Ah me unhappy! when shall sorrow cease;
Too well I know the fatal might of Greece;
Was’t not enough, imperial Troy should fall,
That Argive hands should raze the god built wall?
Was’t not enough Anchises’ Son should roam
Far from his native shore and much loved home?
All this unconscious of thy fraud I bore
For thou, oh Sire, t’ allay my vengeance, swore
That Athens towering in her might should fall
And Rome should triumph on her prostrate wall;
But oil, if haughty Greece, should captive bring
The great Darius, Persia’s mighty King,
What power her pride what power her might shall move
Not e’en the Thunderer, not eternal Jove,
E’en to thy heav’n shall rise her towering fame,
And prostrate nations will adore her name.
Rather on me thy instant vengeance take
Than all should fall for Cytherea’s sake
Oh I hurl me flaming in the burning lake.
Transfix me there unknown to Olympian calm
Launch thy red bolt, and bare thy crimson arm.
I’d suffer all — more — bid my woes increase
To hear but one sad groan from haughty Greece.”
She thus her grief with fruitless rage expressed
And pride and anger swelled within her breast.
But he whose thunders awe the troubled sky
Thus mournful spake, and curbed the rising sigh:
“And is it thus celestial pleasures flow
E’en here shall sorrow reach and mortal woe!
Shall strife the heavenly powers for ever move
And e’en insult the sacred ear of Jove?
Know, oh rebellious, Greece shall rise sublime
In fame the first, nor daughter, mine the crime,
In valor foremost, and in virtue great
Fame’s highest glories shall attend her state.
So fate ordains, nor all my boasted power
Can raise those virtues, or those glories low’r:
But rest secure, destroying time must come
And Athens self must own imperial Rome.
Thus the great Thunderer, and with visage mild
Shook his ambrosial curls before his child
And bending awful gave the eternal nod,
Heav’n quaked, and fate adored the parent God.
Joy seized the Goddess of the smiles and loves
Nor longer, care, her heavenly bosom moves.
Hope rose, and o’er her soul its powers displayed,
Nor checked by sorrow, nor by grief dismayed.
She thus— “Oh thou, whose awful thunders roll
Thro’ heaven’s etherial vaults, and shake the pole,
Eternal Sire, so wonderfully great.
To whom is known the secret page of fate.
Say, shall great Persia, next to Rome most dear
To Venus breast, shall Persia learn to fear?
Say, shall her fame, and princely glories cease
Shall Persia servile, own the sway of Greece?”
To whom the Thunderer bent his brow divine
And thus in accents heavenly and benign,
“Daughter, not mine the secrets to relate
The mysteries of all revolving fate,
But ease thy breast, enough for thee to know,
What powerful fate decrees, will Jove bestow..
He then her griefs, and anxious woes beguiled,
And in his sacred arms embraced his child.
Doubt clouds the Goddess’ breast — she calls her car,
And lightly sweeps the liquid fields of air.
When sable night midst silent nature springs,
And o’er Athena shakes her drowsy wings.
The Paphian Goddess from Olympus flies
And leaves the starry senate of the skies;
To Athens heaven’s blest towers, the Queen repairs
To raise more sufferings, and to cause more cares;
The Pylian Sage she moved so loved by fame
In face, in wisdom, and in voice the same.
Twelve Chiefs in sleep absorbed and grateful rest
She first beheld, and them she thus addrest.
“Immortal Chiefs, the fraudful Goddess cries,
While all the hero, kindled in her eyes.
For you, these aged arms did I employ
For you, we razed the sacred walls of Troy,
And now for you, my shivering shade is driven
From Pluto’s dreary realms by urgent heaven;
Then, oh be wise, nor tempt th’ unequal tight
In open fields, but wait superior might
Within immortal Athens’ sacred wall,
There strive, there triumph, nor there fear to fall;
To own the Thunderer’s sway, then Greeks prepare.”
Benign she said, and melted into air.
BATTLE OF MARATHON: BOOK II
WHEN from the briny deep, the orient morn
Exalts her purple light, and beams unshorn;
And when the flaming orb of infant day
Glares o’er the earth, and re-illumes the sky;
The twelve deceived, with souls on fire arose,
While the false vision fresh in memory glows;
The Senate first they sought, whose lofty wall
Midst Athens rises, and o’ershadows all;
The pride of Greece, it lifts its front sublime
Unhurt amidst the ravages of time:
High on their towering seats, the heroes found
The Chiefs of Athens solemn ranged around;
One of the twelve the great Clombrotus then,
Renowned for piety, and loved by men;
“Assembled heroes, Chiefs to Pallas dear
All great in battle, and in virtue, hear!
When night with sable wings extended rose
And wrapt our weary limbs in sweet repose,
I and my friends, Cydoon famed in song,
Thelon the valiant, Herocles the strong,
Cleon and Thermosites, in battle great
By Pallas loved, and blest by partial fate.
To us and other six, while day toils steep
Our eyes in happy dreams, and grateful sleep.
The Pylian Sage appeared, but not as when
On Troy’s last dust he stood, the pride of men;
Driven from the shore of Acheron he came
From lower realms to point the path to fame,
Oh glorious Chiefs, the sacred hero said
For you and for your fame, all Troy has bled;
Hither for you, my shivering shade is driv’n
From Pluto’s dreary realms by urgent heav’n;
Then oh be wise, nor tempt th’ unequal fight
In open field, but wait superior might
Within immortal Athens sacred wall
There strive, there triumph, nor there fear to fall!
To own the Thunderer’s sway, then Greeks prepare.
Benign he said, and melted into air.
Leave us not thus I cried, Oh Pylian Sage
Experienced Nestor, famed for reverend age,
Say first, great hero, shall the trump of fame
Our glory publish, or disclose our shame?
Oh what are Athens fates? in vain I said
E’en as I spoke the shadowy Chief had fled.
Then here we flew, to own the visions sway
And heaven’s decrees to adore and to obey.”
He thus — and as before the blackened skies,
Sound the hoarse breezes, murmuring as they rise
So thro’ th’ assembled Greeks, one murmur rose
One long dull echo lengthening as it goes.
Then all was hushed in silence — breathless awe
Opprest each tongue, and trembling they adore.
But now uprising fro
m th’ astonished Chiefs,
Divine Miltiades exposed his griefs,
For well the godlike warrior Sage had seen,
The frauds deceitful of the Paphian Queen,
And feared for Greece, for Greece to whom is give
Eternal fame, the purest gift of heaven.
And yet he feared — the pious hero rose
Majestic in his sufferings in his woes;
Grief clammed his tongue, but soon his spirit woke,
Words burst aloft, and all the Patriot spoke.
“Oh Athens, Athens! all the snares I view
Thus shalt thou fall, and fall inglorious too!
Are all thy boasted dignities no more?
Is all thy might, are all thy glories o’er?
Oh woe on woe, unutterable grief
Not Nestor’s shade, that cursed phantom chief,
But in that reverend air that lofty mien
Behold the frauds of love’s revengeful Queen,
Not yet, her thoughts does vengeance cease t’ employ.
Her Son Aeneas’ wrongs, and burning Troy
Not yet forgotten lie within her breast,
Nor soothed by time, nor by despair deprest.
Greeks still extolled by glory, and by fame
For yet, oh Chiefs! ye bare a Grecian name.
If in these walls, these sacred walls we wait
The might of Persia, and the will of fate,
Before superior force, will Athens fall
And one o’erwhelming ruin bury all.
Then in the open plain your might essay,
Rush on to battle, crush Darius’ sway;
The frauds of Venus, warrior Greeks beware,
Disdain the Persian foes, nor stoop to fear.”
This said, Clombrotus, him indignant heard
Nor felt his wisdom, nor his wrath he feared,
With rage the Chief, the godlike Sage beheld.
And passion in his stubborn soul rebelled.
“Tliricc impious man, th’ infuriate Chieftain cries,
(Flames black and fearful, flashing from his eyes,)
Where lies your spirit Greeks? and can ye bow
To this proud upstart of your power so low?
What! does his aspect awe ye? is his eye
So full of haughtiness and majesty?
Behold the impious soul, that dares defy
The power of Gods and Sovereign of the sky!
And can your hands no sacred weapon wield,
To crush the tyrant, and your country shield?
On Greeks! — your sons, your homes, your country free
From such usurping Chiefs and tyranny!”
He said, and grasped his weapon — at his words
Beneath the horizon gleamed ten thousand swords,
Ten thousand swords e’en in one instant raised,
Sublime they danced aloft, and midst the Senate blazed.
Nor wisdom checked, nor gratitude represt,
They rose, and flashed before the Sage’s breast.
With pride undaunted, greatness unsubdued,
‘Gainst him in arms, the impetuous Greeks he viewed
Unarmed, unawed, before th’ infuriate bands,
Nor begged for life, nor stretched his suppliant hands.
He stood astounded, rivetted, oppressed.
By grief unspeakable, which swelled his breast,
Life, feeling, being, sense forgotten lie,
Buried in one wide waste of misery;
Can this be Athens! this her Senates pride?
He asked but gratitude, — was this denied?
Tho’ Europe’s homage at his feet were hurled
Athens forsakes him — Athens was his world.
Unutterable woe! by anguish stung
All his full soul, rushed heaving to his tongue,
And thoughts of power, of fame, of greatness o’er
He cried “Athenians!” and he could no more.
Awed by that voice of agony, that word,
Hushed were the Greeks, and sheathed the obedient sword.
They stood abashed — to them the ancient Chief,
Began — and thus relieved his swelling grief.
“Athenians! warrior Greeks! my words revere
Strike me, but listen — bid me die, but hear!
Hear not Clombrotus, when he bids you wait,
In Athens’ walls, Darius and your fate;
I feel that Pallas’ self, my soul inspires
My mind she strengthens, and my bosom fires;
Strike Greeks! but hear me; think not to this heart
Yon thirsty swords, one breath of fear impart;
Such slavish, low born thoughts, to Greeks unknown
A Persian feels, and cherishes alone!
Hear me Athenians! hear me, and believe,
See Greece mistaken! e’en the Gods deceive;
But fate yet wavers — yet may wisdom move
These threatening woes and thwart the Queen of Love.
Obey my counsels, and invoke for aid
The cloud compelling God, and blue eyed maid;
I fear not for myself the silent tomb,
Death lies in every shape, and death must come.
But ah! ye mock my truth, traduce my fame,
Ye blast my honor, stigmatize my name!
Ye call me tyrant when I wish thee free,
Usurper, when I live but Greece, for thee!”
And thus the Chief — and boding silence drowned
Each clam’rous tongue, and sullen reigned around,
“Oh Chief!” great Aristides first began
“Mortal yet perfect, godlike and yet man!
Boast of ungrateful Greece I my prayer attend,
Oh I be my Chieftain, Guardian, Father, Friend!
And ye, oh Greeks! impetuous and abhorred,
Again presumptuous, lift the rebel sword,
Again your weapons raise, in hateful ire,
To crush the Leader, Hero, Patriot, Sire!
Not such was Greece, when Greeks united stood
To bathe perfidious Troy in hostile blood,
Not such were Greeks inspired by glory, then
As Gods they conquered, now they’re less than men!
Degenerate race! now lost to once loved fame
Traitors to Greece, and to the Grecian name.
Who now your honors, who your praise will seek
Who now shall glory in the name of Greek!
But since such discords your base souls divide
Procure the lots, let Jove and Heaven decide.”
To him Clombrotus thus admiring cries
“Thy thoughts how wondrous, and thy words how wise!
So let it be, avert, the threatened w oes.
And Jove be present, and the right disclose;
But give me. Sire of Gods and powers above.
The heavenly vision, and my truth to prove!
Give me t’ avenge the breach of all thy laws
T’ avenge myself, then aid my righteous cause!
If this thou wilt, I’ll to thine altars lead
Twelve bulls which to thy sacred name shall bleed,
Six snow white heifers of a race divine
Prostrate shall fall, and heap the groaning shrine,
Nor this the most — six rams that fearless stray
Untouched by man, for thee this arm shall slay.”
Thus prayed the Chief, with shouts the heavens resound
Jove weighs the balance and the lots go round!
Declare oh muse! for to thy piercing eyes
The book of fate irrevocably lies;
What lots leapt forth, on that eventful day
Who won, who lost, all seeing Goddess say!
First great Clonibrotus, all his fortune tried
And strove with fate, but Jove his prayer denied
Infuriate to the skies his arms are driven,
And raging thus upbraids the King of heaven.
“Is this the virtue of the blest abodes.
And this the justice of the God of Gods?
Can he who hurls the bolt, and shakes the sky
The prayer of truth, unblemished truth deny.
Has he no faith by whom the clouds are riven
Who sits superior on the throne of Heaven?
No wonder earth born men are prone to fall
In sin, or listen to dishonor’s call
When Gods, th’ immortal Gods, transgress the laws
Of truth, and sin against a righteous cause.”
Furious he said, by anger’s spirit fired
Then sullen from the Senate walls retired.
‘Tis now Miltiades’ stern fate to dare
But first he lifts his pious soul in prayer.
“Daughter of Jove! the mighty Chief began.
Without thy wisdom, frail and weak is man
A phantom Greece adores, oh show thy power,
And prove thy love in this eventful hour!
Crown all thy glory, all thy might declare!”
The Chieftain prayed, and Pallas heard his prayer.
Swayed by the presence of the power divine
The fated lot Miltiades was thine!
That hour the swelling trump of partial fame
Diffused eternal glory on thy name!
“Daughter of Jove, he cries, unconquered maid!
Thy power I own, and I confess thy aid,
For this twelve ewes upon thy shrine shall smoke
Of milk white fleece, the comeliest of their flock.
While hecatombs and generous sacrifice
Shall fume and blacken half th’ astonished skies.”
And thus the Chief — the shouting Greeks admire
While truth’s bright spirit, sets their souls on fire:
Then thus Themistocles, “Ye Grecian host
Not now the time for triumph or for boast,
Now Greeks! for graver toils your minds prepare
Not for the strife, but council of the war.
Behold the sacred herald! sent by Greece
To Sparta’s vales now hushed in leagues of peace;
Her Chiefs, to aid the common cause, t’ implore
And bid Darius shun the Argive shore;
Behold liiiii here! then let the leader Greek
Command the bearer of our hopes to speak.”
And thus the Sage, “Where’er the herald stands
Bid him come forth, ‘tis Athens Chief commands.
And bid him speak with freedom uncontrolled,
His thoughts deliver and his charge unfold.”
He said and sat — the Greeks impatient wait
The will of Sparta, and Athena’s fate.
Silent they sat — so ere the whirlwinds rise,
Ere billows foam and thunder to the skies,
Nature in death-like calm her breath suspends.
Complete Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Page 3