by Anacreon (c582BCE - c485BCE)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
This poet sings the Trojan wars
Language: English after the Greek (Ελληνικά)
This poet sings the Trojan wars, Another of the Theban jars, In rattling numbers, verse that dares. Whilst I, in soft and humble verse, My own captivities rehearse; I sing my own defeats, which are Not the events of common war. Not fleets at sea have vanquish'd me, Nor brigadiers, nor cavalry, Nor ranks and files of infantry. No, Anacreon still defies All your artillery companies Save those encamp'd in killing eyes; Each dart his mistress shoots, he dies.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anacreon (c582BCE - c485BCE) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "This poet sings the Trojan wars", subtitle: "Anacreon's Defeat", Z. 423, published 1688. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-10-18
Line count: 14
Word count: 79