Drizzled over comrades dead,
For an Empire they have bled;
Each taste at last Falernian wine,
Treasure of the Pompeii vine;
Wetting cold and crusted lips
The nectar each man fears to sip;
The final feast before Charon
Rows them cross the Acheron;
Thracians, Dacians, men from Gaul
Nubians too – Romans all.
Nice classic Acheronian touch John.
I think you are very interested in Latin.
A professor once told me that reading Homer`s battle
poetry aloud in the Latin, was like listening to a troop of
horses riding in the charge.
The only rhythmic thing in English that I can imagine is
Thompson`s beginning of `The Veteran of Heaven`
(which is actually a religious `victory in defeat` poem.):
O CAPTAIN of the wars, whence won Ye so great scars?
In what fight did Ye smite, and what manner was the foe?
Was it on a day of rout they compassed Thee about,
Or gat Ye these adornings when Ye wrought their overthrow?
It`s the way the meter seems to gallop militarily.
If you wish to post a comment you must login.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
John Coopey
Sat 2nd Apr 2016 17:04
Hello Harry,
Thanks for the thoughts. I was an appalling student of Latin at school but value it along with Greek Mythology as completely worthless knowledge of which more should be taught these days.
One of my favourite belters is Byron,
"The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold."