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08 - Mythology: Hymn to Apollo

Hymn to Apollo

One of the greatest Olympian Gods and the only one to appear with the same name in both Greek and Roman mythology. In Greek mythology, he was the son of Zeus and Leto, brother of Artemis, half brother of Hermes, and father of many, including Aristaeus and Asclepius. Apollo had many functions: he was the god of poetry, music, archery, prophecy, and healing. Associated with the care of herds and crops, Apollo was a sun god of great antiquity, yet he is represented as an ever-youthful god, just and wise and of great beauty. 

Daly, K. (2009). "Greek and Roman mythology A to Z, third edition" (Mythology A To Z). New York: Chelsea House. 28 April 2016.


(Britannica, n.d.)

Hymn To Apollo 

by John Keats

 

1.

God of the golden bow,

      And of the golden lyre,

And of the golden hair,

      And of the golden fire,

            Charioteer

            Of the patient year,

      Where—-where slept thine ire,

When like a blank idiot I put on thy wreath,

      Thy laurel, thy glory,

      The light of thy story,

Or was I a worm—-too low crawling for death?

      O Delphic Apollo!

 

2.

The Thunderer grasp'd and grasp'd,

      The Thunderer frown'd and frown'd;

The eagle's feathery mane

      For wrath became stiffen'd—-the sound

            Of breeding thunder

            Went drowsily under,

      Muttering to be unbound.

O why didst thou pity, and beg for a worm?

      Why touch thy soft lute

      Till the thunder was mute,

Why was I not crush'd—-such a pitiful germ?

      O Delphic Apollo!

 

3.

The Pleiades were up,

      Watching the silent air;

The seeds and roots in Earth

      Were swelling for summer fare;

            The Ocean, its neighbour,

            Was at his old labour,

      When, who—-who did dare

To tie for a moment, thy plant round his brow,

      And grin and look proudly,

      And blaspheme so loudly,

And live for that honour, to stoop to thee now?

      O Delphic Apollo!  

 

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