XII.
And they of humankind, (to crown my song,)
Who, in th' austereness of their life, pursued
Knowledge abstruse, her mazy paths among,—
And sought for hidden lore,—and ceaseless woo'd
The Muse severe, couching her doctrines sage
In cogent language, marring ev'ry clog
To intellectual sense, on reason's page;—
Or, in the philosophic dialogue,
Moulded th' important truths, they meant to prove,
In milder form, and pleased and reason'd too;—
And these confess'd the mighty power of Love,
And bow'd the neck, nor could his yoke eschew.
XIII.
Pythagoras, the Samian sage, who taught
To solve the knots, perplex and intricate,
Of fair geometry, and whilom brought
Into a narrow sphere's brief compass strait
The stars of heav'n, in order absolute;
With frantic passion woo'd Theano's charms,
Infuriate,—nor ceased his am'rous suit,
Till he had clasp'd the damsel in his arms.
XIV.
And what a flame of love the Paphian queen
Lit, in her wrath, in the enamour'd breast
Of Socrates,—whom of the sons of men
Apollo named the wisest and the best!
He in Aspasia's house each lighter care
Chased from his breast, when at her side he sate
In am'rous parley,—and, still ling'ring there,
Could find no end to love, or love's debate.
XV.
Shrewd Aristippus, Cyrenean sage,
To the Corinthian Isthmus' double shore
Wended his way, his passion to assuage,—
And shunn'd the calm retreats he loved before;
