It is believed that Rufinus lived in 2nd-3rd cent AD (see info below)
The poem in Ancient Greek:
“ Παρθένος ἀργυρόπεζος ἐλούετο, χρύσεα μαζῶν
χρωτί γαλακτοπαγεῖ μῆλα διαινομένη.
πυγαί δ᾽ ἀλλήλαις περιηγέες εἰλίσσοντο,
ὓδατος ὑγροτέρῳ χρωτί σαλευόμεναι.
τόν δ᾽ ὑπεροιδαίνοντα κατέσκεπε πεπταμένη χείρ
ούχ ὅλον Εὐρώταν, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον ἠδύνατο. ”
[V 60]
Lyrics in contemporary Greek and their English translation:
Υγραίνοντας του στήθους της
τα χρυσαφένια μήλα,
πάνω σ᾽ένα κορμί λευκό
σαν το πηχτό το γάλα,
κόρη με πόδια όμορφα
έπαιρνε το λουτρό της.
Και μεταξύ τους οι γλουτοί
έτσι καθώς σαλεύαν,
ανεβοκατεβαίνανε
ολοστρογγυλεμένοι,
στην όψη τους υγρότεροι
απ᾽ το νερό το ίδιο.
Και τον γλυκύ Ευρώτα της
που φούσκωνε επάνω,
εσκέπαζε ολάκερο
χεράκι απλωμένο,
μα όχι στ᾽ αλήθεια όλον,
μονάχα όσο μπορούσε.
Wetting the golden apples
of her breasts,
a young woman with beautiful legs,
and a body as white as thick milk,
was taking her bath.
And her fully-rounded buttocks
were waving up and down,
feeling wetter than water itself.
And with her extended hand
she was hiding her brimming sweet Evrotas,
not really all of it,
just as much as she could.
Please note that we provide above translation of the lyrics (from contemporary Greek to English). You may also visit “links” for sources translating the ancient text to English.
Brief info about the poet and the poem:
Rufinus: It is probable that he lived in the 2nd or 3rd century AD. He came from Ionia. 38 of his epigrams were preserved in the Palatine Anthology. His poetry, simple and sensual, preserves in its ripples something of Ancient Greek grace, in the dark succession of years.
The comments on the poets are written by K. Martinides
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