Book 13
17
And Licymnius the Chian, saying that Somnus was in love with Endymion, represents him as refusing to close the eyes of the youth even when he is asleep; but the God sends his beloved object to sleep with his eyelids still open, so that he may not for a single moment be deprived of the pleasure of contemplating them. And his words are these— But Somnus much delighted In the bright beams which shot from his eyes, And lull'd the youth to sleep with unclosed lids. And Sappho says to a man who was admired above all measure for his beauty, and who was accounted very handsome indeed— Stand opposite, my love, And open upon me The beauteous grace which from your eyes doth flow. And what says Anacreon?— Oh, boy, as maiden fair, I fix my heart on you; But you despise my prayer, And little care that you do hold the reins Which my soul's course incessantly do guide. Ode 67. And the magnificent Pindar says— The man who gazes on the brilliant rays Which shoot from th' eyes Of beautiful Theoxenus, and yet can feel his heart Unmoved within his breast, nor yields to love, Must have a heart Black, and composed of adamant or iron. This is not from any one of the odes, which we have entire; but is only a fragment. But the Cyclops of Philoxenus of Cythera, in love with Galatea, and praising her beauty, and prophesying, as it were, his own blindness, praises every part of her rather than mention her eyes, which he does not; speaking thus:— O Galatea, Nymph with the beauteous face and golden hair, Whose voice the Graces tune, True flower of love, my beauteous Galatea. But this is but a blind panegyric, and not at all to be compared with the encomium of Ibycus:— Beauteous Euryalus, of all the Graces The choicest branch,—object of love to all The fair hair'd maidens,—sure the soft-eyed goddess, The Cyprian queen, and soft Persuasion Combin'd to nourish you on beds of roses. And Phrynichus said of Troilus— The light of love shines in his purple cheeks.
