Tony Harrison: after RUFINUS

Allusion to Classical figure Paris

Allusion to Classical place Hellas

Close translation of words/phrases/excerpts A translation of an epigram by Rufinus (5.35 in The Greek Anthology )

Classical/post-Classical intertexts Rufinus’ pastiche on the judgement of Paris, seen through the twentieth century lens becomes: ‘the all Hellas MISS BUM / Beauty Competition’. The speaker is described as arbiter elegantiarum (Tacitus describes Petronius as arbiter elegantiae to the court of Nero: Annals 16, 18.2).