Here is another prospective poem: AMATURUS Somewhere beneath the sun, These quivering heart-strings prove it, Somewhere there must be one Made for this soul, to move it; Someone that hides her sweetness From neighbors whom she slights, Nor can attain completeness, Nor give her heart its rights; Someone whom I could court With no great change of manner, Still holding reason's fort Though waving fancy's banner; A lady, not so queenly As to disdain my hand, Yet born to smile serenely Like those that rule the land; Noble, but not too proud; With soft hair simply folded, And bright face crescent-browed And throat by Muses moulded; Keen lips, that shape soft sayings Like crystals of the snow, With pretty half-betrayings Of things one may not know; Fair hand, whose touches thrill, Like golden rod of wonder, Which Hermes wields at will Spirit and flesh to sunder.
Forth, Love, and find this maid, Wherever she be hidden; Speak, Love, be not afraid, But plead as thou art bidden; And say, that he who taught thee His yearning want and pain, Too dearly dearly bought thee To part with thee in vain.
These lines are by the author of that exquisite little book "Ionica"-- a book about which I hope to talk to you in another lecture.

His real name was William Cory, and he was long the head-master of an English public school, during which time he composed and published anonymously the charming verses which have made him famous--modelling his best work in close imitation of the Greek poets.

A few expressions in these lines need explanation.

For instance, the allusion to Hermes and his rod.

I think you know that Hermes is the Greek name of the same god whom the Romans called Mercury,--commonly represented as a beautiful young man, naked and running quickly, having wings attached to the sandals upon his feet.