Philodemus of Gadara

Philodemus of Gadara (c. 110 – 35 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and poet.

Quotes

Text and translation: W. R. Paton, The Greek Anthology, 5 vols. (LCL)

• Νυκτερινή, δίκερως, φιλοπάννυχε, φαῖνε, Σελήνη,
  φαῖνε, δι᾽ εὐτρήτων βαλλομένη θυρίδων
  αὔγαζε χρυσέην Καλλίστιον ἐς τὰ φιλεύντων
  ἔργα κατοπτεύειν οὐ φθόνος ἀθανάτῃ.
  ὀλβίζεις καὶ τήνδε καὶ ἡμέας, οἶδα, Σελήνη:
  καὶ γὰρ σὴν ψυχὴν ἔφλεγεν Ἐνδυμίων.
  • Shine, Moon of the night, horned Moon, who lovest to look on revels, shine through the lattice and let your light fall on golden Callistiŏn. It is no offence for an immortal to pry into the secrets of lovers. Thou dost bless her and me, I know, O Moon; for did not Endymion set thy soul afire?
  • Greek Anthology, bk. 5, no. 123
  • J. A. Symonds Jr., Studies of the Greek Poets (1873), p. 380:

    Shine forth, night-wandering, horned, and vigilant queen,
    Illume Callistion: for a goddess may
    Gaze on a pair of lovers while they play.
    Thou enviest her and me, I know, fair moon,
    For thou didst once burn for Endymion.

  • W. G. Headlam, A Book of Greek Verse (1907), p. 253:

    Shine out, O hornèd Moon, O festal night’s befriender,
      Shine through the latticed window with thy silver light;
    My golden fair illume, gaze forth in all thy splendour,—
      Immortal eyes are free to look on love’s delight:—
    Thy conscious heart, I know, is kind to us and tender,—
      Endymion, O Selene, set thine own heart’s flame alight!