 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
268
II. OLD PICTURES AT FLORENCE.
Thrice happy they who thus before man's eyesRestored the placid image of his prime;
Illustrating th' abortive shows of Time
With gleams authentic caught from Paradise.
Those Godlike forms are men! Impure disguise
By us now suffered! O for wings to climb
Once more to Virtue's mountain seats sublime,
And be what here we poorly recognise!
From these fair pictures our Humanity
Looks down upon us kindly. 'Tis no dream:
Truth stands attested by Consistency;
And all the Virtues here in peace supreme
So meet, so blend, that in those Forms we see,
The sum of all we are and fain would be.
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |