And all unknown to traveller's tread,
He saw the blessed land at last.-
He stopt, he gazed with new delight,
When that strange verdure met his sight;
And soft desire enflamed his soul
(Where twelve times round the chariots roll,) To plant with such the Pisan goal.
But now, unseen to mortal eyes,
He comes to Theron's sacrifice:
And with him brings to banquet there
High bosomed Leda's knightly pair.--
Himself to high Olympus bound,
To these a latest charge he gave,
A solemn annual feast to found,
And of contending heroes round
To deck the strong, the swift, the brave.
Nor doubt I that on Theron's head,
And on the good Emmenides,
The sons of Jove their blessings shed;
Whom still, with bounteous tables spread,
That holy tribe delight to please;
Observing with religious dread
The hospitable god's decrees.
But, wide as water passeth earthly clay,
Or sun-bright gold transcendeth baser ore;
Wide as from Greece to that remotest shore Whose rock-built pillars own Alcides' sway; Thy fame hath passed thine equals! To explore The further ocean all in vain essay,
Or fools or wise; here from thy perilous way
Cast anchor here, my bark! I dare no more.
O, urging on the tireless speed
Of Thunder's elemental steed,
Lord of the world, almighty Jove!
Since these thine hours have led me forth
The witness of thy champions' worth,
And prophet of thine olive grove :
And since the good thy poet hear,
And hold his tuneful message dear;
Saturnian Lord of Etna hill.
Whose storm-cemented rocks encage
The hundred-headed rebel's rage;
Accept with favorable will
The Muse's gilt of harmony;
The dance, the song, whose numbers high
Forbid the hero's dame to die,
A crown of life abiding still.
Hark, round the car of victory,
Where noble Psaumis sits on high,
The cheering notes resound;
Who vows to swell with added fame
His Camarina's ancient name;
With Pisan olive crowned.
And thou, O father,hear his prayer,-
For much I praise the knightly care
That trains the warrior steed:
Nor less the hospitable hall
Whose open doors the stranger call;
Yet, praise I Psaumis most of all
For wise and peaceful rede,
And patriot love of liberty.
What do we wave the glozing lie?
Then whoso list my truth to try,
The proof be in the deed.
To Lemnos's laughing dames of yore,
Such was the proof Ernicus bore,
When, matchless in his speed,
All brazen-armed the racer hoar,
Victorious on the applauding shore,
Sprang to the proffered meed;
Bowed to the queen his wreathed head; 'Thou seest my limbs are light,' he said; And, lady, may'st thou know,
That every joint is firmly strung,
And hand and heart alike are young;
Though treacherous time my locks among
Have strewed a summer snow.'
ACCEPT of these Olympian games the crown,
Daughter of Ocean, rushy Camarine.
The flower of knightly worth and high renown,
Which car-borne Psaumis on thy parent shrine,
(Psaumis, the patriot, whom thy peopled town
Its second author owns,) with rite divine
Suspends. His praise the twice six altars tell
Of the great gods whom he hath feasted well
With blood of bulls; the praise of victory,
Where cars and mules and steeds contest the
And that green garland of renown to thee
He hallows, virgin daughter of the sea,
And to his sire and household deities;
Thee too, returning home from Pelop's land,
Thee, guardian Pallas, and thy holy wood,
He hails with song, and cool Oanus' flood;
And of his native pool the rushy strand;
And thy broad bed, refreshing Hipparis,
Whose silent waves the peopled city kiss,
That city which hath blest his bounteous hand,
|