Sonett-Forum

GALILEO TO THE GRAND-DUCHESS
OF TUSCANY.

Lady, whose gracious intellect could divine,
Long since, the organic powers that guide the sphere ;
And sometimes deigned to express the love, and fear,
Such themes can kindle in a heart like thine ;

Again that thunder fierce and leonine
Rolls through the twilight on my wakeful ear ;
Again the sacerdotal voice I hear,
Banning the truth, as if 'twere man's design :

Aye, as if with my own hand I could plant
Those things within the heavens, to disturb
Nature, and science, from their path serene;

But in bis might comes Time, the hierophant ;
And never shall another Joshua curb
The sun's due course, till the last day hath been.