Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ORACLE by REGINALD HEBER

First Line: TO PHOEBUS' SHRINE THREE YOUTHS OF FAME
Last Line: "NONE IN THE DUST THE WRESTLER LAY!"
Subject(s): APOLLO; DELPHI; MYTHOLOGY - CLASSICAL; CASTRI;

To Phoebus' shrine three youths of fame,
A wrestler, boxer, racer came,
And begg'd the Delphic god to say,
Which from the next Olympic game
Should bear the envied wreath away?
And thus the oracle decided: --
"Be victors all, brave youths, this day,
Each in your several arts! -- @3provided
That none outstrip the racer's feet,
None at his trade the boxer beat,
None in the dust the wrestler lay!@1"



Home: PoetryExplorer.net