He wrote lyrical poems among which "Hymn to Liberty"(1824) and "On the Death of Lord Byron" are well known. To his Zante period belong the beginnings of two major works which were never finished, "Lambros" and "The Free Beseiged". Only fragments of these poems have survived. These were followed by "The Cretan" and "The Shark" which mark the higjhest point of Solomo's art. His "Hymn to Libert", which later became tha national anthem of Greece, was hailed with delight by such great literary figures as Victor Hugo, Lamartine, Chateaubriand, Manzoni, and Goethe. From "Hymn to Liberty" I know you by the sharp blade of your terrifying sword, I know you by the form you made taking the earth as victor lord. Sprung from Grecian bones scattered hallowed on every vale, with your old valor unshatterd, Liberty, hail to you, hail! Yes, but your sons, your offspring now fight with all their breath, and unseasingly are seeking either victory or death. (Trans. Byron M. Raizis)
For more details on Solomos, see: Byron M. Raizis, "Dionysios Solomos" (New York, 1972); Linos Politis, "History of Modern Greek Literature" (Oxford, 1973). |
