Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ATHENS, by JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748)


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ATHENS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of softer genius, but not less intent
Last Line: As with an anchor fixed the driving state.
Subject(s): Athens, Greece


OF softer genius, but not less intent
To seize the palm of empire, Athens rose.
Where, with bright marbles big and future pomp,
Hymettus spread, amid the scented sky,
His thymy treasures to the laboring bee,
And to botanic hand the stores of health;
Wrapt in a soul-attenuating clime,
Between Ilissus and Cephissus glowed
This hive of science, shedding sweets divine,
Of active arts, and animated arms.
There, passionate for me, an easy-moved,
A quick, refined, a delicate, humane,
Enlightened people reigned. Oft on the brink
Of ruin, hurried by the charm of speech,
Inforcing hasty counsel immature,
Tottered the rash Democracy; unpoised,
And by the rage devoured, that ever tears
A populace unequal; part too rich,
And part or fierce with want or abject grown.
Solon at last, their mild restorer, rose:
Allayed the tempest; to the calm of laws
Reduced the settling whole; and, with the weight
Which the two senates to the public lent,
As with an anchor fixed the driving state.





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