THE VINTAGE
by: Anacreon (c.572-488
BC)
 EN and maids
at time of year
- The ripe clusters jointly bear
- To the press, but in when thrown,
- They by men are trod alone,
- Who in Bacchus' praises join,
- Squeeze the grape, let out the wine:
- Oh with what delight they spy
- The new must when tunned work high!
- Which if old men freely take,
- Their grey heads and heels they shake;
- And a young man, if he find
- Some fair maid to sleep resigned
- In the shade, he straight goes to her,
- Wakes, and roundly 'gins to woo her;
- Whilst Love slyly stealing in
- Tempts her to the pleasing sin:
- Yet she long resists his offers,
- Nor will hear whate'er he proffers,
- Till perceiving that his prayer
- Melts into regardless air,
- Her, who seemingly refrains,
- He by pleasing force constrains;
- Wine doth boldness thus dispense,
- Teaching young men insolence.
-
- TRANSLATED BY THOMAS STANLEY,
1651
|
"The Vintage" is reprinted
from Poetica Erotica. T.R. Smith. New York: Crown
Publishers, 1921. |
MORE
POEMS BY ANACREON |
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