Canto II.]
Orion.
17
"Keep down—put back—prevent! O Gods prevent!"
This was his famous saying. Now the King
Led out his patriot army—but ere long
The army hungered too—the King was slain—
Encolyon fled, and hid within a ship.
This was his famous saying. Now the King
Led out his patriot army—but ere long
The army hungered too—the King was slain—
Encolyon fled, and hid within a ship.
Forthwith a crowd to Akinetos thronged,
Crying, "What say'st thou, giant who art wise?
What shall we do?" And Akinetos said,
"Great hunger is a single thing—one want:
Satisfy that, and strength will be acquired
To multiply desire—wants without end!
Therefore be patient: leave all else to fate."
Crying, "What say'st thou, giant who art wise?
What shall we do?" And Akinetos said,
"Great hunger is a single thing—one want:
Satisfy that, and strength will be acquired
To multiply desire—wants without end!
Therefore be patient: leave all else to fate."
Stubborn the people as their own dry rocks—
Enraged as the wild winds—to reason deaf—
And also wanting food—cursed his calm thought—
Cast stones upon him, and had surely slain
But that without resistance he bore all,
And without word; so they, being tired, relented,
And bore him to the ship, where, in the hold,
Encolyon lay at length with in-drawn breath.
To Chios sailed the ship. The Ithacans
Chose a new king, and traded with the isles.
Enraged as the wild winds—to reason deaf—
And also wanting food—cursed his calm thought—
Cast stones upon him, and had surely slain
But that without resistance he bore all,
And without word; so they, being tired, relented,
And bore him to the ship, where, in the hold,
Encolyon lay at length with in-drawn breath.
To Chios sailed the ship. The Ithacans
Chose a new king, and traded with the isles.
