Since Persia fell at Marathon, The yellow years have gathered fast: Long centuries have come and gone. And yet (they say) the place will don A phantom fury of the past, Since Persia fell at Marathon; And as of old, when Helicon Trembled and swayed with rapture vast (Long centuries have come and gone), This ancient plain, when night comes on, Shakes to a ghostly battle-blast, Since Persia fell at Marathon. But into soundless Acheron The glory of Greek shame was cast: Long centuries have come and gone, The suns of Hellas have all shone, The first has fallen to the last:— Since Persia fell at Marathon, Long centuries have come and gone.
Composition date is unknown - the above date represents the first publication date.
The lyrical form of this poem is villanelle.1.
Marathon: town on a plain in Attica north of Athens on the Aegeansea where Miltiades defeated the Persian army in 490 B.
C.7.
Helicon: mountain in Greece near the Gulf of Corinth.13.
Acheron: river in Hades.16.
Hellas:
Greece.
