by Marcus Argentarius (flourished 1st century BCE)
Translation by Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869 - 1935)
The old story
Language: English after the Greek (Ελληνικά)
Like many a one, when you had gold Love met you smiling, we are told; But now that all your gold is gone, Love leaves you hungry and alone. And women, who have called you more Sweet names than ever were before, Will ask another now to tell What man you are and where you dwell. Was ever anyone but you So long in learning what is true? Must you find only at the end That who has nothing has no friend?
Text Authorship:
- by Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869 - 1935), "The old story", appears in Captain Craig, in Variations of Greek Themes, no. 8, first published 1902 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Marcus Argentarius (flourished 1st century BCE) [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 Frank Lewin (1925 - 2008), "The old story", published 1975 [mezzo-soprano or contralto, flute, viola, harp, and piano], from Variations of Greek Themes, no. 4. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-17
Line count: 12
Word count: 82