- Eunike Poem by Georgios Venetopoulos

The honorable senator of Rome
Petronius, a handsome man of wealth
for whom the poets kept respectful gnome,
that contemplated about the State's bad health,
like God was worshiped by the sightly maid
- Eunike; whose devotion was unpaid.

Unanswered her obedience and love,
uncherished were and thus, transformed to pain;
tormented her young senses, made her rove,
- alone confessed, her flesh needs to abstain
- his handsome thus admired and marble bust,
apprised her instincts, highborn and robust.

Evincible, unrequited pleas,
the maid exalted to the sovereign sire,
his despotism she served just to reprise,
thus punished by the whip for her desire,
accepts the lashes whispering his name
with deponent her dedicated flame.

The punisher was ordered to beware,
not to cause scathes upon her perfect skin;
her sire's ingratitude could not forswear
love's burning tears she shed, for was a sin
to disobey her master's potent will
- infusing lashes deftly to instil.

Alone Eunike stares at his stone bust;
his handsomeness could cause a Sol's eclipse;
oh, may the Fates milleflorus entrust
their gifts upon his brow and much loved lips;
her arms embracing him, the maid's face couth,
shall osculate the marble bust's cold mouth.