Select Poetry.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 16

Select Poetry.

THE STORY ©F DAMON AND PYTHIAS.

[From once a week.]

He crept near Dionys the king ; A knife was hidden iv his cloak ; With gyves the guardian soldiers ring His limbs, and a>-k " for whom the stroke 1" The king," the murderer's lips reply. For this thou on the cross shalt die."

Right ready 1 for death," he said, " Yet giviut, I pray, three days of life Wherein I may my sister wed To him who holds her plighted wife. I offer you my friend for bail; His life be forfeit it I fail !"

Then thought the king awhile, hut soon With wicked smile upon his face, Agreed, he cried, " we grant the boon. Begone ; thou hast a three days' grace, ■But if in three days thou have tied, Thy friend shall perish in thy stead." He told his friend, " The tyrant says I on the cross must pay my life, But grants me respite for three days, That I may make my sister wife. Friend, wilt thou then my surety be Till I return to set thee iree ?"

The faithful friend with dumb embrace Consenting, pledged his life for life ; The other, ere the three days' grace Was a; one, hai made his sister wife. In haste he strove to reach his home Before the hour of death should come.

The raia clouds break, and from the hills Swift streams descend and flood the lands ; The headlong torrent falls and fills The river by whose brink he stands j Tall billons whirl the bridge away And thunder o'er its shatter'd stay.

Disconsolate he paced the beach, And look'a and shouted far and near, But, for as eye and ear could reach, No help could see —no help could hear j The waters like the ocean roar, And never boat dare venture o'er.

He knelt upon the shore and prayed With suppliant hands, " Oh hear me Jove, Assuage the storm, and grant thine aid ! The sun in midway stands above; When he has fallen from out the sky, Or I or my true friend must die."

But angrier still the tempest grew, And wave roll'd foaming after wave; And faster still the fleet hours flew ; Then frautic how his friend to save He leapt into the surging flood, Upholden by some piteous god.

He gain'd the further shore and stood Acknowledging the helping hand, When from the fastness of the wood There rush'd on him a robber band. They crowded round in threatening mood, And lifted bludgeons blocked the road.

What want you? life is all I have ; Nor that mine own, for 'tis the king's. Have pity that my ftiend 1 save I" He grasps a club from one ami springs Upon the band. Three fell as dead Beneath his blows; the otlieis fled.

Now burns the sun with scorching rays ; He totters, weary, on bis knees : Oh, hast thou b u rne me whole 1" he prays, " Through ■whirling eddies and through these Fierce foes ? and shall I fainting lie, And my true frieud in my stead die 1"

But hark ! as hope his soul forsook, He hems a streamlet murmur nigh :

He looks and sees a silver hrouk Break bubbling from the rock hard by, Rejoiced he bends him to the brink, To lave his weary limbs and drink.

The sun athwart the tree-tops show'd, And flung long shadows ou the grass, And now along the homeward road With hurried steps two travellers pass: He hears one say as on they hie, Now he upon the cross must die :"

Then anguish wings his feet. Afar All radiant in the sunset glow The toweis of Syracuse appear. And now. amazed to see his woe, The honest herdsman of his home, PhUostratus, perchance, doth come.

Go back ! Thou canst not save thy friend I Go back ! At set of sun he died ! As swift the day drew near its end His trusting heart on thee relied. No tyrant's mockery could move H ; s faith in thy abiding love." Too late ! Could not the goal be won Bofore his faithful life was lost ? Then onward ! Death shall make us one ! The bloodstain'd king- shall never boast That faith has fail'd ! Let me die too, And prove that friendship can be true !" Down sank the sun. He reach'd the gate, And saw the cross uplifted high ; Around it gaping hundreds wait. And now they raise a man to die. He pierced the crowd : " Hold ! set him free The death is mine. Lay hands on me ! "

The crowd stands fixt. The two in tears Fond mutual emhraces fling, And not an eye undimm'd appears. They tell the story to the king. A thrill ran through him long unknown : Bring both," he said, " before my throne. ' The two were brought. Long silently He look'd on them with wondering eye ; Then said, " your faith has vanquish'd me ! And friendship is no empty lie. Live both, and to requite the word, Oh, make me in your bond the third."