Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TRACHINIAE: DEIANTRA'S WOOING; CHORUS, by SOPHOCLES Poet's Biography First Line: Great and strong is the cyprian alway to win her Last Line: Suddenly she is gone from her mother, like a heifer left alone. Subject(s): Courtship | ||||||||
CHORUS GREAT and strong is the Cyprian alway to win her will. I pass the doings of the gods, I tell not how she beguiled the Son of Cronos and nocturnal Hades and Poseidon, Shaker of the Earth; but when this bride was to be won, what far- reaching arms spread out to possess her, what beings went forth to that ordeal of battle -- blows everywhere, and everywhere blinding dust? Here the strength of a River, towering horns, crashing hooves, and a vision of a Bull, Achelous from OEniadae; and there the Zeus-begotten from Bacchic Thebes, bent bow and spear and club sweeping the air. Crashing they met together, mad for a bride; and none save the couched Cyprian was near, holding her wand above them. Thud of fists and rush of arrows and crash of wild-bull horns in confusion; close-wound grapples and deadly shocks of brow on brow and groaning from both; while a girl tender and sweet-faced sate on the side of a wide-looking hill, awaiting the master that should be hers. I speak as one that hath borne a child. The bride's face for which they rage waits piteous-eyed for the end; and suddenly she is gone from her mother, like a heifer left alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AS YOU WALK OUT ONE MORNING by GLYN MAXWELL TALE OF THE MAYOR'S SON by GLYN MAXWELL THE RIVALS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MARJORIE'S WOOING by EMMA LAZARUS THE FORTUNATE SPILL by MARILYN NELSON REQUEST TO LEDA by DYLAN THOMAS OEDIPUS AT COLONUS: OLD AGE by SOPHOCLES |
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