Epigrams

Thou wert the morning star among the living,

Ere thy fair light had fled;—

Now, having died, thou art as Hesperus, giving

New splendour to the dead.

II.—KISSING HELENA

FROM THE GREEK OF PLATO

Kissing Helena, together

With my kiss, my soul beside it

Came to my lips, and there I kept it,—

For the poor thing had wandered thither,

To follow where the kiss should guide it,

Oh, cruel I, to intercept it!

III.—SPIRIT OF PLATO

FROM THE GREEK

Eagle! why soarest thou above that tomb?

To what sublime and star-ypaven home

Floatest thou?—

I am the image of swift Plato's spirit,

Ascending heaven; Athens doth inherit

His corpse below.

IV. CIRCUMSTANCE

FROM THE GREEK

A Man who was about to hang himself,

Finding a purse, then threw away his rope;

The owner, coming to reclaim his pelf,

The halter found, and used it. So is Hope

Changed for Despair—one laid upon the shelf,

We take the other. Under Heaven's high cope

Fortune is God—all you endure and do

Depends on circumstance as much as you.