 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
THE STORY OF ARION.
NEWLY TRANSLATED FROM THE HIGH OLD GREEK.
Arion of Lesbos, who played on the banjo,
Likewise sang tenor, went off to a Saengerfest
Got up in Thrinikia by the Germans—
(Gay folk and thrifty).
Likewise sang tenor, went off to a Saengerfest
Got up in Thrinikia by the Germans—
(Gay folk and thrifty).
There he partook of the beer of Bavaria,
Limburger fragrant, and teeth-testing pretzels;
Won all their hearts, and obtained a gold medal—
(Gold stood at 50).
Limburger fragrant, and teeth-testing pretzels;
Won all their hearts, and obtained a gold medal—
(Gold stood at 50).
473
Not alone that was his guerdon: of greenbacks,
Each with a C on, he hived a huge sack-full;
Presents so many, their number in speeches
Senator S. quotes—
Each with a C on, he hived a huge sack-full;
Presents so many, their number in speeches
Senator S. quotes—
More than ten thousand Partajas in boxes—
Duty paid up, and no end of gold watches;
Sinister, a horse that could go in 2.20;
Claw-hammer dress-coats;
Duty paid up, and no end of gold watches;
Sinister, a horse that could go in 2.20;
Claw-hammer dress-coats;
Four brown-stone fronts in the town of Methumna;
Sewing-machines, apple-peelers and meerschaums;
Four casks of Bourbon, and two of peach-brandy—
(Strong drinks he went on);
Sewing-machines, apple-peelers and meerschaums;
Four casks of Bourbon, and two of peach-brandy—
(Strong drinks he went on);
Ten silver tea-sets, and twenty ice-pitchers;
Four Buckeye mowers; a black-and-tan terrier;
Also a billiard-cue, tipped with a diamond
Worth a talenton.
Four Buckeye mowers; a black-and-tan terrier;
Also a billiard-cue, tipped with a diamond
Worth a talenton.
Having so much the great player was forced to
Charter, to carry his many possessions,
Nothes, an oyster-smack, sailed by Kratippos,
Owner and master.
Charter, to carry his many possessions,
Nothes, an oyster-smack, sailed by Kratippos,
Owner and master.
This was to take him in haste to Korinthos,
Which it could well do, since none of the yachts there,
In the Olumpian regatta contending,
Ever sailed faster.
Which it could well do, since none of the yachts there,
In the Olumpian regatta contending,
Ever sailed faster.
Captain Kratippos, he longed for that cargo,
And with his men, Parmenon and Kometes,
Made an agreement to pitch poor Arion
Out to the fishes.
And with his men, Parmenon and Kometes,
Made an agreement to pitch poor Arion
Out to the fishes.
474
So scarce a league had they sailed on their voyage,
Ere this vile trio informed the gay singer,
He must depart to the dark realm of Aides,
Mauger his wishes.
Ere this vile trio informed the gay singer,
He must depart to the dark realm of Aides,
Mauger his wishes.
Cool as a cucumber then was the minstrel;
All that he craved was their ke-yind permission
One little break-down to pick on the banjo—
(So runs the story.)
All that he craved was their ke-yind permission
One little break-down to pick on the banjo—
(So runs the story.)
And as they listened his nimble ten fingers
Danced on the strings till they cried in amazement—
Ιιζα βουλιβοι, βοι ουιθ' αγλασει—
Ω υνκιδωρι.
Danced on the strings till they cried in amazement—
Ιιζα βουλιβοι, βοι ουιθ' αγλασει—
Ω υνκιδωρι.
When he had finished, he walked to the quarter,
Banjo in hand, and went merrily over,
Diving down, down, derry down, to the bottom,
Quite disappearing.
Banjo in hand, and went merrily over,
Diving down, down, derry down, to the bottom,
Quite disappearing.
Thinking their man gone to Aides with Hermes,
Hurried the rogues in their greed to the cabin,
Where they cast lots for their choice of the plunder,
All the while jeering.
Hurried the rogues in their greed to the cabin,
Where they cast lots for their choice of the plunder,
All the while jeering.
But an art-loving, benevolent dolphin,
Sent by Poseidon to specially aid him,
Carried the bard off to Tainoron swiftly,
On its back mounted,
Sent by Poseidon to specially aid him,
Carried the bard off to Tainoron swiftly,
On its back mounted,
Where when he landed he first took his breakfast,
Then took the six o'clock train for Korinthos,
And to his crony, the king Periandros,
All this recounted.
Then took the six o'clock train for Korinthos,
And to his crony, the king Periandros,
All this recounted.
Wroth was his majesty at the recital:
Swearing by Stux he would punish the varlets;
Sent for the Chief of Police in a hurry—
Dionkenedios—
Swearing by Stux he would punish the varlets;
475
Dionkenedios—
Thus to him saying:—“When comes here the Nothes,
Seize on Kratippos and both of his sailors;
Bring them before us for justice, or never
Come back to see us.”
Seize on Kratippos and both of his sailors;
Bring them before us for justice, or never
Come back to see us.”
So when the vessel came home in a fortnight,
Off went policeman 940,
Who with 2,750,
Caught the offenders.
Off went policeman 940,
Who with 2,750,
Caught the offenders.
They were all tried, and—the spring being over—
In a most summary manner; the seamen
Sent off to Sing-Sing—Kratippos, he hanged himself
With his suspenders.
In a most summary manner; the seamen
Sent off to Sing-Sing—Kratippos, he hanged himself
With his suspenders.
So the musician recovered his riches,
And for a week, with his friend Periandros,
Wènt on a spree, for he thought the occasion
One to get high on.
And for a week, with his friend Periandros,
Wènt on a spree, for he thought the occasion
One to get high on.
As for the dolphin, it met with misfortune—
As it went back a great shark bit its tail off:
That was the tail of the dolphin; this is the
Tale of Arion.
As it went back a great shark bit its tail off:
That was the tail of the dolphin; this is the
Tale of Arion.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |