Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830-1886). I. Ancient Fables. Hunt and Lee, comps. 1867. The Book of the Sonnet

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

I. Ancient Fables

By Paul Hamilton Hayne (1830–1886)


YE pleasant myths of eld, why have ye fled?
The earth has fallen from her blissful prime
Of summer years; the dews of that sweet time
Are withered on its garlands sear and dead.
No longer in the blue fields overhead	5
We list the rustling of immortal wings,
Or hail at eve the kindly visitings
Of gentle Genii to fair fortunes wed:
The seas have lost their Nereids, the sad streams
Their gold-haired habitants, the mountains lone	10
Those happy Oreads; and the blithesome tone
Of Pan’s soft pipe melts only in our dreams:
Fitfully fall the old Faith’s broken gleams
On our dull hearts cold as sepulchral stone.