Mythology & Folklore
Book XVI, 8: On Marsyas
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. V, 1918)
No longer in Phrygia, the nurse of pines, as erewhile, shalt thou play, speaking music through thy deftly-pierced reeds; nor in thy hands shall the craftsmanship of Tritonian Athena bloom again as erst it did, O Satyr, son of a Nymph. For now thy wrists are bound tight with gyves, for that thou, a mortal, didst encounter Phoebus in a strife meet but for gods. And the flutes that shrill a note as honeyed as his lyre’s won for thee from the contest no crown but death.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Messene, Alcaeus of. “Book XVI, 8: On Marsyas.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/alcaeus-messene/14/.
Chicago
Messene, Alcaeus of. “Book XVI, 8: On Marsyas.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/alcaeus-messene/14/.
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