by Bion of Smyrna (flourished 100 BCE)

Ἕσπερε, τᾶς ἐρατᾶς χρύσεον φάος...
Language: Greek (Ελληνικά) 
Ἕσπερε, τᾶς ἐρατᾶς χρύσεον φάος Ἀφρογενείας,
Ἕσπερε κυανέας ἱερὸν φίλε νυκτὸς ἄγαλμα,
τόσσον ἀφαυρότερος μήνας, ὅσον ἔξοχος ἄστρων,
χαῖρε φίλος, καί μοι ποτὶ ποιμένα κῶμον ἄγοντι
ἀντὶ σελαναίας τὺ δίδου φάος, ὥνεκα τήνα
σάμερον ἀρχομένα τάχιον δύεν. οὐκ ἐπὶ φωρὰν
ἔρχομαι, οὐδ̓ ἵνα νυκτὸς ὁδοιπορέοντας ἐνοχλέω:
ἀλλ̓ ἐράω: καλὸν δέ τ̓ ἐρασσαμένω συναρέσθαι.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Bion of Phlossa. The Greek Bucolic Poets, J. M. (John Maxwell) Edmonds, William Heinemann; G. P. Putnam's Sons. London; New York. 1919. In Fragments, no. 9, pages 411-412.


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Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Jakob Mähly (1828 - 1902) , "An den Abendstern" ; composed by Erkki Gustaf Melartin.
  • Also set in Italian (Italiano), a translation by Giàcomo Leopardi (1798 - 1837) , title 1: "Idillio", title 2: "Espero", subtitle: "Romanza" [an adaptation] ; composed by Charles Lefebvre, Carlo Rossaro.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Richard Polwhele) , "Idyllium the Seventh", subtitle: "To the Evening Star" [an adaptation]


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2020-02-16
Line count: 8
Word count: 54