86 HAECKEL 



meeting he wrote me that Haeckel was *'the finest 

 man he ever met." 



''TO ERNST HAECKEL. 



Dost thou remember the magic night, 



A night I never cease to see, 



That brought us both to Ischia? 



How smooth the boat sailed gently in, 



How silent was the great broad bay 



Unutterably noble and sublime, 



In all its star-lit loveliness, 



As sky and sea met in embrace. 



With fairy-light the waters gleamed 



As helm ploughed gently through the wave, 



And overhead a deep red glow 



Vesuvius from its larva poured. 



We were yet strangers at the time, 

 One hour alone had each the other seen, 

 Yet something urged us both to speak — 

 To speak, anon, from heart's great deeps. 

 To speak of all we held of worth, 

 All that had led us to the spot. 

 All the fair gifts of happy fate. 

 And the untoward accidents of life; 

 Of distant home, of fatherland. 

 Of the full days of beauty's quest. 

 Hand clasped in hand we told our joy : 

 Need I recall it from the mist ? 



In fine of thy dear love thou told'st 

 And sacred silence fell on thee. 

 On moved the barque with leisured pace 

 Across the deeper silence of the bay. 



Behind us vanished Posilippo 



And Baja's gulf and Cape Miseno. 



As Procida passed slowly by 



The gentle dawn stole o'er the night. 



