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ODE 13. ON THE CHARMS OF PEACE, by                    
First Line: To mortal men peace giveth these good things
Last Line: And hymns in praise of boys like flames to heaven are flung.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bakchylides
Variant Title(s): Peace On Earth
Subject(s): Peace


To mortal men Peace giveth these good things:
Wealth, and the flowers of honey-throated song;
The flame that springs
On craven altars from fat sheep and kine,
Slain to the gods in heaven; and, all day long,
Games for glad youths, and flutes, and wreaths and circling wine.
Then in the steely shield swart spiders weave
Their web and dusky woof:
Rust to the pointed spear and sword doth cleave;
The brazen trump sounds no alarms;
Nor is sleep harried from our eyes aloof,
But with sweet rest my bosom warms:
The streets are thronged with lovely men and young,
And hymns in praise of boys like flames to heaven are flung.




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