Love
Book XII, 173
Translated by W. R. Paton (1916–18) · From The Greek Anthology (Loeb, vol. IV, 1918)
Demo and Thermion are killing me. Thermion is a courtesan and Demo a girl who knows not Cypris yet. The one I touch, but the other I may not. By thyself, Cypris, I swear, I know not which I should call the more desirable. I will say it is the virgin Demo; for I desire not what is ready to hand, but long for whatever is kept under lock and key.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Gadara, Philodemus of. “Book XII, 173.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/philodemus/27/.
Chicago
Gadara, Philodemus of. “Book XII, 173.” Translated by W. R. Paton. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/philodemus/27/.
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