Alexander's Feast; or, the Power of Dusic JOHN DRYDEN An Ode in Honor of St. Cecilia's Day. 'Twas at the royal feast, for Persia won By Philip's' warlike son: Aloft in awful state The godlike hero sate On his imperial throne: 2 His valiant peers were placed around; Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: (So should desert in arms be crowned.) Sate like a blooming Eastern bride None but the brave None but the brave None but the brave deserves the fair. 1. Philip of Macedon (382-336 B. C.), conqueror of Greece, against whom Demosthenes spoke, was murdered as he was about to set forth for the conquest of Persia. 2. Alexander the Great (356-323 B. C.), the most famous general of ancient times; subdued practically the whole of the then known world. He was dissipated, but a liberal patron of arts and sciences. |