POETRY.
CLOUD CHORUSES.
STROPHE.
(Aristophanes, “Nnbes," vv. 275:290.) CLOUDS, ever drifting,
Streaming and shifting, From our deep-tongued father Ocean's presence Rise we now, our dewy radiant essence To the tree-tressed hill-tops brightly lifting Rise up soaring To the far-seen watch-towers of the mountains, Thence to gaze upon earth's fruitful fountains, Fields and rills divine, And to hark the wizard streams down-pouring, And the deep in deep-voiced thunder roaring !
See, heaven's eye with flash unwearied glowing Flings his glittering rays;
Over earth to gaze With far-glancing eyne, Rise, adown our misty mantles throwing, Rise, fair-gleaming shapes immortal showing, Rise and shine!
ANTISTROPHE.
(Ibid., vv. 298-313.) MAIDENS rain-bringing,
Let us be winging, To the soil of Cecrops' hero-band, Pallas' passing lovely, glistening, land ; Where the sacred secrecy Of her hallowed rites To the mystic hostelry Pilgrims pure invites ; Where best gifts are given To the lords of heaven, Stately fans and statuary, Pomps and solemn pageantry ; And amid gay garla,ndings, On all holy days, Festival and offerings Make the high gods' praise ; And when the glad year is springing, With the dance and dance-song ringing, 'Mid the storm-voiced flute's arousal, Summons to the wild carousal, Bacchus' joyous grace.
T. HERRERT WARREN.
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