 | Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love |  |
LA CONTADINA.
“Il vago spirito ardente
E'n alto intelletto, un puro core.”—
Petrarcha.
E'n alto intelletto, un puro core.”—
Petrarcha.
“She seemed a splendid Angel newly drest,
Save wings, for Heaven.”—
Keats.
Save wings, for Heaven.”—
Keats.
Her tender Breasts were like two snow-white Doves
Upon one willow bough at calm of even,
Telling each other, side by side, their loves
In soft celestial tones as sweet as Heaven.
And as the soft winds, from the flowery grove,
Sway them thus sitting on that willow-bough,
At every breath—at every sigh of love—
They undulate upon her bosom now.
Upon one willow bough at calm of even,
Telling each other, side by side, their loves
In soft celestial tones as sweet as Heaven.
And as the soft winds, from the flowery grove,
Sway them thus sitting on that willow-bough,
At every breath—at every sigh of love—
They undulate upon her bosom now.
Two dove-like spirits on her eyelids knelt,
And weighed them gently, covering half her eyes,
Whose soul in their own azure seemed to melt
And mingle, as the sunlight with the skies.
Her eyes were like two violets bathed in dew
In which each lash was mirrored dark within,
As in some Lake, reflecting Heaven so blue,
The willow-bough's long languid limbs are seen.
And weighed them gently, covering half her eyes,
Whose soul in their own azure seemed to melt
And mingle, as the sunlight with the skies.
Her eyes were like two violets bathed in dew
In which each lash was mirrored dark within,
As in some Lake, reflecting Heaven so blue,
The willow-bough's long languid limbs are seen.
As God's celestial look is far too bright
For Angel's gaze in Heaven if not kept dim,
And partly shorn of its excessive light
By the broad pinions of the cherubim;
So, these two spirits, one on each fair lid,
Let down the lash-fringed curtain to conceal
And keep but half that heavenly glory hid,
Which it were death to mortals to reveal.
For Angel's gaze in Heaven if not kept dim,
And partly shorn of its excessive light
By the broad pinions of the cherubim;
So, these two spirits, one on each fair lid,
Let down the lash-fringed curtain to conceal
And keep but half that heavenly glory hid,
Which it were death to mortals to reveal.
| Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love | |