 | Silenus |  |
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BOOK I.
Ages had passed. Now was Silenus old,
And fallen from his glory. Bald his head;
Its few gray locks lay loose and scantily;
And gross, uncomely, his dishonoured form.
Those mighty limbs that bore him bound for bound
Alongside fleetest stag, now scarce endured
His shiftless ponderous weight without support
Of docile faun, or cymbal-clashing nymph;
But in the thews that bound his slackened arms
Yet lingered force beyond the force of men;
As Phormis, one hard shepherd of the hills,
Learned to his lifelong cost. For on a feast,
After the shearing, he, the clown, enraged
Silenus would not own his flock surpassed
Lycaon's flock, in brute audacity
Spurned with his foot the fallen Demigod,
Who, gentle as milch kine, or bleating lamb,
Flamed in red wrath at such despite against
His sunken state; the cruel foot straight seized,
And, for a deadly moment, in his arms
Pulsed their primeval strength. Lifting his hand,
Hard-clenched, he smote the caitiff on his knee,
Crushing both bone and sinew into pulp;
And ever after on a crutch the churl
Limped out his days; his withered limb a sight
Shepherd and maiden loathed. Vexatious boys
Threw stone or clod, inviting him to run
And chase them, crying, “Catch me if you can!”
And fallen from his glory. Bald his head;
Its few gray locks lay loose and scantily;
And gross, uncomely, his dishonoured form.
Those mighty limbs that bore him bound for bound
Alongside fleetest stag, now scarce endured
His shiftless ponderous weight without support
Of docile faun, or cymbal-clashing nymph;
But in the thews that bound his slackened arms
Yet lingered force beyond the force of men;
As Phormis, one hard shepherd of the hills,
Learned to his lifelong cost. For on a feast,
After the shearing, he, the clown, enraged
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Lycaon's flock, in brute audacity
Spurned with his foot the fallen Demigod,
Who, gentle as milch kine, or bleating lamb,
Flamed in red wrath at such despite against
His sunken state; the cruel foot straight seized,
And, for a deadly moment, in his arms
Pulsed their primeval strength. Lifting his hand,
Hard-clenched, he smote the caitiff on his knee,
Crushing both bone and sinew into pulp;
And ever after on a crutch the churl
Limped out his days; his withered limb a sight
Shepherd and maiden loathed. Vexatious boys
Threw stone or clod, inviting him to run
And chase them, crying, “Catch me if you can!”
Silenus had obeyed the God of Wine.
Too aptly had he in his dolorous mood
Worshipped the fragrant drops of Lethe calm;
And succour, used beyond necessity,
Changed to an enemy within the wall
That unsuspected wrought his overthrow.
Too aptly had he in his dolorous mood
Worshipped the fragrant drops of Lethe calm;
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Changed to an enemy within the wall
That unsuspected wrought his overthrow.
Tho' ofttimes he with Dionysus ranged
Countries where demons of outrageous shape,
Enshrined in sullen richness, ruled as Gods,
His ringing exhortation no more flew
Winging the God's intent, and winningly
Soothing ferocious gaze to droop-eyed peace;
Inspiring men by fervid influence
To shun accustomed evil and reproach.
Countries where demons of outrageous shape,
Enshrined in sullen richness, ruled as Gods,
His ringing exhortation no more flew
Winging the God's intent, and winningly
Soothing ferocious gaze to droop-eyed peace;
Inspiring men by fervid influence
To shun accustomed evil and reproach.
Now, as an aged hound, he hung upon
His well-loved master's footsteps, and had died
Were he forbidden this old privilege.
His well-loved master's footsteps, and had died
Were he forbidden this old privilege.
Tho' now no more he shook uncultured wilds
With great pulsations like a thunderous dawn
Of sunflame woven in tempestuous glare,
That frets with fire the rim of drifting gloom;
Still, from the charm of constant wont was he
A presence so familiar there had clung
Some haunting sense of need unsatisfied
Had the march lacked his towering merriment.
Moon following moon beheld Silenus lost
With great pulsations like a thunderous dawn
Of sunflame woven in tempestuous glare,
That frets with fire the rim of drifting gloom;
Still, from the charm of constant wont was he
A presence so familiar there had clung
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Had the march lacked his towering merriment.
In torpor, steadfast, like a willow trunk
Casting its image in the shimmering stream.
But, when again with living things awake,
His spirit gazed as from a lonely star.
When, stored the vintages, the mirth leaped free;
At rites of death, or feasts of marriages;
When troubles fled the charging revelry,
And bowls were filled until the world flew round,
Smiling he shone the guest predominant.
Rough rivals plied the frequent bowl he drained,
Until from his unsteady hold the wine
Erringly soaked his beard, and crimsoned down
His spacious body wasteful to the ground:
Then he would sing, and shout, and prophesy.
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Eyeballs wide-showing, pressed an eager crowd,
Noisily claiming he should tell their fates.
“Your fates ye seek, ye knaves and coarseskinned clowns!
Ha! ha! This Zeus Himself was hot to learn
Of great Prometheus, hating whom He fixed
In chains on Caucasus, with bird of hell
To tear him in eternal agony.
What for long ages Zeus so vainly sought
Ye would, O modest ones of crook and goad,
Have at a word, ha! ha!
Ha! ha! This Zeus Himself was hot to learn
Of great Prometheus, hating whom He fixed
In chains on Caucasus, with bird of hell
To tear him in eternal agony.
What for long ages Zeus so vainly sought
Ye would, O modest ones of crook and goad,
Have at a word, ha! ha!
“Ply the cup, ply!
Slack not the pouring, ye shall have reward
Fate flashing madly off at every point,
Like doves, when feeding they behold a hawk!
Fate running from my lips; tears from mine eyes
Tight-squeezed from lengthened laughter ceasing not
Will fluster you to such bewilderment
Ye shall not know if flowering mead ye tread
Where airs immortal breathe, or if ye pace
A pathway downward to the hideous gate
Of Hades beyond Styx.
Slack not the pouring, ye shall have reward
Fate flashing madly off at every point,
Like doves, when feeding they behold a hawk!
Fate running from my lips; tears from mine eyes
Tight-squeezed from lengthened laughter ceasing not
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Ye shall not know if flowering mead ye tread
Where airs immortal breathe, or if ye pace
A pathway downward to the hideous gate
Of Hades beyond Styx.
“Ye are unversed
In oracles, O ye of herds and sheep,
And likewise swine; each moving patiently
To taste the shambles as his lord directs.
In oracles, O ye of herds and sheep,
And likewise swine; each moving patiently
To taste the shambles as his lord directs.
“When first ye feel the axe, or entering knife,
Dread no frustration; knowledge surely comes
When life's dark mystery is thus resolved!
Dread no frustration; knowledge surely comes
When life's dark mystery is thus resolved!
“Storms hurt you not so thick your hairy hides!
Dull, disregardful; eating steadily
Throughout your placid lives, what moves you now
Keen to unriddle Fate, forecasting doom?
Dull, disregardful; eating steadily
Throughout your placid lives, what moves you now
Keen to unriddle Fate, forecasting doom?
“That doom is ye shall love with love profound
Your own dear selves and all you call your own;
And from that worship never shall ye swerve
Toward deed of grace, or any kindly thought,
Unless advantage largely sanctify.
Your own dear selves and all you call your own;
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Toward deed of grace, or any kindly thought,
Unless advantage largely sanctify.
“When Bion would with sweet Idyia toy,
No scruple shall corrupt his bliss. Tho' scorn
May hunt her shame to solitary haunts;
What matters! Snapped its stem the flower will fade,
And other flowers smile welcome on the way;
They have no voice in their own choosing, yet
Breathe sweetness blushing when their sweets are plucked,
And breathing sweets blush when we pass them by.
No scruple shall corrupt his bliss. Tho' scorn
May hunt her shame to solitary haunts;
What matters! Snapped its stem the flower will fade,
And other flowers smile welcome on the way;
They have no voice in their own choosing, yet
Breathe sweetness blushing when their sweets are plucked,
And breathing sweets blush when we pass them by.
“Staunchly wilt thou uphold thy friend while he
Toils faithfully to shape thy purposes;
But if of thee unmindful, his desires
Wing him to interest apart from thine,
Straightway he falls an outcast from thy love,
A useless alien or an enemy!
Toils faithfully to shape thy purposes;
But if of thee unmindful, his desires
Wing him to interest apart from thine,
Straightway he falls an outcast from thy love,
A useless alien or an enemy!
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“When multiplied your fathers' flocks and herds;
Corn, oil, and wine in vast abundancy;
Tho' every cup be filled to overflow,
Insatiate ye shall hanker for the whole;
Wondering what age, with aches and shrivelled stoop,
Enjoys to make it obstinately cling
To government, prerogative of strength!
Corn, oil, and wine in vast abundancy;
Tho' every cup be filled to overflow,
Insatiate ye shall hanker for the whole;
Wondering what age, with aches and shrivelled stoop,
Enjoys to make it obstinately cling
To government, prerogative of strength!
“The laws forbid. Else in old bygone time,
Dim stories run, the worn were helped away;
And Nature aided in the going out,
As she is aided in the coming in.
The earth hates cumber. Ah, those ancient days
When our forefathers by rude wisdom led
Measured their usage by necessity;
Direct in every movement, unperplexed!
Dim stories run, the worn were helped away;
And Nature aided in the going out,
As she is aided in the coming in.
The earth hates cumber. Ah, those ancient days
When our forefathers by rude wisdom led
Measured their usage by necessity;
Direct in every movement, unperplexed!
“As ye your fathers your own sons, fullgrown,
Cresting the heights will proudly stand and watch
Your feeble footsteps totter on the slope.
Memory then flaunts bright visions of your prime,
What time you watched your fathers' faltering pace,
And these cheer not the dangerous passages,
As on ye plod in grisly darkness down.
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Your feeble footsteps totter on the slope.
Memory then flaunts bright visions of your prime,
What time you watched your fathers' faltering pace,
And these cheer not the dangerous passages,
As on ye plod in grisly darkness down.
“Beyond, your immortality shall munch
Immeasurable husks; or bleating shall
Wandering on dim illimitable plains
Appeal to emptiness with plaintive cry.
Immeasurable husks; or bleating shall
Wandering on dim illimitable plains
Appeal to emptiness with plaintive cry.
“From boundless herds such bellowing shall scare
The shivering spectres, they shall dread return
To fret and anguish of mortality,
While ye, the weak ones, hover timidly
For ever round impenetrable fruit;
Watching the baser strive in vain to seize
Bright creatures winged with beauty and surprise!
The shivering spectres, they shall dread return
To fret and anguish of mortality,
While ye, the weak ones, hover timidly
For ever round impenetrable fruit;
Watching the baser strive in vain to seize
Bright creatures winged with beauty and surprise!
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“But why foreshadow thus? These darkling jests
Make the Olympians laugh; that sheep and swine,
And horned oxen mimic freakish man,
Who does himself grotesquely imitate
The stately pace of Gods!
Make the Olympians laugh; that sheep and swine,
And horned oxen mimic freakish man,
Who does himself grotesquely imitate
The stately pace of Gods!
“I would delight
My jolly shepherds with a dance of joy,
But these old bones now fail me: once I could
From rock to rock leap and not fear a fall.
Now I can only drink and prophesy!
My jolly shepherds with a dance of joy,
But these old bones now fail me: once I could
From rock to rock leap and not fear a fall.
Now I can only drink and prophesy!
“But gather round me; for I yet can sing
How liberal wine amends the bitter wrong
Closed in with life, and unescapeable.”
“How dark and strange the uttered words of Fate!”
How liberal wine amends the bitter wrong
Closed in with life, and unescapeable.”
Whispered the herds. “We are we know not what;
And wend we know not where. Maybe unmeet
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Therefore he utters mysteries for fear
We might be mazed, and, into madness driven,
Work fell destruction. He would save from ruin,
As Zeus for love had fain withheld the fire
Of living glory when for love He went
To Semele. Then let us all affect
To track and catch his drift, lest telling more
He stagger us with more than we can bear.
He told of jests that wake Olympian mirth;
Join then in laughter; marry with his mood.”
The Satyrs, shepherds, clowns, a motley herd
Crowding Silenus round, in one huge roar
Joined laughter, shock on shock, peal after peal,
Till the mad air was frantically rent.
With laughter loud his glowing body heaved
Incessant. High his voice above the rest,
As 'mid the thrilling chatter starlings make
Pierces a falcon's scream.
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Tore their wild hair; plucked their loose raiment free,
Casting the coloured cloudlets in the air,
And seizing each a partner, whirling round,
Threw out their limbs in random unison
At poise on tightened toes. While bending low,
Pairs sprang together mimicking wild beasts
Catching their prey; or, stooping heads to butt
Each others' breasts, the nymphs fell sadly mauled;
Their bosoms, tenderer than satyr horn
Or the hard brow of lout, ached from the blows;
Well pleased to rest they round Silenus closed,
Awaiting till his song came rolling forth.
“Ye red-faced satyrs, all come drink to me;
Your wine-skins shoulder, fill the bowls.
Take one deep draught to warm your souls;
Squat snug on your haunches or on bended knee:
Raise your arms; shout a song: praise wine the divine!
“Praise wine. Tho' we gasp when we first draw breath,
We suck life anew from the breast;
And milk is good, red wine is best;
For red wine wrests a breathing time from death.
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“Sad for woman when her own lord is slain;
For hopeless the loss she bewails.
Tho' hopeless, when all comfort fails
Red wine takes the place where her lord has lain.
Raise your arms; shout a song: praise wine the divine!
“Lowly wine whispers soft words of delight,
Innocently fondling her charms.
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Lo, holding a new hero strong and bright!
Raise your arms; shout a song: praise wine the divine!
“Lover, so wretched for his faithless Bliss,
He would lie in the grave at peace.
Wine brings a cup and sorrows cease
As true Love clasping gives delicious kiss.
Raise your arms; shout a song: praise wine the divine!
“Weak and strong wine cheers; the young and the old;
Makes valour do all valour can;
Transforms the coward to a man,
Who then draws his sword like a warrior bold.
Raise your arms; shout a song: praise wine the divine!”
To his full lips the rich Hephaestion cup
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A deed so noble fired with zeal the rest,
Who emptied theirs in glorious sympathy;
When cheerily again Silenus sang.
“Who would his flocks and people save,
And stands to fight in battle brave;
What should he meet
If he retreat
Beat back by overwhelming foes?
A crown of myrtle mixed with rose,
And cup of the reddest grape that grows!
And stands to fight in battle brave;
What should he meet
If he retreat
Beat back by overwhelming foes?
A crown of myrtle mixed with rose,
And cup of the reddest grape that grows!
“One who by words and shifty wiles
His true friend's love for him beguiles;
Our scorn to show
What best to throw
Over the head that brings disgrace?
The due of cheater false and base,
A cup of sour wine dashed in his face!
His true friend's love for him beguiles;
Our scorn to show
What best to throw
Over the head that brings disgrace?
The due of cheater false and base,
A cup of sour wine dashed in his face!
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“Then rash and foolish wine's abuse;
For good and bad wine has its use.
This cheers the brave;
That slights the knave.
And merit more who can desire
Than raising hero's glory higher,
And giving the cheat a bed of fire?”
Again the shepherds muttering,
For good and bad wine has its use.
This cheers the brave;
That slights the knave.
And merit more who can desire
Than raising hero's glory higher,
And giving the cheat a bed of fire?”
“What know we
Of cheat or hero? If we can we steal
Our neighbour's sheep, and swear it was the wolves;
Which is fair honest stealing. But to clip
A wolf, and clothe a wolf, and pass it off
A sheep, is downright cheating, and denounced
Of every shepherd lad. Well, heroes, they
Are well enough in stories women tell
To tickle gaping babies after dusk;
But fighting, save in anger, we despise:—
Hush! for Silenus tones in lower strain.”
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“How sweet, when memory fades with closing eyes
And wings of blessed Sleep
Fan into slumber deep,
When, hand in hand, happy and loverwise
We roam at will the vales of paradise.
And wings of blessed Sleep
Fan into slumber deep,
When, hand in hand, happy and loverwise
We roam at will the vales of paradise.
“Then Sleep puts her soft cheek against mine own;
Or, eyes to eyes content
In peaceful wonderment,
We list the flowers by whispering zephyr blown
Trembling in music hitherto unknown:
Or, eyes to eyes content
In peaceful wonderment,
We list the flowers by whispering zephyr blown
Trembling in music hitherto unknown:
“Or from the margin of deep water gaze
As rising Naiad there
Wimples her yellow hair
To hide faint blushes when her hand she lays
In mine, while kissing me in calm amaze.
As rising Naiad there
Wimples her yellow hair
To hide faint blushes when her hand she lays
In mine, while kissing me in calm amaze.
“In calm amaze I should have truant played,
So lonely long while she,
Perplexed awaiting me,
Questioned the rill for tidings, sore afraid
I might await her lonely in the shade.
So lonely long while she,
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Questioned the rill for tidings, sore afraid
I might await her lonely in the shade.
“But ere my tale of absence I narrate
She throws the moonbeam charms
Of her long loving arms
About me, murmuring, Tho' thou comest late
I own myself Sleep, Naiad, Love, and Fate!”
She throws the moonbeam charms
Of her long loving arms
About me, murmuring, Tho' thou comest late
I own myself Sleep, Naiad, Love, and Fate!”
“Silenus maunders,” growled the listeners;
“Singing of sleep foreshadows weariness.
Let us now lead him to his sleeping-place,
That he may rest.
“Singing of sleep foreshadows weariness.
Let us now lead him to his sleeping-place,
That he may rest.
“Ah! Look! The water runs
From his old eyes; but not in laughter now.
His face down 'twixt his knees; both hands upon
His head as tho' it ached!
From his old eyes; but not in laughter now.
His face down 'twixt his knees; both hands upon
His head as tho' it ached!
“These Demigods
Are mysteries. With half the wine he drank
A mortal had been merry; not so he.
Despairing, dolorous he looks; and shakes
With sobs, as children sob when harshly chid.
Mayhap his second childhood comes apace,
And stress of singing songs o'ermasters him!”
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A mortal had been merry; not so he.
Despairing, dolorous he looks; and shakes
With sobs, as children sob when harshly chid.
Mayhap his second childhood comes apace,
And stress of singing songs o'ermasters him!”
As chilled the waning riot with its King,
His mirth in some dark sorrow quenched, the throng,
Then dwindling fast away, soon vanished, save
Unswerving nymphs and shepherds who upheld
His listless heavy bulk and lumbering feet
To his soft bed of fern, laid dry, compact,
By tending maidens; whereon, overthrown
With skins that once clad savage beasts of prey,
Silenus sank; but, struggling against sleep,
He turned uneasily; then pausing glared
At unseen foe; unaided, sprang upright!
Then, stretching back his right arm suddenly,
Amid loose straw there dangling from the thatch,
As tho' about to hurl some mighty spear,
He shouted,
His mirth in some dark sorrow quenched, the throng,
Then dwindling fast away, soon vanished, save
Unswerving nymphs and shepherds who upheld
His listless heavy bulk and lumbering feet
To his soft bed of fern, laid dry, compact,
By tending maidens; whereon, overthrown
With skins that once clad savage beasts of prey,
Silenus sank; but, struggling against sleep,
He turned uneasily; then pausing glared
At unseen foe; unaided, sprang upright!
Then, stretching back his right arm suddenly,
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As tho' about to hurl some mighty spear,
He shouted,
“Demon, not the thunderbolts
Of all Olympus shall protect thee now!
To carrion will I slaughter thee and glut
Wild wolves when maddened with mandragora!
As nothing else, not vulture's stenchy maw,
Could gorge such foulness as thine evil flesh.
Of all Olympus shall protect thee now!
To carrion will I slaughter thee and glut
Wild wolves when maddened with mandragora!
As nothing else, not vulture's stenchy maw,
Could gorge such foulness as thine evil flesh.
“But no! For death might be a restingplace;
And I would have on thee the deadliest curse!
Therefore live on. Live to feel what thou art;
Then live thou on for ever! This thy doom.”
And I would have on thee the deadliest curse!
Therefore live on. Live to feel what thou art;
Then live thou on for ever! This thy doom.”
The maids and shepherds huddling crouched aghast,
Beholding him distraught; great eyes aflame;
And his whole stature red in furnace-glow;
With voice of lion hungry and enraged
Stifling the air grown heated like a den.
They knew not what would save themselves, or aid
Their Lord; but while they cowered, hesitating,
He on his bed fell down and spake no more.
Beholding him distraught; great eyes aflame;
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With voice of lion hungry and enraged
Stifling the air grown heated like a den.
They knew not what would save themselves, or aid
Their Lord; but while they cowered, hesitating,
He on his bed fell down and spake no more.
Timidly then they prop his wreathless head
And languid arms. They watch him till he sleeps
Making hoarse thunder with an even breath.
And languid arms. They watch him till he sleeps
Making hoarse thunder with an even breath.
| Silenus | |