Ancient Greek Lyrics

Alkman

25 alkman Alkman The first fully visible representative of the choral ode lived at Sparta, and was active probably during the middle of the seventh century bce. It is possible that he was (like several other poets of his time) brought in from the East—in Alkman’s case, from Sardis in Lydia (Asia Minor). His works were arranged in six books. They included partheneia , hymns and prooimia (hexameter preludes to recitations of epic poetry). His language is strongly Doric, with Aiolic and Homeric influences. Alkman in his fragments seems a poet of wayward and playful sensitivity. The long and difficult fragment of a partheneion (“Song for a Choir of Virgins”) illustrates this sensitivity in the vivid, glancing personal references, while “Rest” and “Lakonian Wine” may serve to show its range in nature and conviviality. Do not judge the man by the gravestone. The tomb you see is small but it holds the bones of a great man. For know that this is Alkman, supreme artist of the Lakonian lyre, who commanded the nine Muses. And twin continents dispute whether he is of Lydia or Lakonia, for the mothers of a singer are many. Antipatros of Thessalonike Ars Poetica I know the tunes of every bird, but I, Alkman, found my words and song in the tongue of the strident partridge. Rest Now chasms and mountain summits are asleep, and sierra slopes and ravines; The Greek Period 26 creeping things nourished by the dark earth, hillside beasts and generations of bees, monsters in the depths of the purple brine, all lie asleep, and also tribes of flying birds. On the Feats of a Young Girl Often at night along the mountain tops, when gods are reveling by torch light, you came carrying a great jar like one shepherds use but of heavy gold. You filled the jar with milk drawn from a lioness, and made a great cheese unbroken and gleaming white. On the Worm The dappled worm is the murderer within the eye of blooming vines. In Mythology Dew, a child of moon and air, causes the deergrass to grow. Song for a Choir of Virgins* The Whole Choir There is a vengeance from the gods, but happy is the man who weaves the fabric of his days with peace, and without tears. Agido’s Half-Choir But I sing of Agido’s light. I see her * The choir consists of ten virgins. The half-choirs speak in the first person singular, in friendly rivalry, each praising its own half-choir leaders. 27 alkman like the sun who shines on us by order of Agido. Hagesichora’s Half-Choir Our splendid leader will not have us praise or abuse her, for her brilliance is as if among a herd of cattle one had set a champion racehorse, sinewy, strong, with thunder-ringing hooves, a creature from a dream with wings. Do you see? The horse is Venetian, and the mane of our cousin Hagesichora is a blossom of the purest gold, and below is her silver face. Can I tell you this; more clearly? There you have Hagesichora. In beauty she may be second to Agido but she will run like a Skythian horse against a Lydian racer. For as we carry Orthria’s plow so the Pleiades of dawn will rise and strive against us like the burning star of Sirios through the ambrosial night. Agido’s Half-Choir All our wealth of purple dye or the dappled snake of full gold about our wrist or our Lydian wimple that is the sweet glory of all these tender-eyed women, no, nothing will keep them off. Not Nanno’s soft braids, nor Areta’s godlike beauty, neither Thylakis nor Kleësisera. The Greek Period 28 Hagesichora’s Half-Choir You need not go to Ainesimbrota and say: let Astaphis be mine, have Philylla look my way, and Damareta and darling Ianthemis. For Hagesichora is our saviour. Is Hagesichora of the lovely ankles not right here with us? Agido’s Half-Choir Yes, she waits by our Agido, and commends our ceremonies. O gods, receive our prayers, for you determine everything accomplished. My choir leader, I tell you I a girl shrieked in vain like an owl from the roof tops. Hagesichora’s Half-Choir But my great wish is to please the Lady of the Dawn who has healed our sore wounds. Only Hagesichora could give...