Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50)

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Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50) Page 90

by Homer


  Ransack’d the Center, and with impious hands

  Rifl’d the bowels of thir mother Earth

  For Treasures better hid. Soon had his crew

  Op’nd into the Hill a spacious wound

  And dig’d out ribs of Gold. Let none admire 690

  That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best

  Deserve the precious bane. And here let those

  Who boast in mortal things, and wond’ring tell

  Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings

  Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame, 695

  And Strength and Art are easily out-done

  By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour

  What in an age they with incessant toyle

  And hands innumerable scarce perform.

  Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar’d, 700

  That underneath had veins of liquid fire

  Sluc’d from the Lake, a second multitude

  With wondrous Art found out the massie Ore,

  Severing each kind, and scum’d the Bullion dross:

  A third as soon had form’d within the ground 705

  A various mould, and from the boyling cells

  By strange conveyance fill’d each hollow nook,

  As in an Organ from one blast of wind

  To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths.

  Anon out of the earth a Fabrick huge 710

  Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound

  Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,

  Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round

  Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid

  With Golden Architrave; nor did there want 715

  Cornice or Freeze, with bossy Sculptures grav’n,

  The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babilon,

  Nor great Alcairo such magnificence

  Equal’d in all thir glories, to inshrine

  Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat 720

  Thir Kings, when Ægypt with Assyria strove

  In wealth and luxurie. Th’ ascending pile

  Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores

  Op’ning thir brazen foulds discover wide

  Within, her ample spaces, o’re the smooth 725

  And level pavement: from the arched roof

  Pendant by suttle Magic many a row

  Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed

  With Naphtha and Asphaltus yeilded light

  As from a sky. The hasty multitude 730

  Admiring enter’d, and the work some praise

  And some the Architect: his hand was known

  In Heav’n by many a Towred structure high,

  Where Scepter’d Angels held thir residence,

  And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King 735

  Exalted to such power, and gave to rule,

  Each in his Hierarchie, the Orders bright.

  Nor was his name unheard or unador’d

  In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land

  Men call’d him Mulciber; and how he fell 740

  From Heav’n, they fabl’d, thrown by angry Jove

  Sheer o’re the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn

  To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve,

  A Summers day; and with the setting Sun

  Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star, 745

  On Lemnos th’ Ægean Ile: thus they relate,

  Erring; for he with this rebellious rout

  Fell long before; nor aught avail’d him now

  To have built in Heav’n high Towrs; nor did he scape

  By all his Engins, but was headlong sent 750

  With his industrious crew to build in hell.

  Mean while the winged Haralds by command

  Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony

  And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim

  A solemn Councel forthwith to be held 755

  At Pandæmonium, the high Capital

  Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call’d

  From every Band and squared Regiment

  By place or choice the worthiest; they anon

  With hunderds and with thousands trooping came 760

  Attended: all access was throng’d, the Gates

  And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall

  (Though like a cover’d field, where Champions bold

  Wont ride in arm’d, and at the Soldans chair

  Defi’d the best of Paynim chivalry 765

  To mortal combat or carreer with Lance)

  Thick swarm’d, both on the ground and in the air,

  Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees

  In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,

  Pour forth thir populous youth about the Hive 770

  In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers

  Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,

  The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,

  New rub’d with Baum, expatiate and confer

  Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd 775

  Swarm’d and were straitn’d; till the Signal giv’n.

  Behold a wonder! they but now who seemd

  In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons

  Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room

  Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race 780

  Beyond the Indian Mount, or Faerie Elves,

  Whose midnight Revels, by a Forrest side

  Or Fountain some belated Peasant sees,

  Or dreams he sees, while over-head the Moon

  Sits Arbitress, and neerer to the Earth 785

  Wheels her pale course, they on thir mirth and dance

  Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear;

  At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.

  Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms

  Reduc’d thir shapes immense, and were at large, 790

  Though without number still amidst the Hall

  Of that infernal Court. But far within

  And in thir own dimensions like themselves

  The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim

  In close recess and secret conclave sat 795

  A thousand Demy-Gods on golden seats,

  Frequent and full. After short silence then

  And summons read, the great consult began.

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  Evil Be Thou My Good Extract: Paradise Lost Book IV

  John Milton (1608-1674)

  O for that warning voice, which he who saw

  Th’ Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,

  Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,

  Came furious down to be reveng’d on men,

  Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now, 5

  While time was, our first-Parents had bin warnd

  The coming of thir secret foe, and scap’d

  Haply so scap’d his mortal snare; for now

  Satan, now first inflam’d with rage, came down,

  The Tempter ere th’ Accuser of man-kind, 10

  To wreck on innocent frail man his loss

  Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:

  Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,

  Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,

  Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth 15

  Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest,

  And like a devillish Engine back recoiles

  Upon himself; horror and doubt distract

  His troubl’d thoughts, and from the bottom stirr

  The Hell within him, for within him Hell 20

  He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

  One step no more then from himself can fly

  By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair

  That slumberd, wakes the bitter memorie

  Of what he was, what is, and what must be 25

  Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings
must ensue.

  Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view

  Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,

  Sometimes towards Heav’n and the full-blazing Sun,

  Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre: 30

  Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.

  O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd,

  Look’st from thy sole Dominion like the God

  Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs

  Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call, 35

  But with no friendly voice, and add thy name

  O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams

  That bring to my remembrance from what state

  I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare;

  Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down 40

  Warring in Heav’n against Heav’ns matchless King:

  Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return

  From me, whom he created what I was

  In that bright eminence, and with his good

  Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. 45

  What could be less then to afford him praise,

  The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,

  How due! yet all his good prov’d ill in me,

  And wrought but malice; lifted up so high

  I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher 50

  Would set me highest, and in a moment quit

  The debt immense of endless gratitude,

  So burthensome, still paying, still to ow;

  Forgetful what from him I still receivd,

  And understood not that a grateful mind 55

  By owing owes not, but still pays, at once

  Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?

  O had his powerful Destiny ordaind

  Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood

  Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais’d 60

  Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power

  As great might have aspir’d, and me though mean

  Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great

  Fell not, but stand unshak’n, from within

  Or from without, to all temptations arm’d. 65

  Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?

  Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,

  But Heav’ns free Love dealt equally to all?

  Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,

  To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 70

  Nay curs’d be thou; since against his thy will

  Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

  Me miserable! which way shall I flie

  Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire?

  Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell; 75

  And in the lowest deep a lower deep

  Still threatning to devour me opens wide,

  To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav’n.

  O then at last relent: is there no place

  Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? 80

  None left but by submission; and that word

  Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame

  Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduc’d

  With other promises and other vaunts

  Then to submit, boasting I could subdue 85

  Th’ Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know

  How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,

  Under what torments inwardly I groane:

  While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,

  With Diadem and Sceptre high advanc’d 90

  The lower still I fall, onely Supream

  In miserie; such joy Ambition findes.

  But say I could repent and could obtaine

  By Act of Grace my former state; how soon

  Would higth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 95

  What feign’d submission swore: ease would recant

  Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

  For never can true reconcilement grow

  Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc’d so deep:

  Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 100

  And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare

  Short intermission bought with double smart.

  This knows my punisher; therefore as farr

  From granting hee, as I from begging peace:

  All hope excluded thus, behold in stead 105

  Of us out-cast, exil’d, his new delight,

  Mankind created, and for him this World.

  So farewel Hope, and with Hope farewel Fear,

  Farewel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;

  Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least 110

  Divided Empire with Heav’ns King I hold

  By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;

  As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.

  List of Poems in Alphabetical Order

  List of Poets in Alphabetical Order

  Description of Paradise: Paradise Lost Book IV

  John Milton (1608-1674)

  Saw him disfigur’d, more then could befall

  Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce

  He markd and mad demeanour, then alone,

  As he suppos’d all unobserv’d, unseen. 130

  So on he fares, and to the border comes

  Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

  Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,

  As with a rural mound the champain head

  Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides 135

  With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde,

  Access deni’d; and over head up grew

  Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,

  Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm

  A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend 140

  Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre

  Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops

  The verdurous wall of paradise up sprung:

  Which to our general Sire gave prospect large

  Into his neather Empire neighbouring round. 145

  And higher then that Wall a circling row

  Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,

  Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue

  Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:

  On which the Sun more glad impress’d his beams 150

  Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,

  When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd

  That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire

  Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

  Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 155

  All sadness but despair: now gentle gales

  Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense

  Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

  Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile

  Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 160

  Mozambic, off at Sea North-East windes blow

  Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare

  Of Arabie the blest, with such delay

  Well pleas’d they slack thir course, and many a League

  Chear’d with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles. 165

  So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend

  Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas’d

  Then Asmodeus with the fishie fume,

  That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse

  Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent 170

  From Media post to Ægypt, there fast bound.

  Now to th’ ascent of that steep savage Hill

  Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;

  But further way found none, so thick entwin’d,

  As one continu’d brake, the undergrowth 175

  Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext

  All path of Man or Beast that past that way:

  One Gate there only was, and that look’d East

  On th�
�� other side: which when th’ arch-fellon saw

  Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt, 180

  At one slight bound high over leap’d all bound

  Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within

  Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,

  Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

  Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve 185

  In hurdl’d Cotes amid the field secure,

  Leaps o’re the fence with ease into the Fould:

  Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash

  Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,

  Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault, 190

  In at the window climbs, or o’re the tiles;

  So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:

  So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe.

  Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

  The middle Tree and highest there that grew, 195

  Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life

  Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death

  To them who liv’d; nor on the vertue thought

  Of that life-giving Plant, but only us’d

  For prospect, what well us’d had bin the pledge 200

  Of immortality. So little knows

  Any, but God alone, to value right

  The good before him, but perverts best things

  To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.

  Beneath him with new wonder now he views 205

  To all delight of human sense expos’d

  In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,

  A Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise

  Of God the Garden was, by him in the East

  Of Eden planted; Eden stretchd her Line 210

  From Auran Eastward to the Royal Towrs

  Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings,

  Or where the Sons of Eden long before

  Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soile

  His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind; 215

  Out of the fertil ground he caus’d to grow

  All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

  And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

  High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit

  Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life 220

  Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,

  Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.

  Southward through Eden went a River large,

  Nor chang’d his course, but through the shaggie hill

  Pass’d underneath ingulft, for God had thrown 225

  That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais’d

  Upon the rapid current, which through veins

  Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,

 

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