3 Quotes by Ibykos

In spring the quince treesripen in the girls' holy orchardwith river waters;and grapes turn violetunder the shade of luxuriant leafage and newborn shoots.But for me, Eros knows no winter sleep, and as north windsburn down from Thracewith searing lighting,Kypris mutilates my heart with blackand baleful love.

Even now Eros looks at me with tenderness from under dark eyelids, and casts me spellboundinto Aphrodite's nets where I lie caughtinextricably,for I swear his mere approach makes me tremblelike an old champion chariot horse, as hedraws a swift cart unwillingly to the race.

In the high branches perch the mottled ducksand purple cormorants with their sleek throatsand kingfishers of the long wings.O let my heart always be like the birdsof the purple crest and long wings!