 | Sonnets and Fugitive Pieces |  |
64
DIXIT ET AVERTENS &c.
VIRG. ÆN. II.
When Venus, late like wood-nymph drest
Departing breath'd diviner soul,
When downward flowed her gather'd vest,
And godhead o'er the huntress stole,
How lovely must the change have been!
How beautiful the shifting mien!
Departing breath'd diviner soul,
When downward flowed her gather'd vest,
And godhead o'er the huntress stole,
How lovely must the change have been!
How beautiful the shifting mien!
I would I had been there to see
That burst of nobler charms and higher,
Losing in prouder symmetry
The simple lineaments of Tyre,
Tho' but a moment she delay'd,
In glory of great beauty clad.
That burst of nobler charms and higher,
Losing in prouder symmetry
The simple lineaments of Tyre,
Tho' but a moment she delay'd,
In glory of great beauty clad.
65
And stay, oh! stay, the hero cried,
As far—far off—the vision shot,
Why is thy conference denied,
Or granted, when I know thee not?
And thus, at last, to break the spell
But saddens more thy bright farewell!
As far—far off—the vision shot,
Why is thy conference denied,
Or granted, when I know thee not?
And thus, at last, to break the spell
But saddens more thy bright farewell!
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