Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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AGAMEMNON. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
26
AGAMEMNON.
In tedious siege and ineffectual strife,
In waste of hero-blood, and aimless broil,
Ten weary years have dragged their laggard life,
'Till treachery sapped the walls that baffled toil,
And warrior strength and warrior deeds did foil.
In waste of hero-blood, and aimless broil,
Ten weary years have dragged their laggard life,
'Till treachery sapped the walls that baffled toil,
And warrior strength and warrior deeds did foil.
'Till from its base great Ilium's citadel
Encompassed by a triple line of spears
And shoaling angered Greeks, in ruins fell,
To rise no more hereafter thro' long years—
To mock our long-haired kings—to move our nations' fears!
Encompassed by a triple line of spears
And shoaling angered Greeks, in ruins fell,
To rise no more hereafter thro' long years—
To mock our long-haired kings—to move our nations' fears!
Ten years! great portion of our narrowed days,
Frittered beside the canvas-crowded shore:
Battling for empty glory, emptier praise;
In bitter yearnings for the homeward oar,
My lonely queen, the Argive mountains hoar;
I've left me now of life a span-like score!
Frittered beside the canvas-crowded shore:
Battling for empty glory, emptier praise;
In bitter yearnings for the homeward oar,
27
I've left me now of life a span-like score!
At length Troy is no more. The fatal sheen
Of Spartan Helen's love-ensnaring glance,
Made deadlier far one faithless lady's eyne
Than barb of arrow or the poise of lance—
Battered were breastplates, riven their lordly helms.
She sorrow brought and death to Priam's realms.
Of Spartan Helen's love-ensnaring glance,
Made deadlier far one faithless lady's eyne
Than barb of arrow or the poise of lance—
Battered were breastplates, riven their lordly helms.
She sorrow brought and death to Priam's realms.
For foemen's greedy hands and eddying fire
Fiercer than vengeance tear thy walls away,
Of craft immortal girt with tower and spire,
And raze of temples all that long array;
Nor reverence what time could not decay!
Fiercer than vengeance tear thy walls away,
Of craft immortal girt with tower and spire,
And raze of temples all that long array;
Nor reverence what time could not decay!
A heap of ruins shall we leave behind—
Alas, my heart is clouded o'er with care,
That when we are returned we too may find,
Instead of home, a heap of ruins there!—
No home but desolation and despair.
Alas, my heart is clouded o'er with care,
That when we are returned we too may find,
Instead of home, a heap of ruins there!—
No home but desolation and despair.
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A heap of ruins perhaps our wife's affection,—
Our children's love with absence chilled and fled;
Fair looks and smiles will gloss their deep dejection,
Who counted us long time among the dead—
Long time have dried what scanty tears they shed.
Our children's love with absence chilled and fled;
Fair looks and smiles will gloss their deep dejection,
Who counted us long time among the dead—
Long time have dried what scanty tears they shed.
Folly of follies, on a brother's wrong
To waste the marrow of our days in war,—
To stretch thin hands, and hymn a wretched song
For peace,—a treacherous vapour-broadened star,
Whose beams strike near us, yet its orb is far.
To waste the marrow of our days in war,—
To stretch thin hands, and hymn a wretched song
For peace,—a treacherous vapour-broadened star,
Whose beams strike near us, yet its orb is far.
Ye mists, that shroud our future and our lives,
Roll out your cloudy secrets, crush with fire
The dread unsounded destiny which strives
To hold us from the lips we most desire.
Home is most homeless chilled with welcome stern.
What if I've stayed too long, too late return?
Roll out your cloudy secrets, crush with fire
The dread unsounded destiny which strives
To hold us from the lips we most desire.
Home is most homeless chilled with welcome stern.
What if I've stayed too long, too late return?
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |