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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ION: DAWN, by EURIPIDES Poet's Biography First Line: See, already over the earth Last Line: To apollo's house which has nursed me. | |||
SEE, already over the earth The Sun lights up his four-horsed team; His flames put the stars to flight from the sky Into holy night. Parnassus' untrodden mountain-peaks Are lit with his fires, and welcome for men The chariot-wheels of day. Smoke of rainless frankincense Spreads over Apollo's roof; The Delphian woman is taking her seat On the holy tripod and sings to the Greeks The dooms that ring from Apollo. Come, Apollo's Delphian servants, Come to Castalia's whirling waters Silver-shining. Wash yourselves In the pure spring and come to the shrine. Seal your lips in reverent silence; To all who would question the oracle Nothing unseal But holy words from your lips. And I, who from my childhood's days Have done this task, will sanctify With laurel branches and holy crowns Apollo's doorway and cleanse the floor With splash of water. Flocks of birds, Who spoil the sacred offerings, My bow and arrow shall put to flight. For, since I have neither mother nor father, I give my service To Apollo's house which has nursed me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALCESTIS: BEREAVEMENT by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: CHORUS. THE STRENGTH OF FATE by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: LAMENT FOR ALCESTIS by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: SCENE 1 by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: SCENE 2 by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: SCENE 3. FUNERAL MARCH by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: SCENE 4 by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: SCENE 5 by EURIPIDES ALCESTIS: TO ALCESTIS by EURIPIDES ANDROMACHE: THE KINGS OF TROY by EURIPIDES |
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