The Complete Poetical Works, vol 3 | Page 9

_402 Round]Roused
edition 1824 only.
_488 wrath]ruth Harvard manuscript.
_580
heifer-stealing]heifer-killing Harvard manuscript.
_673 and like 1839,
1st edition; as of edition 1824, Harvard manuscript. _713 loving]living
cj. Rossetti.
_761 from Harvard manuscript; of editions 1824, 1839.

_764 their love with joy Harvard manuscript; them with love and
joy,
editions 1824, 1839.
_767 going]wandering Harvard manuscript.
***
HOMER'S HYMN TO CASTOR AND POLLUX.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated
1818.]
Ye wild-eyed Muses, sing the Twins of Jove,
Whom the fair-ankled
Leda, mixed in love
With mighty Saturn's Heaven-obscuring Child,

On Taygetus, that lofty mountain wild,
Brought forth in joy: mild
Pollux, void of blame, _5 And steed-subduing Castor, heirs of fame.

These are the Powers who earth-born mortals save
And ships, whose
flight is swift along the wave.
When wintry tempests o'er the savage
sea
Are raging, and the sailors tremblingly _10 Call on the Twins of
Jove with prayer and vow,
Gathered in fear upon the lofty prow,

And sacrifice with snow-white lambs,--the wind
And the huge billow
bursting close behind,
Even then beneath the weltering waters bear
_15 The staggering ship--they suddenly appear,
On yellow wings
rushing athwart the sky,
And lull the blasts in mute tranquillity,

And strew the waves on the white Ocean's bed,
Fair omen of the
voyage; from toil and dread _20 The sailors rest, rejoicing in the sight,

And plough the quiet sea in safe delight.

NOTE:
_6 steed-subduing emend. Rossetti; steel-subduing 1839, 2nd
edition.
***
HOMER'S HYMN TO THE MOON.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated
1818.]
Daughters of Jove, whose voice is melody,
Muses, who know and
rule all minstrelsy
Sing the wide-winged Moon! Around the earth,

From her immortal head in Heaven shot forth,
Far light is
scattered--boundless glory springs; _5 Where'er she spreads her
many-beaming wings
The lampless air glows round her golden
crown.
But when the Moon divine from Heaven is gone
Under the sea, her
beams within abide,
Till, bathing her bright limbs in Ocean's tide, _10
Clothing her form in garments glittering far,
And having yoked to her
immortal car
The beam-invested steeds whose necks on high
Curve
back, she drives to a remoter sky
A western Crescent, borne
impetuously. _15 Then is made full the circle of her light,
And as she
grows, her beams more bright and bright
Are poured from Heaven,
where she is hovering then,
A wonder and a sign to mortal men.
The Son of Saturn with this glorious Power _20 Mingled in love and
sleep--to whom she bore
Pandeia, a bright maid of beauty rare

Among the Gods, whose lives eternal are.
Hail Queen, great Moon, white-armed Divinity,
Fair-haired and
favourable! thus with thee _25 My song beginning, by its music sweet

Shall make immortal many a glorious feat
Of demigods, with
lovely lips, so well
Which minstrels, servants of the Muses, tell.
***

HOMER'S HYMN TO THE SUN.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated
1818.]
Offspring of Jove, Calliope, once more
To the bright Sun, thy hymn
of music pour;
Whom to the child of star-clad Heaven and Earth

Euryphaessa, large-eyed nymph, brought forth;
Euryphaessa, the
famed sister fair _5 Of great Hyperion, who to him did bear
A race of
loveliest children; the young Morn,
Whose arms are like twin roses
newly born,
The fair-haired Moon, and the immortal Sun,
Who
borne by heavenly steeds his race doth run _10 Unconquerably,
illuming the abodes
Of mortal Men and the eternal Gods.
Fiercely look forth his awe-inspiring eyes,
Beneath his golden helmet,
whence arise
And are shot forth afar, clear beams of light; _15 His
countenance, with radiant glory bright,
Beneath his graceful locks far
shines around,
And the light vest with which his limbs are bound,

Of woof aethereal delicately twined,
Glows in the stream of the
uplifting wind. _20 His rapid steeds soon bear him to the West;

Where their steep flight his hands divine arrest,
And the fleet car with
yoke of gold, which he
Sends from bright Heaven beneath the
shadowy sea.
***
HOMER'S HYMN TO THE EARTH: MOTHER OF ALL.
[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition; dated
1818.]
O universal Mother, who dost keep
From everlasting thy foundations
deep,
Eldest of things, Great Earth, I sing of thee!
All shapes that
have their dwelling in the sea,
All things that fly, or on the ground
divine _5 Live, move, and there are nourished--these are thine;
These

from thy wealth thou dost sustain; from thee
Fair babes are born, and
fruits on every tree
Hang ripe and large, revered Divinity!
The life of mortal men beneath thy sway _10 Is held; thy power both
gives and takes away!
Happy are they whom thy mild favours nourish;

All things unstinted round them grow and flourish.
For them,
endures the life-sustaining field
Its load of harvest, and their cattle
yield _15 Large increase, and their house with wealth is filled.
Such
honoured dwell in cities fair and free,
The homes of lovely women,
prosperously;
Their sons exult in youth's new budding gladness,

And their fresh daughters free from care or sadness, _20 With
bloom-inwoven dance and happy song,
On the soft flowers the
meadow-grass among,
Leap round them sporting--such delights by
thee
Are given,