AEGINASSOS
THE ISLES OF GREECE
The isles of Greece! The isles of Greece!
Where burning Sappho loved and sung,—
Where grew the arts of war and peace,—
Where Delos rose and Phœbus sprung!
Eternal summer gilds them yet
But all, except their sun, is set.
Byron.
THE ODYSSEY
As one that for a weary space has lain
Lull'd by the song of Circe and her wine
In gardens near the pale of Proserpine,
Where the Ægean isle forgets the main,
And only the low lutes of love complain,
And only shadows of wan lovers pine,—
As such an one were glad to know the brine
Salt on his lips, and the large air again,—
So gladly from the songs of modern speech
Men turn, and see the stars, and feel the free
Shrill wind beyond the close of heavy flowers,
And through the music of the languid hours
They hear, like Ocean on a western beach,
The surge and thunder of the Odyssey.
Andrew Lang.
XXIII
Aeginassos
The Temple and the Forum
ULYSSES