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Theseus
(Edi. Knowest thou not what they threatened?
This I know,
No power on earth shall wrest thee from this place.
Oftimes the angry soul will vent its wrath
In idle threats, with high and empty words,
Which ever, as the mind is to itself
Restored, are — nothing. They may boast their strength,
And say they '11 tear thee from me ; but I tell thee
The journey would be long and tedious to them ;
They will not hazard it — they dare not : therefore
Be comforted, for if by Phcebus sent
Thou hither cam'st, thou'rt safe without my aid,
E'en if I leave thee safe ; for know, the name
Of Theseus here sufficeth to protect thee.
Thou art come in happy time,
Stranger, to this blissful clime,
Long for swiftest steeds renowned,
Fertilest of the regions round ;
Where, beneath the ivy shade.
In the dew-sprinkled glade.
Many a love-lorn nightingale
Warbles sweet her plaintive tale ;
660
Where the vine in clusters pours
660
Her sweets, secured from wintry showers
660
Nor scorching suns, nor raging storm
660
The beauties of the year deform.
660
Where the sweet narcissus growing.
Where the yellow crocus blowing,
Round the sacred altars twine.
Offering to the powers divine ;
Where the pure springs perpetual flow^
Watering the verdant meads below.
Which with its earth-enriching waves
The fair Cephisus ever laves ;
Where, with his ever-sporting train,
Bacchus wantons on the plain,
Pleased with the Muses still to rove,
And golden Venus, queen of love.
Alone within this happy land,
Planted here by Nature's hand.
Which, nor Asia's fertile plains.
Nor Pelops' spacious isle contains,
Pallas, thy sacred olive grows,
Striking terror on our foes ;
Ever free from hostile rage,
From wanton youth or greedy age ;
Happy in sage Minerva's love,
665
And guarded still by Morian Jove.
665
But nobler gifts and fairer fame,
665
Athens, yet adorn thy name ;
665
Such wondrous gifts hath poured on thee,
665
Thy great protecting deity.
Here first obedient to command,
Formed by Neptune's skilful hand,
The steed was taught to know the rein,
And bear the chariot o'er the plain ;
Here first along the rapid tide
The stately vessels learned to ride,
And swifter down the currents flow
Than Nereids cut the waves below. [Exeunt.
This I know,
No power on earth shall wrest thee from this place.
Oftimes the angry soul will vent its wrath
In idle threats, with high and empty words,
Which ever, as the mind is to itself
Restored, are — nothing. They may boast their strength,
And say they '11 tear thee from me ; but I tell thee
The journey would be long and tedious to them ;
They will not hazard it — they dare not : therefore
Be comforted, for if by Phcebus sent
Thou hither cam'st, thou'rt safe without my aid,
E'en if I leave thee safe ; for know, the name
Of Theseus here sufficeth to protect thee.
Thou art come in happy time,
Stranger, to this blissful clime,
Long for swiftest steeds renowned,
Fertilest of the regions round ;
Where, beneath the ivy shade.
In the dew-sprinkled glade.
Many a love-lorn nightingale
Warbles sweet her plaintive tale ;
660
Where the vine in clusters pours
660
Her sweets, secured from wintry showers
660
Nor scorching suns, nor raging storm
660
The beauties of the year deform.
660
Where the sweet narcissus growing.
Where the yellow crocus blowing,
Round the sacred altars twine.
Offering to the powers divine ;
Where the pure springs perpetual flow^
Watering the verdant meads below.
Which with its earth-enriching waves
The fair Cephisus ever laves ;
Where, with his ever-sporting train,
Bacchus wantons on the plain,
Pleased with the Muses still to rove,
And golden Venus, queen of love.
Alone within this happy land,
Planted here by Nature's hand.
Which, nor Asia's fertile plains.
Nor Pelops' spacious isle contains,
Pallas, thy sacred olive grows,
Striking terror on our foes ;
Ever free from hostile rage,
From wanton youth or greedy age ;
Happy in sage Minerva's love,
665
And guarded still by Morian Jove.
665
But nobler gifts and fairer fame,
665
Athens, yet adorn thy name ;
665
Such wondrous gifts hath poured on thee,
665
Thy great protecting deity.
Here first obedient to command,
Formed by Neptune's skilful hand,
The steed was taught to know the rein,
And bear the chariot o'er the plain ;
Here first along the rapid tide
The stately vessels learned to ride,
And swifter down the currents flow
Than Nereids cut the waves below. [Exeunt.
Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.