The Poems of Schiller — Second period. Friedrich von Schiller

          The mortal race of old Deucalion;

         Pyrrha's fair daughter, humanly to woo,

          Came down, in shepherd-guise, Latona's son

         Between men, heroes, gods, harmonious then

          Love wove sweet links and sympathies divine;

         Blest Amathusia, heroes, gods, and men,

          Equals before thy shrine!

         Not to that culture gay,

          Stern self-denial, or sharp penance wan!

         Well might each heart be happy in that day —

          For gods, the happy ones, were kin to man!

         The beautiful alone the holy there!

          No pleasure shamed the gods of that young race;

         So that the chaste Camoenae favoring were,

          And the subduing grace!

         A palace every shrine;

          Your sports heroic; — yours the crown

         Of contests hallowed to a power divine,

          As rushed the chariots thundering to renown.

         Fair round the altar where the incense breathed,

          Moved your melodious dance inspired; and fair

         Above victorious brows, the garland wreathed

          Sweet leaves round odorous hair!

         The lively Thyrsus-swinger,

          And the wild car the exulting panthers bore,

         Announced the presence of the rapture-bringer —

          Bounded the Satyr and blithe Faun before;

         And Maenads, as the frenzy stung the soul,