TO HELEN.
Man's very voice is stilled on Troas' shore,
Sweet Xanthus and Simois both are mute,
Thus have the gods ordained forevermore!
Springs the rank weed where bloomed the rose before,
Unplucked on Ida hangs the purple fruit,
Man's very voice is stilled on Troas' shore.
When heavenly walls towered proud and high of yore,
Unharmed now strays abroad the savage brute,
Thus have the gods ordained forevermore!
And they, the wronged, that wasting sorrow bore,
Alas! their tree hath withered to the root,
Man's very voice is stilled on Troas' shore.
In Lacedæmon, loved of heroes hoar,
No trumpet sounds, but piping shepherd's flute,
Thus have the gods ordained forevermore!
And thou, the cause, through Aphrodites lore,
Unblamed, art praised on poet's lyre and lute—
Man's very voice is stilled on Troas' shore.
Thus have the gods ordained forevermore!
Clinton Scollard.