Arts & Sciences
Book XVI, 89: On Tantalus carved on a Cup
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. V, 1918)
Arts & Sciences
He who once sat at the table of the gods, he who often filled his belly with nectar, now lusts for a mortal liquor, but the envious brew is ever lower than his lips. “Drink,” says the carving, “and learn the secret of silence; thus are we punished who are loose of tongue.”
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Gallus. “Book XVI, 89: On Tantalus carved on a Cup.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/gallus/0/.
Chicago
Gallus. “Book XVI, 89: On Tantalus carved on a Cup.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/gallus/0/.