 | Tiresias |  |
“Goddess loved,” I cried,
“We know Thine owls, that blink in films, more wise
Than all the fluttering birds that haunt the day,
And sleep at dusk with bill pushed under wing.
When wasteful mice, unwelcome, taint the stores
Of corn our anxious men have heaped by toil,
Thy mute-winged favorites, sure of claw, descend,
Seize and devour the tiny plunderers.
“We know Thine owls, that blink in films, more wise
Than all the fluttering birds that haunt the day,
And sleep at dusk with bill pushed under wing.
When wasteful mice, unwelcome, taint the stores
Of corn our anxious men have heaped by toil,
Thy mute-winged favorites, sure of claw, descend,
Seize and devour the tiny plunderers.
“Thy serpents, lithe as winding water, glide,
And moving watchful with attentive eyes
Are wisely silent till a danger threats,
When, hissing terror, they recoil and gape,
And, breathing horror, fright away the foe.
And moving watchful with attentive eyes
Are wisely silent till a danger threats,
When, hissing terror, they recoil and gape,
And, breathing horror, fright away the foe.
“Thy birds of battle crow to greet the morn,
Or challenge rivals to a gallant main;
Defending chick and dame, with wing and spur
They front the prowling fox and strike him dead.
Or challenge rivals to a gallant main;
11
They front the prowling fox and strike him dead.
“Enriching food, and mitigating pain,
Thine olives, more to man than horse or kine,
Cheer him with light, and shield his tender flesh
Against the sun at noon and wintry chill;
And make a woodland meet for loitering
When fall at eventide the shadows cool.
Thine olives, more to man than horse or kine,
Cheer him with light, and shield his tender flesh
Against the sun at noon and wintry chill;
And make a woodland meet for loitering
When fall at eventide the shadows cool.
“Kindly to man and his desires art Thou;
But kindliest when, decisive Monitress,
Directing him on narrow perilous paths!
So gracious in Thy justice, ah, vouchsafe
One beam of mercy on Tiresias,
Darkling from light's excess, O Loved, Revered!
For when by Fate impelled, when rapt he gazed
Near on Thy very loveliness, thro' light
Thy beauty shed, his mortal sight gave way
In utter gloom, and left him but as one
Helpless and hopeless in a dungeon bound.
Lift him from darkness into radiant day;
To freedom, joy; O bring him back to life!”
But kindliest when, decisive Monitress,
Directing him on narrow perilous paths!
So gracious in Thy justice, ah, vouchsafe
One beam of mercy on Tiresias,
Darkling from light's excess, O Loved, Revered!
For when by Fate impelled, when rapt he gazed
Near on Thy very loveliness, thro' light
Thy beauty shed, his mortal sight gave way
In utter gloom, and left him but as one
Helpless and hopeless in a dungeon bound.
Lift him from darkness into radiant day;
To freedom, joy; O bring him back to life!”
12
Athena heard me. Her divine response
Came as the marshalled spirits of a dream;
Immortal following Immortal feet,
As star on star successive close in light,
And spacious wonder shining fills the heavens.
Came as the marshalled spirits of a dream;
Immortal following Immortal feet,
As star on star successive close in light,
And spacious wonder shining fills the heavens.
| Tiresias | |