'TWAS said the gods, when they Porphyrion slew, And vast Enceladus under Etna laid, @3Could conquer only with a mortal's aid@1 These mortal giants and their snakish crew. Poet who didst with radiant valour hew At monsters old, -- thou fought'st them with a blade Too wholly of celestial metal made, And lacking help of mere gross human thew. Therefore thou didst prevail not! For to quell Earth's mightiest evil things 'tis not enough To array against them things of heavenly birth. Earthly auxiliaries thou need'st as well: Earth-founded powers, and earth-forged weapons tough, And breastplate hard as the iron breast of the earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DANCE OF THE SEVIN DEIDLY SYNNIS by WILLIAM DUNBAR FRIENDSHIP; A SONNET by ALFRED TENNYSON CONTENT; WRITTEN OFF ITHACA by ALFRED AUSTIN LYNTON VERSES: 2 by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN FOR A CERTAIN BELOVED GENTLEMAN by MARGARET E. BRUNER HYMN by MARIE JOSEPH BLAISE CHENIER |