Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PINDAR ON THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, by PINDAR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PINDAR ON THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All-enlightening, all-beholding
Last Line: Hurl destruction on mankind?
Subject(s): Eclipses; Sun


All enlightening, all-beholding,
All-transcending star of day!
Why, thy sacred orb enfolding,
Why does darkness veil thy ray?

On thy life-diffusing splendor
These portentous shades that rise,
Vain the strength of mortals render,
Vain the labors of the wise.

Late thy wheels, through ether burning,
Rolled in unexamined light:
Mortals mourn thy change, returning
In the sable garb of night.

Hear, oh Phoebus! we implore thee,
By Olympian Jove divine;
Phoebus! Thebans kneel before thee,
Still on Thebes propitious shine.

On thy darkened course attending,
Dost thou signs of sorrow bring?
Shall the Summer rains, descending,
Blast the promise of the Spring?

Or shall War, in evil season,
Spread unbounded ruin round?
Or the baleful hand of Treason
Our domestic joys confound?

By the bursting torrent's power,
Shall our ripening fields be lost?
Shall the air with snow-storms lower,
Or the soil be bound in frost?

Or shall ocean's waves stupendous,
Unresisted, unconfined,
Once again, with roar tremendous,
Hurl destruction on mankind?






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