Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Greece and Turkey in Europe: Vol. XIX. 1876–79. | | | | Greece: Athens | | Athens | | James Thomson (1834–1882) |
| | (From Liberty)
OF softer genius, but not less intent | |
| To seize the palm of empire, Athens rose. | |
| Where, with bright marbles big and future pomp,— | |
| Hymettus spread, amid the scented sky, | |
| His thymy treasures to the laboring bee, | 5 |
| And to botanic hand the stores of health; | |
| Wrapt in a soul-attenuating clime, | |
| Between Ilissus and Cephissus glowed | |
| This hive of science, shedding sweets divine, | |
| Of active arts, and animated arms. | 10 |
| There, passionate for me, an easy-moved, | |
| A quick, refined, a delicate, humane, | |
| Enlightened people reigned. Oft on the brink | |
| Of ruin, hurried by the charm of speech, | |
| Inforcing hasty counsel immature, | 15 |
| Tottered the rash Democracy; unpoised, | |
| And by the rage devoured, that ever tears | |
| A populace unequal; part too rich, | |
| And part or fierce with want or abject grown. | |
| Solon at last, their mild restorer, rose: | 20 |
| Allayed the tempest; to the calm of laws | |
| Reduced the settling whole; and, with the weight | |
| Which the two senates to the public lent, | |
| As with an anchor fixed the driving state. | | | | |
|
|
