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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THE LAMENT OF PHAETON'S SISTERS. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
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THE LAMENT OF PHAETON'S SISTERS.
Bring ye moly and the short-lived crocus,
Burn ye frankincense with odorous cedar,
We will strew his sepulchre with roses,
A royal tomb!
Burn ye frankincense with odorous cedar,
We will strew his sepulchre with roses,
A royal tomb!
Thou ill-fated, most presumptuous brother!
Couldst thou dare ascend the gleaming chariot,
Mortal charioteer to guide the sun-steeds?
Couldst thou dare ascend the gleaming chariot,
Mortal charioteer to guide the sun-steeds?
He our father,
The unapproachable,—
Phœbus, Lord of Delos,
Eternally surrounded
By the clear glory of his awful presence,
Frowned at thy request;
Nor yet denied it,
For he had sworn
By Styx, that oath of dreadful import,
That even bindeth fast immortals,
To grant thy first boon!
The unapproachable,—
Phœbus, Lord of Delos,
Eternally surrounded
By the clear glory of his awful presence,
Frowned at thy request;
Nor yet denied it,
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By Styx, that oath of dreadful import,
That even bindeth fast immortals,
To grant thy first boon!
Ah ye, our father's horses!
Steeds of daylight!
Could ye destroy our brother?
Hence shall we no more bring you
The golden barley,
Divine, ambrosial;
No more our fingers
Shall comb your manes out,
Or sleek your proud necks:
Ye have betrayed him.
Steeds of daylight!
Could ye destroy our brother?
Hence shall we no more bring you
The golden barley,
Divine, ambrosial;
No more our fingers
Shall comb your manes out,
Or sleek your proud necks:
Ye have betrayed him.
Then sped the irresistible
Bolt of the great one,
Zeus, king eternal,
Scorching thy wretched life;
And thou wast hurled
Out upon space!
Bolt of the great one,
Zeus, king eternal,
Scorching thy wretched life;
And thou wast hurled
Out upon space!
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Three days still falling,
Blackened by lightning,
Among the stars,
Towards the dim earth,
In the night of death!
Blackened by lightning,
Among the stars,
Towards the dim earth,
In the night of death!
Until we found thee
Here by the river,
Thy beauty scarred,
Thy face distorted,—
Our love alone had known thee!
Here by the river,
Thy beauty scarred,
Thy face distorted,—
Our love alone had known thee!
Here will we lay him
In mother Earth,
Enswathed in costly cerements;
And we sad watchers
Will weep long tears,—
Upon the crystal river
Rain down our tears
As thick as amber!
In mother Earth,
Enswathed in costly cerements;
And we sad watchers
Will weep long tears,—
Upon the crystal river
Rain down our tears
As thick as amber!
And we will sigh
As sigh yon poplars by the margin,
Above the sedges,
That droop their sere leaves,—
With these the river
Shall moan in unison
A dirge for thee,
O thou beloved one!
Brother, most ill-fated!
As sigh yon poplars by the margin,
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That droop their sere leaves,—
With these the river
Shall moan in unison
A dirge for thee,
O thou beloved one!
Brother, most ill-fated!
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |