The Friend of Greece. By Richard Garnett . Βασιλεως μεγαλου Αρσακου φιλελληνος. Of Arsaces, the great king, the friend of Greece. Inscription on a Parthian coin. The friend of Greece ! Fair fall the mould That veiled thy stater’s glittering So long, to gleam forth now and hold Our bosoms linked with thine, thou old Barbaric king ! A thousand thousand such thy mint Hath fashioned. In thy treasury The classic stamp and splendid tint Didst scan well pleased, without a hint That one should be, The last retirement of thy name ; Who didst a despot law enjoin On slaves, the knee once howed so tame, Thy equal now, and all thy fame This little coin ? Did Ormus bend to thee, and they Of Colchis ? Did thy arrow strike The Indian ? owned the Scyth thy sway ? We nothing know, and can but say— ’Tis very like. This only know we, did thine blaze A conqueror’s sword, or not, ’tis rust. If ever hosts to win thee praise Contended, then their feet did raise More lasting dust. So far apart thy race was run, Thy very shade half seems to be The spectre of another sun. But, Greece ! the word is union For us and thee. The friend of Greece ! Then friend wert thou To sacred Art and all her train, The marble life, the Picture’s glow, And Music and the overflow Of lyric strain. The friend of Greece ! Then where of old Anarchic Licence charioteered Curbless, and famished Rapine rolled Forth hordes athirst for blood and gold, Thou wouldst have reared The Muse and Pallas shrines secure, Made Themis awful in her hall, And life a boon God-worthy, sure, Exalted, comely, cheerful, pure, And rhythmical. The friend of Greece ! Fate should have let Thee breathe ere yet a Greek could blush For aught but love or anger ! Set Her sun for thee, though lingering yet A heavenly flush. Yes ! beautiful before thee lay Inanimate Antiquity. Too late for life, yet for decay Too soon, thou view’dst her. We have clay And memory ! And lips which haply, do we wend Mid the cold tombs of grace antique May with Hellenic accents blend Thy Parthian name, and call thee friend, Friend of the Greek !