Been a while; new poem today. In this post, I translate Greek Anthology 1.77, on 1 Kings 17, in which Elijah is fed by the widow. For anyone who heard John 6:1-15 for yesterday's Gospel reading, the theme will be familiar. The original is a single elegiac couplet. My...
Poetry
“O Rachel, Why This Bitter Tear?”: Another Greek Epigram
Back with another new poem, this time Greek Anthology 1.43. The previous poem dealt with the magi coming from the East; this one is on the Massacre of the Holy Innocents, via Matthew's quotation of Jeremiah 31:15 in Matthew 2: A voice was heard in Ramah,weeping and...
“No More Do Magi Bring Their Pagan Gifts”: Another Greek Epigram
Posting has been somewhat sporadic of late--for which, my apologies. But I have another Greek epigram for you, the forty-first from Book 1 of the Greek Anthology. This one is on the magi who come to worship the newborn Christ. As was the case with the last several...
“One Song of Angels and of Men”: A Greek Epigram
This week we're looking at another two-line epigram in elegiacs from Book 1 of the Greek Anthology. The titulus tells us it is about "the shepherds and the angels" praising Christ's Nativity, though "shepherds" are not mentioned by name in the epigram itself. Below I...
“Brought to Heel by Pen Alone”: Beza’s Poem for St. Martin’s Day
St. Philip's Day was two days ago, and I posted a translation of Theodore Beza's poem in honor of Melanchthon. Today, St. Martin's Day, I give you another--a poem by Beza on Martin Luther. (It is worth noting in passing that Beza was one of the most accomplished...
Happy 525th, St. Philip
Today is the 525th anniversary of Philip Melanchthon's birth in 1497. Here's a poem to celebrate. The poem, a tribute to Melanchthon after his death--that is, his heavenly birthday--is by Theodore Beza and comes from his Icones, a set of tributes to Reformers from...
Melanchthon Writes a Decalogue Poem
I’ve written on the Decalogue, and specifically on the Decalogue in Melanchthon and Melanchthonianism at various times in the past. Below is a nice little epigram Melanchthon wrote on the importance of teaching the Decalogue to the young. (An emphasis easily seen...
La Vita Nuova
On learning to love Dante.