A young man offered a waxen Love; and I, who was standing near, said: " How much will you take for your work of art? "
And he answered in Doric: " Take it for what you like to give, for it will make you mad with desire. I am not a wax-moulder, but I should not like to live with all-powerful Love. "
" Give him to me, then, " said I, " give me, for a drachma, this lovely bedfellow. "
Love! burn me at once with desire — if not I will melt you in the fire.

The women say: " You are old, Anacreon; take your mirror and look in it — you have no hair, the front of your head is bald. "
And I do not know whether I have hair or not, but this I do know: that an old man may well take all delicate pleasures with girls for he draws near to the ultimate Fate.

Gathering flowers for a crown I found young Love among the roses, seized him by the wings and plunged him into wine and drank him down!
Now with his wings he caresses my heart.

As Loves image, to be sold,
Wrought in wax I did behold,
To the man I went; what is
Friend said I the price of this?
Give me what you please (he said)
This belongs not to my trade,
And so dangerous a guest
In my house I'me loth should rest.
Give m'him for this piece, said I,
And the Boy with me shall ly:
But Love see thou now melt me,
Or Ile do as much for thee.

It is wintry weather, but softly-weeping Love drags me from the feast and carries me to you, Myiscus.
Fierce desire is the raging wind—receive me into port, a sailor on the sea of Aphrodite!

Cleobulus is a white flower and Sopolis dark—twin blossoms of Aphrodite.
Desire follows me, for the loves are said to be woven from black (Melas) and white (agros) i.e. , Meleagér.

Aphrodite is my ship-owner, but Love governs the helm, holding my soul's rudder in his hand.
Fierce Desire is the raging wind; I swim in a sea of loves!

He is lovely, sweet and dear to me is the name of Myiscus; what reason have I for not loving him?
For he is beautiful, by Aphrodite, all beautiful; and if he is cruel — Love mingles bitter with the sweet.

Downward was the wheeling Bear
Driven by the Waggoner:
Men by powerful sleep opprest,
Gave their busie troubles rest:
Love, in this still depth of night,
Lately at my house did light:
Where perceiving all fast lockt,
At the door he boldly knockt:
Who'se that (said I) that does keep
Such a noise, and breaks my sleep?
Ope saith Love, for pity hear;
Tis a Childe, thou need'st not fear,
Wet and weary, from his way
Led by this dark night astray:
With compassion this I heard;
Light I struck; the door unbarr'd:

The die is cast; come then, I must go on. Take courage, what do you care when you are drunk? I will make merry. Make merry? Whither, O heart, are you turning? What reason is there in love? Act quickly. When does thought precede speech? Much labour of wisdom is a waste. This only I know that Love destroys even the will of Zeus.