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PAEAN ON PEACE, by                    
First Line: Great goddess peace does wealth on us bestow
Last Line: And lovers spend in serenades the night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bakchylides
Subject(s): Peace


Great Goddess Peace does Wealth on us bestow,
From her our Sciences and Learning flow,
Our Arts improve, and we the Artists prize,
Our Altars fume with richest Sacrifice:

Youths mind their active sports -- they often meet,
Revel and dance with Maydens in the Street;
The useless Shield serves to adorn the Hall,
Whence Spiders weave their Nets against the Wall;

Gauntlets and Spears lye covered over with Dust,
And slighted Swords half eaten up with Rust;
No Trumpets sound, no rattling Drums we hear,
No frightful Clamours pierce the tim'rous Ear;

Our weary Eyes emjoying nat'ral Rest,
Refresh the Heart when 'tis with Cares opprest:
Days steal away in Feasting and Delight,
And Lovers spend in Serenades the Night.




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