Arts & Sciences
Orpheus (Mackail)
Translated by J. W. Mackail (1890) · From Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology (1890)
No longer, Orpheus, wilt thou lead the charmed oaks, no longer the rocks nor the lordless herds of the wild beasts; no longer wilt thou lull the roaring of the winds, nor hail and sweep of snowstorms nor dashing sea; for thou perishedst; and the daughters of Mnemosyne wept sore for thee, and thy mother Calliope above all. Why do we mourn over dead sons, when not even gods avail to ward off Hades from their children?
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Sidon, Antipater of. “Orpheus (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/antipater-sidon/87/.
Chicago
Sidon, Antipater of. “Orpheus (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/antipater-sidon/87/.
Read this poem with the Codex →