Page:Collected poems of Flecker.djvu/239

 Is Palinurus now, and the winds whirl him All up and down the shore. By the kind light And spacious air I pray thee: by thy Sire And young Iulus growing fair and tall Defeat my woes, unconquerable man! Either cast earth upon me—as thou mayst To Veline harbour steering, or maybe If there’s a way–thy mother was divine And much it needeth the god’s help to float; On such grand rivers and the Stygian mere– Hold out thy hand to one who is in sorrow, Bear me across the wave! So shall I know At least of Death the quiet and the home." He spake: the Sibyl answered: "Palinurus, What dread desire is thine? Wouldst thou attempt, Unburied, waves of Styx and that stern stream The Furies haunt? Wouldst thou approach that shore And have no mandate? Dost thou hope to melt Fate with a prayer? But listen and take heart For all the people of the cities round Driven forth by omens dire from the high heaven Shall honour thy remains and raise a tomb And on thy tomb shall all due rites perform And all that place for evermore shall keep The name of Palinurus." As she spake His trouble ceased: a while from his sad heart Grief flies. He is glad the land should beat his name.
 * Set path pursuing they approached the stream

Whom soon the sailor of the Stygian wave Saw pass the silent wood and seek the marge 203