Chapter IV

The Attic poet at approach of age
Laid by his garland, took the staff and scrip,
For singing robes the mantle of the sage,—
And taught gray wisdom with the same grave lip
That once had carolled gay
Where silver flutes breathed soft and festal harps did play;

Young Plato sang of love and beauty’s charm,
While he that from Stagira came to hear
In lyric measures bade his princely pupil arm,
And strike the Persian tyrant mute with fear.
High thought doth well accord with melody,
Brave deed with Poesy,
And song is prelude fair to sweet Philosophy.
But wiser English Shakspeare’s noble choice,
Poet and sage at once, whose varied voice
Taught beyond Plato’s ken, yet charming every ear;—
A kindred choice was his, whose spirit hovers here.