Epigram 5.293

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#1

À Agathias le scolastique resté à Constantinople pour étudier le droit. (M. Yourcenar)

Codex Palatinus 23 p. 137

Texts

θεσμὸν Ἔρως οὐκ οἶδε βιημάχος, οὐδέ τις ἄλλη
ἀνέρα νοσφίζει πρῆξις ἐρωμανίης.
εἰ δέ σε θεσμοπόλοιο μεληδόνος ἔργον ἐρύκει
οὐκ ἄρα σοῖς στέρνοις λάβρος ἔνεστιν ἔρως.

ποῖος ἔρως, ὅτε βαιὸς ἁλὸς πόρος οἶδε μερίζειν
σὸν χρόα παρθενικῆς τηλόθεν ὑμετέρης;

νηχόμενος Λείανδρος ὅσον κράτος ἐστὶν ἐρώτων
δείκνυεν, ἐννυχίου κύματος οὐκ ἀλέγων
σοὶ δέ, φίλος, παρέασι καὶ ὁλκάδες: ἀλλὰ θαμίζεις

μᾶλλον Ἀθηναίῃ, Κύπριν ἀπωσάμενος.
θεσμοὺς Παλλὰς ἔχει, Παφίη πόθον. εἰπέ: τίς ἀνὴρ
εἰν ἑνὶ θητεύσει Παλλάδι καὶ Παφίῃ;

— Paton edition

Reply on the same subject to his friend Agathias

Love, the violent, knows not Law, nor does any other work tear a man away from true passion. If the labour of your law studies holds you back, then fierce love dwells not in your breast. What love is that, when a narrow strait of the sea can keep you apart from your beloved ? Leander showed the power of love by swimming fearless of the billows and the night. And you, my friend, can take the ferry ; but the fact is you have renounced Cypris, and pay more attention to Athene. To Pallas belongs law, to Cypris desire. Tell me ! what man can serve both at once ?

— Paton edition

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Comments

#1

"Si tu es retenu par des occupations d'ordre juridique" : Sans doute en qualité de λύτης ou de προλύτης, c'est-à-dire de jurisconsulte appelém suivant les cas, comme expert ou comme arbitre. - Waltz, note 5, p. 128 (t. 2)

#2

"un petit bras de mer" : Agathias était donc de l'autre côté du détroit, peut-être à Chrysopolis (Scutari) ou à Chalcédoine - Waltz, note 6, p. 128 (t. 2)

#3

Cf. épigramme V. 263 - Waltz, note 7, p. 128 (t. 2).

#4

"ἀλλὰ θαμίζεις μᾶλλον Ἀθηναίῃ, Κύπριν ἀπωσάμενος." : antithèse classique: cf. V, 234, 5 ; 272, 5 ; etc. - Waltz, note 8, p. 128 (t. 2)

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Epigram 5.293: Association of La déesse Paphienne (667) by “LuizCapelo

Epigram 5.293: Association of Pallas (694) by “LuizCapelo

Epigram 5.293: Association of Cypris (79) by “LuizCapelo

Epigram 5.293: Association of Eros (75) by “LuizCapelo

Epigram 5.293: Association of distique élégiaque (1) by “LuizCapelo

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