Pindar and Anacreon/Anacreon/Ode 49

by Anacreon

ODE XLIX.—TO A PAINTER.

Dear artist, while I wake the string,
Paint thou the lovely scenes I sing:
First, let my fix'd, delighted eyes,
Behold a well-built city rise;
And with inventive skill portray
Its people happy, blithe, and gay.
Describe the Bacchanalian throng,
Engaged in festive dance and song;
Where, while the shrill-voiced pipe is mute,
Is heard the softly-breathing flute.
And if the crowded space permit,^[1]
To make the blissful scene complete,
Let happy pairs be seen to rove,
Intent on life's best bus'ness—love.

1. Allusion is here again made to the famous shield of Achilles, thus described by Homer:—
   

   "Two cities radiant on the shield appear,
   The image one of peace, and one of war;
   Here sacred pomp and genial feast delight,
   And solemn dance and hymeneal rite;
   Along the streets the new-made brides are led,
   With torches flaming, to the nuptial bed:
   The youthful dancers in a circle bound
   To the soft flute and cittern's silver sound;
   Through the fair streets the matrons in a row
   Stand in the porches, and enjoy the show."
   

   Pope's Homer's Iliad.