Pindar and Anacreon/Anacreon/Ode 35

by Anacreon

ODE XXXV.—ON A PICTURE REPRESENTING EUROPA.^[1]

This bull, my boy, is surely meant
The mighty Jove to represent,
Since on his back he seems to bear
Through pathless seas a Tyrian fair.
With steady strength he stems the tide,
His hoofs the billows dash aside;
For sure no other bull but he
Would from his lovely heifers flee,
And tempt the dangers of the sea.

1. We must here imagine that ye have before us a picture or medal representing the fable of Europa. According to the poets, it was from this princess that our quarter of the globe derives its name.

   "Yet sigh no more, but think of love,
   For know thou art the wife of Jove;
   Then learn to bear thy future fame
   When earth's wide continent shall boast thy name."
   

   Francis's Horace, book iii., ode 27.