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4. AT THE COLOSSEUM,
by Amphilochius of Iconium
They sit unknowing of these agonies,
Spectators at a show. When a man flies
From a beast's jaw, they groan, as if at least
They missed the ravenous pleasure, like the beast,
And sat there vainly. When, in the next spring,
The victim is attained, and, uttering
The deep roar or quick shriek between the fangs,
Beats on the dust the passion of his pangs,
All pity dieth in that glaring look;
They clap to see the blood run like a brook;
They stare with hungry eyes, which tears should fill,
And cheer the beasts on with their soul's good will;
And wish more victims to their maw, and urge
And lash their fury, as they shared the surge,
Gnashing their teeth, like beasts, on the flesh of men.
9. RIGHT RULE,
by George Pisida
Some yearn to rule the state, to sit above,
And touch the cares of hate as near as love;
Some their own reason for tribunal take,
And for all thrones the humblest prayers they make;
Some love the orator's vain-glorious art, --
The wise love silence and the hush of heart, --
Some to ambition's spirit-curse are fain,
That golden apple with a bloody stain;
While some do battle in her face (more rife
Of noble ends) and conquer strife with strife:
And while your groaning tables gladden these,
Satiety's quick chariot to disease,
Hunger the wise man helps, to water, bread,
And light wings to the dreams about his head.
* * *
The sage o'er all the world his sceptre waves,
And earth is common ground to thrones and graves.
11. ACROSTIC,
by St. Simeon Metaphrastes
A h, tears upon mine eyelids, sorrow on mine heart,
I bring Thee soul-repentance, Creator as Thou art!
B ounding joyous actions, deep as arrows go;
Pleasures self-revolving, issue into woe!
C reatures of our mortal, headlong rush to sin:
I have seen them; of them -- ah me, -- I have been!
D uly pitying Spirits, from your spirit-frame,
Bring your cloud of weeping, -- worthy of the same!
E lse I would be bolder; if that light of Thine,
Jesus, quell the evil, let it on me shine!
F ail me truth, is living, less than death forlorn,
When the sinner readeth -- "better be unborn"?
G od, I raise toward Thee both eyes of my heart,
With a sharp cry -- "Help me!" -- while mine hopes depart.
H elp me! Death is bitter, all hearts comprehend;
But I fear beyond it -- end beyond the end.
I nwardly behold me, how my soul is black:
Sympathize in gazing, do not spurn me back!
K nowing that Thy pleasure is not to destroy,
That Thou fain wouldst save me -- this is all my joy.
L o, the lion, hunting spirits in their deep,
(Stand beside me!) roareth -- (help me!) nears to leap.
M ayst Thou help me, Master! Thou art pure alone,
Thou alone art sinless, one Christ on a throne.
N ightly deeds I loved them, hated day's instead;
Hence this soul-involving darkness on mine head.
O Word, who constrainest things estranged and curst,
If Thy hand can save me, that work were the first!
P ensive o'er my sinning, counting all its ways,
Terrors shake me, waiting adequate dismays.
Q uenchless glories many, hast Thou -- many a rod --
Thou, too, hast Thy measures. Can I bear Thee, God?
R end away my counting from my soul's decline,
Show me of the portion of those saved of Thine!
S low drops of my weeping to Thy mercy run:
Let its rivers wash me, by that mercy won!
T ell me what is worthy, in our dreary now,
As the future glory? (madness!) what, as THOU?
U nion, oh, vouchsafe me to Thy fold beneath,
Lest the wolf across me gnash his gory teeth!
V iew me, judge me gently! spare me, Master bland
Brightly lift Thine eyelids, kindly stretch Thine hand!
W inged and choral angels! 'twixt my spirit lone,
And all deathly visions, interpose your own!
Y ea, my Soul, remember death and woe inwrought --
After-death affliction, wringing earth's to nought!
Z one me, Lord, with graces! Be foundations built
Underneath me; save me! as Thou know'st and wilt!
[Translator's Note: The omission of our X (in any case too sullen a letter
to be employed in the service of an acrostic) has permitted us to write line
for line with the Greek! -- E.B.]
13. IKONS,
by John of Euchaita
a) Gregory of Nazianzen
What meditates thy thoughtful gaze, my father?
To tell me some new truth? Thou canst not so!
For all that mortal hands are weak to gather,
Thy blessed books unfolded long ago.
c) The Transfiguration
Tremble, spectator, at the vision won thee!
Stand afar off, look downward from the height,
Lest Christ too nearly seen should lighten on thee,
And from thy fleshly eyeballs strike the sight,
As Paul fell ruined by that glory white!
Lo, the disciples prostrate, each apart,
Each impotent to bear the lamping light!
And all that Moses and Elias might,
The darkness caught the grace upon her heart
And gave them strength for! Thou, if evermore
A god-voice pierce thy dark,--rejoice, adore!
18. LIFE,
by Theodore Prodromus
Oh, take me, thou mortal, -- thy LIFE for thy praiser!
Thou hast met, found and seized me, and know'st what my ways are.
Nor leave me for slackness, nor yield me for pleasure,
Nor look up too saintly, nor muse beyond measure!
There's the veil from my head -- see the worst of my mourning!
There are wheels to my feet -- have a dread of their turning!
There are wings round my waist -- I may flatter and flee thee!
There are yokes on my hands -- fear the chains I decree thee!
Hold -me-! hold a shadow, the winds as they quiver;
Hold -me-! hold a dream, smoke, a track on the river.
Oh! take me, thou mortal, -- thy Life for thy praiser,
Thou hast met not, and seized not, nor know'st what my ways are!
Nay, frown not, and shrink not, nor call me an aspen;
There's the veil from my head! I have dropped from thy clasping!
A fall-back within it I soon may afford thee;
There are wheels to my feet -- I may roll back toward thee!
There are wings round my waist -- I may flee back and clip thee!
There are yokes on my hands -- I may soon cease to whip thee!
Take courage! I rather would hearten than hip thee!
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The St. Pachomius Orthodox Library, Lent 1996.
O Lord, remember Thy servants, Elizabeth, translator; Nigel; Donald;
Shelly; Paul; Kate; Stephen; Tykhon; John; Paul; Mariette; John; the
priest Michael; James; Alexia; Edward; Mark; Marsha; Barton; Gregory;
Karen; Kurt; Michael; Norman; and Tae Han!
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THE END, AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
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