Here’s another poem from Robert Graves. He wrote this one during the second world war, referring back to classical antiquity to comment on current events.
It refers to the battle of Marathon in 490BC, at which the Greeks halted the Persian invasion. The major source for this is the Greek writer Herodotus, known as “the father of history”. He more or less invented the idea that history depends on who exactly is telling the story.
Graves would have been familiar with questioning the news, wondering whether the latest British military success reported on the BBC had actually happened quite as it was described.
We can appreciate the timelessness of this poem today, when the news about what is happening in Ukraine depends on whether it is from a Ukrainian or Russian source.
The last two lines here are a magnificent example of what we would now call “spin”, putting the best possible interpretation on what was actually a defeat.
The Persian Version by Robert Graves
Truth-loving Persians do not dwell upon
The trivial skirmish fought near Marathon.
As for the Greek theatrical tradition
Which represents that summer’s expedition
Not as a mere reconnaissance in force
By three brigades of foot and one of horse
(Their left flank covered by some obsolete
Light craft detached from the main Persian fleet)
But as a grandiose, ill-starred attempt
To conquer Greece – they treat it with contempt;
And only incidentally refute
Major Greek claims, by stressing what repute
The Persian monarch and the Persian nation
Won by this salutary demonstration:
Despite a strong defence and adverse weather
All arms combined magnificently together.
The Good Reader 