EDGAR ALLAN POE

SONNET-TO SCIENCE

Science, true daughter of Old Time thou art!
Who alterest all things with thy peering eyes.
Why preyest thou thus upon the poet's heart,

Vulture, whose wings are dull realities?
How should he love thee, or how deem thee wise,
Who wouldst not leave him in his wandering
To seek for treasure in the jewelled skies,

Albeit he soared with an undaunted wing?
Hast thou not dragged Diana from her car,

And driven the Hamadryad from the wood To seek a shelter in some happier star?

Hast thou not torn the Naiad from her flood, The Elfin from the green grass, and from me The summer dream beneath the tamarind tree?

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(Oh, how, without you, Love,
Could angels be blest ?)—
Those kisses of true love
That lull'd ye to rest!
Up! shake from your wing

Each hindering thing:

The dew of the night—

It would weigh down your flight;

And true-love caresses

O, leave them apart;

They are light on the tresses,

But lead on the heart.

Ligeia! Ligeia!

My beautiful one!

Whose harshest idea

Will to melody run,

O, is it thy will

On the breezes to toss? Or, capriciously still,

Like the lone Albatross,

Incumbent on night

(As she on the air)

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