I. BOND slave to Omphale, The haughty Lydian queen, Fond slave to Omphale, The beauteous Lydian queen, Lo! Hercules is seen Spinning, spinning like a maid, While aside his club is laid, And the hero boasts no more All his doughty deeds of yore, But with sad, submissive mien Spinning, spinning still is seen, Bond slave to Omphale, Fond slave to Omphale, The haughty Lydian queen. II. Shame! that for a woman's whim He, so stout of heart and limb, Must his nature so abuse Thus his mighty arm to use, -- Not the manly mace to whirl, But a tiny spindle twirl, Spinning, spinning like a girl, With a soft, submissive mien, Bond slave to Omphale, Fond slave to Omphale, The haughty Lydian queen. III. Fond slave to Omphale, -- Bond slave no more; Love has loosed whom Tyranny Basely bound before! The distaff now is cast aside, And, leaning on his club in pride, Lo! Hercules is seen In majesty serene, -- A hero sitting by his bride, Fair Omphale, his queen! IV. Whatever mortals crave, So rule the gods above That manly Strength is Beauty's slave, And Beauty yields to Love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS SONG 18 by THOMAS CAMPION PATIENCE by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE FIRST VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS by JOANNA BAILLIE VERSES TO SOME FRIENDS RETURNING FROM THE SEA-SIDE by BERNARD BARTON GLEANING by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN |