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Plato
The Aster Epigrams (translation Percy
Bysshe Shelley)
These two epigrams (from Book
VII of the Greek Anthology) express Platos mourning and
love for his recently deceased young friend. They were translated
by the English poet Shelley, but the first epigram was left out
of the standard collection of his works, while the second was
included but with the boys name feminized to Stella
by the editors. Both play on the the boy's name, which in Greek
means star.
To Aster I
Sweet Child, thou star of love and beauty bright,
Alone thou lookest on the midnight skies;
Oh! That my spirit were yon Heaven of light
To gaze upon thee with a thousand eyes.
To Aster II
Thou wert the morning star among the living,
Ere thy fair light had fled;
Now, having died, thou art as Hesperus, giving
New splendour to the dead.
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