TYRIAEUM REVIEW

Posted by Admin on 23 February 2008, 12:00 am

Hear the light-armed chanting,
see the prancing steeds;
spin the wheels in dust clouds,
Cyrus onwards speeds.
Greeks and men barbaric,
standing for review:
see the Thracian peltasts;
Cretan bowmen too.
Hear the raucous trumpets
split the Phrygian day,
wake the Spring of Midas,
thirty miles away.
Waits there Epyaxa,
mistress fair and queen;
conscious of her power,
proven by the scene.
Forward, ever forward,
charge the mighty hosts,
’til the wond’ring watchers
tremble at their posts.
Gleam the brazen helmets,
glow the tunics red,
glint the polished weapons,
filling hearts with dread.
Menon leads the right wing
past the royal bride,
jealous where Clearchus
heads the other side.
Onward, ever onward,
pound the Grecian mass;
scatt’ring wares asunder,
thro’ the market pass.
Fly Barbarian armies,
flies Cilicia’s queen;
routed by such wonder,
peace had never seen.
Hear the Grecian cheering,
laughter rising high,
warns King Syennesis,
“Meet in peace – or die!”