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HOMERIC HYMN: TO DIONYSUS, by                    
First Line: "I sing of dionysus, an old story"
Last Line: Sweet song run truly who thy name forsakes


I SING of Dionysus, an old story, --
How showed the son of noble Semele
Like a young lad, beside a promontory
Where ran the breakers of the barren sea.
With mop of floating hair, an ebon glory,
And purple cloak on shoulders broad went he,
When pirates drove their gallant ship in sight,
Over the wine-dark waters running light.

Tuscans they were, by evil fortune guided.
With nods consenting, quickly on the beach
They leapt, and stole him, and his worth decided, --
'A son of kings,' they gloried, each to each,
'One born to fatness by the Lord provided.'
Unkindly then to tie his limbs they reach,
But all in vain they fasten legs and hands;
Far off, by magic, fall their withy-bands.

He sat with laughter in his sloe-black eyes.
The helmsman seeing, cries 'Poor fools, let go.
What god, what mighty one, make you your prize?
Shipmates, there's one aboard no ship can stow.
Yonder is Zeus himself, as I surmise,
Or lord Apollo of the silver bow,
Or else Poseidon. His no mortal station;
A god he seems, of heavenly habitation.

'Come, on the dark mainland with no delays
We'll set him, if your helmsman may prevail.
Unhand him, mates, lest he in anger raise
Strong winds upon us and call up a gale.'
He ceased. Then spitefully the captain says:
'Look to the wind, fool! Help me hoist the sail,
And catch the sheets together. As for him,
This is no matter for your woman's whim --

'To Egypt sailing, (if the cruise fulfil
My present hope,) or Cyprus, or the ends
Of the far North, or on, and farther still,
He shall speak out at last, and name his friends,
His wealth and brothers. For by god's good will
The man's our prisoner.' Up the mast he sends,
And hoists the sail. The canvas bellying goes.
The crew pull both sheets tight, and wring them close.

The dark ship ran. And what bedevilment
About her decks appeared! First, wine abounding
With fragrance paradisal wimpling went,
A stream delicious, every eye astounding;
Then sprung a vine, with swaying clusters bent,
This way and that the square-sail top surrounding;
Dark ivy bloomed, and rich with berries clung
About the mast; the tholes were garland-hung.

Too late, too late they bid the helmsman shore her,
For now the god, in lion's fearful shape
Bestrides the fo'c'sle-top, a lusty roarer,
Then makes amidships, murderously agape
A rough-necked bear, her ramping claws before her,
While he from fore-peak scowls. To find escape
They ring their prudent helmsman, in a daze;
But the god leaps, and on the captain preys.

Into the bright sea tumble all the rest
To fly that fate, and dolphins there become.
The helmsman Dionysus saved, and blest,
Saying, 'Take courage, noble sir, in whom
My heart delights! And know, you are addrest
By Dionysus, loud and frolicsome,
Whom Semele, the child of Kadmos (won
By Zeus in love consenting) had for son.'

Hail, son of loveliest Semele! None makes
Sweet song run truly who thy name forsakes.





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