Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/80



The early lyric poetry of the Greeks was made up largely of songs composed for different occasions,—marriages, funerals, celebrations of victories and the like. An important class of these were "banquet songs,"—scolia, or catches, sung as the wine-cup passed around,—which every Athenian was assumed to be ready to sing.

Of these the most celebrated in ancient times was the following, attributed to Callistratus.

a wreath of myrtle I'll wear my glaive,

Like Harmodius and Aristogeiton brave,

Who, striking the tyrant down,

Made Athens a freeman's town.

Harmodius, our darling, thou art not dead!

Thou liv'st in the isles of the blest, 't is said,

With Achilles first in speed.

And Tydides Diomede.