The Voyage Comes to the Stadium

To whom Melanie Davidoff, Goddess azure-eyed.
Oh Greg! above all Kings enthroned!
If the Band Officers ever-blest ordain
That wise Greg to his home so close return,
Dispatch we then past, on to Illinois,
Our message, hence to Illinois’ south,
Who shall inform Hope University, school accursed,
Of this our fixt resolve, that to our destination
Greg, toil-enduring Chief, repair.
The band will hence to Ithaca, also,
Our team to animate, and with new force
Inspire, that (the Yellowjackets all convened
In council,) they may, instant, bid depart
The opponents from their home, who, day by day,
Their num’rous flocks and fatted herds consume.
And they will send them thence to journey forth,
And into certain victory, there to hear
(If hear they may) some tidings of great hope,
And to procure themself a glorious name.
This said, her golden sandals to her feet
She bound, ambrosial, which o’er all the earth
And o’er the interstate waft her bus as air,
Then, seizing her strong Euphonium pointed with brass,
In length and bulk, and weight a matchless coil,
With which the Jove-born Goddess outplays
Of Legends, against whom her anger burns,
From wise Rush Rhees' summit down she flew,
And on the threshold of Illinois' sweet hall
In Bloomington, and within their vestibule
Apparent stood; there, grasping her bright Euphonium,
Eager she seem’d, the hospitable Manager
Of the intrepid band—she found the haughty throng
The crowd; they before the arena gate
With iv’ry cubes sported, on num’rous hides
Reclined of oxen which themselves had slain.
The vendors and the busy hawkers there
Minister’d to them; these their mantling cups
With beer slaked; with bibulous wipes those
Made clean the seats, set the gate asunder,
And portioned out to each his plenteous view.
Long ere the rest Rocky himself
Mark’d the band, for sad amid them all he sat,
Pourtraying in deep thought contemplative
His noble Team, and questioning if yet
Perchance the Heroic Ladies might rise to chase
From all his arena that imperious herd,
To his own honour lord of the Court, and also net.
Amid them musing thus, sudden he saw
The Band, and sprang forth, for he abhorr’d
To see the band's admittance long delay’d;
Approaching eager, Melanie's right hand he seized,
The brazen Euphonium took from her, and in words
With welcome elated Greg thus address’d.