| |
From the Greek by Andrew Lang
From “The Clouds”
SOCRATES SPEAKS. HITHER, come hither, ye Clouds renowned, and unveil yourselves here; | |
| Come, though ye dwell on the sacred crests of Olympian snow, | |
| Or whether ye dance with the Nereid Choir in the gardens clear, | |
| Or whether your golden urns are dipped in Nile’s overflow, | |
| Or whether you dwell by Mæotis mere | 5 |
| Or the snows of Mimas, arise! appear! | |
| And hearken to us, and accept our gifts ere ye rise and go. | |
| |
THE CLOUDS SING. Immortal Clouds from the echoing shore | |
| Of the father of streams from the sounding sea, | |
| Dewy and fleet, let us rise and soar; | 10 |
| Dewy and gleaming and fleet are we! | |
| Let us look on the tree-clad mountain-crest, | |
| On the sacred earth where the fruits rejoice, | |
| On the waters that murmur east and west, | |
| On the tumbling sea with his moaning voice. | 15 |
| For unwearied glitters the Eye of the Air, | |
| And the bright rays gleam; | |
| Then cast we our shadows of mist, and fare | |
| In our deathless shapes to glance everywhere | |
| From the height of the heaven, on the land and air, | 20 |
| And the Ocean Stream. | |
| Let us on, ye Maidens that bring the Rain, | |
| Let us gaze on Pallas’s citadel, | |
| In the country of Cecrops fair and dear, | |
| The mystic land of the holy cell, | 25 |
| Where the Rites unspoken securely dwell, | |
| And the gifts of the gods that know not stain, | |
| And a people of mortals that know not fear. | |
| For the temples tall and the statues fair, | |
| And the feasts of the gods are holiest there; | 30 |
| The feasts of Immortals, the chaplets of flowers, | |
| And the Bromian mirth at the coming of spring, | |
| And the musical voices that fill the hours, | |
| And the dancing feet of the maids that sing! | |
| |
