Hippopeirēn

Πῶλε Θρῃκίη, τί δή με
λοξὸν ὄμμασι βλέπουσα
νηλέως φεύγεις, δοκεῖς δέ
μ’ οὐδὲν εἰδέναι σοφόν;
ἴσθι τοι, καλῶς μὲν ἄν τοι
τὸν χαλινὸν ἐμβάλοιμι
ἡνίας δ’ ἔχων στρέφοιμί
σ’ ἀμφὶ τέρματα δρόμου·
νῦν δὲ λειμῶνάς τε βόσκεαι
κοῦφά τε σκιρτῶσα παίζεις,
δεξιὸν γὰρ ἱπποπείρην
οὐκ ἔχεις ἐπεμβάτην.
(Anacreon, fr. 417)

Thracian filly, why glance at me askance and
flee so stubbornly? Do you think I don’t know a trick or two?
I tell you, I’d slip the bridle on you nicely
and, reins in hand, I’d take you round the course.
But as it is you graze the meadows, lightly skipping in your play.
You have no skillful rider experienced in horses’ ways.
(tr. John Porter)