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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THERMOPYLAE AND GOLGOTHA, by ROBERT SILLIMAN HILLYER Poet's Biography
First Line: Men lied to them and so they went to die
Last Line: The stark black cross against the setting sun.
Subject(s): Thermopylae, Battle Of
First Line: Men lied to them and so they went to die
Last Line: The stark black cross against the setting sun.
Subject(s): Thermopylae, Battle Of
Men lied to them and so they went to die
Some fell, unknowing that they were deceived,
And some escaped, and bitterly bereaved,
Beheld the truth they loved shrink to a lie
And those there were that never had believed,
But from afar had read the gathering sky,
And darkly wrapt in that dread prophecy
Died trusting that their truth might be retrieved.
It matters not. For life deals thus with Man;
To die alone deceived or with the mass,
Or disillusioned to complete his span.
Thermopylae or Golgotha, all one --
The young dead legions in the narrow pass;
The stark black cross against the setting sun.
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THE GREEK DEAD AT THERMOPLYLAE by SIMONIDES OF CEOS
VARIATIONS ON SIMONIDES by GLADYS ELY
O PASSER BY, / TELL THE LACEDAEMONIANS by SIMONIDES OF CEOS
TO THOSE WHO FELL AT THERMOPYLAI by SIMONIDES OF CEOS
BLACK MAGIC by ROBERT SILLIMAN HILLYER
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