Nature

Shorter Poems 2: Description of the harbour at Smyrna

by Claudian c. 370–c. 404

Translated by Maurice Platnauer (1922) · From Shorter Poems

Nature

The city that meets our gaze veils the mountain peaks, fronting a tranquil sea. The two headlands that enclose the harbour protect the quiet water from the north wind. Here the sea is disarmed by the encircling land and learns to lie in undisturbed tranquillity.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Claudian. “Shorter Poems 2: Description of the harbour at Smyrna.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/29/.

Chicago

Claudian. “Shorter Poems 2: Description of the harbour at Smyrna.” Translated by Maurice Platnauer. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/claudian/29/.

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