A New Ode By The Old Alcaeus

To Lesbos' shores, where the year's seasons always Sprinkle the field with flowers, and where glad The rosy-footed Graces always play With the young maidens, once the stream of Hebrus, Hand-like, brought Orpheus' orphan lyre; and since That time, our island is a sacred shrine Of Harmony, and its wind's breath, a song!

The soul Aeolian took up the lyre Born upon Thracian lands, as foster child; And on its golden strings the restless beatings Of Sappho's and Erinna's flaming hearts Were echoed burningly.

And I, who fight Always against blind mobs and tyrants deaf, I, the pride of the chosen few, the stay Of the great best, returning from exile, A billow-tossed world-wanderer, did stir The selfsame lyre with a new quill and breathed Upon its strings a new heroic breath.

Upon the love-adorned and verdant island, Like a god's trident, now Alcaeus' quill Wakens the storm of sounds, and angrily He strikes with words that are like poisoned arrows Direct and merciless against his foe, Whether a Pittacus or Myrsilus.

In vain did tender love reveal before me On rose-beds Lycus, the young lad, with eyes And hair coal-black, with rosy garlands bound, And Sappho of the honeyed smile, the pure, A muse among the muses, and the mother Of a strange modesty. Love moved me not!

I raised an altar to the war-god Ares; And on my walls, I hung war ornaments, Weapons exulting in the battle's roar. I sang of the sword bound with ivory, My brother's spoil from distant Babylon. I saw my hapless country's ship tossed here And there, and beaten by the giant waves Of anarchy; and with my golden Lyre, Whose voice is mightier than the wild fury Of a tempestuous sea, I called on War, The War who revels in men's blood, to come As a destroyer or deliverer.

And when the war did come in savage din, Brought upon Lesbos by the might of Athens, With heart exultant, I saluted him: "Hail, war of glory!" Yet, alas and thrice Alas! Amidst the world of death and ruins, Though eager warrior and heavy armed, I felt the solid earth beneath me shake; My vengefulness, fade into fleeting mist; My breastplate, press on me like a nightmare; And my white-crested helmet, like a tombstone!

Confusion was my harbor; and I felt In me Life's longing win the victory. And while the nations twain, like maddened bulls Goad-driven, rushed upon each other's death, And stern Alecto spread about the flames Of Tartarus, I saw before mine eyes --O sight enchanting!--Lesbos' luring shores!

Never before were they so beautiful With love and verdant! There I gazed on Lycus, The boy with eyes and hair coal-black that never Before had touched my heart so powerfully. And the Muse Sappho of the honeyed smile Glittered before me, pure and violet crowned; And her strange modesty bewitched my tongue With power unwonted until then; and I, The strong, silently feasted on her beauty!

And while about the maddened Ares raged, Reaper of men and vanquisher of rocks, With my soul's eyes, I followed on the trail Of the Lyre-God, who passed that way, returning From the Hyperboreans' land. He passed Aloft, crowned with a golden diadem, Upon a chariot drawn by snow-white swans, Towards his Delphic palaces, flower-decked, With nightingales and April on his train.

Oh, would that I might live to touch them! Would That I might hold their charms in my embrace, Those charms so sweet and guileful and divine!

And at the thought--alas, and thrice alas!-- I threw my trusted sword and shield away, And fled, a shameful coward and a traitor!

FRAGMENTS FROM THE SONG TO THE SUN 1899