132
Orion.
[Book III.
"Father of Gods, and of the populous earth!
Who know'st the thoughts and deeds we most would hide;
And also know'st the secret thrill within,
Which owns no thought nor action, yet comprises
Life's sole excuse for what seems worthiest hate—
Extremes and maddened self-opposing springs—-
Not always thus excused,—O Zeus! receive
Our prayers, and chiefly mine, which pardon sue,
Besides the dear request. Grant that the life
Of him these hands, once dazzling white, have slain,
May be to earth restored." More had she said,
But the dark pile of cloud shook with the voice
Of Zeus, who answered: "He shall be restored;
But not returned to earth. His cycle moves
Ascending!" The deep sea the announcement heard;
And from beneath its ever-shifting thrones,
The murmuring of a solemn joy sent up.
Who know'st the thoughts and deeds we most would hide;
And also know'st the secret thrill within,
Which owns no thought nor action, yet comprises
Life's sole excuse for what seems worthiest hate—
Extremes and maddened self-opposing springs—-
Not always thus excused,—O Zeus! receive
Our prayers, and chiefly mine, which pardon sue,
Besides the dear request. Grant that the life
Of him these hands, once dazzling white, have slain,
May be to earth restored." More had she said,
But the dark pile of cloud shook with the voice
Of Zeus, who answered: "He shall be restored;
But not returned to earth. His cycle moves
Ascending!" The deep sea the announcement heard;
And from beneath its ever-shifting thrones,
The murmuring of a solemn joy sent up.
The cloud expanded darkly o'er the heavens,
Which, like a vault preparing to give back
The heroic dead, yawned with its sacred gloom,
And iron-crowned Night her black breath poured around
To meet the clouds that from Olympos rolled
Which, like a vault preparing to give back
The heroic dead, yawned with its sacred gloom,
And iron-crowned Night her black breath poured around
To meet the clouds that from Olympos rolled
