Three books, three lamps

The lamp is the lover's frequent night-time accomplice in epigram. It lights the way to the chamber of the beloved, reveals their beauty, and bears witness to the consummation of desire. Maria Kanellou studies the motif systematically and sensitively.

The following epigrams, two by Meleager and one by 'Pompey the Younger' (whom I would like to be Octavian's rival, the son of Pompey the Great), are from books five, six, and seven. Though the lamp is primarily an erotic motif, it can cross between epigram's sub-genres to become dedicatory and funerary. 6.162 is new for the blog, the others are in the book.

5.8

MELEAGER

You holy Night, you lamp: no celebrants

But you we chose, to witness to our vows.

His was to love me always, mine to leave

Him never; and the two of you were there.

But now he says those oaths are borne away

On water, void: and, lamp, you see him now

Enfolded by another — and by more.

6.162 (on YouTube)

MELEAGER

To you, friend Cypris, Meleager leaves

His favourite lamp, the playmate in his games,

Accomplice to your night-long revelries.

7.219

POMPEY THE YOUNGER

She bloomed so finely, was desired by all; 

She gathered by herself the lily-blooms

Of all the Graces. LAÏS looks no more

Upon the Sun driving its golden team

Across the sky. She sleeps the destined sleep.

The young men nightly vying at her door,

The lovers’ scratches, the confiding lamp:

All these she has renounced and put aside.