Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FRAGMENTS OF SACRED DREAMS: 2, by ROYALL TYLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FRAGMENTS OF SACRED DREAMS: 2, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ah what are all the pomp and courtly pride
Last Line: And sages deem thee wondrous wise.
Alternate Author Name(s): Old Simon; S.
Subject(s): Darius I, King Of Persia


AH what are all the pomp and courtly pride
Of Kings in these degenerate days
How frivolous how mean
Their simple Courtiers seem
Compar'd with ancient Story
When monarchs sought true glory.

And Courtly worth and wisdom were allied
And Kings to intellect gave wealth and praise
When Courtiers were not bent
On self aggrandizement
But patriot Courtiers self withstood
As they preferment gain'd
Their virtues brighter flam'd

Their hearts with love of country burn'd
And Patriots still they nobly turn'd
The monarchs favour to the peoples good.
From Etheopias desert plain
To fertile Indias vast domain
The realm was blest with peace
Chaldea's impious Dynasty
For conquest fam'd and cruelty

Had fell beneath the conqueror's Sword
Her Kingdom, and a Persian Lord
Beneath whose mild and gentle sway
Her Subject provinces obey
Joy wealth and loyalty increase.

In Shushans Splendid regal hall
Upon his golden throne elate
In all the majesty of State
While Subject nations round him crowd
Magi and Prince and Satrap proud
Chaldee and Persian, greeks, Jews, medes
In language various as their creeds
Sat great Darius Lord of all --

An awful Silence reign'd around
All wait the monarchs words profound
When lo, the King his will express'd
And thus made known his wise behest --

Princes and Satraps -- magi wise
My Empires Strength and stay
This day no warrior gains the prize
For war hath had its bloody day --

The prize of wisdom I present
To him who is most eloquent
Let the youth strive, the Old preside
Young men contend and hoary heads decide --

The question in debate must be
Of Wine -- the King, or Woman fair
Which is the Strongest of these three
He who excells the prize away shall bear --
For unto him who gains the Victory
Lo I the King do unto him decree
In purple garments he shall be array'd
And on his head a fine Tiara wear
A Chain of gold upon his neck display'd
And golden trapings shall his chariot bear
On Golden couches he shall sweetly sleep
From golden cups shall drink the wine most fam'd
Next to the King shall have his princely Seat
And Cousin to the king he shall be nam'd

Flush'd by the Banquets joyous draught
The wine of Shiraz mantling on his brow
The Young Admatha boldly sought
The strength of potent wine to shew
Impatient rose the persian Youth
Prompt to defend th' inspiring truth
With arguments unfeign'd
And Eloquence sublime
He felt, while he maintain'd
The strength of mighty wine --

Now passing strong is wine
Ye men of Persia say
He who shall quaff the draught divine
Shall from cold reason stray

The freeman and the bonded slave
The poor, the rich, the weak, the brave
Let them the flowing goblet drain
Alike thy Strength O wine maintain
The bondman shall forget his chains
The poor imagine rich domains
The coward heart shall danger crave
And all be rich and free and brave
Nay e'en the Orphan child shall be
A King in power and dignity --

See that poor wretch whos[e] clouded brow
Is furrow'd deep with pain and woe
Whose sunken cheeks and vacant eye
Show deep distress and poverty
But look again! -- no sorrow now
Beclouds the wretches furrow'd brow
Sorrow and sadness both are fled
His face all smiles, erect his head
His sunken cheeks with roses bloom
His breath emits a rich perfume
With joyous laugh -- and tongueful glee
He sports the soul of jollity
Aye, now you see the ruddy wine
Does in his briming goblet shine
Wine which alone makes man forget
Sorrow and all the cares of debt
Before the King or magistrate
Would thou appear with head elate
Sustain with wine thy sinking heart
Such dignity it will impart
That thou shalt wonder why the great
Bow not before the princely state.
Wouldst thou the aged and the wise
With thy vast wisdom own surprize
Drink deep of wine -- then drink again
Thy talents thus will splendour gain
Thy eloquence will all surprize
And sages deem thee wondrous wise.





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