Classic Poem

O breathing-place of Alpheus panting in chase of the Nymph Arethusa, O child
Of Syracuse world-renowned, Ortygia, couch of the Huntress-queen of the wild,
O sister of Delos, the chant sweet-ringing is speeding from thee to proclaim with singing
The mighty glory of tempest-footed horses, by Zeus' grace, Etna's lord;
For the chariot of Chromius and Nemea stir me to yoke to her victory song's reward.

Lo, how the Song's foundations are laid in homage of Gods, and in praise of the might
Of the victor's godlike prowess! By fortune fair is he lifted to glory's height
Even the Song-queens joy in recording contests strenuous, garland-awarding.
Ho, scatter achievement's splendour-seed o'er the isle Lord Zeus to Persephone gave
To be Queen of the land fruit-wealthy, and bowed the locks that o'er brows Olympian wave

For his pledge to exalt her crowns of wealthy cities, this Sicily harvest-teeming;
And a people Kronion bestowed on her, wooers of war in bronze-hammered harness gleaming,
A folk of the spear and the steed, to be wedded full oft to Olympia's olive-leaf golden: —
Lo, I have lighted on theme after theme, never falsely, but aye by the truth have I holden.

Sweet are the strains that I sing as I stand at the doors of a hero who loveth the guest;
And there is arrayed a banquet meet for a bard in the halls whither oft have pressed
Strangers from far-off shores who departed: — O yea, he hath won for him friends true-hearted
By whom slander is quenched, as smouldering fire by water. Diverse be men in skill,
But in straight paths ever 'tis meet to walk, and to fight life's battle as Nature shall will.

Bodily strength in action worketh, but wisdom of soul in counsel, for one
In whom is inborn the skill to foresee the future. Agesidamus' son,
To thee, life through, by the grace of Heaven, have strength and wisdom alike been given.
I love not to hoard in mine halls vast wealth, but to taste life's pleasures and share life's wine,
For my good name's sake, with friends; for the hopes of toil-tried men I account as mine.

For me, my spirit is willing thrall to the fascination of Herakles' glory;
Mid the heights of achievement whereunto he soared I love to recall that old-time story,
How, soon as the son of Zeus came forth to the light of day with his twin-born brother,
When he leapt to the splendour of sunlight-glow from the travail-tormented womb of his mother,

Then Hera the gold-enthroned marked well where the babe mid his saffron swaddlings lay;
And the Queen of the Gods, with anger stung, two serpents against him sent straightway
Into the chamber, when opened its portal, they slid, those servants of hate immortal,
Ravening-eager to coil their swiftly-darting jaws round the children twain.
But Herakles straightway uplifted his head, and was first to essay the battle-strain,

And of either serpent he gripped the throat in the hands wherefrom escape there was none,
Till the breath of life from their monstrous frames was breathed as the feet of time stole on
But the arrow of horror soul-overpowering smote the maids round the bed of Alkmena cowering.
Yea, even she from her couch of the night had leapt of her tunic disarrayed,
And with weak woman-hands to beat the monsters' tyrannous onslaught back she essayed.

And swiftly a throng of the chiefs Kadmeian came hurrying thither in bronze-mail clashing,
And thither the father Amphitryon hasted, his falchion bared from the sheath outflashing,
Smitten with keen-stabbing anguish: for each man's grief on his own soul heavily presseth;
But soon disburdened of grief is the heart that nought but another's affliction distresseth.

And there with his soul in a turmoil of wonder and rapture past all bearing he stood
Beholding the tokens of giant strength and the child's unearthly-aweless mood:
For to falsehood the tale of the messengers' telling by the Gods had been turned. Then one near-dwelling
He summoned, Teiresias ever-unerring seer, the prophet of Zeus most high;
And to him and to all his host the child's life-fortune did that seer prophesy.

For he told how many justice-defying monsters on land and sea he should slay,
And should give unto death a man most hateful who walked in malice's crooked way;
Yea also and when the strife should be striven on Phlegra's plain of the Dwellers in Heaven
Against the earth-spawned Giants arrayed, then 'neath his arrows' rushing rain
Should the flame-bright hair of the monster-brood be fouled in death with dust of the plain.

But himself, at rest from his mighty toils, should thereafter inherit through days unending
Peace ever-during, for sufferings past a recompense all earth-joys transcending,
In the mansions of bliss wherein, united to Hebe blooming in youth eternal,
With Zeus Kronion he sits at the feast in the deep content of a home supernal.