DEDICATION.

Daughter in spirit elect and consecrate

By love and reverence of the Olympian sire

Whom I too loved and worshipped, seeing so great,

And found so gracious toward my long desire

To bid that love in song before his gate

Sound, and my lute be loyal to his lyre,

To none save one it now may dedicate

Song's new burnt-offering on a century's pyre.

And though the gift be light

As ashes in men's sight,

Left by the flame of no ethereal fire,

Yet, for his worthier sake

Than words are worthless, take

This wreath of words ere yet their hour expire:

So, haply, from some heaven above,

He, seeing, may set next yours my sacrifice of love.