Ibycus (6th c. BC): The Coming of Eros

 

Eros again, gazing beneath purple eyelids

with piercing eyes, draws me with enveloping

webbery into the multitudinous

enfolding enchantments of the Cyprian;

and his mere coming makes my body tremble,

as the horse shudders when the charioteer

rushes headlong into the swift clash of chariots.

 

Translation © Carey Jobe.  Original: 

 

Ἔρος αὖτέ µε κυανέοισιν ὑπὸ
βλεφάροις τακέρ’ ὄµµασι δερκόµενος
κηλήµασι παντοδαποῖς ἐς ἄπει-
ρα δίκτυα Κύπριδος ἐσβάλλει·
ἦ µὰν τροµέω νιν ἐπερχόµενον,
ὥστε φερέζυγος ἵππος ἀεθλοφόρος ποτὶ γήρᾳ
ἀέκων σὺν ὄχεσφι θοοῖς ἐς ἅµιλλαν

 

 

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