PAGE 11
Hymn To Mercury. Translated From The Greek Of Homer
by
75.
‘Or whether mortal taught or God inspired
The power of unpremeditated song?
Many divinest sounds have I admired,
The Olympian Gods and mortal men among; 590
But such a strain of wondrous, strange, untired,
And soul-awakening music, sweet and strong,
Yet did I never hear except from thee,
Offspring of May, impostor Mercury!
76.
‘What Muse, what skill, what unimagined use, 595
What exercise of subtlest art, has given
Thy songs such power?–for those who hear may choose
From three, the choicest of the gifts of Heaven,
Delight, and love, and sleep,–sweet sleep, whose dews
Are sweeter than the balmy tears of even:– 600
And I, who speak this praise, am that Apollo
Whom the Olympian Muses ever follow:
77.
‘And their delight is dance, and the blithe noise
Of song and overflowing poesy;
And sweet, even as desire, the liquid voice 605
Of pipes, that fills the clear air thrillingly;
But never did my inmost soul rejoice
In this dear work of youthful revelry
As now. I wonder at thee, son of Jove;
Thy harpings and thy song are soft as love. 610
78.
‘Now since thou hast, although so very small,
Science of arts so glorious, thus I swear,–
And let this cornel javelin, keen and tall,
Witness between us what I promise here,–
That I will lead thee to the Olympian Hall, 615
Honoured and mighty, with thy mother dear,
And many glorious gifts in joy will give thee,
And even at the end will ne’er deceive thee.’
79.
To whom thus Mercury with prudent speech:–
‘Wisely hast thou inquired of my skill: 620
I envy thee no thing I know to teach
Even this day:–for both in word and will
I would be gentle with thee; thou canst reach
All things in thy wise spirit, and thy sill
Is highest in Heaven among the sons of Jove, 625
Who loves thee in the fulness of his love.
80.
‘The Counsellor Supreme has given to thee
Divinest gifts, out of the amplitude
Of his profuse exhaustless treasury;
By thee, ’tis said, the depths are understood 630
Of his far voice; by thee the mystery
Of all oracular fates,–and the dread mood
Of the diviner is breathed up; even I–
A child–perceive thy might and majesty.
81.
‘Thou canst seek out and compass all that wit 635
Can find or teach;–yet since thou wilt, come take
The lyre–be mine the glory giving it–
Strike the sweet chords, and sing aloud, and wake
Thy joyous pleasure out of many a fit
Of tranced sound–and with fleet fingers make 640
Thy liquid-voiced comrade talk with thee,–
It can talk measured music eloquently.
82.
‘Then bear it boldly to the revel loud,
Love-wakening dance, or feast of solemn state,
A joy by night or day–for those endowed 645
With art and wisdom who interrogate
It teaches, babbling in delightful mood
All things which make the spirit most elate,
Soothing the mind with sweet familiar play,
Chasing the heavy shadows of dismay. 650