Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GREEK DEAD AT THERMOPLYLAE, by SIMONIDES OF CEOS



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GREEK DEAD AT THERMOPLYLAE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Great are the fallen of thermopylae
Last Line: From age to age.
Alternate Author Name(s): Simonides Of Keos
Subject(s): Thermopylae, Battle Of


GREAT are the fallen of Thermopylae,
Nobly they ended, high their destination --
Beneath an altar laid, no more a tomb,
Where none with pity comes or lamentation,
But praise and memory --
A splendour of oblation
No rust shall blot nor wreckful Time consume.

The ground is holy: here the brave are resting,
And here Greek Honour keeps her chosen shrine.
Here too is one the worth of all attesting --
Leonidas, of Sparta's royal line,
Who left behind a gem-like heritage
Of courage and renown,
A name that shall go down
From age to age.





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