Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

While Castor and myself, the younger, try

The battle; thus to the parental roof

We shall not leave an utter misery

One death is quite enough for one sad family.

"Those who survive shall gladden all their friends,
(Bridegrooms, not corses,) and these virgins wed:
Good is small ill that great contention ends."
And Providence fulfilled the words he said.
That elder pair their arms deposited ;

But Lynceus shook, under his shield's broad rest,
His quivering lance, and Castor likewise sped
To meet him to the conflict fierce they prest;
On either martial head nodded the horse-hair crest.

First with their spears they aimed full many a blow, Where'er an exposed part came into sight,

But ere they injured one another so,

The spear-heads broke in either broad shield pight: Then from the sheaths they drew their swords outright,

And fiercely on the other either prest,

Nor paused a moment in the furious fight;

And each at shield or helm their blows addrest,

But quick-eyed Lynceus maimed-only the purple crest.

At Castor's left knee then he fiercely strook,

Who, 'scaping, smote the threatning hand away;
He, running, to his father's tomb betook

Himself, dropping the hand: there Idas lay
Watching the cousins ply the bloody fray;

But eager Castor drove his thirsty sword Through flank and navel; out-gushed to the day His bowels, where out-spread he lay begored ; And down his eyelids dim the heavy sleep was poured.

Nor was it fated that his mother dear
Should see the other wed to her content;
For Idas at that hapless sight did tear
A pillar from his father's monument,

To slay his brother's slayer; but Zeus sent,

In aid of Castor, his devouring fire,

Made drop the marble, and himself up-brent.

So they did to none easy task aspire,

Who fought those mighty ones—the sons of mighty sire.

Hail, sons of Leda! give my hymns renown :
To you and Helen, dear the minstrel's claim,
And dear to all who threw proud Ilion down.
The Chian minstrel, princes! gave you fame,

Of Troy, th' Achæan ships that thither came,

The war, and the war's tower, Achilles brave, Hymning the song: may mine be free from blame !

I give you what to me the muses gave;

And gods prefer the song to all the gifts they have!

IDYL XXIII.

THE DESPAIRING LOVER.

ARGUMENT.

A youth, enamoured of a cruel one, having given himself up to despair, went and presented himself at the gate of his beloved, where, after uttering such expostulations and complaints as suited his melancholy case, he put himself out of fortune's power by hanging himself. The person he loved is represented as passing by his corse with indifference, and spitting on it in contempt and abhorrence; but going to the bath is killed by the fall of a marble statue of the god of love.

« AnteriorContinuar »