Love

Book XII, 42

by Dioscorides fl. late 3rd century BC

Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. IV, 1918)

Love

Wueen you look on Hermogenes, boy-vulture, have your hands full, and perhaps you will succeed in getting that of which your heart dreams, and will relax the melancholy contraction of your brow. But if you fish for him, committing to the waves a line devoid of a hook, you will pull plenty of water out of the harbour; for neither pity nor shame dwells with an extravagant cinaedus.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Dioscorides. “Book XII, 42.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dioscorides/35/.

Chicago

Dioscorides. “Book XII, 42.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dioscorides/35/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Dioscorides