 | Poems (1905) |  |
520
FOR THE DRAWING OF THE LADY IN THE GREEN MANTLE.
A lady who concealed her Name,
Nor let her Face be fully seen,
To her admiring [Counsel] came,
Veil'd in an Hood and Mantle green.
Nor let her Face be fully seen,
To her admiring [Counsel] came,
Veil'd in an Hood and Mantle green.
All that he saw, the Youth approved;
But much there was he could not trace:
He wished the Envious Veil removed
That hid the Beauties of that Face.
But much there was he could not trace:
He wished the Envious Veil removed
That hid the Beauties of that Face.
All that Sir Walter's page has told—
The Air, the lovely Form—are here;
But still we covet to behold
Those Features that do not appear.
The Air, the lovely Form—are here;
But still we covet to behold
Those Features that do not appear.
To that fair form belongs a face,
Could we behold it, just as fair;
But how shall we those Features trace,
Conceal'd from View with so much Care?
Could we behold it, just as fair;
But how shall we those Features trace,
Conceal'd from View with so much Care?
How shall we match that Air and Grace,
And just the lovely features find:
That all shall say, that beauteous Face
To just that Form should be assigned?
And just the lovely features find:
That all shall say, that beauteous Face
To just that Form should be assigned?
Yes! I can certain Means devise,
To make the face and form agree;
A Mirror place before thine Eyes,
And draw the face that looks on thee.
To make the face and form agree;
A Mirror place before thine Eyes,
And draw the face that looks on thee.
Be there those Locks of waving Gold;
Be there those Eyes so clear and bright;
That Smile which all with joy behold,
Those Cheerful Looks that all delight—
Be there those Eyes so clear and bright;
That Smile which all with joy behold,
Those Cheerful Looks that all delight—
Then, though the Form and Air were such
As would our highest Praise exceed,
We should admire the Face as much,
[And] say how well the whole agreed.
As would our highest Praise exceed,
We should admire the Face as much,
[And] say how well the whole agreed.
| Poems (1905) | |