Sacrifice
Though love repine, and reason chafe,
There came a voice without reply,—
‘’T is man’s perdition to be safe,
When for the truth he ought to die.’
Pericles
Well and wisely said the Greek,
Be thou faithful, but not fond;
To the altar’s foot thy fellow seek,
—
The Furies wait beyond.
Casella
Test of the poet is knowledge of love,
For Eros is older than Saturn or Jove;
Never was poet, of late or of yore,
Who was not tremulous with love-lore.
Shakspeare
I see all human wits
Are measured but a few;
Unmeasured still my Shakspeare sits,
Lone as the blessed Jew.
Hafiz
Her passions the shy violet
From Hafiz never hides;
Love-longings of the raptured bird
The bird to him confides.
Nature in Leasts
As sings the pine-tree in the wind,
So sings in the wind a sprig of the pine;
Her strength and soul has laughing France
Shed in each drop of wine.
[Greek: ADAKRYN NEMONTAI AIONA]
‘A New commandment,’ said the smiling Muse,
‘I give my darling son, Thou shalt not preach’;—
Luther, Fox, Behmen, Swedenborg, grew pale,
And, on the instant, rosier clouds upbore
Hafiz and Shakspeare with their shining choirs.