—would have made the picture of the dark-eyed, dark-haired aspirant for
immortality, kneeling before the white-robed angel, a simply perfect
creation. The poem “Orion” is an outcome of his early love for classical
literature, and when we consider that it was written by a boy standing
on the threshold of life, it is wonderful; and shows distinctly what he
may attain in coming years, when at the zenith of his power. This poem
contains many lines of unsurpassed beauty. We quote the following
couplet, which is taken from that part of the poem which describes Orion
lying upon the seashore in his utter wretchedness, when the drug
administered by the king is beginning to affect him. The scene is
described as, at the setting of the sun—
The deep-eyed Night drew down to comfort him,
And lifted her great lids, and mourned for him.
And again, later in the night, a slave comes with the king bearing a cup
containing the juice with which he puts out Orion’s eyes, and a servitor
bearing a torch, before whose light—
All the darkness shuddered and fled back.