Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-28
GREEK SONG POETRY.
IT'S CHARACTERS AND AUTHORS DE-
ScRiBED BY PROFESSOR HARRIS
A Critical Dissection OF the schoois-A
Defence OF vioIet-crowned, Pure.
swestly-smiiiog sappho.

Another fair night and an appreciative
audience contributed 70 the full success OF
Professor Harris's second lecture ON the
Melic Poetry of the Greeks at Richmond
College last night. A kind and unknown
hand had placed pretty roses on the speak
er's desk to which he gracefully alluded
The professors of the college and their
families, quite number of the trustees,
including Mr.. j. J. Montague, DR.. A. T.
Dickinson. Mr.. Josiah Ryland, DIR. George
Cooper, the ministers of the city, and pro-
fessors of other schools, among them
Messrs. Corey and Hovey, many OF the
public-schooI teachers, with superintend-
ent Fox at their head, Messrs u. n. john
son, John Chamblin, Major Nash, MI.
Boyd, and other citizens were present.
The number of ladies was large, ana tne
professor did not forget top.ay hitting com,
pliments to this part OF his cultivated
audience.
Professor Harris in beginning stated that
song poetry is either personal, suited IN
sentiment and form for solo, or choral. sdapIea
70 group Of voices and expressing cor men sen
timens. accompanied among the 0reeks ~
dancing or graceful movement in harmony WIN
the thoughts. Inc former treated OF politics, OF
love, OF wine, nourished on Lesbos, ana from
It's dialect Is called Aeolic- The iattor a"sineo
It's highest excellence among the more soper
name.
TIE AEoLIc SCHOOL.
Poetry born OF the times Is best explained oy
studying the lives Of Its authors VISIT Some
years ago 10 hitylene was still fresh IN tne
lecturers memory and enabled him TO present
a picture OF tho green island, the curved shore,
the city lying between the castle on the nortn
and a fair slope covered with groves ana wins
yards and dottsd with pretty villas on tne
south, aud especially OF the lovely oeii 1hlcn
his fancy had selected as the spot "where
burning sappho loved and suns"
Alcaeus lived In troublous times, about 800 b.
O. The aristocrstic party, OF when ne WAS 81
ardent member, was twice overthrown by ty-
rants, who In turn fell Dy ASSASSINATION, ana men
Pittacus, one Of the seven Wise Men, was CHOSEN
dictator, and like his contemporary, solon, lsid
the foundations OF democracy. The poet was
baniahed and entered the army OF Pharaoh
Hophre, while his brother took service under
Nebuchadnezzsr. II may help 70 nix the GAZE,
said the lecturer, TO notice that u was hoout tne
tmo Of the destruction Of Jerusalem, ana tho
one brother may have seen the aged Jeremiah III
his enforced retreat at Tanpsuhes, the other
may have heard young Ezekiel "by the rivers oil
Babylon
ONLY FEW FRAGMENTS.
In attempting 70 secure recall BY exciting
revolution, Alcaeus was taken prisoner but par
doned by Pittscus, who thought "forglvenees
better than vengeance" he seems 70 nave
UNel Quietly alter THAT udbtfo Sttyf
out OF sympathy with It's political progress. oi
| his ten books OF songs political, conviyial ana
| amstory. only q few fragments survive. Ihey
we're composed for select audiences al banquets
! and have furnished both model ana inhllef W
Horace, Byron. and others A,
There was younger contemporary OF Al
| caeus whom he calls "yiolet-crowned, pure,
| sweetly-smiling ssppho,h small brunette OF
| rare beauty Her moral character has been
| vigorously assailed. but without reason. The
| customs OF the Leyant allowed women much
| more freedom than was tolerated. AZ Athens ner
| passions were strong, but not ingoyernedi Ihe
| story Of her Leucsdian leap Is unquestionably
| myth-every locality has It's "l0yer5 leap" sne
| seems 10 have been the honored head oil CO.
| terie or school Of young ladies studying poetry:
OF the nine books she wrote only Wo SNORT
| poems and few other fragments survive. one
/ has been translated by Catullus and from MIN
| by Lord Byron. They are notsbie Tor intense
| depth OF feeling and exquisite grace OF olcuop.
| The brilliant success OF the lev creek women
| who had a chance-Sappho, Erinna, and Aspa-
| sa-may teach US lesson in reference 70 inc
higher education OF woman.
| Anacreon, born at Teos, lived at the splendl
courts of Polycrates OF samos ana tne re ISIS
| roundings. His verses lack nAturalness, spoh-
| ianeity, real feeling, and make amends only py
| mechanical polish. This character Invited iml-
/ tation. The " Odes ~ translated by Tom Moore
| are spurious though somewhat I'm the style OF
| the originals Several Of the brightest we're
i given in illustration.
| THE DoRIC SCHOOL.
OF this there are, said Professor Harris, severai
yarieres-such as the simple chorus IN worship
| Of Apollo, the Dithyrsmb in honor Oh Dyonysus'
/ from which sprsng tragedy, and the epinicion,
| In celebration of Victories at the games.
Among the founders OF the art three or -FOUR
/ deserve mention.
| as a slave to sparta about go b. e., and there
attaining distinction as poet and danoing-mas-
| ter. About the same time nourished Terpan.
| der OF Lesbos q musical reformer. Both found
| good audience az Sparta. then the head Oh al
Iislas OF sicily was a famous trainer Of cho-
J ruses and carae to be- called stesichorus.
! Aroion OF Lesbos, resident at the court soi
| Periander, pleased his regal lord by amusing
| the populace with dithyranibc odes IN the wor-
| ship OF DiOnysus The story Of his dolphin ride
illustrates his power as poet and musician.
MASTERS OF CHORAL LYRICS.
The masters Of choral lyric were two. simonl'
des Of Coos lived during and after the Preslen
inyasions and surpassed all others In versatility
| being cosmopolitan In tastes and habits, equally
az homo with the rudo tyrants OF fhessaly or the
| cultured democrats of Athens, ready for feast OF
funeral. for elegy, satire, religious or epnician
ode, doing well In all. but excellent In none.
| His predecessors had received presents; ne
wrote for stipulated pay. and measured his
| praise by its amount several anecdotes were
told to show how he was esteemed ana some
| brief extracts cited from his epitaphs and odes.
| Pindar OF Thebes was alone among Die
| countrymen, but high above ali hls contempt
| rsriee, his ominence was due partly 10 native
| genius and hard work, partly TO iavorine CIR
| SnTnstances. such as a revival OF orgiastic wor.
ship at Thebes, the growth OF national feeling
and the rise Of the drama He was welcome
visitor a. the court Of Hero OF syracuse. oui
| was not made for a courtier. Ills lame rests
| mainlv on epinicIan odes, many Of which are
preserved complete. In these he celebrated the
| praises Of victors at the olympisn or Pythisp
games. The champions were received on th 81
| return home with a splendid banquet, az Which
| a eon,us or band OF jewellers sang their praises
| hence snoomiuni. His style Is ornate, with
| mythic lore laden with imagery, and IS Horace
| sAys. brushes like swollen river"