SPARTANS.

Mnemosyne,

Let thy fire storm these younkers,

O tongue wi' stormy ecstasy

My Muse that knows

1490

Our deeds and theirs, how when at sea

Their navies swooped upon

The Medes at Artemision —

Gods for their courage, did they strike

Wrenching a triumph frae their foes;

1495

While at Thermopylae

Leonidas' army stood: wild-boars they were like

Wild-boars that wi' fierce threat

Their terrible tusks whet;

The sweat ran streaming down each twisted face,

1500

Faem blossoming i' strange petals o' death

Panted frae mortal breath,

The sweat drenched a' their bodies i' that place,

For the hurly-burly o' Persians glittered more

Than the sands on the shore.

1505

Come, Hunting Girl, an' hear my prayer—

You whose arrows whizz in woodlands, come an' bless

This Peace we swear.

Let us be fenced wi' age long amity,

O let this bond stick ever firm through thee

1510

In friendly happiness.

Henceforth no guilefu' perjury be seen!

O hither, hither O

Thou wildwood queen.