C O N T E N T S .
NE MO Y E . I . M S N of The Making the Poet .
ALL IOPE . II . C
The Call of the Muse .
U TE RPE . III . E of The Daughter Homer .
AT IV . ER O .
The Stranger of Northland .
V . C LIo . f The Travels o Homer .
E P I CH RE VI . T R S O . he Pe u i n T dagog e Ch a .
E LPOME NE . VII . M f The Singer o Ascra .
HAL IA . VIII . T
The Songstress of Lesbos .
. LY IA IX PO HYMN . of The Psalmist Israel .
R A IA . X . U N
Th e Marriage .
’ A R G UM E N T .
H OME R the oet h avin returned in old a e to , p , g g
Ohios his birth- lace an is lan d n ot ar rom the coas t , p , f f
o A s ia M inor tells th e s tor o his earl l e to his f , y f y if
u il Tw s w u o p p s . o chief infl uen ce rought p n his child
hood . The rs t was that o th e s m ith Chalcon who fi f , ,
— r was both artis an and artis t both vocations in early
tim es were united in one m an — and who revealed to
the bud n t h o t s The s ec n n di gpoe t e form s f h e God . o d i
uen ce was that o his m other retheis nam e iven fl f , C ( g b H i erodotus V ta Hom . Sh e was the de os tor o y , i ) p y f
able and olk-tore which s he told to h er bo in the s irit f f , y p
o oet and which a re the chie m aterials o his two f a p , f f
em s o Hom er reaches back to his earlies t great po . S
rs b the a id o M n em os n e m emor who a ccord yea y f y ( y) ,
9 1 5 w h m o er o h e ing to Hes iod (Th eogon . ) as t e th f t
Nine M us es . Fair was the day wh en I first peeped into the o h of h w rks op C alcon , o h u n o i h Chalc n , t e smith , who wro ght lo g ag n t e city of Chios i n o i e e Now that day s the daw f my l f , which I y t can e e b r m m er , All my hours run b ack to its joy as my very b e
ginning , And on e beautiful moment then let in the light e en of xist ce , Starting w ithin me the strain that thrills through my days to this minute ! Still the old flash I can see as I peeped at the of h door the works op , Memory whispers the tale of the rise of a world that I s aw there o of i h e i in Mem ry , muse the past , s w isp r ng fa tly
the story . ( 7 ) t
h co h - d in un- o n C al n t e smith , far fame the s b r i nd h sla of C ios , Stood like a giant and pounded the bronze in the i i h smoke of h s sm t y , Pounded the iron until it would sing in a tun e
with the anvil , Sing in a tune with the tongs and the anvil and e hammer togeth r , Making the music of work that rang to the ends of the city . F u e u n ig res he forc d from his so l i to metal , most b f eauti ul figures , Forced them by fury of fire beneath cunning strokes of the hammer ; u e u o As he tho ght th m , he wro ght them t loveliest f v n orms of the li i g , ou h e of Wr ght t em to worshipful shap s the Gods ,
who dwell on Olympus . That w as when I was still but a child in the home
of my mother , o m of i h e e S le dear ho e my l fe , the om of Creth is my mother I Only two doors from his shop with its soot sto o d r n i l e he clea l tt e cottag , Vainly Sh e strove to restrain her clean little boy
from the smithy , l w But he would s ip out the house and a ay , as oon a a s s she w shed him , Off and away to the forge j ust where the s m utc h
was the deepest . 9 THE MA! ING OF THE POE T.
How I lo ved the great bellows puffing its breath on the charcoal ! And the storm of the sparkles that lit up the smithy with starlight ! And the hiss of the iron red-hot when thrust i nto water ! Greatest man in the world I deemed at that time h n to be C alco , And his smithy to me rose up a se cond O lym us p , Where the Gods and th e Heroes I saw move forth into being ; i o de e di in e ae u H m t o em d I v e , lik Heph st s , a God
i n his workshop . As o h oun he thought , s he wroug t he p ded and rounded the metal Till it breathed and would move of itself to a n h e cor er and stand t er , i i in d in u T ll t spoke , and speak g woul po t p beyond
to Immortals . Bare to the waist and shaggy the breast of the i -b n h n b g o ed C alco , As it heaved with an earthquake of joy in the shock of creation ; Thick were the thews of his arm and balled at i h u each blow t ll his s o lder , At the turn of his wrist great chords swelled out on i - h s fore arm , One huge hand clasped the grip of th e tongs in its b o b c e r ad ony knu kl s , 1 0 H O I CHIO MER N S .
’ Th other ' clutch ed hold of the sledge and whirled it around by the handle ; hu l d S tting his jaws like a ion , an grating his e t eth in his fury , Whirled he the ponderous sledge to hit in th e heat of the iron ; While the veins underneath would heave up the r on ehe d g ime his for a , Smote he the might of th e metal with all the grit of a Titan ; Working mid flashes of flame that leaped out the be l of d e l y arkn ss , Smote he and sang he a song in response to the ” song of his hammer .
ed o u h d i So spake ag H mer s , t e bar , as he sat n h is e settl , he e e w den he e W r gr a gar of fruit , t fig and th e e p ar and th citron , Grapes suspended i n clusters and trees of the c lus ious pomegranate . He had returned to his home with a life full of light and of learning ;
e ve h o h e e e c c n Wand ring o r t e w rld , kn w a h ou try
and city , n h e h ad ' s een in h e e Ma the thoug t and th d ed , the Gods he had seen too '; H h o e h ome he had reac ed nce mor , t e violet of island Chios , d b lln d i in h d Blin , ah , but with s ght is soul an a
sun in his spirit . H 1 1 THE MA! IN G OF T E POE T. Youths were standing around him and hearkened o t he el t wha was t ling , -e h who o to h n Bright yed yout s , had c me is k ees c of ell from ea h region H as , H e of o n omerids hop ful song , the s ns of the ge ius of Homer , of i i u By the new tale Troy nsp red , they so ght to a make me sures , Striving to learn of the master to wield the h e xameter mighty , As high Zeus th e thunderbolt wields in a flash h h h e e ve t roug t H a ns , Leaping from cloud unto cloud and leaving lon g of i e lines ts spl ndor , Rolling the earth in its garment of resonant
reverberation . i o of h e b lit u Lum nous too was the l ok t oys , p b e e y th Mus s , E the ne e d be ager y tur d to the sag , an gged for the rest of his story ; Soon into musical words he began again spi nning his life-thread
o i h a of od Chalc n , the sm t , was the m ker G s in the smoke of his smithy ! Ou of a o out of a t d rkness he wr ught them , ch os i v pr me al , Striking great blows that lit up the night with the sparks of creation 1 2 HOMER IN 0 3 1 0 s . Which would flash from his mind into metal u f thro gh strokes O the hammer . an a o i n w as Aye , d the m ker f me his Gods he — also that Chalcon ; He perchance did not know it — the world h e h l was mig ti y making . h i d d All the Graces he wroug t nto shape , an love e as h wrought them , d h F d n n h An t e ates he coul form i his eed , thoug nev ve h he er did lo t em , But the snake-tressed Furies he banished in hate
from his workshop . I could always forecast what he wrought and i e e whether t w nt w ll , Whether full freely the tho ught ran out of his u e so l to th matter , For he would Sing at his work an Old Prome
thean ditty .
u - n i u e h i T neful , far hi ting t po r d from is soul nto
o o - d f rms f his God worl , Strong deep notes whi ch seemed to direc t each e of sw ep the hammer , Just at the point where a stroke might finish the o k of h m a w r t e ster , Or a blo w ill- struck might shatter a year of his
labor . Then bright notes would well from within as he
filed and he chiseled , Seeking to catch and to hold in a Shape the
Of gleam his genius . 1 3 THE M A! IN G OF THE POE T.
Battles he pictured in silver and gold on the h eld o f h e s i t warrior , Corselets he plaited in proof and swords he ed h e forg for t e H ro , Many a goblet he made wreathed round with the l of B c fro ic a chus , All h od e i e t e G s he could fashion to lif , n repos d in ion an mot , he o l u T ir high shapes he c uld cal from his so l , to
gether and singly , Call with their godhood do wn from the heights of h d ve t e ra iant Hea ns , Till the dingy old smithy Shot into Olympian
sunshine . Chalcou O n h u d I n , h Chalco , me t o hast forme o forming Imm rtals , And the song of thy hammer I hear in the ring o e u f my m as res , Oft I can feel thee striking thy anvil stil l i n my
- heart strokes , Whi ch are forging my strains like thee when thou o sm test the metal , Till it rang and it s ang the strong tune Of the of stress thy labor . on h e eve Chalc , t y workshop went with m in ry n m tur Of y travel , u he E th e w de He l Thro gh t ast and West Of i l as , o l l d thr ugh is and and main an , u in e m o Thro gh the seas th stor , thr ugh mount in in u a s rolling th nder , 1 4 HOM R I OHIO E N S .
e i e i n d e ’ en With m t w nt my wan ering , to the top of Olympus : Never thy Shapes shall fade from the Sight Of my ” o O a on . s ul , h Ch lc
Quickly the poet turned round in his seat and said to his servant : Am ntas b o n e Come , y my y , ow bring som wine bl in my go et , Chian win e in my goblet wrought by the cun n ing h l Of C a con , Whi ch he gave to me once when I sang him my e e earli st measur s , Round Whi c h are dancing the youths at the tast
e e- e ing the must Of th win pr ss , While th e God overgrown with leaves and with vines looks laughing ; Chal con gave it me o nce as a prize when I sang i n his workshop , Sang him my earliest measures in tune to the ” strokes Of his hammer .
B Am ntas e e b h e eardless y , the cup b ar r , roug t th l h cha ice Of C ian ,
ce e ed d d ced on Choi st Of win , that sparkl an an
c l c the rim Of the ha i e , u h e he e h d he Dra g t Of the s a , and t art , an t sun h he c ed s ine toget r ommingl , e e i n h d b e Liquid po sy , st alth ly su g in eac rop y th
- wine god . THE MA G F THE P E T 1 5 ! IN O O .
Softly the singer sipped O ff the glittering beads of b the eaker , Tou ching his lip to the line where the rim and i e the br m come tog ther , Where flash twinkles Of j oy and laugh in the eye o ink f the dr er . That was the essence of Chios distilled from of un in the heart her mo ta s , Tempered hot i n the fires that smoulder still i n
the soil there , Drawn by the grape into drops that shoot into n o l millio s f spark es , en i io n i G erous v ntage of Ch s , re ew ng the heart of in the s ger .
When his thirst he had slaked and his thought e t had r turned to his hinking , Sweetly he lowered his voice to the note of a m u s ical whisper , And he bent forward his body as if he were telling a secret On e e e b on i o c , I r m m er , Chalc was mak ng a gr up of e the Mus s , ed o on b e Sacr givers f s g , to be orne to a f stival e i spl nd d , Where each singer had in their presence to n h si g for t e laurel . What do you think he did as I stoo d with hi m there in the smithy ? 1 6 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
ne d b ronz e d u e Me he tur into , an p t me among th i e Nine S st rs , i e he be hei n As f I th ir young brot r might , t r o e only brother ; n e e e h of I the c nt r he placed me , aye in th eart e the Mus s , Sweet Calliope kissed me there in the workshop of Chalcon , Even in bronze I could feel her embrace on that day— I now feel it And I could hear her soft breathings that told of f the deeds o the Heroes . ’ ti can ee n b e h of S ll I f l , e e though I old , t e kiss h t e Muses , And at once I respond to their music in words of
my measures , Yielding my h e art and my voice to their prompt in e l i n gs and g nt e persuas o . O oo on o k v as g d Chalc , mem ry eeps thee ali e , I love thee l Keeps thee working in me as the maker who i s the poet ; Ever living thou art in thy glorious shapes of l Immorta s , h u F e e h T ough tho , a mortal by at , hast gon to t e u e Ho ses Of Had s , — Whither I too must soon gO the call I c an i ce hear from the d stan , I too a mortal by Fate must pass to the Shades ” of my Heroes .
18 HOM R IN 117 E 0 0 8 .
AS she hymned to her work or sang me to sleep on her pallet ! E f e a h f n arly my ath r h d died , is ace I o longer
remember , But th e voice which speaks when I speak from my heart is always o it — o Well do I kn w the voice of my m ther , Cretheis my mother
O a o e b e e vermastered m m nt y t ars , h soon overmas tered Of e n i h e d u he All the w aker ma n ims lf , an th s proce eded : I was telling the tale Of the Wonderful work Of h c n shop C al o , Where I saw all the deities rise into form in e a raptur , Co m ing along with their sunshine to stand i n the of h h soot t e smit y , Happy Olympian Gods who on c e fought and put
down the dark Titans . B a i i e in o n e r ng the r sp ll my s ul , I always we t o home to my m ther , And I would beg her to tell me who were the d Gods an the Muses , All this bea utiful folk whom Chalcon had brought i from the summ ts , From free sunny Olympus down into the s m oth t ering smi hy . ! 1 9 THE MA IN G OF THE POE T. She would begin with a glow in her eyes and tell e he m t ir story , — Mean while plying th e distaff Sh e never c ould help being busy
All he Sh e n h h n a of t ir tales k ew , by t e u dreds nd d h e n hundre s s k ew them , of he i div o d of Tales t be ngs ine , Once t l their de i i d alings w th mank n , When they came to our earth and visibly m ingled
with mortals . New was always the word on the tongue of e e h Cr th is my mot er , Though she dozens of time s before had told the
same story ,
l t h n o ld ll i ev re Stil repea ing w e I w u ca for t , er
e atin p g, F i d h S h e e d or a good tale , l ke the sun , ot in on ay
as the other . What a spell on her lip when up from he r lap I was n looki g , e o i n i o o n c Watching h r m uth ts m ti n , whe e drop ped those wonderful stories ! Oft I thought I could pick up her word in my i el hand as t f l there , i o u Keep t and carry it off, f r my play a most bea t tiful play hing , i o n n o i Wh ch I could toss the air whe I ch se , l ke or a ball an apple , i i it fell i o o Catch t aga n as n its flight , f r the w rd . as a h en W t ing th . 20 HOME R IN CHI0 8 .
! h Old an Mark what I as a child picked up , t e m still plays with : o but d n h h Words made f breath , la e wit t ought o o i t m re s l d than grani e , P of in u th a n ictures heroes so nd at l sts , whe o n sp ke , forever , Images fair of the world and m arvelous legends
aforetime , All of them living in me as they fell from th e ” lips of my mother .
There he stopped for a moment and passed his
hand to his forehead , As if urging Mnemosyne now for the rest of the story ; e u o o n Soon cam the M se t the aid Of the p et , a d th us he continued : Ho of and w she loved the songs old Hellas , loved all its fabling !
Well she could fable herself and c olor her. speech
- with he r heart beats . I have know n her to make up a myth which ou h spread thr gh all C ios , Thence to island and mainland wherever Hellenic
is spoken . Once I heard f ar out by the West in a town of Zak nthus y ,
one of h hi in At a festival er lays , w ch I knew
my cradle , A! G P 2 1 THE M IN OF THE OE T.
Sung by the bard of the town as his guerdon of
song from the Muses . And o onf o d n w let me c ess , to , my ebt , the debt of my genius ! Many a flash of the fancy is hers which you read in o my p ems , an a o of t and a u n of M y r ll the rhy hm , m ny a t r u the lang age , n a e i n a a She Ma y joy sh has g ve , and many te r has d e h ropp d t ere , Merciful sighs at the stroke of grim Fate on the back of the mortal All are remembrances fallen to me from the lips ” of my mother .
For a o n a l h h d i m me t he ce sed , ti l e gat ere h s oi in o v ce t firmness , Smoothing the tremulous trill that welled from i r in o h s hea t t wavelets , Smoothing and soothing the quivering thoughts which Memory brought him : a was o a o o ai H rd her l t , she h d t w rk d ly ou n n thr gh Chios by spi ni g , For herself and her boy she fought the rough fo o xi n es f e ste ce , Making her living by toil that flew from the tips o f her fingers , Deft and swift in the cunning which gives all i or un o a or ts w th t l b . 22 M I HO ER N OHIO8 .
Yet m ore cunning she showed in spinning the threads of a story Till they all came together forming a garment of au be ty , Than in twirling the dis tafi and reeling the yarn
from the spindle . u o m o a d n h B t she t o , y poor m ther , w s lai i t e a t as ed e r h , as w fat , For the Fates span out the frail thread of her ” life at their pleasure .
Here again the old man made a stop with a gaze i n hi s features As if prying beyond to behold the unspeakable secret ; But he came back to himself with a j oy in his look and continued : It was she who gave me the love and th e lore h e e Of t e l g nd , Training my youth to her song which throbbed to the best Of the ages n of P nd a All the great me the ast a gre t women , H the mothers Of eroes . D O yo u kno w it was she who first told me the story of Thetis d e - o o s on was Thetis the Go d ss M ther , wh se the Hero Achilles Tenderly told she the tale O f the b oy wh o was o n o o t in b r t d great h gs , M N H 2 3 THE A! I G OF T E POE T.
Who from his birth had i n him the spark divine o i f h s mother , Though h e had to endure all the sorrow of being
a hero , Suffer the pang that goes with the gift of th e t l Gods o a morta . Then in a frenzy of hope she would clasp m e un o o to her b s m , Dreaming the rest of her dream in the soft in i ion of i n sp rat s le ce , Yet you could see what it was by the light that was i n e lit her pres nce , See it all b v the light of her soul that shone from i her v sage . Once in her j oy she arose with her arms out e y stretch d mid her stor , Showing how Thetis arose from the deeps in a o ’ b w cl ud o er the illo , She o d he That , the G d ess , might secretly take r on o s t her bosom , To impart what w as best of herself the godlike endurance And to arouse in him too the new valor to meet
the great trial . O on u o o o w f d so l f my m ther , h w ell that day
I remember , When thou toldes t the tale of the be es that fl e w d to my cra le , Dropping out of the skies on a sudden along with h un a t e s be ms , 24 HOM R CH O E IN I S . Humming and buzzing thro ugh all of th e house a i t e e a s f h y w re sw rming , Till they lit on my lips as I slept but never once un st g me , n ou un i u d in th Never stu g thee , th gh r n ng aro n y h de frig t to fend me , Smiting and slashing with stick or with rag or W e c h hat ver ame andy , Scorching at last their leathery wings with their own waxen tapers B h fl e w in i o h fi of ut ere t ey , sp te f t e fire and ght h d the house ol , They had left on my lips their cells of the clear fl owin g honey , o - flowin n u i H ney clear g a d sweet , tho gh b tter the struggle to give it ; Even the bee s had to pay for giving the gift of
their sweetness .
ou i n ou Then wert th happy , Crethe s , the wert th a o o he s d to , my m t r , P n i nki on h o e s ve , forethi ng afar w at the G d had i en nt ded , Who had sent the dumb bee to speak as a sign
unto mortals . What thy son was to do and endure flashed into i n thy v sio , u h of u u o o ow Do ble t at flash the f t re , j yful , s rr a o ful ls ,
A R G UME N T
Hom er now tells the third chief infl uence which helped
T i w s e a e m ake him a poet. his nfluen ce a th b rd of th town A ris ton who s an n the borderlan d between , , g o
E as t an d es t but was n o ble s in o the reat con W , t a to g f g
lict between Tro an Gre c It was A r s ton who f y d e e. i s u es ted this them e to Hom er an d bade the outh o gg , y g out to the s ea-s hore where was the cave o the M us es , f ,
n i h t a d l s ten to t e voice wh ich would speak o him there.
Callio e the e ic M us e a e rs to him tells him what p , p , pp a , h e m us t do an d s a er n ins ires him with h is reat f , a d p g
oc hi d l s h v ation . He goes hom e to s m other an te l er what the Mus e has s aid to him ; his m other after a s hort in tern al stru le ids him o at once an d ollow the call gg , b g f o t f he M us e. u i e of ee n n Th s to the wh sp r fl ti g Mnemosy e , Of e mother Mus s , Homer w as yield ing his heart and shaping her
shadowy figures . i was ki u e of h Wh le he spea ng , rose p th roar t e i i c sea n the d stan e , h u de n a e hi i W ich an n rto e g v to s measures , m ghty , e i maj st c , Wreathing the roll O f its rhythm in words of the e w as tale h telling , Giving the musical stroke of its waves to the of i shore the sland , Giving the stroke for the song to the beautiful
island o f Chios . he e w as e c d n e lan All t s a a sp e h , an spoke i th u e g age of Hom r , ( 2 9 ) 3 0 HOM E IN OHIO R S .
e h ZE ean e ee and he Ay , t e g spok Gr k , sang t re n Of e ate frai gr at w rs , All the billows were singi ng that day hexameters o n r lli g , Rolling afar from the infinite sea to the garden
of Homer .
Stopped in the stretch Of his thought the poet i n e e lay back his s ttl , Seemingly lost i n the maze where speech fades out i nto feeling ; a ile a i ho not d of He w s s nt wh le , t ugh at the en
his story . d i o i e d Age and bl nd he was n w , recall ng th ays of i o d h s b yhoo , n all he w d i Whe he saw t orl of fair forms , as t n He l rose up i l as , Rise from th e hand of the smith and rise from i of he the l ps his mot r , Saw too himself in the change of the years b e
coming the singer .
oon i b S spake a youth at h s side , it was the est of l his pupi s , o o o n o a n Called Dem d cus , s of Dem docus , Ith ca e rhapsod , Who belonged to an ancestry born into s ong from Old ages : u v no b rd of th e e a r Did yo ha e a villag , no te che f o m easures , E AL F THE M 3 1 TH O L O US E .
Who could melt the rude voice of the people to rhythm of music ? Me n o h i n a in u h f t at stra we h ve o r It aca , they
are my clansmen . t l a o be i S ill I fol ow the cr ft , and t thee , st s nger , o now I c me , an i That I be better th they , far better n song
than m y fathers .
Here he suddenly stopped and glanced out into h de t e gar n , For there flitted an airy form of a maid in the d istance , Going and coming amid th e flowers — the d e aughter Of Hom r , Whom Demodo cus loved and sought as the meed of i e h s m rit , He would carry away n ot only the verse of th e a m ster , u ou the w e of niu l o B t w ld take , in s e p his ge s , a s h e the daug t r . de off d in out a Yet the mai n held , eclar g the y h w s
conceited .
But the father in words of delight replied to his scholar : Well bethought a good learner ! thou thinkest ahead of the teacher ! the b o h e Just of ard I was g ing to speak , rose i n my mind ’ s eye 3 2 HOMER I N CHIOS .
Suddenly with thy question the face and the of form Ariston . Every day I went to the place of the market to hear him - on i o od Deep t ed Ar st n , the singer of praises to G s o e e and t H ro s , Chanting the fray and the valoro u s deed in the o e t ages af r ime , While the crowd stood around in reverent si
lence and listened . e was hard of o n n H the the t w , he k ew what had b n n w i b ee a d ll e , Knew the de cree of Zeus and could read it out of en the Heav s , w oo of ou Kne t , the heart man , and c ld tell every
thought i n its throbbing . A t the festivals sang he through all of the ham e of i l ts Ch os , he oi c of h b oard He was t v e the isle , t e mythical of old treasures ; n he d Song and story and fable , eve t jest an the ridd le e nd o b a All were his charg a his ch ice , y the c re
and the call of the Muses . High beat his heart as he poured out its music i of o s nging Her es , Every word of his voice was a tremulous pulse be at Of Hellas , Doomful the struggle he saw in the land and fate ul M f its Great en .
3 4 HOMER IN CHIOS .
E very Greek in our Chios then heard Bellero on ’ e o ph s ch , Hea rd in the deep-sounding name of the Hero an o e ech that thrill d him , Felt in his bosom the reverberation of Bellero hon es p t , For h e could find in himself the same peril of i l laps ng from Hel as , Sinking to Asia back from the march of the world ” to the westward .
Sympathy touched in its tenderest tone the e voice Of Hom rus , As his words sank down at the end of the line to wh a isper , n i n i n o ou i The to a s le ce , the s le ce f th ght , wh ch
spoke from h is presence . was o an wh What the matter with H mer , d y that shadow i n sunshine ? Did he find in his own Greek soul a gleam of the danger ? Did his poetical heart then enter the trance of temptation u n a ion o ui He m st respo d to the p ss , aye t the g lt , in u his rapt re , u t o w it o o n He m s gl w h the deed f the Her , eve h on t e wr gful , i h a an n ronounc Never forgett ng t e l w , d ster ly p in u n g the j dgme t . 3 5 THE CALL OF THE M USE .
o n h ied o an i u S o e rall and r se , d h s voice ret rned w i th his story : Well I knew the Old man and eagerly stored up h t e is reasur s , e d n i l Ag d Ariston love me , a d made me h s dai y n compa ion , as c n a no i n I w his s holar , percha ce , as ye re w my
training . On c e in a mutual m oment of freedom I ventured to ask him : O in o- n on my Ariston , s g me t day the ew s g our Of nation , o d he a we e Born f the dee , t last gre t deed hav all n e do e togeth r , All h e a on i t in n t Hellenes h ve d e t , me h ks , i the of one u might imp lse , ’ Fighting our destiny s fight to possess and pre n e w serve the future , Saving the beautiful woman and saving o urselves in her safety ; That is the deed of Troy and its lay of the Hero Achilles ! Seek not so far for an action when near in thy ’ way is the greatest .
u a n i a on o urn Th s I sp ke , a d h s f ce the sp t t ed i o e nt a battl . ‘ ! ’ ‘ oo n a i i u Ah he replied t e r me t l es , j st that is the hindrance 3 6 HO I CHIO MER N S .
le ve b h d n e c n I must a it e in to a oth r , for I an ot touch it ; Still my heart is cle ft by that terrible struggle d asun er , e in i i il Wound d I was the str fe , remed less st l I am
bleeding , Cureless I feel it to b e that wound of the Greeks and the Trojan s on h i n e n u on I was bot s des duri g th war , a d yet p e e n ith r ,
n i e e n i one Sta d ng aloof from ach , y t standi g w th he he and t ot r , With father Priam Of Troy as well as with Greek Agamemnon e to or h and orn in Toss d this part t at , t to shreds by the Furies ; h b o e i e a Greeks ad my rain n th ir s de , th Troj ns had hold Of my heart- strings h c i ou how o ak Wit that brea h n my s l , c uld I m e any musi c ? n h o ib e of I can ot stand the stress , t e h rr l stress the struggle Always renewed in my song whose every word i s
- a blood stain . But hereafter the man will arise who is able to
sing it , e un i H aling the wo d in h mself and the time , whi ch in me is unheali ng ; One shall come and sing of that mightiest deed of e i th Arg ves , 3 7 THE CALL OF THE M US E .
e e h e l a h H shall aris , t e po t of Hel as the m n hat arisen Who will take it and mould it and make it th e o song f the ages . ou h u i e o n w ar Y th , be t o s ng r of Tr y a d the for h e Hele t e b autiful n , i of h e n h n on S ng t e H ro i wrat , a d rec ciled sing ’ of the B ero l
Thus spoke Ariston the bard ; what a life he started within me o b h n on ad i Cha s I was , ut t e su of a s g h sm tten n the dark ess , n o o i on o A d my s ul b re a universe , w th e w rd as a i wi m d fe , o o wh o o That was the w rd of the p et , sp ke as v the maker prime al , he u d h e h om nd Calling t s n an t eart fr the void , a firm m t the a en starry . Always welfare he brought to the people who he en i i ark ed h s w sdom , And he was ever alive with the thought of bring i e ng a bl ssing , i bi h e of h h o e Cl m ng t e h ight t e hig est G ds , wher
dwells freedom from envy . e o of oo s ol After de p silence , the m ther g d , he em nly added :
Now is the moment to seek th e divinity ’ s
i n h c s g for t y alling , 3 8 HOM R IN OHIO E S .
e n i Godlike th toke must be , for of Gods s the breath of th e singer G O to the grot of the s weet -vow ed Muses down by th e sea-side Where old Nereus scooped out of stone his son orous v ca ern , Sounding the strains of a lyre that is played by h n of t e t e ha ds grea wat rs , As they incessantly strike on the sands and the l shel s and the rock walls , Reaching out from the heart Of th e sea for a e of i strok the r fingers , t ne o O f i w h n Jus for o str ke the r billo y fingers , t e n broke forever , Playing the notes of a song that can only b e
heard by a poet . o i a i i b h v e There th u w lt he r , f t also e thine , t e oic of u the M ses , Who will give thee their golden word and th e high consecration ; Bu i i b i i d h w b e t f t e not w th n thee alrea y , t ey ill i e s l nt , Silen ce is the command of the God to seek the m n o further ; Then thou wilt hear in their house by th e sea b u t n a roar a d a rumble , But a ro ar and a rumble of godless waters i n dis cord ; hee b i h e ch e o w W l a out n t y tracks , p r anc th u ilt ’ make a good cobbler . H M 3 9 THE CALL OF T E US E .
Not yet c old was th e word when I started and c o he v ame t t ca ern , Set with many a glistening gem overhead in th e e li c i ng , Decked with sculpture of stone cut out on its e he N d sid s by t aia s , Making a gal lery fair of the forms of the Gods h e of t e wat rs , Round whose feet mid the tangle and fern were e playing the m rmaids , h — he d ved Smiting t e wine dark deep , as t y i from O f e e -b the sight th s a oys , Smiting the blue -lit billows ab ove into millions
Of sparkles , Into millions of cressets that lit up the cavern h like starlig t ,
ve of ve for th e h he e Secret ca rn lo nymp s , t wat ry d e e w ll rs , Echoing music afar of the kiss of the earth and
the ocean . Well I knew the recess for often before I had n bee there , Oft I had heard the report that told of th e sil i very sw mmers , Told of the maidens and youths who loved far u e b nd r the illows , Loved one another far under th e billows and sang he e t sweet lov song , Swimming around in the grots and the grove s of d e i e e p Amphitr t , 40 HOM I C IO ER N H S .
Or reclining to rest on the couch Of the pearl or
the co ral . There I had seen in the sunset the car of hoary P d n osei o , Skimming a cross th e wave w ith his train to h is watery temple Over the golden bridge of the sunbeams that lay on e the rippl s , Bridge that lay on the ripples ablaze in th e sheen o Of Apoll , Spanning the stretch of th e sea from Chios away w to the su ndo n . e n Old P e ch e o There I had s e rot us , ang ful G d of h t e waters , F e he on e orming , transforming hims lf , t , into all be shapes Of ing , Into th e leaf- shaking tree and into the shaggy e man d lion , ee e e b e an d w Cr ping r ptil , lazing fir , flo ing water ; h e one a d h e de Still I saw him , t n t e sam , un r l c neath a l his hanges . h e e be l e id dau h T er I had s en the autifu N re , g e e e t r Of N r us , h ed b he t h e he C as y t sinuous Tri on , t man of t sea i n his passion , Who would snort in his fury whenever the m er d e c mai s aped him , Spouting the foam Of his rage up into the face of h a n t e he ve s ,
42 OME R CHIO H IN S .
And with a smile she stretched out her hand and spake me her message : i O s on o ou n of Ha l , f Cretheis , d bly the so thy
mother , Son of her mythical soul and s on of her beautiful bod y ,
e e a u ou a ou s t H ark n , de r yo th , to r c ll , for th ha n n e s bee chose th ma ter , Thee we endow with all of our gifts of speech n of i a d sp rit , u e of a nin n f b d B t take he d the w r g , he ce orth e rea y to suffer ; Mark it ! along with each gift the Gods have a na i pe lty g ven , F e t n un or ach good tha they gra t to mortals , strict is the payme nt ; N u i i i of h e n ot witho t to l s the g ft t e Mus s , ot without sorro w ; F i in a a nd Nay , a ury s th e , c lled Symp thy , re ing o o thy b s m , Making the fate of the hu m an thine own in the song which thou s inges t ; Into the stroke of thy heart we have put ea ch n o pa g of the m rtal , Which will throb and res pond in a strain to the cry Of the vi ctim ; Answer thou must in agony every twinge of hi s o t rture , P i w of n i ass through h s sorro soul , a d leap w th the sting of his b ody M 43 THE CALL OF THE USE .
l And when he goes down to death , thou iving t l t mus go a ong wi h him , Go to th e uttermost region beyond the line Of u the s nset , Living desc end to the dead and speak In th e
Houses of Hades . Now thou must wander ; thy path runs over
ch o of H ea m untain ellas , Over the river and plain to the site of each ham e i l t and c ty , That thou see all its people and hear them tell their own story ; Not till then art thou fitted to sing the great song of Achaea . First to Troy thou must pass and look at th e n n plai a d the ruins , Thou wilt hear on the air the fierce clangor of in o arms the nset , he of t Hear t groans the wounded , the shou s of i or he the v ct and vanquis d , Hear the voice of th e graves by the shore of th e
blue Hellespontus . th e h of de d e il t Still g osts the a ar fighting , w l figh there forever ! h i of h w d n Catch t e fleet fl ght t eir or s i thy strain , n i a a x e i ts ad m nt fi th m , Make adamantine the spee ch of the spe ctres by d e rolling Scaman r . Also the Gods thou must see desc ending from O lofty lympus , 44 H O C O MER I N HI S .
d de h e h h he Ai ing one si or t ot er , inspiring t is ro h one or t at , N on Ol h od ay , they must fight ympus , t e G s b l must have too a att e , But forget not omnipotence high above all of
them Zeus sits . ’ our v i n w e an h e out he Tis is o gr t t e , to spy t ir o in h e he f rms t e t r , AS h i h o h b t ey flit h t er a th ug t of the mortal , ut yet a God too ! ’
of l e n h n h L ti y spok the gra d Muse , w e s e c e o of hang d to a l ok compassion , W hich made me weep for myself as a g ain she began to forecast me : O e h d c v e , th ar law whi h for good the di in must lay on the human ! For thy vision celestial the penalty too m ust be v n gi e , In return for the boon thou must yield thy ter res trial v ision , Sight at last i n Old age will be weighed and b e
paid for thy insight . Poverty thou must endure on the w ay for th e e h oe caus of t y p m , Thine is to hunger in body and thine to suffer in
spirit , Still kind hands will reach thee a m orsel w here e h s in es t ver t ou g , C M S 45 THE ALL OF THE U E .
Kindred souls w ill speak thee a w ord Of sweet
e c r ognition , he e h h at b d T n go furth r and sing , t oug first no o y e may list n , Further and further and sing till the end has been
sung of thy journey . d h he — he of h Har is t y lot , I warn t e t lot t e
d- in Go gifted s ger , But it cannot be shunned to sh un it w ere
death without dying. GO now e e d ce d e out , g t th e rea y at on , an s t on
thy tra vels .
Roused by the voice of command I awoke in a w he e e s irl Of t s ns s ,
H e d e ed e e c t how h om war I hast n , r fl ing I mig t break to my mother What I had heard in a s wound from the Muses e l f e el so fat fu , or t ling d de e o i d v el th e l e Sa partur , rdain ng i in y ong s p
aration . e was e he vel e d Gr at h r joy at t mar ous tal , an
e e s gr at was h r orrow , Tear was fighting w ith tear in a war of delight of ui h and ang s , Till in the masterful might of her heart she rose up and bade me : o s on - e G my , start to day , thou must follow th o th u call f e M ses , 46 HOM R I N CHIO E S .
Suffer whatever of weal and O f woe the Goddesses give thee ; u o i e b l h Tho wast the hope f my l f , ut glad y I s all e s u th e rrender , F o he of u an i i n o oll w t call the M ses , I c st ll sp f r ’ a living .
A R G UM E N T
While Hom er is telling to th e y ouths the s tory of his earl li e his dau hter Praocilla who h as hith erto been y f , g , ke t in the back roun d a ears an d b e s that s h e be p g , pp g
’ allowed to s h are in the s chool an d in the gifts Of h er
er he re us es all the allurem ents o lo e i fath . S f f v t ll this
H r t ri ht b e a ccorded her . om er an s h er etition g g p , an d fin ds in her words a s trong n ote plain ly indicating
T en he ll m ove to he s r the future. h t y a t h ine of
A ollo an the oet ra s th e God or li ht w ith p , d p p y f g in ,
n ls r s or he Go who is s till to u n old a d a op ay f t d , f .
5 0 HOM R IN CHIO S E .
F on i w o e i e ar the h lls , ith ech s repeat ng th m v on h e - sel es is h art strings , As he hearkened that voice which can o nly be S l heard in its i ence . Always the poet responds to the lightest touch of i e h s po m , In i b ears u i b e it the mus c he , and also the m s c n i yo d t , For tw o u e u e bo strains his meas r s m st hav , th e e singing tog th r , O e o t e h h o n n Of m r als and art , the ot er of G ds a d O lympus , O of e and ne gloom and of fate , the oth r of light
Of freedom . P ie h be h r st t ough he at the altar of song , e is also h V ct m t e i i , And he yields up his heart to the battle of joy
and of sorrow .
o n i vin H mer , sovereig s nger , was wea g the d of stran s his story , Wea ving together the threads of his life as he sat i e n his gard n , on h h to h Ea he i Where , t e path Of t e sea t e st , t s land Of Chios Up fro m the waters throbs to the rise and the of fall the billows , Being itself but a petrified fragment of sea b u i orn m s c , H H 5 1 THE DA UG TER OF OMER .
Which was sung into sto n e with its notes at their n sweetest V ibratio . Over the slant and the summit the fruitage is hav i ng a frolic , Oranges coated with gold and Olives sparklin g in e silv r , Playing in floods of the sun that pour from the he l sky to t is and , Whose ne w ardent blood is flowing to juice of the
w e - e in pr ss . Heart- beats of stormiest stone you can feel every w he e e h ll- r to th i tops , Heaving the vehement earth till it rises from e i slop nto summit , While the fiery soil is transmuted to grapes in h e v e d t in yar , Whi ch reveal the red rage of the God in th e l sparks of their drop ets . Puls es of passionate air you can breathe every e ih he l d wh re t is an , Lifting the rapturous soul into love Of the youth d h e de an t mai n , Whi ch breaks forth into strains in answer to ll va ey and mountain . E very look is a chor us of sea and of earth a nd of e ve h a n , All of the isle is a song as it sways in the sweep of i id e ts r g s , And keeps time to the up an d the down of the b t o ea f a master , 52 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
Tuning the sea and the land to vast undulations of music , Notes O f the strain that rose from the voi c e of the singer primeval When he created the land and the sea and the fi rm am ent starry .
In o ic e i - l the heart f this mus al isl , his b rth p ace ,
sat Homer , And around him stood yo uths from the east and e of l the w st all He las , In a trance of the Muses carried along by his u e n mb rs , Yielding their souls unto his to be shaped to
that harmony splendid . Nor from that group of fair youths could Ero s b i a en e r ghtfully bs t , E o of a i e i r s , the God Love , h d h s shrin , as h s n i in wo t s , secret in n o o hou u There the garde Of H mer wh , t gh sh t i i - i n h s eye s ght , u b a i n o i Co ld ehold e ch de ty prese t , h wever d s
guised .
Suddenly all of the eyes of the youths were o h i turned fr m t e s nger , And to the tune of new measures were shooti ng oe c t p ti scin illas , Ro i i o in o e i o i ll ng s del ng fiery j y , y t try ng t h de
it , 5 3 THE DA UGHTE R OF HOM ER .
Flinging millions of sparkles over the form of a de mai n , V ti u i w ho n ery beau f l ma den , e tered the gate of
the garden . ut o e d o i o O f h r hi ing she m ved , emerg ng fr m v of b lea es her ar or , e G d ho e Lik a o dess she came , w has sped from th heights of Olympus n to i i Dow to the longing earth , appear the d v ne
unto mortals . Forward she stepped to the group without stop n c i e e ping , a d ame to ts c nt r ; All of the youths were lighting her path w ith i o e e h the r l oks as sh pass d t em , Making the twinkle of starlight there in th e
blaze of the sunlight . With a reverent glance she tou ched the lean hand o of the p et , Yet the look of resolve gave strength to her i n i ee face ts sw tness , Softly obedience shone just while her own way
she was going . Standing behind him sh e pressed th e bloom of h er ehe d cheek to his for a , Roses of life seemed to suddenly shoot from the of furrows wisdom , And to her father thus spake Praxilla the daugh o e ter f Hom r , While her strong s weet lips gave a kiss which sounded heroic 5 4 H OM I CHIO E R N S .
F e e c e h ather , suff r m also to om to t y knees and to liste n ; I would learn who thou art before thou pass from
u s this s n hine , ou e Soon th must go , methinks , with the Days , th u Ph oeb da ghters Of us ,
Go With o th e beautiful Days far over the sea t o
the sundown . e d h of Ho h dl w e I am th aug ter mer , ar y I kno y t my father ; Do not deny me the hope of my soul whi c h of
thine is begotten . Great is my longing to hear Of what thou art saying and singing Why should men not share with the w omen their lore and their wisdom ? e e e d We h l None th l ss will you hav , an s al gain much by you r boun ty b of ou e e ve We shall e worthy y , and you will r c i
the full blessing. t b we Long I have pa iently kept in my o r , my b eautiful bower , lovered with blossom and bran ch and filled with of N t e the fragrance a ur , Whi ch thou nobly gavest me once it seems long ago now hou as nd nd b - d T ghtful the gift w a ki , ut to ay I
can stay there no longer .
A S e e n i h dd n e d in I list n d withi t , i e in leav s an a br nches , 5 5 TH E DA UGH TER OF H OMER .
’ Wreathed around and around in its flo wers and l ed e d l c asp in its t n ri s , I resolved to go forth and to claim my heritage
also , Heritage equal of legend and song which are all
thy possessions . e 0 F h ! h ch e H ar me , at er t y ild , I am com to of h w led e know t y kno g , I am c om e to thy school to learn if I be the true h eiress , And to say the one word which long has b een i th n e grow ng wi i m , o e b it d t N t y t mature , ut this day is ripe an mus drop from my lips now : of o ee b ch of h Child thy b dy I am , I s k to e ild t y i sp rit , n w h e e I , ot kno ing my fat er , am not th tru ” of daughter Homer .
d the e e t o he w rd Mil was mi n , y t s r ng was t o h c th e de h utte ed w i h mai n ad r , en e no e of ce e ftl G tl the t her voi , suppr ssing so y uive a q r , Yet betraying a wavering line in response to her
- e heart b ats , hi n h e od e e ed W ch sank dow wit h r m esty , y t sw ll u w r p ith he purpose , o en in en b of e Heedful f m her pres ce , ut th ir s coflin d g efiant , 5 G HOM R I N CHIO E S .
h he t o n a u To er fat r du iful , yet her w w y she m st oo go t .
of u h i nd lo re All the yo t s adm red a oked , she n e turned ot th ir glances , Was there not one whom she in her heart already h ad chosen O h b l o h of ne of t ose eautifu y ut s , the flower Hellas and Asia ? o an o d See h w h ds me they stan in a group , as if - b n they were God or , n O u e i Gathered ow On lymp s , r joicing the r par ents immortal Still not a look from the maiden that way ! not a glance Of sly favor How can sh e help it ? But not a beam hath she
dropped there among th em . o e h i v Say , has Nature l st h r aut or ty o er the m aid en ? On ve a n h b ce re nges were wre ked o t e re el , double
revenges , Love which reje cts will feel too the pang of being
rejected , Twofold the wound whi ch Eros inflicts if you te ar
out his arrow . Mark h ow the generous sum m ers of Chios have v h gi en t eir bounty , Given their hidden command in the warmth of a e n i e South r cl mat , B c he de b ut the ommand is not ard , is fied y the
daughter Of Homer .
58 H I OMER N CHIOS . But not so it runs now in the tale of the d e o aught r f Homer , Now the law seems changed — and yet we can hardly believe it ; Strange desire she has to share in the lore and h n t e lege d , Firmly refusing to listen to - day to the whisper E o of r s , Wh o is wont to be hinting to maidens his secret u on s ggesti , And to speak with his face hid in clouds till he
dare be discovered . Now she will take her part of th e gifts from h e r d n father esce ded , Dimly dreaming perchance that she hereafte r may need them ; She will learn the Old son gs which treasure th e o o wisdom f pe ples , Learn the story of heroes tried in th e failure a nd triumph , n o of o n f n Lear the st ry w me , unfallen , alle , for i n g ve , F u P n di e e n u u aithf l e elope , r Clyt m estra , bea tif l Helen ; oo i ainin au She t will s ng , rem g forever the d ghter
of Homer .
n e o r an in Ge tly the po t groped f r he h d , reach g out i h h e w t is fing rs , H 5 9 THE DA UGH TE R OF OM ER .
F nd d h w h d l ou it an laid it in is it a satisfie ook , then addressed her : Daughter methinks thy voice has suddenly h e h h dh d c ang d from t y c il oo , e d u e r l to- d h w Y ster ay tho w t a gir , ay t ou art holly
the woman , I can hear in thy tones once more the voi ce of e my moth r . h ic Of C e he he Thine is t e vo e reth is , w n s was tell n i g a story , Sweet are the turn s of thy tongue in talking our el e c living H l ni , And y et seeming to speak just to me from a world u e c t d res rr e , ' Building ane w out of speech th e rainbo w s of
youthful remembrance . B ff n c an — h ut a di ere ce , too , I hear t y words n e are the stro g r , e h e h n he w d of Yes , far stronger ar t in t a t or s e i he Cr the s my mot r , Who could fable the past and loved antiquity ’ s custom ’ e e h h n e e w ch h el Strong r I d em t em t a H l n s , hi d n h el all ch ae i t eir sp l A a . h d n ot ell n old d d th de T ey o dw i ays , nor o ey in e e e lay th pr s nt , he e e Ch b n ot T y b long not her in our ios , elong el a in H l s , But rea ch out to a time and a land somewhere i n he d nc e t ista , 60 HOMER IN CHIOS .
a ris m h n o fo Dre mily g t is mome t , I see , ut the g o h f u f t e ut re , Faintly lifted to life in the light Of the beams of o Apoll , Who has whirled in his chariot over the arch of ou e ve r h a ns ,
n now h e i ann far A d , facing t e W st , s sc ing the herm os t O t cean . List ! I bid thee to come when done 1 8 the duty of h u h o se old , o n h u e h u an C me whe t o wilt and stay wh n t o c st , bo n ow n e e f e th a d h r a t r , F i in all a reely unfold what s thee to th t ever.
thou canst be . Travel thou must thine own way of life as thy f e e e ath r b for thee , o d of i i e h u ei of Be th u chil my sp r t , b t o h ress o H mer , Fo the o n u o llow path f the Su ro nd the w rld , and ” that be thy j ourney .
a a n Sc rce h d he uttered the word , whe stately f h t he rose rom t e set le , Full of the thought he had spoken he shone in each line of his visage Then he moved to the place where stood in his n n a garde a alt r , Fo ou n n w e wa r , th gh bli d , he k e w ll the y to the
- shrine of the Light God . R 6 1 THE DA UGH TE OF HOMER .
After him moved th e daughter and youths in o i h ly process on , o o - e i e in S lemn , sl w st pping , wh l sta lessly white fell the folds of their garments ; When they had gathered about him and stood in a w ors hi ful S n p ile ce , Ho efu u n he d i p l he t r ed to t sky , rolled upwar h s i h e s g tl ss eyeballs , Seeking th e fac e Of the God that shone as the s un i he e n t heav ns , ’ And h e e w i h Of e pray d his soul s pray r , t might an instant fulfillm ent : O b a of all h o d Apollo , e rer t at is g o to us m o rtals , Bearer of light to the Earth and of sight to th e
c soul in thy presen e , God of the luminous look that darts to the past an th e d future , nd o n on h i A d th shi e t e present forever , creat ng it daily ! l v E h h o Shed sti l o er the art t y light , th ugh to me thou deny it ; Build thv arch of pure beams each day round the ven ab v hea s o e us , b e on no Spend thy l ssing others , though I be t able to take it Hold overhead as our lamp and our Shi eld thy d canopy gol en , And a u u h be u , s tho risest pon t e autiful world o t i s de me , 62 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
R a i e w th e d l h t ise nd illum n the orld , im wor d t a is lying within me ! u ou e l Deity tho gh th be , for the a so I lift up my prayer ; Thou unfold in thyself while I too in thee am un o d f l ing , More and more m ay thy light be transformed o e e fr m the out r to inn r , Till thou be risen from godship of nature to god f ship o spirit . Then through thee may the song that I sing be b he e re orn in t ag s , E b m en n h he of th ver re orn unto i t e s en y spirit , 0 Light- God !
o t e e H e All the y u hs pray d the pray r of om r , a w h the the d ughter prayed it m , In low tones of devotion that speak to the deity en pres t , Standing full in the shee n O f the sun by the shrine of Apollo , o e h Wh from his way in the West , thr w back is l i u g ances propit o s , i th e w of th e a d in Warm ng ords poet , n mak g the ll m oments a golden . IV
Grate .
o N orthla n f d . M E A R G U N T .
A t this poin t a s tranger appears in the s chool of
Hom er n ot a Greek or As i t u B r n , a ic, b t a a baria , s o
lled r th ca om e ar n or . , f f thwes t He has com e to learn
s om ethin about Hom er havin had s om e rev ious in g , g p form ation from a Greek captive whom h e had taken in
’ w Th e s tran er wis hes to carr H m er s oe r ar. g y o p t y
the whole o it an d not s om e ra m ents ~ to his eo le f , f g p p ,
ow t u u M e Pr x n n d it d n o the t re. antim e a illa a d ha f ,
the dau hter o Hom er lis tens to the s tor o the s tran er g f , y f g
w h an interes t never elt be ore and s he n e lects or a it f f , g f m om ent her hous ehold duties in her eagernes s to s ee a nd
Hom er and the s cholars a ter tr in in vain hear him . , f y g
u h e r u h utturals o his nam e s alute him to prono nce t o g g f ,
by the Greek title of Hesperion .
6 6 I H OMER N CHIOS .
c e h o h Look at his fa and is f rm , e never was
born in our Hellas . u i u h e e e Bea t f l still he mig t b , if h only wer ” dressed in our drapery .
h n a d o a e a ad w as T e they ce se , f r the str ng r lre y d he stan ing among t m , Manly in look and lofty in stature and earnest in
feature . Fair was his hair and ruddy his cheek and broad e i w re h s shoulders , i he w as i nd Sw ft was t flash Of his eye , it w ld a l i sti l t was gentle , Ofte n it sank to a dream reflecting the blue of
th e h eavens . Some new sort of a man h e appeared to the e i d Gre k Of the slan s , Taller he stood by the half of his head than any on e present ; At the e ntrance he stopped and gazed at the e t group for a mom n , Smit by the sight of what he had suddenly seen in an eye - shot ; h n e n d e h e T e h tur ed an spok to t e po t , slowly prono uncing Each Greek word i n a tone that tingled the ear h ne wit w music , Though it tickled at first the light-brained youth s
to a titter , h e b e e b W isp ring , ji ing, making r marks in th an r of te boyhood . 67 THE S TRAN GER OF N OR THLAND .
u h e del be e u Th s spake t e strang r , i rate , y t into h m e ing is fir n ss ,
or e e h he d was o F a m ssag he had in is art , an g ing to tell it : F in of h ce ar the region snow I dwell , w en Boreas chilling Falls on the sun-loved South with his sword that is forged i n th e Northland Forged out Of ice and tempered in blasts from
l f - the nostri s Of rost gods . Fierce is that warrior of winds and like th e bar b i n ar a ever , Who is charmed from his frozen world to the h n h e warmt a d the arv st , And descends to you r seas with his hordes in a
whirl and a tempest , Mad w ith your love he smites in h is rage and t seizes your b eau y . O o e ou 1 d of But , h H m r , y ad ress , the goal my travels For I deem you that man whom I name by the awe of your forehead Do vou kno w your measures have pierced our l e o ice bui d d f rtress , Warming our clime by their breath and m elting our hearts to their musi c ?
R d h of o our ch d u e is t e turn your w rds in spee , an dim e is the m aning , t ll che our he r d to ten S i it tou s a ts , an sympathy sof s our fiercenes s 68 IN HOMER CHIOS . You have made us all feel ourselves a little m ore
human , When your Hero in wrath relented in pity fo r P i r am , Ran somed his bitterest fe e and comforted sweetly
the father . Northland is starting ‘ to thaw in the breath o f he the Sout rn singer , And I am come to reward v ou ali ve by telling ” th e message .
Joyful the poet was tuned by the tidings hyper
b oréan , Voice from a far off world and promise of much a was o th t c ming , Casting across the Greek landscape a shadow of
lands in the sunset . o n o on u no o i New were the t es f the t g e , t D r c , o i oni Ae l c , I c , Not the turn of the speech that is spoken on i nd o i a sla r ma nl nd , Nothing like it had ever been heard in the city of i Ch os , Nothing like it had ever been sung in the strains h Of a r apsode , i o n et a o Mus c it had of its wn , a d y ll the w rds e e e w re H ll nic , he w e e ’ o Nay , all t words r Homer s , and seemed t r n o i o be d aw fr m h s p ems , 69 THE S TRAN GER OF N OR THLAND .
Wondrously tinged with new tints and quaintly to turned new meanings . Greatly surprised at the sound of the voice spake e u i Hom r , pr sing oh ue a n Speak , g st , tell how you h ve lear ed our language of Hellas ; i i na h de Hard t s for the tive , ar r it must be for n stra gers , nin i ou d e Cun g t is like rselves , elu ing th grasp of l n the ear er , In its hundreds of shifts transforming itself like o ld Proteus . Then I noti ce your rhythm to be of m y measures n begotte , And some turns of your speech are certainly b orn of i my sp rit , Aye and th e sweep of the thought when you
s spoke of the Hero Achille . ou a o Well y have he rd my s ng , far better than an ian m y a Grec , hou a b i n ou e l h e T gh bar ar a , y , I can f e , ave th
touch of my kinsh ip . i n v u i i o n M ghty a d mar elo s s all th s , I w uld ever
have thought it , C o now h o O u o r a me , tell me t e st ry , h g est , f r g e t ” is my wonder .
Sh l ou o n i That I all tel y at ce , he repl ed ,
not long is th e story . 70 I HOMER N CHIOS .
t av to ou e Wha I h e spoken y , I l arned from a ee k own ve Gr , my capti , o en in n e ca Wh m I had tak war , whe h me to m y ’ country s border , n u i an h d Tradi g , pl nder ng , w dering over t e worl for adventure ; h was o U u ch - T at an ther lysses , m enduring and
crafty , Lovm n th e b e g the so g and fa le , singing th m too on cc o asion , Loving the deed and daringly doing on land and o n water . Your G reek earth was too small for th e stress O f ht c his thoug and his a tion , Over the border he broke and h unted his prey i i l ke a l on , i ht and e t Knowledge beyond t he soug , f ll in o fate in c his sear hing . How I felt in my bosom th e swell and the stroke of his spirit ! n h e a a d Whe I found w at h w s , I m de him my frien nd n a companio , ou h av in n e he w as ve Th g a sl e still am , gi n my love and my bounty ’ Well he repaid the act ; from a prisoner s death v I had sa ed him , And he saved me in tur n from the ignorant death
of the savage . i n rac There the forest your speech I began , I p ticed it daily H 7 1 THE S TRAN GER OF N OR T LAND .
Till by his ai d I was able to speak it the way you
now h ear m e . Him I s et free as soo n as he taught m e the lan e guage Of Hom r , It is th e w ord of your poem that broke the chai n of h b d is on age , Mine too it broke at a blow when I said in your ’ e : e ee n ow Gre k B fr , d e l b e eve ch e An I am sur , it wou d r ak ry ain of th l ” peop e who spoke it .
More astonished than ever the po et burst out into questions : h h u o e h t d how W y ast tho c m to t is spo , an didst thou get to our i sland ? Utter agai n to me here thy b roken Helleni c v I lo e it , Love it twisted and splintered and broken to ra diant fragments D out of h h e e h ropping t y mout , y t sp aking t e e h t i e b st t a s spok n . who h n nd h d Say , art t ou , ma , a what art t ou oing in Hellas ?
b e ed b c ld Ju ilant Hom r ask , ut ou not wait for h e t e answ r , e c e d h o e he e d Ask d on e mor , an t at was n t y t t n
Of his asking , l he e b e he l ll e Til t strang r , r aking t u of a mom nt , responded 72 M I H HO ER N C I OS .
e ee h e of on a H the Gr k w om I spok , ce c lled you a n ative Of C hios ; h n e in h i With t at am my eart , inqu ring each step I am c ome now Over the land fro m afar and over the sea in a
vessel . But is it so ? I can hardly believe it myself Art thou Homer ? l old n h e O it b Te l me , ma , t y nam , speak ut ” once — Is it Homer ? SO w as c le b the r l I al d y my mo , sti l so I am e called by the H llenes , Though there b e some wh o deem me not Homer he but some ot r person , ’ ” difl erent of o Merely a man that name , resp nded e Hom rus , And a sunrise of smiles broke over the seams of e his featur s , As arose in his thought the pedagogue d welling in Chios , ib u o bo u Terr le pedagog e , tr uncer of ys , the cr sty d Ty ptb es .
n k an u if hi The spa e the str ger , pl ting mself to e e th height of his statur , Far overlooking the heads of the rest of the little assembly : ou e av Let me now tell y the scop of my tr el , the hope of my journey
74 HOME R IN CHIOS .
Where the huge arms of the breakers are smit in h h of O e n g t e s ore the c a , Ever beyond and beyond i n the stretch of their s i trokes they are str king , n e a n h e of h e i Beati g , forev r repe ti g t e strok s t n ” finite Ocean .
Both Of his arms he outstretched and gazed on the sea for a moment ; ch e t e e ned Cat ing his br ath , the s rang r r tur from his look to his hearers : nd eo e c ll he nd Barbarous lands a p pl s you a t m , a u s o e tr ly call th m , n ei e e e d w be But i th r hearts th y ar r a y , I kno , to une c t d to vour musi , n e e e -b And to be dipped , o c mor n w orn , in your n harmo y holy , Which they will keep forever enshrined in th ei r
lore and their legend . H e O o of all h e i om r , H mer , poet t nat ons and
ages , Give unto Barbary now what the Gods have l ” given to Hel as .
R e h e h ound whirled the strang r , t e b at of is h u h i n h t o g t st ll smiti g wit in him , iv out of i l l h Dr en h mse f , he wa ked at a w isk a small cir cle
c e b h lS b d And am ack to stand , as if putting a o ily period 75 THE S TE AN GE R OF N OR THLAND .
h e he wee h e c i b ut T er to t s p of is utt ran e sw ft , ’ h is spirit s full gallop He l n ot e i c d h d h cou d r in n at on e , an so is wor s e continued : All o w ld w e h le of your s ng I ou kno , th w o of e h it fitted tog t er , That Greek captive of mine could only sing me e the fragm nts , Broken Off here and there from th e whole be t l e most au ifu fragm nts , Whic h Mnem osyne fl e etingly brough t him whe n
he invoked her . But h h l of o h ve h e t e w o e your s ng I must a , t h h ed e w ole Of it s r l ss , For the whole is Often far more than all of its
pieces , e he w h le all of its e d he Ay , t o is piec s , an is t ” whole too .
He l e e d e e d re augh d Hom r alou , y t spak no wor with his pleasure ;
Wh e e e h el cr v w a at had start d th po t w o rar y h a e y to his laughter ?
h e h h h c l h h h e It was t t oug t , t e omica t oug t of t e e h p dagogu C ian , Who w as always beating and breaking the s on g i e e nto pi c s ,
he be c e he de b c e el Till am what ma , e am too hims f but a fragment ‘76 HOM ER I N CHI OS .
e b e n o f b o s T rri le fragment of man , th trou cer v of ve e and rs s , e b ed hi n h a n T rri le p agogue C a , t e sl sher a d T todes . thrasher , yp
ou d o oun i All of the y ths rew cl ser ar d h m , the o d e w n erful strang r , o e b e h Sch lar hyp r or an , the first that ad come from the Northland They re ceived h im as one Of themselves in th e of e r school the mast , ff h b n he Gone is the sco and t e ji e , a d t whisper is
speaking respectful .
Praxilla h u i u u Also was t ere , the bea t f l da ghter O f Homer , Hearing the marvelous tale and pondering deeply
its meaning . Sweetly the maiden looked up and s m iled at th e h mirth Of her fat er , ou She kn n h u he e w Th gh ew ot t e ca se , s kn that n d the stra ger had please him , n e d o Her too the stra g r had please , she th ught , in i pleas ng the father , Her too the stranger had pleased she knew not a what w s the reason . Not yet brought to an end was the task of the in h u o d day t e ho seh l , i n e d e u a in St ll she li ger d an list ned , tho gh he r g the
call of the kitchen . F THLA D 7 7 THE S TRAN GER O N OR N .
ob nd e u h d N ly erect sta s th yo t , an towers aloft in his stature , Brave as a he ro he must be to travel alone the o l ng journey , h t b e e Loyal t e hear in his r ast , so true to his Gre k benefactor ; Lofty his soul looks out and full of divine aspi ration ! n a a d o o i Ma with be r , vert pp ng the cluster of b eardless bardlings , As great Zeus overtops all the Gods in his mien
and his power . i o of i hoo l Burst s the bl om h s man d , sti l as a man i he s youthful , lVeighty his speech drops do w n with the rin g of the masterful doer ; And Praxilla the daughter o f Homer still lingered en and list ed , d o e o Lingered to hear but a wor , ne mor w rd ou c e t she w ld cat h from th s ranger , Though again she heard the importunate cry of the kitchen
e he be n ce e S eing r there he ga on mor , that son of th e hl Nort and , For h e tho ught she might w ish to be told what he kne w about w omen : R h b e d w bi h e ude thoug we an arriors from rt , w are o o o eh ld f nd f the h us o , 78 HOM IN CHI O ER S .
And we honor the wife who rules with her heart in her home life ; e e o he h e But , y t mor , we h nor t woman , for s is e he le th a r , Ever the merciful healer through the love in her n ature , H li o n d d he ea ng the s ul a d the bo y , an nursing t l sick and the he pless .
A e l h e th e y , yet more , we ho d her t e seer ss , ted vi gif di nely , he i n b ond lli e e Who has t v sio ey , forete ng th tim ” unto m ortals . Praxilla i e d d And st ll ling re an listened , the h e e daug t r Of Hom r , ed b d e e d Linger to hear ut a wor , on mor wor she would hear from the stranger Louder and loud er resounded th e dolorous cry
Of the kitchen .
Then the poet in spee ch forethoughtful and hearty addressed him o e e ‘ b a d i Welc me , Oh stranger , h r is Our o r w th n an i v d its wi e d ts ian s , and e e o m u Stay partake , be r fresh d fr thy jo rney t in body and spiri , F e od he irst pour a drop to th G of t Light , far te dar r Apollo , P he e h e d O f he od e w ray t n , for m n av nee t G , h ill
answer thy prayer . 7 9 THE S TRAN GER OF N OR THLAND .
th or w as ev h Take of me all at I am , or er I s all
be , e e h u w h l h e B ar m afar as t o ilt , to t y fo k in t w of h o hl d sno s t e N rt an , all c OH he h e Learn my song and arry it , t w ol , n f ot a ragment , For no fragm ent can live if torn from its life in the body ; Sing it thyself and let it b e sung by the farther e e most p opl s , h e i ine h ‘ l b o T in t is as it is m , if t ou on y art a le t sing it ; In thy words I c an feel that thou art the s on of h t e future , Feel what is coming to me and to mine fro m th e
world to th e w estward . e 0 now of ne W lcome guest , drink our wi and eat of our viands ; Stay perchance I shall make thee joint heir of ” all my possessions .
e he he ex c he e So spak t fat r in joy , pe ting t f ast
to be ready . Prax illa Praxilla he d But , where is , t utiful maiden ? he l e in el l en d Still s ing red spite of hers f , and ist e , w d and on ered , e c h b d e e o Ling red to cat ut a wor , on mor w rd , h of e from t e lips the strang r , 8 0 HOME R IN CHIOS .
Though her father she heard re-echo the cry of ki en tch , When he spoke of drinking the wine and eating
the viands . au i u u of o Be t f l da ghter Homer she st od there , but d utiful also ; was n i o r l in o She restless , a d sa d t he se f repr of , still delaying : u ou 0 3 was n n S rely I ght to be , I eeded lo g since in my kitchen ; What will the household become if left to itself in the future ? O o n u o n u h , th se women , those wo derf l w me , p there in the No rthland a as n i Th t w the tale of a dream , a d st ll I appear o d a in t be re m g , Thinking m yself far away in the glisteni ng home of h - o t e frost g ds , Thinking myself in a temple of ice on the top of
an iceberg . o now S o i old e o W man , peed fr m th s Gre k w rld and march to the new one Would he take me along if I perchance would go with him ? That is my mind and yet I kno w not whether I know it ; That is my mind beyond the seas and over th e mountains But o c n i h I must g my kit he , my k tc en and still I delay here
8 2 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
u e t ee one of o own n We m st addr ss h as ur , whe ” we sit at the table . o e n ba ou Sl wly the strang r pronou ced it , bar r s , h - h e heavy , roug t roat d , But those soft-toned Greeks could not speak it in of ei u i spite th r c nn ng , O o u in ft he repeated it f r them , b t vain they i essayed t , Rudely its sounds were jolting out their m onth s i n onf c usion , Broken to fragments around on the air flew the f name o the stranger . n e and all l The th master spake out , bade be si ent a moment : Much too old is my voice to be forced to the o u t nes Of thy lang age , Always it creaks and breaks if strained to the u n s btle adjustme t , I have sung too much to make any longer this
discord . Hearken to m e in my tongue I shall name thee e Hes erion henc forward p , on o E f i S f the vening , come rom the dip of br ght iu Hel s westward , Rising and shining when it is sunset already i n
Hellas . That is a name we can sing to right music i n u e n c m eas re H lle i , TH T AN G O N OR THLA D 8 3 E S R ER F N .
h e us h : e List to t e word , l t sing it toget er W l e Hes erion com , p Then the youths sang aloud all toge ther : Wel c e Hes e rion om , p And Praxilla whispered in sile nc e : Thrice welcome Hes perion ! b u h e h he e out In a l s at h r w isper , s turn d and ran
to her kitchen .
Hom er takes up the account of his travels through
Hellas in re ara i n or s w A l h p p t o f hi ork . l is s cholars are
res ent o whom a s or lis t is H i p , f h t given . e f rs t w ent to
Tro and s aw the ruin ed cit with its ain w e y , y pl , h re the war too a Then h on n k pl ce. e cros s ed over to the c tine t o Greece an d heard the eo le o ea ch v illa e elebrate f , p p f g c the ee s o s s e e ile s in n hims el d d f it p cial h ro. Wh gi g f he als o heard the bards of ev ery locality s in g its special le en O T t T us Hom er ath g d f roy and he aforetime. h g ered all the s tories o the Tro an war a nd us ed th em f j , f
t e He ch es to toge her into h is great n ational po m . an c speak of Helen and her captivity ; at once the Old confl ict
B u Hom er fl am es out am ong the pupils in his s chool. t s to s the dis ute or a s hort tim e a nd continues the n ar p p f , rative o his travels till the s tr e b reaks out anew this f , if ,
im e over Hector between Glaucus th e L cian an d t , y
s e is s till read to D em odocus the Ithacan . E ach id y
Hom er once m ore fight the Troj an war over again . harm onizes the con i t nd akes occas ion to s how how fl c , a t the poet m us t em brace in him s elf both s ides Of the s trug
le w e o g hich h p rtrays . Morning had come from the East saluting the d h islan Of C ios , Throwing her kisses of light along every line of nd e the la scap , i d h in e n T ll it stoo fort her glance , reveal d a d s fi ured tran g to vision . Soft was the light that she dropped from her lips on h e t e hill and the vall y , Tenderly touching the air with violet tinges an d golden Under her feet lay th e waters and ove r h e r head b v n ent the hea e s , e h e e c Both of them wak d from the nig t , r fl ting her soul in their stillness ; e nd e o bi e e e n e h S a a sky , th tw g blu y s Of atur , ad o ed pen , ( 8 7 ) 8 8 I H OMER N CHIOS .
nd e l o w th h he b u A wer o king i joy on C ios , t ea ti i l d ful s an , Where not far from the beach stood the garden w l and d el ing of Homer .
All the youths had assembled to hear the tale of v l his tra e , Which by the ch an c e of the moment had been before interrupted ; Now they would hear Of the way he had w an de d e re to com to his poems , For they all would like to b e Homers and Sing of h e e t e h ro s , Catching the glory of life in the li lt of a music
al measure .
u e o h f nk of Gla cus was th re , a y ut rom the ba s
th e dd e ying Xanthus , i h c r el of M ghty is an esto was , B lerophon , hero Lycia io h c d be b n ow h Warr rs is ra e ha en , ut he soug t to be poet Singing not doing th e deed he held the better v o
cation . Other g reat names were present from lowland and upland of Asia : M s ius Nas tes n of P i n Gyges , y , , so a hryg a mon
c ar h , d n Gar arus ni u the i Dar a from g gh nto Troy , c ty
in r uihs ,
90 H OM I N CHIO ER S .
l nt d on e d e e l th e Ta e he ha for the , esir he f t for
other , eu l an a T cer cou d not what he would , d wh tever
he could he would n ot . P was i o a Burly lexippus there , the r chest sch l r of Homer , Glossy and sleek were grazing his herds i n h T essaly grassy , Thousands of horses w ere his that drank at the of Pen streams eios , Palaces too he o wned and h eld whole cities for barter ; Someho w he tho ught he co uld simply exchange e v som cattle for erses , ’ E en the Pieria n spring was his by virtue of
money , Once for its waters he counted out pieces of gold v and of sil er , But h u hei un n ou h n r t o gh t r fo tai he b g t , he eve
could purchase the Muses . When he returned to his country a nd held his n i Thessalia doma ns , All his thought was to buy up the ho me Of the d O Go s , high lympus , n e ee ed he o n The the Gods h d m p ssessed , possessi g hei o i t r m unta n , And at his will he could call them down from their
heights to his poem .
O h th h d c t er you s from t e islan s had ome , and m also fro Argos , 9 1 THE TRA VEL S OF H OM ER . But the Muse has not given their names excepting o h ron es S p , hen de of Clear At ian soul , voted to worship P allas , o l eve as an f l e M ra ist r w he , the m i o d mak r of
m axims .
ll Hes e rion was e h e Ta p too pr sent , just from t N thl or and , le b i e e n d So bar ar an there , y t eag r to lear an to l e ist n , Towering over the rest like Fate over beautiful Hellas ; n e e e e e l in Stro g w r his f atur s , y t me ting to love of the sunshine Chios .
On e ho e ou h e mor sc lar forg t not , th g first pres ent this morning ! — There Sh e stands behind by the door the daugh of e ter Hom r , — Still by the door in the rear she yet will ad c van e t o the foreground . e h l n e e t in Shy ar er g a ces , striving to hid her h ar e h r bosom ,
B e l- e and hi the ut th y are tel tal s , w sper thought i h n she s secretly t inki g .
Voices arose which bade the poet go on with his story ; Grappling awhile for his thought again he began his recital 9 2 HOM I CHI O ER N S .
F t e t e d d i irs I w n Ov r to Troy , an welt on ts d l c plai n an its hi lo k , In the city destroyed I stayed and lived with its
ruins , Which still talk to the traveler telling their story
so fateful . Ri l d he d h od of vers I saw in the p ain , an ar t e G Scamander Speak of the Heroes slain and many a furious tle bat , As he pointed to c orselet and helmet and shi eld m id h e is rush s , Showing the skulls Of the dead that gri nned from
the ooze of his stream bed . Thence I passed on th e sea in a ship fro m island i l to s and , F v of o P e d e i elt the fa or h ary os i on , and f lt too h s e ang r , When he would roll up the waves in a storm by the might Of his trident ; Him I once saw in his chariot scudding a way on th e bi llow Ri i e l a k ght nto suns t , and eaving a fiery tr c
through the waters . Glad for my life I was when I c ame to the mai n d Of el lan H las , Pe i ie d u oples I saw , their c t s an customs , b t chiefly their legends Drew me to listen and gather each radiant shred
of their spirit . 9 3 THE TRA VEL S OF HOMER .
Heroes unknown I foun d everywhere , great men the v e Of ir illag , Whose high d eeds were at festivals sung by their en i w h townsm n ors ip , For each village its Hero must have and revere l him divine y . Every bard in the country I heard and stored up b e his fa l s , Till the Delphian cleft which utters the measures he i prop t c , Till the Thes protian land where speak the oaks of d n Do o a , Till the O lympian heights where Gods loo k H l dow n upon el as . And to Helicon came I and heard th e song of its
Muses , Singing a rival strain to the Sisters w h o sit on Parnassus ; e i e d c b e old Ther I l stened to H sio , ra b d singer of
Ascra , And I gave him a note of the song that was rising hi wit n me , I had already b egun the new lay of the Gods and
the Hero es . For a moment he ceased his complaints O f man n o n a d f woma , Quit his dark world of monsters primeval and z u i ha y h ge T tans , Just long enough for a laugh to break out like a o - u flash fr m a storm clo d , 94 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
' An d e : Frie nd I h v h to say to m , s all isit t ee e e i ” som tim in Ch os .
Here th e poet himself was a smile and dropped into silence For or o n h n e u n d to a minute m re , a d t e he r t r e his story : Early to Argos I came and heard in a hymn the whole pe ople
n e of D iom ed ho as Cha ting th glory , w w their v u e aloro s lead r , How in the war of Troy he fought with the d Go s , though a mortal , Fought with two Trojan Gods in the might of e a e e his h rt , and h conqu red ; Fo e ek u d n h e r th Gre though a man , m st put ow t
God if a Trojan . That I said to myself is a note in the lay of our e H llas , In the grand lay of our Hellas that i s a strain of the m usic ; Part of the on e vast temple of song i n the soul of e th nation , I shall take it and mould it and build it Into my ’ poem . Each little fragm ent of life and each stray film of a story , e a nd n r I Nam of mount in , river a tow , whateve found there H 9 5 THE TRA VEL S OF OMER .
i u on h o d be e ve All I p cked p t e sp t , an gan to w a he e he t m tog t r , of n o n e wh o re By the aid M em sy e , Mus always
m embers . h nae en e e T en to Myce I w t , the gold n , wh re e dwelt Agam mnon , Through the portal I passed that was guarded v h abo e by t e Lions , Fiercely glaring in stone at the man who entered
their gateway . Much the sp lendid city had waned from its Old n l Troja g ory , And th e look of the sunset rested all day on its
towers . ’ There I le arned the King s fate at the hands of i f h s wi e Clytemnestra , d of e f ov b And the eath hers l and her l er , oth n O slai by restes . Sad was the tale of the do omful House of the M i - onarch w de ruling , I could never refrain from repeating that tale in e my m asures , x e e h k of e e i of Truest e ampl , m t in s , th d al ng d u s Go s with mortals , Still to be sung in many n ew poems to millions
hereafter . It i b u i b e d he n out w ll e po red nto ronz , an w Of e ble whit st Of mar , ld e e u b e e To in tongu s y t n orn , to m asur s unheard o in l f Hel as . 9 6 H HOMER I N C I OS .
i d i he h d n h Wretched n eed s t man , if t e Go s i is de e be pri , h O y not ; ZE is th us e h he of Base g , I f el in my eart t point thy dagger ! ”
F e h Old d e ed ervidly spak t e man , an he se m e e ov rcom by his story , Thinking the fate that b efel th e great prince
he e e n . Of t Gr eks , Agam m on To his ow n life the poet transmuted the lives of h e H t eroes , Every thread of a fable h e span to a strand of h h - t is eart s rings , Each w ild word Of the wildest Old legend he
h tran s fi ured caug t and g , Unto each sorrow of mortal his bosom beat mighty responses ; Nobly the youths were led to revere the m an in
the poet .
Soon h is gloom he h ad caught and flung it far
b c -h e a k into Let , Whence at times it escapes in the brightest of d h souls up to aylig t , d b n n n n n An he ega , i his cou te a ce looking the look of th e sunrise : O h e h ha un ver t e h ig ts I scrambled , t t was a co try of mountains ! d e m et n h Woo m n I in the forest , here a d t ere a a e sm ll haml t ,
98 HOME R IN CHIOS .
Queen of the love that bears i n its proof th e bit teres t e e e v ng anc , h e l n h of e b T ere I f l dow the t rall thy sp ll , ut I u rose p the master . Thou dost also possess in thy right the s oul of n e the si g r , I was Paris myself and I fled to the East with my e H len , was o and I was e d Troy I to its siege , tak n an b urnt into ashes ; But I am also the law whi ch is read in the flame s e ci of th ty , An d I am th e stern judgment of Gods who speak ” from its ruins .
When the poet had stopped in the rush of his d e wor s for a mom nt , See ! a youth stands forth with a flash in his ey e ch like a fal ion , l c e b n of ed Lycian G au us it is , from th a ks the dy
ing Xanthus , Grandso n of Glaucus who fell in the w ar by the l of e wal s th Trojans , he ee of He e e Sprung of t s d ro s , though po sy now h e has ch osen ; t d th e h ie h S an ing for from th ranks of is fr nds , t us says he to Homer : e b el e our i e h Hel n ong d to s d , for she was t e o b w man of eauty , 9 9 THE TRA VEL S OF HOMER .
e d he or e W ha to take her and keep r , lose th h e l v l eritag o e y , o n i u a Basely resign it t others , a d y eld p the cl im
of fair Asia . n ou o a r a w ar Twe ty years she was rs , f ll the g e t e h sh was wort y , n e u n we u Twe ty y ars she was o rs , a d paid b t the c of a pri e city , Even on e mom ent of Helen is worth all the losses ” of P i r am .
Scarc e had he done when a valorous youth sprang out of the front- line F o he e i o d r m t opposit ranks , as f to resp n to the challenge ’ e u on of o u a It was D modoc s , s Demod c s , Ith ca s e sing r , Now in the school of the poet to learn the new song of the ages ; Far in advan c e was the song of all that were sung i n his country ld B e o b d h . P n y th ar s , is fathers oi ting his finger
l c at G au us ,
R i h i he c d ais ng is arm and smit ng t air at ea h wor , h e spoke thus :
e e bu n w e b d ou Y s , we smot you , we r t you , oun y he e w h e w n sat d ith slaug t r , n w e e h d Wome s ized and your wealt , we waste
the city and country . 1 0 0 HOM IN CHIO ER S .
t w as in l d n Lit le left the an , i your gore we n our l pai ted g ory , And the same fate awaits you again if you come
to the trial . n h i of o o h u Hele , t e pr ze the w rld , y u ad to s r ” render forever .
Each of the fiery speakers had spoken his speech i n a fury ; See the turn ! how strange ! they are looking no
more at each other . B o of b th them ending the head , they covertly n one b gla ce at o ject , Right at one point where stands the beautiful of o daughter H mer ,
As if Helen she were , to be fought for and w on
by a nation . But in the background quite overtopping them h all stood t e stranger , Just behind the fair daughter he stood and o ei seemed t be w ghing , a b -e Hes erion a Dre mful , lue yed p , yesterd y come h h from t e Nort land , Now he seemed to be w eighing two weights i n e l of l e th sca es a ba anc .
In the midst of the din the poet uprose from h is settle , e e on O h o As gr at Z us lympus , t e God f the Greeks d Tro ans an the J ,
1 02 HOM R i CHIO E zv S .
Learn from to -day just what is the bondage you are to get rid of : F i b ut ou no n u ree s the poet , free y are t whe r led by a passi on u u o u a no en Whole he m st be , b t wh le yo re t wh halved-into parties Musi c you never will m ake if the soul hath a i i n n break n ts te sio . Hear entirely ; now let us go on with the rest of
my story . O o P an a l d of ver t ylos I passed , d s w the an sage
Nestor , Who returned to his home from the war un b b e e trou led y t mp st , O b of th e o i k r y the wrath G ds , wh ch wrec ed so
many returning . O h was n ro n lder t an I am he whe at T y , a d yet a d d e goo sol i r , Fon o h u in a of ou d f t e fight , b t of tell g tale his y th
still fonder . Thence I sailed to Ithaca where I heard of U lysses , i m en e u n n u i e W sest of , h end red ; a d e d r ng , h rose in his wisdom ; a i o or was Gre t were h s deeds at Tr y , f he the o who oo Her t k it , Mounting its walls by the wooden horse that was w inged with his c unning ; O i i ou i of ver Ach lles he r ses , thr gh m ght the ’ spirit s contrivance . 1 0 3 THE TRA VEL S OF HOMER .
But yet greater his task was after the c ity had fallen ; ’ n w as h o To retur t e Hero s w rk , to return to his country d i w i u o h e d An to h s fe , thro gh st rms of t e s a an
himself in his doubting . Wandering through the whole world that lies out h h of He t e sunlig t llas , Into the magical islands beyond the bounds of our wled e kno g , le e on h h h Suffering sai d h , t oug losing all is companions ; h b d he e o d e e of e c It acan ar s t r t l m his tal th Cy lops , of c Cir e , Eve t h d e h h l n hroug Ha es he pass d , t roug the rea m of spirits departed ; v he u o ond li e e Li ing, t Hero m st g bey f , and r turn
to th e living . h h r l e him in e T it e I fo low d too , my ag I told his v u e ad ent r s , Bringing him back to Penelope prudent and Ithaca sunny ; of i h l el e Last my song s this , it as just at y be n h finis ed , Though some parts have been sung long since at th e e v l C h f sti a s ian , Showing a glimpse of the West wh ere men find ” he r n e w- w ld alway s t i or . 1 04 HOM R I CHIO E N S .
d u in Thus he spake , and he turne , tho gh bl d , w h e he d w it his fac to t sun o n , e n i Hes erion w as Wh re i h s path p , thoughtful , stan ding in silen ce
Bu e n in o o h rones of t b fore he bega , terp sed S p Athens : h c a o d h W y su h a liar nd r gue id you make im , your hero Ulysses ?” P u en f enalty too he m st pay , the penalty ev o d ” wis om , A e e e u o c i nsw r d Hom r s , thoughtful , f re asting h s for l words his scho ars . o l w e n ow i ou L w and s o h spoke , as if w th his s l he were talking :
w h e d b i Al ays t eed must e pa d for , the doer c e heroi must suff r , Virtue arouses revenges and duty m ay call up the Furies ; b he c m b e d h Dou le t onflict ust , an the rig t may
also b e double . 0 t b w U lysses , great was thy ac ion , ut follo ed by c urses ! The re ward of thy life w ill be centuries full of reproaches n e h u i h he n Wro gful m n t o didst pay w t t ir wro g , for thi s expe ct judgme nt ; u d ee e i h uile i Tho idst m t the guil ful w t g , sm te fe es hei w e with t r apons ,
1 0 6 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
E e can i kn w i r I s ng , I must o just what s and wh o are the righteous . ? i not Ul Dare I confess I l ke Achilles , ysses , n e e ot H l n , Beautiful Helen — she is not beautiful seen by
my vision , Nor can I love Penelope prudent with all of her cunning ; e of O l i e c Ay , the Gods ympus I l k not , I annot adore the m ; e d ou n i i h e Z us o y think I ca worsh p , a God w t th passions that I have ? ”
e e t i n So hrones Homer , th po , was s le t ; p , how v e w de : e er , gr lou r B all i c an est of them s He tor the Trojan , the m e e c t most p rf , True to th e wife of his heart and doing his duty o t country , Brave as a lion i n w ar and gentle at home as a
woman . B i oo an a a o n ut , l ke the g d m alw ys , he h d t fall i h t e struggle , And by fate to lose what he fought for his
cause and his city . Such is the world —the great men are bad and ” the good m en must perish .
On the spot the sparkles were flyi n g from one h ch l of t e s o ars , H 1 0 7 THE TRA VEL S OF OMER .
a o n ar It w s Glaucus who sp ke , the fiery Lycia b d ling : He was right great Hector defending his home and his nation From th e wanton attack of the bandits w h o so ught to destroy them Valiant in every way he was for his land and his e p ople , i e e o of e he e He s th H r Hom r , I say , t only tru IIero ;
e w as h h d he was H ctor rig t , will be rig t forever , an ” a Trojan . Then he turned to one of the company seeking v appro al , Just from one and no more he sought it — the d h of e aug ter Hom r , m h he o th e u Not fro t e fat r the p et , but from bea tiful daughter h e e e of o Soug t h th me d a glance f r his verses , b h e e not ut s e b h ld , For she was looking away from the youths in an o he di o t r recti n .
n o k i But in a swer Dem docus spo e , h s vigorous v ri al , Ri a s u a o n o of v l not only in ver e , b t ls i l ve the maiden : e f h h Yes , but h oug t for t e thing that was wrong and he knew it your He ctor ! 108 HOM R I HIO E N C S .
For the rape of He len he fought and made it his own thus A e l v , the good husband batt ed in Troy to keep i e h b d w f from us a n . W a in i h e d u b h t h s soul con emned , he s pported y b d arms and y wor s too , And so died of a lie i n his li fe and the spear of ” Achilles .
u n h act h o o S iti g t e to t e speech , Dem d cus drew bac k and lifted n to a u i Ha d and arm a poise , s if he were h rl ng the weapon e c o o ba Straight at H t r , t slay him before the ttle ments Trojan ; n c h n ot b ut o th e Lycia Glau us s rank , leaped t
front at the challenge . Great was the uproar ; the war of Troy once m ore was b egin ning Ri i of ght n the school Homer , but quickly the master bade silence : a e O h h n He rk n , yout s , w at I say , and lear by example a lesson ! o a i o no n N t part s the p et , r is he ow ed by a
party . On which side do I sing in my poem the Greek or th e Trojan ? — Mark it on both and on neither ; the will of i hed Zeus s accomplis ,
1 1 0 HOM E CHI O R IN S .
Tall Hes perion silently heard the dispute of the b d ar lings , e d b n e Much h had learne a out Hellas , a d seen th ide of c c two s s the onfli t , Seen it still living and parting atwain the new
generation , d o o n e i Who were rea y t fight ver Troy , a d ov r ts
poem . b was oet b rin But the est , he saw the p g both d o o e si es t n ness , Out of dis cordan c e bring harmony lofty of me n d of d too an Go s , Making th e tumult of war sing the so ng of
Olympian order .
Homer in happiest m oo d uprose and continued his talking :
u h e a Yo t s , D modocus , Gl ucus , now heal ye the w nd of e he ou s ach ot r , i in e h u of h h e i Th nk g th t o ght ig Z us , as t sings to
e od- b r a m lody g o n , ’ Speaking divinity s word which is sprung of th e l’ sou s recognition . V b e us m aliant ye be , ut l t proclai , the war is
n ow e ov r , All in one joy to - day let the East and the West et b gre as rothers , Each of them taking the best of the other as ” test of his spirit ! 1 1 1 THE TRA VEL S OF HOM ER .
u e e ke h of com T rning asid , h spo out t e word mand in a transport : ed Am ntas b of Spe thee , y , my oy , a full jar old h e d C ian , th ol est , ’ it b a e in h n Ten years ripe let e , for g t e wi e bringeth wisdom Ba to h i un ck t e drinker , n concord att ing anew
the lost temper , Bringing th e oneness of truth into souls that
differ by n ature . H e h e e e d c ch h er comes t win , alr a y I at a w iff of
a c its fr gran e , O d h n i d w e l est of C ia it s , a Go ould mistak it for
c ne tar . u e o u P x u d Gla cus , D mod c s , Gyges , le ipp s , an
A hroditoru s p ,
o Hes erion o l u of e N ble p also , th u va orous yo th th
Northland , P d e o l n le ge now a h alth t yourse ves , a d pour to ” th e Gods a libation .
o h of e h l All the y ut s th sc ool , most wil ing , be ed he d o y t goo master , Touched loving lips to th e brim of the wine on h of th e be e t e rim ak r , Pledging a health to th emselves and pouring to b Gods a li ation .
Hark mid th e draught a shrill noise is disturb in h o of th e d g t e fl w liqui , 1 12 H OM I CHIO ER N S .
’ Tis the ri cke ty gate as gri nding it grates on its
hinges . O in h b c d i a pen g first to a push , t en a kwar t sl ms w ith a racket ; What is the shape that noisily enters and shuffl es along there ?
n l - i i h i - no n u Ma we l known n Ch os e s , well k w nto
Homer , Satisfied man with himself he seems by the turn of his features . a i h i n o Th t s t e pedagogue , first of the sla d , the l rd of the laurel , Which he doth use as a switch for teaching the e of vers s poets , Teaching the boys of his school the glory and t of he u gif t M ses , Whose fair branch he now twirls in his hand as he t urns up the path way e ib e ed h n e T rr l p agogue C ia he comes , the thrash r
and slasher , Thrashing the yo uths into lore and slashing the i c e poets to p e s , Into th e s chool of Homer he walks he is here O Ty ptodes
M E T A R G U N .
A r ivals chool to that o Hom er is tau ht b T todes f g y yp , the Chian s choolm as ter who com es on e a to a e , d y h v a s i T o es is h hort v s it with the poet. ypt d t e s evere critic
’ o Hom er s oem s an d cuts th em to ieces uite as f p , p q
e d r e s o o e u h h s om m o ern p of s rs have d n . B t t e s c ool m as ter is a progres s ive m an an d is n ow s pecially inter es ted in the n ew s cript which has b een brought from
Ph ni i In a ct he is ivin to the oem s o H m er ce c a . f g g p f o
r rs l i dres s in s i e o his r t I t thei fi t a phabet c p t f c i icis m . tu rns out that Typtodes has really com e to s ee the daugh
ter o the oet thou h he dis u is es the act. B ut his f p , g g f bitter criticis m is m odified by the win e wh ich Hom er caus es to be brou ht him an d his nal ues tions are in g , fi q
’ t A n ew m an a digerent v ein f rom his firs t u teran ces . appears who will give s om e ans wer to what Typtodes has
as ked . Not alone and un challenged th e poet held sway h in is city , h e i i hio h h T er was a r val n C s , w o in is realm was
the ruler . Most of the youths of the pla c e were sent to the ch l of T todes s oo y p ,
u T todes - ed of Cr sty yp , a far fam trouncer boys e n into l arni g , Tickling bare legs of Greek b oys till they danced h e to the sprig of is laur l , Which h e always held in his hand while he made t o e hem c n v rses , Rousing the Muses unwilling by use of their
favorite symbol . ( 1 1 5 ) 1 1 6 HOM R I CHIO E N S . Some were verses struck at a heat from the h eart of e a po t , O i n h i d With an lymp a mig t , and flow ng an glow ing forever In the fire and flash of the words of th e primal
conception . h the th e w e e But t e o rs , most , re his own , th ped ’ a o ue s e e g g v rs s , Made without a mistake according to rule in his
c - s hool room , F w e de out of he u la l ssly ma wood , t to ghest wood
i n the forest .
In his sandals he shuffles along the loose stones of th e pathway ; Slyly he shuffles and seems to be slipping about on his tiptoes , As the s ch oolmaster warily slippeth around in h ch - t e s ool room , Seeking to catch i n th e act the bad boy wh o is
making the mis chief . au an u l h n wh G nt d ngain y t e man , a d some at n stilted i posture , was he b e c i Sparse t eard , a h hair from his v sage shot out like a bristle Ready to sti c k and to prick any person approach e h ing too n ar im , Even th e kiss of Ty ptodes had the keen point of
a briar .
1 1 8 HOMER IN CHIOS .
o e o - a an Wh m as a man h liked , as a fell w cr ftsm
respected , i e to b ho u Deem ng hims lf e , wever , the m ch bet e t r poet , Though the world had passed on the men a differ
ent judgment .
ad h of e oo a He h eard th beauty , t , of the d ughter of Homer ; Living in the same town all his life he never had e e se n h r , e e h e n e N v r ad se n her , though knowi g by h art of t every word her paren . too be u not old Not young to c rious , too was
T todes y p , Pedagogue Chian who sought for a glimpse of e be ide th autiful ma n , ou c e h nd o e Th gh , of ours , e prete ed to c m for a t w cha ith the father .
Settled down in his seat he began to talk of his e h m t ods , How h le be n f he w as t e ru had e ound , and t glory e of h d gr at t e fin er . e ve o ht c i Yes , m thinks I ha br ug to perfe tion th s s ci en c e of teaching Surely not mu ch will the schoolmaster have to be doing hereafter
e e h e e of T todes . But to follow , ag s on ag s , t st ps yp DA G O G CHI AN 1 1 9 TH E PE UE .
What great progress to - day we are making in every departm ent o e ee h n was e d S m w ks ago a new , c ur invent by Pha on of g Samos , Hither he brought it at on ce and showed it around in our island ; e of h i it Soon ach household C ios w ll have , soon l be wil churning , Churning away for dear life the milk of the kine of the country ; Barbarous oil-eating Gre eks will change i nto of eaters butter , h ve e h he d T at is impro m nt , t at , I call , t gran march of the spe c ies ! Only on e fear I cannot help feeling amid all our progress All the world will have nothing to do and so will
do nothing , th w e o n d e h t After at are g e , an have l ft it t e frui of our labor d e e e u our e n ll ave I l n ss is the gr at c rse , childr wi h to b e idle Such is my fear ; so I one day have resolved to take easy ; H v d e ch u l h e a ing ismiss d my s ool , I wo ld dal y aw il de in your gar n , Leave th e words of the poem behind and talk with ” the poet .
Here he stopped for a moment and slyly was e n p epi g around him , 1 9 0 I HOMER N CHIOS .
O c d ev ok was n e , twice , thrice he looke , and ery lo e t a qu s ion , k n ? b ut i h an As ing , Where , I wo der w t out y
answer , Though he could hear a sweet stray note now and f then rom an arbor . In its stead unwilling he heard the voi c e of old Homer :
F i n v ou h on h w av r e d , ha e y any new lig t t e dark — of life ? O giv e it Some fresh word upon fate or the law or th e wonderful secret ; E h a o h b un of yesig t is gone , nd ften I feel t e o ds my insight ; Often I feel the bounds of the word in the stress ” of the spirit .
Then began in the height of his mood the peda gogu e Chian : h i n We ave lately been read ng , or rather reciti g
your poems , Since in the sch ool or the market they still for h e c ed t e ear are r it , Though I myself can read those rec ent Ph oenician b sym ols , Catching the sound of the voice in the devious tracery of letters e of h e in he i d of I alon of all t e m n t slan Chios , I can wind out the labyrinth Weird made of
- strange Alpha Beta ,
1 22 HO I N CHIO S MER .
Let that pass all that which I said of Phoe i n cian letters . We have glan ced these days down into the depths of your poems ; Now I am going to speak y ou the w ord of friend
ship and frankn ess . u c Yo , I find , are not a curate , shifting the dates of c i your a t on , o c e t in ou i u N t quite orr c the facts , and y g ve yo r
twist to the story . All your tale s of th e Gods are turned to the b of ent your thinking , Somehow changed from the old they seem to b e
ea in h r g your impress . Often y ou make in your spring important mis e in he tak s t measure , he e t b e l d e Short w r it ough to ong , an long wher h o e h e ed it oug t t b s ort n , Forcing th e stress of the voice in places where it
belongs not . And I hold the hexameter is not fit for your
poem , i i in n u Wh ch , so rap d moveme t , sho ld not be delayed by the meter ; ou n ed e e l ou If y o ly had ask m , I could hav to d y
a better . dee h e u e n i b e e Nay , I m t at m as r ot su ta l to th e e k Gr language , Whi ch has a boisterous genius not to be swaddled in long clo thes ; ’ I 1 2 3 THE PEDA G OG UE CH AN .
Y ou should remember from Troy the Greeks no
longer are babies . of ou d bin a Hark to a verse y r poem , escri g f r l darting Apo lo , h h d b m le n W ic shoul e si p and rapid a d grand , divine in its movement ; Slowly it drags along and cumbers its flight with be its lum r , Then at the end it suddenly Whisks and swashes
its tail round . What a blasphemy ! Phoebus will take from his ve qui r an arrow , i v b e e l du e e Sly n isi l arrow , p na ty e to th Mus s , — — Put the n otch to th e b ow string and pull it b e hold ! who is stricken
ed his h ll T todes Warm to work was s ri y y p , e c ed and so h ontinu , Cruelly d as hing himself into slashing to frag ments the poet : ! A n d that mixture of words fro m every part of our e H llas , Mixture poeti c of fragments of speech from d l d island an main an ,
D c c o l c h ow e e he ori , Ioni , i , can it v r lasting ? It is a wonder that people to -day are willing to hear it No such jargon has ever been spoken by Greek b a or Bar ari n , 1 2 4 HOM IN CHIO ER S . — Crumbs from the table of tongues and that is e the language of Hom r . be n n u Though to nature it ot ki , still I p t it in i writ ng , A nd d it too h h ve e I stu y , t oug I ha to t ar it to fragments ; What seems s ubstance turns i n my hands to the flim s ies t h d s a ow , I confess I have pleasure in knocking nothing to
pieces , All to pie c es I knoc k it so that it appears to be
something .
we o T todes Satisfied ll with his w rk , yp contin u ed in judgment : e a n i e Nor ar your characters alw ys co s st nt , ve howe r heroic , D iom ed n U e i n cha ges , lyss s s ever the same in o t tw s ories , And your implacable Hero i s placated twice in
his anger . el e h u i Homer hims f is nev r t e same , b t sh fts to o h an t er , Dozens and dozens of Homers I find enscon ced
in your verses . Your large poe m doth fall of itself into many l sma l poems , i n w e e u b un e of Wh ch , I k ow , r s ng y h dr ds singers u before yo ,
1 2 6 H OM R IN CHI O E S .
I am halved and q uartered if y ou are a half or a e quart r , B e h e ut a whol I s all be , if you are a whol in my study ; i u ou l d i ou D scord eno gh y wi l fin in my poem , f y b d e discor ant , Dis c ord enough in the world if harmony to you
be wanting . But those wonderful letters — would I might see the m and read them E e f h e h d n e r I pass rom t is art , I woul k ow th ” Phoenic ian letters !
Mild was th e manner and sweet w as the voi ce of e dl e th go ike sing r , Dropping transparent as pearls th e beautiful w d of h or s is wisdom , Sho wing i n chilly old age the upspring of young
aspiration . But h e e an e t at t rrible fragm nt of m , the trounc r T todes yp , in i Spake once more , and showed his vo ce a dash of resentment : My next business will be to cut up your book i d nto balla s , I s h all put the ke en knife of this brain to each of b d joint your o y , h be h or or e t Thoug I but a alf a quarter , l ss han e a quart r , TH DAG O G H 1 2 7 E PE UE O IAN .
Y ou e le h n l ch shall b smal r t a I am , you I sha l op ” - into minc e meat . n e oft e d c l I diss cting , th isse tor himse f is disse cted ; ” o h h fits h What t anot er e , may fit j ust t e fitter ,
said Homer . What a prophet you are ? In you I foresee the grand army Who will c ut me and stab m e with every sort of e a a w pon , Gashing and slashing my wh ole poeti cal body
r to f agments . Still I affirm your army so grand can never defeat e m , h l e th e w d l n I s a l r main as I am , oun s wil retur to
the giver . B e le ut l t us stop this pitiful wrang , it wholly untunes me o h h not i Harm ny , wisdom , ope it ath , but ends n
mere nothing . Cheerful now let us p our to the Gods a hearty b li ation , Then let us pour to ourselves a good draught in ” o the warmth of ur worship .
Mellowed at onc e to th e rhythm of w ine Typ todes gave answe r : are t e h e h Now you ruly a po t , wit fr s inspira tion you touc h m e ; 1 28 HO I CHIO MER N S .
i oe d h ou e n W ne is a p m in rops , whic y asily sip i smal l verselets ; That hexameter whi ch you just made while urg t o ing liba i n , o on e — e e o a ou Was a go d th b st , t my t ste , y
ever have spoken . e i now n n if B tter , I th nk , I shall u dersta d the dr t ” of your verses .
Look a beautiful figure has flitted past to the garden ; d n h n of i io n fan Is it a su de dream , a p a tom v s tas tic ?
No ; Ty ptodes h as caught a glimpse of the d u a ghter of Homer , Caught one fitful glimpse of the shape of the b i de eaut ful mai n , re h e ed d d bu e re Mo long for an looke for , t h cei d c v e not the se ond .
” o o he d how ou i N w I w uld know , sai , y bu ld i l nd te le w th such skil your gra mp , How yo u turn your soul into music that flows in o y ur measures , How you turn all the world i nto harmony wedded o b u t ea ty , How yo u call down the Gods themselves from the heights of Olympus ? ” B h i ou i at th ravely , t e poet repl ed , y a m e White of the mark now ;
1 3 0 H HOMER IN C IOS .
Asking he glanced to the right and the left for h h e of e t e daug t r Hom r , in e b d Nowhere he saw her , but her stead h ehel
through the leaflets , o o an h a n o Sl wly appr aching , the m e h d see bef re
in the distance .
Such were the questions which eager Typtodes
put to Homerus , ho l b d of o h l W rep ied not , ut seeme s met ing e se to t be hinking . Hark to the groan of th e gate which suddenly grinds o n its hinges ! VII .
rl um ruf M p .
o A s er f et . M A R G U E N T .
Th e ers on a roachin turns out to b e Hes io p pp g d , the
oet o A s cra in Boeotia whom Hom er had m et in h p f , is travels an d whom he had invited to com e on a vis it to
h is s . Hes i is re ei e b h bro her o s C io od c v d y t p et, and tell
his s tor o the Gods and his view o th e world . He y f , f , too will s ee an d know the dau hter o Hom er thou h , g f , g F l he has no good opinion of wom an . ina ly he b eholds
er when or a s arc s m on h er s ex s h e ives him a h , , f a , g t e l e ld ree m is m is t and es s im is art r p y . Th o G k ogy p t s li s wa rom he c m an an d vanis hes out o Chios p a y f t o p y , f
a a h w m an the s on s tres s o at the ppearance of not er o , g f
Les bos .
1 3 4 H OMER IN CHIO S .
Great strong lines he had in his face dividing it i crossw se , Also dividing it lengthwise to network of val
ley and mountain , Which would rise and fall into billows of rough corrugati ons u c w as le he e of S rely that fa e a batt , t battl Gods of and Titans , Seizing and hurling volcanoes afl am e l n th eir at c t wrath ea h o her .
Un e e w as i c w l wh ch der his f atur s ly ng a s o , i o n he e seemed t be bor t r , ic t m l t Wh h would dar fro its lair in his ook , spi ting fire like a dragon ;
n w as e t of h ee c e e Stra ge th one is sp h , y t strang r of i e his play gr mac s , w u d h d it w Lips o l writ e at each wor , as if ere
sore to be spoken . Hark ! he is ready to speak and turns to the poet of Chios :
Over the sea I have come in a shi p from the mainland of Hellas ; V b e for P e e c oyage un l st , os idon was trying a h n t m e mi u e to drown , Dashing his waves o n the craft and m ightily cleaving the waters ; Often he opened his jaws and shut th em tight on
the vessel , ’ 1 3 5 THE SINGER OF A S CRA .
How d n b d s I escape I k ow not , ut salte and cared I es caped him H Bo i m e vi l e eavy eotia s my ho , my l ag is Ascra , U il of v l in th e and gly v lage Ascra , i e summer
winter . There I sang of th e Birth of the Gods and th e of l Works poor morta s , e t w n in e Mortals , who sw a ing and s inki g life , di ” at last in a discord .
h h s u n li h t of h What a note is t at in t e g C ios , ed H cri omer , h h ? e h c W o art t ou , man Som tricks of t y voi e ” I have heard in my tra vels . w i h c co he e e T ist ng is fa e into s wls , as if w r tasting of W ormwood , e th e e of A c and e f l ou t Spak po t s ra , spit ul y spat th e bitter : el h h h o d W l t ou knowest , for t ou ast b rrowe o of s me my verses , H d e e h h c led i ing th sourc in a word , t ou ast al it t of the brea h the Muse s . O nce I sang for thee whe n tho u hadst come to o h e my h me in t y journ y , Sang of th e eldest Gods who were born of Chaos v prime al , F e o b h e h h it be or I lik to g ack to t start , t oug i d all n arkness ,
O e e ee h h can eve te rigin v r I s k , alt oug I n r qui
c rea h it . 1 3 6 HOM IN CHIO ER S .
What a pleasure to run from the sheen of th e sun back to nothing ! hi O of thi e of di T s lympian order ne , it cam s e ord r , Whi ch is my burden of song reaching back to the very b eginning Even this beautiful day now sporting in joy of e the sunshin , Not lon g ago was b orn of the night and to night ” it returneth .
” O b he d e h h ard Hail , rot r , sai Hom r , t e , to h of t e poet Ascra , — I have heard thee before on Heli con now I remember Bleak was the day and hoarse w as the wind that u ll blew p the va ey . B e O e i u of h e at hom , gu st ; g ve s more t y song ” I would listen .
Then agai n the poet of Ascra seemed tas ting of W ormwood , Ere his strain he began in the stress of a m ighty upheaval ; Soon into thunderous words he let out the so ul of old Chaos : h i e i d we ee it e All t is sl , th s worl , as s , was onc o but a m nster , Peopled with monste rs g rim in th e grey of the distant afore time ;
1 3 8 HOMER IN CHIOS .
n h ba t h e o e of Lo g t e t le was foug t , th st rm rs ve n e he hea w re vanquis d , o m o w h N w see the whirl d wn , do n t ey spin to
Tartarus sooty , By the Oly mpians whisked off the earth - ball to n e infi it spaces , h un n of f l for Where t ey lie der ba falling , a ling
ever . Still in the U pperworld sunny they wrought for the ages g reat wonders ; i i i e on Th s fair sland , th s s a , y mountains are w showing their po er . d e d e c b Lo fty , gran iloqu nt wor s ar my olors , y h c i em w i h I can pa nt th , Words that are sung in mine ear by th e high e e H liconian Mus s , Loving the mighty and monstrous and piling up horror on horror
o c ! i d e ! let H ld , for mer y cr e Hom r , me
c t cat h breath for a momen ,
For e m l h I se to be falling , falling a ong wit your t Ti ans , Down to black Tartarus whirling I spin in a l spira headforemost . P i h i o o i oet , s there no lig t n y ur w rld , no beaut ” f ul order ?
h d i Curling is lip to a scowl , responde the s nger of As c ra 1 3 9 THE SIN GER OF A S CRA .
I cann ot say that I like your O lympian sun h e u s in , Homer s , All of your deities stan d too clear in the s weep of e e i my y s ght , Cut into words they walk as if they were moving to e marbl , Gods in my thought should break over bounds in it e to lim l ss regions , Break over all of the forms of fair life into ia a c finite f n y . ’ Give me th e view far away o er the d eeps of O u cean s hoary , And his thousands of childre n with all th e d im
e - d train of the s a go s , e e i h h eve n ew Br aking , cr at ng t eir s apes with ry d of e w vele ash th a t , Riding the s teeds of the sea and leaping from l bil ow to billow . e h c e i Homer , I com to pay t ee a visit on prom sed at As cra ; And I have heard of a beautiful maiden n ow ” w d elling i n Chios . ” e ai O i H e W lcome ag n , friend , sa d om r ; e e bl som win in a go et , hee A m ntas bo o n e Speed t y , my y s me Chia win h e o ” for t p et .
But the musical guest in response made a face u l of f l discord , For in spite of himself he longed to behold th e te fair daugh r . 1 40 HOM R I CHIO E N S .
in e u d ce e of Disappo ted , h t rne on mor to the tale his terrors : e i u and e Dragons I lov , f h man , forms of th x n rifi on s sphin es a d g , F n e of m an e h h orms commi gl d and of b ast , w ic m h e O en sprang fro t ri t . 0 e e n o te You , Hom r , hav drive my m ns rs away o h r t t e backg ound , Far in the background of Hellas they lie under e of t curs your s piri , e t e l Wh re h y wi l stay by your spell , I fear , in
the d arkness forever . — in e il ” e o No , aga th y w l rise , spake th p et of o e i Ascra pr ph t c , Out of the night they will rise and bask in the e n of l sh e Apo lo , Far in the future I see them step to the light m ei fro th r hiding , They will riot around i n the world as in time s of i n the T ta s , Storming Olympus again in th e might of th eir t for e v s ruggle h a en , They will battle with Gods on the earth and the e air and th ocean , Till the Under world sunle ss will rumble and ” quake i n its terror .
e a u ed o e n H re yo th stepp f rth , h had rece tly o f c me rom the Northland ,
Hes erion who n Tall p , from a dream had bee e e rous d by th story ,
1 42 HOM IN CHI O ER S .
c l ed He d h n I am a l sio , younger in song t a et Homer , y older , Earliest Gods I have sung and the latest of all P rometheus ,
F n t d u f e for rie d of poor los man , an the s f er r , too , hi s good ness ; Sufferer God-born he lay in his anguish on Cau
casus lonely . But the strange spell of my life ! I cannot get rid of the w oman ! On e c h c e me has rest d a urse , t e urs of that P charmer andora , Onc d b e ed b e th e create y Zeus , ndow y ach God wi
his talent , c e en n Born with raft in her h art , th sent upon ma
for his evil . OE ! e e h and away good Hom r , I whisper th ope of my journey ! Much I have heard in my land of a girl n ow g row n o o t a w man , e e ch n ow nve e th h e Can I not s e , p r ance , co rs wi t beautiful ”maiden ? Vain is my visit to - day if I see not the daughter of Homer ; e He e e i e h he e Mor than l n sh s , aye mor t an t gift d
Pandora .
e e Am ntas e be Her com s y , said Hom r , ar ing the fragranc e of Ch ios What a perfume of th e wine as he steps in the gate of the garden ! HE N G A 1 43 T SI ER OF S CRA .
e h b w h blo e W ll , t at oy is a flo er t at oms with th s cent of old Bacchus ! I can trac e his path in the air without hear
ing his footstep . Drink now a cupful of tears that were shed on the
beautiful island , Tears of the wine-god which tell not the sorrow ” but joy of the godhood .
d d off he Hesiod turne up the cup , and rank t v Ch intage of ios ,
e v t h , th at li hte ns e G nerous in age of C ios ‘ g th soul of th e singer . A nd h n e h e h t at cup was a wo d r , wit figur s t at
' e i a circle danc d n , Forms of maidens and youths that danced in a
he e - cu ring round t win p, u c of h i Wro ght by the unning Chalcon t e sm th , and ven gi to Homer , When in his youth he sang for the prize and won in e te th con st , W on the fair prize in a c ontest w ith deep- to ned c Ariston his tea h er . So they si pped off th e w i n e from their beakers a e t le ce mom n in si n , He i d H e h e ee k e w e e s o , om r , t e gr at Gr sing rs r sip ping together There ia Chios the w ine that is good for the Gods l and us morta s , Good for libations to Gods and a slaking of thirst
unto mortals . 1 44 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
So e e e e v n ot on th y wer don , for th y lo ed , the
e n b o of - fr zy , ut j y the wine god .
u ho Dearest my da ghter , where art t u ? ” H i he e d e m e . Come h t r and l a m , said o r h d e o h But he ear no r sponse , s e called out again
Prax illa ! What is the matter ? where is the m aiden ? Gone on an errand ? N he n u n d o , s was looki g j st the in a ream from of h b a nook er ar or ,
c e he u on - h e d bl e When s co ld gaze the fair air , u e u of he th d ey d yo th t Nor lan , Wondering what she would do if she w e nt to f icefie lds the folk o the . O f a sudden she woke from h er wonder and h he sprang to er fat r ,
i b : o ne beh d Speak ng mid lushes I was n t go , ol , ” I am present . But the flashes of red spake louder that what he e s had spok n , Truer than words in telling the truth of the heart
that is h idden .
Then they passed fro m the house for a stro ll d he ee he e mi t tr s and t vin yard ,
ll e h e e — e e e t A tog t r they w nt th youths , th gu s s
an d the maiden . Shady the roof overhead of the leaves and the tw n e e d i igs a d th t n r ls ,
1 46 H M I CHIO O ER N S .
O T todes a e h h e h e e yp , ped gogu C ian , w at ar t s flashes ! h t h le te h T ou hast forgot en t y tters , forgot n t e oe c symbols Ph ni ian .
‘ So th ey w alked and they talked till they cam e v e of h e te to the i w t wa rs , Wondering came they at once to th e side of the sea everlasting R n v on e d olli g its wa es from bey d and b yon , far v i o er the v sion , O v er the tremulous line where heaven and earth n o ru t gether , Where the God may be seen as he comes and de
parts fro m th e mortal . Nearest th e billow that broke on the beach stood he e Prax illa t maid n , Just behind her with look o ’ er the sea stoo d s ri yo uthful He pe on .
All o e v h f th m gazed at the wa es , and thoug t l d ed le fu ly ropp into si nce , Seeming to peep far over th e bound of the bend ing horizo n h on o n n Into t e realm bey d for a m me t , a d hear i ts low music , Feeling a gentle attunement of soul to the beat of h e b l w t il o s ,
he e of h w r d h i o i h Telling t puls t e o l t at s c m ng , t e
world that is going . ’ 1 47 THE SINGER OF A S CRA .
List to a voice ! a herald is hurrying out of the
city , Running along the white sand of the margin that gleamed in the sunshine ; ” d un a oac Hearken , he crie , I anno ce the ppr h
of the sovereign woman , Po etess come from the Lesbian isle to pay hom ” age to Homer . ” What ! a w oman poetic ! broke out old Hesiod b cra bed , With a twinge in his lips as if tasting his words a wo th t were rmwood , With a whirl of his fist as if fighting the Gods like a Titan : What n ew evil is born to the suffering race of us mortals ! hi n ink i a o r e T s last woma , meth s , s worse , f r w s h one t an the first , ith e of e v far o W th gift h r erses she comes , w rse ” than Pandora .
” Hater of woman ! quickly responded the h of e daug ter Hom r , h e e u n W y ar your Muses wom n , yo r ow Heli eonian Muses ? o k n of ou L ng I have now y here , I have heard of P that tale andora , Shameless ! y ou have i n that tale besmirched the ” m o r o ou the that b re y . 148 I HOMER N CHIOS .
Off slipped the poet of Ascra through a lone h - h path by t e sea s ore , Thinking to catch somevessel awaiting the breezes for e H llas , Eager to quit the sunshine of Chios for heavy Bo eotia , avin e o O u o n e e Le g th Gods f lymp s , t dwell o c mor
with the Titans . Surly he sauntered along by himself till he e o of pass d ut vision , of A c i dau h Hapless poet s ra , dism ssed by the g
ter of Homer .
Meanwhile the rest of the people went back e from the s a to the garden , Where they sat down on the stones which were e e ue i i c s ats for th g sts n a c r le , Waiting to hear the first notes of the beautiful s e of e o ongstr ss L sb s , And wi th a festival high and a hy mn to re ceive
her with honor .
The ers on heralded is S a ho a oetes s o the p pp , p f
is lan d O L es bos and an ces tress O th e later m ore a f , f f
u r m h m ous S apph o. She h ad ca ght f o Hom er t e spirit
o s on in her ou an now s h c m es o l er f g y th , d e o t te l him h
d r h h Ho er ratitu e o what he ad done. e thin ks that m g f S ,
hrou h his s tor o Helen had h el ed to s av e all wom en t g y f , p
o Gree e hers e included rom the ate o Helen . S h e f c , lf ,f f f crowns Hom er w ith a garlan d for h is other pictures of
noble wom en thos e ound in the Od ss e . A t this oint , f y y p the daughter Of Hom er s teps forward an d a sks S appho
h e e concernin a s ecret. Hes erion who as lis ten d to th g p ,
s on s res s an has h rd r s on s be ore com es or g t d ea he g f , f
s i s Th e res ult is the ward an d as ks a m ilar que tion . ,
two lovers are brou ht to e her throu h S a ho the g g t g pp ,
o Bu e s denl s e arated b the poetes s f love. t th y are ud y p y
wa n s u o u e rn i g o n d f a tr mp t. Who could it be that had come from th e n hb of b eig oring island Les os , s of o m o Lovely i land l ve , and the ho e f the lyre of Hellas ? h b i e de r It was Sapp o , eaut ful Sappho , po tess ten , Singing ancestress of many a Sappho still greater h than s e was , i ow n of h S ster t e Muses , the sister too of the (! races , Breathing the heart of her sex into strains of the w e of s eet st music , Bearing the beautiful name to be borne by h e r d n e e t chil re h r af er , o e od u h n of e Sapph , m l io s Sapp o , first ame th H l songstress of e las . ( 1 5 1 ) 1 5 2 H OM I C HIO ER N S .
Many a Lesbian woman she gave of her ic d e mus al ow r , Tunefully sharing the gift of her song to the soul h that mig t need it , All of i th e of them singing love w th the joy ,
triumph , the sorrow , Tasting the magical drop which wings with a word the sweet senses Lesbian bees that lit on each b eautiful fl ow er of n tu e a r , Busily culling i n song the bitter- swe et honey of n passio . Sappho already had sung for the prlze m a e i h e cont st w t Hom r , n h was oo Years ago e that was , when s e the bl m of a morning , But when he was a noonday turning and looking to nd su own . Both of the m sang before j udges - the prize was
e - e d a n w mad tripo , Fashio ned to life by Chalcon with dexterous o e of e str k s the hamm r , That it seeme d ready to step and to walk while
standing forever . High and mighty the j udges taken from lords of n the isla ds , n of i i on ain n of A d from rulers c t es m la d , all the m greybeards ; Rigid and just they were deemed in settling dis of he putes t people ,
1 5 4 H OM I N CHIO ER S .
Years h ad brought to her life th e golden return of he h v t ir ar est , Still not c h illing the w armth and the glow of the
Lesbian summer . he ll o old in he Not too young in r fo y , not t o r d wis om , Almost re pentant her spirit looked out on the ld r w d wor f om its in ows , Casting its glances ado wn as if it had a con i fes s on .
e e o i o e c e Stately sh mov d , yet m dest , nt the pr sen of Homer ; w e c e on e Courteous l om he gave to the s gstr ss , e he be e wh n s gan sp aking , in o wn de c u un e Not her soft ca n e , b t t ed to th sweep of his measures :
e O fa o o i i i n The , therly singer , I c me t v s t h C ios , th u i f an i i i i Chios , y bea t ul isl d , fa r s ster t s to my Lesbos ; I w ould behold thee once more in the living form of h e t y f atures , E o El ian a om o re thou pass t ys fields , l st h e f the oe p ts , Who shall d well as spirits beyond in the house of he r n t i ge ius , u of h a u a ria n Ho se igh fant sy b ilt , m te l stro ger i than gran te , S 1 5 5 THE S ON G S TRE S S OF L ESB O .
Holding eternal the echo of musical strains of the
singer . a h o n h b i There mong t ine w Heroe s , t ere a id ng f e orev r , Thou the Hero shalt be thyself in the deed the first Hero For h o e of n ou in of all t y great pe pl so g , th s g e ing art gr atest , Singing high actions of m en thine actio n itself is
the highest . he e m id h El n e d w T r I too , a poet appy ysia m a o s , Hope in the sound of thy song wi th thee to be t living imm or al . But to -day I have c ome once more in the sun h e to l s in isten , I would hear thee again this sid e of the pitiless
e th- e ar str am , And would spea k thee a word - not to thee b ut e i dfu to m it s nee l , Bringing thy soul n earer m ine the wo rd of ” c swee t re ognition .
i i e o te d e Aye , t s sw et , that w rd , in rrupte th e od - h ed po t go umor , E e i e d ven to ag t is sweet , for mys lf I o not deny it o a o h i d M re I would he r f t y stra n , so eftly thou e h e e ” turn st t y m asur s .
he el e e c e h e Seeing rs f r fl ted in Hom r , t song stress continued 1 5 6 HOM I N CHIO ER S .
Long ago I first heard thee attune the high lay i m n y Lesbos , as in v an ou a I w a girl m home , d th wert wan e m m s trel d ring , Who went singing through Hellas the wrath of the Hero Achilles, i i do ou a of u u S ng ng the fateful , lor s t le the bea tif l n woma , a i i n unin n o W ndering , s ng ng , a d t g thy so g t the of h Hel en hearts t e l es . Helpful thou spakest to m e in the bloom and the i o i per l f g rlhood , Mighty thy voic e in my heart just then in the struggle of woman ; At thy command my soul was set free and broke o i e u f rth nto m as res , ib of in e b u i Irresist le measures long g in L s ian m s c . Secretly sang I my earliest notes to a circle of e maid ns , Who would listen and love along with the tender ti vibra ons , Singing the strains of the song and touching the
strings of the cithern . That was after I heard thee hymning the story of
Helen , How she was b lm ded and sank in the spell of
sweet Aphrodite , Though the Goddess she fought and rated with heavy reproaches ;
1 5 8 H OM R I CHIO E N S .
n h h at e i he Touchi g t em lig tly first , th n sm ting t m de d har r and har er , 3 As if I were a lyre by fingers of Fates to be e on play d , Thrilling to music the ebb and the fl ow of the n e ocea within m , Making the bi llowy passion sing to a measure responsive ! in u i li a o el u Will g nw l ng , f ted yet free , t mys f b t a battle ! e o h o Yes , I conf ss , the G ddess I felt , t e G ddess
resistless , Driving me forward to do as did the beautiful o an w m , Whispering dulcet commands in words of divin t ’ i y s power . Yet Aphrodite but spoke to what was within me e d alr a y , W i i w e o how ll ng , un illing , fat d yet free ye G ds , she smote m e Till through the cleft of my heart I could see o o w to its b ! d wn , d n ottom i h i e of e e o a W t the pr z the fairest , th p nalty t o h s iv been g en , With the beautiful women is chained the spite of F a ury , Who doth secretly lurk i n the gift of the Gods to
the mortal . d l e all n s n But I stan not a on , for I ow ta d in thy presen ce : 1 5 9 THE S ON GS TRES S OF LE SB OS .
E in bo i h n e very wife Les s , n C ios , i all the Gr ek
islands , n on e A d mainland too , through H llas , through l d of mid an Argos , Far in th e isles of the West and over the sea to u w the s ndo n , d of n of e Has that ang er Hele , the lapse th soul in its l v o ing , With the vengeance that follows the joy and the o t glory f beau y . In thy story a witness I was of all that I might
be , Saw the dread ghost of myself and fled fro m th e horrible spe cter ! o e h u a a o b e H mer , my fath r , t o h st s ved me fr m e e ing a H l n , In thy song thou hast suffered and saved all men and all women Winning thy soul to themselves in its story of
trial and rescue . h be a en o i o d ev I ad en t k to Tr y , f thy w rd ha n er en been spok , All the daughters of Greece thou hast rescued f e P rom fl eing with aris , ou i n o to Th gh his c ty has fallen , agai he had c me ae Ach a , Were it not that thy song keeps the warning alive d e ud e an th j gm nt . Troy still stands in the world and holds in its c i ade He e t l l n , 1 60 HOMER IN CHIOS .
O in on on i i n O nly s g , thy s g , s t take forever , ” Homer .
e o o h of ou Ther she st pped n the heig t her th ght , b n the Les ia songstress , Whence she could see far over the sky-bound limit of Hellas ; Soon in sweet low tones responded the poet prophetic : Gracious words thou hast spoken and dear to e e m , b autiful woman ; S in i the e i of u n o a o g ng p r l bea ty i s ft , w rm w rds of thy measures ; Muse among Muses the tenth for thy strain hence o h f rth I shall name t ee , for u n Aye , thy love the tenth M se I shall ame h n ti n t ee to a o s hereafter , Who thy honor will sing beyond the far streams of e O th cean , First of the women of Hellas to build the melo diou s poem , Chastely chanting thy lay to the wives and maid
ens of Lesbos . Thou wilt be followed by thousands of songsters o along d wn the ages , Thine i s the musical prelude of forests of n ight i ales i ng s nging . Women preserve the story and song as they n u he n o rish t ir i fants ,
1 62 H OM IN CHIOS ER .
our c c e d e All ir l is rawn , th trial , the fall and the
sorrow , h u n of h d h T en the ret r t e soul , the rise an t e grand restoration e e e Hel n estrang d is r stored to her own , restored
to herself too . In her marvelous tale I can see th e past and the
future , All the life of our people unfold to the story
of Hellas . But still more than Hellas I watch in the lines of her i mage w h l d of e i c e on d This o e roun x sten earth , har e d stiny human , With th e rise and the drop in th e struggle of good d ev l an of i , Now on the u p and now on the down of the life e e e strok t rnal , Measuring cycles of pai n and of gain to the beat ’ of th e master .
e e ed n h H re sh stopp for a mome t , lost in t e of h e h reach r t inking , Whi ch ran over the bounds of her spee ch in the stress o th er spirit ; Soon again she came back to herself and spoke Greek unto Homer : l o ll be i Not a one the rise fr m the fa , thy aut ful e e H l n , TH ON G TR S S O L E B O 1 63 E S S E F S S . But the woman unfallen is also thy gift to us wome n She who never could lapse from herself in trial t the sores . Now let me crown thy brow with this wreath for P el e h l en op fait fu , Fo e h e he wh o d e i h e he r Ar te , t mot r , w lls n t art of h e r e ld hous ho ,
For N c e d of all de ausi aa too , th mai mai ns for
ever . e h t m h ch d e Tak t is gif fro t y il ren , thou art th father of Hellas ! Whi ch has been born to thy song and trained to he e of th c t st p y musi , i w h w i e n Wh ch ill go singing t y strains do n T m , i d in w joy an sorro ,
th e e ch e e e in t O With o r p ating its lf all na ions , H ” omer .
u o e - i Th s spake Sapph , th soft speak ng Sappho , ee e b e sw t L s ian songstr ss , ce l he e e d v e d on hi Gra fu s st pp d , an lo ing sh lai s te le he l mp s t gar and , Plucked by h er hand and wove to a crow n of the e ve of h e e l a s t laur l . E choing shouts of approval rang back from the
ll h e e - h e hi s and t s a s or ,
Eve n e w vele t c th a ts , rying to walk , had ome up
h e b - de to t ank si , 1 64 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
Trying to talk had murmured afar their billo wy
answer . h h e e Sweetly t e rhyt m sh spoke , h r spirit had h e caug t it from Hom r , A nd the heroic hexameter yielded to lips of a o n w ma , Tamed by her gentle caress into lines of mel lifluous m ve e o m nt , Though it w as used to the clangor and clash of of the o nset battle . Now the poet has heard in tenderest tones of the e songstr ss , u i bi n in u of i o n To ched w th Les a t ts , the t ne h s w mighty measure Softened quite to the whisper of love in its deli e d n cat ca e ce , Sung in praise of himself for singing the praises of o n w ma , o in e e o no Sh w g h r high st w rth , t sparing her blame
ful i n error . F i e w d of th e n a a rest r ar bard , whe he h rks to the heart of his verses Beating out of a bosom that throbs in a joy to his i mus c , F o i f i ha o ik a o u l w ng rom l ps t t he l ves , l e s ft s c c ession of kisses .
But behold ! another fair woman steps up to o - in the fr nt l e ,
1 66 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
Overm aking me wholly in hope of the time of n my ra som . I would bathe in the stream of thy song as in
waters of healing , At thy voice my full heart which before had bee n ed i o n clos , s pe , Like the flower which bursts at the breath of the d -c spring from its bu oat , Still unwilling to show at first what 18 hid in its ” bosom .
What does this mystery in ean which lurks in the speech of the maiden ? Not quite clear to herself is the meaning of what she has uttered ; a e e b n t e d ew c onfid Ne r r the L s ian so gs ress sh r , l e ing in g anc s , in i e th e b i u dau h Then a wh sper sh spake , eaut f l g of ter Homer , in f - h h Cl ging to Sappho , so t speaking Sapp o , t e helper of love -pain : Tell me the story on ce more thou hast t old so f en e o t alr ady , I can hear it again from thy lips and never grow e w ary , I would hearken thy heart and live in th e s trains of its music ; O h h ve of h e Sappho , Sapp o , what is t is lo t youth h ide and t e ma n , 1 67 THE S ON G S TRE SS OF L ES BOS .
Whi ch thou s inges t in hundreds of songs to the sonorous cithern ?
Scarce had ended the speech when both were aware of another Who had entered their thought and stood by himself in th eir presen c e ; th e l i he th Bo look d hasti y up , t was t fair you of the Northland Re d ce held he tw o a y to speak , and his glan s t e de wom n asun r , ce h one of e ed d he he Sin t e th m blush , an t ot r drew back in amazement ; i c o h e the c Warm was h s ac ent , th ug n i r Ioni , JE olic c , nor Dori ; Well he could say what he wanted and spake to the Lesbian songstress : ! Thou hast uttered the word of my heart to thy c 0 h musi , Sapp o ; e am e he e l I a strang r h re from afar , from t r a m of r t- d the f os go s , Thy warm breath I have felt as it wafted in words h oe from t y p ms , All th e h m e ed d winter wit in me has lt , an I am e th summer , Tender summer of Hellas attuned to the lyre o f
Lesbos . All the ice of the North to - day thou ha s t thaw e d bo from my som , 1 68 HOM IN CHIO ER S .
As thou toldes t thy tale in the tale of th e beauti~ ful woman ; e e was n n he H l n I myself , a d I sa k in t spell of e h r passion , B o o o d ut I was als her sp use , to Troy I w ul mar ch for my Hele n ;
e e eek or el l Ay , th Gr I must win , mys f I sha l ” lose forever .
e e h h n e H re he stopp d for a sig , t e pass d to an undertone softly h e o d e an o W at is this f arful j y , an y t ag ny w ith it Wh i ch allows no rest in the pain that is b orn of its pleasure ? ee e o of e d e i Sw t is very m ment lif , an y t it s bit ter ; ven all b e w I had gi myself away , efor I had kno n it ; Tell me the cause of this h ungering lingering longing for something h O o h h ve of h e th Sapp o , Sapph , w at is t is lo t you d m de an ai n , Which thou s inge s t in hundreds of songs to the sonorous cithern ?
Smiling she touched the amorous chords with of e the tip her fing r , Softly preluding th e tones w h i ch turned into words in her answ er
1 70 HOM R IN C HI O E S .
hi h of e v e F e W c thems l es , with a grip lik at , were e clasp d in a promise , While the eyes at each other shot fiery ratifica
tion . Meantime the songstress w as chanting a lay of e o E o th doings f r s , Singing for others she sang to relieve her ow n e t of i v h ar ts tra ail ,
F b e e c ld be or the old wound , rok n op n , ou only
- stanched by the love song .
Hark ! the sound of a trumpet rolls over the hills in the distance i h e of What can it mean , nterrupting t is mom nt joy by a startle ? he ! c i l i d T re on e more it s rol ing, t sen s on its
waves a ligh t shudd er . Each let go the firm grip of the hand in the sho c k of the warning.
But the daughter has gone and whispered asi d e to her fath er ; What did she say to him there as she leaned to his ear w ith her blushes ? Joyful h e w as at th e word and louder h e spok e than a whisper : — — Happy I am I have it foresee n let m e pledge you together ; — Sorrowful too y e bo th have to leave me b e hind leav e Hella s ; 1 7 1 TH E S ON G S TRE S S OF LE SBOS .
Still I feel you will take me along to th e land of he e t futur ,
A e our H d e v y , you will take ellas along an pr ser e i ” t forever .
ude n e o ded he bl t of Lo r , earer , stern r , res un t as he t trumpet , Bearing command it seemed and b idding to wait for the message d b e e Still no person appeare , ut a rul r was sur ly be d i hin t , For authority spoke unworde d in tones of the
trumpet , e t d h of th e h de e Strang ly at une to t e roll t un r , th h voice of t e Heavens .
In response to the note of forewarning spake Homer prophetic
e not — e e n ot e to be Nay , not y t , yet th ti is y t t fas ened , First this flame must be curbed and subdued to he cl t ora e coming , El e it n he ld l e s will bur down t wor , ik Troy , in a grand confl agr ation ; — No more Helens one Helen is surely enough for all ages v e c e h u h d ve Bra ely r noun t e sweet tho g t , an pro
elve w h e c yours s ort y , r noun ing ; Bravely renoun c e and renoun ce till th e law hath e d i f l ll e ” d clare ts u fi m nt . 1 72 HO I CHIO MER N S .
Louder res ponded to Homer the blast of the i u om no s trumpet , e i n ed nd Louder , near r t rolled a d mingl its sou
with his senten ce . As if giving the strength of its stroke to the o of w rds the poet , Who still added his warning to souls that migh t be impatient : o hi i n oun he S met ng else s a n ced , t best is to wait for the message ; It is near - the tramp can be heard n ow wait ” for the message .
M E A R G U N T .
D av id ! in o Is rael com es to v is it Hom er ha vin , g f , , g
heard the s on s o the Greek oet s un b M es an der born g f p g y ,
in C rus a Hellen e a n d a re res entativ e O his ra ce yp , p f ,
th e H ellenes (pron oun ced as two s yllables ) am ong S em i
ic eo s P n n r T w o rea t p ple hoe icians a d Heb ews . h e t g t
oets s in or ea ch other an d in th eir s on s th e iv e p g f , g y g
the ree n e H r Th e o G k a d th ebrew v iews of th e wo ld . p
em s of Hom er an d the ps alm s of D avid have j us t b een
w ritten in the n ew alphabet of Phoenicia n letters ; Typ l todes an d I l es an der have copies of the two works .
D a vid an d Hom er s in s everal tim es each reco n izes g , g
r h h r The ecom e warm th e greatn es s an d wo t of t e othe . y b
’ riends as rom C hios the look out u on the uture to f , f y p f
h H n P a b rothed e w es war . es erio ra ill a re et t t d p n a d x ,
a n d ! ing D avid s tays to take part in celebrating the
m rria e O h o r w a g n t e m r o . Suddenly after the sound of th e trumpet that rolled from th e mountain Followed a wave of deep voi ce s of song that w e - w s ayed to th sea s ell ,
' Choiring i n tune to the strings of th e harp and n of i b e the to es the t m r l , d l e b d d d he Mi the c ash of th cym als an rum , an t n t cla gor of corne s , Loudly preluding new strains to b e joined to the Hel music of las , F t to- i Chi in irs day , where r ses melodious os l bi lows , Ch e if nd w e e i h ios , the b aut ul isla , hose y s t e gar den e of Hom r . Slowly a c aravan w ound through sinuous turns of he t mountain , ( 1 75 ) 1 76 HOM I N CHI O ER S .
Shone as it rolled into vision out of the azure horizon O h a d ee e be h ver the illtops it he ve , it s m d to ung from the heavens ! Gaily it glistened afar with the gleam of its gold and its purple ; P i of h E rec ous stones t e ast , the onyx , the Opal , d d the iamon , Peeped with a tho usand eyes from the front of dv c the column a an ing , Peeped and sparkled an d shot in a dance with the of sunbeams Chios .
What high pomp of a monarch is that and where is he going?
E hi n bo wh o ve r e ach one asked of s eigh r , ga no u e e spo s to th question , F e e n h o u oo e or h kn w ot ing t say , b t st d and gaz d
i n his wonder . Statelier moved th e processio n while nearer it e came , still near r , Till it had reached to the door where inside w as i i e s tt ng Hom rus , Sitting not far from the hearth by the altar he e h mad for t e Muses , With his soul in a song h e sat there and heard a what w s coming .
R l o d oun n oya ly rode f rth a man , ism ted a d e n c e stood at the ntra ,
1 78 H OM I CHIO ER N S .
That w as a different man from the rest of th e m en of th e Monar ch ;
Not th e e of th e e t e h h d d not sam turn f a ur s e a , an the same stature He w as e Mes ander — e cle nam d the versatil , ar o d Mes ander t ne , w of e h n le e e Kno er spe c , reco ci r of men , int rpr ter o fam us , He was the tongue of the King who bade him tell
of the journey . ! h e i e n h v i ce ! h Hark s sp aking , ow list to is o is w ords are Hellenic ! Thus he spoke in the rhythm and spee ch fami liar to Homer
i to hee h e e Ha l t , poet , thou song of t W st , and also its prophet ! Humbly we pray thee to give us to - day a glimpse of th e e y tr asur s , And of our ow n we gladly shall grant w hat w e in u can req ital . This high Monarch has heard thy strains in the h e of his e e om p opl ,
Ove h of h be d P oe r t e roar t e seas , yon h nician d Si on , ’ Where dwel ls Israel s seed in th e holy land of
Judea . In his palace h e listened with pain to the sorrows of P riam , Deeply forefeeling in Troy and its fall the fate
his c t of i y , 1 79 THE PSALMIS T OF ISRAEL .
’ acred erus ale m n h l b o d A S J , set o a i l y g o braham s
children . Also he followed in hope the devious path of U lysses , In whose return he beheld the return of his p eo b d ple from on age , When they fled through the sea and the wilderness
drear out of Egypt . High beat the wish in his heart and rose to a in long g resistless , h in —h e o Thee to behold , t e s ger of Hellas t o is a singer Ere the dark Fates of Death shall clutch thee and
hale thee to Hades . He has stepped down from his throne to pay e i of o th e a v sit h nor , e v hi o n a e e e L a ing s w far way , h has com to th
n of v , cou try Ja a'n e w h ch e h Turning th point of his law , i k eps im e aloof from the strang r .
of n h he v c of Greatest musical Helle es , t ou , t oi e the Muses Singing forever down time and making thy lan u n g age eter al , H e h n e ’ o e omer , b fore t ee sta ds Isra l s s ver ign , ”
n v . si ger , King Da id
o o Mes an der th e e Such were the w rds f , m ’ b as s s e y eloquent spok sman , in was n d iv d He Cyprus bor , and long he ha l e w P e ci ith ho ni ans , 1 8 0 HOM R IN CHIO E S .
e hei a d ee ch he h L arning t r m nners an sp , w n e came as sailor to Sidon ; e e i e e Also h trad d w th Tyr , wh n Hiram w as king e of th country , e of he e Hiram , th King rich Tyre , t fri nd and
ally of David .
ll Me s ander h d Ski ful in talking the tongues , a ee n s n ma y nations , t h e e of e c he e he l e No ing t m rits a h , spok t anguag c of oncord ,
e i n e w as te c h e Artful in d al ng with me , h of n os n v as en oy ,
de h d e e e c e Wan ring over t e worl , as int rpr t r am he e w to J ry , Even a p oet he was and doubly w as dear to King
David . e e ed e h u h h e w as But h r main a good Gr ek , alt o g b n on h e b de or t or r , Quite on the line where She m and J aph e t have fought for dominion h e e d e b attle he All t rough th ag s , an mingl d in t
blood of their children . ee h Mes ander he m Gr k t ough he was , partook of t s lrit both in his p , Sought to keep peace between th e combative h souls of t e brothers , Sought to m ake each understand the greatness of he the and worth t o r , Deftly uniting the East and the West in th e
truth that is c ommon .
1 82 HOM R IN CHI O E S .
’ The n to the words of Israel s Monarch re s on ded e p Hom rus , c e O d e th e e o Wel om , frien , to the isl s of s a , t he of ll t land fair He as , E te o m e h h lt b n r my garden and h me , to t ou s a e as a brother h e n ve d w as b e r T y gr at ame I ha hear , it orn f om
he alm P oe c t re of h ni ians , By th e Tyrian princes w ho trade in their s hips
with Greek merchants . Sweet though faint i s the shred of thy song in the of ae n land Ach a s , Floating over the sea from the East to the tune
of the sunrise . av o How I h e l nged to list to your Muses , so lofty , so holy ! Now the moment has come ere I pass into pitiless Hades ; Oft in my heart I have felt you had somethi ng I
n nee e . had ot , but d d St rike the harp ! sing the song ! one bur s t of your heavenly music ! And of your God I would know thro ugh m elo dious of e lips his s rvant , For w e all v n of h God be h e on e be ha e eed t e , , h e in an y , e n ld ve He e n Dw lling in ma and the wor , o r llas
throned or Judea . Tell me the story of trials I heard c oncerning
your people , I I 1 8 3 THE PSALM S T OF SRAEL .
As from bondage it fled w ith its God from th e land of the Nile - stream ; eth th e b e ld That , m inks , is story of man , to to
rev him fo er , Oft repeating itself in his life and th e life of th e
nations . We th e G reeks have also divinely b een put unde r
training , Through sore trial our Gods have tested the love of he e le t ir p op , Tested our m ettle Helleni c to do th e grand task of the ages ; Over to Troy w e went and w e fough t te n years
for our e h h irs ip, Asia we had to ass ail that w e save our beautiful ’ Helen .
Then the dark king of th e East laid off his gar n of le me ts purp , A n d a golden harp he took from th e hand of its h de ol r , Harp of ten strings to which he chanted the e of eh v prais J o ah . Also his voice he essayed in a caroling upward and dow nward ; Sweet were the tones which he rapidly tou ch ed in e e the strains of his pr lud , Soft were the notes whi ch he secretly hummed to himself for the trial , 1 8 4 H OM IN CHI O ER S .
Ge t h ded w d h wedded he n ly e gli to or s , t at t e de b t n r vi rations , Making the measures of song whi ch skillful Mes ander s ed tran lat . H e ed l he omer h arken , laying his sou to t lips of v King Da id , Who sang Israel ’ s strain till it filled the fair garden of Chios :
i n i o e Happ est at on f nations I sing , whos God is Jehovah ; Blessed forever and ever the people w hom He e hath chos n , Looking down from the heavens th e children of en eh de h m He b ol t , ’ ae n l His he la Isr l s childre He oves , but law is t w
of the nations .
P Him h e one h l d He he raise , my soul , t o y Go , is t Almighty ; P i i n h i h e o c ra se H m , the Ki g of t e K ngs , t M nar h of e of e ve n arth and h a , h u e ea e h Whose t o ghts ar a gr t d ep , and His rig t eou s n es s like a great mountain ; d u h Trust in the Lord and do goo , for He la g s at c of v the unning e il , n w en Him h Its kee s ord , wh drawn against , s all
pierce its own b osom . e e of he d hic to He h as H is th law t worl , w h men i i might ly g ven ,
18 6 HOM E R I N CHI O S .
Only by him understood w as the talk of those d he m e n signs an t ir ani g, he v ce w as n e o h l ed Still t ir oi ot h ard , f r t ey ta k in e i a flash to his e v s ght .
But at las t he raised up his eyes and folded h is
writing , nd i l e o h c of A n a g ow h sp ke , t at Gre ian Cyprus , to Homer : v of h e he e l e Gi e him the roar t y s as , as t y ris ik c i b l I ar an il ows , Give him the s well of thy heart as it heaves in e h of e b le the h ig t th att , Give him th e roll of thy measures in waves of the blue Hellespontus ; O ae e i th e o of h M onid s , sing h m thy Zeus , G d t e ene Hell s , Father whose children are Gods who com e with l l their he p to us morta s . of he e t an i e o e v Sands t d ser below , d glor s f H a en above u s He has sung now give him thy concord of man l and the wor d here , Give him h of E d O t y concert arth an lympus , ivi and e d ne th human , And for thee I shall do what for him I have e e don translat thee .
Softly Homer began with a prayer that fell into m easures 1 8 7 THE PSALMI S T OF ISRAEL .
e h the of d d e Ol Z us , hig fa r Go s an of m n , ym pian father ! h el of old C c s e all h Son t ys f ronus , on um r of of is d e chil r n , Thou has escaped from his m aw and dethroned h t e e t y pi il ss par nt , h ld be all to h el he ld w h W o wou ims f in t wor , it
ff r n out even o sp i g . He e O e e he l b u t l v h ar m , Z us , m t morta , o ing t y w orship an d order ! Not by thyself dost thou rule from th e top of w O sno y lympus , Highest of all thy gifts thou dost share u nto o thers thy godhood ; Many divinities sit i n a ci rcle majestic around h t ee , Gods and goddesses too are thy sons and thy be f d h te auti ul aug rs , Whom thou hast raised to thy heights an d with h a e be l t ee hast m d to ru ers , Ruling the air and the earth and even the under e world sunl ss , Ruling th e m an in his deed and also h is inner
most spirit . ll h v he d Sti t ou art e er t first among many , in min an d n e i pow r , And in authority over th e Gods thou art surely h v e t e so er ign , Let any dei ty dare to question thy might for a o n m me t , 1 8 8 H OM I CHI O ER N S .
Dow n to black Tartarus whirls he to s it with the ’ hopeless Titans .
Skillful Mes ander now did his best to turn th is eb e to H r w , To ning a word h ere and there to suit the fine ear of i K ng David , F o e h u e itting t music th t o ght , as it flow d from the heart of the singer ; Bu n i o his n h t i sp te f skill , the tra slation ran roug in hard places . Free Gre ek speech would not always dan c e to i the tune of Semit c , ’ Home r s hexameters broke in the b ack at th e
i he - ga t of t psalm song , And the Monarch would sco wl when h e h eard of o i n the G ds the plural , Yet he would smile to himself at the noise ab out b n eautiful Hele , Fo of u e e th h h r the God the King m st b on , oug is wives may be many ;
o of h re k h w e he G ds t e G e may be many , is if is t n on e l o e , the on y , Whom to save he is ready to fight ten years with O t the rien .
Sly Typtodes had slipped up behi nd and peeped into th e pap ers Which the interpreter held in his han d when his reading had ended
1 90 HO I CHIO MER N S .
Strong loud currents of song that rose from the h t of he e t roa t sing r , O verfl owing all b ounds of the sea when the tide e h runs th hig est , ’ An d it came from the fathomless heart of Israel s psalmist : P i ed in our e ra s be Jehovah , Him is trust , th of our F h God at ers , From everlasting to everlasting He is the ruler ! In the land of Egypt we toiled and we wept in our o sorr w , e ’ hi n b e e Slaves w re Jacob s c ldre , ut they w r eve n r forgotten , From the slime of the Nile we fled to th e shore R e of the ed S a , Always w e saw a great hand reach out of the c u b u u loud ro nd a o t s , Smiting the chains of our bondage and pointing
r th e way of ou res cue . Through the walls of the waters we c rossed dry d on h b sho t e ottom , Long in the wilderness forward and backward in i e d tr al we wand re ,
e our e he ve ho e Till w returned to hom , t primiti m our F h of at ers , e i i our h iv B ar ng the law n hearts , whic was g en in
thunders at Sinai . in O h h n h n S g , my soul , t e hig so g , t e retur to
th e of ou r land promise , THE PSALMIS T OF IS RAEL 1 9 1
n d o e n Sing it for me and for mi e , an f r wand ri g o e t milli ns h reaf er , l n n l un n he c n n Mi lio s o mi lions bor , t ou tless so s of ” the future .
n e u n o Hes erion h l of As he e d d he t r ed t p , c i d h d t e Northlan , Into whose shado wy semblance he peered in a o e e w nd r whil singing , For that youth had the face among faces which he e a look at t sp ker , Drawing him always se cretly back to the spell of e its gaz s , f i i n i u of Back to itsel t draws h m , unco sc o s magical
power , Showing him dreamlike glimpses of something t c afar hat is oming . Thus the youth of the North attracted the look n v d of Ki g Da i , Who seemed glancing into futurity throned in i e that v sag , Far-off futurity throned in the visage of dreamful Hes erion p , As he stood there beside the beautiful daughte r of Homer , Who all the future had read in the soft blue eyes of e n th stra ger , e u Hes erion l v d Dr amf l p , late y arri e from the
snows of the Northland . 1 92 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
Soon the poet of Hellas began once more full e v of f r or , Gently attuning his note some what to the music of David : in e art of he E b h n S g r , thou t ast , ut t y strai be to e e longs th W st too , In it I hear the same voi ce that to me is the voi c e of e e th Mus s , By wh ose help I also have sung the return of my e l p op e , That was the sad return of the haughty v ictori
ous iv Arg es , Coming fro m Troy i n th eir ships to their homes on island and mai nland ; w e h he d b Many re lost throug wrath of t Go s , ut e e e e c e th faithful w r r s u d , Though the path w as doubtful and long that lay on t the wa ers . Lately I finished the tale which tells the retur n of U e lyss s , Who on the passionate sea had to w ander with foolish companions ; u h he n d e n h and h b e M c e ur d i his eart , muc d e in oubt d spirit , i h e e b n h e P n T ll cam ack to his Ithaca om , to e e
lop e prudent , Where in peace he dwelt till the Fates had spun t - ou h is life thread . he e o i l i Great t r turn f Israel , hymn ng itse f n all o pe ples ,
1 9 4 OM I CHI O H ER N S .
Standing in Chios and looking afar on the worlds in the sunset ; One shall lift up th e soul from belo w to the pres e e i nc mmortal , d e a t un n An will quick n the he r to worship , see , th e Eternal ; But the other will sho w the trial and triumph of
Il eroes , Singing into his strains the homage undying of
beauty . Both as broth ers shal l go down the echoing hall
of th e ages . E choing double on e voi ce from the heart of c Gree e and Judea . e he i e h t e n Two ar t a sl s in t e empl of song , Helle ic , e c H brai , O i h n un ne s t e harmo y der them both , the har n mony huma , Tuning to musical life the Man and the Go d i n e ” th ir struggle .
Slowly the poet of Hellas drew back to his seat in he e t s ttle , ran on its i i d But his mind in m ght , though h s bo y w as e w ary , And he continued : One thing more my spirit e h must t ll t ee , now O i n i h Hear my prayer , Dav d , a d call t t e prayer of Homer : P A MI S 1 95 THE S L T OF ISRAEL .
May the son ever be a much better man than his father !
At the thought he suddenly turned and s eem ed to be looking , h e b d he ee ed be k d Thoug h was lin , s m to loo ing an prying about h im But e ! h ve e h e h e ? I forg t I a a n w pupil , w er is Hes perion ?
he e i Hes erion d e l h of e n eb W r s p , r amfu yout th u lous Northlan d ? e t d h e e e ? And I forg too my aug ter , wh r is sh
Prax illa ? Prax illa ?
e - d he i d e Sur ly to ay s i s roam ng , my aught r , my sunny Praxilla !
In a moment the crowd was moving and turning d an looking, All~would p eep at the pai r whom the po et had coupled together h ne h d he e What e had joi d in is wor s , t y surmis d h ed h h too e had join in his t oug ts , Every boy in the school surmised What w as going a e to h pp n , Every b oy in the school blushed red as if he were l gui ty , Guilty of hiding away in his heart an arrow of E ros , ’ h h c e him i W ich ad pri k d w th jealousy s pang , l c e e though s ly y se r t d . 1 96 HOM R I CHIO E N S .
F e e ed h u ou no irst h pe p for is rival , b t f nd reward for ee his p ping , a no Hes erion d u ou o n S w p , reamf l y th f the eb ulous N th or land , Then he wo uld speak in low tones to his neigh o h h d e n b r , w o a to mak a swer ; Each was disguising the timorous thought that bled w h trem it in him , Each was telling it too just through his careful disguises ; o n h e h ol a h S o t e whol sc o w s a w isper , asking Where is Praxilla ? e e c Soon th whol s hool was a whisper , replying , Where is Hes perion ?
b T todes o i Cra bed yp , the sch olmaster , st ll e an d n was pres nt looki g , B nowhe e s aw o o ut he r what he l oked f r , the h e of daug t r Homer , Whom he too would see and would sue in spite of his wrinkles ; h h e d Teac ing t e v rses of Homer , he weene he e e could t ach the fair daught r , i i Phoe c n e u u d Wr t ng ni ia l tters , he tho ght he wo l
write her a poem . V i he ef to da e i a i n a n is t fort , y h s we r ed a d worried with waiting ; In his sandals he s huflies along to the side of
Mes an der ,
1 98 HOM R CHIO E IN S .
h v ed e u I a e not it w ll while yo talked , I peeped
over your shoulder . u e l ou e c nobo kn But I m st t l y a s ret , which dy ows of in Chios Long I have wrought to set down in these signs the poems of Homer ; What a task it has been — the burning by drops ’ of my h eart s blood ! do b e e on n o - It is ne , ut y st rday d e , a d t dav I have h broug t it , Hid in my bosom ; toilsome the work but I felt i h t was wort y , Though I find fault w ith the failings of Homer and slash him to fragments ; ee ! v o e d out e into i S I ha e p ur my lif wr t , here i i O Mes an der t s , One o ll u of h f small r o t many , the rest I s all etch f ol- rom the scho house , On o out hi a unk e sh rt day of many , all w ch h ve s ’ into Lethe . e n e ” i k Sur ly o idl r thou art , sa d the Gree of from the island Cyprus , m ov es t And thou along with the world , the v too schoolmaster mo es , e h oo nee Spirit need th t e letter , the letter t deth e i th sp rit , H u h o u n no omer will last , b t t e pedag g e Chia will t o e n be forg tt , Who was the first to put into script the song of e th poet , 1 9 9 THE PSAL MI S T OF ISRAEL .
Making him sing forever in spite of the Fates , ” the grim spinners .
Both of the men had still something to say on
the matter of letters . But they suddenly stopped when they heard the voice of the poet Not now chanting a musi cal strain to the Gods d e e e an th H ro s , l u Hes erion ! But impatiently calling a o d , p
Praxilla
ce he e ed he 1 s Hes erion ! e e Twi r peat , W re p Wh r is my daughter ? n h d ” o n u Here I am o t is si e , s o spake p the u h of h hl d yo t t e Nort an , e e n h h ” o he a H r I am o t e ot er , resp nded t m iden
Praxilla . Both of them spoke in their joy as they suddenly n sprang from a arbor , Where they had b id from the crowd for a mo ment of e ve sw et con rsation , Words of the twain now blended together to e e i t nder st mus c , d e i was e in An th ir vo ce wedd d love , preluding the marriage : F b e w e o l O or thy l ssing c me , thy b essing, ’ father Homerus .
he bo h ee ed i de b ve h d T n t kn l at h s si , ra yout an
b eautiful maiden . 200 E I H HOM R N C IOS .
R i d d d e apid work , my ch l ren , too rapi , an y t I confirm it Who can catch and turn back in its flight th e arrow of Ero s ? el e was e w W l I for saw what coming , I kn in
advance the whole story . d u h b u bl n eve c ld Di yo t ink eca se I was i d , I n r ou see you ? All the while I co uld see you doing j ust w hat I
intended . Bu ! ou ve e t enough Y ha my approval , tak now my blessing ! ’ in on e d e Lay g each hand a h a , h rose up with
them together .
t n b n the w o e o e e S a ding etwee t ain , nc m r spok the poet to David : ee h O ch e e Thee I bes c , Monar , y t gr ater than e Monarch , a Sing r ,
i e e - en Stay w th me h r , for to morrow is giv in marriage my daughter Go to rest in my chamber an d wake up renewed in h t e morning , Both of us then shall sing together the song of h ed t e w ding , Ere we send off the pair to the distant forests of
Northland . h d he O e d T ou must give them thy Go , t n , an his h igh adoration , h ll he h he be ut I s a show t m t e Man , t a iful Man in f ” his reedom .
M E N T A R G U .
A ll com e together in th e m orn ingfor the w eddingfes
O Hes erion n Praxill The s chol r a e tival f p a d a . a s h v a choral dance in honor of the event; Glaucus and D em o o on es s their reat is o n m en a ho d cus c f g d app i t t. S pp chants for the pair her las t m eas ures of love an d good
T todes brin s as his bridal i t th e oem s wis h es . yp g g f p o w r e ew l b Hom er a n f Hom er itten in th n a pha et. d
D av id give to the pair their bles s ing an d with it their two boo s which are to be born e o e n ew hom e whi h er k , t th , t
u e n ow s e o h on eir our the happy co pl tf rt th j n ey . U p rose the Sun i n his car and lit the Ionian ve hea ns , Driving th e tim orous Dawn far over the sea to the e w stward , Seeming to mount to the sky in flames that burst from his glan c es For some joy that he felt and imparted to earth
c and to o ean . Like a bridegroom he rose and put on his gar t e men s of spl ndor , Gold h e was strewing wherever he looked on the
land an d th e water . Warm was the thrill as he reached fro m afar w h h d e it is ra iant fing rs , Earth awoke at the touch and sprang up respond i c ing n musi , ( 2 0 3 ) 2 0 4 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
Ev c u e n i o o ery reat r was singi g , even st ll v ices f nature Chanted the hymn of the Sun as he soared up
the sky in th e morning . Purple and scarlet and gold were his regal changes of i n ra me t , Jewels he flung with his sheen in the lap of the e i l d b aut fu islan , Which peeped forth fro m the waves in a smile at e of b e th sport the sun ams , As from slumber it woke and lay on the bed of
the billows . hio h i i u i id e C s e k ssed n a rapt re , as f his br e h k in were iss g , All the heart of the Sun was flo wing to love and
to marriage , As he glowed and he glanced down into the gar den of Homer .
Bo of i n o l th the poets had r se fr m s eep , the e b Greek and th He rew , n i i in o u i A d were s tt ng together , j y sal t ng the o i m rn ng , Which from earth and fro m hea ven returned the
high salutation . ” Beautiful i s this world of Jehovah , shouted
King David . P ai n o i a i law hic r sed be his ame , f r h s l w s the w h ” endureth forever .
20 6 O CHIO H MER IN S .
h T todes he ed e h d t S ifty yp , t p agogu C ian , o h seem to be absent ; o h n o h e h N , e is comi g , y nder he s uffl s along in is s d l an a s , He has set down the poems of Homer in symb ols Ph o ic en ian , u won o h be Tho gh he n t the daug ter , he must a
guest at her marriage . oo ! e n ie e L k he hast s up the path , a d carr s th l e rol s of his pap r , Ro d he d -bo n u h lls first ma e of t rin of the fen r r s , he t papyrus , On whi ch is written the word of the poet for ages hereafter Bo called the bb e of ok it is , scri l d peelings rushes f o Egypt .
Next were seen the beautiful youths who sang . in a chorus , e o t i i e Gracefully st pping al ng , a tun ng the r danc
- b to the song eat , All the youths of the school were there arraye d w e d for the d ing , Spotless they shone in white rai m ent falling i n
folds to their motion . F E e he o rom the ast and the W st t y had c me , all e h e oc join d t pr ession , And they began the high song with a festal pray e e the r tog r , E A IA G 2 0 7 TH M RR E .
Prayer besee ching the presence divine of the God of Espousals : l H e aeu h il! O c e n Hai ym n s , a om to the isla d of h C ios , Com e to the glorious island of song that is sing ing thy praises ! Great is the need of thy presence to bless what e is going to happ n , For the lots of marriage are n ow to be drawn by i en a ma d , R e of den e u i ul dau h ar st mai s of H llas , the bea t f g
ter of Home r . ' e b en O u e ic of B not a s t , deity , r l the capr es Fortune ; l H e ae ! o ir Hai ym n us , hail make the tie f the pa ev erlasting !
v e d e h Da id th King drew near , an spak to t e o t of e orthlan d y u h th N , d e d e h Spee the afar to thy forests , an tak t is iden l i c ma Hel en , h win to h ve eve Her t ou must t y lo , for thou n r ew es s canst marry a J , ’ Tis not allowed by the law no hope thou c anst h v te a e for my daugh r , Whom I have left behind with the rest of th e daughters of Israel ; These w e keep to ourselves for the glory and eh praise of J ovah . 208 HOM I CHI O ER N S .
But unrewarded thou shalt not pass from my i o in presence th s m rn g , i b of o in All that s est myself , whatever is go d n o my ati n , I shall give as a present to thee and thy people
forever . It shall attune thee anew to its song when thy u i c n so l s dis orda t , From thy fall it shal l lift th ee on high with fresh a ion spirat , in h de i It shall stead thee trial t e sorest , in ath t
shall stead thee . Now its words have b ee n written in signs that o Phoen came fr m icia , Musical sounds of the voi ce have been set down in signs for the vision O h JE tian of u B b lus n t at gyp peel a r sh , called y ,
the Bible . We have brought it along on our journey ” i i Mes ander ? Where s t ,
Here the translator suddenly stopped his talk in n g Helle ic , Spoke i n Hebrew the word of reply which has
not been translated . Taking th e folds of a c urious roll written over
w h e te r it l t s ,
o the of v c he L oking look a i tor , handed it soon
c to the Monar h .
2 1 0 HOM IN CHI O ER S .
A ll of th e company present were touched b y the e of th e re el ton fa w l , For they see m ed to hear the refrain of a lay in e d ce th istan , Giving a s oft response from beyond to the note of he e t po t , Who was - a singing to day the last , last str ins of ” n- his swa song .
Hark to the bardlings ! a youth steps forth from he of h ho u t line t e c r s , With a dis c ord in look and in heart it w as -b high orn Glaucus , h o c e n ow he W from Lycia am , and he sang to t maiden : I have tried to win the hand of the daughte r of Homer How I longed to c arry her OR to the banks of e th Xanthus , Where is my sweet sunny home by the banks of the eddying Xa nthus o h ear ce e H nest my suit was to her away on mor , e the Gr ek Helen , Peacefully bring back th e beautiful prize of the world into Asia ; But e I have lost , the Gods are against m , and turn from m y people ; n ow ee h e b i n e All I have lost , I must s t r de bor off to the westward TH MAR IAG 2 1 1 E R E .
h n l c n of I t e so of King G au us , and grandso u h e He Gla cus t ro , I who am sprung far back of the seed of Bel lerophontes H l a th b n dau h ai , Hymen eus , y lessing upo the g ” ter of Homer .
d e d h n e Scarce ha he nde , w e from the Opposit side of the chorus e h th e W in d St pped forth a yout of est , song an n ve h v l i lo is great ri a , d c n of d h c It was Demo o us , so Demo ocus , It a an rhapsode : I too sought for the hand of th e beautiful d h e of H e aug t r om r , From th is isle I would h ear h er away to th e h e of Ul e om yss s , Whenc e the old Greeks our fathers on ce came to
the rescue of Helen . he de he d d h dee e Great was t ed t y i , t e d of th e our f ! Gr eks , athers Beautiful Helen again I would rescue in fairest
Praxilla , Coming over the sea from my home to th e of island Chios . e n h l be b u I have lost , l t me go , I ow s a l come t a wi eh s n erd , Son unworthy of m en wh o took the citadel o n Tr ja . 2 1 2 HOM R I CHIO E N S .
i a h b in on u Ha l , Hymen eus , t y less g up the da ghter
of Homer .
Fo b n o rward came Sappho , the Les ia s ngstress , en the t th among Muses , a h v n e m n Gr ce s e re ealed i h r for a d her speech , m e the fourth a ong Grac s , n of h n ou Aye te th Muse t e Muses , a d aye f rth of Grace the Graces , As she sang to the pair mid the sweet low tones of her cithern : i ae l ! k Ha l , Hymen us , hai ma e happy the bride and the bridegroom ! a u of n on ou h M y the so ls the twai be e th g t , the two l ives b e one living ! ke a n i e h Ma the marriage prese ce , wh ch th y s all l d we l i n forever . May the love of to - day be also th e love of to morrow u O e b i o ou toc I ou Yo , brid and r degr om , y w ld move by my pray er ; When v ou come to your home far over the border of Hellas , no who in o Sappho forget t , was the first to jo y u e tog ther , Making the love of your hearts to flow in the of m i strains her us c , Taking the hands of you both into hers and link n h i e i g t e prom s .
2 14 HOM I C O ER N HI S .
ee e i o one o o K p it and l t t still gr w , seed f y ur e future existenc , Showing the b eautlful world o f the Gods which in our e arose H llas , Showing what man must do with himself to build ” up a freeman . n e i h i The spak Dav d , giving t e pa r his last ben ediction e book oo i in e Here , tak my , it t is wr tten l tters P oe c n h ni ia , By some scribe I k now not his name em ployed in my household i e i l ro on o ou Keep t and l t t sti l g w , e seed f y r t future exis ence , Sho wing the law of the world proclaime d in the d of u lan J dea , o i n n od and i Sh w ng the God , the o e o ly G , h s ” worship i n spirit . So to the Northland they took the two books of d Homer and Davi , O e t n of all i h ldest and n west , wi books t me , t e e eb e Gre k and the H r w , e h o e Lovingly bor them afar to t e West , the h m of n n the atio s , Which shall kindle the light in their hearts and
carry it further , Where th e two singers of Eld shall still si ng daily do their wis m , Voices resounding in millions of echo es from let oe ters Ph nician , H E T E MARRIAG .
Bringing their song to the present and handing it t on to the fu ure , Ever renewing their strains in the soul that is e d he he r a y to ar t m , Known far better hereafter than ever in Greece o r Judea . Then the pair set out Hes perion son of the N th or land , d Prax illa de n e he h t An , fair mai of H llas , t daug er of e Hom r , tt e de h e e he th e Qui ing th gar n w er gr w t orange , e e fig and pom granat , Where the hills were a flutter of leaves of the l silvery o ive . h e h e h e d e h e Soon t e y cam to t s or , an ther lay t b of he b d l oat t ri a , ove e h b che e v d d C r d wit ran s and l a es , an ecked w of ith th e flo wers Chios . Seame n raised up th e mast and steadied it firmly i w th mainstays , Then they spread out the sails to the wind and
c took the dire tion . O he d e in he b e e ars t y ipp d t rin , for trial mad e d the d r a y rud er , An d th e God s ent a favoring breeze which ble w th e l d from is an , Yet a sigh mid the joy of the day it w ould
c whisper in snat hes . F w el eve Prax illa d h e F e are l for r , my aug t r ar ” well Hes perion l 2 1 6 H OM I N CHI O ER S .
Light ran th e ship as it cut with its keel h e ll w w e through t bi o y at rs , Laughingly sparkled the sea in the stroke of the
vigorous oarsmen , Over the rise and the fall of the ripples w as rock e e l ing th v sse , Mufliled he re ee e v b sang t g at d p , uph a ing and ear
ing its b urden . F e el eve O e e ! F e ar w l for r , Hom r , my fath r ar e He l ” w ll 0 l as .
From the shore all th e youths of the s ch ool e w w re gazing in sorro , ’ Merrily still the vessel kept dancing away o er w the billo , w as t of o h e had That the las day scho l , t e nd c om e of their training Long they looked at the boat until it had van is h e d vi from sion , Loc ked in the blue at the sail till lost i n the haz e e e w to th w st ard , Wondering whither it went and whether again e u e i th y wo ld s e t . When the s m all white speck of the ship h ad e twinkl d to nothing , Longing the s cholars turned for the sight and th e e he spe ch of t poet , B w as n ot to b e e n e h o ne i ut he s e , h ad g to h s
home with King David . e e e c Soon th y too had disp rs d , ea h went his own a i n w y to h s cou try .
2 1 8 HOM I CHIO ER N S .
Fu he h e l he e rther and furt r t ey w nt , ti l t y cam to e o e of h e th h m s is peopl , B i i tw o b o n he ne h e o r ng ng o ks i t ir jour y , t gifts f v e Da id and Hom r , Bringing tw o songs of the sunris e to sing to the d of e lan s th sunset , Songs still s inging of God in his foresight and Man n ee i his fr dom , Where th e huge arms of the breakers are smiting e of th e Oc e the shor s an , Ever beyond and beyond in the stretc h of their e strokes th y are striking , Striking the barrier of earth in the stress of their i strong aspirat on , e n ve e e o of h in B ati g , fore r r peating , th str kes t e O finite cean .