"Take of our offering, O you mighty gods,

Look on this people kindly, let them prosper

37

In health and increase. Let the fecund ground

Grant us, your creatures, life to serve you well.

Take of our offering, O you gods of war,

Let men be brave and triumph in your name.

Take of our offering, O you gods of sea,

Spare us your wrath, and in your might depart

Along the ocean to some far off shore.

Take of our offering, all you mighty gods."

The feasting ended, round the fires they gathered,

Wise aged men telling anew their tales

Of youth, sweet purposeless youth which dreams of stars

The while it gathers weeds—of battles dire.

Their thin cold blood warmed with grim memories

Of gods they told, of goddesses with hair

38

Streaming across the sunset, and of dear

Women long dead, and then the maidens came,

 Prev. P 31/48 next