Shalam if you are a Syrian: If Phonikian, Naidios: But if Greek: Farewell! Farewell! and give me back the same.
Text Authorship:
- by Dudley Fitts (1903 - 1968)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Meleager of Gadara (flourished 1st century BCE), no title, Epigram 7.419
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Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]Total word count: 436