 | The poetical works of Sir William Jones |  |
22
AN ODE IN IMITATION OF CALLISTRATUS.
Εν μυρτου κλαδι το ξιφος φορησω,
Ωσπερ Αρμοδιος κ' Αριστογειτων,
Οτε τον τυραννον κτανετων
Ισονομους τ' Αθηνας εποιησατην.
κ. τ. λ.
Ωσπερ Αρμοδιος κ' Αριστογειτων,
Οτε τον τυραννον κτανετων
Ισονομους τ' Αθηνας εποιησατην.
κ. τ. λ.
Quod si post Idus illias Martias e Tyrannoctonis quispiam tale
aliquod carmen plebi tradidisset inque Suburram et fori circulos
et in ora vulgi intulisset, actum profecto fuisset de partibus
deque dominatione Cæsarum; plus mehercule valuisset unum
Αρμοδιου μελος quam Ciceronis Philippicæ omnes.
LOWTH De Sacra Poesi, Præl. 1.
Verdant myrtle's branchy pride
Shall my biting falchion wreathe:
Soon shall grace each manly side
Tubes that speak, and points that breathe.
Thus Harmodius! shone thy blade;
Thus Aristogiton! thine:
Whose, when Britain sighs for aid,
Whose shall now delay to shine?
Dearest youths, in islands blest,
Not, like recreant idlers, dead,
23
And with godlike Diomed.
Verdant myrtle's branchy pride
Shall my thirsty blade entwine:
Such, Harmodius! deck'd thy side;
Such, Aristogiton! thine.
They the base Hipparchus slew
At the feast of Pallas crown'd:
Gods!—how swift their poniards flew!
How the monster ting'd the ground!
Then in Athens all was peace,
Equal laws and liberty:
Nurse of arts and age of Greece!
People valiant, firm and free!
Not less glorious was thy deed,
Wentworth! fix'd in virtue's cause;
Not less brilliant be thy meed,
Lenox! friend to equal laws.
High in Freedom's temple rais'd,
See Fitz-Maurice beaming stand,
For collected virtues prais'd,
Wisdom's voice and Valour's hand?
Ne'er shall Fate their eyelids close:
They, in blooming regions blest,
With Harmodius shall repose;
With Aristogiton rest.
No, blest chiefs! a hero's crown
Let th'Athenian patriots claim:
You less fiercely won renown;
You assum'd a milder name.
24
You more blissful tidings bring;
They to death a Tyrant drove,
You to fame restor'd a King.
Rise Britannia! dauntless rise!
Cheer'd with triple harmony,
Monarch good, and Nobles wise,
People valiant, firm, and free!
| The poetical works of Sir William Jones | |