Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume III. Sorrow and Consolation. 1904. | | | | V. Death and Bereavement | | Lament for Heliodore | | Meleager of Gadara (1st Century B.C.) |
| | From the Greek by Andrew Lang |
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TEARS for my lady dead— | |
| Heliodore! | |
| Salt tears, and strange to shed, | |
| Over and o’er; | |
| Tears to my lady dead, | 5 |
| Love do we send, | |
| Longed for, rememberèd, | |
| Lover and friend! | |
| Sad are the songs we sing, | |
| Tears that we shed, | 10 |
| Empty the gifts we bring | |
| Gifts to the dead! | |
| Go, tears, and go, lament, | |
| Fare from her tomb, | |
| Wend where my lady went | 15 |
| Down through the gloom! | |
| Ah, for my flower, my love, | |
| Hades hath taken! | |
| Ah, for the dust above | |
| Scattered and shaken! | 20 |
| Mother of blade and grass, | |
| Earth, in thy breast | |
| Lull her that gentlest was | |
| Gently to rest! | | | |
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