'TWAS said the gods, when they Porphyrion slew, And vast Enceladus under Etna laid, @3Could conquer only with a mortal's aid@1 These mortal giants and their snakish crew. Poet who didst with radiant valour hew At monsters old, -- thou fought'st them with a blade Too wholly of celestial metal made, And lacking help of mere gross human thew. Therefore thou didst prevail not! For to quell Earth's mightiest evil things 'tis not enough To array against them things of heavenly birth. Earthly auxiliaries thou need'st as well: Earth-founded powers, and earth-forged weapons tough, And breastplate hard as the iron breast of the earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DEPOSITION FROM LOVE by THOMAS CAREW LINES WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM AT ELBINGERODE, IN HARTZ FOREST by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE RIDDLE ON THE LETTER H (1) by CATHERINE MARIA FANSHAWE GLOIRE DE DIJON by DAVID HERBERT LAWRENCE FROM AN EXCAVATION ON THE WARRIOR RIVER by ESTHER BARRETT ARGO |