Ah, their cruel footsteps crush All the flowers that fill their path!
Who will dare to stem their wrath?
Brethren, let us venture all!
Virtue in your pure cheek glows.
Phoebus will attend our callWhen he sees our heavy woes;And that we may have aright Weapons suited to the fight, He the mountain shaketh now--From its brow Rattling down Stone on stone Through the thicket spread appear.
Brethren, seize them! Wherefore fear?
Now the villain crew assail, As though with a storm of hail, And expel the strangers wild From these regions soft and mild Where the sun has ever smil'd!
What strange wonder do I see?
Can it be?
All my limbs of power are reft.
And all strength my hand has left.
Can it he?
None are strangers that I see!
And our brethren 'tis who go On before, the way to show!
Oh, the reckless impious ones!
How they, with their jarring tones, Beat the time, as on they hie!
Quick, my brethren!--let us fly!
To the rash ones, yet a word!
Ay, my voice shall now be heard, As a peal of thunder, strong!
Words as poets' arms were made,--
When the god will he obey'd, Follow fast his darts ere long.
Was it possible that ye Thus your godlike dignity Should forget? The Thyrsus rudeMust a heavy burden feelTo the hand but wont to steal O'er the lyre in gentle mood.
From the sparkling waterfalls, From the brook that purling calls, Shall Silenus' loathsome beast Be allow'd at will to feast?
Aganippe's * wave he sips With profane and spreading lips,--With ungainly feet stamps madly, Till the waters flow on sadly.
Fain I'd think myself deludedIn the sadd'ning sounds I hear;From the holy glades secludedHateful tones assail the ear.
Laughter wild (exchange how mournful!)
Takes the place of love's sweet dream;
Women-haters and the scornfulIn exulting chorus scream.
Nightingale and turtle doveFly their nests so warm and chaste, And, inflamed with sensual love,Holds the Faun the Nymph embrac'd.
Here a garment's torn away,Scoffs succeed their sated bliss, While the god, with angry ray,Looks upon each impious kiss.
Vapour, smoke, as from a fire,And advancing clouds I view;Chords not only grace the lyre,For the bow its chords bath too.
Even the adorer's heartDreads the wild advancing hand, For the flames that round them dartShow the fierce destroyer's hand.
Oh neglect not what I say,For I speak it lovingly!
From our boundaries haste away,From the god's dread anger fly!
Cleanse once more the holy place,Turn the savage train aside!
Earth contains upon its faceMany a spot unsanctified;Here we only prize the good.
Stars unsullied round us burn.
If ye, in repentant mood,From your wanderings would return,--If ye fail to find the blissThat ye found with us of yore,--Or when lawless mirth like thisGives your hearts delight no more,--Then return in pilgrim guise,Gladly up the mountain go, While your strains repentant rise,And our brethren's advent show.
Let a new-born wreath entwineSolemnly your temples round;Rapture glows in hearts divineWhen a long-lost sinner's found.
Swifter e'en than Lathe's floodRound Death's silent house can play, Ev'ry error of the goodWill love's chalice wash away.
All will haste your steps to meet,As ye come in majesty,--Men your blessing will entreat;--
Ours ye thus will doubly be!
1798.
(* Aganippe--A spring in Boeotia, which arose out of Mount Helicon, and was sacred to Apollo and the Muses.)-----
