Arts & Sciences
Meleager (2) (Mackail)
Translated by J. W. Mackail (1890) · From Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology (1890)
Island Tyre was my nurse; and the Attic land that lies in Syrian Gadara is the country of my birth; and I sprang of Eucrates, I Meleager, the companion of the Muses, first of all who have run side by side with the Graces of Menippus. And if I am a Syrian, what wonder? We all dwell in one country, O stranger, the world; one Chaos brought all mortals to birth. And when stricken in years, I inscribed this on my tablets before burial, since old age is death's near neighbour; but do thou, bidding hail to me, the aged talker, thyself reach a talking old age.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Gadara, Meleager of. “Meleager (2) (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/meleager/169/.
Chicago
Gadara, Meleager of. “Meleager (2) (Mackail).” Translated by J. W. Mackail. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/meleager/169/.
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