4 'Twas thus, along the shore Of Thames, Britannia's guardian Genius heard, From many a tongue preferr'd, Of strife and grief the fond invective lore: At which the queen divine Indignant, with her adamantine spear Like thunder sounding near, Smote the red cross upon her silver shield, And thus her wrath reveal'd; (I watch'd her awful words, and made them mine.) * * * * * NOTES. BOOK FIRST. ODE XVIII, STANZA II.--2. Lycurgus the Lacedemonian lawgiver brought into Greece from Asia Minor the first complete copy of Homer's works. At Plataea was fought the decisive battle between the Persian army and the united militia of Greece under Pausanias and Aristides. Cimon the Athenian erected a trophy in Cyprus for two great victories gained on the same day over the Persians by sea and land. Diodorus Siculus has preserved the inscription which the Athenians affixed to the consecrated spoils, after this great success; in which it is very remarkable that the greatness of the occasion has raised the manner of expression above the usual simplicity and modesty of all other ancient inscriptions. It is this:-- [Greek: EX. OU. G. EUROPAeN. ASIAS. DIChA. PONTOS. ENEIME. KAI. POLEAS. ONAeTON. ThOUROS. ARAeS. EPEChEI. OUDEN. PO. TOIOUTON. EPIChThONION. GENET. ANDRON. ERGON. EN. AePEIROI. KAI. KATA. PONOTON. AMA. OIAE. GAR. EN. KUPROI. MAeDOUS. POLLOUS. OLESANTES. PhOINIKON. EKATON. NAUS. ELON. EN. PELAGEI. ANDRON. PLAeThOUSAS. META. D. ESENEN. ASIS. UP. AUTON. PLAeGEIS. AMPhOTERAIS. ChERSI. KRATEI. POLEMOU.] The following translation is almost literal:-- Since first the sea from Asia's hostile coast Divided Europe, and the god of war Assail'd imperious cities; never yet, At once among the waves and on the shore, Hath such a labour been achieved by men Who earth inhabit. They, whose arms the Medes In Cyprus felt pernicious, they, the same, Have won from skilful Tyre an hundred ships Crowded with warriors. Asia groans, in both Her hands sore smitten, by the might of war. STANZA II.--3.