Poet and Sculptor

As a maiden caught and bound
By the magic of a sound
Sweeter far than mortal ear
Ever yet attained to hear,
So I sat, and read, and read
What an ancient poet said,
"Man is weak, the Gods are strong,"
This the burden of the song.

When I saw the immortal faces,
Gods and Heroes, Nymphs and Graces,
Fauns and Satyrs hairy-eared,
Things no mortal ever feared,
Venus but a lady sweet,
Cupid playing at her feet,
"Nay!" I cried, "the poet's wrong,
Gods are weak, but man is strong!"