Nature
Book IX, 617: On a too cold Bath
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. III, 1917)
Who walled round a river, bathman? Who falsely styled this fountain a bath? ‘Aeolus, son of Hippotas, dear to the immortal gods,’! brought the winds here from their home. And why are these two planks placed here for the feet? Not for warmth, but for freezing. This is the place of Shivering and Frost-bite. Write thereon: “Bathe here in August, for the north wind blows ever within.”
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book IX, 617: On a too cold Bath.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/575/.
Chicago
Anonymous (Greek Anthology). “Book IX, 617: On a too cold Bath.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-greek-anthology/575/.
Read this poem with the Codex →