songs and thoughts well-fit to birthdays
Anacreonta 48
“When Bacchus visits,
My worries slumber:
I dream I have Elon-wealth.
I want to sing prettily,.
But I’m stretched out with an ivy crown,
And I mock everything in my heart.
Get shit ready and let me drink.
Bring me a cup, son:
It is far better for me to lie here
Drunk instead of dead.”
ὅταν ὁ Βάκχος ἔλθῃ,
εὕδουσιν αἱ μέριμναι,
δοκῶ δ᾿ ἔχειν τὰ Κροίσου.
θέλω καλῶς ἀείδειν,
κισσοστεφὴς δὲ κεῖμαι,
πατῶ δ᾿ ἅπαντα θυμῷ.
ὅπλιζ᾿, ἐγὼ δὲ πίνω.
φέρε μοι κύπελλον, ὦ παῖ·
μεθύοντα γάρ με κεῖσθαι
πολὺ κρεῖσσον ἢ θανόντα.
Anacreonta 52a
“Why do you teach me laws
And rhetoricians’ customs?
What’s the use of so many speeches
That bring no help at all?
Teach me instead
To drink Dionysus’ subtle draught.
Teach me instead
To play with golden Aphrodite.”
τί με τοὺς νόμους διδάσκεις
καὶ ῥητόρων ἀνάγκας;
τί δέ μοι λόγων τοσούτων
τῶν μηδὲν ὠφελούντων;
μᾶλλον δίδασκε πίνειν
ἁπαλὸν πῶμα Λυαίου,
μᾶλλον δίδασκε παίζειν
μετὰ χρυσῆς Ἀφροδίτης.
Anacreonta 52b
“The hair is gray on my head.
Boy, give me water, add some wine
Make my heart numb.
Soon you will cover me, no longer alive.
You want nothing when you’re dead.”
πολιαὶ στέφουσι κάραν·
δὸς ὕδωρ, βάλ᾿ οἶνον, ὦ παῖ·
τὴν ψυχήν μου κάρωσον.
βραχὺ μὴ ζῶντα καλύπτεις.
ὁ θανὼν οὐκ ἐπιθυμεῖ.
