ALCAEUS

Books IX ann X
DRINKING SONGS

156

From a Second-Century Papyrus :

-.,. What need to have mixed in the great bowl =
Why labour so, when | tell you that I will never
have you to waste the livelong day in wassailing
and song? O why spare we to use the sea, suffering
the winter-cool freshness of the morning to puss
like a drunken sleep? If we had but gone quickly
aboard, taken hold of the tiller, and loosed the ship
from her moorings the while we turned the sailyard
to front the breeze. then merrier should we be and
light of heart. and it would be as casy work as a
long draught of wine.’ But hanging a [listless] arm
upon my sleeve you cried, ‘{The lad] may bring [a
eushion | fur my head: for this fellow’s song doth not
put me [in his boat. Never think you disturb my
mind.] you wild clamourer. [though with your roaring |
like a great fire you make it [harder rather than

easier to bear this heat.’|

tiller, εἰ. xavéarw, λαβή AquBave δ᾽: Pr © Erav = eye,
get. Hesych. γέλαν (i. 6. FéAav)