首页 >出版文学> M119>第36章

第36章

  Ithadresemblancetoadeath:andon,Againstacoastwheresapphireshatteredwhite,TheseasonsrolledliketroopsofbillowsblownTospraymist。Theprincegazedoncappingnight。
  DeafAgespakeinhisearwithshouts:Thyson!
  DeepfromhisheartLiferavedofworknotdone。
  Heheardhistoricechoesmoanhisname,Asoftheprinceinwhomtheracehadpause;
  TillTyrannypaternitybecame,Andhimhehatedlovedheforthecause。
  NotLycophrontheelenowappeared,ButyoungPeriander,fromtheshadowcleared,Thathauntedhisrebelliousbrows。TheprinceGrewbrightforhim;sawyouth,ifseemingloth,Return:andofpurepardontoconnce,Despatchedthemessengermostdearwithboth。
  Hisdaughter,fromtheele’sIslandhome,Wrote,asaflightofhalcyonso’erthefoam,Sweetwords:herbrothertohisfatherbowed;
  Acceptedhispeace-offering,andrejoiced。
  Tobringhimbackaprincethefathervowed,Commandedmantheoars,thewhitesailshoist。
  HewavedthefleettostrainitswestwardwayOntothesea-huedhillsthatcrownthebay:
  SoilofthosehospitableislandersWhomnowhisheart,forhonourtohisblood,Thanked。TheyshouldlearnwhatboonsaprinceconfersWhenhappinessenjoinshimgratitude!
  Inwatchupontheoffing,wornwithhasteToseehisyouthreved,and,closeembraced,Pardonwhohadsubduedhim,whohadgainedSurelythestoutestbattlebetweentwoSinceTitanpiercedbyyoungApollostainedEarth’sbreast,theprincelookedforth,himselflookedthrough。
  Errorsaforetimeunperceedwerebared,Tobebyhisyoungmasterfulrepaired:
  Renewedhisgreatideasgonetosmoke;
  HispolicyconfirmedamidthesurgeOfStatesandpeoplefrettingathisyoke。
  Andlo,thefleetbrown-flockedonthesea-verge!
  Oarspulled:theystreamedinharbour;withoutcheerForwelcomeshadowedroundtheheangbier。
  They,whoseapproachinsuchrarepompandstressOfnumbersthefreeislandersdismayedAtTyrannycomemaskingtooppress,FoundLycophronthisbreathless,thislone-laid。
  Whosmotethemanthrownopentoyoungjoy?
  TheimageofthemotherofhisboyCameforthfromhisunwarybreastinwreaths,Witheyes。Andshallawoman,thatextinct,SmiteoutofdustthePowerfulwhobreathes?
  Herlovedtheson;herserved;theylayclose-linked!
  X
  Deadwashe,anddemandingearth。DemandSharperforvengeanceofaninstanthand,TheTyrantinthefatherheardhimcry,Andragedaplague;toproveonfreeHellenesHowprompttheTyrantforthePersiandye;
  HowblackhisGodsbehindtheirmarblescreens。
  TheTyrantpassed,andfriendlierwashiseyeOnthegreatmanofAthens,whomforfoeHeknew,thanonthesycophanticfryThatbrokeaswatersroundagalley’sflow,Bubblesatprowandfoamalongthewake。
  SoliditytheThunderercouldnotshake,Beneathanadversewindstillstrippingbare,Hiskinsman,ofthelight-in-cavernlook,Fromthoughtdrew,andacountenancecouldwearNotlessatpeacethanfieldsinAtticairShorn,andshownfruitfulbythereaper’shook。
  Mostenableso;yetmuchinsaneTodeemofmindsofmentheygrow!thesesheep,Byfitswildhorses,needthecrookandrein;
  Hotbullsbyfits,purewisdomholdtheycheap,MyLawger,whenfieryisthemood。
  Foronesandtwosandthreesthywordsaregood;
  Forthineowngovernmentarepillars:mineStandactstofittheherd;whichhasquickthirst,Rejectingelegiacs,thoughtheyshineOnpolishedbrass,and,worthyoftheNine,Inshoweringcolumnsfromtheirfountainburst。
  ThusmusefulrodetheTyrant,princelyplumed,Tohishighseatuponthesacredrock:
  AndSolon,blankbesidehisrule,resumedThemeditationwhichthatpassingmockHadbuffetedawhiletosallowness。
  Helittlelovedtheman,hisofficeless,Yetownedhimforaflowerofhiskind。
  ThereforetheheaercurseonAthenshe!
  Thepeoplegrewnotinthemselves,but,blind,Acceptedsightfromhim,tohimresignedTheirhopesofstature,rootlessasatsea。
  AsundersealaySolon’swork,orseemedByturbidshore-wavesbeatendaybyday;
  Defaced,halfformless,likeanimagedreamed,OrchildthatfashionedinanotherclayAppears,bystrangers’handstohomereturned。
  ButshallthePresenttyrannizeus?earnedItwasinsomeway,justlysaysthesage。
  Oneseesnothow,whilehusbandingregrets;
  Whiletossingscornabroadfromrighteousrage,Highsionisobscured;forthisisageWhenrobbed——moreinfantthanthebabeitfrets!
  YetseeAthenianstreadingtheblackpathLaidbyaprince’sshadow!wellcontentTowaithispleasure,sheringathiswrath:
  TheybowtotheiracceptedOrientWithofferoftheallthatrendersbright:
  Forgetfulofthegrowthofmentolight,AscreaturesrearedonPersianmilktheybow。
  Unripe!unripe!Thetimesareovercast。
  ButstillmaytheywhosowedbehindtheploughTrueseedfinthemindanunbornNOW
  Tomaketheplaguesafflictingusthingspast。
  Maimed,beggared,grey;seekinganalms;withnodOfpalsydoingtaskofthanksforbread;
  UponthestatureofaGod,HewhomtheGodshavestruckbendslowhishead。
  Weakwordshehas,thatslipthenervelesstongueDeformed,likehisgreatframe:abrokenarc:
  OnceradiantasthejavelinflungRightatthecentrebreastplateofhismark。
  Oftpausingonhiswhite-eyedinwardlook,Someundermountainnarratehetells,AsgappedbyLykianheatthebrookCutfromthesourcethatintheuplandswells。
  ThecottagerswhodolehimfruitandcrustWithpatientinattentionhearhimprate:
  Andcomesthesnow,andcomesthedust,Comestheoldwanderer,morebentoflate。
  AcrazybeggargratefulforamealHaseverofhimselfaworldtosay。
  ForthemheisanancientwheelSpinningaknottedthreadthelelongday。
  Hecannot,nordothey,thetaleconnect;
  ForneversingerinthelandhadbeenWhohimforthemedidnotreject:
  SpurnedofthehoofthatsprangtheHippocrene。
  AlbeitathemeofflametobringthemstraightThesnortingwhite-wingedbrotherofthewave,TheyhearhimasathingbyfateCursedinunholybabbletohisgrave。
  I
  Asmenthatspiedthewings,thatheardthesnort,Theirsireshavetold;andofamartialprinceBestridinghim;andoldreportSpeaksofamonsterslainbyonelongsince。
  ThereisthatstoryofthegoldenbitByGoddessgentotamethelightningsteed:
  Amortalwhocouldmount,andsitFlying,andupOlympusmidwayspeed。
  Heroseliketheloosedfountain’sutmostleap;
  Heplayedthestaratspanofheavenrighto’erMen’sheads:theysawthesnowysteep,Sawthewingedshoulders:himtheysawnotmore。
  Hefell:andsaystheshatteredman,Ifell:
  Andsweepsanarmtheheightaneaglewins;
  AndinhisbreastamouthlesswellHeavesthewornpatchesofhiscoatofskins。
  Lo,thisisheinwhomthesurgentspringsOfrecollectionsricherthanourskiesTofeedtheflowoftunefulstrings,Showbutapoolofscumforshootingflies。
  PHAETHON——ATTEMPTEDINTHEGALLIAMBICMEASURE
  AtthecomingupofPhoebustheall-luminouscharioteer,Double-sagedstandthemountainsinimperialmultitudes,Andwithshadowsdappledmensingtohim,Hail,OBeneficent!
  Fortheyshudderchill,theearth-vales,athisclouding,shuddertoblack;
  Inthelightofhimthereismusicthro’thepoplarandrer-sedge,Renovation,chirpofbrooks,humoftheforest——anocean-song。
  Neverpearlfromocean-hollowsbythederexultingly,Inhisbreathlessness,abovethrust,isasearthtoHelios。
  Whousurpshisplacethere,rashest?Aphrodite’slovedoneitis!
  TohissontheflamingSun-God,tothetenderyouth,Phaethon,Ruleofdaythisdaysurrendersasathinghereditary,HangswornbyStyxtremendous,fortheproofofhisparentage,Hewouldgranthisson’spetition,whatsoeverthesignthereof。
  Then,rejoiced,thestriplinganswered:’Ruleofdaygeme;geitme,GemeplacethatmenmayseemehowIblaze,andtranscendinglyI,dine,proclaimmybirthright。’DarkenedHelios,andhisutteranceChokedprophetic:’Ohalfmortal!’heexclaimedinanagony,’Olostsonofmine!lostson!No!putaprayerforanotherthing:
  Notforthis:insanetowishit,andtocravethegiftimpious!
  Cannotothergiftsmygodheadsheduponthee?miraculousMightygiftstoproveablessing,thattoearththoushaltbeajoy?
  Giftsofhealing,wherewithmenwalkastheGodsbeneficently;
  AsaGodtoswaytoconcordheartsofmen,reconcilingthem;
  Giftsofverse,thelyre,thelaurel,therewithalthatthineoriginShallbeknownevenaswhenIstrikeonthestring’dshellwithmelody,Andthegoldennotes,likemedicine,dartingstraighttothecaties,Fillthemup,tillheartsofmenboundasthebillows,theshipsthereon。’
  ThusintentlyurgedtheSun-God;buttheforceofhiseloquenceWasthepressingonofsea-wavesscatteredbroadfromtherocksaway。
  Whatshallmoveasoulfrommadness?Lost,lostindelirium,Rock-fast,theadolescenttohisfather,irreverent,’Bytheoath!theoath!thineoath!’cried。Theeffulgentforeseerthen,Queringinhisloinsparental,ontheboy’sbeamingcountenanceLookedandmoaned,andurgedhimforlove’ssake,forsweetlife’ssake,toyieldtheclaim,Toabandonhismadhunger,andavertthecalamity。
  Buthe,vehement,passionate,calledout:’LetmeshowIamwhatI
  say,ThatthetauntsIhearbesilenced:Iamstungwiththeirwhispering。
  Only,Thou,myFather,Thoutellhowalofttherevolngwheels,Howaloftthecleanghorse-crestsImayguideperemptorily,TillIdrinktheshadows,fire-hot,likeaflowercelestial,Andmyfellowsseemecurbingthefiercesteeds,thedeardew-
  drinkers:
  Yea,forthisIgazeonlife’slight;throwforthisanysacrifice。’
  Alltheendforeseeing,PhoebustohisoathirrevocableBowedobedient,deploringtheinsanitypitiless。
  Thentheflame-outsnortinghorseswereledforth:itwassodecreed。
  Theywereyokedbeforethegladyouthbyhissister-ancillaries。
  Swifttherippleripplesfollow’d,asofaureateHelicon,Downtheirflanks,whiletheyimpatientpaweddesireofthedistances,Andthebitwithfurychamped。Oh!unimaginabledelight!
  Unimaginedspeedandsplendourinthecircleofupperair!
  Glorygranderthanthearmedhostuponearthsingingctory!
  Chafedtheyouthwiththeirspiritsurcharged,aswhenblossomisshakenbywinds,MarkedthatlabourbyhissisterPhaethontiadesfinished,quickOntheslopeofthecarhisforefootsetassured:andthemorningrose:
  Seeingwhom,andwhatadaydawned,stoodtheGod,asinharvestfields,Whenthereapergraspsthefullsheafandthesicklethatseversit:
  Huggedthewitheredheadwithonehand,withtheother,toindicateIfthiswoemightbeaverted,thisimmeasurableel,Laidthekindlingcourseinew,toldhowthereinstomanipulate:
  Namedthehorsesfondly,fearful,caution’durgentlybetweenwhiles:
  Theirdergingtempersdwelton,andtheirwantonness,wickedness,ThatthevoiceofGodsaloneheldinrestraint;butthevoiceofGods;
  NonebutGodscancurb。Hespake:vainwerethewords:scarcelylistening,MountedPhaethon,swingingreinsloose,and,’Beholdme,companions,ItisIhere,I!’heshouted,glancingdownwithsupremacy;
  ’Nottoanyofyouwasthisgiftgrantedeverinannalsofmen;
  IalonewhatonlyGodscan,Ialoneamgoverningday!’