The poet Phernazis is composing <br />the important part of his epic poem. <br />How Darius, son of Hystaspes, <br />assumed the kingdom of the Persians. (From him <br />is descended our glorious king <br />Mithridates, Dionysus and Eupator). But here <br />philosophy is needed; he must analyze <br />the sentiments that Darius must have had: <br />maybe arrogance and drunkenness; but no -- rather <br />like an understanding of the vanity of grandeurs. <br />The poet contemplates the matter deeply. <br /> <br />But he is interrupted by his servant who enters <br />running, and announces the portendous news. <br />The war with the Romans has begun. <br />The bulk of our army has crossed the borders. <br /> <br />The poet is speechless. What a disaster! <br />No time now for our glorious king <br />Mithridates, Dionysus and Eupator, <br />to occupy himself with greek poems. <br />In the midst of a war -- imagine, greek poems. <br /> <br />Phernazis is impatient. Misfortune! <br />Just when he was positive that with "Darius" <br />he would distinguish himself, and shut the mouths <br />of his critics, the envious ones, for good. <br />What a delay, what a delay to his plans. <br /> <br />And if it were only a delay, it would still be all right. <br />But it yet remains to be seen if we have any security <br />at Amisus. It is not a strongly fortified city. <br />The Romans are the most horrible enemies. <br />Can we hold against them <br />we Cappadocians? It is possible at all? <br />It is possible to pit ourselves against the legions? <br />Mighty Gods, protectors of Asia, help us.-- <br /> <br />But in all his turmoil and trouble, <br />the poetic idea too comes and goes persistently-- <br />the most probable, surely, is arrogance and drunkenness; <br />Darius must have felt arrogance and drunkenness.<br /><br />Constantine P. Cavafy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/darius/
