Speaker 1: Book one two, The Battle of Marathon by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recorded by Nathan at Antibidian writer
Speaker 1: dot WordPress dot com. The Battle of Marathon by Elizabeth
Speaker 1: Barrett Browning, Book one, The War of Greece with Irsia's
Speaker 1: haughty thing, no vulgar strain, eternal Goddess sing, What dreary
Speaker 1: ghosts to glutted Pluto fled? What nations suffered? And what
Speaker 1: heroes fled? Sing? Asia's powerful prince, who envious saw the
Speaker 1: fame of Athens and her might in war, and scorns
Speaker 1: her power at Setheria's call her ruin plans and meditates
Speaker 1: her fall our Athens, blinded to the approaching chains by
Speaker 1: Vulcan's art for spouse, unmoved, remains deceived by Venus. Thus,
Speaker 1: unconquered Greece forgot her glories in the lap of Es,
Speaker 1: while Asia's realms and Asia's lord prepared to ensnare her
Speaker 1: freedom by the wiles of war. Paulst exot upon the
Speaker 1: Athenian throne, where once as a Stratus is father shone
Speaker 1: for yet her son Aeneas wrongs in part revenge and
Speaker 1: grief to Scythia's art, and still from smoking troys once
Speaker 1: sacred wall does Priam's reeking shade for vengeance. Call Minerva saw,
Speaker 1: and Athia's queen defied a boon. She begged nor jove
Speaker 1: the boon denied that Greece should rise triumphant or her foe,
Speaker 1: disarm the invaders and their power overthrow. Her prayer obtained,
Speaker 1: The blue eyed goddess flies as the fierce eagle through
Speaker 1: the radiant skies to Aristides. Then she stood, confessed, shows
Speaker 1: Persia's arts and fires his warlike breast, then pours celestial
Speaker 1: ardor over his frame and points the way to glory
Speaker 1: and to fame. Or struck the chief and swells his
Speaker 1: troubled soul. In pride and wonder Thought's progressive role, he
Speaker 1: inly groaned and spoke his laboring breast at once by
Speaker 1: Paulus and by care, oppressed, Inspired, he moved earth, echoed,
Speaker 1: where he trod all full of heaven or burning with
Speaker 1: the god. The Athenians viewed with all the mighty man
Speaker 1: to whom the chief impassioned thus began here all year,
Speaker 1: sons of Greece, friends, fathers. Here the gods command it,
Speaker 1: and the gods revere no madness mine for mark, Oh
Speaker 1: favored Greeks, that by my mouth the martial Goddess speaks this,
Speaker 1: No Athenians, that proud Persia now prepares to twine thy
Speaker 1: laurels on her brow. Behold the princely chiefs, their weapons
Speaker 1: wield by venus, fired and shake the brazen shield. I
Speaker 1: hear their shouts that echo to the skies. I see
Speaker 1: their lancers blaze, their banners rise. I hear the clash
Speaker 1: of arms, the battles roar, and all the din and
Speaker 1: thunder of the wall. I know that Greeks shall purchase
Speaker 1: just renown and fame impartial. Shall Athena crown. Then, Greeks,
Speaker 1: prepare your arms, award the yoke. Thus Jove commands sublime
Speaker 1: the hero spoke. The Greeks assent with shouts, and rend
Speaker 1: the skies with martial clamor and tumultuous cries. So struggling winds,
Speaker 1: with rage, indignant sweep the azure waters of the silent deep.
Speaker 1: Sudden the seas, rebellowing, rightful, rise and dash their foaming
Speaker 1: surges to the skies, burst the firm sand and boil
Speaker 1: with dreadful roar, lift bare black waves, and combat with
Speaker 1: the shore. So each brave Greek in thought aspires to fame,
Speaker 1: Stung by his words and dread of future shame, Glory's
Speaker 1: own fires within their bosom, rise and shouts tumultuous thunder
Speaker 1: to the skies. But loves celestial queen resentful sore the Greeks,
Speaker 1: by Paulus warned, prepare for or the indignant goddess of
Speaker 1: the Pathian our deceives the mostercles with heavenly hour. The
Speaker 1: hero rising, spoke, oh, rashly blind, what sudden fury us
Speaker 1: has seized thy mind? Boy, as thou art such empty dreams,
Speaker 1: Beware shall we for griefs and wars unsought? Prepare the
Speaker 1: will of mighty Jove, whatever it be, obey and own
Speaker 1: the inipotent decree. If our disgrace and fall the fates
Speaker 1: employ why did we triumph over perfidious Troy? Why say
Speaker 1: o chief? In that event? For our did Brecian heroes
Speaker 1: crush Dardanian power? Him eyeing sternly. Thus the Greek replies,
Speaker 1: renowned the truth, and as Minerva wise o Son of Greece.
Speaker 1: No heedless boy, am I despised in battles, toils, nor
Speaker 1: first to fly, nor dreams or frenzy call my words
Speaker 1: astray the heaven sent mandate, pious I obey. If allus
Speaker 1: did not all my words inspire, may Heaven pursue me
Speaker 1: with unceasing ire. But if Oh grant my prayer, Almighty Jove,
Speaker 1: I bear a mandate from the courts above, Then through
Speaker 1: Yon Heaven, let awful thunder roar till Greeks believe my
Speaker 1: mission and adore he ceased. And through the host one
Speaker 1: murmur ran with eyes transfixed upon the god like man.
Speaker 1: But hark over Earth expands the solemn sound, It lengthening, grows.
Speaker 1: Heaven's azure vaults resound, while peals of thunder beat the
Speaker 1: echoing ground. Prostrate convinced divine, the Mostercles embraced the hero's
Speaker 1: hands and clasp'd his knees. Behold me here, the awe
Speaker 1: struck chieftain cries, while tears repentant glisten in his eyes.
Speaker 1: Behold me here, Thy friendship, too entreat The Mostercles are
Speaker 1: suppliant at thy feet before no haughty despots, Royal throne.
Speaker 1: This knee has bent. It bends to thee alone thy
Speaker 1: mission to adore thy truth to own. Behold me jove
Speaker 1: and witness. I swear by all on earth, I love
Speaker 1: by all in heaven. I fear some thinged inspired my
Speaker 1: words of dark design. Some fiend concealed beneath a robe
Speaker 1: divine then aid me in my prayer. Yet God's above
Speaker 1: bid aristides, give me back this love. He spake and
Speaker 1: wept benign. The god like man felt tears, descend and paused.
Speaker 1: Then thus began thrice worthy Greek. For this shall we contend,
Speaker 1: ah No, I feel thy worth, Thou more than friend,
Speaker 1: pardon sincere the moster cles receive. The heart declares tis
Speaker 1: easy to forgive. He spake, divine, his eye with allus burns.
Speaker 1: He spoke and side and side, and wept by turn
Speaker 1: thans the mostocles beheld. The chief oppressed or struck. He paused,
Speaker 1: then rushed upon his breast, whom sage nultiades with joy addressed,
Speaker 1: Hero of Greece, worthy, a hero's name adored by Athen's
Speaker 1: favorite child of fame. Laurie's own spirit does with truth
Speaker 1: combine to form a soul. So God like so, Divine,
Speaker 1: O aristides, rise our chief to save the fame the
Speaker 1: might of Athens from the grave. Nor then refuse thy
Speaker 1: noble arm to lend to guard Athena and the state
Speaker 1: defend first, I obedient, customed homage, pay to own a
Speaker 1: hero's and a leader's sway, he said, and would have
Speaker 1: helped the man. Divine perceived his will and stayed the
Speaker 1: sire's design. Not mine, o sage, to lead this gallant band,
Speaker 1: he generous said, and grasped his aided and proud as
Speaker 1: I am in Glory's arms, to rise Athenian Greeks to
Speaker 1: shield your liberties. Yet tis not mine to lead your
Speaker 1: powerful state. Enough it is to tempt you to be great.
Speaker 1: Be it for Miltiades, experienced sage, to curb your ardor
Speaker 1: and restrain your rage, your souls to temper by his skill,
Speaker 1: prepare to succor Athens and conduct the war. More fits
Speaker 1: my early youth to purchase fame by deeds in arms,
Speaker 1: to immortalize my name. Firmly spake his words the Greek inspire,
Speaker 1: and all were hushed to listen and admire the sage,
Speaker 1: thus most allied to God's the fame, the pride the
Speaker 1: glory of the Grecian name, even by thee chief I
Speaker 1: swear to whom is given the sacred mandate of yon
Speaker 1: marble heaven to lead, not undeserving of thy love, to
Speaker 1: avert the yoke, if so determines Jove, amidst the host,
Speaker 1: imagination rose and paints the combat, but disdains the woes,
Speaker 1: And heaven born fancy with disheveled air points to the
Speaker 1: ensanguined field and victory there. But soon, too soon, these
Speaker 1: empty dreams are driven forth from their breasts. But soothing
Speaker 1: hope is given, and hope sprung from Jove. Man's soul
Speaker 1: and envied heaven. Then all his glory are as didies
Speaker 1: felt and begged the Chieftain's blessing. As he knelt nil
Speaker 1: tired is his pious arms out spread, called Jove's high
Speaker 1: spirit on the hero's head, nor called unheard sublime. In
Speaker 1: upper air, the bird of Jove appeared to bless his prayer.
Speaker 1: Lightning he breathed, not harsh, not fiercely bright, but one
Speaker 1: pure stream of heaven collected light. Jove's sacred smile lulls
Speaker 1: every care to rest, calms every woe, and gladdens every breast.
Speaker 1: But what shrill blast thus bursts upon the ear? What
Speaker 1: banners rise, what herald's forms appear? That aught he mean?
Speaker 1: And that commanding face bespeak them Persians and of noble race,
Speaker 1: one on whose hand Darius Signet beamed superior to the rest,
Speaker 1: A leader seemed with brow contracted and with flashing eye,
Speaker 1: thus threatening spoke in scornful majesty. No Greeks, that I
Speaker 1: a sacred herald, bring the awful mandate of the Persian
Speaker 1: king to force allegiance from the sons of Greece. Then
Speaker 1: earth and water give nor scorn his peace, or if
Speaker 1: for homage back reproof I bear to meet his wrath
Speaker 1: is vengeful wrath, prepare for not in vain is scorn
Speaker 1: his dread command. When Asias might comes thundering in his
Speaker 1: heart to whom miltiades with kindling eye, we scorn Varus
Speaker 1: and his threats defy, and now, proud herald, shall we
Speaker 1: stoop to shame? Shall Athens tremble at a tyrant's name?
Speaker 1: Persian away such idle dreams forbear, and shun our anger
Speaker 1: and our vengeance. Fear, Oh vain thy words, the herald
Speaker 1: Fearce began thrice, vain, thy dotaged words, Oh powerless man,
Speaker 1: sons of a desert, hoping to withstand all the joint
Speaker 1: forces of Darius's hand, fools, fools, the king of millions,
Speaker 1: to defy for Freedom's empty name, to ask to die,
Speaker 1: Yet stay till Persia's powers their banners rear. Then shall
Speaker 1: ye learn our forces to revere, And ye, oh impotent,
Speaker 1: shall dine to fear to whom great aristides rising ire
Speaker 1: boiled in his breast and set his soul on fire,
Speaker 1: O wretch accursed, the hero cried to seek to insult
Speaker 1: experienced age, to insult a Greek inglorious slave, whom truth
Speaker 1: and Heaven deny. Unfit to live, yet more unfit to die,
Speaker 1: but trained to pass the goblet at the board, and
Speaker 1: servile kiss the footsteps of thy lord, whose wretched life
Speaker 1: no glorious deeds beguile, who lives upon the semblance of
Speaker 1: a smile, die thy base shade to gloomy regions fled
Speaker 1: join there the shivering phantoms of the dead base slave
Speaker 1: return to dust. His victim. Then, in fearful accents, cried,
Speaker 1: O best of men, most loved, of God's most merciful,
Speaker 1: most just behold me, humbled groveling in the dust. Not
Speaker 1: mine the offense the mandate stern I bring from Great Darius,
Speaker 1: Asia's tyrant king, Oh, strike not chief, not mine the guilt,
Speaker 1: not mine, Ah over those brows, severe, Let mercy shine
Speaker 1: so dear to heaven of origin, divine tributes, Land's gold,
Speaker 1: shall wealthy Persia give all and yet more, But bid
Speaker 1: me wretched live. He trembling, thus persuades with fond entreat
Speaker 1: and nearer breast and clasped the hero's feet. Forth from
Speaker 1: the Grecian's breast, all rage is driven. He lifts his arms,
Speaker 1: his eyes, his soul to heaven. Here Jove, omnipotent or
Speaker 1: wise or great, to whom all fate is known. Whose
Speaker 1: will is fate? Here thou all seeing one, Here, Sire, Divine,
Speaker 1: teach me I will, and be thy wisdom mine. Behold
Speaker 1: this suppliant life or death. Decree be thine the judgment,
Speaker 1: For I bend to thee. And thus the sigh of
Speaker 1: gods and men replies, While pealing thunder shakes the groaning skies.
Speaker 1: The awful voice through spheres unknown was driven resounding through
Speaker 1: the darkening realms of heaven, aloft in air sublime, the
Speaker 1: echo road and earth resounds, the glory of the god,
Speaker 1: son of Athena. Let the coward die and his pale
Speaker 1: ghost to Pluto's empire. Fly, Son of Athena, our command, obey,
Speaker 1: know thou our might, and then adore our sway, You
Speaker 1: almighty spake the Heaven's convulsive start from the black clouds,
Speaker 1: the whizzing lightning start, and dreadful dance along the troubled sky.
Speaker 1: Struggling with fate in awful mystery, the hero heard, and Jove,
Speaker 1: his breast inspired, nor now by pity touched, but anger fired,
Speaker 1: while his big heart within his bosom burns off from
Speaker 1: his speet. The clinging slave he spurns. Vain were his cries,
Speaker 1: his prayers against fate above Jove wills his fall. And
Speaker 1: who can strive with Jove to whom the hero Hence
Speaker 1: to Pluto's sway, to realms of night never lit by
Speaker 1: Cynthia's ray. Hence from yon golf, the earth and water
Speaker 1: brim and crown with victory, your mighty king, he said,
Speaker 1: And where the golf of death appeared, where raging waves
Speaker 1: with rocks sublimely reared. He hurled the wretch at once
Speaker 1: of hope, bereaved, struggling, he fell, the roaring flood received
Speaker 1: even now for life. His shrieks, his groans implore, And
Speaker 1: now death's latent agony is or he struggling sinks and
Speaker 1: sinks to rise no more. The train, amazed, behold their
Speaker 1: herald die and grease in arms. They tremble, and they
Speaker 1: fly so some they're herd upon the verdant need see
Speaker 1: by the lions jaws their foremost bleed. Fearful they fly
Speaker 1: lest what revolving fate had doomed their leader should themselves await.
Speaker 1: Then shouts of glorious war and fame resound. Athena's brazen
Speaker 1: gates receive the lofty sound. But she whom Pathia's radiant
Speaker 1: climbs adore from her own bower the work of Paulus
Speaker 1: saw tumultuous thoughts within her bosom rise. She calls her car,
Speaker 1: and at her will it flies, The eternal car with
Speaker 1: gold celestial burns its poly wish will on brazen Axel
Speaker 1: terms this to his spouse. By Vulcan's self was given
Speaker 1: an offering worthy of the forge of heaven. The goddess
Speaker 1: mounts the seat and seized the reins. The doves celestial
Speaker 1: cut the ethereal planes before the sacred birds, and car
Speaker 1: of gold self moved. The radiant gates of Heaven unfold.
Speaker 1: She then dismounts. And thus the Mighty Jove begins, the
Speaker 1: Mother and the Queen of Love. And is it thus,
Speaker 1: o sire, that fraud should spring from the pure breast
Speaker 1: of Heaven's eternal king? Was it for this? Saturnius? Word
Speaker 1: was given that Greece should fall among nations cursed of heaven?
Speaker 1: Thou swore by Hell's black flood and Heaven above? Is this,
Speaker 1: O say? Is this the faith of Jove? Behold stern
Speaker 1: Paulus athens Son's alarms. Darius herald crushed the Greece in arms.
Speaker 1: Even now behold her crested streamers fly each Greek resolved
Speaker 1: to triumph or to die? Are the unhappy? When shall
Speaker 1: sorrow cease? To well? I know the fatal might of Greece?
Speaker 1: Was it not enough? Imperial troy should fall? That argive
Speaker 1: hands should raise the god built wall? Was it not enough?
Speaker 1: And Kes's son should roam far from his native shore
Speaker 1: and much loved home? Or this, unconscious of thy fraud,
Speaker 1: I bore for thou o Siah, to allay my vengeance.
Speaker 1: Swore that Athens, towering in her might, should fall, and
Speaker 1: Rome should triumph on her prostrate wall. But oh, if
Speaker 1: haughty Greece should captive, bring the Great Darius, Persia's mighty king,
Speaker 1: What power her pride, what power her might shall move?
Speaker 1: Not even the thunderer, not eternal jove, even to thy
Speaker 1: heaven shall rise the towering fame, and prostrate nations will
Speaker 1: adore her name rather on me, thy instant vengeance take,
Speaker 1: Then all should fall for Sitheria's sake. Oh, hurl me
Speaker 1: flaming in the burning like transfixed me there unknown to
Speaker 1: Olympian calm, Launch thy red bolt, and bear thy crimson arm.
Speaker 1: I'd suffer all more. Bid my woes increase to hear,
Speaker 1: but one sad groan from haughty grease. She thus her
Speaker 1: grief with fruitless rage expressed, and pride and anger swelled
Speaker 1: within her breast. But he whose thunder or the troubled sky,
Speaker 1: thus mournful spake and curbed the rising sigh. And it
Speaker 1: is thus celestial pleasures flow even here shall sorrow reach,
Speaker 1: and mortal woe shall strife. The heavenly powers forever move
Speaker 1: and even insult the sacred ear of Jove. No O
Speaker 1: rebellious Greece shall rise sublime in fame the first nor
Speaker 1: daughter mine the crime in valor foremost, and in virtue.
Speaker 1: Great Lame's highest glories shall attend her state. So fate ordaines,
Speaker 1: nor all my boasted power can raise those virtues or
Speaker 1: those glories lower but rest secure. Destroying time must come,
Speaker 1: and Athen's self must own Imperial Rome. Then the great thunderer,
Speaker 1: and with visage mild shook his ambrosial curls before his child,
Speaker 1: and bending awful, gave the eternal nod. Heaven quaked, and
Speaker 1: Fate adored the parent God joy seized the Goddess of
Speaker 1: the smiles, and loves no longer care her heavenly bosom moves,
Speaker 1: Hope rose and over her soul, its powers displayed nor
Speaker 1: checked by sorrow, nor by grief dismayed. She Thus, o, Thou,
Speaker 1: whose awful thunders, roll through Heaven's ethereal vaults, and shake
Speaker 1: the pole eternal sire, so wonderfully great, to whom is
Speaker 1: known the secret age of Fate, say, shall great Persia
Speaker 1: next to Rome, most dear to Venus breast shall Persia
Speaker 1: learn to fear. Say, shall her fame and princely glories cease?
Speaker 1: Shall Persia servile own the sway of Greece, to whom
Speaker 1: the thunderer bent his brow Divine and thus in accents,
Speaker 1: heavenly and benign daughter not mine the secrets to relate
Speaker 1: the mysteries of all revolving fate. But he is thy
Speaker 1: breast enough for thee to know what powerful fate decrees
Speaker 1: will Jove bestow. He then her griefs and anxious woes beguiled,
Speaker 1: and in his sacred arms embraced his child. Doubt clouds
Speaker 1: the goddess breast. She calls her car and lightly sweeps
Speaker 1: the liquid fields of air. When sable night midst silent
Speaker 1: nature springs, and over Athena shakes her drowsy wings. The
Speaker 1: Pathian Goddess from Olympus flies and leaves the starry senate
Speaker 1: of the skies to Athens, heaven blessed towers. The Queen
Speaker 1: repairs to raise more sufferings and cause more cares. The
Speaker 1: Pillion's age she moved, so loved by fame, in face,
Speaker 1: in wisdom, and in voice the same twelve chiefs. In sleep,
Speaker 1: absorbed and grateful rest she first beheld, and them she
Speaker 1: thus addressed, immortal chiefs. The fraudful goddess cries, while all
Speaker 1: the hero kindled in her eyes for you, these aged
Speaker 1: arms did I employ for you. We raised the sacred
Speaker 1: walls of Troy, And now for you, my shivering shade
Speaker 1: is driven from Pluto's dreary realms by urgent heaven. Then oh,
Speaker 1: be wise, nor tempt the unequal fight in open fields,
Speaker 1: but weight superior might within immortal athens sacred wall, their strife,
Speaker 1: their triumph, or their fear to fall to own. The
Speaker 1: thunderers sway, Then Greeks prepare the nign she said, and
Speaker 1: melted into air. End of book one. Recorded by Nathan
Speaker 1: at antipidean writer dot WordPress dot com. Book two of
Speaker 1: the Battle of Marathon by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This librovox
Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Recorded by Nathan at
Speaker 1: Antipodean Writer dot WordPress dot com. The Battle of Marathon
Speaker 1: by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Book two. When from the briny
Speaker 1: deep the orient Morn exalts her purple light and beams unshorn,
Speaker 1: And when the flaming orb of infant day glares over
Speaker 1: the earth and re illums the sky, the twelve deceived,
Speaker 1: with souls on fire, arose, while the false vision, fresh
Speaker 1: in memory, clowse the Senate. First they sought, whose lofty
Speaker 1: wall midst Athens rises and overshadows, or the pride of
Speaker 1: Greece it lifts its front, sublime, unbent amidst the ravages
Speaker 1: of time. By on their towering seats, the heroes found
Speaker 1: the chiefs of Athens, solemn ranged around one of the twelve,
Speaker 1: the great Plon Brotus, then renowned for piety and loved
Speaker 1: by men, assembled heroes, chiefs to Pallace, deer or great
Speaker 1: in battle and in virtue. Here when night, with sable
Speaker 1: wings extend, rose and wrapped our weary limbs in sweet repose,
Speaker 1: I and my friends Saidoon famed in song, fell on
Speaker 1: the valiant Heracles, the strong Cleon and Thermos cities in
Speaker 1: battle great by Paulus, loved and blessed by partial fate
Speaker 1: to us and other six. While they toils steep our
Speaker 1: eyes in happy dreams and grateful sleep. The Pillion Sage appeared,
Speaker 1: but not as when on Troy's last dust he stood
Speaker 1: the pride of men driven from the shore of Acoron
Speaker 1: he came from lower realms to point the path to fame.
Speaker 1: O glorious chiefs, the sacred hero said, for you and
Speaker 1: for your fame, all Troy has bled hither for you.
Speaker 1: My shivering shade is driven from Pluto's dreary realms by
Speaker 1: urgent Heaven. Then, oh, be wise, nor tempt the unequal
Speaker 1: fight in open field, but weight superior might within immortal
Speaker 1: Athen's sacred war, their strive, their triumph, nor their fear
Speaker 1: to fall, to own the thunderer's sway. Then Greeks prepare benomen,
Speaker 1: he said, and melted into air. Leave us not, Thus,
Speaker 1: I cried, O pilliant Sage, experienced nestor famed for reverend Age, say, first,
Speaker 1: great Hero, shall the trump of fame our glory publish
Speaker 1: or disclose our shame? Oh? What are Athen's fates? In vain?
Speaker 1: I said? Even as I spoke, a shadowy chief had fled.
Speaker 1: Then here we flew to own the visions, sway and
Speaker 1: Heaven's decrees, to adore and to obey. He Thus, and
Speaker 1: as before the blackened skies sound the horse breezes, murmuring
Speaker 1: as they rise. So through the assembled Greeks, one murmur rose,
Speaker 1: one long, dull echo lengthening as it goes. Then all
Speaker 1: was hushed in silence, breathless or oppressed, each tongue and
Speaker 1: trembling they adore. But now, up rising from the astonished chiefs,
Speaker 1: divine Miltiades exposed his griefs. For well, the godlike warrior
Speaker 1: Sage had seen the frauds deceitful of the Pathian we,
Speaker 1: and feared a Greece, a Greece to whom is given
Speaker 1: eternal fame, the purest gift of heaven. And yet he
Speaker 1: feared the pious hero rose majestic in his sufferings, in
Speaker 1: his woes, grief clammed his tongue. But soon his spirit
Speaker 1: work words burst aloft, and all the patriot spoke, Oh, Athens, Athens,
Speaker 1: all the snares I view. Thus shalt thou fall and
Speaker 1: fall in glorious too? Are all thy boasted dignities? No
Speaker 1: more is all thy might and all thy glories? Or Oh,
Speaker 1: woe on woe, unutterable grief. Not Nestor's shade, that cursed
Speaker 1: phantom chief. But in that reverend air, that lofty mien,
Speaker 1: behold the frauds of Love's revengeful queen. Not yet her
Speaker 1: thoughts does vengeance cease to employ her son Aeneas wrongs
Speaker 1: and burning Troy, not yet forgotten lie within her breast,
Speaker 1: nor soothed by time, nor by despair. Depressed Greeks still
Speaker 1: extolled by glory and by fame. The yet o chiefs
Speaker 1: ye bear a Grecian name. If in these walls, these
Speaker 1: sacred walls, we wait the might of Persia and the
Speaker 1: will of fate. Before superior force will Athens fall, and
Speaker 1: one overwhelming ruin bury all. Then in the open plane,
Speaker 1: your might, essay, rush on to battle, crush Darius sway
Speaker 1: the frauds of Venus. Warrior Greeks, beware, disdain the Persian foes,
Speaker 1: nor stoop to fear. This said Plombrotus, him indignant bird,
Speaker 1: nor felt his wisdom nor his wrath. He feared with
Speaker 1: rage the chief, the god like sage beheld, and passion
Speaker 1: in his stubborn soul rebelled thrice impious man, the infurit
Speaker 1: chieftain cries, flames black and fearful, flashing from his eyes.
Speaker 1: Where lies your spirit, Greeks? And can ye bow to
Speaker 1: this proud upstart of your power? So lo, what does
Speaker 1: his aspect? Or ye in his eye so full of
Speaker 1: haughtiness and majesty. Behold the empires soul that dares defy
Speaker 1: the power of God's and sovereign of the sky. And
Speaker 1: can your hands no sacred weapon wield to crush the
Speaker 1: tyrant and your country shield on Greeks, your sons, your homes,
Speaker 1: your country, free from such usurping chiefs and tyranny, he said,
Speaker 1: and grasped his weapon. At his words, Beneath the horizon
Speaker 1: gleamed ten thousand swords, ten thousand swords, even in one instant,
Speaker 1: raised sublime, they danced aloft and midst the Senate blazed,
Speaker 1: nor wisdom checked, nor gratitude repressed. They rose and flashed
Speaker 1: before the Sage's breast, with pride undaunted, greatness, unsubdued against
Speaker 1: him in arms the impetuous Greeks he viewed, unarmed, unawed,
Speaker 1: before the inferior bands, nor begged for life stretched his
Speaker 1: suppliant hands. He stood astounded, riveted, oppressed by grief unspeakable,
Speaker 1: which swelled his breast, life feeling being sense forgotten, lie
Speaker 1: buried in one wide waste of misery? Can this be
Speaker 1: athens this their Senate's pride? He asked? But gratitude was
Speaker 1: this denied, though Europe's homage at his feet were hurled.
Speaker 1: Athens forsakes him. Athens was his world unutterable woe by
Speaker 1: anguish stung or his full soul rushed even to his tongue,
Speaker 1: and thoughts of power, of fame, of greatness. Or he
Speaker 1: cried Athenians, and he could no more awed by that
Speaker 1: voice of agony. That word hushed were the Greeks, and
Speaker 1: sheaft the obedient sword, they stood abashed to them, the
Speaker 1: ancient chief began, and thus relieved his swelling grief. Athenians,
Speaker 1: warrior Greeks, My words revere strike me, but listen, bid
Speaker 1: me die, but here here not plum Brotus when he
Speaker 1: bids you wait at Athens walls, Darius and your fate.
Speaker 1: I feel that Paulus self, my soul inspires, my mind,
Speaker 1: she strengthens, and my bosom fires strike Greeks, but hear
Speaker 1: me think not to this heart yond thirsty swords, one
Speaker 1: breath of fear in part such slavish, low born thoughts
Speaker 1: to Greeks unknown, A Persian feels and cherishes alone. Hear
Speaker 1: me Athenians, hear me, and believe see Greece mistaken even
Speaker 1: the gods deceive, But fate yet waivers. Yet, may wisdom
Speaker 1: move these threatening woes and thwart the queen of love.
Speaker 1: Obey my counsels and invoke for aid. The cloud compelling
Speaker 1: God and blue eyed made I fear not for myself
Speaker 1: the silent too. Death lies in every shape, and death
Speaker 1: must come. But you mock my truth, traduce my fame, Ye,
Speaker 1: blast my honor, stigmatize my name. Ye call me tyrant
Speaker 1: when I wish thee free usurper when I live. But
Speaker 1: Greece for thee. And thus the chief and boding silence
Speaker 1: drowned each clamorous tongue and sullen reigned around O chief,
Speaker 1: Great Aristides first began mortal yet perfect, god like, and
Speaker 1: yet man boast of ungrateful Greece. My prayer attend, Oh,
Speaker 1: be my chieftain, guardian, father friend. And ye, o Greeks,
Speaker 1: impetuous and abhorred again, presumptuous, lift the rebel sword again.
Speaker 1: Your weapons raise in hateful ire to crush the leader, hero,
Speaker 1: patriot sire. Not such was Greece when Greeks united stood
Speaker 1: to bathe perfidious Troy in hostile blood. Not such were
Speaker 1: Greeks inspired by glory them as gods they conquered. Now
Speaker 1: there less than men, degenerate race, now lost to once
Speaker 1: loved fame, traitors to Greece and to the Grecian name.
Speaker 1: Who now your honors, who your praise will seek, Who
Speaker 1: now shall glory in the name of Greek. But since
Speaker 1: such discords your base souls divide, procure the lots. Let
Speaker 1: Jove and Heaven decide to him Clombrotus, thus admiring cries
Speaker 1: thy thoughts, how wondrous, and thy words how wise. So
Speaker 1: let it be avert the threatened woes, and Jove be
Speaker 1: present and the right disclose. But give me, sire of
Speaker 1: God's and powers above, the heavenly vision and my truth
Speaker 1: to prove. Give me to avenge the breach of all
Speaker 1: thy laws, to avenge myself. Then aid my righteous cause.
Speaker 1: If this thou wilt o to thine altars, lead twelve bulls,
Speaker 1: which to thy sacred name shall bleed, six snow white
Speaker 1: heathers of erace divine prostrate, shall fall and heap the
Speaker 1: groaning shrine. Nor this the most six rams, that fearless
Speaker 1: stray untouched by man, for thee this arm shall slay.
Speaker 1: Thus prayed the chief with shouts the heavens resound, Jove
Speaker 1: weighs the balance, and the lots go round, declare Omus,
Speaker 1: or to thy piercing eyes. The book of Fate irrevocably
Speaker 1: lies what lots leapt forth on that eventful day. Who
Speaker 1: one who lost all seeing Goddess say, first great clombrotus
Speaker 1: all his fortune tried and strove with fate. But Jove,
Speaker 1: his prayer denied, infuriate to the skies. His arms are
Speaker 1: driven and raging, thus upbraids the King of Heaven. Is
Speaker 1: this the virtue of the blessed abodes? And this the
Speaker 1: justice of the God of God's can he who hurls
Speaker 1: the bolt and shakes the sky the prayer of truth unblemished? Truth?
Speaker 1: Deny as he no faith by whom the clouds are riven,
Speaker 1: Who sits superior on the throne of heaven? No wonder
Speaker 1: earth born men are prone to fall in sin or
Speaker 1: listen to dishonors call when gods, the immortal gods, transgress
Speaker 1: the laws of truth and sin against a righteous cause. Furious,
Speaker 1: he said, by Anger's spirit fired then sullen from the
Speaker 1: Senate walls, retired, tis now n tides stern faith to dare,
Speaker 1: but first, he lifts his pious soul in prayer, Daughter
Speaker 1: of Jove, the mighty Chief began without thy wisdom, brail
Speaker 1: and weak is man a phantom. Greece adores, Oh, show
Speaker 1: thy power and prove thy love in this event for
Speaker 1: our crown, all thy glory, all thy might, declare the
Speaker 1: chieftain braid, and Paulus heard his prayer, swayed by the
Speaker 1: presence of the power divine, the fated lot nil tidies.
Speaker 1: Was thine that our the swelling trump of partial fame,
Speaker 1: diffused eternal glory on thy name, Daughter of Jove. He cries, unconquered,
Speaker 1: made thy power I own, and I can fess thy
Speaker 1: aid for this twelve use upon thy shrine shall smoke
Speaker 1: of milk, white fleece the comeliest of their flock, while
Speaker 1: hecatombs and generous sacrifice shall fume and blacken half the
Speaker 1: astonished skies. And thus the Chief the shouting Greeks admire,
Speaker 1: while Truth's bright spirit sets their souls on fire. Then
Speaker 1: thus the mostercles, ye Grecian host, not now the time
Speaker 1: for triumph or the boast Now, Greeks, the graver toils
Speaker 1: your minds prepare not for the strife, But counsel of
Speaker 1: the war behold the sacred herald, sent by Greece to
Speaker 1: Sparta's veils, now hushed in leagues of peace, her chiefs
Speaker 1: to aid the common cause, to implore and bid Darius
Speaker 1: shun the argive sure behold him here. Then let the
Speaker 1: leader Greek command the bearer of our hopes to speak.
Speaker 1: And thus the Sage, wherever the herald stands, bid him
Speaker 1: come forth. 'tis Athens chief commands, and bid him speak
Speaker 1: with freedom uncontrolled. His thoughts deliver and his charge unfold,
Speaker 1: is said, and sate the Greek's impatient wait the will
Speaker 1: of Sparta and Athena's faked silent they sate so air
Speaker 1: the will winds rise, air, billows, foam, and thunder to
Speaker 1: the skies. Nature in death like calm, her breath suspends
Speaker 1: and hushed in silent or the approaching storm attends, now
Speaker 1: missed the Senate's walls. The herald stands, Ye Greeks, he said,
Speaker 1: and stretched his sacred hands, assembled heroes, ye Athenian bands,
Speaker 1: and thou beloved of Jove, our chief, O Sage, renowned
Speaker 1: for wisdom, as renowned for age, and all ye chiefs
Speaker 1: in battle rank Divine, no joyful mission swayed by paulus mine.
Speaker 1: The hardy Spartans, with one voice, declare their will to
Speaker 1: aid our freedom and our war instant. They armed by
Speaker 1: zeal and impulse driven, but on the plains of the
Speaker 1: mysterious heaven, comets and fires were writ an awful sign
Speaker 1: and dreadful omen of the wrath Divine. While threatened plagues
Speaker 1: upon their shores appear, they curb their valor, all subdued
Speaker 1: by fear. The oracles declared the will above and of
Speaker 1: the Sister and the Wife of Jove, that not until
Speaker 1: the moon's bright course was or the Spartan warriors should
Speaker 1: desert their shore. Threats. Following threats succeed the mandate dire
Speaker 1: plagues to themselves and to their harvest fire. The Spartan
Speaker 1: chiefs desist their march delay to wait the appointed hour,
Speaker 1: and Heaven obey grief, smote my heart, my hopes, and
Speaker 1: mission vain their town. I quitted for my native plane,
Speaker 1: And when an eminence I gained in woe, I gazed
Speaker 1: upon the verdant fields below, where Nature's ample rain extending wide,
Speaker 1: displays her graces with commanding pride, Where cool eurotas wines
Speaker 1: her limpid bloods, through verdant valleys and through shady woods,
Speaker 1: and crowned in majesty, overtowering all in bright effulgence Sparta's
Speaker 1: lofty wall. To these, I looked fair well and humbled,
Speaker 1: bowed in chastened sorrow to the thundering god. Twas thus
Speaker 1: I mused, when from a verdant grove that Watt's delicious
Speaker 1: perfume from above the monster pan, his form, gigantic, reared
Speaker 1: and dreadful to my awestruck sight appeared. I hailed the
Speaker 1: god who reigns supreme below, known by the horns that
Speaker 1: started from his brow up to the hips a goat,
Speaker 1: but man's his face, though grim and stranger to celestial grace,
Speaker 1: within his hand a shepherd's crook, he bore the gift
Speaker 1: of dying on the Arcadian sure before the immortal power.
Speaker 1: I fearing bowed, congealed with dread, and thus addressed. The
Speaker 1: God comes Herne's son, as awful as his sire, to
Speaker 1: vent upon the Greek's immortal ire. Is it not enough
Speaker 1: the mandate stern I bring from Sparta's chiefs and Sparta's
Speaker 1: royal king, that heaven enjoins them to refrain from fight
Speaker 1: till Diane fills again her horns with light. Then vain
Speaker 1: their aid here. Then may Athens fall, and Persia's haughty
Speaker 1: chiefs invest the wall. I said, and sighed the god
Speaker 1: in accents, mild my sorrow thus, and rigid griefs beguiled,
Speaker 1: not to destroy. I come, a chosen Greek, not as fall,
Speaker 1: but Athens fame. I seek, then give again to honor
Speaker 1: and to fame. My power despised, and my forgotten name
Speaker 1: at Sparta's doom. No longer chief repine, but learn submission
Speaker 1: to the will divine. Behold even now, within this fated hour,
Speaker 1: on Marathonian planes, the Persian power, even her Pius self,
Speaker 1: inspires the embattled host, the Athenian's terror. As the Persians
Speaker 1: boast bid Athens rise, and Glory's powers attest enough, no
Speaker 1: more the fates conceal the rest. He said, His visage
Speaker 1: burned with heavenly light. He spoke, and speaking vanished from
Speaker 1: my sight and awed. I sought where those loved walls invite,
Speaker 1: But think not, warrior Greeks. The foll is mine. If
Speaker 1: Athens fall, it is by wrath divine. I vainly, vainly,
Speaker 1: grieve the evil springs from him, the God of gods,
Speaker 1: the King of kings, the Herald said, and bent his
Speaker 1: sacred head, while cherished hope from every bosom fled. Each
Speaker 1: dauntless hero by despair, depressed, felt the deep sorrow swelling
Speaker 1: in his breast. They mourn for Athens, friendless and alone.
Speaker 1: Cries followed, cries, and grown succeeded grown. The Athenian matrons,
Speaker 1: startled at the sound, rush from their looms, and anxious
Speaker 1: crowd around. They ask the cause. The fatal cause is
Speaker 1: known by each fond sigh and each renewing grown, While
Speaker 1: in their arms some infant love they bear at once,
Speaker 1: for which they joy, for which they fear. Hushed on
Speaker 1: its mother's breast, the cherished child, unconscious midst the scene
Speaker 1: of terror, smiled on rush the matrons. They, despairing seek Nultiades,
Speaker 1: adored by every Greek. Him found at length his counsels
Speaker 1: they entreat, hang on his knees, and clasp his sacred feet,
Speaker 1: their babes before him. On the ground they throw in
Speaker 1: all the maddening listlessness of woe. First dill appear of
Speaker 1: the matron's chief. Thus vents her bursting soul in frantic grief,
Speaker 1: while her fond babe she holds aloft in air. Thus
Speaker 1: her roused breast prefers a mother's prayer, O, son of Simon,
Speaker 1: for the Grecians raise to heaven thy fame, thy honor,
Speaker 1: and thy praise. Thus, thus shall Athens and her heroes fall?
Speaker 1: Shall thus one ruin sees and bury all say, shall
Speaker 1: these babes be strangers then to fame and be but
Speaker 1: Greeks in spirit and in name? O first year God's,
Speaker 1: and here a mother's prayer. First, let them glorious fall
Speaker 1: in ranks of war. If Asia triumph, then shall Heppius
Speaker 1: reign and athens freeborn sons be slaves again, O, son
Speaker 1: of Simon, Let thy influence call the souls of Greeks
Speaker 1: to triumph or to fall, and guard their own, their
Speaker 1: children's country's name from thou dishonor and eternal shame. Thus,
Speaker 1: through her griefs the love of glory broke. The mother wept,
Speaker 1: but twas the patriot spoke, and as before the Greek
Speaker 1: she bowed with grace. The lucid drops bedewed her lovely face.
Speaker 1: Their shrieks and frantic cries, the matrons cease, and death
Speaker 1: like silence ors the sons of Greece. Thrice did the
Speaker 1: mighty chief of Athens seek to curb his feelings and
Speaker 1: essay to speak twas vain the ruthless sorrow wrung his breast,
Speaker 1: his mind disheartened, and his soul oppressed. He thus, while
Speaker 1: over his cheek the moisture stole, retire, ye matrons, nor
Speaker 1: unman my soul. Though little strength, this aged arm retains
Speaker 1: my swelling soul. Athena's foe disdains hushed. Be your griefs
Speaker 1: to heaven. The victory cry assured will triumph or with
Speaker 1: freedom die, And ye, o chiefs, when knight disowns her
Speaker 1: sway and pensive, Diane yields her power today to quit
Speaker 1: these towers. For Marathon, prepare, and brave Darius in the
Speaker 1: ranks of war. For yet, may Jove protect the Grecian
Speaker 1: name and to crown in unborn ages Athens fame, he said,
Speaker 1: and glowing with the warlike fire, and cheered by hope,
Speaker 1: the godlike chiefs retire. Now Cynthia rules the earth. The
Speaker 1: flaming god in ocean sinks green Neptune's old abode black
Speaker 1: erebus on drowsy pinions springs, and over Athena cowers his
Speaker 1: sable wings. End of book two, recorded by Nathan at
Speaker 1: Antipodean writer dot WordPress dot com. Book three of the
Speaker 1: Battle of Marathon by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This librovox recording
Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Recorded by Nathan at Antipodean
Speaker 1: writer dot WordPress dot com. The Battle of Marathon by
Speaker 1: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Book three. When from the deep the
Speaker 1: hour's eternal sway impels the courses of the flaming day,
Speaker 1: the long haired griggs with brazen arms, prepare their freedom
Speaker 1: to preserve and wage the war. First, aristides from the
Speaker 1: couch arose, while his great mind with all minerva, glows
Speaker 1: his mighty limbs, his golden arms, invest the cuirass blazers
Speaker 1: on his ample breast, the glittering creases, both his legs
Speaker 1: in fold and the huge shields on fire with burnished gold.
Speaker 1: His hands to spears uphold of equal size, and fame's
Speaker 1: bright glories kindle in his eyes. Upon his helmet, plumes
Speaker 1: of horsehair nod, and forth he mov'd majestic as a
Speaker 1: god upon his snorting steed. The warrior sprung, the coarser made,
Speaker 1: the brazen armor rung from Heaven's ethereal bites the marshal
Speaker 1: made with conscious pride, heroes light survey'd him. As she eyed,
Speaker 1: she shook the gorgon shield. Henceforth to me, she cried,
Speaker 1: Let all the immortals yield, Let monster mars the Latian
Speaker 1: regions own for Attica. Minerva stands alone. And now the
Speaker 1: unconquer'd chief of Justice gains the Senate's walls, and there
Speaker 1: the steed detains. Whence he dismounts nil tidies, he seeks,
Speaker 1: beloved of Jove, the leader of the Greeks, nor sought
Speaker 1: in vain. There, clad in armor bright, the chieftain stood
Speaker 1: all eager for the fight. Within his aged hands two
Speaker 1: lances shine, the helmet blazed upon his brows divine, And
Speaker 1: as he bends beneath the unequal weight, youth smiles again,
Speaker 1: when with gigantic might, his nervous limbs immortal arms could wield,
Speaker 1: rush foe on foe, and raging heap the field. Yet,
Speaker 1: though such days were past, and ruthless, age transform'd the
Speaker 1: warrior to the thoughtful sage. Though the remorseless hand of
Speaker 1: silent time impair'd each joint and stiffen'd every limb. Yet
Speaker 1: through his breast the fire celestial stole throbb'd in his veins,
Speaker 1: and kindl'd in his soul. In thought, the Lord of
Speaker 1: Asia dreats no more, and Heppius bites the dust mid
Speaker 1: seas of gore him. As he view'd the youthful hero's rest,
Speaker 1: heav'd high with joy, and thus the Sage address'd chief
Speaker 1: best beloved of Paulus. He began in fame, allied to
Speaker 1: God's o wond'rous man. Behold, Apollo gilds the Athenian wall.
Speaker 1: Our freedom waits, and fame and glory. Call to battle
Speaker 1: Asia's king and myriads. Dare swell the loud trump and
Speaker 1: swell the din of war, he said, impatient. Then the
Speaker 1: warrior Sage began, regardless of the fears of age, not
Speaker 1: mine a youth, with caution to control the fire and
Speaker 1: glory of thy eager soul. So was I wont in
Speaker 1: brazen arms to shine. Such strength and such impatient fire
Speaker 1: were mine, he said, and bade the trumpet's peals rebound
Speaker 1: high and more high. The echoing or notes sound sudden,
Speaker 1: one general shout the din replies A thousand lances blazing
Speaker 1: as they rise, and Athens banners wave and float along
Speaker 1: the skies. So from the marsh the cranes, embodied fly,
Speaker 1: clap their glad wings and cut the liquid sky. With
Speaker 1: thrilling cries. They knelt their joyful way. Vigorous they spring
Speaker 1: and hail the newborn day. So rose the shouting Greeks,
Speaker 1: inspired by fame to assert their freedom and maintain their name.
Speaker 1: First came the moster cles in arms, renowned, whose steed,
Speaker 1: impatient tore the trembling ground high over his helmet. Snowy
Speaker 1: plumes arise and shade that which Persias might defies. A
Speaker 1: purple mantle, graceful waves behind, nor hides his arms, but
Speaker 1: floats upon the wind his mighty form. Two crimson belts
Speaker 1: in fold, rich in embroidery, and stiff with gold Cali
Speaker 1: Marcus the poly mark. Next came the theme of general
Speaker 1: praise and general fame, Synagirius, who even the gods would dare,
Speaker 1: heap ranks on ranks and thunder through the war. His
Speaker 1: virtues god like man's, his strength surpassed in battle foremost
Speaker 1: and in flight. The last his ponderous elms a shaggy
Speaker 1: lie hide, and the huge war acts clattered at his side.
Speaker 1: The mighty chief, a brazen chariot boar, while fame and
Speaker 1: glory ail him, and adore and tenor. Next his aid
Speaker 1: to Athens gave like Paris, youthful and like actor, brave
Speaker 1: cleon the nervous priest, experienced sage, advanced in wisdom, as
Speaker 1: advanced in age, A Gregoris Galinus, favorite child the parents
Speaker 1: cares the glorious son beguiled, but now he leaves his
Speaker 1: sire to seek his doom, his country's freedom. Or a
Speaker 1: noble too and young Aratus knew with youthful pride and
Speaker 1: heart elated at the hero's side. Next thou Pleones, Thou triumphant,
Speaker 1: moved by Athens, honored by the Greeks, beloved and Sethelinus.
Speaker 1: The echoing pavements trod from youth, devoted to the marshal god,
Speaker 1: honor unspotted, crowned the hero's name, unbounded virtue, and unbounded name.
Speaker 1: Such heroes shone the foremost of the host, all Athens
Speaker 1: glory and all Athens boast. Behind a sable cloud of
Speaker 1: warriors rise with ponderous arms and shouting rend the skies.
Speaker 1: These bands with joy nil tiredes inspire. Shame fills his
Speaker 1: breast and sets his soul on fire. Aloft, he springs
Speaker 1: into the gold wrought car, while the shrill blast resounds
Speaker 1: to war to war. The coursers plunge as conscious of
Speaker 1: their load and proudly name feel they bear a god.
Speaker 1: The snow white steeds, by Paulus' self were given, which
Speaker 1: sprung from the immortal breed of heaven. The car was
Speaker 1: wrought of brass and burnished gold, and diverse figures on
Speaker 1: its bulk were told of heroes who, in plunging to
Speaker 1: the fight, shrouded Troy's glories in eternal night, of fierce poliades,
Speaker 1: who relenting gave at Priam's where to Hector's corpse a grave.
Speaker 1: Here spartan Ellen lies her native shore to bid proud
Speaker 1: Troy majestic stand no more. Their Hector clasps his consort
Speaker 1: to his breast, consoles her sufferings, though himself oppressed, and
Speaker 1: there he rushes to the embattled field or victory or death,
Speaker 1: nor even in death to yield. The ilium prostrate feels
Speaker 1: the argive ire, her heroes perished, and her towers on fire,
Speaker 1: and here old Priam breathes his last drawn sigh and
Speaker 1: feels tis least of all his griefs to die. There
Speaker 1: his loved sire, divine Aeneas bears and leaves his own
Speaker 1: with all a patriot's tears, while in one hand he
Speaker 1: holds his weeping boy and looks his last on lost,
Speaker 1: unhappy Troy. The warrior seesed the reins the impatient steeds
Speaker 1: fom at the mouth and spring, where Glory leads the gates.
Speaker 1: The heroes pass the Athenian dames, bend from their towers
Speaker 1: and bid them save from flames their walls, their infant heirs,
Speaker 1: and fill the skies with shouts, entreaties, prayers, and native
Speaker 1: rise echo repeats their words. The sounds impart new vigor
Speaker 1: to each Greeks, aspiring art forward with shouts, they press, and,
Speaker 1: hastening on, try the bold lance and dream of marathon. Meanwhile,
Speaker 1: the Persians on the embattl'd Plain prepare for combat, and
Speaker 1: the Greeks disdain twice twenty sable bulls. They daily pay
Speaker 1: unequaled homage to the God of day. Such worthy gifts
Speaker 1: the wealthy warriors bring, and such the offerings of the
Speaker 1: Persian king, while the red wine around his altars flowed.
Speaker 1: They beg protection from the flaming god, but the bright
Speaker 1: patron of the Trojan war accepts their offerings but rejects
Speaker 1: their prayer. The power of love alone dares rigid fate
Speaker 1: to vent on Greece their vengeance, and the hate, not
Speaker 1: love or Persia, prompts the vengeful dame, but hate for
Speaker 1: Athens and the Grecian name in Phoebus's name, the fraudful
Speaker 1: wing receives the hecatombs and happy omens gives. And now
Speaker 1: the heralds, with one voice, repeat the will of Datus,
Speaker 1: echoing through the fleet to counsel to convene the Persian
Speaker 1: train that Athens chiefs should brave their might in vain.
Speaker 1: The chiefs and Hippias self is will obey and seek
Speaker 1: the camp. The heralds lead the way. They're on the couch.
Speaker 1: Their leader, Datus, sate in ease, luxurious and in kingly state.
Speaker 1: Around his brow pride deep and scornful, played a purple
Speaker 1: robe is slothful, limbs arrayed, which over his form, its
Speaker 1: silken draperies fold majestic, sweeps the ground and glows with gold,
Speaker 1: while Arthur Fern's, resting at his side, surveys the advancing
Speaker 1: train with conscious pride. The elder leader, Mighty Datus, then
Speaker 1: assembled princes, great and valiant men, and thou Thrist, glorious Hyppius,
Speaker 1: loved by Heaven, to whom, as to thy sire, is
Speaker 1: Athens given. Behold the Grecian banners float afar, shouting, they
Speaker 1: hail us and provoke the war. Then, mighty chiefs and princes,
Speaker 1: be it yours to warm and fire the bosoms of
Speaker 1: our powers, that when the morn has spread the saffron light,
Speaker 1: the Greeks may own and dread Darius might the no
Speaker 1: o chiefs, when once proud Athens falls, when Persian flames
Speaker 1: shall reach her haughty walls, from her depression, wealth to
Speaker 1: you shall spring and honor, fame and glory to your king.
Speaker 1: He said his words. The Prince's breasts inspire silent, they bend,
Speaker 1: and with respect retire. And now the Greeks, in able
Speaker 1: marcher's game by Paullus fired the Marathonian flame before their eyes.
Speaker 1: The unbounded ocean rolls, and all Darius fleet unawed their souls.
Speaker 1: They fix their banners and the tents they raise, and
Speaker 1: in the sun they're polished javelins blaze their leader's self
Speaker 1: within the brazen car their motions, orders and prepares for
Speaker 1: war their labors over the aged hero falls, the chiefs
Speaker 1: to counsel midst the canvass walls, and then the sage.
Speaker 1: How great the Persian host, But let them not their
Speaker 1: strength or numbers, boast their slothful minds to love of fame.
Speaker 1: Unknown sigh not for war, but for the spoil alone,
Speaker 1: strangers to honors, pure immortal light. They not as heroes,
Speaker 1: but as women, fight, groveling, as proud and cowardly as
Speaker 1: vain the Greeks. They fear, their numbers they disdain. And
Speaker 1: now Athenians, fired by glory, rise and lift your fame,
Speaker 1: unsullied to the skies your victim ersia, liberty your prize.
Speaker 1: And now twice twenty sable bullocks bring to heap the
Speaker 1: altars of the thundering king. Bid twelve white heithers of
Speaker 1: Gigantic breed to Jove's great daughter Wise Minerva bleed. And
Speaker 1: then in sleep employ the solemn night, nor till Apollo
Speaker 1: reigns provoke the fight, the hero said, the warlike council
Speaker 1: or they raise the lofty altars on the shore, they
Speaker 1: pile in heaps, the pride of all the wood they
Speaker 1: fall the first who first in beauty stood the pine
Speaker 1: that soars to heaven. The sturdy oak and cedars crackle
Speaker 1: at each hero's stroke. And now two altars stand of
Speaker 1: equal size and lift their forms majestic to the skies.
Speaker 1: The heroes then twice twenty bullets bring a worthy offering
Speaker 1: to the thundering king. The aged leader seized the sacred knife.
Speaker 1: Blow followed blow out gushed the quivering life through their
Speaker 1: black hides. The ruthless steel is driven the victims. Grown
Speaker 1: Jove thunders from is heaven, and then their bulks upon
Speaker 1: the pile they lay. The flames rush upward, and the
Speaker 1: armies pray. Driven by the wind. The roaring buyers ascend,
Speaker 1: and now they hiss in air and now descend with
Speaker 1: all their sap. The new cut fagots rays their flames
Speaker 1: to heaven and crackle as they blaze. And then the
Speaker 1: sage o vow of powers above the first and mightiest here,
Speaker 1: eternal Jove, give us that Athens, in her strength may
Speaker 1: rise and lift our fame and freedom to the skies.
Speaker 1: This said he ceas'd, the assembl'd warriors pour sacred incense,
Speaker 1: and the god adore then partial jove, propitious herd. Their
Speaker 1: prayer thrice shook the heavens and thundered through the air
Speaker 1: with joy. The Greeks, the favoring sign inspires, and their
Speaker 1: breasts glow with all the warlike fires, and now twelve
Speaker 1: heithers white as snow, they lead to Great Minerva's sacred
Speaker 1: name to bleed. They fall their box upon the pile,
Speaker 1: are laid, sprinkled with oil and quick in flame, arrayed,
Speaker 1: and now descending midst the darkening skies, behold the Goddess
Speaker 1: of the radiant eyes. The ground she touched beneath the
Speaker 1: mighty load, earth, groaning rocks and nature hails the God
Speaker 1: within her hand. Her father's lightnings shone, and shield that
Speaker 1: blazes near the eternal throne. The Greeks, with fear, their
Speaker 1: dauntless form surveyed and trembling, bowed before the blue eyed
Speaker 1: made then favoring. Thus began the power divine. While in
Speaker 1: her eyes celestial glories shine. Ye sons of Athens, loved
Speaker 1: by heaven, She cries, revered by men, Be valiant and
Speaker 1: be wise, when worn awakes, darest numbers, dare clang your
Speaker 1: loud arms and rouse the swelling war. But first to
Speaker 1: yon proud fleet a herald send to bid the Persians
Speaker 1: yield and fight, suspend or vainly to their God. They suppliant,
Speaker 1: call Jove favour's and allus wills. Therefore she said, and
Speaker 1: through the depths of air she flies, mounts the blue
Speaker 1: heaven and scales the liquid skies. The Greeks rejoicing, thank
Speaker 1: the powers above and Jove's great daughter and eternal Jove.
Speaker 1: And now a herald to the fleet, they send to
Speaker 1: bid the Persians yield and war suspend. Through the divided troops.
Speaker 1: The herald goes through Athen's burst and through the unnumbered
Speaker 1: those before the Holy Man. The Persian bands Reverend give
Speaker 1: way and ask what Greece demands. He tells not all,
Speaker 1: but that he chosen seeks Datus, their chief, by order
Speaker 1: of the Greeks the mission, but in part his sage reveals,
Speaker 1: and what his prudence prompts him he conceals. Then to
Speaker 1: their chief they lead him, where he sate with omp
Speaker 1: surrounded and in gorgeous state, around his kingly couch. His
Speaker 1: arms were spread flaming in gold by forge Cyclopean made,
Speaker 1: and then stern Datus frowning. Thus began what hopes deceive
Speaker 1: the miserable man? What treacherous fate allures thee thus to
Speaker 1: stray through all our hosts? What God's beguile the way?
Speaker 1: Thinkest thou to escape the Persian steel, when Greece our
Speaker 1: herald crushed and banished oops of peace? But speak, what
Speaker 1: will the Greeks? And do they dare to prove our
Speaker 1: might and tempt the unequal war? Or do they dine
Speaker 1: to own darius sway and yield to Persia's might the
Speaker 1: embattled day, to whom the Athenian Herald made reply, the
Speaker 1: Greeks disdain your terms and scorn to fly unknown to
Speaker 1: heroes and to sons of Greece. A shameful slavery of
Speaker 1: a Persian piece, defiance Stern, not serbile gifts. I bring
Speaker 1: your bonds, detested and despised, your king of equal size.
Speaker 1: The Greeks to alters, raise to Jove's high glory and
Speaker 1: Minerv's praise the god propitious herd, And from the skies
Speaker 1: descends the Goddess of the azure eyes. And thus began
Speaker 1: assembled Greeks give ear, attend my wisdom nor my glory.
Speaker 1: Fear when morn awakes Darius numbers dare clang your loud
Speaker 1: arms and rouse the swelling war. But first to yon
Speaker 1: proud fleet a herald send to bid the Persians yield
Speaker 1: and war suspend for vainly to their god. They suppliant
Speaker 1: all Jove favours Greece, and Paullus wills therefall. The goddess
Speaker 1: spoke the Athenians own Persuay, I seek the fleet and
Speaker 1: heavens command. Obey the Greeks. Disdain your millions in the war,
Speaker 1: nor I o chief your promis'd vengeance. Fear strike, But
Speaker 1: remember that the God on high, who rules the heavens
Speaker 1: and thunders through the sky, not unreveng'd will see his
Speaker 1: herald slain. Nor shall thy threats his anger tempt in vain.
Speaker 1: And thus the brig then Datus thus replies flames black
Speaker 1: and fearful, scowling from his eyes. Herald away and Asia's vengeance.
Speaker 1: Fear back to your frenzied train. My mandate. Bear that
Speaker 1: Greece and Grecian gods may threat in vain, we scorn
Speaker 1: their anger and their wrath disdain for he who lights
Speaker 1: the earth and rules the skies with happy omens to
Speaker 1: our vows, replies, when morn up, rising breath the saffron light,
Speaker 1: prepare to dare our millions in the fight thy life.
Speaker 1: I give Darius will to say, and Asia's hate hence
Speaker 1: chief no more away, he said, And anger filled the
Speaker 1: Grecian's breast. But prudent he the rising wrath suppressed, indignant
Speaker 1: through the canvas tents, he strode and silently invoked the
Speaker 1: thundering god fears for his country in his bosom rose
Speaker 1: as on he wandered midst unnumbered those he strikes his
Speaker 1: swelling breast, and hastens on over the wide lanes of
Speaker 1: barren Marathon. And now he sees the Grecian banners rise,
Speaker 1: and well armed warriors blaze before his eyes. Then thus
Speaker 1: he spoke, he Grecian banan, give ear ye warrior chiefs
Speaker 1: and attic heroes, here your will to Asia's other prince,
Speaker 1: I told all which you bade me chieftains to unfold.
Speaker 1: But Paulus vengeance I denounced in vain your threats. He scorned,
Speaker 1: and heard with proud disdain the god. He boasts who
Speaker 1: lights the earth and skies with happy omens to his
Speaker 1: vow's replies, than when the uprising Morn extends her light,
Speaker 1: prepare ye Greeks to dare his powers in fight, he said.
Speaker 1: The Greeks, for instant strife, declare their will and arm
Speaker 1: impatient for the war. Then he their god like chief,
Speaker 1: as Paulus sage, obey my counsels and repress your rage,
Speaker 1: ye Greeks, he cried. The sacred Knight displays her shadowy veil,
Speaker 1: and earth in gloom arrays for sable shades. Even Persia's
Speaker 1: chiefs obey and wait the golden mandate of the day.
Speaker 1: Such is the will of Jove and gods above, and
Speaker 1: such the order of the loved of Jove, he said.
Speaker 1: The Greeks their leaders word obey, They seek their tents
Speaker 1: and wait the approaching day over either host, celestial somness
Speaker 1: reigns and solemn silence lulls the embattled planes. End of
Speaker 1: book three, recorded by Nathan at Antipodean writer dot WordPress
Speaker 1: dot com. Book four of the Battle of Marathon Bylizabeth
Speaker 1: Barrett Browning. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Speaker 1: Recorded by Nathan at Antipidian writer dot WordPress dot com.
Speaker 1: The Battle of Marathon by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Book four
Speaker 1: and now the Morn by jove To Mortals given with
Speaker 1: rosy fingers, opens the gates of heaven. The Persian princes
Speaker 1: and their haughty lord gird on their arms and sees
Speaker 1: the flaming sword fourth fourth They rush to tempt the
Speaker 1: battle's roar. Earth groans and shouts, rebellowing shake the shore,
Speaker 1: as when the storm the heavenly azure shrouds with sable
Speaker 1: night and heaps on clouds the clouds. The Persians rose
Speaker 1: and crowd the embattled lane and stretch their warlike millions
Speaker 1: to the main. And now the Athenians throng the fatal
Speaker 1: field by fame, inspired and swords and bucklers wield in
Speaker 1: air subblime. Their floating banners rise, the lancers blaze, the trumpets,
Speaker 1: rend the skies, and then meltiades. Athenians, here behold the
Speaker 1: Persians on the field, appear dreadful. Then arms, remember Griggs,
Speaker 1: your fame, Rush to the war and vindicate your name
Speaker 1: forward till low in death. The Persians lie for freedom, triumph,
Speaker 1: or for freedom die, he said. His visage glows with
Speaker 1: heavenly light. He spoke sublime and rushed into the fight.
Speaker 1: And now the fury of the day began. Lance combats lance,
Speaker 1: and man's opposed to man Beneath their footsteps groans the
Speaker 1: laboring plane and shouts we echoing bellow to the main.
Speaker 1: Mars rages fierce by heroes, heroes die, Earth rocks, jove thunders,
Speaker 1: and the wounded cry, what mighty chiefs by Aristides fell?
Speaker 1: What heroes perished? Heavenly Goddess tell, First, thou O Pelius
Speaker 1: felt his conquering hand stretched in the dust and altering
Speaker 1: in the sand. Through thy bright shield, the forceful weapon
Speaker 1: went thyself in arms, overthrown thy corselet rent. Next rash
Speaker 1: Attennys met an early fate and feared Alas the Unequal,
Speaker 1: though too late, and de Lucas the Sage, and Philo fell,
Speaker 1: and Croton sought the dreary gates of hell. And Nemon's self,
Speaker 1: with wealth and honor, crowned, revered for virtue and for fame, renowned.
Speaker 1: He great in battle, beared heroes, hand groaning, He fell
Speaker 1: and spurned the reeking sand. But what bold chief thus
Speaker 1: rashly dares advance, though not in youth, he shakes the
Speaker 1: dreadful lance proudly the earth. The haughty warrior trod, he
Speaker 1: looked a monarch, and he moved a god. Then on
Speaker 1: the Greek with rage, intrepid blue, and with one blow
Speaker 1: the unweary break overthrow that our o chief, and that
Speaker 1: eventful day had bade the pass a shivering ghost away.
Speaker 1: But Paulus, fearful or her favorites life, sudden upraised the
Speaker 1: two renew the strife. Then aristides with fresh vigor, rose shame,
Speaker 1: fired his breast, his soul with anger, glows with all
Speaker 1: his force. He rushes on the foe, the warrior bending
Speaker 1: disappoint the blow, and thus with rage, contemptuous chieftain, know
Speaker 1: the pious, the loved of heaven, thine eyes behold, renowned
Speaker 1: for strength of arm in battle, bold, But tell thy race,
Speaker 1: and who the man whose might dares cope with rebel
Speaker 1: Athens king in fight, stung to the soul o slave,
Speaker 1: the Greek returns, while his big heart within his bosom burns.
Speaker 1: Perfidious prince to faith and truth unknown on Athens's ashes,
Speaker 1: raise thy tyrant throne. When greshes chiefs and Gresh's heroes fall.
Speaker 1: When Persia's fires invest the lofty wall when naught, but
Speaker 1: slaves within her towers remain. Then Nor till then shalt thou,
Speaker 1: oh pious reign, Then, nor till then will Athens yield
Speaker 1: their fame to foul, dishonor and eternal shame. Come on,
Speaker 1: No matter what my race or name, that this o Prince,
Speaker 1: this truth unerring, No that in a Greek you meet
Speaker 1: a noble foe. Furious, he said, and on the prince
Speaker 1: he sprung with all his force. The meeting armor rung. Struggling,
Speaker 1: they raged, and both together fell. That hour the tyrant's
Speaker 1: ghost had entered hell, but partial fate prolonged. The Prince's
Speaker 1: breath renewed the combat, and forbad the death. Meanwhile, the
Speaker 1: hosts the present wore suspend, silent, they stand, and Heaven's
Speaker 1: decree attend. First the bright lance majestic Hyppias through, but
Speaker 1: erringly the missile w flew. Then Aristides hurled, burst t dart,
Speaker 1: struck the round shield, and nearly pierced his heart. But
Speaker 1: the bright arms that shone with conscious pride, received the
Speaker 1: blow and turned the point aside. And thus the Greek
Speaker 1: whom your inquiring eyes behold o prince. The Athenian hero
Speaker 1: cries is Aristides, called the just a name by Athens,
Speaker 1: honoured nor unknown to fame. Scared at the sound, and
Speaker 1: seized by sudden fright, the Prince starts back in mean
Speaker 1: inglorious flight, and now Bologna rages over the field, all stride, elated,
Speaker 1: all disdain to yield, and great the Mostocles in arms, renowned,
Speaker 1: stretched heaps of heroes on the groaning ground, first by
Speaker 1: his hand, and Valdelos self divine, the last loved offspring
Speaker 1: of a noble line, straight through his neck. The reeking
Speaker 1: dart was driven prostrate. He sinks and vainly calls to Heaven. Next,
Speaker 1: god like Banes midst the Persians just loosen, and mighty
Speaker 1: Cordos bit the dust. And now the Greek, with pride imprudent,
Speaker 1: dares victorious Mandrocles, renowned in wars, The agile version swift
Speaker 1: avoids the blow, furious, disarms and grasps the unequal foe.
Speaker 1: The intrepid Greek with god like calm, awaits his instant
Speaker 1: all and dares the impending fates. But great Synegius, his danger,
Speaker 1: spies and lashed his steeds the pond, durus chariot flies,
Speaker 1: then from its brazen bulk eliaps to ground beneath his
Speaker 1: clanging arms. The planes resound, and on the Persian rushes
Speaker 1: fierce and raised the clattering axe on high, which threatening
Speaker 1: blazed and locked his head out. Spouts the smoking gore,
Speaker 1: and the huge trunk rolled bleeding on the shore. And
Speaker 1: then Synegirius, Thus, Persian, go and boast thy victory in
Speaker 1: the shades below a headless form, And tell who bade
Speaker 1: thee bleed? The no of Greek performed the wondrous deed.
Speaker 1: But thou the moster glease, O hero, say who bade
Speaker 1: thee rush to tempt the unequal fray? But learn from
Speaker 1: this by daring to restrain and seek less mighty upon
Speaker 1: the plane with secret wrath. The youthful hero burned, and
Speaker 1: thus impetuous to the chief, returned such thoughts as these
Speaker 1: unworthy those who dare the battles rage and tempt the
Speaker 1: toils of war, heedless of death, and by no fears
Speaker 1: oppressed conquest. My aim I leave to heaven the rest,
Speaker 1: he said, and glowed with an immortal light, plunged midst
Speaker 1: the foes, and mingled in the fight, Xeno, the bravest
Speaker 1: of the Persian youth, renowned for filial piety and truth,
Speaker 1: his mother's only joy. She loved to trace his father's
Speaker 1: features in his youthful face. That sire in fight, over
Speaker 1: whelmed mid seas of gore, slept unentombed, and cared for
Speaker 1: fame no more. And now as youth in opening manhood,
Speaker 1: blows all his loved father in his visage, rose like him,
Speaker 1: regardful of his future fame, resolved like him to immortalize
Speaker 1: his name. At Glory's call, He quits his native shore
Speaker 1: and feeble parent to return no more. Oh, what prophetic
Speaker 1: griefs her bosom rung, When on his neck in agony
Speaker 1: she hung, When on that breast she hid the sorrowing face,
Speaker 1: and feared to take or shun the last embrace, unhappy youth,
Speaker 1: The fates decree thy doom. Those flowers prepared for joy
Speaker 1: shall deck thy tomb, thy mother. Now no more shall
Speaker 1: hail thy name so high enrolled upon the lists of fame,
Speaker 1: nor check the widow's tear. The widow's sigh that even
Speaker 1: as sun the Zeno's doom to die, Zeno, even thou,
Speaker 1: for so the God's decree appearents threshold, hopes no more
Speaker 1: for thee on him. The hero turned his eyes severe
Speaker 1: nor on his visage, saw one mark of fear. Their
Speaker 1: manly grace improved each separate part and joined by ties
Speaker 1: of truth the face and heart the supple javelin. Then
Speaker 1: the Grecian tries with might gigantic, and the youth defies
Speaker 1: its point. Impetuous at his breast, he flung the brazen shield,
Speaker 1: received and mocking rung. Then Zeno seized the lance. The
Speaker 1: chief defied and scoffing. Thus began in youthful pride, Go
Speaker 1: mighty Greek to weaker warriors, go and fear this arm
Speaker 1: and an unequal foe. A mother gave the mighty arms.
Speaker 1: I bear, nor think with such a gift I cherish.
Speaker 1: Here he hurled the lance, but Paulus's self was there
Speaker 1: and turned the point. It asked in empty air. With
Speaker 1: hope renewed again, the hero tries his boasted might. The
Speaker 1: thirsty weapon flies in Zeno's breast. It sinks and drank
Speaker 1: the gore and stretched. The hero vanquished on the shore,
Speaker 1: gasping for utterance and life and breath for fame. The
Speaker 1: sighs nor fears. Approaching death, the moster cles perceived, and,
Speaker 1: bending low thought of his friends, and tears began to
Speaker 1: flow that washed the bleeding bosom of his foe. Young Zeno.
Speaker 1: Then the Grecian hero eyed, rejects his offered aid, and
Speaker 1: all defied, breathed one disdainful sigh, and turned his head
Speaker 1: and died. Such Persians did the god like warrior slay,
Speaker 1: and bade their groaning spirits us away. Eppea, zealous, the valiant,
Speaker 1: and the strong, thundered in fight and carried death along him.
Speaker 1: Not a Greek in strength of arms, surpassed in battle almost,
Speaker 1: but in virtue last he impious man to combat, dared
Speaker 1: defy the gods themselves, and senate of sky, even Earth
Speaker 1: and Heaven, and Heaven's eternal sire. He mocks his thunders
Speaker 1: and disdains his ale. But now the retributive hour is come,
Speaker 1: and rigid justice seals the boasters, whom Thesius he sees
Speaker 1: within the fight, revealed to him alone, to all the
Speaker 1: rest concealed. To punish guilt, he leaves the shades below
Speaker 1: and quits the seat of never ending woe, pale as
Speaker 1: in death upon his hands, he bore the infernal serpent
Speaker 1: of the dreadful shore to stay his progress, should he
Speaker 1: strive to flee from tartarus bar and gain the upper sky.
Speaker 1: This dreadful sight, with slippery sinews, now wreathed round his
Speaker 1: form and clasped his ghastly brow with horror, struck and
Speaker 1: seized with sudden awe, the Greek beheld nor mingled in
Speaker 1: the war, withheld from combat by the force of fear.
Speaker 1: He trembling. Thus, O say what God draws near? But
Speaker 1: speak thy will. If tis a god, oh speak nor
Speaker 1: vent thy vengeance on a single Greek. Vainly he suppliant said,
Speaker 1: overpowered with fright and instant from his eyeballs, fled the sight, confused,
Speaker 1: distracted to the skies, he throws his frantic arms, and
Speaker 1: thus bewails his woes. Almighty Thou by whom the bolts
Speaker 1: are driven, he said, and cast his sightless balls to heaven.
Speaker 1: Restore my sight, unhappy me, restore my own loved offspring
Speaker 1: to be old once more. So will I honor Thy
Speaker 1: divine abodes, and learn how dreadful the avenging gods. And
Speaker 1: if but oh forbid you mock my prayer and cruel fate, me,
Speaker 1: ever cursed, declare, give me to yield to fame alone
Speaker 1: my life and fall immortalized inglorious strife, he said, the
Speaker 1: god who thunders through the air frowns on his sufferings
Speaker 1: and rejects his prayer Around his form, the dreadful ageis spread,
Speaker 1: and darts fall harmless on his wretched head, condemned by
Speaker 1: fate in ceaseless pain, to groan, friendless in grief, in
Speaker 1: agony alone, nows and death purveyed on every side, and
Speaker 1: heroes fall and swell the crimson tide not with less force,
Speaker 1: withini leader shon in strife conspicuous, nor to fame unknown,
Speaker 1: advanced in wisdom and in honored years, he gaw for life,
Speaker 1: but for the battle is born, swift as winds within
Speaker 1: the flying car now here now there directs the swelling
Speaker 1: or on every side. The foaming horses guides here, praises valor,
Speaker 1: and their rashness chides, while from his lips persuasive accents
Speaker 1: flow to inspire the Athenians or unman the foe. The
Speaker 1: glorious bricks rush on with daring might, and shout and
Speaker 1: thunder and increase the fight. Nor yet inglorious do the
Speaker 1: Persians shine in battles ranks they strength and valor join.
Speaker 1: Datus himself impels the ponderous car through broken ranks, conspicuous
Speaker 1: in the war, in armor sheathed and terror round him spread,
Speaker 1: he whirls his chariot over heaps of dead wherever he
Speaker 1: dreadful rushes, warriors fly, ghosts seek their hell, and chiefs
Speaker 1: and heroes die, all pale with rage, he ranks on ranks,
Speaker 1: overthrows the blood he gasps and thunders midst his foes,
Speaker 1: CALLI Marcus, the mighty leader found and in fight on
Speaker 1: spicuous bearing death around the lance, wheeled instant from the
Speaker 1: Persian's hand, transfixed the glorious Grecian in the sand, Fate
Speaker 1: ends the hero's life and stays his breath and clouds
Speaker 1: his eyeballs with the shade of death. Erect in air,
Speaker 1: the cruel javelin stoodst through his breast and drank, spouting blood.
Speaker 1: Released from life's impending woes and care, the soul emerges
Speaker 1: in the fields of air, then, crowned with laurels, seeks
Speaker 1: the blessed abodes of awful Bluto and the Stygian floods,
Speaker 1: and now with joy, Great Aristides saw again God Heppius
Speaker 1: thundering through the war and mocking, Thus, O Tyrant, now
Speaker 1: await the destined blow. Behold thy promised fate thrice, mighty King,
Speaker 1: obey my javelin's call, for even thy god like selfs
Speaker 1: decreed to fall, he said, and hurled the glittering spear
Speaker 1: on high. The destined weapon hissed along the sky wind
Speaker 1: by the heroes, all destroying hand. It pierced the prince
Speaker 1: and stretched him on the sand. Then through the air
Speaker 1: the awful peals were driven, and lightnings blazed along the
Speaker 1: vast of heaven. The Persian posts, behold their bolwalk die
Speaker 1: here hills their hearts and all their numbers fly and
Speaker 1: reach'd the fleet. The shouting Greeks pursue all Asia's millions,
Speaker 1: lying in their view. On on they glorious rush and
Speaker 1: side by side, Yet red with gore, they plunge into
Speaker 1: the tide. For injur'd freedom's sake, the indignant main, with
Speaker 1: swelling pride, receives the crimson stain. The Persians spread the sail,
Speaker 1: nor dare delay and suppliant call upon the King of day,
Speaker 1: but vainly to their gods the coward spray some of
Speaker 1: the ships. The Athenian warriors stay and fire their bulks,
Speaker 1: the flames destroying rise rushing, they swell and mount into
Speaker 1: the skies. Foremost Synegyrius with might divine, while midst the waves,
Speaker 1: his arms majestic shine with blood stained hand a Persian
Speaker 1: ship he seized, the vessel vainly strove to be released
Speaker 1: with fear. The crew, the god like man, beheld, and
Speaker 1: pride and shame, their troubled bosoms swelled. They lop his limb.
Speaker 1: Then Paulus fires his frame with scorn of death and
Speaker 1: hope of future fame. Then, with the hand remaining seized
Speaker 1: the prize, a glorious spirit kindling in his eyes. Again,
Speaker 1: the Persians wield the unmanly blow and wreak their vengeance
Speaker 1: on a single foe. The fainting break by loss of blood. Oppressed,
Speaker 1: still feel the patriot rise within his breast, within his teeth,
Speaker 1: a shattered ship he held, nor in his soul, one
Speaker 1: wish for life rebelled, but strength decaying. Fate suppressed his breath,
Speaker 1: and over his brows expand the jews of death. The
Speaker 1: lyceum aims his generous spirit trod he lived a hero,
Speaker 1: and he died a god. By vengeance, fired aggressions from
Speaker 1: the deep, with rage and shouting, scale the lofty ship.
Speaker 1: Then in the briny bosom of the main they hurl
Speaker 1: in heaps the living and the slain through the wide shores,
Speaker 1: resound triumphant cries filled all the seas, and thunder through
Speaker 1: the skies. End of book four. End of the Battle
Speaker 1: of Marathon by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, recorded by Nathan at
Speaker 1: Antipodean writer ductwordpress dot com.