Читать книгу XXXII Ballades in Blue China [1885] - Lang Andrew, May Kendall - Страница 11

The man whom once, Melpomene,

Thou look’st on with benignant sight,

Shall never at the Isthmus be

A boxer eminent in fight,

Nor fares he foremost in the flight

Of Grecian cars to victory,

Nor goes with Delian laurels dight,

The man thou lov’st, Melpomene!

Not him the Capitol shall see,

As who hath crush’d the threats and might

Of monarchs, march triumphantly;

But Fame shall crown him, in his right

Of all the Roman lyre that smite

The first; so woods of Tivoli

Proclaim him, so her waters bright,

The man thou lov’st, Melpomene!

The sons of queenly Rome count me,

Me too, with them whose chants delight, —

The poets’ kindly company;

Now broken is the tooth of spite,

But thou, that temperest aright

The golden lyre, all, all to thee

He owes – life, fame, and fortune’s height —

The man thou lov’st, Melpomene!

Queen, that to mute lips could’st unite

The wild swan’s dying melody!

Thy gifts, ah! how shall he requite —

The man thou lov’st, Melpomene?