Classic Poem

The goddess queen of Cyprus thee
And Helen's bright star-brethren guide,
The winds' lord leave Iapyx free,
And keep the rest in dungeon tied,
O ship that hast in charge to set
Virgil ashore on Attic strand,
I pray thee duly pay thy debt,
My own soul's half bring safe to land.
Oak cased and triple brass his heart,
In brittle bark who first essayed
Upon the raging sea to start,
Whom nor south wind and north dismayed
In battle clash encountering,
Nor Hyads' gloom nor fury shrill
Of Notus, Hadria's despot king,
Who lifts or lays the waves at will.
Him what aspect of death could daunt,
Who looked with eye undimmed by tear
On heaving main, sea monsters' haunt,
On Acroceraunia, name of fear?
God's provident design in vain
Hath interposed estranging deep
'Twixt land and land, if ships profane
Will lightly o'er the barrier leap.
No law man's insolence can hold
From heinous crime. By baleful theft
Prometheus insolently bold
Brought fire from heavenly mansion reft
To earth. Then down a legion bore
Of wasting plagues and fevers new;
And death that lagged far off before
Quickened his pace and nearer drew.
Rash Daedalus the empty breeze
With wings to man not given durst
Invade. The toil of Hercules
Through Acheron a passage burst.
Our stubborn will no task out-tires.
Vain fools, to scale high heaven we seek.
Jove aye must grasp his levin fires,
Just wrath upon our sins to wreak.