  "Oh! go not forth, my father dear—oh! I go not forth to-day, And trust not thou that Satrap dark, for he fawns but to betray; His courteous smiles are treacherous wiles, his foul designs to hide; Then go not forth, my father dear—in thy own fair towers abide." "Now, say not so, dear daughter mine—I pray thee, say not so! Where glory calls, a monarch's feet should never fear to go; And safe to-day will be my way through proud Magnesia's halls, As if I stood 'mid my bowmen good beneath my Samian walls. "The Satrap is my friend, sweet child—my trusty friend is he— The ruddy gold his coffers hold he shares it all with me; No more amid these clustering isles alone shall be my sway, But Hellas wide, from side to side, thy empire shall obey! "And of all the maids of Hellas, though they be rich and fair, With the daughter of Polycrates, oh! who shall then compare? Then dry thy tears—no idle fears should damp our joy to-day— And let me see thee smile once more before I haste away!" "Oh! false would be the smile, my sire, that I should wear this morn, For of all my country's daughters I shall soon be most forlorn; I know, I know,—ah, thought of woe!—I ne'er shall see again My father's ship come sailing home across the Icarian main. "Each gifted seer, with words of fear, forbids thee to depart, And their warning strains an echo find in every faithful heart; A maiden weak, e'en I must speak—ye gods, assist me now! The characters of doom and death are graven on thy brow! "Last night, my sire, a vision dire thy daughter's eyes did see, Suspended in mid air there hung a form resembling thee; Methought that form was bathed by Jove, and anointed by the sun!" "My child, my child, thy fancies wild I may not stay to hear. A friend goes forth to meet a friend—then wherefore should'st thou fear? Though moonstruck seers with idle fears beguile a maiden weak, They cannot stay thy father's hand, or blanch thy father's cheek. "Let cowards keep within their holds, and on peril fear to run! Such shame," quoth he, "is not for me, fair Fortune's favourite son!" Yet still the maiden did repeat her melancholy strain— "I ne'er shall see my father's fleet come sailing home again!" The monarch call'd his seamen good, they muster'd on the shore, Waved in the gale the snow-white sail, and dash'd the sparkling oar; But by the flood that maiden stood—loud rose her piteous cry— "Oh! go not forth, my dear, dear sire—oh, go not forth to die!" A frown was on that monarch's brow, and he said as he turn'd away, "Full soon shall Samos' lord return to Samos' lovely bay; But thou shalt aye a maiden lone within my courts abide— No chief of fame shall ever claim my daughter for his bride! "A long, long maidenhood to thee thy prophet tongue hath given—" "Oh would, my sire," that maid replied, "such were the will of Heaven! Though I a loveless maiden lone must evermore remain, Still let me hear that voice so dear in my native isle again!" 'Twas all in vain that warning strain—the king has crost the tide— But never more off Samos shore his bark was seen to ride! The Satrap false his life has ta'en, that monarch bold and free, And his limbs are black'ning in the blast, nail'd to the gallows-tree! That night the rain came down apace, and wash'd each gory stain, But the sun's bright ray, the next noonday, glared fiercely on the slain; And the oozing gore began once more from his wounded sides to run; Good-sooth, that form was bathed by Jove, and anointed by the Sun! |
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