| |
Translated by E. A. Bowring
WHILST the smiling earth ye governed still, | |
| And with rapture’s soft and guiding hand | |
| Led the happy nations at your will, | |
| Beauteous beings from the fable-land! | |
| Whilst your blissful worship smiled around, | 5 |
| Ah! how different was it in that day! | |
| When the people still thy temples crowned, | |
| Venus Amathusia! | |
| |
| When the magic veil of poesy | |
| Still round truth entwined its loving chain,— | 10 |
| Through creation poured life’s fulness free, | |
| Things then felt, which ne’er can feel again. | |
| Then to press her ’gainst the breast of love, | |
| They on Nature nobler power bestowed, | |
| All, to eyes enlightened from above, | 15 |
| Of a god the traces showed. | |
| |
| There, where now, as we ’re by sages told, | |
| Whirls on high a soulless fiery ball, | |
| Helios guided then his car of gold, | |
| In his silent majesty, o’er all. | 20 |
| Oreads then these heights around us filled, | |
| Then a dryad dwelt in yonder tree, | |
| From the urn of loving naiads rilled | |
| Silver streamlets foamingly. | |
| |
| Yonder Laurel once imploring wound, | 25 |
| Tantal’s daughter slumbers in this stone; | |
| From yon rush rose Syrinx’ mournful sound, | |
| From this thicket Philomela’s moan. | |
| Yonder brook Demeter’s tears received, | |
| That she wept for her Persephone, | 30 |
| From this hill, of her loved friend bereaved, | |
| Cried Cythera, fruitlessly! | |
| |
| To Deucalion’s race from realms of air | |
| Then the great Immortals still came down; | |
| And to vanquish Pyrrha’s daughter fair, | 35 |
| Then a shepherd’s staff took Leto’s son. | |
| Then ’tween heroes, deities, and men | |
| Was a beauteous bond by Eros twined, | |
| And with deities and heroes then | |
| Knelt in Cyprus’ Isle mankind. | 40 |
| |
| Gloomy sternness and denial sad | |
| Ne’er were in your service blest descried; | |
| Each heart throbbed then with emotions glad, | |
| For the happy were with you allied. | |
| Nothing then was holy, save the fair; | 45 |
| Of no rapture was the god ashamed, | |
| When the modest Muse was blushing there, | |
| When their sway the Graces claimed! | |
| |
| Palace-like, then smiled your temples all, | |
| Ye were honored in the hero-sport | 50 |
| At the isthmus’ crown-clad festival, | |
| And the goal the thundering chariots sought. | |
| Beauteous dances that a spirit breathed | |
| Circled round your altars bright and fair; | |
| Round your brows the crown of triumph wreathed, | 55 |
| Garlands graced your fragrant hair. | |
| |
| Thyrsus-swingers’ loud Evoë then, | |
| And the panther-team that shone afar, | |
| Welcomed him who rapture brought to men; | |
| Fauns and Satyrs reeled before his car! | 60 |
| Round him sprang the Mænads’ raving crew, | |
| While their dances showed his wine’s great worth, | |
| And the host’s full cheeks of tawny hue | |
| Pointed to the cup with mirth. | |
| |
| In those days before the bed of death | 65 |
| Stood no ghastly form. Then took away | |
| From the lips a kiss the parting breath, | |
| And a genius quenched his torch’s ray. | |
| Even Orcus’ rigid judgment scales | |
| By a mortal’s offspring once were held, | 70 |
| And the Thracian’s spirit-breathing wails | |
| E’en the angry Furies quelled. | |
| |
| Once again within Elysium’s grove | |
| Met the happy shade his joys so dear; | |
| Lover faithful found his faithful love, | 75 |
| And his path regained the charioteer; | |
| Linus’ lute gave back each wonted strain, | |
| Admet clasped Alcestis to his heart, | |
| And Orestes found his friend again, | |
| Philoctetes found his dart. | 80 |
| |
| Nobler prizes then the wrestler crowned, | |
| Who the arduous path of virtue pressed; | |
| Glorious workers then of deeds renowned | |
| Clambered up to join the spirits blest. | |
| All the band of silent gods the while | 85 |
| Bowed to him who summoned back the dead; | |
| From Olympus’ height the twin-stars’ smile | |
| O’er the waves the pilot led. | |
| |
| Beauteous world, where art thou gone? O, thou, | |
| Nature’s blooming youth, return once more! | 90 |
| Ah, but in song’s fairy region now | |
| Lives thy fabled trace so dear of yore! | |
| Cold and perished, sorrow now the plains, | |
| Not one godhead greets my longing sight; | |
| Ah, the shadow only now remains | 95 |
| Of yon living image bright! * * * * * | |
| |
