Love

Love at the Vintage (Mackail)

by Agathias Scholasticus c. 530 – c. 580

Translated by J. W. Mackail (1890) · From Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology (1890)

Love

We, as we trod the infinite fruit of Iacchus, mingled and wound in the rhythm of the revel, and now the fathomless flood flowed down, and like boats our cups of ivy-wood swam on the sweet surges; dipping wherewith, we drank just as it lay at our hand, nor missed the warm water-nymphs overmuch. But beautiful Rhodanthe leant over the winepress, and with the splendours of her beauty lit up the welling stream; and swiftly all our hearts were fluttered, nor was there one of us but was overcome by Bacchus and the Paphian. Alas for us! he ran plenteous at our feet, but for her, hope played with us, and no more.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Scholasticus, Agathias. “Love at the Vintage (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/agathias/100/.

Chicago

Scholasticus, Agathias. “Love at the Vintage (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/agathias/100/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Agathias Scholasticus