Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HYMN 2. THE EPIPHANY OF APOLLO, by CALLIMACHUS



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HYMN 2. THE EPIPHANY OF APOLLO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How the branch trembles of apollo's bay
Last Line: Wide-mouthed in phrygia mourning, will forget.
Alternate Author Name(s): Kallimachos


HOW the branch trembles of Apollo's bay!
How the whole shrine! Hence, sinners all, away!
Now Phoebus with his beautiful feet assails
The threshold. Look! on a sudden gently vails
The Delian palm her crest, while heavenward soars
The swan singing. Lift up your bolts, ye doors,
And be ye turned, ye keys! The God is near.
Prepare you, lads, for song and dance, prepare!

Apollo doth not unto all appear,
But to the good: who seeth him is great;
Who hath not seen him is of low estate.
We shall behold thee, Archer, and not be base.
Boys, when Apollo visiteth his place,
Not mute your lyre nor pulseless be your tread,
If you'd be wived, and crop a silvered head,
And stedfast on their old foundations keep
Your walls! Well done! the lyre is not asleep.

Hush, listeners, at the Apolline melody!
Hushed are the waves when minstrels magnify
The Lycoreian emblems, lyre or bow:
Thetis will intermit the dirge of woe
Over her son Achilles when she hears
'Hie Paeeon'; and the Rock of Tears,
That dripping stone, that marble woman set
Wide-mouthed in Phrygia mourning, will forget.





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