Mesomedes

Prior to the discovery of the Seikilos epitaph in the late 19th century, the hymns of Mesomedes were the only surviving written music from the ancient world.

Mesomedes continued in the Musaeum in Alexandria even after Hadrian's death (138); there the Historia Augusta reports that during Antoninus Pius' reign (138–161) his state salary was reduced.

[3] Ἄειδε μοῦσά μοι φίλη, μολπῆς δ’ ἐμῆς κατάρχου· αὔρη δὲ σῶν ἀπ’ ἀλσέων ἐμὰς φρένας δονείτω.

[4] Καλλιόπεια σοφά, μουσῶν προκαθαγέτι τερπνῶν, καὶ σοφὲ μυστοδότα, Λατοῦς γόνε, Δήλιε, Παιάν, εὐμενεῖς πάρεστέ μοι.

Wise Calliope, leader of the delight-making Muses, and skilful initiator into the mysteries, son of Leto, Delian Paean, favor me with your presence.

σοὶ μὲν χορὸς εὔδιος ἀστέρων κατ’ Ὄλυμπον ἄνακτα χορεύει, ἄνετον μέλος αἰὲν ἀείδων, Φοιβηΐδι τερπόμενος λύρᾳ.

[5] Father of the Dawn with her snow-white eyelids, you who follow in your rose-pink chariot the track of your flying steeds, exulting in the gold of your hair, twining your darting rays across the boundless vault of sky, whirling around the whole earth the thread of your all-seeing beams, while flowing rivers of your deathless fire beget the lovely day.

For you the peaceful chorus of stars dance their measure across Olympos their lord, forever singing their leisured song, rejoicing in the music of Apollo’s lyre; and leading them the silvery-grey Moon marshals the months and seasons, drawn by her team of milk-white heifers.