in Reception

Michael Choniates on Athens (13-18)

  1. Ὡς δυστυχὴς ἔγωγε, καινὸς Ἰξίων,
  2. ἐρῶν Ἀθηνῶν, ὡς ἐκεῖνος τῆς Ἥρας,
  3. εἶτα λαθὼν εἴδωλον ἠγκαλισμένος.
  4. Φεῦ! οἷα πάσχω καὶ λέγω τε καὶ γράφω.
  5. Οἰκῶν Ἀθήνας οὐκ Ἀθήνας που βλέπω,
  6. κόνιν δὲ λυπρὰν καὶ κενὴν μακαρίαν.

Thus am I ill-starred, a new Ixion,
a lover of Athens as that one of Hera,
having missed her, embracing an image.
Ah, such things I endure and speak and write!
Dwelling at Athens, it’s not Athens that I see anywhere,
but agonizing dust and empty bliss.

One wonders what this says of the fruit of his love.