Swans and Amber: Some Early Greek Lyrics

For what I say, my naughty way/All the boys must love me./Every ditty is so witty/Nobody stands above me. Anacreon of Teos, 563–478 B.C.

From papyrus rolls, copied and recycled through the centuries, hundreds of short extracts written by Greek poets in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. survive. This lovely collection, translated into English by a leading classicist, presents a selection of ca. 100 poems by 17 authors with useful historical introductions.