 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Croly |  |
230
ON THE DEATH OF ORPHEUS.
FROM THE GREEK OF ANTIPATER.
“Ουκ ετι θελγομενας, Ορφευ,”
κ. τ. λ.
Orpheus! thou no more shalt lead,
From the mountain's bending head,
Ancient rocks and forests gray,
Nor make the brinded lion play,
And the spotted leopard crouch
Beside thy high-retired couch;
While the eagle check'd its wing,
Charm'd above thy solemn string.
Thou no more the snow shalt bind,
Or the biting Thracian wind:
231
Hoary Winter's chilling shroud;
Nor, with an enchanted strain,
On old Ocean fling a chain.
Many a tear was shed for thee!
The divine Calliope,
In wild beauty, through the woods,
Where the yellow autumn broods,
Wept and wander'd for thee long;
In their caves the Satyr throng,
Grieving, stamp'd with horny tread
On the sweet, uneven reed;
And every Dryad from her tree
Fill'd the air with wo for thee.
Thou'rt gone! Shall mortals o'er the grave repine,
When thus a goddess mourns a son divine!
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Croly | |