THRASYMEDES AND EUNOE WHO will away to Athens with me? who Loves choral songs and maidens crown'd with flowers, Unenvious? mount the pinnace; hoist the sail. I promise ye, as many as are here, 1 Prefixed to the second edition of Landor's Hellenics, 1847. It is here given slightly out of the exact chronological order, that it may stand as an introduction to the chief poems from the Hellenies, those of 1816 as well as those of 1847. Other poems of Landor's, such as The Death of Artemidora, Cleone to Aspasia, The Shades of Agamemnon and Iphigencia, etc., though orig. inally published in other collections, and there fore not given here with the Hellenies, were ul timately included by Landor among them. Ye shall not, while ye tarry with me taste From unrinsed barrel the diluted wine Of a low vineyard or a plant ill-pruned. But such as anciently the Egean isles Pour'd in libation at their solemn feasts And the same goblets shall ye grasp embossed With no vile figures of loose languid boors, But such as gods have lived with and have led. The sea smiles bright before us. What white sail Plays yonder? What pursues it? Like two hawks Away they fly. Let us away in time To overtake them. Are they menaces We hear? And shall the strong repulse the weak, Enraged at her defender? Hippias! Art thou the man? "Twas Hippias. He had found His sister borne from the Cecropian port By Thrasymedes. And reluctantly? Ask, ask the maiden; I have no reply. "Brother! O brother Hippias! O, if love, If pity, ever touch'd thy breast, forbear! Strike not the brave, the gentle, the be loved, My Thrasymedes, with his cloak alone Protecting his own head and mine from harm." "Didst thou not once before," cried Hippias, Regardless of his sister, hoarse with wrath Are these the pirates thou hast taken. son?" Said he. "Worse, father! worse than pirates they.. Who thus abuse thy patience, thus abuse Thy pardon, thus abuse the holy rites Twice over." "Well hast thou performed thy duty." Firmly and gravely said Peisistrates. Nothing then, rash young man! could turn thy heart From Eunce, my daughter?" Shall ever turn it. I can die but once And love but once. O Eunoe! farewell!" "Nay, she shall see what thou canst bear for her." "O father! shut me in my chamber, shut me In my poor mother's tomb, dead or alive, But never let me see what he can bear; I know how much that is, when borne for me." Not yet: come on. And lag not thou behind, He stake: arl on te marrow they IPHIGENEIA AND AGAMEMNON "Ofather! I am young and very hamp Obscures the senses. If my nurse, whe knew My voice so well, sometimes misunders stood While I was resting on her knee both Only to say it, surely is enough It shows such kindness. if 'twere possible We at the moment think she would indeed. Hamad. Who taught thee all this folly at thy age? Rhaicos. I have seen lovers and have learned to love. Hamad. But wilt thou spare the tree? Rhaicos. My father wants The bark the tree may hold its place awhile. Hamad. Awhile! thy father numbers then my days? Rhaicos. Are there no others where the moss beneath Is quite as tufty? thee forth Who would send Love is unholy, Swear to me that none Of mortal maids shall ever taste thy kiss. Then take thou mine; then take it, not before. Rhaicos. Hearken, all gods above! O Aphrodité! O Here! Let my vow be ratified! But wilt thou come into my father's house? Hamad. Nay and of mine I cannot give thee part. Rhaicos. Where is it? The tale of Hamadryad; tell it through. Hamad. Pray of thy father never to to cut down My tree; and promise him, as well thou mayst, That every year he shall receive from me More honey than will buy him nine fat sheep. More wax than he will burn to all the gods. Why fallest thou upon thy face? Some thorn May scratch it, rash young man! Rise up; for shame! Rhaicos. For shame I can not rise. O pity me! I dare not sue for love.. but do not hate! Let me once more behold thee..not once more, [loved! But many days: let me love on.. un |