Sonnet -- To Science

    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

    Albeit¹ 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？