NORBERT HIRSCHHORN

K. 525

Phalaris, tyrant of Sicily, caused
to have cast a brass bull ten cubits high,
hollow-bellied, into which each night
he ordered sealed four virgins, four Hebrews,
four hostage children, and commanded a blaze
be kindled beneath the belly of the bull
on an altar three thousand paces distant
from his ivory chambers.
A small night music.