"There, Shakspeare! on whose forehead climb
The crowns o' the world! Oh, eyes sublime—
With tears and laughters for all time!
"Here, Æschylus—the women swoon'd
To see so awful when he frown'd
As the gods did—he standeth crown'd.
"Euripides, with close and mild
Scholastic lips—that could be wild,
And laugh or sob out like a child
"Right in the classes. Sophocles,
With that king's look which down the trees,
Follow'd the dark effigies
"Of the lost Theban! Hesiod old,
Who somewhat blind, and deaf, and cold,
Cared most for gods and bulls! and bold
"Electric Pindar, quick as fear,
With race-dust on his checks, and clear,
Slant startled eyes that seem to hear
"The chariot rounding the last goal,
To hurtle past it in his soul!
And Sappho crown'd with aureole
"Of ebon curls on calmed brows—
O poet-woman! none forgoes
The leap, attaining the repose!
"Theocritus, with glittering locks,
Dropt sideway, as betwixt the rocks
He watch'd the visionary flocks!
"And Aristophanes! who took
The world with mirth, and laughter-struck
The hollow caves of Thought, and woke