Greek Lyric Tragedy in Dramas of Swinburne 15 
The worship of the brightness of youth was another well- 
known Greek characteristic. This is found to a remarkable de- 
gree in these plays of Swinburne, and deepens the tragedy. 
“ The Youth of the Year” is the theme of one of the most beauti- 
ful choruses in Atalanta. The spirit of youth and brightness 
animates this chorus and also that on “nature.” This spirit of 
youth and brightness is heightened by Swinburne’s elemental ap- 
preciation. His writings abound with references to fire, light, 
wind, and water, giving an iridescent effect that is sometimes 
dazzling. A good example of this power of radiant description 
is seen in the prayer to the sun.*” 
Rise up, shine, stretch thine hand out, with thy bow 
Touch the most dimmest height of trembling heaven, 
And burn and break the dark about thy ways, 
Shot through with arrows; let thine hair 
Lighten as flame above that flameless shell 
Which was the moon, and thine eyes fill the world 
And thy lips kindle with swift beams; let earth 
Laugh, and the long sea fiery from thy feet 
Through all the roar and ripple of streaming springs 
And foam in reddening flakes and flying flowers 
Shaken from hands and blown from lips of nymphs 
Whose hair or breast divides the wandering wave 
With close tresses cleaving lock to lock, 
All gold, or shuddering and unfurrowed snow; 
And all the winds about thee with their wings, 
And fountain-heads of all the watered world; 
It is because of this radiance of youth that the sacrifice of 
Chthonia and the undeserved death of Meleager seem so pitiful.** 
Human bonds, love and its ties, form another dramatic motive. 
In Erechtheus the bond between Erechtheus, Praxithea and 
Chthonia is perfect. Each is faultless in the other’s eyes. Hence 
the breaking of this bond seems the more pathetic. In Atalanta 
the situation is even more tragic. Althaea is torn between her 
love for her son and her duty toward her kin. This breaking of 
57 Atalanta in Calydon, p. 247. 
58 Erechtheus, p. 504, 376. Atalanta in Calydon, p. 271, 325-326. 
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