Homer ("Smyrns of Chios") ( 10 of 101 )
The long historian of my country's woes.
The long historian of my country's woes.
Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro,
In all the raging impotence of woe.
Grief tears his heart, and drives him to and fro,
In all the raging impotence of woe.
A happier lot were mine,
If I must lose thee, to go down to earth,
For I read more
A happier lot were mine,
If I must lose thee, to go down to earth,
For I shall have no hope when thou art gone,--
Nothing but sorrow. Father have I none,
And no dear mother.
And what so tedious as a twice-told tale.
And what so tedious as a twice-told tale.
To heal divisions, to relieve the oppress'd,
In virtue rich; in blessing others, bless'd.
To heal divisions, to relieve the oppress'd,
In virtue rich; in blessing others, bless'd.
Shakes his ambroisal curls, and gives the nod,
The stamp of fate, and sanction of the god.
Shakes his ambroisal curls, and gives the nod,
The stamp of fate, and sanction of the god.
Accept these grateful tears! for thee thy flow,
For thee, that ever felt another's woe!
Accept these grateful tears! for thee thy flow,
For thee, that ever felt another's woe!
Jove, thou regent of the skies.
Jove, thou regent of the skies.
Not hate, but glory, made these chiefs contend;
And each brave foe was in his soul a friend.
Not hate, but glory, made these chiefs contend;
And each brave foe was in his soul a friend.
Now deep in ocean sunk the lamp of light,
And drew behind the cloudy vale of night.
Now deep in ocean sunk the lamp of light,
And drew behind the cloudy vale of night.
