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229
MANY LOVES, AND VENUS.
Wonderful and delicate in seeming
Is this girl fair?
Lo! yet another hath eyes gleaming
Through blackest hair,
And yet another hath eyes dreaming,
And sweetest air.
Is this girl fair?
Lo! yet another hath eyes gleaming
Through blackest hair,
And yet another hath eyes dreaming,
And sweetest air.
Which is tenderest and best and sweetest?
The white-limbed maid?
Which sways passion's harp with finger fleetest?
Which hand hath played
Love's melody with ecstasy completest,
And most hearts swayed?
The white-limbed maid?
Which sways passion's harp with finger fleetest?
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Love's melody with ecstasy completest,
And most hearts swayed?
Beautiful the golden tresses
That blind the sun!
Tender are the white caresses
By strong hearts won.
And yet the swift and searching soul confesses
Not all is done!
That blind the sun!
Tender are the white caresses
By strong hearts won.
And yet the swift and searching soul confesses
Not all is done!
O delicate and soft brown glances,
O eyes of blue,
From each to each the vision dances,—
For each sweet hue
Sweetness of the former tint enhances
And makes each new.
O eyes of blue,
From each to each the vision dances,—
For each sweet hue
Sweetness of the former tint enhances
And makes each new.
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Lips with all the scent of roses,
And arms that bring
The thrilling sense of woodland posies
When close they cling,
And breast wherein the violet reposes,—
You, you, I sing!
And arms that bring
The thrilling sense of woodland posies
When close they cling,
And breast wherein the violet reposes,—
You, you, I sing!
Yet there comes a woman fairer,
With hair that smells
Of blossoms unbeholden, rarer,—
She brings the dells
Of long-lost lands to view, the bearer
Of asphodels.
With hair that smells
Of blossoms unbeholden, rarer,—
She brings the dells
Of long-lost lands to view, the bearer
Of asphodels.
She with limitless soft splendour
Passes along
Our nerves with touching as of tender
Outbursts of song:
Fragrance she brings that doth engender
Ecstasy strong.
Passes along
Our nerves with touching as of tender
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Fragrance she brings that doth engender
Ecstasy strong.
Far beyond beauty of the others
She now is seen;
The old flowers were but as weaker brothers,
Feeble of mien,
To those her splendid bosom mothers,
Fostering, serene.
She now is seen;
The old flowers were but as weaker brothers,
Feeble of mien,
To those her splendid bosom mothers,
Fostering, serene.
Low we bend and do adore her,
For now we know
The awful fragrance floating o'er her
Shoulders of snow;
Venus it is: we fall before her,
Saying, “Sweet, even so!”
For now we know
The awful fragrance floating o'er her
Shoulders of snow;
Venus it is: we fall before her,
Saying, “Sweet, even so!”
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