BUT in sunshine ever fair Abide the Good, and all their nights and days An equal splendour wear. And never as of old with thankless toil For their poor empty needs they vex the soil, And plough the watery seas, But dwelling with the glorious gods in ease A tearless life they pass Whose joy on earth it was To keep their plighted word; but far from these Torments the rest sustain too dark for human gaze. Whosoe'er can thrice endure In either biding-place their souls to save From all transgression pure, These tread the Heavenly Way to Cronus' Tower, Where round the Happy Islands hour on hour The ocean breezes blow; And there are blossoms of clear gold that grow On shining trees, or rest On the fond water's breast, And wreaths thereof they twine round arm and brow. Thus Rhadamanthus wise his all-just mandate gave, Who sits in judgement by the side Of world-throned Rhea's lord most high. Peleus and Cadmus both abide Among that blessed company; And thither too his mother bore Achilles, when her pleading sore The heart of Zeus to mercy wore. Cycnus he to death had done And foremost Hector, Troy's unshaken tower, And Morning's AEthiop son. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FEBRUARY IN ROME by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE TO THE LADY IN THE CHIMSETTE WITH BLACK BUTTONS by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS ELEGY FOR A DEAD KING by AL-KUTANDI A SONG ABOUT SINGING by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH GROWING OLD by KARLE WILSON BAKER SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 29. CHRIST AND ENGLAND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) FOR NOEL (WHERE A GATE SWINGS EITHER WAY) by BEULAH ALLYNE BELL HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 14 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |