Classic Poem

Upon the battlements he stood,
Regarding in complacent mood
Samos, o'er which he ruled in state.
" All this is subject to my sway, "
To Egypt's king he 'gan to say;
" Confess that I am fortunate. "

" Of heavenly favours great thy share!
And those who once thine equals were
Now recognise thy sceptre's might.
But one there lives t'avenge them all;
Thee fortunate I can not call
While he keeps guard in angry spite. "

Ere from his lips the words had died,
Subservient at the Tyrant's side,
A herald from Miletus bows:
" Let sacrificial fumes ascend,
And joyous leaves of laurel blend,
My lord, around thy radiant brow.

" Thy foe lies stricken by a spear,
And Polydorus sent me here —
Thy faithful chief — the news to tell. "
So speaking from a bowl he drew,
And offered to their shudd'ring view,
A bloody head they both knew well.

The king recoiled with horror struck: —
" I warn thee still, beware of luck,
And, " he pursued with anxious glance,
" Remember that thy squadron braves
The fickle winds and treacherous waves.
Of loss by storm how great the chance! "

And scarcely had he said the word
Ere sounds of revelry were heard,
And cheering from the harbour borne.
Rich laden from a foreign land,
To the familiar native strand
The many-masted ships return.

Astonished seems the royal guest: —
" Thy luck to-day is manifest,
Yet tremble for its constancy.
The Cretan hosts in armed swarms
Threaten thy land with war's alarms,
And even now their van is nigh. "

And ere the words had 'scaped his lips,
Signals of joy pervade the ships,
And shouts of " Victory " ascend:
" Delivered are we from the foe,
The storm has laid the Cretans low,
Triumph! The war is at an end. "

Amazed, his guest the tidings hears.
" Truly, thy fortune great appears!
Yet still I tremble for thy joy.
I fear the jealous wrath of Heaven,
For never yet to man was given
Pure happiness without alloy.

" I also have been fortunate;
Each stroke of my despotic state
Has met with heav'nly favour kind.
But when I saw my chosen heir
God-stricken, I became aware
That fortune leaves a debt behind.

" Wouldst thou immunity from grief?
Then pray the Gods, in kind relief,
To shade thy luck with sorrow's tone.
No man true happiness has gained
On whom the generous Gods have rained
Untempered benefits alone.

" And if the Gods thy prayer deny
Upon a friend's advice rely,
And call misfortune to thy side.
Whate'er thine heart accounts most dear
Amidst thy treasures, bring it here
And hurl it into yonder tide. "

Oppressed with fear, replies his host: —
" Of all the wealth our isle can boast,
This ring in first esteem I keep.
An this can calm the Furies' rage,
The peril of my luck assuage,
I here consign it to the deep. "

And as the morrow's daylight broke,
Thus to the Prince a fisher spoke,
With pleasure sparkling in his eyes: —
" My lord, this noble fish behold!
Never its like did net enfold.
To thee I humbly give my prize. "

But when the cook his knife applied,
In loud astonishment he cried,
And ran the marvel to disclose.
" The ring, Sire, which thou used to wear
I found in yonder fish: 'tis here.
Truly, thy' luck no limit knows. "

Exclaims the horror-stricken guest: —
" With thee no longer can I rest,
Thy friendship I no longer own.
The Gods, 'tis clear, thy death design;
I must away, or hazard mine. "
He spoke, embarked, and straight was gone.