Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ATHENS, by PINDAR


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ATHENS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Athens, the stately-walled, magnificent!
Last Line: Thus checkered with a strange variety.


ATHENS, the stately-walled, magnificent!
Proem most beauteous for Alcmaeon's race,
Whereon to lay the base
Of sacred song, their steeds' proud ornament!
For what more eminent
Country or home, shall I in Grecia name,
Inhabited? No city, wherein fame
Sounds not Erectheus' sons; they who for thee,
Apollo, have built up a gorgeous shrine
In Pytho the divine.
Five victories in Corinth lead me on;
One in Olympia, Jove's, the chief of these;
And two from Cyrrha; yours, O Megacles,
And your forefathers'! At the new success
In part rejoicing, yet for this I mourn;
That beauteous deeds in envy meet return.
'T is said indeed that mortal happiness,
When most it flourisheth, to last, must be
Thus checkered with a strange variety.





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