She died at play, 1
Gambolled away
Her lease of spotted hours,
Then sank as gaily as a Turk
Upon a Couch of flowers.
Her ghost strolled softly o'er the hill 6
Yesterday, and Today,
Her vestments as the silver fleece－
Her countenance as spray.
Gambolled away
Her lease of spotted hours,
Then sank as gaily as a Turk
Upon a Couch of flowers.
Her ghost strolled softly o'er the hill 6
Yesterday, and Today,
Her vestments as the silver fleece－
Her countenance as spray.
(F.141/J.75)
[1] died at play:: a character died in a stage play.
[2] Gambolled away:: happily she left the stage.
[3] lease, hours:: she gained some extra leisure hours.
[4] Turk:: the larva of an insect (OED turk n.2, 1712).
[5] flowers:: favored by larva.
[6] Her ghost:: her drifting mind.
[8] vestments:: costumes of the stage play. silver fleece:: her role was the victim ewe with silver fleece in The Iliad.
[9] spray:: twigs of trees, the make-up of the ewe.
He said; and, rising, chose the victim ewe
With silver fleece, which his attendants slew.
The limbs they sever from the reeking hide,
With skill prepare them, and in parts divide:
Each on the coals the separate morsels lays,
And, hasty, snatches from the rising blaze.
─ The Iliad of Homer, translated by Alexander Pope (1844)
