CERTAIN ANCIENT GREEK EPIGRAMS TRANSLATED.

ALL stars are drunk up by the fiery sun,

And in so much a flame lies shrunk the moon.

HOMER'S all-lived name all names leaves in death,

Whose splendour only Muses' bosoms breathe.

ANOTHER.

Heaven's fire shall first fall darken'd from his sphere,

Grave Night the light weed of the Day shall wear,

Fresh streams shall chase the sea, tough ploughs shall tear

Her fishy bottoms, men in long date dead

Shall rise and live, before Oblivion shed

Those still-green leaves that crown great HOMER'S head.

ANOTHER.

The great Maeonides doth only write,

And to him dictates the great God of Light.

ANOTHER.

Seven kingdoms strove in which should swell the womb

That bore great HOMER, whom Fame freed from tomb;

Argos, Chios, Pylos, Smyrna, Colophone,

The learn'd Athenian, and Ulyssean throne.

ANOTHER.

Art thou of Chios? No. Of Salamine?

As little. Was the Smyrnean country thine?

Nor so. Which then? Was Cuma's? Colophone?

Nor one nor other. Art thou, then, of none

That Fame proclaims thee? None. Thy reason call,

If I confess of one I anger all.