The Boast of Ares

Ares said he would drag Hephestus by force From Poseidon’s palace Deep down in the sea; Where he had fashioned The cunning throne With the secret chains.

He presented the throne, Forsooth, as a gift To the queen of heaven; But Hera soon found For revenge on her Who had him cast From the home of Gods.

For secure in its clasp Of adamant gold She was held imprisoned, The prey of his guile; And Hephestus knew By him alone Could the queen be freed.

But the great God of war Made boast of his strength; He would bring the forger Of metals and tricks On high to release Hera, and end Her enraged despair.

Ares said he would drag Hephestus by force, But was made to waver And flee when assailed With a blazing brand By the dark God Of the underworld.

GOLD

Gold is the son of Zeus, Immortal, bright; Nor moth nor worm may eat it, Nor rust tarnish.

So are the Muse’s gifts The offspring fair, That merit from high heaven Youth eternal.

GNOMICS

I

My ways are quiet, none may find My temper of malignant kind; For one should check the words that start When anger spreads within the heart.

II

Who from my hands what I can spare Of gifts accept the largest share, Those are the very ones who boast No gratitude and wrong me most.

III

He who in face and form is fair Must needs be good, the Gods declare; But he whose thought and act are right Will soon be equal fair to sight.

IV

Beauty of youth is but the flower Of spring, whose pleasure lasts an hour; While worth that knows no mortal doom Is like the amaranthine bloom.

PRIDE

Pride not thyself upon a ring, Or any trinket thing Of fleeting value, dross or gold.

Wealth, lacking worth, is no safe friend, Though both to life may lend, In just proportion, joy untold.