 | Silenus |  |
He ceasing sank in slumber as he spoke.
Nymphs, dryads, and wild naiades subdued,
Sat by, their long arms round each other twined;
And some on others' shoulders pressed their chins,
And leaning forward watched his every breath.
Nymphs, dryads, and wild naiades subdued,
Sat by, their long arms round each other twined;
And some on others' shoulders pressed their chins,
And leaning forward watched his every breath.
One said, “Benignant fate had been their guide
To great Silenus lone and sorrowful;
For he was softened in beholding them.
New honey would they bring him mixed with milk
Warm from young goats, or large-eyed sweetbreathed kine;
And they would sing him tenderest songs of old,
Of fated lovers who had lost their loves
And wandered into glory other ways.
They would attend and serve him thro' the suns;
By moons would watch, and keep his slumber safe
From prowling creatures, and the dangerous shafts
Of Artemis that ofttimes pricked the brain
To madness; and would tend him till once more
He woke and drank the gladness of the morn.
And Dionysus, who Silenus loved,
Silenus his instructor and his friend,
He should be sought and told the dreadful tale,
And come with healing words of hope divine.”
To great Silenus lone and sorrowful;
For he was softened in beholding them.
New honey would they bring him mixed with milk
Warm from young goats, or large-eyed sweetbreathed kine;
53
Of fated lovers who had lost their loves
And wandered into glory other ways.
They would attend and serve him thro' the suns;
By moons would watch, and keep his slumber safe
From prowling creatures, and the dangerous shafts
Of Artemis that ofttimes pricked the brain
To madness; and would tend him till once more
He woke and drank the gladness of the morn.
And Dionysus, who Silenus loved,
Silenus his instructor and his friend,
He should be sought and told the dreadful tale,
And come with healing words of hope divine.”
| Silenus | |