THEOGONY: ZEUS AND THE TITANS by HESIOD

THEN Zeus no longer held back his power. On the height
his heart was swarming with fury, and all his might
he uttered forth. From Heaven and Olympus he swung,
tossing his lightning-darts. The bolts he flung
were fierce with thunder and lightning, and thickly they came
out of his strong right hand with a sacred flame
rolling: the life-giving earth with a shudder of sound
took fire, and measureless forest crackled around.
All land was seething and heaving, and Ocean-stream,
and the barren sea. Lapped round with a fiery steam
stood the earthborn Titans. Numberless flames were blown
to the brightening aether. Glare of the thunderstone
and lightning blinded the eyes of the strongest there.
A marvellous heat grasped Chaos. Everywhere
tumult burst on the ear and smote on the eye,
till Earth seemed wrestling for life with the broad-backed sky
collapsing. Loud was the fall of the thunderbolt blasting,
as if Earth to the pit was cast and the Heavens were casting.
Such was the shock of the gods when they met embattled,
while winds brought storms of dust and the earth rattled,
while winds swept lightning and lurid bolts through the skies,
the shafts of almighty Zeus, with clatter and cries
tossed to the midmost air, as the battle-field
rang without end, and the might of their hands was revealed.
The battle broke: till then they grappled and tore,
still merged in war's remorseless scrimmage and roar.
Cottus, Briareus, and Gyes bore the brunt,
unquenchable fighters, they raised fierce war in the front,
hundreds of stones in thick shower with strong hands they hurled;
and the Titans stood under the shower in a darkening world
and beneath the wide-wayed earth they were all of them cast
and bound in grievous chains imprisoned at last,
for despite their great spirits the strength of the others prevailed.

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...