Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PHILENA TO MENANDER, by SARAH WENTWORTH MORTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PHILENA TO MENANDER, by                 Poet Analysis    
First Line: Blest poet! Whose eolian lyre
Last Line: And be the palm of genius thine!
Alternate Author Name(s): Philenia
Subject(s): Homer (10th Century B.c.); Muses; Paine, Robert Treat (1773-1811); Poetry & Poets; Sappho (610-580 B.c.); Time; Iliad; Odyssey


BLEST Poet! whose Eolian lyre
Can wind the varied notes along,
While the melodious Nine inspire
The graceful elegance of song.

Who now with Homer's strength can rise,
Then with the polished Ovid move;
Now swift as rapid Pindar flies,
Then soft as Sappho's breath of love.

To nobler themes attune that strain
Whose magick might the soul subdue,
Calm the wild frenzies of the brain,
And every fading hope renew.

Ne'er can my timid Muse aspire,
To wake the harp's majestick string;
Nor with Menander's "epick" fire,
The deeds of godlike heroes sing.

My lute, with many a willow bound,
Flings the lorn pathos to the gale;
While o'er the modulated sound,
The sighs of Sympathy prevail.

'Tis for thy eagle mind to tower
Triumphant on the wing of Fame;
To dash the idiot brow of Power,
And waft the Hero's laurelled name;

To sketch the full immortal scene,
Each mental and each pictured view;
Meandering Charles embowered in green,
The warrior's turf impearled with dew;

The hapless maid whose plighted truth,
And peerless beauties could not save
The brave, heroick, victim-youth,
Dishonoured by a felon-grave.

Where the red hunter chased his prey,
The hand of culturing Science reigns;
Where forests arched the brow of day,
The temple lights its glittering vanes.

Such are the themes, thou minstrel blest!
That to thy classick lyre belong,
While Genius fires thy passioned breast
With all the eloquence of song.

Thine be the chief, whose deeds sublime
Shall through the world's wide mansion beam,
Unsullied by the breath of Time,
Exhaustless as his native stream.

Divine Menander, strike the string;
With all thy sun-like splendour shine;
The deeds of godlike heroes sing,
And be the palm of Genius thine!





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