ATHENIAN prophet of the soaring mind!
What new lamp burns so brightly as his old?
He changed Philosophy from dross to gold
By poet’s alchemy; and he combined
Egypt and Ind and the Hellenic States
With all the knowledge Cadmus’ letters hold,
In Logic’s crucible to be refined;
He opened Speculation’s splendid gates
To Western ways where Science after trod;
A reign of sweeter Ethics he foretold,
Renouncing Zeus for a diviner God;
And, unaffrighted by the awful Fates,
In starry sandals of Religion shod,
From pagan darkness Plato led mankind.