DELPHIC HYMN TO APOLLO

Thee, the son of God most high,

Famed for harping song, will I

Proclaim, and the deathless oracular word

From the snow-topped rock that we gaze on heard,

Counsels of thy glorious giving

Manifest for all men living,

How thou madest the tripod of prophecy thine

Which the wrath of the dragon kept guard on, a shrine

Voiceless till thy shafts could smite

All his live coiled glittering might.

Ye that hold of right alone

All deep woods on Helicon,

Fair daughters of thunder-girt God, with your bright

White arms uplift as to lighten the light,

Come to chant your brother's praise,

Gold-haired Phoebus, loud in lays,

Even his, who afar up the twin-topped seat

Of the rock Parnassian whereon we meet

Risen with glorious Delphic maids

Seeks the soft spring-sweetened shades

Castalian, fain of the Delphian peak

Prophetic, sublime as the feet that seek.

Glorious Athens, highest of state,

Come, with praise and prayer elate,

O thou that art queen of the plain unscarred

That the warrior Tritonid hath alway in guard,

Where on many a sacred shrine

Young bulls’ thigh-bones burn and shine

As the god that is fire overtakes them, and fast

The smoke of Arabia to heavenward is cast,

Scattering wide its balm: and shrill

Now with nimble notes that thrill

The flute strikes up for the song, and the harp of gold

Strikes up to the song sweet answer: and all behold,

All, aswarm as bees, give ear,

Who by birth hold Athens dear.