Dionysius the Sophist

Dionysius the Sophist (2nd century BC) was a little-known Greek writer, some of whose poems survive in the Greek Anthology.

Quotes

• Ἡ τὰ ῥόδα, ῥοδόεσσαν ἔχεις χάριν ἀλλὰ τί πωλεῖς;
  σαυτήν, ἢ τὰ ῥόδα; ἠὲ συναμφότερα;
  • You with the roses, rosy is your charm; but what do you sell, yourself or the roses, or both?
  • Anthologia Palatina, v, 81 (W. R. Paton, Greek Anthology, i, p. 167)
  • A. C. Benson, "The Flower-Girl", The Reed of Pan (1922), p. 169:

    Pretty maid, you are fair as the roses you bear;
    Come tell me, what is it you sell?
    Your kisses, your posies, yourself or your roses,
    Or yourself and your roses as well?

  • Cf. F. L. Lucas, "The Rose-girl", Greek Poetry for Everyman (1951), p. 328; Simon Raven, The Roses of Picardie (1980), ch. 6