Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893.
A Book of Sonnets
The Descent of the Muses
Mr. Longfellow was one day visiting Wellesley College, and was asked to write one of his poems. He begged for a few moments’ delay, wrote this sonnet from memory,—it had not been printed,—and read it to the ladies.
NINE sisters, beautiful in form and face,
Came from their convent on the shining heights
Of Pierus, the mountain of delights,
To dwell among the people at its base.
Then seemed the world to change. All time and space,
