Sit'st bath'd in tears, and with unceasing sighs
Bewail'st the hour of thy sad destiny.
Yet thou wert once the envy of the world,
And nations bow'd before thee; thee they hail'd
First in the lists of fame, in arts and arms
Pre-eminent; upon thy serious brow
Deliberation sat, and from thy lips
Breath'd sounds of sweetest eloquence; thine arm,
Harden'd by toil, displayed its sinewy strength,
Wielding the spear, and round thy nodding helm
The iron hand of Conquest twin'd a wreath
Dripping with blood; the while thy hardy sons,
Some rob'd in peaceful mantles, some array'd
In all th' habiliments of war, the
The shield, the helmet, crowded round thy throne,
And paid the homage of their fealty.
Genius of Greece! thou livest, though thy domes 50
Are fallen; here, in this thy lov'd abode,
Thine Athens, as I breathe the clear pure air
Which thou hast breath'd, climb the dark mountain's side
Which thou hast trod, or in the temple's porch
Pause on the sculptur'd beauties which thine eye
Has often view'd delighted, I confess
Thy nearer influence; I feel thy pow'r,
Exalting ev'ry wish to virtuous hope;
I hear thy solemn voice amidst the crash
Of fanes hurl'd prostrate by barbarian hands,
Calling me forth to tread with thee the paths
Of wisdom, or to listen to thy harp
Hymning immortal strains. Genius of Greece!
Lead me, O lead me to thy deep retreats,
Where the loud savage yell that mocks thy woes
May never reach us; then with aspect mild
Unfold the treasures of thine ample page;
Instruct my reason; guide my fancy's flight,
And bear me back along the stream of time,
To those bright days when thou wert great and free. 70 The sultry rage is pass'd, and the broad orb
Of day descending in a vap'rous flood
Of golden light, leans on th' horizon's verge.
Now whilst the rays of ev'ning slumb'ring rest
Upon the mountain's bosom-whilst her soft
And fragrant moisture floats along the sky,
Let us ascend yon craggy eminence,
View of the Pnyx & Acropolis at Athens.
London, Published May 2.1814, by G. & W. Nicol Pall Mall.
And view the glorious scene which opens round
Far as the eye can wander.
Cecropia's citadel uprears its brow,
Rugged, and crown'd with circumambient walls
And glitt'ring temples; at its rocky base ・・・
The shatter'd wrecks of ancient days repose,
Half-sunk in shadow, capitals and shafts,
Porches and monuments, the sculptur'd pomp
Of pediments, tow'rs and triumphal arcs,
And marble fanes, and mould'ring theatres.
Imagination, kindling at the view,
Throws o'er the varied prospect the clear light
Of former ages; the still solitudes
Once more are peopled, and the sacred bands
Of poets and of sages seek again
Their shady groves and marble porticos.
Here, from the rocky Pnyx, the eloquence
Of Athens lighten'd over Greece, and wing'd
Her thunders; I behold her orators
Gath'ring their robes, and pointing to the shores
Whose billows lave the tombs of those who bled
For liberty. Here, ling'ring on the banks
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