Part 9 (1/2)
Wherefore hast thou power thus given, What must needs occur to know?
Wrought must be the will of Heaven-- Onward come the hour of woe!”
”When impending fate strikes terror, Why remove the covering?
Life we have alone in error, Knowledge with it death must bring.
Take away this prescience tearful, Take this sight of woe from me; Of thy truths, alas! how fearful 'Tis the mouthpiece frail to be!”
”Veil my mind once more in slumbers Let me heedlessly rejoice; Never have I sung glad numbers Since I've been thy chosen voice.
Knowledge of the future giving, Thou hast stolen the present day, Stolen the moment's joyous living,-- Take thy false gift, then, away!”
”Ne'er with bridal train around me, Have I wreathed my radiant brow, Since to serve thy fane I bound me-- Bound me with a solemn vow.
Evermore in grief I languish-- All my youth in tears was spent; And with thoughts of bitter anguish My too-feeling heart is rent.”
”Joyously my friends are playing, All around are blest and glad, In the paths of pleasure straying,-- My poor heart alone is sad.
Spring in vain unfolds each treasure, Filling all the earth with bliss; Who in life can e'er take pleasure, When is seen its dark abyss?”
”With her heart in vision burning, Truly blest is Polyxene, As a bride to clasp him yearning.
Him, the n.o.blest, best h.e.l.lene!
And her breast with rapture swelling, All its bliss can scarcely know; E'en the G.o.ds in heavenly dwelling Envying not, when dreaming so.”
”He to whom my heart is plighted Stood before my ravished eye, And his look, by pa.s.sion lighted, Toward me turned imploringly.
With the loved one, oh, how gladly Homeward would I take my flight But a Stygian shadow sadly Steps between us every night.”
”Cruel Proserpine is sending All her spectres pale to me; Ever on my steps attending Those dread shadowy forms I see.
Though I seek, in mirth and laughter Refuge from that ghastly train, Still I see them hastening after,-- Ne'er shall I know joy again.”
”And I see the death-steel glancing, And the eye of murder glare; On, with hasty strides advancing, Terror haunts me everywhere.
Vain I seek alleviation;-- Knowing, seeing, suffering all, I must wait the consummation, In a foreign land must fall.”
While her solemn words are ringing, Hark! a dull and wailing tone From the temple's gate upspringing,-- Dead lies Thetis' mighty son!
Eris shakes her snake-locks hated, Swiftly flies each deity, And o'er Ilion's walls ill-fated Thunder-clouds loom heavily!
THE HOSTAGE.
A BALLAD.
The tyrant Dionys to seek, Stern Moerus with his poniard crept; The watchful guard upon him swept; The grim king marked his changeless cheek: ”What wouldst thou with thy poniard? Speak!”
”The city from the tyrant free!”
”The death-cross shall thy guerdon be.”
”I am prepared for death, nor pray,”
Replied that haughty man, ”I to live; Enough, if thou one grace wilt give For three brief suns the death delay To wed my sister--leagues away; I boast one friend whose life for mine, If I should fail the cross, is thine.”
The tyrant mused,--and smiled,--and said With gloomy craft, ”So let it be; Three days I will vouchsafe to thee.
But mark--if, when the time be sped, Thou fail'st--thy surety dies instead.
His life shall buy thine own release; Thy guilt atoned, my wrath shall cease.”
He sought his friend--”The king's decree Ordains my life the cross upon Shall pay the deed I would have done; Yet grants three days' delay to me, My sister's marriage-rites to see; If thou, the hostage, wilt remain Till I--set free--return again!”