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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TRANSLATIONS OF PINDAR: 4. TO PSAUMIS OF CAMARINA, by REGINALD HEBER Poet's Biography First Line: Oh, urging on the tireless speed Last Line: "have strew'd a summer snow!"" --" Subject(s): Zeus | |||
OH, urging on the tireless speed Of thunder's elemental steed, Lord of the world, Almighty Jove! Since these thine hours have sent me forth The witness of thy champion's worth, And prophet of thine olive grove; -- And since the good thy poet hear, And hold his tuneful message dear; -- Saturnian Lord of Etna hill! -- Whose storm-cemented rocks encage The hundred-headed rebel's rage; Accept with favourable will The Muses' gift of harmony: The dance, the song, whose numbers high Forbid the hero's name to die, A crown of life abiding still! -- Hark! round the car of victory, Where noble Psaumis sits on high, The cheering notes resound; Who vows to swell with added fame His Camarina's ancient name; With Pisan olive crown'd. -- And thou, oh father, hear his prayer! -- For much I praise the knightly care That trains the warrior steed: Nor less the hospitable hall Whose open doors the stranger call; Yet, praise I Psaumis most of all For wise and peaceful rede, And patriot love of liberty. -- -- What? -- do we weave the glozing lie? -- Then whoso list my truth to try, The proof be in the deed! -- To Lemnos' laughing dames of yore, Such was the proof Ernicus bore, When, matchless in his speed, All brazen-arm'd the racer hoar, Victorious on the applauding shore, Sprang to the proffer'd meed; -- Bow'd to the Queen his wreathed head; -- "Thou seest my limbs are light," he said; "And, lady, mayst thou know, That every joint is firmly strung, And hand and heart alike are young; Though treacherous time my locks among Have strew'd a summer snow!" -- | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SO HELP ME SAPPHO by ANNE WALDMAN LEDA AND THE SWAN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS HELIADES: ZEUS, BRAZEN THUNDER-HURLER by AESCHYLUS ZEUS TOO IS A VICTIM by ASCLEPIADES OF SAMOS THE SUN-THIEF by RHYS CARPENTER THE CHILDHOOD OF ZEUS by MOERO EVENING HYMN by REGINALD HEBER |
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