Hellas: A Lyrical Drama, Volume 6

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Shelley Society, 1886 - 67 pages
The drama focuses on the Sultan, Mahmud, who controls the Turkish attacks on Greece. His sleep is restless and his mind worried by a recurring nightmare. He seeks help from the Wandering Jew, Ahasuerus, whom he believes has magic powers and can interpret his dream. During their conversation, Mahmud sinks more and more into despair as he, in spite of reports of Turkish victories, realizes that he has lost the war.
 

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Page 12 - Worlds on worlds are rolling ever From creation to decay, Like the bubbles on a river Sparkling, bursting, borne away. But they are still immortal Who, through birth's orient portal And death's dark chasm hurrying to and fro, Clothe their unceasing flight In the brief dust and light Gathered around their chariots as they go...
Page 52 - Where fairer Tempes bloom, there sleep Young Cyclads on a sunnier deep. A loftier Argo cleaves the main, Fraught with a later prize; Another Orpheus sings again, And loves, and weeps, and dies. A new Ulysses leaves once more Calypso for his native shore.
Page 52 - The world's great age begins anew, The golden years return, The earth doth like a snake renew Her winter weeds outworn : Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam, Like wrecks of a dissolving dream. A brighter Hellas rears its mountains From waves serener far ; A new Peneus rolls his fountains Against the morning-star. Where fairer Tempes bloom, there sleep Young Cyclads on a sunnier deep.
Page 53 - Oh, cease ! must hate and death return ? Cease! must men kill and die? Cease! drain not to its dregs the urn Of bitter prophecy. The world is weary of the past, Oh, might it die or rest at last ! NOTES 'The quenchless ashes of Milan
Page 51 - Through the sunset of hope, Like the shapes of a dream, What Paradise islands of glory gleam Beneath Heaven's cope. Their shadows more clear float by — The sound of their oceans, the light of their sky, The music and fragrance their solitudes breathe, Burst like morning on...
Page 13 - A power from the unknown God ; A Promethean conqueror came ; Like a triumphal path he trod The thorns of death and shame. A mortal shape to him Was like the vapour dim Which the orient planet animates with light ; Hell, Sin, and Slavery came, Like blood-hounds mild and tame, Nor preyed until their lord had taken flight. The moon of Mahomet Arose, and it shall set : While blazoned as on heaven's immortal noon The cross leads generations on.
Page 38 - Of suns, and worlds, and men, and beasts, and flowers, With all the silent or tempestuous workings By which they have been, are. or cease to be, Is but a vision ; — all that it inherits Are motes of a sick eye, bubbles, and dreams...
Page 35 - But Greece and her foundations are Built below the tide of war, Based on the crystalline sea Of thought and its eternity; Her citizens, imperial spirits, Rule the present from the past, On all this world of men inherits Their seal is set.
Page 60 - Till by the spirit of the mighty dead My heart grew warm. I feed on whom I fed " Ay, alive and still bold," muttered Earth, " Napoleon's fierce spirit rolled, In terror, and blood, and gold, A torrent of ruin to death from his birth.
Page xlix - DOBSON, and an Etched Portrait from an unfinished Oil Sketch by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Select Letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

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