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Translated by H. H. Milman
THENCE, southward bending to the Orient, laves | |
| The Erythrean, with its ocean waves, | |
| Of all earth’s shores the fairest richest strand, | |
| And noblest tribes possess that happy land. | |
| First of all wonders, still forever soar | 5 |
| Sweet clouds of fragrance from that breathing shore. | |
| The myrrh, the odorous cane, the cassia there, | |
| And ever-ripening incense balms the air. | |
| For in that land the all-ruling King on high | |
| Set free young Bacchus from his close-bound thigh; | 10 |
| Broke odors from each tree at that fair birth, | |
| And one unbounded fragrance filled the earth. | |
| ’Neath golden fleeces stooped the o’er-laden flocks, | |
| And streams came bounding from the living rocks. | |
| Birds from strange isles, and many an untrod shore, | 15 |
| With leaves of cinnamon, were flying o’er. | |
| Loose from his shoulders hung the fawn-skin down, | |
| In his fair hair was wreathed the ivy-crown: | |
| Ruddy his lips with wine. He shook his wand, | |
| Smiling, and wealth o’erflowed the gifted land. | 20 |
| Whence still the fields with liquid incense teem, | |
| The hills with gold, with odors every stream; | |
| And in their pride her sumptuous sons enfold | |
| Their limbs in soft attire and robes of gold. | |
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