Canto I.]
Orion.
9
A sort of brotherhood in this decree
Of fate, or Zeus,—that nature filled our frames
With larger share of bodily elements
Than others mortal born. Seven giants we,
Of different minds, and destinies, and powers,
Yet glorified alike in corporal forms.
Few are my years, O Artemis! few my needs,
Though large my fancied wants, and small my knowledge,
Save of one art. Earth's deep metallic veins
Hephæstos taught me to refine and forge
To shapes that in my fancy I devised,
For use or ornament. To the lame God
Grateful I felt, nor knew what thanks to give;
But, ere a shadow-hunter I became—
A dreamer of strange dreams by day and night—
For him I built a palace underground,
Of iron, black and rough as his own hands.
Deep in the groaning disembowelled earth,
The tower-broad pillars and huge stanchions,
And slant supporting wedges I set up,
Aided by the Cyclops who obeyed my voice
Which through the metal fabric rang and pealed
In orders echoing far, like thunder-dreams.
With arches, galleries, and domes all carved—
So that great figures started from the roof
Of fate, or Zeus,—that nature filled our frames
With larger share of bodily elements
Than others mortal born. Seven giants we,
Of different minds, and destinies, and powers,
Yet glorified alike in corporal forms.
Few are my years, O Artemis! few my needs,
Though large my fancied wants, and small my knowledge,
Save of one art. Earth's deep metallic veins
Hephæstos taught me to refine and forge
To shapes that in my fancy I devised,
For use or ornament. To the lame God
Grateful I felt, nor knew what thanks to give;
But, ere a shadow-hunter I became—
A dreamer of strange dreams by day and night—
For him I built a palace underground,
Of iron, black and rough as his own hands.
Deep in the groaning disembowelled earth,
The tower-broad pillars and huge stanchions,
And slant supporting wedges I set up,
Aided by the Cyclops who obeyed my voice
Which through the metal fabric rang and pealed
In orders echoing far, like thunder-dreams.
With arches, galleries, and domes all carved—
So that great figures started from the roof
