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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NEMEAN ODES: 3. THE CHILDHOOD OF ACHILLES, by PINDAR Poet's Biography First Line: But golden-haired achilles, biding still Last Line: Return alive to his own natal shore. Subject(s): Achilles; Mythology - Classical | |||
BUT golden-haired Achilles, biding still In Philyra's dwelling-place, made all his play Of manly deeds, and often as a child Poising his tiny-headed darts would slay, Wind-fleet in strife, the lions of the wild, And mighty boars would kill, And drag their bodies panting to the son Of Cronus, Chiron, from six years of age And ever after; and Athene sage And Artemis in wonderment looked on, While, with no help of hound or meshy snare, He brought down stags by speed of foot alone. Oft too by men of yore this tale was told: How Chiron wise beneath his roof of stone Reared Jason, then Asclepius of old, Whose hands he taught the care Of healing salves. He too to Peleus gave Nereus' bright-bosomed daughter for his wife, And nurtured their great son, and in the strife Of manly exploits nursed his spirit brave, That so, when strong sea-winds should blow him o'er To Troy, he might abide the battle-cry Of Lycians, Phrygians, and the oncoming Dardanian host, and might in conflict sore With AEthiop spearmen fix his purpose high Never to let their chief, their prophet king, Memnon, the kin of Helenus, once more Return alive to his own natal shore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#11): 1. ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND MEDUSA by MARVIN BELL THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#11): 2. MORE ABOUT THE DEAD MAN AND MEDUSA by MARVIN BELL THE BIRTH OF VENUS by HAYDEN CARRUTH LEDA 2: A NOTE ON VISITATIONS by LUCILLE CLIFTON LEDA 3: A PERSONAL NOTE (RE: VISITATIONS) by LUCILLE CLIFTON |
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