SONNET.

LAST night I looked into the starry spaces

Where the old gods their golden kingdom held,

When they had not veiled their glorious faces,

And none among the nations had rebelled;

When the young heart saw not with darkened vision

Of midnight thought and dream, but felt

The visible presence of gods: our mission

Is the same that lit their souls who knelt

To Zeus and to the archer god Apollo, -

To guard upon the altars of our love

The ancient faith, the prophet band to follow

Whose torches flashing o'er the heights of truth

Became the ages, natal stars; but ne'er shall we

Behold their radiant gods illume our youth.

W.