Athenaeus says:—
'It is something natural that people who fancy themselves beautiful and elegant should be fond of flowers; on which account the companions of Persephone are represented as gathering flowers. And Sappho says she saw—
ἄνθε' αμέργουσαν παῖδ' ἄγαν ἁπαλάν,
'A maiden full tender plucking flowers.'
122, 123
Πόλυ πάκτιδος ἀδυμελεστέρα, χρύσω χρυσοτέρα.
Far sweeter of tone than harp, more golden than gold.
Quoted by Demetrius as an example of hyperbolic phrase. A commentator on Hermogenes the rhetorician says: 'These things basely flatter the ear, like the erotic phrases which Anacreon and Sappho use, γάλακτος λευκοτέρα whiter than milk, ὕδατος ἁπαλωτέρα fresher than water, πηκτίδων ἐμμελεστέρα more musical than the harp, ἵππου γαυροτέρα more skittish than a horse, ῥόδων ἁβροτέρα more delicate than the rose, ἱματίου ἑανοῦ μαλακωτέρα softer than a fine robe, χρυσοῦ τιμιωτέρα more precious than gold.'
124
Demetrius says:—