Unwilling I my lips unclose: Odin. Once again my call obey.— What dangers Odin's child await, Prophetess. In Hoder's hand the hero's doom: Odin. Prophetess, my spell obey: By whom shall Hoder's blood be spilt. Prophetess. In the caverns of the west, A wondrous boy shall Rinda bear, Odin. Yet awhile my call obey, Prophetess, awake, and say What virgins these, in speechless woe, That bend to earth their solemn brow; That their flaxen tresses tear, And snowy veils that float in air. 1 Odin was anxious about the fate of his son Balder, who had dreamed he was soon to die. He was killed by Odin's other son, Hoder. Hoder himself was afterwards slain by Vali, son of Odin and Rinda. Owen's praise demands my song, Big with hosts of mighty name, 1 Lok is the evil being who continues in chains till the twilight of the gods approaches; when he shall break his bonds; the human race, the sun and stars shall disappear; the earth sink in the sea, and fire consume the skies. (See Mallet's Northern Antiquities.) 2 Roderic II. (the Great), Prince of N. Wales, reigned from 843 to 877 A.D. Owen succeeded his father Griffin, A.D. 1120. 3 North Wales. Side by side as proudly riding, Dauntless, on his native sands, There the thundering strokes begin, Echoing to the battle's roar. Checked by the torrent-tide of blood While, heaped his master's feet around, * * Upon Deïra's squadrons hurled, To rush, and sweep them from the world! Too, too secure in youthful pride To Cattraëth's vale2 in glittering row Flushed with mirth and hope they burn: EXAMINATION ON GRAY'S ODES. 1. Which of these odes may be considered the finest ? 2. Define Lyric poetry. 3. Who founded Eton College? 4. What does the term "Pindaric" mean, as applied to an ode? 5. Quote some examples of personification from Ode IV. 6. Scan the first stanza of Ode V. (the Bard). 7. Who was the greatest Lyric poet of antiquity? 8. Explain the historical allusions in Ode V. 9. What is meant by the expression "buskined measures? 10. What means the term "fasces? 11. Who was Odin, and to what mythology does he belong? 12. What is meant by "Runic ? " 13. What is the general character of the "Ode?" 2 On the eastern coast of York 1 The kingdom of Deïra included the counties of Yorkshire, Durham, shire. Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. WILLIAM COLLINS. ODES. TO PITY. O thou, the friend of man assigned, When first Distress, with dagger keen, By Pella's bard', a magic name, By all the griefs his thought could frame, Long, Pity, let the nations view But wherefore need I wander wide Deserted stream, and mute? Wild Arun3, too, has heard thy strains; There first the wren thy myrtles shed Come, Pity, come; by Fancy's aid, E'en now my thoughts, relenting maid, 1 Euripides. 2 See note 3, p. 327. 5 The river Arun, in Sussex, flows close to the village where Otway was born. 4 An English poet; the author of "Venice preserved." |