Ballads : patriotic & romantic / by Clinton Scollard [electronic text]

ORACLES

BEFORE the birth-song of the Galilean Thrilled through the spheres afar, Long ere the echo of that sweet peace pæan Was borne from star to star,

Men sought from prophets, priests, and statues graven, To gain some gleam of light That should illume the future's pathway, paven With shadows dark as night.

Deep in the heart of Libyan deserts arid Was Ammon's altar reared, And long and patiently the pilgrims tarried To list the voice they feared.

The laureled Pythian priestess of Apollo, From hills that Delphi crown, Inspired by breathings from her cave's black hollow, Sent her weird visions down.

Dodonian oaks, through which low tongues seemed crying To every wandering breeze,

Drew, by their power of wondrous prophesying, Strange folk far over seas.

Happy were they who dreamed of no deceiving, Whate'er the worshiped shrine, Who lived undoubting lives out, still believing In tokens sibylline!

Shall we, who bow before the one eternal And gracious Godhead, hold In scorn what they deemed sacred in those vernal Sweet Grecian days of old?

Nay, nay, for while its lustrous light outflinging Clear gleams the morning star, The vocal trees, the free birds' rapturous singing, Will be oracular!