Nature
Book IX, 87
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. III, 1917)
No longer warble, blackbird, by the oak-tree, no longer perch on the highest branch and call. This tree is thy enemy; hie thee to where the vine mounts with shady green leaves. Set thy feet on its branch and sing by it, pouring shrill notes from thy throat. For the oak bears the mistletoe which is the foe of birds, but the vine bears grape-clusters ; and Bacchus loves songsters.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Argentarius, Marcus. “Book IX, 87.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/marcus-argentarius/20/.
Chicago
Argentarius, Marcus. “Book IX, 87.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/marcus-argentarius/20/.
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