THE LAUREL AND THE REED. THE Reed* that once the shepherd blew TO SYLLA'S cruel bow applied, Its inoffensive master slew. * The reeds on the banks of the Cephisus, of which the sher herds made their pipes, Sylla's soldiers used for arrows. Stay, bloody soldier, stay thy hand, Nor take the shepherd's gentle breath: Thy rage let innocence withstand; Let music soothe the thirst of death. He frowned-He bade the arrow fly- No more its tone his lip shall try, CEPHISUS, from his sedgy urn, With woe beheld the sanguine deed: He mourned, and, as they heard him mourn, Assenting sighed each trembling Reed. "Fair offspring of my waves, he cried; "That bind my brows, my banks adorn, "Pride of the plains, the rivers' pride, "For music, peace, and beauty born! "Ah! what, unheedful have we done! "What demons here in death delight? "What fiends that curse the social sun? "What furies of infernal night? "See, see, my peaceful shepherds bleed! "Each heart in harmony that vied, "Smote by its own melodious Reed, "Lies cold, along my blushing side. "Back to your urn, my waters, fly; Through DELPHI'S holy depth of shade "In vain CEPHISUS sighs to save "The swain that loves his watry mead, "And weeps to see his reddening wave, "And mourns for his perverted Reed: "In vain my violated groves "Must I with equal grief bewail, "While desolation sternly roves, "And bids the sanguine hand assail. "God of the genial stream, behold "My laurel shades of leaves so bare! "Those leaves no poet's brows enfold, "Nor bind APOLLO'S golden hair. "Like thy fair offspring, misapplied, "Far other purpose they supply; "The murderer's burning cheek to hide, "And on his frownful temples die. |