 | Voices and visions |  |
74
ALLEGORY
One day sweet Poesy, with her cheeks aflame,
To the large land of Science angered came.
To the large land of Science angered came.
She had borne till now from her new neighbour foe
A thousand odious wrongs—or fancied so.
A thousand odious wrongs—or fancied so.
But he, indifferent to her love or hate,
Had smiled contemptuous at her vaunted state.
Had smiled contemptuous at her vaunted state.
Yet both, being met, were pierced with sharp surprise
At deeps divine in one another's eyes.
At deeps divine in one another's eyes.
‘I deemed,’ said Poesy, ‘thou couldst never wear
So much of human in thine austere air!’
So much of human in thine austere air!’
‘And I,’ said Science, ‘dreamed not thou couldst be
So simple and yet so clad with sovereignty!’
So simple and yet so clad with sovereignty!’
Hence 'tis now rumoured that erelong these twain
Shall merge in marriage their divided reign,
Shall merge in marriage their divided reign,
And that grim Reason, when the knot is tied
(Science commanding), shall as priest preside,
(Science commanding), shall as priest preside,
While Poesy issues an august decree:
All the Nine Muses must her bridesmaids be.
All the Nine Muses must her bridesmaids be.
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