THE BATTLE OF MARATHON

Author : Elizabeth Barrett Browning

THE war of Greece with Persia’s haughty King,
No vulgar strain, eternal Goddess, sing!
What dreary ghosts to glutted Pluto fled.
What nations suffered, and what heroes bled :
Sing Asia’s powerful Prince, who envious saw
The fame of Athens, and her might in war;
And scorns her power, at Cytherea’s call
Her ruin plans and meditates her fall;
How Athens blinded, to the approaching chains
By Vulcan’s artful spouse, unmoved remains;
Deceived by Venus thus, unconquered Greece
Forgot her glories in the lap of peace;
While Asia’s realms, and Asia’s lord prepare
T’ensnare her freedom, by the wiles of war :
Hippias t’ exalt upon th’ Athenian throne,
Where once Pisistratus his father shone.



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