Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN ARMOURY by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE

First Line: SPLENDID BURNS THE HUGE HOUSE WITH BRONZE; RICH IS THE AMPLE ROOF
Last Line: THESE ARE THINGS WE MUST REMEMBER NOW OUR DUTY SHALL BEGIN.
Subject(s): ARMS & ARMOR; WEAPONS; AMMUNITION;
SPLENDID burns the huge house with bronze; rich is the ample roof
with radiant helmets; overhead each helmet lets a horsehair plume
droop, the warrior's ornament. Plates of armour hang on the pin,
greaves of radiant bronze, defence against the sturdy javelin.
Curved shields and cuirasses of new linen bestrew the room;
here are blades from Chalcis; here is many a cincture and kilt of proof.
These are things we must remember now our duty shall begin.



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