Poetry Codex

Death & Dying

On a Beautiful Boy (Mackail)

by Anonymous (Greek Anthology) various, 7th c. BC – 10th c. AD

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

Death & Dying

Not death is bitter, since that is the fate of all, but to die ere the time and before our parents: I having seen not marriage nor wedding-chant nor bridal bed, lie here the love of many, and to be the love of more.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

Cite this poem

MLA

Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “On a Beautiful Boy (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/1144/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “On a Beautiful Boy (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/1144/.

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