Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NEMEAN ODES: 6, by PINDAR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NEMEAN ODES: 6, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: How early has young chromius begun
Last Line: Their gaping mouths did forked tongues like thunderbolts present.
Variant Title(s): Hercules And The Serpents (1)
Subject(s): Hercules; Mythology - Classical


How early has young Chromius begun
The Race of Virtue, and how swiftly run,
And born the noble Prize away,
Whilst other youths yet at the Barriere stay?
None but Alcides ere set earlier forth than He;
The God, his Fathers, Blood nought could restrain,
'Twas ripe at first, and did disdain
The slow advance of dull Humanitie,
The big-limm'ed Babe in his huge Cradle lay,
Too weighty to be rockt by Nurses hands,
Wrapt in purple swadling-bands.
When, Lo, by jealous Juno's fierce commands,
Two dreadful Serpents come
Rowling and hissing loud into the roome.
To the bold Babe they trace their bidden way,
Forth from their flaming eyes dread Lightnings went,
Their gaping Mouths did forked Tongues like Thunderbolts present.





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