The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes To which are added, Select Epigrams, and the Coma Berenices of the same Author, Six Hymns of Orpheus, and The Encomium of Ptolemy by Theocritus. By William Dodd |
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| 4. | THE Fourth Hymn of Callimachus.
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 | The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes |  |
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THE Fourth Hymn of Callimachus.
To Delos.
Of sacred Delos, great Apollo's nurse,
When, when, my soul, or ever wilt thou sing?
Most sacred, all the Cyclades might well
Each furnish theme divine: But Delos first
From every Muse demands the tribute lay,
For that she first their infant God receiv'd,
And first triumphant hail'd the Deity.
Not with less hate the nine pursue the bard
Forgetful of Pimplea, than Apollo
Him who forgets his Delos:—Be my strains
Turn'd then to Delos: That th'approving God
At once may favour and inspire the song.
When, when, my soul, or ever wilt thou sing?
Most sacred, all the Cyclades might well
Each furnish theme divine: But Delos first
From every Muse demands the tribute lay,
For that she first their infant God receiv'd,
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Not with less hate the nine pursue the bard
Forgetful of Pimplea, than Apollo
Him who forgets his Delos:—Be my strains
Turn'd then to Delos: That th'approving God
At once may favour and inspire the song.
Tho' to tempestuous seas and storms expos'd,
Its firm foundations rooted in the deep,
Unshaken stands the isle; round whose rough shores
(More pervious to the cormorant than horse;
Where whilom lonely fishers made abode:)
Th'Icarian waves their white foam roaring dash;
Yet to old Ocean's and his Tethy's court
When move the islands, murmuring none beholds
Majestic Delos graceful lead the train
Claiming prime honour: Corsica demands
The second place: Eubæa next appears,
Her follows sweet Sardinia, and the isle,
Which happily receiv'd the queen of love,
When from the waves emerging; for reward,
Its shores her kind protection ever share.
These boast for their defence strong walls and towers,
But Delos her Apollo—and what tower
Impregnable as he? For towers and walls
Strymonian Boreas levels with the ground:
But ever unremov'd firm stands the God;
Thy guardian, happy Delos, thy defence.
Its firm foundations rooted in the deep,
Unshaken stands the isle; round whose rough shores
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Where whilom lonely fishers made abode:)
Th'Icarian waves their white foam roaring dash;
Yet to old Ocean's and his Tethy's court
When move the islands, murmuring none beholds
Majestic Delos graceful lead the train
Claiming prime honour: Corsica demands
The second place: Eubæa next appears,
Her follows sweet Sardinia, and the isle,
Which happily receiv'd the queen of love,
When from the waves emerging; for reward,
Its shores her kind protection ever share.
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But Delos her Apollo—and what tower
Impregnable as he? For towers and walls
Strymonian Boreas levels with the ground:
But ever unremov'd firm stands the God;
Thy guardian, happy Delos, thy defence.
Since various theme for song thy worth supplies,
Say of the holy legends which best pleas'd,
Which dost thou hear most joyful? shall I sing
How with his threefold trident, work immense
Of labouring Telchins, Neptune clave the rocks,
Disparting wide—and gave to islands birth:
The massy fragments to the sea descending,
Precipitate downward roll: fixt, firm fixt,
On sure foundations 'midst th'encircling waves.
Say of the holy legends which best pleas'd,
Which dost thou hear most joyful? shall I sing
How with his threefold trident, work immense
Of labouring Telchins, Neptune clave the rocks,
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The massy fragments to the sea descending,
Precipitate downward roll: fixt, firm fixt,
On sure foundations 'midst th'encircling waves.
But thee no such necessity constrain'd,
Licens'd to range o'er Neptune's wide domains,
Asteria call'd, for that the thunderers arms
Eluding like a star thou shot'st from heav'n
Down to the deep abyss; and such thy name
Till bright Latona dignified thy cliffs.
Licens'd to range o'er Neptune's wide domains,
Asteria call'd, for that the thunderers arms
Eluding like a star thou shot'st from heav'n
Down to the deep abyss; and such thy name
Till bright Latona dignified thy cliffs.
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Oft bound from Lycian Xanthus to the coast
Of Ephyra, floating i'th' Saronic gulf
The mariner saw thee, joyous: but his course
As homeward plying, sought thee there in vain:
Now thro' the rapid straits of Euripus,
Now o'er those waves rejected, sailing swift
To Sunium, Chios, or the virgin isle,
From whose white bosom hospitably pour'd
The neighbouring Mycalesian nymphs, to hail
With gratulation sweet thy lov'd approach.
But when supplying to Latona's son
A happy natal place, pleas'd in return
Delos, the sailors nam'd the favourite isle:
Since rooted in th'Ægean waves, no more
Uncertain and unseen it rang'd the main.
Of Ephyra, floating i'th' Saronic gulf
The mariner saw thee, joyous: but his course
As homeward plying, sought thee there in vain:
Now thro' the rapid straits of Euripus,
Now o'er those waves rejected, sailing swift
To Sunium, Chios, or the virgin isle,
From whose white bosom hospitably pour'd
The neighbouring Mycalesian nymphs, to hail
With gratulation sweet thy lov'd approach.
But when supplying to Latona's son
A happy natal place, pleas'd in return
Delos, the sailors nam'd the favourite isle:
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Uncertain and unseen it rang'd the main.
Thee not resentful Juno's vengeance mov'd,
The fury of whose wrath impetuous burst
On all the concubines of Jove: But chief
On bright Latona: From whose loins a son
Was destin'd to be born, that shou'd eclipse
And rival in Jove's love her darling Mars.
The fury of whose wrath impetuous burst
On all the concubines of Jove: But chief
On bright Latona: From whose loins a son
Was destin'd to be born, that shou'd eclipse
And rival in Jove's love her darling Mars.
Big with the thought and brooding dire revenge
From heav'ns high tow'rs, sollicitous she kept
Observant watch: And, with the pangs of birth,
Detain'd Latona, lab'ring: Earth to guard
Two faithful centinels she fix'd: Dread Mars
On Thracian Hæmus furious shone in arms,
The continent with stern regard beholding: Whilst
His courses Boreas' seven-fold cave receiv'd.
From heav'ns high tow'rs, sollicitous she kept
Observant watch: And, with the pangs of birth,
Detain'd Latona, lab'ring: Earth to guard
Two faithful centinels she fix'd: Dread Mars
On Thracian Hæmus furious shone in arms,
The continent with stern regard beholding: Whilst
His courses Boreas' seven-fold cave receiv'd.
With fixt attention, o'er the scatter'd isles
Thaumantian Iris, plac'd on Mimas' brow,
Hung sedulous surveying: These, what states
So e'er Latona in her anguish sought,
Instant, dire menacing, approach'd: And dash'd
Each rising hope of hospitable rest.
Thaumantian Iris, plac'd on Mimas' brow,
Hung sedulous surveying: These, what states
So e'er Latona in her anguish sought,
Instant, dire menacing, approach'd: And dash'd
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Arcadia heard their mandates, heard and fled:
Hoary Phenæus, sacred Auge's mount,
All Pelops isle, Egiale except
And Argos: (There, where Juno reign'd supreme,
'Twere vain to hope admittance;) these as climes
Forbid, Latona sought not: But her course
Shap'd towards Aonia: All Aonia flew,
Dirce and Strophie: While their hands support
Their sire Ismenus' steps: And far behind
Lag'd, by Jove's thunder marr'd, lab'ring his way
With footing slow, Asopus: While distrest
Each wood-nymph, Oread or Dryad sate,
Viewing their oaks coëval, on the top
Of moving Helicon nod their wavy brows
Loud groaning to the fall: Ye Muses say
If ought on oaks the Dryads fate depends,
Or with them born or dying?
When the gay trees, in beauteous verdure clad,
Their blooming honours shew, the nymphs, like them
In fullest charms all blithsome trip the plain:
And when deform'd by surly winter's blasts,
The sympathetic nymphs lamenting mourn.
Hoary Phenæus, sacred Auge's mount,
All Pelops isle, Egiale except
And Argos: (There, where Juno reign'd supreme,
'Twere vain to hope admittance;) these as climes
Forbid, Latona sought not: But her course
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Dirce and Strophie: While their hands support
Their sire Ismenus' steps: And far behind
Lag'd, by Jove's thunder marr'd, lab'ring his way
With footing slow, Asopus: While distrest
Each wood-nymph, Oread or Dryad sate,
Viewing their oaks coëval, on the top
Of moving Helicon nod their wavy brows
Loud groaning to the fall: Ye Muses say
If ought on oaks the Dryads fate depends,
Or with them born or dying?
When the gay trees, in beauteous verdure clad,
Their blooming honours shew, the nymphs, like them
In fullest charms all blithsome trip the plain:
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The sympathetic nymphs lamenting mourn.
Apollo yet unborn dread rage conceiv'd
'Gainst these inhospitable realms: and thus
Denounc'd, oh Thebes, th'irrevocable curse:
“Oh miserable Thebes, why, why too soon
“Draw on thy certain fate? Compel me not
“Unwilling to foretel thy destiny!
“What tho' no Pythian tripod feels the God,
“What tho' not yet the serpent—(from the banks
“Of Plistus rolling his nine-folds immense,
“And now around Parnassus, snow-capt mount,
“Their slimy length involving) tho' not yet
“My darts have pierc'd the monster: Hallow'd truths
“Nathless, as from the Delphic laurel sure,
“Unerring hear me speak: Far off, far off:—
“Quick shall I find thee: Quick my arrows wash
“In Theban blood: Thine is the impious race
“Of that tongue-doughty woman! Hence nor thou
“Profane, not thy Cithæron shall the birth
“Of Phoebus hallow: Righteous is the God,
“And on the righteous only shines his favour.”
'Gainst these inhospitable realms: and thus
Denounc'd, oh Thebes, th'irrevocable curse:
“Oh miserable Thebes, why, why too soon
“Draw on thy certain fate? Compel me not
“Unwilling to foretel thy destiny!
“What tho' no Pythian tripod feels the God,
“What tho' not yet the serpent—(from the banks
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“And now around Parnassus, snow-capt mount,
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“My darts have pierc'd the monster: Hallow'd truths
“Nathless, as from the Delphic laurel sure,
“Unerring hear me speak: Far off, far off:—
“Quick shall I find thee: Quick my arrows wash
“In Theban blood: Thine is the impious race
“Of that tongue-doughty woman! Hence nor thou
“Profane, not thy Cithæron shall the birth
“Of Phoebus hallow: Righteous is the God,
“And on the righteous only shines his favour.”
He spoke: And thence Latona wand'ring turn'd,
Sad sighing to Thessalia: (Since in vain
At Elice or Bura, and at all
Achaia's states inhospitable, sought
The burden'd mother entrance:) There alike
Unfortunate she rov'd: Anaurus fled
With great Larissa, and fam'd Pelion's mount:
Even Peneus too his disregarding waves
Roll'd rapidly away thro' Tempe's vale.
Sad sighing to Thessalia: (Since in vain
At Elice or Bura, and at all
Achaia's states inhospitable, sought
The burden'd mother entrance:) There alike
Unfortunate she rov'd: Anaurus fled
With great Larissa, and fam'd Pelion's mount:
Even Peneus too his disregarding waves
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Nor touch'd compassion thy relentless heart
Steadfast in hate, dread Juno; when her hands
In supplicating sort extending wide,
Latona thus besought the pitying nymphs:
“Intreat, ye daughters of the flood, fair nymphs
“Of Thessaly, try every blandishment,
“From Peneus, from your father to procure
“A birth-place for Jove's offspring: Beg him stay
“His mighty flood!—Ah Peneus, wherefore strive
“Swift to outstrip the winged winds? No race,
“No contest claims this speed: Move ever thus
“Thy seet, the ground light-leaving? or now first
“Do terror and Latona bear thee on,
“And to thy flight add wings?—He hears me not,
“Too abject for regard! Ah me, my load,
“Where shall I bear thee?—For my slacken'd nerves
“And yielding sinews to the birth give place!
“Oh Pelion, happy Philyra's retreat,
“Stop thou thy course: oh stop:—Thou not receive
“Jove's offspring,—when amidst thy mountainous shades
“The famish'd lioness torn in labour finds
“Safe shelter to cast forth her dolorous birth!”
Steadfast in hate, dread Juno; when her hands
In supplicating sort extending wide,
Latona thus besought the pitying nymphs:
“Intreat, ye daughters of the flood, fair nymphs
“Of Thessaly, try every blandishment,
“From Peneus, from your father to procure
“A birth-place for Jove's offspring: Beg him stay
“His mighty flood!—Ah Peneus, wherefore strive
“Swift to outstrip the winged winds? No race,
“No contest claims this speed: Move ever thus
“Thy seet, the ground light-leaving? or now first
“Do terror and Latona bear thee on,
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“Too abject for regard! Ah me, my load,
“Where shall I bear thee?—For my slacken'd nerves
“And yielding sinews to the birth give place!
“Oh Pelion, happy Philyra's retreat,
“Stop thou thy course: oh stop:—Thou not receive
“Jove's offspring,—when amidst thy mountainous shades
“The famish'd lioness torn in labour finds
“Safe shelter to cast forth her dolorous birth!”
The piteous river-god uprear'd his head,
Bedew'd with tears, and tenderly replied:
“Heaven witness, oh Latona, I thy pangs
“Behold not unregarding: But what power
“Than dire Necessity more strong? These waves
“Thou know'st to other births have oft supplied
“Ablution grateful: But who dare defy
“The thund'ring threats of heav'ns avenging queen?
“View from yon mount how dread a centinel
“Frowns, menacing destruction, who with ease
“Cou'd totally subvert my deep foundation?
“What wilt thou then?—Say, can it please thy soul
“That wretched Peneus perish? Be it so:
“Let come what will come: Gladly for thy sake
“Even I will suffer: Tho' of streams most mean,
“I steal along contemn'd, or quite forgot
“My weed-grown channel mourn for ever dry.
“Come then—what more remains? Invoke Lucina.”
Speaking, he stop'd his rapid current. Mars
Pluck'd from its roots Pangæus, and uplifts
The mighty mountain by its shaggy top,
About t'o'erwhelm the flood: Yet first his voice
Horribly stern loud thunder'd from aloft;
And struck with pond'rous lance, his brazen shield
Rung with rough clangor jarring: Ossa's mount
With the Cranonian fields, and Pindus' dales
Resounded trembling: All Thessalia
Astonish'd at the noise tumultuous shook.
As when the giant shifts his weary side,
Briareus, troubled Ætna's groaning mount
(His torturing load) disturb'd in each recess
Roars to its fiery center: All o'erturn'd,
Vulcanian forges, Tripods, massy works
Harsh clash together falling: From the God's
Terrific Shield like discord rung. Nought mov'd
Firm to his purpose Peneus stood resolv'd,
And stop'd his rapid current; when the God
In grateful sort Latona thus addrest:
“Rest safe, kind Peneus; deem not, ought of ill
“That thou for me shalt suffer: Nor shall thus
“With ruin thy compassion be repay'd:
“Rest safe; thy merit shall not want reward.”
Bedew'd with tears, and tenderly replied:
“Heaven witness, oh Latona, I thy pangs
“Behold not unregarding: But what power
“Than dire Necessity more strong? These waves
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“Ablution grateful: But who dare defy
“The thund'ring threats of heav'ns avenging queen?
“View from yon mount how dread a centinel
“Frowns, menacing destruction, who with ease
“Cou'd totally subvert my deep foundation?
“What wilt thou then?—Say, can it please thy soul
“That wretched Peneus perish? Be it so:
“Let come what will come: Gladly for thy sake
“Even I will suffer: Tho' of streams most mean,
“I steal along contemn'd, or quite forgot
“My weed-grown channel mourn for ever dry.
“Come then—what more remains? Invoke Lucina.”
Speaking, he stop'd his rapid current. Mars
Pluck'd from its roots Pangæus, and uplifts
105
About t'o'erwhelm the flood: Yet first his voice
Horribly stern loud thunder'd from aloft;
And struck with pond'rous lance, his brazen shield
Rung with rough clangor jarring: Ossa's mount
With the Cranonian fields, and Pindus' dales
Resounded trembling: All Thessalia
Astonish'd at the noise tumultuous shook.
As when the giant shifts his weary side,
Briareus, troubled Ætna's groaning mount
(His torturing load) disturb'd in each recess
Roars to its fiery center: All o'erturn'd,
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Harsh clash together falling: From the God's
Terrific Shield like discord rung. Nought mov'd
Firm to his purpose Peneus stood resolv'd,
And stop'd his rapid current; when the God
In grateful sort Latona thus addrest:
“Rest safe, kind Peneus; deem not, ought of ill
“That thou for me shalt suffer: Nor shall thus
“With ruin thy compassion be repay'd:
“Rest safe; thy merit shall not want reward.”
So saying, various toils mean time endur'd,
The sea-girt isles she sought, successless still;
Not even Corcyra's hospitable shores,
Nor fam'd for friendly ports th'Echinades
Dare give the wanderer entrance: From the brow
Of lofty Mimas Iris pour'd her threats,
And every island trembling heard and fled.
And now prepar'd Chalciope's retreat
Old Meropeian Cos, to seek: thus spoke
Her son's command prohibiting: “Not here
“My mother, must thy son be born: these climes
“Tho' I nor disapprove, as amply crown'd
“With golden plenty: nor envy the renown
“Of thy Apollo's birth. But from the Fates
“To these blest realms another God is due,
“Of the great Soter race the brightest star,
“Immortal Philadelphus; at whose throne
“Shall either continent and every isle,
“(Far as from whence up the high steep of heav'n
“The fiery coursers bear the Sun's bright car,
“To where i'th' western world their journey ends)
“Nought murmur to bow down, and nought refuse
“To own that Macedonian's sway, whose soul
“Shall bright reflect his godlike father's virtues.
“Hereafter shall a common contest claim
“Our force united: when from th'utmost west
“Another race of Titans shall spring forth,
“In multitude like fleaks of falling snow,
“Or as the stars that in the æther feed
“Innumerable—flashing dire o'er Grecia's realms
“The sword barbarian; and the Celtic Mars
“In all his fury rousing! loud laments,
“From Delphic towers, and Locrian battlements,
“From fields Crissæan, and each state alarm'd,
“Shall eccho round: the neighbour swains shall view
“Th'adjoining harvests blaze—and scarcely view
“Ere the devouring fire shall seize their own.
“Now shall they see, with horrible dismay,
“The hostile phalanx round my temples marshall'd:
“Now, midst my holy tripods, helms and shields
“And all the bloody implements of war,
“Unhallow'd and abominable! Cause
“Of future desolation to the throng,
“Mad to profane Apollo's sacred seat
“And wage vain war with heaven! Of those arms
“Part for my prize I claim: and part, great king,
“Thy labours shall reward: all those that strew
“The bloody banks of Nile, fall'n from the hands
“Of vanquish'd owners, breathing out their souls
“In fire and wild confusion! these shall be
“The meed of thy illustrious toils! such truths
“Prophetic I pronounce: in after times,
“Thou, Ptolemy, shalt grateful honours pay:
“And bless the unborn augur of thy fame.
“Thou too, oh mother, aid the sacred purpose:
“O'er the rough waves a well-known island roams;
“Yet unconfin'd, like flower of Asphodel
“That yeilds to every blast, it wanders wide,
“As winds and waves direct its doubtful course,
“Boreas or Auster, or th'uncertain flood.
“Thither thy burden bear: the willing isle
“Shall to Latona gladly grant admittance.”
He said: the isles retiring sought their place
Obedient to his word; Asteria then,
Of hymns divine regardful, to behold
The sacred choir of Cyclades, came down
In happy hour from fair Eubæa's coasts,
Encumber'd in her course with burdening weeds
From rough Geræstus gather'd: in the midst
She stood: and with a generous pity touch'd
At fair Latona's sorrows, quick consum'd
The weeds impeding: for indignant flames
Burnt round her shores, the suffering pangs to view
Of female anguish: “Wreak, dread queen, she cried,
“Oh Juno, wreak on me, what vengeance best
“Shall suit thy soul: thy threats shall not disarm
“My honest purpose: come, Latona, come:
“Asteria, waits thee gladly.” Thus her toils
The wish'd for end obtain'd: beside the banks
Of deep Inopus (whose proud current wells
Most rapid, when from Æthiopia's rocks
The Nile descending deluges the land:)
Her wearied limbs she lay'd, the crowded zone
Unloosing; while against the sacred palm's
Supporting trunk reclin'd, with bitterest pangs
She groan'd distrest; and big cold drops distill'd
Adown her fainting body to the ground.
Breathless amidst her throes, “My son, she cried,
“With intermitted fervency, ah why
“Thus grieve thy tortur'd mother? when to thee
“A kindly isle the wish'd reception grants:
“Be born, be born, and ease thy mother's pangs.”
The sea-girt isles she sought, successless still;
Not even Corcyra's hospitable shores,
Nor fam'd for friendly ports th'Echinades
Dare give the wanderer entrance: From the brow
Of lofty Mimas Iris pour'd her threats,
And every island trembling heard and fled.
And now prepar'd Chalciope's retreat
Old Meropeian Cos, to seek: thus spoke
Her son's command prohibiting: “Not here
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“Tho' I nor disapprove, as amply crown'd
“With golden plenty: nor envy the renown
“Of thy Apollo's birth. But from the Fates
“To these blest realms another God is due,
“Of the great Soter race the brightest star,
“Immortal Philadelphus; at whose throne
“Shall either continent and every isle,
“(Far as from whence up the high steep of heav'n
“The fiery coursers bear the Sun's bright car,
“To where i'th' western world their journey ends)
“Nought murmur to bow down, and nought refuse
“To own that Macedonian's sway, whose soul
“Shall bright reflect his godlike father's virtues.
“Hereafter shall a common contest claim
“Our force united: when from th'utmost west
“Another race of Titans shall spring forth,
“In multitude like fleaks of falling snow,
108
“Innumerable—flashing dire o'er Grecia's realms
“The sword barbarian; and the Celtic Mars
“In all his fury rousing! loud laments,
“From Delphic towers, and Locrian battlements,
“From fields Crissæan, and each state alarm'd,
“Shall eccho round: the neighbour swains shall view
“Th'adjoining harvests blaze—and scarcely view
“Ere the devouring fire shall seize their own.
“Now shall they see, with horrible dismay,
“The hostile phalanx round my temples marshall'd:
“Now, midst my holy tripods, helms and shields
“And all the bloody implements of war,
“Unhallow'd and abominable! Cause
“Of future desolation to the throng,
109
“And wage vain war with heaven! Of those arms
“Part for my prize I claim: and part, great king,
“Thy labours shall reward: all those that strew
“The bloody banks of Nile, fall'n from the hands
“Of vanquish'd owners, breathing out their souls
“In fire and wild confusion! these shall be
“The meed of thy illustrious toils! such truths
“Prophetic I pronounce: in after times,
“Thou, Ptolemy, shalt grateful honours pay:
“And bless the unborn augur of thy fame.
“Thou too, oh mother, aid the sacred purpose:
“O'er the rough waves a well-known island roams;
“Yet unconfin'd, like flower of Asphodel
“That yeilds to every blast, it wanders wide,
“As winds and waves direct its doubtful course,
110
“Thither thy burden bear: the willing isle
“Shall to Latona gladly grant admittance.”
He said: the isles retiring sought their place
Obedient to his word; Asteria then,
Of hymns divine regardful, to behold
The sacred choir of Cyclades, came down
In happy hour from fair Eubæa's coasts,
Encumber'd in her course with burdening weeds
From rough Geræstus gather'd: in the midst
She stood: and with a generous pity touch'd
At fair Latona's sorrows, quick consum'd
111
Burnt round her shores, the suffering pangs to view
Of female anguish: “Wreak, dread queen, she cried,
“Oh Juno, wreak on me, what vengeance best
“Shall suit thy soul: thy threats shall not disarm
“My honest purpose: come, Latona, come:
“Asteria, waits thee gladly.” Thus her toils
The wish'd for end obtain'd: beside the banks
Of deep Inopus (whose proud current wells
Most rapid, when from Æthiopia's rocks
The Nile descending deluges the land:)
Her wearied limbs she lay'd, the crowded zone
Unloosing; while against the sacred palm's
112
She groan'd distrest; and big cold drops distill'd
Adown her fainting body to the ground.
Breathless amidst her throes, “My son, she cried,
“With intermitted fervency, ah why
“Thus grieve thy tortur'd mother? when to thee
“A kindly isle the wish'd reception grants:
“Be born, be born, and ease thy mother's pangs.”
But long the deed from Juno to conceal
'Twere vain to hope: for trembling with the tale
Her watchful Iris fled, and while her breast
Big pants with conscious fear, “Oh queen, she cried,
“Majestic, all-ador'd, whose pow'r supreme
“Not I alone, but all confess: of heav'n
“Dread empress thou, sister and spouse of Jove;
“Nor fear we ought from other female hand!
“Yet for thy rage hear cause: Latona's birth
“A little isle presumptuous dares admit!
“The rest all fled: but this, of all least worth,
“Asteria sweeping refuse of the main,
“Even this invited, this receiv'd thy foe!
“Thou know'st the rest: but pass not unreveng'd
“Their Quarrel, who o'er earth thy mandates bear.”
Speaking she sate beneath the golden throne:
And as a faithful dog, when from the chace
Diana rests, sits watchful at her feet,
While still erect its sharp ears list'ning stand,
And wait each whisper of her voice: so sate
Thaumantian Iris: nor when sleep itself
Spreads o'er her weary lids his downy wings,
Her duty ought foregoing: by the throne
Her head she leans reclining, and thus laid
Oblique, short slumber and disturb'd she shares;
Her circling zone not daring to unbrace,
Nor loose the winged sandals from her feet,
Lest sudden Juno's word shou'd claim her speed.
'Twere vain to hope: for trembling with the tale
Her watchful Iris fled, and while her breast
Big pants with conscious fear, “Oh queen, she cried,
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“Not I alone, but all confess: of heav'n
“Dread empress thou, sister and spouse of Jove;
“Nor fear we ought from other female hand!
“Yet for thy rage hear cause: Latona's birth
“A little isle presumptuous dares admit!
“The rest all fled: but this, of all least worth,
“Asteria sweeping refuse of the main,
“Even this invited, this receiv'd thy foe!
“Thou know'st the rest: but pass not unreveng'd
“Their Quarrel, who o'er earth thy mandates bear.”
Speaking she sate beneath the golden throne:
And as a faithful dog, when from the chace
Diana rests, sits watchful at her feet,
While still erect its sharp ears list'ning stand,
And wait each whisper of her voice: so sate
Thaumantian Iris: nor when sleep itself
Spreads o'er her weary lids his downy wings,
Her duty ought foregoing: by the throne
Her head she leans reclining, and thus laid
114
Her circling zone not daring to unbrace,
Nor loose the winged sandals from her feet,
Lest sudden Juno's word shou'd claim her speed.
But, warm resentment rising in her breast,
Thus Juno vents her ire: “In sort like this
“Ye vile reproaches of licentious Jove,
“May ye in fearful secrecy conceive
“And thus in secret shame produce your births!
“Nor find a shelter to conceal your pangs,
“Base as receives the veriest abject wretch
“Of human race, birth-tortur'd: but on rocks
“And desart cliffs unpity'd, unreliev'd,
“Thus like the monstrous Phocæ yean your brood.
“And sure Asteria's favour to my foe
“Cannot much rouse my vengeance: since her shores
“Barren and desolate can but afford
“A wretched hospitality! Yet prone
“To fury tho' I were, this wou'd disarm
“My steadiest purpose, that her virtue scorn'd,
“Tho' courted, to ascend my sacred bed,
“And to Jove's arms preferr'd the briny deep.”
She spoke: when from Pactolus' golden banks
Apollo's tuneful songsters, snowy swans,
Steering their flight, seven times their circling course
Wheel round the island, caroling mean time
Soft melody, the favourites of the Nine,
Thus ushering to birth with dulcet sounds
The God of harmony: and hence sev'n strings
Hereafter to his golden lyre he gave:
For ere the eighth soft concert was begun,
He sprung to birth—the Delian nymphs aloud
All grateful to Lucina tun'd the hymn,
The sacred song rejoicing! Æther hears
And from his brazen vault returns the sound
Exulting; perfect glory reign'd: and Jove
Sooth'd even offended Juno, that no ire
Might damp the gen'ral joy, when Sol was born.
Then, Delos, thy foundations all became
Of purest gold: the circling lake, the flood
Of deep Inopus roll'd the splendid ore
Adown their glittering streams: and golden fruit
On golden stems thy favour'd olive bore.
Thou too from off the golden soil uprais'd
The new-born God, and fondling in thy breast
Thus spoke;—“See thou, Oh earth, so richly blest,
“Thou fertile continent, and ye full isles
“Who boast such num'rous altars, shrines, and states,
“I am that poor uncultivated isle
“Despis'd and barren; yet observe, from me
“Delian Apollo scorns not to receive
“An honour'd name: and hence no other clime
“From any God shall equal favour share:
“Not Cenchris by her Neptune so belov'd,
“By Hermes nor Cyllene: nor by Jove
“Illustrious Crete: as Delos, happy isle
“By her Apollo: steadfast in his love
“Here will I fix, and wander hence no more.”
She spoke; and to the God, her snowy breast
Unfolding, gave sweet nurture: o'er the babe
Enamour'd smiling with paternal love:
Hence, holiest of islands, thou wast call'd
The nurse of Phoebus: privileg'd from death,
From bloody Mars, and wild Bellona's waste,
Who ne'er destructive tread thy hallow'd plains.
But from the subject world primitial tenths
Are sent to Delos: while each pious state
Unites with sacred joy to celebrate
The gen'ral feast; states flowing from each clime
Of the well-peopled globe, from east and west,
From Arctic and Antarctic pole—where heav'n
The virtue of the habitants rewards
With length of days: these to the Delian God
Begin the grand procession; and in hand
The holy sheaves and mystic offerings bear;
Which the Pelasgians, who the sounding brass
On earth recumbent at Dodona guard,
Joyous receive, and to the Melians care
The hallow'd gifts consign: whence o'er the fields
Lelantian pass'd, to fair Eubœa's shores
At length arriv'd, a ready passage wafts
The consecrated off'ring to the shrine
Of Delian Apollo. Of the north,
(Chill Boreas' climes, the Arimaspians seat,)
The loveliest daughters, Hecaerge blest,
Bright Upis, and fair Loxo, with a choir
Of chosen youth accompany'd, first brought
The grateful sheaves and hallow'd gifts to Phoebus:
Thrice happy throng, ordain'd no more to see
Their native north, but ever flourish fair
In fame immortal, servants of their God!
The Delian nymphs, whom to the nuptial bed
Midst melting music Hymen gently leads
Trembling with am'rous fear, their votive locks
To these bright daughters of the north consign:
And to the sons the bridegrooms consecrate
The virgin harvest of their downy chins.
Thus Juno vents her ire: “In sort like this
“Ye vile reproaches of licentious Jove,
“May ye in fearful secrecy conceive
“And thus in secret shame produce your births!
“Nor find a shelter to conceal your pangs,
“Base as receives the veriest abject wretch
“Of human race, birth-tortur'd: but on rocks
“And desart cliffs unpity'd, unreliev'd,
“Thus like the monstrous Phocæ yean your brood.
115
“Cannot much rouse my vengeance: since her shores
“Barren and desolate can but afford
“A wretched hospitality! Yet prone
“To fury tho' I were, this wou'd disarm
“My steadiest purpose, that her virtue scorn'd,
“Tho' courted, to ascend my sacred bed,
“And to Jove's arms preferr'd the briny deep.”
She spoke: when from Pactolus' golden banks
Apollo's tuneful songsters, snowy swans,
Steering their flight, seven times their circling course
Wheel round the island, caroling mean time
Soft melody, the favourites of the Nine,
Thus ushering to birth with dulcet sounds
The God of harmony: and hence sev'n strings
Hereafter to his golden lyre he gave:
116
He sprung to birth—the Delian nymphs aloud
All grateful to Lucina tun'd the hymn,
The sacred song rejoicing! Æther hears
And from his brazen vault returns the sound
Exulting; perfect glory reign'd: and Jove
Sooth'd even offended Juno, that no ire
Might damp the gen'ral joy, when Sol was born.
Then, Delos, thy foundations all became
Of purest gold: the circling lake, the flood
Of deep Inopus roll'd the splendid ore
Adown their glittering streams: and golden fruit
On golden stems thy favour'd olive bore.
Thou too from off the golden soil uprais'd
The new-born God, and fondling in thy breast
Thus spoke;—“See thou, Oh earth, so richly blest,
“Thou fertile continent, and ye full isles
“Who boast such num'rous altars, shrines, and states,
117
“Despis'd and barren; yet observe, from me
“Delian Apollo scorns not to receive
“An honour'd name: and hence no other clime
“From any God shall equal favour share:
“Not Cenchris by her Neptune so belov'd,
“By Hermes nor Cyllene: nor by Jove
“Illustrious Crete: as Delos, happy isle
“By her Apollo: steadfast in his love
“Here will I fix, and wander hence no more.”
She spoke; and to the God, her snowy breast
Unfolding, gave sweet nurture: o'er the babe
Enamour'd smiling with paternal love:
118
The nurse of Phoebus: privileg'd from death,
From bloody Mars, and wild Bellona's waste,
Who ne'er destructive tread thy hallow'd plains.
But from the subject world primitial tenths
119
Unites with sacred joy to celebrate
The gen'ral feast; states flowing from each clime
Of the well-peopled globe, from east and west,
From Arctic and Antarctic pole—where heav'n
The virtue of the habitants rewards
With length of days: these to the Delian God
Begin the grand procession; and in hand
The holy sheaves and mystic offerings bear;
Which the Pelasgians, who the sounding brass
On earth recumbent at Dodona guard,
120
The hallow'd gifts consign: whence o'er the fields
Lelantian pass'd, to fair Eubœa's shores
At length arriv'd, a ready passage wafts
The consecrated off'ring to the shrine
Of Delian Apollo. Of the north,
121
The loveliest daughters, Hecaerge blest,
Bright Upis, and fair Loxo, with a choir
Of chosen youth accompany'd, first brought
The grateful sheaves and hallow'd gifts to Phoebus:
Thrice happy throng, ordain'd no more to see
Their native north, but ever flourish fair
In fame immortal, servants of their God!
The Delian nymphs, whom to the nuptial bed
Midst melting music Hymen gently leads
Trembling with am'rous fear, their votive locks
To these bright daughters of the north consign:
And to the sons the bridegrooms consecrate
The virgin harvest of their downy chins.
122
Thee bright Asteria (whose rich altars breathe
Divinest sweets to heav'n) the circling isles
Encompass round, and form a beauteous choir
Not silent nor devoid of sacred song:
But radiant vesper crown'd with golden locks,
Still views thee hymn'd with grateful harmony.
The youths, prophetic Olen, chaunt thy lays
Delighted: while the maids the solid ground
Shake with their choral feet: and load with wreaths
Fair Venus' sacred statue, which, from Crete
Returning with his peers, kind queen of love,
Theseus uprais'd to thee: who, when escap'd
The mazy labyrinth, death's sequester'd seat,
And dread Pasiphaë's offspring by thy aid,
Grateful around thine altar led the choir
With sacred dances to the tuneful harp.
And hence the sons of Cecrops annual send
The fam'd Theorian vessel, that defies
The pow'r of time, for ages still the same.
Divinest sweets to heav'n) the circling isles
Encompass round, and form a beauteous choir
Not silent nor devoid of sacred song:
But radiant vesper crown'd with golden locks,
Still views thee hymn'd with grateful harmony.
The youths, prophetic Olen, chaunt thy lays
Delighted: while the maids the solid ground
Shake with their choral feet: and load with wreaths
Fair Venus' sacred statue, which, from Crete
Returning with his peers, kind queen of love,
Theseus uprais'd to thee: who, when escap'd
The mazy labyrinth, death's sequester'd seat,
And dread Pasiphaë's offspring by thy aid,
Grateful around thine altar led the choir
With sacred dances to the tuneful harp.
And hence the sons of Cecrops annual send
123
The pow'r of time, for ages still the same.
Thee, ever honour'd isle, what vessel dares
Sail by regardless? 'twere in vain to plead
Strong driving gales, or, stronger still than they,
Swift-wing'd necessity: their swelling sails
Here mariners must furl; nor hence depart
Till round thy altar, struck with many a blow,
The maze they tread, and, backward bent their arms,
The sacred olive bite: for such the sports,
To please thy infant fancy, and divert
With youthful mirth, the Delian nymph devis'd.
Sail by regardless? 'twere in vain to plead
124
Swift-wing'd necessity: their swelling sails
Here mariners must furl; nor hence depart
Till round thy altar, struck with many a blow,
The maze they tread, and, backward bent their arms,
The sacred olive bite: for such the sports,
To please thy infant fancy, and divert
With youthful mirth, the Delian nymph devis'd.
Hail Vesta of the isles, the middle place
For thou obtain'st well-station'd; Delos hail,
Hail Phoebus! and thou, Mother of the God.
125
126
End of the Hymn to Delos.
| The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes | |