The double darkness fell,
And the forest ceased its moan:
But there came a clash of steel,
And a distant dying groan.

Anon (1) a trumpet blew,
And a fiery sheet (2) burst high,
That o'er the midnight threw
A blood-red canopy.

A host glared (3) on the hill;
A host glared by the bay;

But the Greeks rush'd onwards still,
Like leopards in their play.

The air was all a yell (4),
And the earth was all a flame,
Where the Spartan's bloody steel
On the silken turbans came.

And still the Greek rush'd on (5)
Where the fiery torrent roll'd,
Till, like a rising sun,
Shone Xerxes' tent of gold.

(1) Anon, bientôt, aussitôt.

(2) A fiery sheet, une nappe de feu.

(5) To glare, briller.

(4) A yell, un cri terrible.

(5) To rush on, se précipiter.

THE DEATH OF LEONIDAS.

They found a royal feast,
His midnight banquet there;
And the treasures of the East
Lay beneath the Doric spear (1).

Then sat to (2) the repast

The bravest of the brave !
That feast must be their last,
That spot must be their grave.

They pledged (3) old Sparta's name
In cups of Syrian wine,
And the warriors' deathless fame
Was sung in strains divine.

They took the rose-wreath'd (4) lyres
From eunuch and from slave,
And taught the languid wires (5)

The sounds that freedom gave.

But now the morning star

Crown'd OEta's twilight-brow (6);

327

(1) The Doric spear, la lance du Grec.

(2) To set to, se mettre à.

(3) To pledge, dans le langage des convives, signifie boire à la santé, à la renommée de, s'engager à défendre.

(4) Rose-wreathed, couronné de roses.

(5) The languid wires, les faibles cordes, les cordes voluptueuses, détendues.

(6) Twilight-brow, front mis à découvert par l'aube du jour.

But down swept all his power,
With chariot and with charge;
Down pour'd the arrowy show'r (2),
Till sank the Dorian's targe (3).

They gathered round the tent,
With all their strength unstrung (4);
To Greece one look they sent,
Then on high their torches flung.

Their king sat on the throne,
His captains by his side,

(1) One cup poured high, une coupe remplie jusqu'aux

bords.

(2) Arrowy shower, pluie de flèches.

(3) The Dorian's targe, les boucliers des Grees.

(4) Unstrung, détendu, épuisé.

WHERE IS HAPPINESS AND PERFECTION TO BE FOUND. 329

While the flame rush'd roaring on,
And their pæan (1) loud replied.

Thus fought the Greek of old!

Thus will he fight again!

Shall not the self-same mould

Bring forth the self-same men?

CROLY.

WHERE IS HAPPINESS AND PERFECTION TO BE FOUND?

Beats there a heart no care is near,

No sorrow dare invade?

Glows there a cheek where never tear

Has taught the rose to fade?

Lives one in all this scene below,
Where troubles stalk around,
Who from the very touch of woe
Has strange exemption found?

With spirits lighter than the play
Of moonlight on the wave,

A frame where health with even sway (2)
Maintains the law she gave?

A mind in whose capacity

All science lives enrolled?

(1) Pæan et lo pæan, cri de guerre ou de joie ; nom d'Apollon.

(2) Even sway, influence régulière.