Epigram

OF PHOTIUS, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE, but others say OF LEO THE PHILOSOPHER

A bitter love, but a chaste life, as the story of Clitophon reveals; but the most chaste life of Leucippe astounds all, how, having been beaten, shorn, and defiled, and, the greatest thing, having died thrice, she endured. And if you also wish to be chaste, friend, do not consider the incidental spectacle of the writing, but first learn the whole course of the story; for it prudently adorns as a bride those who desire it.

Epigramma

ΦΩΤΙΟΥ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ, ἄλλοι δέ φασιν ΛΕΟΝΤΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΟΥ

Ἔρωτα πικρόν, ἀλλὰ σώφρονα βίον ὁ Κλειτοφῶντος ὥσπερ ἐμφαίνει λόγος· ὁ Λευκίππης δὲ σωφρονέστατος βίος ἅπαντας ἐξίστησι, πῶς τετυμμένη κεκαρμένη τε καὶ κατηχρειωμένη, τὸ δὴ μέγιστον, τρὶς θανοῦσ' ἐκαρτέρει. εἴπερ δὲ καὶ σὺ σωφρονεῖν θέλῃς, φίλος, μὴ τὴν πάρεργον τῆς γραφῆς σκόπει θέαν, τὴν τοῦ λόγου δὲ πρῶτα συνδρομὴν μάθε· νυμφοστολεῖ γὰρ τοὺς ποθοῦντας ἐμφρόνως.